Congratulations on your engagement! Now that you’ve flashed your ring, told all of your friends and family about how he popped the question and have started browsing through all of the wedding magazines and websites in order to gain inspiration for your dream wedding, we wanted to give some essential advice when it comes to setting a wedding date at your dream venue.

Before you think about setting your wedding date, chat with your partner and see if there is a special time of year, a particular month or a specific weekend that either of you had in mind. Rule out certain dates, such as a family birthday, a holiday that you’ve got pre-booked, or any other dates that might clash with something specific. It would also be advisable to discuss potential wedding dates or months with anyone else contributing money to your wedding, as they may wish to have a say too.

If you’ve found a specific wedding venue that you love, check that it is available on the dates that you’ve got in mind. If the venue doesn’t have the availability you were looking for, consider a mid-week wedding or a date in an alternative month. As a couple you’ll need to weigh up what is more important to you: the venue itself or the date. Being slightly flexible on your date can have its benefits, for example choosing a Wednesday opposed to a Saturday can mean a dramatic change in price.

Sometimes couples choose dates because it holds a lot of meaning to them. For example the date of which you met or a parents wedding anniversary. If you’re aiming for a specific day then make sure you ask the wedding venue if they have it available before you go and visit to avoid disappointment. If you’re looking for some inspiration, make sure you take a look at our ideas for fun wedding dates. 

Does your job allow you to take time off throughout the year? If you’ve got a restrictive career or you’re seasonally busy during a certain period, consider setting your wedding date in a different month or season. Although most companies should allow the time off, it’s best to have the discussion with your employer in advance of securing your date.

If you plan on following tradition and going on your honeymoon right after your wedding celebration, think about which season will work best, depending on the location you wish to go. If you have a dream honeymoon location in mind, make sure you research the best time of year to go. Then, you can set your date around that time and then jet off to enjoy life as a married couple.

If you’ve got to save the money to spend on your wedding then talk about setting a date in the future. Most wedding venues will take bookings for years in advance, giving couples enough time to budget for the wedding. Once your wedding date has been set you’ll have a good idea of how much to save for the day. Some wedding venues set up a payment plan for you, so you know when and how much you need to pay which makes the rest of the planning easier in financial terms.

If you are planning to set a wedding date for the not so distant future, just double check with your venue that they are able to turn a wedding around in a short amount of time. Some venues can host weddings with just 10 days notice. Also, make sure your guests are aware of the date as soon as possible if you’re booking a last minute wedding so they can get time off and start the search for the perfect outfit!

Once you’ve set your wedding date, consider the time scale of the day. If you’re getting married at the wedding venue then you’ll need to book a registrar at the same time as you book the venue, to ensure their availability. Once this has been done, or if you’ve got a time slot for a church wedding ceremony, then the rest of your wedding day should fall seamlessly into place.

If you have specific wedding suppliers in mind before you set your wedding date, ensure that they will be available for you. Alternatively, if you set your wedding date and then start searching for suppliers, discuss your date with them in the first instance so they can tell you whether or not they have already been booked. It’s best to get things like the photographer and florist sorted as soon as possible as they are always in demand.