Congratulations, you’re engaged! Once you’ve shared your excitement with family and friends and insured that sparkly new ring, it’s time to starting thinking about setting a date for your “I dos.” Not sure where to start? Here are some of the most important factors you’ll want to consider when deciding which of the year’s 365 days to make yours!
1.Season/Weather. This is a big one, especially if you’re planning an outdoor wedding. You don’t want to accidentally schedule your al fresco ceremony for the hottest part of the year or your beach wedding during hurricane season (yikes!). Even for an indoor wedding, the season can often play a part in determining the mood and tone of your event. And, of course, if flowers are a big factor for you, it’s worth it to remember that certain kinds of flowers are only available (or affordable!) at certain times of the year.
2.Budget. If you’re looking to save money, planning your wedding for the wedding off-season can really make a difference. December through March is the least common time to be married and can often net you a discount. Similarly, many venues are cheaper to rent on Friday or Sunday, rather than Saturday (the most popular wedding day).
3.Your Schedule. Depending on your professions, there may be certain times of the year that are impractical for a wedding. For instance, if you’re an accountant, you might want to avoid having your wedding in February or March or if you’re a teacher, you might not want to schedule the big day for the beginning of the school year. Before you fall in love with a month or season, it’s a good idea to take this into account.
4.Planning time. Planning a wedding can be a very big undertaking. It’s important to be realistic about how long you will need to ensure everything is according to your vision. For instance, if you want a custom wedding dress, that can take a year or more to be ready. You’ll be much happier if you give yourself plenty of time to ensure everything is perfect, rather than scrambling around when it gets to be crunch time.
5.Significance. Many couples choose a wedding date that has some kind of significance for them, such as a birthday or the anniversary of their first date. Others like to choose dates that have cool numeric properties, such as 12/13/14 (remember that?).
6.Venue. If there’s a particular North Jersey venue that you have your heart set on for your “I dos,” then it’s a good idea to try picking a range of potential dates rather than settling on just one. Venues, especially popular venues, have a habit of booking up quickly, so it pays to be flexible in choosing the date for your big day. Partyspace’s unique Venue Availability Calendars can help you here—each venue listing features an up-to-date calendar which lets you know what days that venue has available for booking. There’s even a “follow” option which allows you to track a particular date and receive alerts if it becomes available.