Setting Your Wedding Date

The process of setting the wedding date is not a difficult one, but it is filled with hazards. Much like a golf game, your task is to find a way to drive down the center of the fairway, avoiding as many of the sand traps, roughs, and water hazards as possible. But, also like the game of golf, finding yourself in the long grass of setting your wedding date is not the end of the world. It will just slow you down.

Choosing the date of your wedding can be accomplished in primarily three possible ways:

1. The first, though not recommended, is to just choose a date that sounds good to you. This is somewhat akin to walking up to the tee on a golf course, putting on a blindfold and swinging in the general direction of the hole. In theory, the duffer might even get a hole in one, but most likely they will end up in trouble.
2. The second approach to setting your wedding date is to plan based on the availability of the wedding venue you want to hold your ceremony and reception in. This approach has the advantage of guaranteeing that you get that dream location that you want - as long as you can afford it. The plan's disadvantage though is that it locks you in before you have considered your guest list (is the facility even large enough - or is it too large?), or all the other elements in your wedding budget meaning that you might have to settle in other areas.
3. The third way of setting your wedding date is to begin with your wedding guest list. Once you know how many people you will realistically be inviting you will know what facilities are even options for your wedding day. But do not stop there. Consider the calendar too. Are there major family events, or close family or friends who might be already scheduled to be away during the time you hope to be getting married? Do not forget to look for holidays or local civic events that will impact your choice of wedding dates by raising prices on hotels, flowers, or catering.

Of course, do not forget to consider the impact the season of year will have on your wedding date choice.  For example, summer is a popular choice for weddings in part because of the warm weather but also because students are more likely to be free from school.  Still a bride might choose a fall wedding or winter wedding because of the unique design opportunities each season brings.

Once you have decided on a way to set your wedding date, then you need to start doing the work. This will entail visiting facilities that might work for your specific wedding celebration while considering the factors listed above in the order of your own priority.

Obviously you want a wedding venue that will accommodate your wedding party, but is it important that your wedding be the large extravaganza or can you let the size of a particular venue you love dictate your choice to leave someone off the guest list? Does the look of the venue fit with the theme for the decor you have planned for your wedding? These are all factors that will play into your decision as to when to establish your date for your nuptials.

When you have worked through all these issues, you will then need to work with your short list of locations to host your wedding ceremony and reception (some weddings use multiple locations, others use a single location – the choice is up to you) to find a mutually viable date and it might feel like you are starting all over, but do not despair. You are making progress in setting your wedding date.

When your choice is finally made. When your calendar is set and all is arranged with the venue(s) that will host your event, it is wise to press on and make sure that as little as possible can get in the way. Do this by contacting your immediate families and the bridal party without delay with official word so they do not schedule something conflicting with your wedding date. After you do, make arrangements to purchase and use “save the date” cards to notify everyone on your intended guest list that you have indeed, set your wedding date and that you will be inviting them as the wedding gets closer.

Setting Your Wedding Date