When Is Wedding Season? The New Busiest Months to Get Married

Wedding season has shifted in recent years, with late spring and early fall dates emerging as new favorites. Take a look at the most popular months to get married, why the season is shifting, and what to consider before choosing your wedding date.

The (New) Busiest Months for Weddings

In the past five to ten years, May, June, and October have emerged as the most popular months to get married – with some surveys putting May in the lead, while others revealed October and June were tied for the top spot. 

In the past, the busiest months for weddings were July and August, because these long summer days were reliably warm and comfortable in most of the country. These months were also a good choice for couples who wanted to invite wedding guests with young children, who were often out of school for summer break. 

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Why Peak Wedding Season Has Shifted

Now, however, survey after survey shows that while summer months remain very popular around the country, they are no longer the most common months for weddings. There are a few important reasons for this.

1. Weather & Outdoor Weddings

One of the most common reasons for booking a wedding in late spring or early autumn is the weather, along with increased interest in outdoor wedding venues. 

Summer temperatures have steadily trended upward in recent years because of climate change, along with an increase in extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, wildfires and smoke, hurricanes, and severe rainfall. Simultaneously, couples are also ditching traditional indoor wedding venues like churches and chapels, in favor of lush outdoor settings – garden elopements, rooftop weddings, zoo weddings, eloping on a sailboat, adventure elopements in rugged locations, and so on.  

But most people don’t want to get married outside on an uncomfortably hot day – think of your makeup sliding down your face, the sweat stains on your wedding suit, or your elderly guests swaying in their chairs from heat exhaustion! Not to mention the potential added expense of having to postpone or cancel due to weather events.

With summer weddings bringing these hassles and more, couples are increasingly choosing milder months for their plein air ceremonies. 

Related: Fall Wedding Ceremony Script with Reading From "Harvest Moon"

Weather is regional, however – and in some areas summer still reigns supreme! 

In areas of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northeast, summer still brings the best weather for weddings (while spring and fall can bring soggy skies). These regions ensure that summer will stay busy for wedding vendors, even with other dates in high demand. 

Keep these wedding weather factors in mind before choosing a date:

• Local climate: What months have the most pleasant weather in your area, or in your wedding destination? 
• Wedding venue set up: Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony? Will your reception be in the same location? 
• Wedding photo comfort: Will you be comfortable posing for wedding photos outdoors on your chosen wedding date? 
• Guest health: Do you, your partner, or your wedding guests have health conditions or disabilities that cause sensitivity to extreme temperatures? 
• Flexibility: Are you ok with a last-minute change in plans? Do you have a backup plan in case of bad weather? (Moving your ceremony indoors, etc.)
• Vendor & venue contracts: Do your vendors and venue have weather clauses in their contracts, in case of postponement or cancellation due to extreme weather?

Related: Officiants: Adapt Your Business as Climate Change Fuels More Fall Weddings

(Photo:  Danik Prihodko / Pexels)

2. Rising Costs & Avoiding Wedding Debt

Let’s be honest, wedding budgets are a massive reason for this seasonal shift too. Gen Z now makes up 41% of the wedding market, and they’re actively pushing-back on the idea that weddings have to be expensive, with many refusing to take on wedding debt. In fact, in June of this year, 92% of GenZers who want to get married said they “would be willing to break from traditional wedding expectations if it meant reducing cost or stress.”

Related: Free Places to Get Married (Don’t Go Into Wedding Debt!)

Since off-season bookings are the easiest way to save money on venues and vendors, a growing number of couples are happily skipping traditional summer dates. Add in a weekday wedding date, or an early morning ceremony start, and the discounts multiply – which is probably why these unconventional choices are trending too. 

Consider these wedding budget factors before choosing a date: 

• Timing preferences: When imagining your ceremony, do you care more about the season, or the time of day (affordable morning wedding vs. a more expensive night wedding, etc.)
• Guest schedules: Will your most-important wedding guests be able to attend during a certain month? (Consider holiday travel conflicts, work obligations, or school sessions for students.)
• Alternative wedding format: Would you prefer a small, off-season elopement to save money, followed by a reception with friends and family later on?
• Engagement timeline: If the budget is tight, would you rather have a long engagement to save up for a peak-season weekend date, or get married sooner / during the off-season?

(Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels)

3. Personalized Ceremonies and Wedding Themes

Another interesting reason for the shift in wedding season might be Gen Z’s preference for personalized ceremonies and themed celebrations. Gen Z isn’t interested in traditional wedding decor, venue set ups, etiquette standards, or wedding dates – they’re making their own rules to plan celebrations that emphasize comfort over curation. Themed celebrations held on special dates are also popular, such as Halloween weddings, comic con and cosplay weddings, and Ren Faire weddings. (Perhaps it’s no coincidence that these events are often held in spring and fall!) 

Related: 10 Reasons to Say YES to a Ren Faire Wedding

Consider these personalized elements and themed wedding factors before choosing a date: 

• Festival line up: Do you know the dates for your favorite festival weekend? Consider whether you want to get married before, during, or after this event.
• Guest availability: Will all your most important guests be available on your wedding date… or attending comic con instead? 
• Seasonal vibe: Does your dream wedding include a particular seasonal aesthetic or holiday? (Such as a gothic wedding in fall, or a winter solstice wedding)

Related: 5 Tips for Getting Married at Comic Con

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