December weddings?

[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.

 

[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]

Well, the venue we wanted doesn’t allow people to marry on the Saturday’s in December as they are reserved for Christmas do’s! We couldn’t do a week day as it wouldn’t have worked for us and we weren’t willing to choose a different venue, so...

We’ve booked 01st October 2022.

I am actually really happy as October is my favourite month and as soon as I got the idea in my head to book October, I really wanted it. We are super excited!

 

[MagicMarker]

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?

A relative had a December wedding it was so lovely saved a fortune on decorations as it was all done for Xmas looked beautiful & there was a light frost on the trees & ground photos were amazing

 

[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.

 

[Dipdab]

I got married a couple of weeks ago on 12th December (postponed from August). Never thought I would have a winter wedding but it was really magical even with current restrictions.
We got married in a hotel and it was all decorated for Christmas which made for some beautiful photos. And we didn’t have to buy any of our decorations for the room so saved some money there .
We are also planning our bigger reception for next December (COVID permitting). Already put the feelers out with friends and family and everyone is up for it!
At the end of the day it’s you and your partners special day. Don’t be influenced and worry about what anyone says.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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!

 

[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.

 

[The Devils Arse]

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

 

[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!

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

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!

See I think that the good thing about an autumn/winter wedding is that you can expect the weather to be crap. Whereas if you get married in spring or summer, you’re kind of hoping that the weather will be nice and then you’ll be disappointed when it’s crap? If that makes sense?

 

[Heybooboo]

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

 

[allforthegram]

See I think that the good thing about an autumn/winter wedding is that you can expect the weather to be crap. Whereas if you get married in spring or summer, you’re kind of hoping that the weather will be nice and then you’ll be disappointed when it’s crap? If that makes sense?

It definitely does good weathers a bonus in the winter month!

 

[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.

 

[judsmum]

I got married on the 23/12/2006. I would never have considered a spring/summer wedding as I hate those seasons! Getting married the day before Christmas Eve was brilliant! We sent out save the date cards over a year before so our guests had prior ‘warning’ so as not to book up other parties etc! It was like an extended christmas party! We went on honeymoon on the 29th!

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

Thank you again everyone for your comments. I think I am being swayed towards the last Saturday in November (hoping Christmas decs might be up?) or the first Saturday in December. Lots to think about. We just need to get prices next and figure out what we want to do.

 

[Mfranks]

Pros - golden hour lighting in december is just stunning for photos, cheaper venue & suppliers (potentially) , weather won't be too hot, if between Xmas and New years some people might not need to use holidays for work, some people hate the pressure of having to do something good for NYE, so a wedding would maybe be appreciated.

Cons - weather if it snows and you have people travelling, if people have plans round Xmas they might decline.

I was looking at a NYE wedding, I was thinking its one year where people have to change their plans. If you tell people in advance they will save money for hotels and / or gifts. The only reason we didn't go for NYE wedding was the weather. I was worried about snow. Were doing Sept 2022 now, not too hot, not too cold! Whatever you do, you'll love it and everyone who wants to make the effort, will! Good luck xx

 

[Lumpfish]

I think December especially if you are doing it at a hotel as they will hopefully have decor for Christmas and make your pics look lovely. Maybe first or second week