Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Date
There are many layers to planning your wedding with intention and your vision in mind (while also being incredibly fun and rewarding along the way!). I have some tips to help you choose your wedding date. I believe making choices from the heart and ones that really align with the vision you have for your wedding day is key to creating an anxiety-free and beautiful day. To prevent unrest during your wedding journey, it all comes down to meaningful decisions—including choosing your wedding date.
I suggest thinking about what your favorite seasons are and what your favorite times of the year are first. For those of us who live in Wisconsin, we might have a little bit of an aversion to winter! But some people love winter (like me!), and if you and your fiancé love to spend time together in the snow, then that might be the perfect season for you to say, “I do.” What season really lights you up?
Keep in mind what matches with you and your fiancé’s schedules. Andy is a teacher, so we had to be more careful when we picked our wedding date and what worked within the school year. People who work in the construction business a lot of times don’t get married in the summer because it’s almost impossible for them to get a weekend off. Andy and I also picked our original wedding date with the hunting season in mind because it’s important to a lot of friends and groomsmen to hunt.
Are there any special dates that you want to incorporate and share an anniversary with? Maybe you want to get married on your parent’s wedding anniversary or your grandparents’ anniversary. If the day you and your fiancé first started dating resonates with both of you, that could be a meaningful way to choose your wedding date. Chat with your partner to see if there are any dates that would align with the season you chose, or if your birthday falls within that time of year.
I would also consider any alternative dates that would align with you and your fiancé. Consider offseason times. The off season is roughly November to April for Wisconsin due to winter weather and muddy conditions, but winter weddings in Wisconsin can be just as beautiful with all the snow and twinkling lights. Brainstorm with your partner about different times of the day and week to get married. Maybe a weekday or a lunch wedding resonates with you rather than a typical evening reception. If you really like a certain time of day, or want to share brunch with all your family and friends, schedule your wedding around those times.
After choosing a date, have a back-up plan. Oftentimes venues can book up over a year in advance, so having a date that you really love, but then being flexible and having a second date that you also will be happy with, eases some of the stress when booking a venue. A back-up date is important especially when you absolutely want to book that perfect venue or work with your favorite photographer.
Planning farther ahead means you will have a higher probability of getting what you want. Whether it’s the venue, a DJ, or any vendors, booking far ahead can give you almost a guarantee to work with them. Andy and I started our wedding planning two years out, but if planning that far ahead doesn’t align with you, that’s okay. Early booking not only almost guarantees the vendor, but will give you more time to budget and obtain funds if you’re paying for your own wedding. Maybe that’s in the form of picking up a second job or working with the vendors to create a payment plan.
When choosing your wedding date, it’s also important to consider dates to avoid. Sometimes celebrating your wedding on a date that happens to be the anniversary of a family member’s death can be a wonderful way to honor that person, while it can also be a hard time for the family. As I mentioned before, hunting season is important to Andy, as well as a lot of our friends; if there is an annual event or special occasion where a lot of your guests might be partaking in, maybe choose a different weekend or time of the year.
Thinking farther ahead about your date can help you book a spot at your favorite venue and give you and other vendors plenty of time to plan and enjoy your wedding journey. Plan at your own pace and brainstorm a few of these tips to help choose your wedding date.
Much love and appreciation,
Kate
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