You're newly engaged, and all you can focus on is that sparkly diamond on your hand! But inevitably, everyone around is more concerned with asking- “when is the wedding?"
When picking a date, there are a few questions you and your groom should think through:
What style wedding do you want?
What is your budget?
When are your favorite vendors available?
Pre-Setting the Date
First ask yourself, “How long do I plan to be engaged for?” The average engagement here in the U.S. is between 12-18 months. Having about a year to organize a wedding is good practice- but we’ve definitely seen brides successfully plan weddings in less than half that time.
If you’re considering an Elopment style wedding, you likely do not need this much time.
Decide on the Season
Before you narrow down a date, decide on the season you'd like to get married in. Spring, Summer, and Fall are the most popular, while Winter less common. Here in NC, we’re lucky enough to be able to host weddings during all seasons!
Visualize what kind of wedding you want and pencil in a few rough dates. From there, you can move on to the next steps.
Speak to your VIPs OR Notify them Extra Early
When you've decided on a season, the next step is to make sure your “must-have” guests will be able to attend on your preferred dates. You can do this by either asking if everyone is available on your preferred date OR pick a date and notifiy those VIP guests extra early, before invitations are sent- giving them plenty of time to make adjustments if needed. Remember that while it is thoughtful to ask others, you may not be able to accomodate everyone.
Which Comes First: The Venue or the Date?
Truthfully, there is no right answer here. It really comes down to what is most important to you and your groom. If you have a fixed date in mind, you may have to compromise on the venue. If you have a fixed venue in mind, you may have to compromise on the date. We hope you do not have to choose between one or the other, but it’s best practice to be prepared to just in case. Discuss with your fiancé which is top priority for you both, if any, and start looking for a venue from there.
How We Handle Booking Dates
Here at Amazing Graze Barn we keep our “Available Dates” page updated for your convenience. If you have a preferred date, check our page to see if it’s available. And as always, if you have any questions, please contact us!