Prime wedding dates book up very quickly these days, thanks to all of the weddings rescheduled because of the pandemic. This means that more and more couples are considering weekday weddings. If you’re one of them, here are some important factors to consider.

The Bright Side:

You can save money. Saturdays are still the gold standard for weddings, so choosing any other day of the week offers significant savings. Not only will you save money, but your guests may save money, too. Getting married on a weekday allows guests who are traveling from out of town to take advantage of cheaper hotel dates. They can also often find better deals on flights with midweek travel.

You can book your special date without worrying. If you have a specific date in mind – like the anniversary of your first date or Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary – often it can mean waiting years for that date to fall on a weekend. But if you open yourself up to a weekday wedding, you might be able to celebrate that special date right away! It also allows you to get married on a numerically-significant date, like 4/24/24, that doesn’t fall on a weekend.

You’ll have greater choice in vendors. With so many weddings postponed from 2020 through 2022, more couples than usual are planning their wedding for 2024. That means landing your first choice vendors may not be easy — but choosing a weekday wedding reduces the competition. Couples who get married on a weekday can get the best-of-the-best, since most venues and vendors are usually available outside of the weekend. For a smaller wedding, choosing a weekday may make it easier to reach a venue’s minimum guest requirements. Weekends are always in demand. Having a Wednesday wedding not only means your preferred vendors are probably available but also that they may be more willing to be flexible with minimums and restrictions.

You’ll have extra party days. Turn your wedding into an all-weekend affair! Kick off with the main event on Friday. A Friday wedding also adds a second day to gather with guests and continue the celebration, and opens up Sunday for travel for out-of-town guests. If you’re planning a destination wedding, your guests may have been planning on making a bigger trip out of your wedding anyway, so hosting the main event during the week gives them extra time to enjoy the location as tourists.

You’ll probably have a smaller guest count. This may be positive or negative, depending upon who you ask, but if you are trying to reduce your guest list, a weekday wedding is a natural way to provide a more intimate experience.

The Not-so-Bright Side:

You may get some surprising no-shows. If you’re considering a weekday wedding, you’ll want to make sure before locking in the date that everyone who absolutely has to participate can make it work.

You may have to start later in the day. It’s likely most of your guests will be coming straight from work, so consider having the ceremony start at sunset or later in the evening to allow time for getting ready and smooth travel to the venue.

Guests may have to leave the festivities early. Don’t expect guests to party all night long; most will have to work the next day. Schedule your most important reception events first, like the meal, the toasts, the first dance, and the cake cutting. That way, your guests can experience as much as possible before they have to leave for an early-morning wake-up call.

You should be prepared for last-minute cancellations. Weekdays can be more unpredictable; work meetings can come up unexpectedly or run late, short-notice business trips can happen, commutes can be brutal with almost no warning, or kids’ events end up taking priority. Plan for last-minute drop-offs if unavoidable complications land on your guests at the last-minute.

Some vendors may not have their A-teams available. You may find that some venues may not be set up for weekday event as large or complex as a wedding, since most of their wedding and banquet staff are usually only available on the weekends. This is even more common if you choose a seasonal destination, because local businesses and restaurants may be closed or have earlier hours on weekdays (usually Mondays and Tuesdays). Be sure to ask whether your venue is prepared to host events throughout the week before you lock in your location.

The Bottom Line:

All things considered, the up side for a weekday wedding probably outweighs the down side. Saving money, picking the date you want, having a wider choice of venues and vendors are all outstanding benefits. Sure, your guest list may be shorter than you expected and the party might end a bit earlier, but does a wedding with just your closest family and friends actually sound so bad?

(Many thanks to https://www.wedgewoodweddings.com/blog/7-reasons-winter-wedding for these terrific insights!)

Looking for a secret weapon to a stunning, dramatic, and magical wedding? Look no further. The answer is…wait for it…Winter! From snow-capped mountains to easier planning, you’ll warm up to these unique winter wedding advantages. If you’re a sucker for holiday movies and sipping hot toddies in front of a roaring fire, then you’ll fall in love with the perks of a wintertime wedding. It won’t be long before you’ll find yourself saying ‘I do’ to snow-kissed nuptials.

