7 Things to Consider Before Picking Your Wedding Date

You are engaged to marry the love of your life, and now it’s time to pick a wedding date – the date that you will get married. Who knows, choosing a wedding date could be so dang hard! I mean, all you have to do is just look at the calendar and pick a date when you and your love are free, right? Wrong! Double wrong!!!! It may seem like this is an easy task. Still, many couples find it hard to select a date for their wedding because they don’t realize that there are some things to consider before picking a date.

So, let’s just dive right in – here are 7 things to consider before you pick your wedding date:

1. Wedding Style

Consider Your Wedding Style – what type of wedding experience do you want? Do you want a relaxing beach wedding with exotic cocktails and warm sunshine or an elegant indoor wedding with formal wear?

The style of wedding you want will help you pick the best wedding date. For example, if you plan on having a beach wedding, you wouldn’t want to select a summer date. Why? Because summer in South Florida and Pretty much all of Florida is pretty dang hot and humid. Furthermore, Florida summers are known for the torrential afternoon downpours and thunderstorms. Did I mention hurricanes? Oh yeah, it’s the hurricane season too.

This doesn’t mean you can’t or you shouldn’t pick a summer date for your wedding. You just need to be aware of the weather conditions and make alternate plans. If you plan an elopement or a destination wedding in Florida, make sure you are talking to your wedding planner about alternative options. Generally, a season wedding planner will give you the right information and help you pick the best wedding date.

2. Work Schedule

Consider Your Work Schedule – dah! I know this seems very obvious, but you can get lost in all the excitement when you begin to consider a possible wedding date. Ensure that you both check in with your employer and give them heads-up on the date you are considering for your wedding.

Even if you pick a date around the time you generally take a vacation, you still want to put your boss on notice. Sometimes your employer could have plans that you are not aware of and could affect your vacation time.

Also, don’t forget to check the work schedule of your immediate family and close friends. Some jobs may have restrictions on vacation during peak seasons. As you consider the work schedule, keep in mind that you will not be able to pick a date that will be best for everyone. Therefore, make sure you choose a date for you and your partner and those closest to you.

3. Planning Timeline is Critical to The Date You choose to Get Married

Consider Planning Timeline – this one is significant because it will determine how hectic your planning will be. Consider picking a wedding date far enough in the future to give you ample time for planning. The typical wedding planning timeline is 12 to 14 months. The bigger your wedding, the more time you will need to plan.

If you are in a crunch for time, there are a couple of things you could do. You could elope and just get married, just the two of you, or you can plan a small destination wedding. The thing to keep in mind if you are considering an elopement or a destination wedding is that many resorts are often booked up during peak season. Of course, you could just get married at the courthouse and then plan a celebration later.

4. Significant Dates

Consider Significant dates – I have done many weddings on grandparents’ or parents’ birthdays. Couples also like to pick a wedding date around the date that they first met or got engaged.

5. The Seasons Definitely Will Affect The Wedding Date You Choose

Consider the Seasons – for the most part; South Florida is more tropical with less of a temperature range throughout the year. If you ask me, I would say that we only have two seasons here in Miami – hot, humid and wet, and cool.

The Summer and Fall are hot, humid, and rainy, and the Winter and Spring are cool with much less rain. The weather is gorgeous here in Miami during the Winter and Spring months. Hence, the reason for our peek wedding season is in February and March.

6. Your Budget

Consider Your Budget – knowing how much you can afford to spend will allow you to select a date that supports your budget. For example, many vendors and venues will offer a discounted rate during the off-season. Some vendors offer a discounted rate for weekdays, Mondays through Thursdays.

7. Where Will You Get Married Can Have an Impact on Your Wedding Date?

Consider the location – some locations are more desirable than others and will have a premium price during the high season. Getting married in Miami Beach will cost you more during the high season as opposed to the off-season. Therefore, knowing your location can help you decide on a wedding date that best suits your budget.

8. Bonus

Consider Major Events & Holidays – although your wedding is about the love and commitment of you and your partner, your close family and friends will play a unique role in witnessing and celebrating with you. You don’t want to select a date that will create conflict for your loved ones, so try to avoid dates like the Superbowl, Ultra Music Festival, Christmas, New Year, etc.

Have questions? Let’s connect here.

If you like this post, you may also be interested in these other posts:

5 Reasons to Consider Destination Weddings in Miami

The Ultimate Wedding Guide for Planning Your Dream Wedding

Why I Became a Wedding Photographer!