Selecting your Wedding Season

Choosing the date for your wedding ranks up there in importance in the wedding planning process. The time of year will dictate how the rest of your wedding planning will go. And it will stick with you for the rest of your life (on your anniversary!). In the Greater Nashville area, spring and fall months are typically thought of as “wedding season.” These are the most sought after dates. But, there is so much more to it than that.

How do we decide?

Deciding on which season to have your wedding might have you a bit frazzled. They each have pros and cons. If you don’t have a specific date in mind then you’re left with a whopping 365 options to choose from. We recommend that you use the process of elimination. If you can’t take the heat avoid summer. Don’t do well in the cold avoid choosing winter. With the more mild temperatures in fall and spring, be realistic about your specific needs and comfort level. Opt for one of those two seasons. Think about when you are at your happiest. Is it at a bonfire in the fall, at a barbecue in the summer, or playing in the winter snow? It’s all about what you love and what makes you happy.

You also need to consider the weather. Are highly sensitive to attendance and punctuality? With the increased potential for inclement weather, late guests or last minute cancellations, winter isn’t a wise choice. On the other hand, prices are often far more reasonable during winter or summer. With their local lack of popularity they might be the perfect option for those on a tight budget. In some areas, the fall and spring tend to bring heavy rainfall and the potential for tornadoes. Are you choosing an entirely indoor venue or a venue with an excellent rain backup plan? If not, the spring and fall months run a higher risk of foul weather than the rest of the year.

Make sure your season fits your venue. For instance, a perfect outdoor location looks even better in the spring and fall. It may be too hot in the summer. Take all that you have envisioned into account. Figure out which season will best capture your vision of what your wedding should look like. Is it outside and warm, or is it cold and cozy? Also will the most important people in your life be able to make it on the selected date? These are just a couple of questions you should consider first and foremost.

What speaks to you?

Another way to easily determine the right season, select your colors. Find the flowers and decor that speaks to you. Design lines are often blurred. If you like a darker palette with neutrals, a fall or winter wedding might be for you. If your heart is set on bright pink peonies, you’ll want to choose spring. Although resources are wide ranging, we always suggest going with the season for the freshest and most affordable florals. After all, every season has its ideal color palette. This is mainly determined by the outside surroundings and flowers in season at the time.

Keep in mind the dress code. While dressing for the occasion is always key, this rule also works the other way around. If you have a vision of what you, your wedding party, and even guests will wear, choose a time of year that is appropriate. While black tie is seasonally universal, we simply cannot recommend it for an outdoor wedding in July. If you’re in love with a lightweight strapless gown and you envision your bridesmaids in tea length dresses, the warmer seasons are best for you.

March, April, May

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. April showers bring May flowers. These are the traditional sayings that correlate with the lovely spring months that we love so dearly. Emerging from the cold of winter, spring is such a welcoming time to choose to host your special day. The snow is gone, trees are budding and flowers are beginning to bloom. Some people consider this to be the most beautiful season of all. It’s thought to be a season of rebirth, growth and purity. Your guests are more likely to be available to attend. Without many conflicts, St. Patrick’s Day, Passover, and Easter are the only holidays in the spring. And after the drab, loneliness of winter, your friends will be busting at the seams to celebrate with you!

Those beautiful blooms!

The warming temperatures give way to a plethora of seasonal flowers at your fingertips. Envision tulips, crocuses, hibiscus flowers, daffodils and peonies, just to name a few. The chance for rain on your wedding day is relatively high in spring. You could even get a freak snowstorm! It’s best to plan your spring reception indoors just to be safe. A partly cloudy springtime sky makes for some of the best photos, though. A bright summer sunlight can cause harsh shadows and squinting guests.

Watch that Weather

Spring always seems to be a gamble though simply because the weather is so unpredictable! Will it be sunny and warm, or is a cold snap going to hit? The gamble may be worth it because if you can land one of those quintessential spring days. Either way, your wedding will be utterly perfect. In the spring, you might begin to encounter the raising of vendor prices. Not to mention competition with other brides for vendors and venues.

Fun fact: In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck and a sign of future prosperity.

Check out Liz & Cade’s Spring Wedding at The Venue at Birchwood

June, July, August

These hot months offer long days full of sunlight and vacation time. Many of your wedding guests will be able to get away from their busy lives to attend your wedding. Far removed from the holidays, your guests are more likely to have a little extra room in their budgets. Not to mention, almost every variety of flower is in season so your bouquet options are practically endless! And think of all the lovely fruits and veggies that are in season. You will have countless decor options and a buffet table full of the most delicious edibles.

