Availability
With fewer people getting married in a given season, it stands to reason that ceremony sites, reception venues, florists, DJs, bands, photographers, and any other vendors that service weddings will have more availability than during peak season. This means that you have a good chance of getting your first choice of date and time, as well as the reception room of your choice, if your venue offers multiple spaces. With fewer clients to juggle at once, you may also get a little more personal attention from your service providers and possibly faster turn-around on contracts, responses to questions, and even getting your completed wedding album back.
While your dream venue or photographer may be out of reach financially during other seasons, there’s a good chance that they offer special pricing during the winter months. A winter deal could be a monetary discount, or it could mean you receive an upgraded package for the base package amount. Each vendor and venue handles the off-peak season differently, but you are likely to save money or get more bang for your buck during the winter months.
When you tour potential venues, ask them how they decorate for the holiday season. Depending on the type of venue, the decorations could be in the entry way or public spaces, or even in the private reception room where your reception will be held. Any decorations will help set the scene for your special day and should come at no cost to you, although you may want to ask to see photos of the décor to make sure it goes along with your aesthetic vision.
Fewer weather concerns
If you’re getting married in a location that gets a lot of snow, such as where we are in Central New York, there is a chance that a major snowstorm could cause some issues. But short of flight delays and road conditions, the weather won’t affect your actual plans in quite the same way because your wedding is already planned for inside. Couples who hold outdoor weddings in warmer seasons have to anticipate a host of weather-related possibilities: fierce winds blowing tents, tables, and chairs all around, rain washing out the ceremony, or extreme heat and sun that could not only make guests and the wedding party feel ill, but hairdos are more likely to wilt and makeup slide off.
The more the merrier
Many of us have been in the situation where we’ve been invited to two weddings in the same month, or even the same weekend, and sometimes we’ve had to choose between them. When your wedding date falls outside the peak season, your guests will have fewer other weddings that conflict. And because they won’t be coming off a bunch of other weddings in a short period, your wedding will stand out a bit more and they’ll be in the mood to celebrate.
If you need help planning the perfect winter wedding (or a celebration in any season), we’d love to help!