There are many tips out there on how to save money on your wedding day, including how to utilize DYI projects to skip out on big budget items, but out of all these tips, booking an Off-Peak Wedding Day is one of the best and most significant ways to save money on your wedding, yet still have the wedding you've always wanted.

What is an off-peak wedding day?

An off-peak day is a day that does not occur during the standard wedding season of May through October, and generally a Saturday evening. That said, in the last few years, the popularity of choosing traditional off-peak days has created a smaller window of what days now are truly considered "off-peak" – off-peak days usually book in the following order: Sunday, Friday, Saturday (daytime), Thursday, Monday, Wednesday, and Tuesday. So you can still find savings if you check out a less booked day (say a Monday or Wednesday).

Why should I book an off-peak day?

There are several factors that combine to create the savings you find booking an off-peak day. Vendors are often more available on these days and will charge lower rates or sometimes include more for the same price. Wedding venues may have lower minimums as well. And when you aren't required to meet a high food & beverage minimum, you can include all the things you want, and you won't have to add anything you don't. Your venue may even offer better per person pricing, booking incentives, or flexibility with wedding or catering packages. Off-peak weddings can also make it easier for your out-of-town guests, as airfare tends to be cheaper on light travel days, and hotels offer lower rates.

Your wedding can also become a more intimate affair. How? Hosting your wedding on an off-peak day can save you money by helping to minimize the guest count. Not everyone will be able to attend on a weekday, or want to travel for a Sunday event, but the guests who matter the most – and who really want to be there for your special day – will make it regardless of the day you choose. As long as you give your invitees plenty of notice with "Save the Date" cards, and you send out your invitations in a timely manner, your guests should have time to plan accordingly.

How to make the most of an off-peak wedding day.

If you're planning an off-peak wedding, you can do several things to make your day fun. You can give your wedding a fun, holiday spin as part of your rationale for why you're holding your wedding on a specific off-peak day. Check your calendar and see what forgotten or obscure holidays would make a fun tie-in for your special day. For example, Arbor Day is a holiday dedicated to planting trees, so if you're a nature lover – instead of a wedding favor, plant a tree in your guests' honor. If you're patriotic, Flag Day, which celebrates our country's flag, might be a holiday for you. You could decorate your wedding in red, white & blue and incorporate stars & stripes into your décor. Or for a bit more off-the-wall, hold your wedding on May Fourth, or "Star Wars Day" and have your bridal party and guests dress as their favorite characters from the film. Other fun holidays include: Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, May Day, and Cinco de Mayo.

A holiday tie-in is also helpful as several of your guests might get a Friday or Monday off for some of these holidays, which is a great way to extend the weekend and let them save some vacation time. Just be careful when selecting a holiday as some holidays may require your catering or wedding staff to be paid time and a half, which would defeat the cost-savings purpose of holding your wedding on an off-peak day!

Save even more by combining off-peak with short-term booking!

Why not save even more by combining your off-peak wedding day with some savings for booking on a shortened timeframe. An event booked within 3-6 months is considered short-term, and you can get lower food & beverage minimums, cheaper per person pricing, and more flexibility in your incentives and options. For some of the best wedding deals and short-term pricing, check out the industry's first dedicated website to short-term wedding planning, at weddinginweeks.com. And remember, if a venue or vendor is not booked in the 3-6 month period, they will be more eager to book open dates, and thus more willing to negotiate. And this means, more savings for you! Remember, hosting the wedding of your dreams doesn't mean you have to spend all your savings. These and more are reasons to book an off-peak wedding day!