How to Choose Your Wedding Date
Choosing the ideal wedding date is a big decision. There are plenty of factors to consider, like your dream honeymoon, work life and your loved ones’ schedules. Here’s how to select a date that minimizes stress and maximizes joy, ensuring your wedding is everything you’ve envisioned.
1. Consider Your Desired Season
Is your ideal wedding on a snowy day or a cozy autumn afternoon? Every season has its magical moments and little quirks. For instance, the most popular wedding months are May to October, but that may mean more competitive costs. You may score better deals if you’re open to a midwinter celebration instead. Remember to factor in warmer temperatures when planning your big day.
2. Align With VIP Guests
Ask your loved ones about their availability to ensure they won’t miss your special celebration. Consider major life events, such as holiday plans, pregnancies, college graduations, scheduled medical treatments or work commitments that may impact attendance. Your VIP list typically includes immediate family members, closest friends, grandparents, wedding party members, out-of-town relatives, and important religious or cultural officiants.
3. Consider Meaningful Dates
Choose a date that has sentimental value. Make a list of dates that are meaningful to your partnership. Options include:
- Anniversaries: Your parents’ or grandparents’ anniversary
- Romantic milestones: Your first date, when you became “official,” or a date that would mark your fifth, 10th or 20th month together
- Numerically unique dates: Catchy, easy-to-remember number sequences like 11/11 or 06/26/26
- Shared interest: “Star Wars”-loving couples may choose May the 4th or “Star Wars Day.”
4. Factor in Your Budget
Tying the knot during peak wedding season often comes with higher prices due to increased demand. In contrast, off-peak times can offer more affordable prices without compromising quality experience. Secure your wedding date as soon as possible to lock in current rates and give you more time to negotiate with vendors.
Consider travel and accommodation costs for out-of-town visitors. A holiday weekend, while tempting, might be pricier for your loved ones. The key is to choose a date that you and your guests can enjoy without financial stress.
5. Think About Cultural or Symbolic Factors
Various cultures have fascinating traditions about lucky and unlucky wedding dates. For example, the Chinese lunar calendar designates certain dates as fortunate. If you’re a Christian, keep the Holy Week in mind. Meanwhile, some couples love planning their big day around star alignments or moon phases. Remember, though — the luckiest date is the one that feels right to you and your partner.
6. Consider Your and Your Partner’s Work Schedules
Talk about your current work schedules before locking in your date. Are there upcoming big projects or deadlines to work around? How many vacation days can you both save up? Look at your company’s calendars for blackout periods and deadlines. In a seasonal industry like accounting, you’ll want to steer clear of peak times.
Ideally, your wedding date should be after demanding work commitments to ensure a stress-free celebration. You want to start your married life on a high note, not a frazzled one.
7. Avoid Peak Holiday Times
While a Christmas wedding sounds magical, it may mean sold-out hotels, heavy traffic and higher airfares. Plus, your guests may already have travel commitments. Therefore, it’s best to avoid holidays, major sporting events, festivals and other events in your wedding location to avoid these hurdles. Consider choosing a shoulder season, which happens between peak and off-peak seasons, to enjoy fewer crowds and more affordable deals.
8. Think Through When and Where to Honeymoon
Traditionally, newlyweds go straight to the airport right after the reception for their honeymoon trip. If you’re considering this idea, consider your destination first to ensure your wedding and honeymoon plans are in sync. Do you want to visit Asian beaches or enjoy a romantic European getaway? Once you know where you’re headed, research the weather. You’ll want to avoid the monsoon season in Bali or the extreme heat in Rome.
Align your wedding date with your honeymoon’s ideal time. For example, if you dream of a June honeymoon in the Mediterranean, you’re looking at a May or early June wedding.
When Is the Best Time to Pick a Date?
The average length of engagement is 15 months, and around 52% of couples begin making plans 12 months before their wedding. If you and your future spouse follow the same timeline, use the first two or three months to decide on a budget, date and venue.
Choose the Right Wedding Date Today
Remember to stay flexible and focused on what matters most — celebrating your union with family and friends. This is your and your partner’s day — taking the time to thoughtfully align your date with your preferences and circumstances is key for a stress-free celebration.
Author – Cora Gold
Cora Gold is a wedding enthusiast with over six years of experience writing about trends, traditions and more. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter.
