MMTB Expert Advice: 9 Tips For Choosing A Wedding Date

Our friends at Marry Me Tampa Bay recently published their latest edition of Expert Advice: Picking Your Wedding Date.

We loved that they consulted our Special Moments Event Planning team and vendors from various wedding services, including bridal salons, wedding photography, floral designers, and other wedding planners.

 

Our Special Moments Event Planning Advice

Here is our team’s response to some of the “9 Tips For Choosing A Wedding Date.”

Important Factors for Choosing a Date

“When considering a wedding date, consider the availability of your immediate family and those closest to you. Beyond that, you will always have someone on your list who has a scheduling conflict for one date or another. You’ll never please everyone, so don’t even try. There will always be one or two people on your guest list who have scheduling conflicts.”

Seriously, you’ll NEVER please everyone. So, as long as those closest to you can make it, other acquaintances farther down the list will have to decide whether they can attend on that date.

 

It Gets Hot in Florida…Really Hot (And Rainy)

“Make no mistake, summer weddings in Florida are hot, and the weather in terms of thunderstorms can be really unpredictable. You may want to consider an indoor wedding venue with air conditioning and large windows overlooking the beach or water. Sneaking outside for some wedding portraits isn’t out of the question; just keep an eye on the local radar! If your wedding vision is more ‘toes in the sand.’ You might want to consider a fall or spring wedding date. The waters are typically still warm enough for out-of-town friends to enjoy the beach in their free time. Just try to steer clear of spring break!”

Average daytime high temperatures in the Tampa Bay Area during July and August are 90°F with nighttime lows in the 70s°F with high humidity. While that might be comfortable in a swimsuit or shorts, it’s not so comfortable in a wedding dress, shirt, tie, or jacket.

 

Choose Holiday Wedding Dates Wisely

“Many couples look at dates that have a special meaning for them. The dates of your first date or engagement are often popular. Be cautious when looking at weddings around the holidays. While a Valentine’s Day wedding can sound romantic, keep in mind that the cost of flowers can come at a premium cost, and floral designers who also have retail operations can be swamped. The same rule can apply to Mother’s Day. Weddings around Christmas and Thanksgiving can be amazing, with lots of people coming home to spend time with family and friends, but that can also mean that many people have other plans that may involve them being out of town. If you don’t celebrate Christmas or want a Christmas-themed wedding, consider that many venues install holiday decorations right after Thanksgiving. Many have strict policies against taking them down or can charge a steep fee to remove them and reinstall them.” 

In the past, we’ve had couples who considered a beautiful wedding venue that was very clear about not removing its life-size Nativity, but that might not work for every couple’s wedding vision.

 

 

Check the Local Event Calendar

“Ask the wedding venue you are considering about any annual local events or a large convention over the dates you are considering. They can often affect the availability and price of guests’ rooms and local traffic. The local Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau websites will usually have calendars.”

While our Special Moments Event team monitors many larger or long-standing events, some communities host new events each year or change dates.

 

Off-Peak Dates Provide More Options (And Sometimes Better Pricing)

“Being open to a Friday or Sunday wedding, a daytime brunch wedding, and avoiding peak tourist season may save you a lot of money. With a destination wedding, nearly everyone is on vacation, and a weekday wedding can come with huge savings!”

 

 

Check out what our colleagues had to say!

We love being quoted so many times in this article. But we also love the many tips and information our fellow Tampa Bay wedding vendors shared.

So, for more helpful information, check out the Marry Me Tampa Bay article “9 Tips For Choosing A Wedding Date.”

As always, our Special Moments Event Planning team is happy to discuss your wedding vision, help you choose your wedding date, and discuss how we can help you have a wedding filled with special moments.