The tale as old as time: You meet the love of your life, you get engaged, and then you get married. But what day? What time? When’s the perfect time to get married? Well, that’s a loaded question. It depends on different things, and it can vary for each person. I mean, if you live in Hawaii, the answer is simple: any day is the perfect day to get married. But for those of us who don’t live in paradise, let’s sift through the plethora of factors you need to consider when picking the ideal date for your nuptials.
Before we do that, let me qualify this blog by stating: some of this may only pertain to those who live in the Pacific Northwest, however, use this as a guidance sheet for your own state/location of your wedding. Every region, every state, every city is going to have their own unique set of qualifiers as to when you should plan your wedding. This guide should hopefully get the wheels turning in your head, to help you pick the very best time for your wedding.
#1 - Rain, rain go away…
The very first thing you need to consider for your wedding is what type of weather you want. Most want sunshine, especially if it’s going to be outdoors. Others want snow. And some don’t care because they’re getting married indoors.
Lots of factors go in to the season in which you want to get married. Do you want a gorgeous, sunny, warm weather kind of day? Or, do you want a brisk, colder day, with the beautiful autumn colors in play? , Do you perhaps want a blustery, rainy, fireplace blazing kind of setting?
And don’t forget what types of flowers, and colors come in to play with each setting as well. Spring has those great pastel colors, while summer has the bright palette, and of course there’s the golden colors of fall.
And lastly, thinking of the venue in which you’ll be married: when does it really shine? What parts of the year does it look best? If you don’t know, ask the venue owner. They may have flowering landscapes that look best during the late spring. Perhaps the sun sets in the Fall right behind the venue for amazing photo ops. Maybe you suffer terrible allergies, and summer won’t be the best at the venue for you.
There is so much to factor in for your perfect wedding date, and we’ve only scratched the surface with seasonal ideas. Here in the great Pacific Northwest, these factors come in to more significance when thinking specifically about weather, At the beach, in the Gorge, and even up on the mountain. Consider the snow, the rain, etc, and even travel conditions, when thinking about your wedding in one of these locations.
#2 - Your wedding isn’t the only big day
I know it’s tough to hear, but for most people, your wedding isn’t the only big event on the horizon. There are other days, and events to factor in when planning your wedding. And if you choose a date that has other significance to your guests, you may not have all of them show up for your nuptials.
Years ago one of my favorite sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld, had an episode where the main leads were all invited to a wedding on Super Bowl Sunday. It was a big deal to them. How could someone plan a wedding on such a big day? They struggled as to whether or not they would even go to the wedding. Eventually the groom made the realization that his wedding was going to happen during the big game, and made the decision to postpone their wedding.
It’s a very real thing! People will not show up for a wedding if they feel something else is more important to them. Super Bowl, the World Series, the newest Star Wars movie premier, the Brad Paisley concert. Big events either televised, or happening near your wedding location are all things to consider.
A couple of years ago I officiated a wedding in Salem, on the same day as the Oregon Civil War game. Now, most of the couple’s guests weren’t planning on attending the game, BUT the traffic came in to play with their wedding. Dozens of guests were extremely late because the traffic on the freeways were terrible. I bet if the couple had realized what they were going to deal with, they may have changed the start time, or even the date.
Huge concerts, sporting events, big conventions, or other significant occasions may in fact affect your wedding day, and possibly your guests. Something you may want to check on your local calendar when figuring out your wedding date.
#3 - How you doin’?
Another key factor is checking in with your family and close friends about your date. Think of those closest to you. Can you imagine them not being there for you on your special day? Find out if your parents have a big trip planned. Maybe your grandparents 50th wedding anniversary is that weekend. Maybe your Maid of Honor or Best Man has a huge family reunion that day.
Check in with those most important people, then pick your date. If they’ve all confirmed they’re available, let them know of the day as soon as possible. That way they can begin planning other things around your date, without any excuses.
#4 - Will you be mine?
Along those same lines, check in with all your dream vendors. That venue you’ve had your eye on. The photographer you’ve been following on Instagram for years. The caterer whose food you absolutely love. Or maybe the officiant whom you’ve been recently reading his blogs. Nothing is greater than having a couple ask me to be their officiant, and I’m actually available to serve them.
We all have other events, weddings, etc that fill our calendars. And we would hate to have to turn you away because we’re unavailable. Now, realistically, you may not get all of your top picks for your wedding date, unless you’re planning years out in advance. If that’s the case, then figure out who is most important when it comes to your vendors {officiant}, and plan your date around their schedule {officiant}. Then, hopefully, you’ll have the majority {officiant} of the ones you want {officiant}.
#5 - Just take my money!
The last thing to consider is your finances. Your budget will become a big factor when planning your wedding date. More than some think it will. You want the newest, most beautiful venue, but can’t afford the summer rate? Ask them about off-peak months or days. Quite a few venues, and wedding vendors, have special pricing for the off-season. Here in the PNW, late Autumn to early Spring are considered the slow season for many wedding professionals, and because their demand may be lessened, they offer great deals.
If your budget doesn’t accommodate for all the vendors you’d like to hire, plus securing the venue of your dreams, then perhaps it’s time to consider an off month, or a different day. Many times couples are able to save thousands of dollars just by switching their date, That’s exactly what happened for a couple I served last year. Originally their date was going to be the last weekend of September. However, by moving the date to the first weekend of October, they save nearly $2,000 on the venue. That’s crazy! Saving that much money by moving the date 7 days later. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
It’s all about you.
In the end, it’s your wedding. It’s your BIG day, not anyone else’s. If people are unable to attend, if you really don’t care about what season it is, if your budget will fit anything… than who cares? You do you! Pick the date you want, and go with the flow. Either way, you’re going to look fabulous, and have an outstanding wedding, and your day is going to be brimming with memories.
And, if you haven’t found an officiant yet, let’s talk. I’d love to help you create a ceremony as unique as you!