Season, Months, Days and Hours: Choose Wisely

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Setting the right date for your wedding is very important, and many things must be considered with that – wedding season months, wedding venue availability, catering, photography, budget, etc. Actually, the wedding season in which you decide to have your big day can have a huge impact on the overall cost of your wedding. This article will detail the most expensive wedding periods, as well as the more affordable ones.

Popular Wedding Seasons and Off-Season Wedding Month

The most popular time to have a wedding is from late spring to early fall. This means that if you choose to have your wedding during this time, you should expect to pay more than in other seasons, and also expect wedding venues and vendors to be booked rather quickly, which makes a booking well in advance important.

The most popular months for weddings are June and September, the main reason for this is weather, as in most countries, the weather is mild (not too hot or cold) during these times. February with Valentine's Day and December with Christmas and New Year eve are also popular.

The off-season months (and therefore the cheapest months) would be November, April, March and January. It is during these months that venues and vendors are generally more affordable, although there is no guarantee. For those planning a wedding outdoors, the weather during these months may have a derogative impact on your big day, meaning that indoor weddings are more suitable. If you are concerned about affordability, then having your wedding during one of these months may be a wise choice.

More Timing Guides for Affordable Wedding

One should have now ascertained the fact that when you have your wedding can have a huge impact on the overall cost of your big day, the following tips about off-peak days and hours may provide further advice on how to save money on your wedding, if you are on a budget.

Off-Peak Days

Alongside wedding season months, which day you choose to have your wedding on can also have a big impact on the overall cost. Generally speaking, rentals for locations to hold the ceremony and the reception in are often more affordable on weekdays and Sunday. As most people work throughout the week, Saturday is the most popular day for a wedding as the majority of people will be off work and able to attend. For this reason, most things are more expensive on this day. If you chose to have your wedding on a week-day (or Sunday), then you will likely have cheaper rates on venues and vendors, as well as hotel rooms and airline flights. As weddings are usually planned well in advance, which is rarely a spur of the moment thing, your guests will have ample time to book a few days off of work to attend your special day.

Off-Peak Hours

When planning wedding, a large portion of one's budget often goes on catering (food and drink). This is because wedding guests are usually high in number, and everyone has to be fed, and most would like to drink too. For this reason, choosing the right time to have your wedding can significantly lower the cost of catering. For example, you may wish to have:

  • A ceremony at 9 AM followed by a tasteful brunch. As breakfast food is much more affordable than lunch or dinner food, this is a great option (if you do not mind getting up early).

  • An afternoon wedding followed by cake. Having your wedding in the afternoon (around 2 PM), and serving cake afterwards is a great way to cut the catering bill.

  • A late afternoon ceremony followed by a cocktail party. Instead of having a lavish three course meal prepared for all your guests, have a buffet/platter station, and/or waiters handing out hors d’oeuvres.

With the correct timing in regards to off-peak wedding season months, days, and time of day, you will be sure to give your guests (and yourself) a wonderful and affordable experience.