9 Mistakes Couples Make When Choosing a Wedding Date

After accepting your partner's proposal, it's time to get down to work. One of the first steps in the wedding planning process? Choosing a wedding date, of course. Since you’ll need to secure a date to confirm availability with your venue and vendors, wedding planner Candice Patterson of CM Events & Design suggests finalizing your ideal day at least one year out. Although there are many factors that affect when you decide to say “I do,” Saturdays from May to October (coined wedding season) are typically the most popular times of the year to tie the knot. That being said, since your wedding date is going to be the one that you celebrate year after year, it’s important to select one that resonates with you and your love story.

Even though settling on a date is an important step, many couples often make mistakes that interfere with the planning process and their big day. To help you choose the right day for you and your event, we’ve asked a handful of wedding planners to share some of the repeat offenders that tend to happen during the decision-making process. Read on for the top mistakes couples make when choosing the date for their ceremony and reception.

Choosing a Date Before Hiring Your Wedding Planner

If you’re hiring a wedding planner to orchestrate your nuptials, one of the biggest mistakes couples make is selecting their date before they enlist the help of a professional. Wedding planners are well versed in the best times of the year to get married in your desired locale, so part of their job consists of guiding you through the date selection process. Having an expert’s perspective will result in a more seamless and effective decision. “We know what the busiest dates are every year, and by hiring a professional, you may avoid the busiest weekends and avoid competing for vendors and your friends' availability,” planner Sara Landon of Sara Landon Events says.

Wedding planners Agata Craig, Justyna Payne, and Chelsey Paksi of Ines & Marie also note that your planner will also chat with you about your preferred budget and location to help you land on a date and venue.

Selecting a Date Before Checking With Your Vendor Team

In addition to consulting your planner, touching base with the rest of your vendor team about your wedding date is just as important, yet many couples skip this step. If there’s a certain photographer whose work you admire or a live band you’ve been eyeing, you’ll need to make sure they’ll be available on the day you’re going to exchange vows. Before finalizing your wedding date, confirm that your vendors won’t have any conflicting obligations. Patterson suggests running a few dates by your team and noting which ones they’ll be able to attend.

Forgetting to Reference the Local Events Calendar

While some couples choose their wedding date before selecting their venue, others let the availability of their dream location influence which day they select. Either way, you’ll need to have an idea of where you’re going to throw down when making your decision because big events in the surrounding area can cause travel delays and interfere with hotel accommodations for out-of-town guests. “Often, people forget to check this before committing to the date, and it always creates more stress in the long run for our couples and their guests,” Craig, Payne, and Paksi explain. Check your city calendar for marathons, concerts, festivals, sporting events, and other large-scale happenings during your preferred wedding date that could interfere with your function and undermine the guest experience.

Failing to Review Your Own Schedule

It might seem like a no-brainer to discuss your own availability with your partner, but while attending to so many different details during the planning stages, forgetting about a previously scheduled obligation can happen. Before securing your wedding date, sit down with your future spouse and identify all of the free weekends where the two of you are available. Note any work obligations, religious days of observation, family traditions, or upcoming travel plans. This will also help narrow down your search by eliminating any busy weekends.

Ignoring Important Dates in Your Relationship

Choosing a wedding date based on your own availability or your venue’s availability is definitely important, but don’t forget to keep sentimental days in mind. For instance, saying “I do” on the anniversary of the day you met or your first date is a touching and romantic way to ring in your marriage, especially if it falls on a weekend. You can even tell your guests about the importance of your wedding date in your programs or make the number a motif seen throughout your décor. That being said, it’s important to adopt a flexible approach because that meaningful date might conflict with your schedule and may limit your venue options.

Opting for a Highly Sought-After Date

Wedding dates with repeating numbers, such as 9/23/23 or 2/24/24, are some of the most popular days to tie the knot. Since most couples want to get married in the most special way, dates that contain a pattern or a sequence are a coveted choice. This is especially true for spiritual duos since repeating numbers deliver an important message from the universe, based on numerology. With many other couples competing for these dates, you’ll experience more expensive prices and less availability for venues and vendors, according to Patterson.

Settling on a Date Without Consulting Loved Ones

Before making a decision, discuss dates with your immediate family, wedding party members, and any other VIP guests to ensure they’ll be able to make it. Double check that no one has an annual family vacation or another wedding in the family or friend group that overlaps with yours, forcing them to choose one or the other. If someone else from your inner circle is getting married the same year as you, make sure the two events are evenly spaced out. We think a month in between is a good buffer, especially if travel is involved.

Overlooking the Weather

Most couples are drawn to balmy temperatures for their vow exchange, so weather is one of the biggest factors that affect people’s wedding dates. Whether you’re getting married locally or at a far-off destination, Craig, Payne, and Paksi suggest examining the weather patterns in the area to guarantee a more comfortable experience for everyone in attendance. Steer clear of inclement weather, like blizzards or hurricanes, and avoid rainy seasons, especially if you’re reciting your promises outside. A majority of locations have mild conditions from May to October, but it all depends on your venue, so check the weather app and have a conversation with your planner.

Prioritizing a Date Over Other Important Details

Some couples are so adamant about getting married on a certain day that their wedding date supersedes other essential details. For example, if you’re determined to get married on New Year’s Eve, your venue and vendors might have limited availability, and you and your guests might end up paying a hefty fee. If you value affordability or a certain locale or talent, you might have to adjust your expectations and adopt a more open mind toward your wedding date. According to Landon, it doesn’t matter whether you’re pronounced newlyweds on the first weekend of the month or the last if it takes priority over other essential details—unless your wedding date is one of your utmost priorities.