You’ve got engaged, now what? Besides telling your family and friends (and probably throwing an engagement party or two!), now would probably be a good time to have a talk with your now fiancé about when to have the actual wedding. But it’s not as simple as taking out your calendars and pointing at a date. There are a lot of things you have to take into consideration. So if you’ve got the time, go ahead and ask yourselves these ten questions that’ll help you choose when you’ll be wed.
Before you make up your mind, think about dates that are important to you. Maybe you want to get married on the day he proposed? Maybe you have your heart set on a certain feast day, or are looking at a certain number combination? Remember that your wedding date will forever be imprinted on your minds (hello, anniversaries!), so if you have a special date in mind, you can opt to have your big day then.
If you’re the type of couple who is particular about certain things, especially in wedding planning, then you’ll probably require a long engagement. On average, it takes a couple about a year to plan their wedding, but if you need more time, it’s never to early to think ahead. You can look at dates that are 14-18 months after your engagement if you need time. On the other hand, if you think you can plan your wedding in less than a year, then we say go for it. It may be a bit more difficult, but don’t let that stop you!
This is actually a very important question that some couples may not even consider when thinking of a wedding date. But this is a crucial question, especially if you’re looking at a destination wedding. If you’re getting married out of town, then you have to give your guests ample time to prepare for the festivities. It’s only proper manners to tell them way in advance if they have to book tickets and find accommodations, after all, right?
If you’ve got your heart set on certain vendors, then you’ll have to check on their availability before choosing a date. One tip would be to choose only your top three priority vendors, and then look for a common date that they are all available on. Of course, you can always set your date before you book your vendors, but if you want your dream team, then it’s always best to double check first!
Keep in mind that there are certain peak seasons in the wedding industry too, and there are some months that are more expensive to get married on (e.g. December) than others. So consider that too when deciding on your date. If you already have a budget in mind, check to see if your date is at a peak season (it’s always best to double check with your vendors)–if it is and you can’t work your budget around it, you can always opt to choose another date during another month.
Do you want to get married on a weekday? A Saturday? A Sunday? Even days play a part when choosing the date you’ll be getting married on. Also think about those who have work, your guests who go to school, and the travel time it takes on a certain day to get to your particular venue and back. Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes vendors will charge higher on weekends than weekdays–just so you know!
Okay, so the Philippines might not have four seasons, but even the weather is something you’ll want to think about, especially if you want to have a beach or garden wedding. Do you want it sunny and warm? Think April to May. If you want it windy and cool, then December to January usually hits the spot. Also try to avoid the rainy season if you’re having an outdoor wedding or reception.
Do you want to get married around Christmas time? Do you want to get married on a holiday so that more guests can come? Or sometimes the opposite thinking works too: Is there a certain holiday or event you want to steer clear of? Whether you want to get married around major events or holidays is certainly up to you. Just make sure to give your guests due notice so they can prepare ahead of time!
Another thing you can do before you choose your wedding date is to share a few dates you had in mind with guests you absolutely must have at your wedding. If there’s someone who isn’t available on a certain date, then maybe you can adjust. (Btw, this is only for those special VIPs you just have to have at your wedding. Because if you do this for everyone, then you’ll never choose a date!)
The last thing you wanna do is walk all over someone else’s day. So if you know that some of your friends and family members are getting married on a certain date, maybe shy away from the date they already chose. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule by any means, at least you’ll be able to attend their wedding, and they’ll be able to attend yours. Win-win, right?