If you have recently said ‘yes’ to a proposal, your thoughts will more than likely be turning to the not insignificant task of planning your wedding! This is going to be one of the most important and memorable days of your lives so naturally, the pressure is on to get every last detail just right. Before you can start to think about venues, themes, catering and the cake, however, you’ll need to decide when to get married. This decision alone can be a stressful one so read on for a few tips on when to plan your wedding…
The most traditionally popular months
Generally speaking, the most popular months of the year for a wedding are May, June, July, August, September and October. These six months tend to offer the best of the weather, but within that period you need to choose your own personal preference. It’s usually not so hot in June or September that you’ll burn and sweat through the big day for example. October tends towards mild yet sunny days with all of the gorgeous orange, yellow and rust colours of autumn available free from Mother Nature as a beautiful backdrop.
Budget
To a certain extent, your budget will also determine when you should plan your wedding because the peak months are the most expensive. You can offset this by being flexible about the day of the week you get married but, if finances are tight it’s well worth looking at months outside of those peak periods in order to help you get the most out of your budget.
Don’t discount winter
Many brides will discount the winter months at first but, not only can this be a much cheaper period of the year to get married in, you’ll also find venues tend not to be so busy. What’s more, a wintery backdrop provides lots of creative possibilities for your décor and theme – a winter wonderland, with lots of candles and gorgeous fairy lights strung throughout your heated wedding marquee, can be just as enchanting as a summer fairytale.
Honeymoon
While it won’t be the deciding factor, the type of honeymoon you plan to take can also have an influence on when you get married. If you plan to go long haul, you’ll need to factor in the time of year when it’s best to visit so you avoid things such as the rainy season in tropical destinations.
Booking
Early bookings can often save money, inflation pushes prices up every year, if you book now for a wedding 2 years ahead, you will be able to lock in the price essentially getting a wedding at a 2-year previous price. By booking early you will also be able to choose delivery and removal dates to suit you, not whatever fits in with work previously booked in.