Following your engagement news, in amongst the “Congratulations”, expect to be asked: “When’s the wedding” or “Have you set a date yet” several times. While of course, you should set your date only when you’re ready, many couples are often left wondering how you actually go about setting your wedding date. So with this in mind, here, we lend a helping hand by sharing our top tips on finding that all-important wedding date.
Do you have a date that matters?
Some couples will have a date that matters to them. Whether it’s the first time you met, your engagement date or perhaps the wedding anniversary of your parents, choosing a date that holds significance to you both is a good place to start. Remember to consider when the date will fall. If it’s in six months time, it might be worth considering holding off until the following year to allow you enough time to plan it.
Think about your wedding day style
If you simply must get married during a particular season, this will definitely help narrow things down. For example, many teachers choose to wed during the summer. Or perhaps you’re dreaming of a winter wonderland wedding, or a relaxed garden party setting, both of which will need to take place during certain seasons to bring them to life.
Consider costs
For many couples, budget plays a big part in determining when they get married. If you aren’t fussy about getting married on a certain date or season, you could save yourself some money. Many venues have off-peak rates, meaning that getting married during autumn or winter is cheaper. Likewise, a mid-week or Sunday wedding can cost you less. Going on honeymoon also tends to be cheaper during quieter times too so it’s a win-win.
Check for clashes
With your date in mind, it’s worth running the date by guests who you simply can’t get married without to make sure they don’t have any holidays booked or babies are due around this time. This will save you heartache in the long run.
Beware of other dates
Football finals have been known to take over wedding receptions so if you don’t want guests glued to that TV screen in the bar (or checking their phones for scores), keep this in mind. It’s worth remembering that while a wedding close to Christmas or New Year’s Eve might sound like a good idea because everyone is off, people often have a lot of commitments around this time so you might not receive as many RSVPs as you anticipated.
Date before venue
If your wedding date matters, it’s probably best choosing this before looking at venues as it can be heartbreaking to find your dream venue and then discover it isn’t available on your date.
In summary, when it comes to choosing a wedding date, consider if there is a particular date or time of year that would lend itself well to your wedding day. Happy planning!