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How to Pick a Wedding Date

Congratulations, you just got engaged! After all the excitement of entering this new chapter of your life has worn off, there’s a daunting task ahead– wedding planning. Don’t be afraid! Wedding planning can be a fun bonding experience and a chance to be truly creative in planning the day of your dreams.

However, you can’t really plan much of anything– theme, venue, or wedding party– until you have a date. If you’re not sure when to set the calendar for, we’re here to help you learn how to pick a wedding date.

When to Pick a Wedding Date

wedding spreadsheet

If you’re at the very beginning of wedding planning timeline, you’ll likely want to pick your wedding date first. Depending on the considerations below, you can plan your wedding from any length of time– it could be two years from now, or two months.

However, most people pick a wedding date about a year out from when they start to plan. On a typical 12-month wedding planning timeline, picking a date is done first thing after announcing your engagement.

That being said, it’s okay if you want to get married sooner or later than a whole year.

 

Considerations when Picking a Wedding Date

list of wedding expenses

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when picking a wedding date. More than anything, though, your wedding date should be what’s best for you! This is a day you’ll be celebrating on for the rest of your life, so you should feel confident about it.

Whenever you pick your wedding date, there are a few considerations. For one, if you want to get married soon after your engagement, your options in terms of venues and vendors will be limited. However, it’s still possible to have a great wedding.

Below, we list some other things to consider in picking your date.

 

Seasons and Weather

wedding arch ideas

One of the best places to start when picking a wedding date is to think about what season you want to get married in based on the typical weather for your area.

Since so many people like to get married outside, if you live in a place with a cold season, you’ll want to limit your date selection to the warm weather.

If you’d like to have an inside wedding, you have more options for an autumn or winter wedding. If you’d like to use the season as a theme, you’ll definitely need to plan to have your wedding during that season.

 

Holidays

winter wedding ideas

If you’d like a holiday-themed wedding, you’ll have to get married on or around that day. However, certain holidays are more acceptable to spend at a wedding.

If you’d like a Christmas-themed wedding, look into December dates a few weeks before– most people like to spend the 25th with their families, not at someone else’s wedding.

That being said, holidays like Halloween and New Years Eve tend to be spent at parties or with friends. Though they may be more expensive, you could have a themed wedding on or around either of those days.

 

Important Dates

wedding ring after divorce

Every couple has those few special days– the day of your first date, or the first time you said “I love you”. Or even the day of your engagement! If those days fall on a good day of the week and have personal significance, it might be nice to have your wedding then.

Some people also have personal connections to certain numbers, like their birthday or a day where an important life event occurred. If you’re one of those people, having your wedding on that day might be nice.

 

Ask Your Wedding Party

large bridal party

One of the best ways to knock potential dates off of your calendar is to ask important members of your wedding party when they wouldn’t be able to come. Important family and friends feel essential to your wedding– many people wouldn’t feel comfortable getting married without their parents or best friends there!

Maybe they have a vacation planned that will cause you to knock a whole week off the roster, or birthdays you don’t want to interfere with. For good measure, even when you narrow to a few dates, you should send them to your closest loved ones for review.

 

Finances

wedding coin jar

If you’re planning a wedding on a budget, you should know that some dates are more expensive than others. Though it can depend on where you live, the cheapest months to get married in are typically January, March, April, and November.

June and September are the most popular because it’s not too hot, nor too cold, though July and August might fill up for sunshine-lovers. December and February tend to be popular due to Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

It’s also important to be mindful of the day of the week. Most people get married on a Saturday or a Friday night, so weekdays and Sundays are less expensive. However, less people want to attend a wedding on a workday, and don’t want to stay out late Sunday night. For more on costly wedding dates, check out dummies.com.

 

Luckiest Months and Dates to Get Married

nye wedding sparklers

If you and your partner are a superstitious couple, there are a wide variety of beliefs you can use to help determine the best date for you. For example, in the Jewish calendar, the best dates to get married are Tuesdays, the beginning of the month, or on the cusp of July and August.

There are also a lot of Celtic traditions, specifically Wednesdays, New Years Eve, or “Shrovetide”, which are the days preceding Lent. In Asian traditions, August or the 8th day of the month are auspicious, August 8th being the best.

Some other spiritual traditions mark lucky days based on the moon cycle or the placement of the zodiac. Learn more about lucky wedding dates.

 

More on Wedding Planning

Here at Yeah Weddings, we’re here for all of your wedding planning needs. With your date chosen, you can search for and book your wedding venue or settle on a theme for your wedding!

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Katie Sheets

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