Wedding Cost

Let’s be honest: budgets are sexy! So, what better reason to tie the knot during the cooler months than some big ol’ price savings? If you play your cards right, you can save up to 20% on venue rental costs for off-season dates.These savings make it possible to choose the pricey photographer of your dreams, treat your guests to an open bar, or splurge on that one-of-a-kind princess style wedding dress, all without going over budget. Even better: put those savings towards a romantic getaway with your new spouse for a trip you’ll never forget. You may also find some amazing incentives from your venue and vendors to choose a winter wedding date: perhaps a complimentary champagne toast, free linen upgrades, or a discount on your ceremony fee. Most couples will find there’s a lot more bang for your buck with a winter wedding, and it’ll pay off long after you say I do.

Date and Vendor Availability

Winter weddings have a clear advantage when it comes to the availability of wedding dates, venues, and vendor selection. There’s simply less competition, which puts you in the driving seat! You’ll be able to assemble your A-team to pull off the wedding you’ve always imagined, without sacrifice.

Guest Experience

Social commitments tend to stack up in the summer months, leading to what we call wedding season ‘fatigue.’ When every weekend is filled with a party, wedding, or camping trip — it’s wonderful — but also exhausting! You can reduce stress on yourself and your entire guest list by choosing an off-season date. There are so many advantages for you and your guests! First: you’ll save money! Travel and lodging tend to be more affordable during this time, making room for extras like a spa day or special dinner out. Second: more energy! Both you and your guests will bring so much more enthusiasm and energy to your special day, culminating in an all-night party, or epic brunch wedding fiesta.

Dramatic Color Palettes

Whether it’s the middle of June or tail-end of January, you can choose whatever colors you want to celebrate your special day. The winter months, however, create the absolute perfect backdrop for moody, romantic colors. Think deep burgundy and sage, black and gold, dark turquoise and blush.

Unique Ambiance

Winter carries a uniquely romantic vibe whether you’re in a snow-capped wonderland in Colorado or lush green oasis in California. It’s a time dedicated to family gatherings, feasts, staying warm by the fire, and slowing down — perfect for celebrating love. Most people will tell you: there’s just something in the air this time of year.
Add to that, the gorgeous seasonal looks that deck the halls all season long. Make sure to ask your venue team what they love about winter decor — perhaps it’s silver and gold glamour, natural and whimsical with pine needles and berries, classic red and white with lace accents, or moody bohemian with rich jewel tones. These styles will only enhance your own vision and might save you a pretty penny on decor — enough to splurge on those stunning vintage chairs!

Creative Ideas for Winter

The winter weather and festive season set the perfect scene to incorporate amazing creative wedding ideas you love. We love a hot cocoa bar for your guests, a post-wedding sledding party, or a color palette featuring rich hues and textures inspired by the holidays. It’s also a wonderful excuse to go all-in on a theme wedding that’ll be extra-special on a winter backdrop. Here are eight wedding theme ideas to get you started: Ice Queen, Starry Night, The Nutcracker, Santa’s Reindeer, Beauty & The Beast, Harry Potter, Evergreen Forest, Great Gatsby.

Supporting Local Wedding Vendors

Wedding venues and professionals are one of the industries that have been hit hardest during the COVID-19 crisis. With the wedding industry essentially paused for the time being, these businesses still have overhead costs to maintain and little to no business to help them stay afloat. While we know that our industry is not alone in this hardship, we believe it is our duty to help ensure we all make it to the other side: for our couples, our employees, and all our vendors. By choosing an off-season date, you would be helping your venue and vendors get back on their feet during this difficult time.

Thanks to the good folks at Brides.com for this great article!

What’s a party without guests? One of the hardest (but most important) parts of planning your wedding is creating the guest list. It’s a little more complicated, though, than simply making a list of everyone you’d like to celebrate with. There are people you’ll have to invite, others you really want to skip, and those who may or may not make the cut, depending on your venue’s capacity. So how do you decide who does—and doesn’t—get an invitation to your wedding? Here are six guidelines to help you and your families figure it out.

1. Make a preliminary list with just your partner.
Before you involve your families, sit down with your partner to start the guest list. Begin with your immediate families, then add those close family members you really want to have there. Next, move on to your closest friends—the ones you simply can’t imagine getting married without. This probably won’t be your entire guest list, but it’s a good place to start, and should cover those must-haves your parents will be looking for. But don’t involve your families just yet—you’ll want to get this starting point ironed out first so you can make sure everyone is equally represented down the line.

