December weddings?

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

So, I recently got engaged and we are starting to plan a potential date. I have always loved a December wedding and I am strongly leaning towards that, but I would also consider November too. We don’t want a summer or spring wedding.

I’m just wondering, who has had a December wedding and what were the pros and cons? My family and my partner’s family live in different towns, so we would choose a hotel location in the middle of those two towns, but this could mean a few people might want to stay over.

potential problems, firstly, money. I guess a lot of people will be short of money in December and they might not be able to attend a wedding, especially if it means an expensive taxi or a night in a hotel.

Has anyone done a December wedding who would be kind enough to give some advice?

 

[BettyCrocker]

If you do a December wedding, don’t have it anywhere near Christmas or New Years Eve, it’s not fair as these are special times that most folk like to spend with their family and having some time off work in most cases and planning a wedding in the middle of it is a bit.... wrong. IMHO.

 

[Lollypad]

I originally had a Summer wedding planned, and we've rescheduled for Autumn (Covid, blah). One thing I would say is if you're giving your guests plenty of notice on invitations (6 months ish) then they can budget accordingly to attend - as kind as you're being, your guests' budget shouldn't really be your concern, you have enough to try and organise. In terms of timings, I'd have thought early December might be a bit easier for people to attend - Christmas plans tend to get in the way from the second weekend onwards.

We also found a load of hotels near our venue and rang them up and asked if there was a possibility of a discount for our guests if we recommended them
November or December, it'll be a lovely day good luck!

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I'd go with November

The problem with December is not only the crap weather and short winter days; but also most people will be focused on Christmas and New Year's Day, along with present buying etc. Anyone you invite for a December gig might just turn you down due to "other commitments"

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

If you do a December wedding, don’t have it anywhere near Christmas or New Years Eve, it’s not fair as these are special times that most folk like to spend with their family and having some time off work in most cases and planning a wedding in the middle of it is a bit.... wrong. IMHO.

I wasn’t planning on having it near Christmas or new year, I’m not selfish. Hence why I am asking for pros and cons as I know it’s an expensive time for people and people have plans...

I was thinking more late November or early December.

I originally had a Summer wedding planned, and we've rescheduled for Autumn (Covid, blah). One thing I would say is if you're giving your guests plenty of notice on invitations (6 months ish) then they can budget accordingly to attend - as kind as you're being, your guests' budget shouldn't really be your concern, you have enough to try and organise. In terms of timings, I'd have thought early December might be a bit easier for people to attend - Christmas plans tend to get in the way from the second weekend onwards.

We also found a load of hotels near our venue and rang them up and asked if there was a possibility of a discount for our guests if we recommended them
November or December, it'll be a lovely day good luck!

Thank you! We will only have 30 day guests and around 80 night guests too (including the 30 from the day obviously), so a total of around 80 guests for the whole thing. At least 65 of these are family, so we would hope that they would be able to attend even if it is in December because they are family and not friends or acquaintances and they would probably try to make sure they could attend.

hopefully, if we can have the wedding we want, the hotel offers discounts for our guests which would be fab. Failing that it’s about £15 in a taxi.

everyone keeps telling me to just focus on what we want, but I am a worry wart and I take into account the guests feelings too, I’m not very good at this stuff!

thank you!

I'd go with November

The problem with December is not only the crap weather and short winter days; but also most people will be focused on Christmas and New Year's Day, along with present buying etc. Anyone you invite for a December gig might just turn you down due to "other commitments"

This is what I’m worried about.

I’d even consider October, but probably not any earlier. So I am thinking maybe November seems the best, my partner thinks November would be very good too!

I saw a Saturday in November that I liked (close to the end) and then I realised it was my estranged father’s birthday.

 

[Pixipoppy]

If you do go for December maybe make it the first week - any later and I think a lot of people would find it a bit stressful to fit it in, plus money worries around Christmas etc.

 

[ToastedTeacakewithbutter]

I got married on the 30th December - it was a Saturday so people could still celebrate NYE at home / out if they wished and for a lot of our guests it gave them the perfect excuse not to go out as they were tired from the night before! Despite snow everyone we invited came having had plenty of notice and we included lots of suggestions for places to stay for different budgets. We all loved having something in the strange in between period but I get it’s certainly the dream choice not for most people.

 

[Heybooboo]

I’m a florist so something to consider is any flowers between Christmas and new year won’t be fresh

 

[Kim Mild]

My auntie got married in a church, around Christmas in the 1960s. Apparently it was a popular thing to do back then because the churches had the heating on and it was warm .

It depends what kind of wedding you have in mind. Would your venue be booked for Christmas parties? What would happen if the weather was really bad?

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

My auntie got married in a church, around Christmas in the 1960s. Apparently it was a popular thing to do back then because the churches had the heating on and it was warm .

It depends what kind of wedding you have in mind. Would your venue be booked for Christmas parties? What would happen if the weather was really bad?

It could potentially get booked for Christmas parties, but we’d be booking almost two years in advance, so hopefully we should be fine.

the weather shouldn’t be a problem in early December in North West England.

I’m a florist so something to consider is any flowers between Christmas and new year won’t be fresh

Interesting, thank you. I’m not too fussed on the flowers really, so I don’t think that would be a problem for us.

 

[McNuggets]

We had a December wedding.

The main reason - a hell of a lot cheaper. I also don’t like being hot and sweaty so a summer wedding was out of the question.

The weather was nice and we got some good photos.

 

[Heather343]

We got married last December. It was the first week of December and mid week. We.l didn't have any problems with guests not coming. The hotel was all set up for Christmas and looked so magical. In our heads we planned for the worst case with the weather bit luckily it was dry (we are in Cheshire). The way we thought was that you pay more in summer and the weather could be terrible and more people are likely to be on holiday etc.

It was also nice to be able to go on honeymoon and have some winter sun

 

[Sosig]

I would love a December wedding! I don’t think there’s any perfect time that will please everybody tbh

second weekend in December would be nice I think, everything will look beautiful and festive!

 

[Curlywurly85]

If you do a December wedding, don’t have it anywhere near Christmas or New Years Eve, it’s not fair as these are special times that most folk like to spend with their family and having some time off work in most cases and planning a wedding in the middle of it is a bit.... wrong. IMHO.

Was just going to say the same thing. Keep in mind that in a non covid December people have lots going on.

 

[Barbie2020]

Personally I think just do what’s the best date for you. If people want to go they will and if they don’t they don’t. Ours is in June and people may be on holidays I think there is good and bad points for any time of year. I bet a Christmas wedding would be beautiful!

 

[The Devils Arse]

I would say do what the two of you want. Otherwise your whole wedding will be wondering what other people want.

 

[TJ90]

We got married mid November after having it booked for June but had to bring it forward (long story) but it was lovely and everyone said it was nice to have something to look forward to between summer and Christmas.

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

Interesting, thank you. Certainly lots to consider. We ideally want to get something booked soon so hopefully we can make a decision! If I could afford a wedding planner I would have one!

 

[allforthegram]

Do whatever you wish after all it is your wedding!
a friend of ours was married in the last weekend of November, she knew the weather would more than likely be rubbish so planned for it (being that you are uk based!) that would be my only word of caution.
Her photographer managed to get some amazing photos with the wintery lighting between the showers- totally different feel to a summer wedding!
Happy planning!

 

[Fanaff]

I got married on January 3rd, I wanted a Christmas wedding but didn’t want the week between. As it was still within the 12th night period, we had Christmas carols in the church and all the Christmas decs as decoration in the church and at the venue