The moment you announce your engagement, friends and family start asking about the big day. Sure, you’re ready to marry the love of your life, but what’s the rush? Don’t you get a chance to revel in the excitement of being engaged before you take the next step? While you shouldn’t allow the pressures of others to tempt you into walking down the aisle, you’ll have to set a date at some point. 

However, with 365 days to choose from, narrowing it down to just one is challenging. Fortunately, there are tips to help you send those save the date cards out sooner rather than later. 

Days of Significance

When trying to select a wedding date, often the best method is to select a day of significance in your relationship. Lots of couples get married on the day they met, the anniversary of their first date, or a year from the day they got engaged. Since the day already holds a lot of meaning, you won’t have a hard time remembering it. 

Number Sequences

Some couples select a date based on lucky numbers or sequences. For example, getting married on 2/21/21 would be easy to remember. 

Favorite Season

Another way to narrow down dates is by choosing a favorite season. Are you and your partner a fan of spring, summer, fall, or winter? With fewer days to choose from, you can solidify a date. Be sure to keep things like holidays in mind as it’s often a bit difficult to plan on a wedding during those times. 

Personal Availability

While you’d love to drop everything and focus solely on your wedding, you have a life. There are other things that require your time and attention that must be considered. For example, you need to take time off from work. You’ll need to ensure that you don’t have any professional obligations that could cause an issue. So, talk with your partner about outside obligations so you can select a date that won’t cause friction. 

Weather

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, the weather will have a major impact on how the day turns out. Obviously, you don’t want to select a day in the winter when it’s freezing cold, nor do you want to select a rainy season. So, think about the weather in the destination you want to get married in and opt for a day that’s warm and sunny. Though you can’t predict the future, there’s a higher chance of snow in January or rain in early April so, an outdoor wedding might be best between late April and early September. 

Your Guests

No one expects you to meet all your guests’ demands, but keeping them in mind is ideal. This is particularly true if you want them to attend your wedding. Planning a wedding on a national holiday, the anniversary of someone’s death, a birthday, or a special occasion for a loved one (i.e., your parent’s 50 year wedding anniversary), is inconsiderate. So, try to avoid these dates as best you can. 

Another factor to consider as it pertains to your guests is their finances. As attending a wedding will incur some expenses,  you want to ensure that you’ve given them time to prepare. For example, for couples planning a destination wedding, selecting a date at least a year in advance is advised. They’ll need to save for their flight and hotel stay while also making arrangements for work and their home lives. 

No, you don’t have to have a date in mind the moment your partner pops the question. In fact, couples are encouraged to take time to enjoy their engagement, have serious conversations, and prepare themselves for marriage. It’s not something that you want to rush into unprepared. So, revel at the moment, and when you’re ready, select a date. Hopefully, the factors listed above can help you choose the perfect one.