When to Host Your Wedding: Pro & Cons of Each Season

Congratulations You’re Engaged!  What’s next?

It’s time to pick the date!

Before you get to all the fun of trying on dresses and talking to Caterers, you have to pick a date.  Each season is filled with possibilities that may be the perfect fit for your vision.  

The traditional idea of a spring wedding is being chased by new ideas of enchanting fall ceremonies and majestic winter receptions. With such great wedding potential in every season, deciding on the ideal time to make your fairytale come to life can become a challenge. To help sort out the commotion, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of each potential wedding-hosting season. Hopefully this can help you and your beau decide on the best time of year to get hitched!

P.S. Don’t forget to scroll down to our list of important dates to take into consideration when planning your big day.

 

Winter

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  • Embrace the Natural Theme Having a wedding in the colder months means you’re gifted a winter wonderland theme. Welcome the season by having cozy décor with features such as big windows and a fireplace. Put your guests in the season’s mood by serving hot cocoa and giving out candy canes as favors.
  • Discounts on Venues and Vendors because winter tends to be the off-season for weddings, many venues and vendors off discounted prices for their services.
  • Take Advantage of Shorter Days Turn this into your benefit. Shorter days mean you can have your wedding begin earlier in the day, and go longer into the evening without it ending too late.
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  • Holiday Chaos Because of the proximity to all the holidays that happen in the winter months, you may need to adjust to guests not being able to attend. NYE weddings are becoming more and more popular as it’s a night that most people want to go out and celebrate.  Celebrating with friends on their wedding day is the perfect NYE celebration.  
  • Weather Winter storms can be unpredictable. Even those who RSVP “yes” may be forced to miss or be late to your wedding due to inclement weather.
  • Indoor Restrictions Winter weather is getting more and more unpredictable.  Winter temperatures fluctuate from mild to wild, be sure your wedding venue has the proper outdoor heating elements and structures to ensure you and your guests are comfortable as the temperature drops.

 

Spring

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  • Spring has sprung and all of nature is awakening.  Mother Nature is dusting off the winter blues and so are your friends and family.  Easter, Passover and Spring Break all present unique opportunities when planning a destination wedding to trying to accommodate guests with school age children. When your guest are on holiday, every day is Saturday night.  Why leave the festivities for the weekend?    
  • Ideal Temperatures Some argue the best thing about spring is the climate.  Not too hot or too cold. Perfect for an outdoor wedding.
  • Open Dates For a spring wedding, it is best to schedule the date during spring breaks when family and friends may be more likely to attend.
  • Fresh Harvest Something that may be overlooked is the wonderful season of harvest that spring brings. Many fruits and vegetables are in-season which can be nicely incorporated into your menu.
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  • Sniffle Season Spring also brings on allergy season, which may be problematic for guests attending an outdoor wedding.
  • Peak Prices With the peak event season comes peak prices. To get the venue you want at better price, you may have to sacrifice a weekend day for a weekday or an afternoon celebration.
  • Peak Wedding Season The majority of weddings, and many other events happen during the spring. Plan early to secure your desired date.

 

Summer

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  • Picturesque Scenery Beautiful weather is the perfect backdrop for a great outdoor wedding. Garden wedding ceremonies and cocktail parties al fresco are some of the best parts of summer nuptials. Whatever your vision for the day, from sandy beaches to lush mountain foliage, the photo opportunities and endless.  
  • Venue Availability With the rush of spring weddings winding down, you may find your preferred venue has availability in July and August. The Sunday of Labor Day weekend is also becoming an increasingly popular wedding date.    
  • Extended Celebrations Longer days and more sunlight can mean a longer celebration.
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  • Vacation Time Summer is the time when many people, especially those who have children, decide to go away on vacation. This may reduce the number of guests that are able to attend your wedding.
  • Heat and Humidity Don’t let bees, mosquitos and other flying creatures put a damper on your wedding day.  Incorporate citronella candles and natural bug repellants into your centerpieces and décor.  Citronella grass, catmint, rosemary, Basil and lavender all act as bug repellant without distracting from the fun.  
  • Peak Hotel Rates Summer is peak travel season. If you’re having a wedding in a location that requires guests book a hotel room for the night, rates may be much higher than expected.

 

Fall

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  • Magical Foliage The changing colors of the leaves make for an absolutely stunning back drop for an outdoor wedding.   
  • Weather In early fall, temperatures are usually still ideal with warm afternoon and crisp evenings.
  • Varied Venue Choices With the theme of fall brings the options of varied venues. Mountain resorts and state parks make for great places to host a fall wedding.
  • Dress Options Because of the weather, brides have more options of the kinds of dresses to wear. Longer sleeves, for example, are great options for the big day.
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  • Guest Availability Post Labor Day, is a popular time of year for fundraising, the High Holidays and end of year holiday preparations.
  • It may be a challenge finding a date that works for family and friends that doesn’t interfere with the end of year celebrations, work commitments and vacation plans.   
  • Competition for Dates October and November are prime fundraising months for most charities.  December is crammed with holiday parties. You may find you have very few viable options for end of year celebrations.  Book the venue ASAP if you prefer an end of year wedding day.       

Dates/events to keep in mind when planning your wedding; they may affect your guests’ availability.

• New Year’s and Christmas (Usually ranging between the 23th of December and the 5th of January)
• Super Bowl Weekend (Usually early February)
• Mother’s Day (early May)
• Memorial Day Weekend (Last weekend in May)
• First weekend in June (According to LJ Productions’ experience, this is the most common wedding weekend of the year)
• 4th of July Weekend
• Labor Day Weekend (Early September)
• The World Series (Sometime in October)
• Thanksgiving/Thanksgiving Weekend