Setting the Date

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Setting a date does add some solidarity to your plans, doesn’t it? Once you pick a date, your plans really start moving forward. It might seem like an arbitrary decision, but don’t take it too lightly. There are some important topics to consider.

• When can you both take time off from work?

This one might seem silly, but it’s important to check with your employer to make sure that you can time off to have your wedding (and honeymoon) without sabotaging your job. If yours is the kind of work that requires you to be on-call, taking time off might be particularly tricky and the more time you have to work it out, the better.

• What’s your menses schedule like?

Whether or not you are planning to honeymoon right after the wedding, there’s still sure to be some hanky panky after the festivities and you wouldn’t want your period to interrupt that fun. If you haven’t been keeping track of your flow, start now. In three months, you should have a reasonable idea of “open” dates in the month. Of course, this one doesn’t apply if you’re both dudes…

• What season are you interested in?

Fall, winter, spring, and summer: each season has its pros and cons for weddings. A winter wedding will encounter weather delays for travelers, but there are few things as elegant as a winter wonderland event. Summer is a peak season for weddings, with its bright sunshine and blooming nature all around, but outdoor weddings held in the peak summer weeks have to plan for heat strokes and sunburns. Whatever season you choose, your wedding will be stunning; just don’t sell Mother Nature short when considering the pros and cons.

• How long do you want to be engaged?

Want to be married sooner rather than later? Want more time to save the cash you’ll need for your dream wedding? Is there anything else you’d like to accomplish, individually or as a couple, before you are married? The answers to these questions will play a role in deciding on a date. Sit down with your partner and work out a general time line of your foreseeable events and goals. This will help you find the date that will work out best for you both.

• Don’t forget about the money!

Getting married during peak wedding season, May to September, means everything is going to cost more, from catering to tux rentals. Tuesdays are cheaper than Saturdays. Going off-peak for your celebration could save you upwards of 30% on your total costs. Depending on your budget, this might play the biggest point to consider when choosing a date.

Once you decide on a date, start checking around to see if the other vendors you had  in mind (say the reception location you fell in love with) have your date available. Whatever day you choose, your wedding is going to be great!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by!!
The Married Lady’s advice: Did he propose to you in a blizzard? Were you on the beach when she said that she wanted to marry you? Was your first kiss on New Year’s? Keeping all these other things in mind, choose a date/time of year/location that means something to you. My husband and I met on June 30th, 2007. We were legally wed on June 30th, 2008 and our wedding was held on June 30th, 2012. Choosing a date or season that is meaningful to you as a couple will add another layer of “special” to your event.