Summer Sunshine

However, these sunny wedding days are not quite that simple. The temperature is definitely something to take into account. It may look like a glorious day outside. If it is 100 degrees, you are going to be one sweaty bride. And you’ll have a bunch of hot and sticky guests. The chance of rain spoiling your big day is minimal. Long, outdoor ceremonies can leave your guests hot and restless, though. If you’re planning your ceremony outside, consider putting your program on a hand held fan. Also, pass out cold bottles of water to your guests.

Fun fact: Summer Solstice, the first day of summer is one of the most popular summer wedding dates. It is the longest day of the year. For those planning weddings in the next couple of years, Summer Solstice will occur on June 20, 2025 (a Friday) and June 21, 2026 (a Sunday).

Check out Chelsea & Ryan’s Summer Wedding at L&L Farm

September, October, November

The leaves are turning red, orange and gold, and the refreshing cool crispness has filled the air. Fall is such a romantic season, and the more mild temperatures can sometimes make for a more enjoyable wedding experience.

Such a photogenic time of year!

The colors of fall are somewhat all over the map. They make for some of the most stunning wedding photos imaginable. Think yellow sunflowers, ruby red and gold leaves and bright orange pumpkins everywhere. However, autumn weddings in Nashville are so very loved! With happier party guests and far less bugs, a plethora of pumpkins and some very festive and unique wedding themes you can truly embrace the season. The only issue is that everyone else has chosen to embrace autumn as well.

Fall is Peak Season

In these months, the starting of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur could create some possible conflicts. There are also fewer flowers in season, so you may have to be willing to re-imagine your ideal floral arrangements. If you two are a football fanatics, the fall will prove to be a difficult time to have a wedding. There is sure to be the potential conflict of game schedules. What if you accidentally plan your wedding in the middle of the biggest game of the season? You can just go ahead and count on venues and vendors to be harder to book. Expect steeper prices because of all the competition. Autumn weddings can be costly. Because it’s peak wedding season, most venues and wedding vendors up their fees. And the main thing that would probably keep your guests away would be another wedding conflicting with yours.

However, if you’ve always dreamt of having a wedding outdoors, now is the time. With enough heat lamps, you could even host your reception outside. Enjoy cocktail hour while the sun is up. Then we suggest bringing the party inside for dancing and dessert. It starts getting chilly after the sun sets. If not, give your guests a heads up to bring jackets and wraps. This will allow them to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

Budget tip: Autumn weddings tend to be the most pricey. Plan to have your wedding on a day other than a weekend. Opting for a Thursday wedding will save you money. Most venues tend not to get booked on that day. You’ll have a better chance of affording your dream venue.

Check out Margaret & Marco’s Autumn Wedding at Owen Farm

December, January, February

I don’t think any five year old girls dream of a cold wedding day as they try on their mother’s slip and high heels and trip down the hallway, pretending to walk down the aisle to their prince charming. However, we think these months are hidden gems not to be overlooked! Winter weddings are so romantic, and even a little magical. The festive spirit of Christmas is all around you. You can have one of the most romantic, joyful weddings, more than any other time of the year.

Cozy fires in fireplaces. Evergreen trees. Snowy winter wonderlands.

The best part of all? Less wedding competition giving you the ability to negotiate prices. Plus, more vendor and venue availability make winter weddings very appealing for brides and grooms. After all, Christmas is everybody’s favorite time of year, right? It’s always fun to add a little snowflake or snowman here or there, especially for December weddings. But there is no rule that states winter wedding must have or include a Christmas theme. You can make it a Christmasy event, or not. It’s absolutely up to you.

There is just something so romantic about the sun setting earlier. Wrapping up in warm coats and furs; snuggling up to your date for warmth. But for all of the pros, there are still some cons to a winter soirée. There is a lot of dead foliage outside making for less beautiful landscapes and pushing pictures indoors.

Christmas

While it is such a good thing, it can create many conflicts for your special day. Traveling can be more expensive and difficult around the holidays. Not to mention that money will most likely be a bit tighter for people, too! However, with winter being the wedding off-season, many venues will give discounted rates to fill the holes in their schedules. There is always the chance that you could have more guests attend if you plan your wedding around a holiday. For example, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even New Years Eve. Most people take time off then anyway. However, vendors may charge a premium for those weddings actually on holiday dates.

Check out Gabrielle & Victor’s Winter Wedding at Steel Magnolia Barn

Fun fact: Flowers tend to last the longest in the colder winter temperatures. Your bouquets and floral arrangements will keep their form throughout the day.

We would love to know which season speaks to you!

No matter when you plan to have your wedding it will be a special day you’ll never forget. Don’t stress about it. Just remember not to plan on it going off without even the slightest hitch. It’s those little imperfections that will make your wedding day a memory of a lifetime.

What was the most popular wedding date of all time??

It was July 7, 2007 (think “7-7-7” the top jackpot on a slot machine).

More than 38,000 weddings occurred around the world that day!

 All photos compliments of Ivory Door Studio.