Discover When The Best Time Is to Get Married
What's The Best Time Of Year To Get Married?
What's the best time of year to get married?
Every year, thousands of engaged couples ask themselves this very question. For some of you, it might be an obvious answer. For others, it might be a question you wrestle with for months!
When you get married can have a huge impact on your wedding. It can drastically affect your overall costs, color schemes, wedding dress, location, etc. It can even change your guest list.
The bottom line is this. The time of year you choose to get married is a critical decision and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Remember, you only get one chance to have the wedding of your dreams. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at the different times of year you can get married, along with the upsides and downsides.
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best time of year to get married
When it comes to choosing the time of year to get married, we essentially have four options - spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Spring: March, April, & May
Summer: June, July, & August
Fall: September, October, & November
Winter: December, January, & February
1. spring
You've probably just spent the past 6 months cooped up in the house trying to avoid the cold and snow. But, spring has sprung and it's such an exciting time with fresh hope and a promise of warmer weather.
What are some of the issues with spring weddings?
Weather
Spring weddings can produce a lot of variable weather conditions and it tends to produce a lot of precipitation whether it be snow or rain. One day it feels like summer, the next it's snowing. If you're looking at having a Spring wedding, May is the best of the three months and late May is even better.
Spring time also tends to be a very windy time of year; therefore, if you're looking at a late May wedding outdoors, it can be pretty chilly.
Limited Beauty
Spring is nice because flowers are starting to bloom and the trees are starting to grow leaves again, but it takes until about mid-May before we really notice those beautiful flowers and leaves. If you really want outdoor wedding photos, they likely won't be as pretty when compared to summer or fall weddings.
What are some of the benefits of spring weddings?
Cost
Spring weddings are just prior to the official start of "wedding season;" therefore, you will likely save some money by having a spring wedding. Usually, you have more options when it comes to your wedding venue too as they have more availability.
[How To Budget A Wedding]
2. summer
The warm sunshine kissing your skin, the soft green grass under your feet, and the aroma of beautiful flowers flowing on a warm summer breeze are the wonderful ingredients that make-up a summer wedding.
What are some of the issues with summer weddings?
Heat, Humidity, & Thunderstorms
Many couples dream of an outdoor summer wedding and if the weather cooperates, it can be a wonderful experience. However, weather is once again something to consider.
Summer weather produces potentially dangerous weather, especially when we get that hazy, hot, and humid weather with the potential for severe thunderstorms.
The best piece of advice when it comes to summer weddings, is have a contingency plan. Unfortunately, these summer storms can pop up unexpectedly, so have a backup plan to move the wedding indoors if the weather is questionable.
Cost
Summer weddings ring in the official wedding season. You will not find very many discounts, if any, because there is such a high demand in the summer months.
What are the benefits of a summer wedding?
Romantic & Beautiful
Warm and sunny days that make for a beautiful, and romantic setting for an outdoor wedding.
Summer weddings produce beautiful wedding photography as the flowers are in full bloom and the colors are rich, and vibrant!
Less Cancellations
Unlike winter, and even spring weddings, you don't have to worry that a snow storm will dump 2 feet of snow on us potentially ruining your wedding. If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, a summer wedding is a safe bet!
3. Fall
The air is cool, crisp, and refreshing. The red, orange, and yellow leaves demonstrating their brilliant colors in the fall sun. Fall in the Northeast is one of the best times of year and it's great for weddings too!
What are some of the issues with fall weddings?
Timing
Many couples want a fall wedding for the ambience and beautiful wedding photography. However, the fall colors are often impacted by the type of summer we have. The leaves changing color are affected by hot and dry weather compared to cool and rainy. Weather doesn't only impact the vibrance of the colors, but it can also change when the leaves reach their "peak" color.
"Peak" colors usually only last a couple of weeks, so trying to plan your wedding around the fall colors can be a bit of a challenge.
What are some of the benefits to having a fall wedding?
The Brilliant Colors
The colors of fall in the Northeast can be breathtaking! They can add amazing detail to your wedding photos and make them something truly unique.
Weather
The fall months include September, October, and November. Historically speaking, September has been a beautiful time of year. The temperatures are very comfortable and we seem to get a lot of sunny days. This can be perfect for having an outdoor wedding.
If you're looking at a Late September or October wedding, there's a possibility you can get away with having a late day outdoor ceremony, however, you will likely want to have the reception inside as the temperatures will quickly drop off during the evening hours.
4. Winter
Winter is definitely the most challenging time of the year to plan a wedding, but it does offer some unique opportunities to make your wedding truly unique!
What are some of the issues with having a winter wedding?
Weather
Okay, so weather is the obvious obstacle when it comes to winter weddings. It can be bitter cold, snowy, and downright miserable at times. What happens if Mother Nature plans a big snowstorm on your big day? This could have a significant impact on guests being able to attend your wedding and at $200-$250 per person, it can be a tough pill to swallow.
Wedding Photography
The weather is a huge driving force behind winter wedding photography. Yes, we all expect it to be cold, but if your wedding falls on one of those bone shattering bitterly cold days, you can probably forget about capturing those unique outdoor images that last a lifetime.
Inconvenient
Winter weather is very inconvenient when it comes to transporting people, wedding attire, wedding decorations, etc., it can be quite frustrating.
What are the benefits of winter weddings?
Cost
The winter wedding months are all "off-season;" therefore, you will typically find significant cost savings across the board! It's very likely you will save a couple thousand dollars on our overall wedding expenses.
Decorations
When it comes to wedding decorations and accents, winter weddings offer a lot of different options. You can really get creative and add to the overall vibe of your day. You might include additional holiday lighting around your venue, a winter ice sculpture, etc. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
pick the season that's right for your wedding
Okay, so there you have it. There's a lot to consider when choosing the time of year to get married. Before rushing into it, take your time and determine what's most important to you!