One of the first—and ّّBIGGEST decisions you’ll make in your wedding planning journey is choosing the perfect date. Your wedding date sets the tone for your entire celebration, affects your budget and availability of vendors, and helps guide all the planning that follows. So how do you choose the perfect date? Here are the most important things to consider before you circle anything on the calendar.
#01: Your Dream Season and Weather Preferences
Do you picture a spring garden ceremony, a warm summer soirée, or a cozy fall celebration? Your ideal atmosphere often starts with the season. Your first step to selecting a date is thinking about your favorite time of the year. Things to consider as you begin to select the date is thinking about the type of wardrobe you'd like (flowy dress or faux-fur shawl?), and how the weather might impact your venue or theme. Are you and your partner okay with standing in the heat for your ceremony or would you prefer cooler weather. Once you pick a season, you can narrow things down to a specific month.
#02: Venue Availability
If you have your heart set on a specific venue, their availability might dictate your date. Once you’ve narrowed down your venue choices, start reaching out to vendor coordinators to determine what weekends are available. Many popular venues book out 12–18 months in advance—especially for peak seasons like late spring and early fall—so be flexible and reach out early. The good news is, many weddings are becoming popular on Fridays and Sundays, so ask for weekend availability if you’re okay with days beyond Saturday. Quick tip, if you truly are flexible on the day of the week or the season, you’ll have more options – and often these options may come with lower overall costs.
#03: Significant Dates and Sentimental Value
When you think of dates, think about dates that may hold a special meaning to you and your partner. Maybe it’s the anniversary of your first date, or the day you got engaged. Or perhaps there is a date that honors a loved one that has passed. Selecting a sentimental date can add even more meaning to your wedding day. You and your partner will need to determine whether or not you plan on scheduling around or on a sentimental date. However, keep in mind that major holidays can sometimes drive up costs and limit guest availability.
#04: Budget Considerations
Your budget should drive the majority of your decisions. We highly recommend that you don’t stretch your budget to fit venues or peak seasons that you cannot afford. Your wedding date can have a big impact on your budget. Saturdays in peak season are the most expensive. If you're open to a weekday, Sunday, or off-season celebration (think winter or early spring), you may find better rates and more availability with vendors.
#05: Consider your Guests
While it’s good to think about all your guests, depending on your guest list size, it may be impossible to do. So, we recommend you think about your VIP guests (close family members and friends.) Ask them if there are any major holidays, school schedules, or travel constraints that could impact their ability to attend. We know that you want your family and friends present
Think about your VIP guests. Are there major holidays, school schedules, or travel constraints that could impact their ability to attend? Giving friends and family enough notice (especially for destination weddings) ensures your guest list stays full.
#06: Major Local Events
This one may often be overlooked, but you’ll want to research your potential wedding date for any local events or national major events. Local events can impact parking, increase airplane ticket costs – or even impact overall accommodation fees for your guests. It’s best to double-check if your potential date coincides with large events in your city—like sports games, festivals, or conferences—which could affect traffic, hotel availability, and pricing. A quick Google search can save you major headaches later.
#07: Don’t Stress, Give Yourself Grace
We’ve met many couples who think they have to immediately select a wedding venue. But, unless you’re under a time crunch, or want to elope, you have time. Let me say it again, you have time. We recommend selecting your venue about 9-12 months out. This will give you enough time to have a fair selection of venues to look at and consider, as well as the ability and time to book all of your other vendors. So, don’t stress or feel like you must book a venue right out the gate. It is okay to wait and see what options are available. Make the tours, make an informed decision and find the right venue that fits you, your partner, AND your budget.
Here’s the bottom line – there is no perfect date. But there is a perfect date for you and your partner. It can be impossible planning around everyone, so just think about your VIP guests. Capture the essence of your favorite seasons and pick a day of the week that fits in your budget. Ensure that you plan and check for any major events or conflicts that may increase your guests’ (or yours for that matter) stress, and don’t forget to stick with the budget. But, whatever decision you make, remember that your wedding will be meaningful, because it is YOURS.
Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 19 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.
