So you or your loved one got down on one knee and popped the question! Congratulations, that’s a huge step in marrying the love of your life. You’re sure to remember this day when you’re telling friends and family all about it.
But even when you’re describing when your partner popped the question, your friends and family will have another day in mind. “When’s the big day?,” they’ll ask. And you, a newly proposed-to fiancee will be caught by surprise. You’re not sure when your wedding will be, but whether it’s in three weeks or three years, you have to choose one. From avoiding time conflicts and natural inconveniences, here’s our guide on how to choose your wedding date.
Before diving deep into the process, keep in mind that planning your wedding can be a stressful experience. However, the stress is nothing compared the memories you’ll cherish for all your life. Throughout the process, it’s best to be communicative, flexible and open to ideas.
VENUE
Though it may be just natural to head to your calendar and mark a specific date for your wedding, figuring out your big day is much more complex than that. There are many things you must take into consideration and one of the biggest is your preferred venue.
Choosing a venue is a task within itself, but knowing your wedding style, budget and number of attendees can help you narrow that down. Unfortunately, event spaces operate on their own calendar separate from yours. Some have local events to prepare for, some have times where prices surge.
We highly suggest speaking to your preferred venue’s representative as early as possible to learn more about what times would work best for your wedding. This would allow you to build a relationship with venue staff before your big day and will give you a clearer idea on what is and isn’t possible. We also suggest gathering a list of multiple venues that can cater to your desires.
If your heart is still set on a specific venue that’s perfect for your wedding size and budget, you have to be willing to be a little more flexible with your date. For example, a Hollywood hotel can have the ballroom and banquet hall of your dreams, but if your ideal wedding date falls on the same date as a huge awards show, it might be difficult to book.
If you’re not sure when exactly you’d want your wedding but have a list of venues in mind, acquiring that kind of information might help you solidify a day for your “I do’s.”
Knowing venues’ prime seasons should also help you determine your wedding date when you look at your budget. If it’s not in your budget to hold a grand summer wedding in the tropics, it’s probably not the best time to do it. Instead, you might want to opt for a less popular season.
MEANINGFUL DATES
If, after the engagement, you’re struggling to come up with a wedding date, you can always add important life moments and dates to find some steady ground.
Some common dates people revolve their wedding dates around include birthdays, holidays and even loved ones’ anniversaries. Celebrating either of the mentioned days in addition to a wedding can only bring more love to a marriage. It might also be worth taking into account vacation days from work as you can already allocate the amount of time you’d like to take off for the wedding as well as the honeymoon.
In different cultures, there are specific dates and seasons meant to be auspicious for newlyweds. In Chinese culture, it may be good luck to set a date during the double spring or leap month. But it is also unlucky to tie the knot on your or your partner’s birthday. Greeks and Romans, on the other hand have believed that getting married during a leap year can be especially unlucky for couples.
If you’re still struggling to set a date, after referring to almost all of the significant dates in your and your fiancé(e)’s lives, there’s no need to worry. Most of the time, it’s best to remember that though your date may seem random, it will be one worth remembering for years to come.
ANY DATE
Again it’s worth noting that if your selected date works for you and your loved ones, even if it’s not particularly meaningful or significant, your chosen day will be one that you’ll hold close in your heart. If you’re indifferent about which date, you might have an advantage.
Instead of being decided by any significance or obligation, your wedding date can be determined by other factors including seasons and venue prime times. If this is the case, you can breathe a little bit easier. It might behoove you to think about what season during which you’d like to tie the knot. If you’re thinking a tropical wedding in the Bahamas, summer might be your best bet. Think anywhere from spring to August.
If you’re hoping for a winter wonderland wedding, you can try for the winter months. Thinking in accordance to the change of seasons can help you anticipate what your venue might need to fend off natural occurrences, either rain or shine. You’ll also allow your guests to do the same.
There’s more flexibility with choosing a date if you’re hoping for both an indoor wedding ceremony and reception. Unlike outdoor or destination venues, you’ll have more of a window for a perfect date when you’re not worrying about tropical heat or winter storms.
Getting to your dream wedding day is going to take some patience, flexibility and a little elbow grease, but you’re definitely going to get there. It’s hard to see that when you don’t have a date in mind, but it’s important to know that your path there might not be one you’re thinking of. Whether you land your wedding on your perfect day or you have adjusted based on circumstances, there’s no one right way to do a wedding. When you finally find that date, stick with it and hold on for when it arrives, you and your spouse will be in for the beautiful ride that is married life.
About CineStory
We are CineStory Films, a Wedding Videography and Wedding Photography company based in Los Angeles. Having Videographers and Photographers on our team, allows us to achieve great results consistently. Our approach is to get to know our couples on a personal level. Connecting with our clients allows us to tell their stories in a symbolic and unique way. The passion and experience we have, combined with our efficiency and professionalism, enables us to create timeless images and videos.