Consider first the pros and cons of planning a holiday wedding
Dear Joy, We just became engaged on Christmas Eve. We are considering a holiday weekend to marry, like next Thanksgiving. My mom thinks it might be difficult to get people to the wedding, but we think just the opposite. Do you have any experience with the pros and cons of holiday weddings? We would appreciate your quick advice before we begin to plan. Jen and Mike.
Dear Jen and Mike,
Congratulations to you and to all newly engaged couples. I am sure you must be filled with great excitement and anticipation over the promise to marry. You can be assured that the next year of wedding planning will be filled with a lot of questions and a little uncertainty, joy and frustration, but most of all, fun. Enjoy this special time for before you know it, you will be married.
Before we go over the pros and cons of holiday weddings, let’s first look at some simple basics for setting the date.
How to Set the Date
You cannot progress with any wedding planning until you set the date. After the congratulations, the obvious next thing said is “When’s the date?” Consider the following before you have a ready answer to that question:
– What season do you prefer? Have you always dreamed of a Christmas wedding? Wedding photos taken under an autumn colored tree? A summer garden wedding?
– Do you want to marry on your parent’s anniversary or another meaningful day?
– How soon do you want to marry? Do you need to book a popular reception site a year and a half in advance? Are there any other conflicts on the calendar, such as a graduation, bar mitzvah, or a sister’s pregnancy?
– Do you want to get married during peak wedding times? The most popular wedding months are May, June, August, September and October. Competition for decent reception sites, photographers, DJs, and a florist is keen. Expect to pay more for services around busy holiday seasons, too.
– Weddings are most often held on Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday. The most popular hours for a ceremony are 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., or 6 p.m.
Here are the pros and cons of hosting a holiday wedding:
Pros:
– Your out-of-town guests can take advantage of a long holiday weekend for travel and rest.
– You can utilize the holiday theme in your decorations.
– You may get an extra vacation day for your honeymoon.
Cons:
– Some guests may have holiday traditions they will not want to miss.
– Caterers, restaurants, and hotels may charge more or be booked early on a busy holiday.
– Flowers may be more expensive and unavailable on busy holiday weekends, such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
– Bridal attendants and family may be financially stretched during a busy and expensive holiday season.
What’s the best way to have your husband remember your anniversary? Get married on his birthday. – Anonymous.
K. Joy Schaeffer is a bridal consultant. You can e-mail her your bridal questions at bridejoy@yahoo.com.