when's the best time of year to get married?

I often get asked when the best time is to get married, but to be totally honest there's isn't a 'best' time. It depends what your priorities are, and if you had an ideal in mind when you've thought about your wedding.

Is the weather a key factor - if it is then you may want to consider a wedding abroad - or is it about having someplace big enough to have all your guests in one place at the same time? The thing is you could choose the middle of winter to get married where the weather is shocking and the surroundings dull, but if you have everyone you want in attendance it won't matter two hoots what it's like outside. Equally if you want the pictures to die for, the freedom to walk around some beautiful grounds then you need to not only pick the perfect time of year but the perfect location, which as we know with the British weather may indeed mean going abroad for some sort of guarantee.

Below is a very short guide on some ideas you might want to think about by month or day of the week.

By Month
January - March - Out of season so can be cheaper
April - June - Good weather (hopefully!)
June - August - Peak season, so can be expensive, but also summer holidays, so good for vocational workers where you don't have to take extra time off to get married and honeymoon
September - October - Depending on honeymoon destination, most rainy seasons have finished around now
October - November - Out of season so can be cheaper
December - Seasonal theme, where you won't have to spend too much on decoration as most venues will be decorated for Christmas & New Year festivities

Days of the week
Monday - Thursday - Very cheap as these are not the most popular days, but think of your guests and time they would need to take off from work
Friday & Sunday - Fast becoming popular choices as they are slightly cheaper
Saturday - Traditionally the day of choice, but can be expensive

Many of these ideas are based on weather and budget, as these seem to be the things that most couples think about. I would suggest though that if you can't afford to get married abroad concentrate on the budget side of things, and when it comes to weather...hope for the best and plan for the worst. Just ensure the venue you choose has enough space inside so should the heavens open, your pictures can still get taken and you and your guests still have a fantastic day.

The legalities of romance

Your wedding day will hopefully be the most exciting, memorable day of your life. In order to ensure that it is, there are a few legalities you will need to adhere to, to make sure you don't get any unexpected surprises as you're packing your dress away and returning the suits.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of things to remember when planning your special day in the UK. This is true even if you plan to get married in a religious building, so make sure you read below and check with your local council office before booking your day if you are in any doubt.

1. Under 16 year olds are not legally allowed to marry in the UK
2. Under 18's require written permission from parents or guardians to marry
3. Notice to marry must be given to the local council at least 15 days clear of your wedding day
4. You cannot marry an immediate family member, although in the UK you are allowed to marry a cousin
5. Marriages must be performed in a licensed venue for it to be recognised
6. Marriages must be performed between 8am - 6pm for them to be legal in the UK
7. Marriages must be witnessed by at least 2 adults

None of the above is meant to scare you, but to ensure you are legally married after your special day it's best to check out the paperwork to avert disaster before your head isn't filled with flowers, favours and friends!

If you need any help or advice remember you can always contact me by email on info@weddingsbyelaine.co.uk or by calling me on 0800 542 0391.

Don’t Tell the Bride?

So, I LOVE the programme, ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’, it’s my guilty pleasure (as well as Bon Jovi, but that’s for another time and place) and I think there are a few others like me that feel the same. However I got to thinking, why? Is it because I’m safe in the knowledge that I’ve had my wedding day which I had huge amounts of input in so won’t ever be in that situation; or is it because the ultimate message this programme gives is that – it doesn’t matter how it happens, the couple just want to be together and married?

Despite all the fears and anxiety portrayed by the bride, (and yes ladies, it is mostly the bride stressing and weeping) ultimately I have yet to watch an episode where the couple don’t get married. Even with the dubious choices the groom has made, (anyone see Luke theme his wedding on his favourite football team, or Nick choose for his bride her worst night mare, princess Jordan-esque style dress?) the bride always appreciates some of what the groom has gone through to organise the wedding – I won’t go so far as to say they love all of what they have chosen!

Obviously this is for TV, and the sceptic in me says at least parts of it has to have been staged – I love my husband, but if he’d had to organise the whole wedding I’m not sure the finer details would have been high on his list of priorities – but the less sceptic, romantic side says, it’s the thought that counts, so who cares if he’s had a bit of help to complete it.

A lot of couples lose sight of the reason they have pencilled a day in the diary to have the biggest blow out party they have ever staged. The flowers, car, venue, photographer and who can forget the dress, it can be so easy to get lost in the material items that disappear without trace after the ‘celebration’.

The time planning your day and talking about the details should be a happy time. Yes, it can get stressful and feel overwhelming, but sticking together and talking through things makes the stress dissipate. If you get to your wedding day, dreading things are going to go wrong – let me put your mind at rest now, something WILL go wrong – you’ll miss this day you have spent your waking life planning.

The sun will rise, the day will begin, and keep going, and no matter what you think, it won’t stop for you to have a stress about whether the colour of the flowers match the tie on the grooms neck. Your guests are there to celebrate with you, that you have taken the next step in your relationship, so why shouldn’t you be doing the same thing?

It might be TV, it might be staged, but on the most basic level DTTB shows that the couple want to be together, and despite all the dramas, tears and tantrums they all walk down the aisle in the end knowing they want to be with each other. So, whatever you think is the most important thing about organising for your day, shouldn’t that be the message you keep in your mind too?