I guarantee the first thing that went through your head after you saw the ring and said YES was “We have to set a date!”. Picking a wedding date makes it feel so much more real. Once its set in stone then you can start planning the rest of the wedding. But there are some important things to consider before picking a date.
1: What's Important to You?
My wife and I got married on Leap Day, other couples get married on the anniversary of their first date, some couples pick holidays. It can be more meaningful to pick a wedding date that holds great significance for you two. Sometimes that just not practical for a wedding though. The date might land on a Tuesday or deep in winter when you really wanted a summer wedding. So being open to the rest of the tips could save you a ton of stress and even money!
2: Time of Year
Think about how you want your wedding to feel. Each season can dramatically change how your feels. Spring has beautiful fresh flowers. Summer has the warm sun and carefree vibes. Fall has changing leaves and mild temps. Winter brings a picturesque frozen backdrop. Your job might also affect what time of year you have your wedding. Teachers would want a summer wedding to maximize their time off. Financial professionals might want something later in the year after tax season is over. This may not always be the case but something to think about!
3: The Venue
Wedding Venues, as well as photographers book, wedding dates 10-16 months out. So you may pick the perfect wedding date and the perfect venue or photographer might already be booked. If you know the time of year or season in which you want to get married you can ask the venue and photographer for their availability and have the flexibility to choose something that works perfectly for you
4: How Long Of An Engagement Do You Want
Maybe you want to hear those wedding bells as soon as possible. The average engagement period in recent years is about 15 months and is getting longer. Maybe the perfect wedding date lands on a Thursday this year, but next year it lands on a Friday. If you can be patient enough to wait that long it could really pay off. That extra year could also give you additional time to save so your dream wedding venue isn’t as far of a stretch!
5: Price
After shooting weddings for years I can tell you the most popular months for couples to tie the knot are May, August, and September (With October catching up quick!) Venues also know this and sometimes charge extra to have your wedding in those months. If you have your heart set on a venue that may be out of your budget try being flexible with your date. Some venues have a discount for Sunday weddings. It can potentially save you a ton of money for the same great venue!
Picking a wedding date is a huge step in the right direction. Using the tips I shared above I hope you were able to get a better idea of how to pick the right wedding date for you. All of this can seem stressful though I know. You may feel like if it’s this difficult to just pick a date you’re going to be pulling your hair out by the time you walk down the aisle. Well, don't worry because I’m here to help! From my years of shooting weddings with some of the coolest couples around Indianapolis, I have learned a thing or two about how to have a stress free wedding day.
