If you peek at wedding inspiration boards on Pinterest, you’ll see a tidal wave of different seasons represented. There are dainty souvenir fans for hot summer weddings, and cozy blankets for winter celebrations. Baby pink bridesmaid dresses in the springtime, and crimson gowns in the fall. Indoor or outdoor, daytime or evening, it seems like the possibilities are endless. 

Choosing the date for your wedding really helps to narrow your wedding planning focus. But that’s easier said than done.

One way to pinpoint the details of your wedding is to pick your wedding date. This limits many of the variables, such as what flowers are in season, what colors you want to use in your scheme, and where you can book your Big Day.

On the other hand, you might want to look at what components you want for your wedding, and choose the season based upon that. If you have wiggle room with timing, this can ensure that you pick the ideal date in order to have your dream wedding.

Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

• The most popular wedding months are June, September, and October. If you are competing with other couples for popular vendors, these are times you may want to avoid. Also, if you’re planning an outdoor wedding and you live in an especially warm climate, peak summertime might not be the best time to get dressed up in a three-layer suit once the weather hits triple digits.
• If you’re on a budget, and you have flexibility with your date, consider the off-season. Planning a wedding for January or March could help you keep rental fees down. Guests may also have fewer competing events and feel better able to take time off and pay for travel expenses. If you choose an off-season date, it is important to be flexible on details like flowers, which are largely based on seasonal availability. Also note that having an off-season wedding will only help you save on your budget if you don’t have to worry about compensating for weather and other seasonal factors. For example, if you live in Minnesota and you decide on a January wedding, you will need to have it indoors or else you had better be prepared to shell out for plenty of heating lamps and blankets for the reception.
• Avoid holidays. Increased travel costs and guest availability make holiday weddings difficult and expensive. Also, if you want your wedding anniversary to be special on its own, don’t share it with another holiday. You won’t want your wedding and future anniversaries to get lost within another celebration. 
• How long do you need to plan your wedding? The length of your engagement will affect your choice of wedding date. If you get engaged in January, but you’re set on a summer wedding, will six months be enough time to create your ideal experience? If not, it helps to be flexible. Either push back your wedding to allow enough time to plan or consider a different season altogether. Remember that taking extra time to plan your wedding isn’t a bad thing – it can help you to be more financially prepared.

• Consider when and where you are planning on having your honeymoon. You will need to factor in the weather, price of travel, and how the time off will play into you and your fiancé’s work schedules.
• Lighting is a simple part of the process, but it is important. You will have photographs framed on your walls, sent to family, and shared online. The time of year and time of day both affect the lighting, which affects your photographs and the vibe you desire. Do you want a sunset wedding? A low-lit romantic feel? A bright sunny day? Clouds at dusk? All of these require different times of day and may benefit through different seasons. Southern California has June gloom that can make morning weddings a gamble, and there’s no guarantee of a visible sunset in cloudy regions during the wintertime.

Altogether, choosing your wedding date can seem daunting. If you decide what’s most important to you, you can select a season that will fit your budget and pick a time of day that will create the picture-perfect moments you’ve always dreamed of.