2. Decide where you’ll cut off family invitations—and stick to it.
Extended family invitations are tricky. Who even knows the difference between second cousins and first cousins, once removed, anyway? The general rule of thumb is that, if one uncle gets an invitation, all of your aunts and uncles need to get an invitation—the same goes for cousins or second cousins, too. This isn’t much of an issue for small families, but with a large extended family, this can take up the bulk of your guest list. Start with your closest relatives first, then work your way out until you reach a level you’re comfortable with, one that (hopefully!) leaves room for a few friends, too!

3. Give both families the same number of extra guests.
After your families have been invited, determine how many extra spots you have left and divide it evenly between both of your families. Let your parents use these seats however they’d like—and make it clear that there are no more seats available. This way your mom can invite her best friend, while your father-in-law can include his business partners (you know, the same ones who invited him to their son’s wedding last year).

4. Make the call about children.
It’s entirely up to the bride and groom whether or not children are invited to the wedding. Decide whether you want little ones there or would prefer an adults-only celebration, and then put your foot down. That means no exceptions! Not sure what counts as a “kid”? Most caterers consider children guests under 12, so you can definitely skip your cousin’s teenaged kids but still include your college bestie’s toddler—just make sure you’re applying that age rule across the board. And if someone calls to ask if they can bring their kids along, let them know what you’ve decided, and stick to your guns!

5. Return the favor.
This one’s tricky. If a friend invited you to her wedding five years ago, there’s no need to invite her to yours—even if you were a bridesmaid. However, if you attended a wedding in the past 18 months (and especially if you or your partner was in the wedding party!), that couple should be on your guest list, as well.

6. Follow modern “plus one” protocol.
You’re not obligated to offer every one of your guests a “plus one” to your wedding, but if they’re in a serious relationship of any sort (dating, living together, engaged, etc.), their partner should be included. Buh-bye, “no ring, no bring” rule!

Originally posted by De Elizabeth on Sep 19, 2016 in “Engagement, It’s Wedding Season”

When it comes to planning a wedding, the very first thing you have to decide, literally before anything else, is the date. And before you pick the specific date on the calendar, you probably have a good idea as to which season you prefer. While all seasons have their benefits, many factors come together to make autumn truly the best. Objectively speaking, there are many reasons why fall is the ideal time of year to tie the knot. Here are nine of them, all of which will add up to an insanely memorable wedding.

1. You truly cannot ask for better weather.
If Mother Nature behaves herself and the weather plays according to the rules, chances are, you’ll end up with a perfectly crisp day. This will come in handy when you spend several hours crammed into a small room with your bridesmaids while getting ready. There’s literally nothing worse than sweating – or freezing – your ass off at a ceremony.

2. The colors.
There are so many options when it comes to color schemes. You could go orange and red, or blue, or gold, or navy. Almost anything looks amazing against the changing leaves. Which brings me to….

3. The scenery.
If your ceremony is outdoors, you will barely need to decorate at all. The turning leaves will do the job for you. The orange and red trees will look amazing as a backdrop to your nuptials, and there’s something so romantic about falling leaves (not to mention crunchy ones).

4. Think of all the ‘grams.
The colors and symbols of fall are endlessly Instagrammable. And, okay, they’ll look great in your professional photos too.

5. Pumpkin and apple everything.
If you’re a fan of Pumpkin Spice, this is a perfect excuse to make all of your appetizers autumnal themed. Think: pumpkin soup, or apple sausage, or a pumpkin dip. At one wedding, the couple had an apple cider mimosa as the signature drink and guests told them it was pretty much the best thing they’d ever tasted.

6. So many decor options.
Between pumpkins, gourds, wheat, and candles, there are endless options for fall decorations. The best part about this is that you can craft centerpieces from these items without paying extra for flowers. Which results in saving money. Yes, please.

7. Your guests will likely be available.
With summer weddings, you run the risk of choosing a date that interferes with an annual family vacation, or, just as likely, another wedding. People are generally more free during the autumn months, and you won’t have to compete with seventeen billion other June weddings.

8. Think of all the bouquet options.
With an autumn wedding, you can go the unconventional route with your bouquet (which also results in less money.) Your bouquet can be composed of peach and orange roses, but it could also have wheat and berries in it, and be wrapped with burlap!

9. It’s just undeniably romantic.
Think of that quote – “Life starts over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Maybe it’s the routine of starting school in the fall, or feeling like the autumn is equated with “new,” but there’s something so quintessentially hopeful about the beginning of autumn. And what better beginning than the words, “I do.”