Choosing the time of year in which to hold the wedding ceremony is a crucial first step in the wedding planning process itself.
There is no perfect time of year to get married but there are factors that you need to take into consideration to choose your perfect time.
Naturally, seasonality influences everything that revolves around the ceremony. Both from the point of view of the spouses and from that of the guests.
Imagine how you would like to plan your day . It is very likely that, based on the details you have imagined, it is possible to say that in one season rather than another you will obtain a better result. If not, it will even be impossible to carry out certain activities in an unfavorable period of the year.
Let's see, based on our desires, how to decide the best time of year to get married .
What is the best month for a wedding?
As anticipated, choosing the wedding date is a crucial first step in the wedding planning process, together with the choice of location, photographer and catering.
The time of year you decide to get married will determine much of your subsequent planning and will stay with you for the rest of your life (even just think about the anniversary).
June , September and October are considered the best months for a wedding. June, traditionally, is the most popular month to get married, simply due to the mild climate. That said, there's no wrong time to get married to the love of your life (although good weather helps).
In most of the country, late spring and early fall are generally considered "wedding season," but there's a lot more to think about. Let's walk through the year and take a look at the pros and cons of each potential wedding month.
Be careful, keep in mind that while season matters a lot, geographic location is also a factor. We've broken down the seasons very generally below, but still, a winter wedding in Milan will differ drastically from a winter wedding in Sicily, where the cold temperatures and risks of snow will be much lower.
So make sure you take your location into account when choosing the perfect month for your wedding.
Spring
“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” “April showers bring May flowers.” These are the traditional sayings that are related to the spring months that we love so much. Emerging from the cold of winter, spring is such a welcoming time to host your special day. Without many calendar conflicts (Easter and a few other holidays in these months), your spring wedding should get a good turnout. And after the dreary loneliness of winter, your friends will also have their own, true desire to go out and celebrate with you.
A spring wedding is a gamble though, simply because the weather is quite unpredictable. Will it be sunny and warm, or will there be a cold spell? Who can say!
However, the gamble could pay off if you manage to get one of those warm, flowery, quintessential spring days.
At this time of year it will be possible to take some classic wedding photos with great visual impact. Good lighting and the clothing of the subjects will promote truly interesting shots, balanced from every point of view and... simply beautiful.
It should be noted that, especially in April and May, you may start to experience increased prices and competition with other brides for suppliers and venues as the ultimate “wedding season” has officially begun.
Summer
As we said, the wedding season has already been in full swing since mid-May, and June is traditionally the most popular month for weddings. These warm months offer long days and a sense of vacation. Many of your wedding guests will be able to break away from their lives to attend your ceremony thanks to more relaxed work hours and school breaks . Away from the winter holidays, your guests are more likely to have a little more options when it comes to their budget for travel and wedding gifts. With an abundance of seasonal flowers and fruits, a summer wedding allows for countless floral options and choices of delicious produce.
Light clothes and warm light will allow you to obtain particularly cheerful, dynamic and colorful wedding photos. Lots of light and outdoor locations will make the work of photographers easier who will be able to indulge in many types of shots , also capturing many particular moments that will allow the memory of the day to be reconstructed and maintained over time.
However, these sunny months of marriage are not so simple. The rise in temperature is definitely something to take into consideration, especially if you are planning an outdoor ceremony. While it may seem like a gorgeous day outside, if it's 40 degrees in the shade, you'll be a sweaty bride with a bunch of hot, sticky guests. You can also just go ahead and count on the fact that venues and vendors are harder to book with higher prices due to the competition of the peak wedding season. Finally, vacation or other wedding plans may conflict with yours when it comes to your guests' attendance.
Fall
Oh autumn wedding, how you are loved! There is something truly magical about the changing leaves and the crisp, fresh air. A fall wedding month will make for cooler temperatures, happier party guests, and fewer bugs. And with a plethora of pumpkins, there are some very festive and unique wedding themes for you to embrace.
Naturally, all this favors a truly natural photographic set , in which to obtain shots with an elegant and trendy charm. The variety of tones and colors can truly constitute an interesting plus in each photo of your wedding.
In these fall wedding months, possible calendar conflicts include the start of a new school year and the Halloween season. There are also fewer seasonal flowers, so you may have to be willing to re-imagine your ideal floral arrangements.
Bear in mind, then, that the days have started to get shorter and after spending the whole summer getting used to seeing the lights go down only after a certain time, you might forget about this little detail.
Winter
Planning your wedding in a winter month could turn into something as rare and precious as a hidden gem. Gleaming fireplaces, evergreen trees, snowy winter landscapes, less wedding competition (and therefore the ability to negotiate prices), and greater availability of vendors/venues make a winter wedding very appealing to couples. Is there anything more romantic than wrapping yourself in warm blankets in front of a lit fireplace and cuddling up to each other to warm up?
Depending on the exact period in which your wedding will take place, the presence of snow could be a determining factor when it comes to outdoor wedding locations. The absence of greenery and light outside, making landscapes less "accommodating" from a photographic point of view, could force your wedding photos almost exclusively indoors .
This does not mean that exceptional photos of the wedding ceremony can be obtained even in this season, distinguishing them from the more classic images that we are used to seeing.
But let's not forget the presence of Christmas and New Year . While these holidays are considered “the most wonderful time of the year,” they can create significant conflicts with your special day. Traveling can be more expensive and difficult during the holidays, so take this into account when budgeting costs including those related to the honeymoon.