What to Know About Planning a Wedding in Any Season

A wedding is a celebration of love and unity – and each and every wedding is beautiful in its own way. If you are wondering what time of year is best to get married, or you are trying to decide whether to have a wintery white wedding or a sunny summer wedding, we have the guide for you. Keep reading for tips, ideas, and things to keep in mind for a wedding in any of the four seasons.

Spring

Ah, spring! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and people far and wide are excited about sunshine and warmer temperatures. It seems like the perfect time to plan your dream wedding. We love spring weddings for reasons like the romantic color palette options and the multitude of locations to book a ceremony or reception outdoors. You could literally get married in a flower field! We also vouch for the soft natural lighting for your wedding photos, where a sunny day or even a slightly overcast day work perfectly.

Spring is also an appealing time for weddings because there are no major holidays to compete with, which allows you to have more favorable guest attendance. However, with spring also comes allergy season, so be prepared to combat red eyes or runny noses if you tend to deal with that sort of thing.

A significant factor to keep in mind when planning a springtime wedding is cost, not only for your venue booking but for vendors and all the details in between. Because this time of year is often considered “peak wedding season,” you may find that venues/vendors are booked faster and for the highest prices of the year. If this doesn’t work within your wedding budget, it might be wise to consider another time of year to tie the knot.

One way to potentially lower the costs is to go with a destination wedding. By utilizing everything a resort has to offer (and maybe downsizing your guest list), you can save money. Plus, the spring is a great time for traveling to most destinations when considering weather patterns. 

Summer

Summer is also a popular time to get married since temperatures easily allow for an outdoor ceremony and reception. In the summer, you can take advantage of spectacular scenery like ocean backdrops, national parks, or any other adventurous places your wedding planning takes you. You’ll have very few limitations when it comes to a theme as well – tropical celebrations, garden parties, rustic-chic ranch receptions, and more are all at your fingertips.

Summer months also offer a variety of menu options, as many fruits and vegetables are in season, as well as great floral arrangement ideas with various blooms available. And since the summer days are longer, you have more flexibility with the event hours and can take advantage of sunset photos ops or keep the party going later into the night.

While all of this sounds great, do keep in mind the downsides of summertime weather. Not only could you experience extreme heat in certain months, but also those unexpected thunderstorms or rain showers. A summer wedding may call for extra preparation such as tents to shade from the sun, umbrellas in case of rain, and extra fans or air conditioning options.

Lastly, the summertime can pose a few problems for wedding photography. For example, certain times of the day may be too bright to capture those perfect shots. And for wedding day makeup, take extra measures to make sure your look is “sweat-proof.”

Fall

Much like summer, a fall wedding can provide a beautiful backdrop and reliable weather if you crave an outdoor ceremony and reception. The changing leaves and cool breezes can really have you and your loved one floating on air. Fall weddings with warm color palettes make us swoon, and don’t forget about opportunities like blankets around a campfire and harvest-inspired flower arrangements or menu options.

Fall weddings are similar to springtime weddings in that they are both a very desirable time of year to book. For this reason, it’s important to do your homework, compare prices, and talk to experts about ideal dates that will work within your budget. You could also run into the problem of a vendor already being booked, so start planning early to make sure you get exactly what you want.

Finally, be sure to consider that the holidays will quickly follow a wedding in late October or November. If this is your ideal time to wed, start the planning process early and give your guests ample time to save the date!

Winter

Quite the opposite of a summer or fall wedding, a winter wedding will have the most limitations as far as locations. It’s safe to assume your ceremony and reception will be indoors, and you’ll want to make sure the venue is fairly easy to get to, even if there is winter weather like snow. Also, be careful to plan accordingly around holiday celebrations or let your guests know the wedding date well in advance so that they can make it to your nuptials.

While the weather can supply some constraints, on the other hand, a winter wedding can offer some of the most magical backdrops for photography. If you’re dreaming of snowy photos bundled in white, then it is definitely worth another look at planning a wedding from December through February. Winter can be a great option if you and your sweetie wish to have an intimate wedding or a destination wedding. You’ll also find that venues offer lower prices around this time of year as the demand for weddings is much lower.

As you can see, there are many pros and cons to planning a wedding in any of the four seasons. And there are so many beautiful ways to celebrate your love – whether with a snow-filled, cozy soirée or an outdoor ballroom in full bloom. Follow your heart and get to planning!