Summertime is here! While for many that means a sun tan, paddling pools, barbecues and ice creams… for us, it means wedding season.
Deciding on a date for your special day is the very first step in making it a reality. You’ll struggle to plan anything without a date in mind, and any preparation feels abstract without that marker on your calendar. But it’s not always an easy choice. In this blog, we’ll be covering when the UK wedding season is, what it means, and what may be helpful to consider before deciding on a wedding date. So, let’s get started.
When is peak wedding season?
Wedding season in the UK is typically regarded as being May to October, and it doesn’t take a wedding expert to figure out why. Although we are blessed with unpredictable and changeable weather here in the United Kingdom, May to October tends to give us the mildest weather, and will provide couples with the best chance of having a sunny, warm wedding day…. but nothing is guaranteed!
Wedding season statistics
To give you an idea of numbers, the Office of National Statistics reported that in 2017, August was the most popular month to get married in the UK, with 37 thousand weddings taking place. Saturday is the most popular day to get married, so if you’re hoping for a Saturday in August, make sure you book well in advance!
Next most popular was July, then September, June, May and October. The least popular month to get married was January, with 6.2 thousand weddings taking place.
Why is August so popular for weddings?
July and August are typically the warmest months in the UK, and August also has a bank holiday. Plus, the majority of the school summer holiday takes place in August, and it’s when lots of people take time off from work. Even if you don’t have children and left school decades ago, something about August will forever feel like a holiday month!
There’s no “perfect” month for your wedding
Despite what statistics and trends tell us, we want to stress that there’s no “best” month or day to get married. Just because January is statistically the least popular month to get married, it doesn’t have any bearing on what your special day will be like.
A wedding season wedding means having a better chance of warm weather, flowers in full bloom, and it’s usually when people take time off from work. But it’s also important to be aware that there will more competition when it comes to booking a date, and you may find it’s more expensive.
Every couple has different priorities when deciding on a wedding date
It all depends on what your personal priorities are. For example, if you want to make use of our courtyard and wedding garden, or opt for our barbecue option, a summer wedding will be important to you. But if a cosy, magical winter wedding inside our beautiful and charming barn venue appeals, then winter wedding date would be ideal.
If you’re totally stuck on a date, brainstorm wedding styles and themes, as this can help. A peak season wedding is more suited to a whimsical garden party theme, but a sumptuous Art Deco style would work well in the colder months.
Excellent service and expert advice, whatever the date
Ultimately, it’s your and your partner’s decision, and you shouldn’t worry too much about trying to pick the “perfect” date, or a date that works for all your extended friends and family. That’s near impossible!
And rest assured that if you opt for a wedding season wedding, or go for a typically quieter month, you’ll still get the same fantastic service and guidance from our wedding coordinators.
Want to find out more about weddings at The Waltham Barns? Get in touch with our friendly wedding coordinators on [email protected]