The Beginning of Planning a Wedding: The Date

The Beginning of Planning a Wedding: The Date

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU'RE ENGAGED!

getting engaged is very exciting, but as soon as you start telling others about it, the first question they ask you is:

When is the wedding?

Something that I have learned in this process, is that the wedding date is the first things that an engaged couple should discuss as soon as possible... although it is okay to knot know it right away.

Choosing a Date

When it comes to choosing a date to get married, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration:

• Whether a particular venue is available
• The availability of the chosen church (if you are having a church ceremony as well)
• Healthy conditions (of either partner or a loved one)
• Preferred climate season (and weather conditions in the area you are getting married)
• Budget
• Academic schedule
• Etc.

Ask Your Priest (or Minister/Rabbi/Ordained person/Religious leader)

If you are planning to have a religious ceremony, it's essential to consult with your religious leader before you even book the venue. Since the ceremony comes before the reception, it is important for you both to know if your religious leader will be available to officiate your wedding. This is also important if you are planning to have the ceremony at your place of worship.

Will your Dream Location be Available?

The next step will be to make a list of potential reception (and maybe ceremony) locations and schedule a tour and consultation with them. Have a list of potential dates with you when you go to the consultation to be able to know if that location is available on your dream date.

If you will be having a religious ceremony before this, it is important to have a tentative time on when will the ceremony take place. This will allow you to estimate how long will you be able to utilize the reception venue and allow the consultants to advise you accordingly.

Kept in mind that certain dates and times might be cheaper in certain locations (i.e. Saturdays tend to be more expensive than any other days, or evenings more expensive than brunch times),

Think About Your Budget

As said before, Fridays and Sundays (or any other day, except Saturday) tend to be cheaper.

Another very important aspect to consider is your budget. Especially as students, there is a limited budget. Budget is a key aspect when considering a date. If there is a date that you have your heart set on, and that is something you are not willing to negotiate, it is possible to compromise.

If you do choose to compromise, have in mind that you will have to make some adjustments (or cut certain corners) on other areas of the wedding.

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

 Dates that Hold Special Meaning or Should be Avoided

• Are there any dates that hold a special meaning for you and/or your future spouse?
• Are there any certain traditions or beliefs in any of your families?
• Are there any dates that should be avoided?

Saturdays are the most popular day to get married, and thus the most expensive. Now some couples are opting for getting married on a Friday or even a Monday!

A saying that I remember from when I was little is "Martes, no te cases, no te embarques" ("Tuesday, do not get married or travel/embark"). Just like this, I know that certain cultures have certain traditions that couples may choose to follow. Maybe you want to avoid days like the Super Bowl or another day when you know your guests might have traditions that may conflict with your wedding.

Moreover, unfortunately, there may be some days that should be avoided for other reasons. There may be a health situation (i.e. scheduled surgery in the family) or another important event (i.e birthday...Sixteen Candles)

Also, there may be a day that holds a special meaning related to your faith. This is important to talk over with your priest (or religious leader) to make sure that your wedding can be officiated that day.

Plan accordingly to your Professional Schedule

Since you are a student (or whatever your profession is) it is important to avoid certain dates. For students, it is simple. Plan your wedding around your academic schedule! There are different breaks and holidays that work well with planning your bachelorette, your bridal shower, your honeymoon, and your wedding!

If you have a job that has a big project due, or maybe a certain season that you anticipate there being an overload of work (i.e. an accountant during tax season!), it's important to plan accordingly. It's important to consider especially if you both plan on going on your honeymoon after the wedding since you will need extra days off.

It All Comes Down to Love

It is important to not lose sight of how important this day is. No matter how stressful it all seems. It is important to make it a special day to celebrate your love, and not so much as a day to squeeze into your calendar.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to communication between you and your partner. Talk about what is important for you two; what works best for both of you. This will be a perfect opportunity to exercise your abilities to communicate (and maybe compromise) between you and your future spouse.

(Photo from Paul Garcia Fotografia)

Get Ready for the Ride!

From now on though, it will become essential to have a calendar/agenda where you can write and catalog everything for your wedding. This will become an essential tool for referencing everything! From your budget, your potential vendors, your guest list, dress, bridal party, important dates, etc.

Whether this is on your mobile device, your computer or a physical planner (bullet journal, planners, or wedding books/planners). There are also some apps now that allow you to have a checklist.

Having the date is an essential step, and from here on out, get ready for the ride!


Please leave comments and questions below & share!