Choosing a Wedding Date

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

01 Oct 2008 03:27 PM

What made you choose your wedding date? Did that date have special meaning for you or was it a case of what was available? Does the date matter?

For us, it was a date already meaningful. It was a date I already had inscribed on one ring -the friendship ring Mick gave me. Exactly two years to the date and as close as we could get it to the hour and minute that Mick put my engraved friendship ring on my right hand, he was putting my wedding ring on the left ring finger of my left hand. It was why we chose that specific date, and perhaps why it's I etched in our memories as well as that ring.

Choosing that date was not without hassles, as it meant a longish engagement which wasn't ideal, especially as we were hundreds of miles apart. But that date was significant for us.

A friend was married Christmas Eve because they wanted to wake up Christmas morning together. That date caused it's share of problems with family and friends, as it is a time of year when people are already busy with many other things for the festive season and traveling to be with family that live elsewhere etc.

A young man I know was less than impressed when a close relative chose the day of the football grand final. As one of the wedding party he couldn't exactly opt out. How much consideration should the wedding couple pay to other people and their interests and comfort, or is it really all about what the bride and groom want?

Another couple chose to be married on Valentines Day, arguably the world's most romantic day. One couple married on 7 July 2007,not becasue it was supposedly lucky but so he wouldn't forget it. Another married on the groom's birthday,for the same reason.

June weddings used to be most popular overseas but have been overtaken recently by August weddings. Here in Australia it's winter then, so September to December (Spring) is a more common choice.

I'd love to hear other people's stories of why you chose a specific date for your wedding, whether it was a hassle getting the date you wanted or whether you had to change it to fit in with the church, reception place availability or family.

Please visit these related blogs

Symbols of Love

Valentine's Day proposalversaries facts and figures

coping with Christmas and Family Gathering(2)

Marriage is a Commitment

Wedding Planning

Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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Jade Walker (964) 01 Oct 2008 07:30 PM

This blog entry was perfectly timed! My beau and I are shopping for rings right now, but we've already discussed a wedding date. It will be next fall -- we intend to use the lovely autumn foliage as our backdrop -- during the October full moon. Getting hitched in the fall also allows us to take advantage of off-season rates for European travel.

Dale Harcombe (10399) 01 Oct 2008 10:57 PM

So glad it was timely. Congratulations Jade. I wish you both every happiness. Autumn foliage wounds beautiful.

Courtney Mroch (9169) 02 Oct 2008 09:55 AM

CONGRATULATIONS, JADE! She's a smart girl, isn't she, Dale, thinking about off-season rates and the beauty of the season?

I wish I had been that smart. We just sort of did it. Not too long ago I wrote about how if I had my wedding to do all over again our date would have been 7/14. (See http://marriage.families.com/blog/if-i-had-to-do-my-wedding-all-over-again.)

You had quite the romantic reason for picking your date, Dale. And while I think the idea of holiday weddings like Christmas or Valentine's Day are romantic, I don't think I'd put that stress on guests or myself. Christmas is such a busy time of the year, and Valentine's Day holds so many feelings for people.

Dale Harcombe (10399) 05 Oct 2008 09:44 PM

Practical things I'm sure I would never have thought about, Jade did. But then we always had one date only in mind. As you said, Courtney , I'm a romantic. And I wouldn't want to put that stress of Christmas etc on others either.