Weekday and Off-Season Weddings

In the UK the main wedding season runs from the beginning of May until the end of September. December will also be a busy month for venues, due to the 'Party Season'. By far the most popular day for weddings is Saturday. On Saturdays during the aforementioned five months, demand for wedding venues, photographers, videographers and transportation etc. will all be at their highest. So, if you plan to get married during these key months (especially if you want your venue on a Saturday) you need to consider booking at least a year in advance, and will need to be aware that high demand means increased costs. If, however, you can be a little more flexible in your choice of wedding date, then enormous savings can be achieved!

Some venues will give off-season and mid-week wedding prices on their website. If your chosen venue doesn't, that doesn't mean they don't offer discounts. It just means you'll have to ask to get them. Some negotiation skills may come in handy, but be confident that if you're planning on getting married on a Wednesday in winter, then they will really want your business! When approaching the subject of discounts, always remember to be polite and respectful. Making demands is less likely to meet with success. An honest question along the lines of, "I'm panning to get married during the off-season on (insert date here). I really like your venue, and have noticed that many venues offer off-season discounts, is this something that you offer?" is simple but effective.

A quick internet search can reveal price reductions of 50% on some stunning venues if you choose to get married on a Saturday in February, rather than a Saturday in August at the same venue. Even greater savings may be achievable if you choose a weekday date during the off-season too. As a result, considering off-peak wedding dates may open up a range of very high-end venues as realistic possibilities for your wedding day.

Talking to Ruth and Ed Smithson who recently got married in November reveals other reasons for their choice of date: "Many of our friends and family go on holiday during the summer months. A winter wedding is far less likely to clash with vacation plans. Also, if we paid a premium to get married during the summer, and it then rained all day we would find it very disappointing. During the winter poor weather would be less of a disappointment because everyone will expect to be inside for most of the day anyway".

If you do choose to get married during winter, there's always a chance that you'll be as lucky as Heather and Matthew Griffiths, who had six inches of snow, which looked amazing in their wedding photography.