How To Pick The Perfect Date For Your DC Wedding
With so many couples popping the question between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s Holiday season we thought that a great relevant wedding planning topic would be how to pick the perfect date for your wedding. Many couples have dates that are special and significant to them that they try to hit such as the anniversary of when they met or their first date. Some like to include a holiday season. My wife and I for example were married on Christmas Eve. A terrible idea if you plan to have children by the way! Still, others like the numerology of dates such as 10/10/20 which will be the most in-demand wedding date this year!
Where are your guests coming from?
There are other considerations for you such as your guest list. How many are from out of town and will need overnight accommodations? If your date is over a holiday weekend such as July 4th, the room rates will likely be higher and have a greater impact on your guest’s budget. If these out of town guests have children, the school year is another thing to consider.
Where is the venue located?
We serve two vastly different markets. In the Harrisburg, Lancaster area, there are few airports for out of town guests and there is much less traffic congestion than in the Frederick, Fairfax area we also serve. Many venues offer a discount for Friday weddings. I am all about saving money but if your wedding is on a Friday and the route your guests must take to get there is route 270, take that into consideration. That Friday discount might not be such a bargain after all.
Our advice is to start your wedding planning by thinking about where your venue is going to be and the time of year most convenient for not only you but the majority of the guests you would like to attend.
Picking the Perfect Wedding Day: Picking the day
Typically, couples choose a date a year or more from the date of their getting engaged. Some may be engaged for two years or more as the plan and save for their dream wedding.
Planning your wedding out over a year gives you time to:
Create a wedding budget.
Think about the type of wedding you want.
Select where you want to host your wedding.
Build your wedding team to execute your vision.
This by no means implies that it takes at least 12 months to plan a great event. It certainly doesn’t. With the right team members, you can count on the professionals to pull off a fantastic event that will be everything you’ve been dreaming about!
Picking the Perfect Wedding day: Weather Research
Once you have a wedding date in mind, I always recommend checking the historical weather for the day you are choosing. It may not matter as much if you're planning an indoor ceremony and reception, but it may be an issue if you're hoping for a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony. Many venues have the backup indoor ceremony and reception space, but why risk cramped quarters or less than you wished for or expected on your wedding day?
Thankfully there are many easy to use tools to determine the likelihood of a wedding day wash out. Once the website tool I suggest is Wunderground. This site will provide you with historical rainfall by date data to give you an idea of what to anticipate on your big day.
Picking the Perfect Wedding Day: Conclusion
Let’s be honest, come rain or come shine you are marrying the person you love most in the world! There is nothing more important than that.
That said, you only get one shot at this so this article was written to tip the scale of having a perfect weather day when all of your preferred guests can attend, in your favor. I hope that this has helped you on your journey to planning the perfect wedding.
For more planning tips I suggest that you check out our blog page. We have a wealth of information for anyone planning a wedding or corporate event in the Lancaster PA area or in the Frederick MD | Leesburg Virginia area. To receive our “10 Wedding Insider Tips” simply follow this link to receive the eBook.
Perfect Harmony Entertainment is an award-winning DJ Service provider serving Central PA, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. We would love to talk to you about your wedding day.
ADDITIONAL FAQ
How do you pick a wedding date?
1. Pick a date that is significant to you.
2. Pick your favorite season.
3. If the honeymoon location is important, pick the season you most want to go there.
4. If the value you are important select an off-season month and/or a Friday or Sunday.
What is the cheapest month to get married?
Generally speaking, you will save the most money by having your wedding in January, February, March, and November.
What is the most popular day of the week to get married?
Saturday is by far the most popular day of the week for a wedding. According to “The Knot”, 70% of weddings take place on Saturdays.
What are the most popular wedding months?
The three most popular months for a wedding are June, September, and October. The weather is typically perfect for an outdoor ceremony and even an outdoor reception if desired.