What’s The Cheapest Time Of Year To Get Married?

What’s The Cheapest Time Of Year To Get Married?

Certain times of the year make a great wedding day, and these can fall on times such as valentines day and during the Christmas period, and you might not be surprised to hear that weather can play a role in availability and cost.

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Even though the ideal months are January, March, April, and November, there are other factors, such as the venue, that you might need to consider. Still, you can have a budget-friendly and meaningful ceremony if you’re willing to risk unpredictable weather.

Below are some aspects you might want to consider when deciding the day and location of your venue to make your big day as budget-friendly as possible!

The Day Of Your Ceremony 

There’s nothing wrong with setting a date for a significant milestone in your relationship, such as when you first met, the date of the proposal, or maybe the same date as your parent’s wedding, per tradition.

However, you should beware of any dates that fall on or close to holidays, such as birthdays and anniversaries, or long weekends such as memorial or Labor Day, at which these times certain venue providers or caterers might raise their prices in response. 

January is a perfect time of year to have a wedding because most people may have spent their money during Christmas and the new year, which can be even more convenient if you have your wedding during the week or on a Sunday.

This might mean people have to arrange time off from work, but this break during the week means that people can get two days off with vacation and can unwind, so to many, it can feel like an extended weekend.  

What is the Cheapest Day and Month to Get Married?

Well, as we have just said, it is perfectly okay to choose your wedding date based on a date that is significant to you. However, if you do this, it is important that you understand that this could make your wedding significantly more expensive.

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If you want a budget-friendly wedding, then you may need to be more flexible with your dates. 

In terms of days of the week, weekdays are always cheaper to get married on than weekends. Monday is the most budget-friendly day of the week to get married, and then the prices steadily go up as you move through the week towards the weekend.

So if you want a budget wedding, Monday is typically a good day of the week to get married. Of course, prices will depend on your venue choice. 

In terms of months of the year, weddings tend to be cheapest during the “low-season” months. The cheapest months of the year tend to include November, January, and March.

These are considered off season for weddings, so you will typically be able to get your dream wedding for a much lower cost during these months. 

How to Pick the Best Date for a Budget-Friendly Wedding

So if you are planning your wedding, and you have a tight budget to stick to, you might be wondering how to pick the best date for a budget-friendly wedding.

There are a number of things that will influence how to pick the best date for a budget wedding for you. 

For example, if you have chosen your wedding venue and this is a non-negotiable for you, the best way to pick a budget-friendly date is to speak to the venue.

Discuss with the venue which dates they have available and if they offer any deals for mid-week or low-season weddings. Typically, wedding venues will offer sizable discounts for weddings that take place during their low-season, so this is a great way to save money! 

If you haven’t got your heart set on a dream wedding venue, then you will have more flexibility and opportunity to save money.

Shop around different venues getting quotes for their low-season, mid-week weddings and this will give you an idea of where the most affordable venues are. If you click with the cheapest venue, then this is a great way to get a budget wedding that you love! 

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Even if you don’t click with the cheapest venue, shopping around can help you get a better idea of which venues are the most affordable options for your budget. 

Other Ways to Save Money

As well as choosing a more affordable day and month to get married, there are other ways that you can save money on your big day. So let’s take a look at some other areas that you can focus on to make your wedding more budget-friendly.

The Location Of Your Ceremony And Reception

It can be tempting to go for a venue that specializes in weddings and can cater to a large gathering of guests, and you can save money by holding your wedding at a property you or someone you know owns. 

This way, you have more control over your menu and could even turn it into a potluck, so you have mains and sides you know you already like, and if this doesn’t sound appealing, you can hire a marquee party tent and this way, you can set it nearly anywhere you want.

You Could Save Money With The Dress

What’s The Cheapest Time Of Year To Get Married?

We might sound insane with this suggestion, but you can save a significant amount of money if you refine your dress shopping, and one of these ways to search through evening gowns, as these can be just as fancy and beautiful as a ceremony dress if you look in the right places.

You could also save by purchasing your dress during the off-season, which is a time of year when dresses are cheaper and are more likely to be on sale, and this might occur around November and December. 

There is also the opportunity for you to buy a dress that is labeled differently. So you could find a sewist who can add any detailing or extras for a more reasonable price, allowing you to have fun customizing it. 

Save On Food And Drink 

The average cost of catering is somewhere around $9,000, and this can be higher or lower depending on your venue, location, and time of year, so if you were to have your wedding in the morning, you only have to cover the cost of a light brunch which you can organize yourself.

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You could also check with a catering company and see if you can cut the cost by removing things like desserts and entrees and having food stations instead, which can save the provider from adding extra fees for their service.

You could save even more money by hiring a food truck, which might not sound pleasant, but you’ll find the food they serve is less expensive and gives your guests more variety, and would make an excellent addition to an outdoor wedding reception. 

Save On Flower Arrangements

There are ways you can save in this area without compromising too much, and the first is to do your research, as you may find buying your flowers wholesale is cheaper than getting them from a florist, and getting ones in season can save you even more money.  

Final Thoughts 

Of course, with some of these methods, it may mean you have to do some of the preparations yourself, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a ceremony and reception that is to your liking, and there are many places where you can get inspiration for your design choices.

You’ll later find you have more freedom over your preferences, and this can give you a much more liberating feeling.

Jodie Messines
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