Debretts
Weddings ~Engagements and Invitations ~
Setting the Date
Setting the Wedding Date
The
choice of wedding date is dependent on many factors, but it is important to
remember that a minimum of six months is usually required to organize a wedding. Most importantly, the availability of the
wedding party and key guests must be confirmed, as well as the favored venue or
church.
The
church and time of year will dictate the style of the wedding; some bride and
grooms-to-be also take the climate of their favored honeymoon
destination into
consideration. The couple should also check that they are not clashing with any
other significant events.
Once
the date is finalized, it is a good idea to send out save the date cards.
Choosing the Wedding Date
As a
general rule, a wedding takes at least six months to organize.
If the
couple want to book a popular church or reception venue during busy summer months then more time
may be required.
If
the ceremony is to be held at a register office or the home of the bride/groom, things
may take less time to organize.
Couples
who set the date for over a year in advance can find that this is a long
waiting period; it is unusual for an engagement to last more than 18 months.
*The first
decision to be made is the time of year. Most brides to be will have an idea of
the season in which they would like to get married.
*Spring
and summer (May-September) are the most popular months in the UK, with June
being the busiest of all.
*Saturday
is the most popular day for weddings; Fridays may prove to be a good, and sometimes
more economic alternative.
*The honeymoon
should
be researched – is the dream destination suitable for that time of year?
*The bride
and groom should check when they can take time off work.
*The
day should not clash with major sporting events or bank holidays.
*School
and summer holidays should be considered – for example, friends may be away on
holiday during August.
*A
Christmas wedding may clash with many guests’ family commitments.
*The
choice of wedding day may be a good opportunity to mark a significant anniversary.
Finalizing the Wedding Date
Once
the time of year has been decided, finalizing the date essentially involves a
process of elimination between the availability of the venues, the wedding party, and key guests.
If
the ceremony is to be religious, a separate reception venue will need to
be booked.
For
many civil ceremonies held in approved venues (hotels, castles, etc.) the ceremony and
reception can often take place in the same building.
If
two venues are required, the venue for the ceremony should be firmed up first;
then when looking at reception venues, it will often be possible to pencil the
date in with various places, especially if this is done well in advance.
Check
the availability of members of the wedding party and choose
the date that
produces the best result. Once the date and venue(s) have been decided,
deposits should be paid immediately to secure the venue(s).
As
soon as the venues are secured, inform the wedding party and key guests. It is
then advisable to compile the wedding guest list and send out save
the date cards.
Save the Date Cards
Many
couples choose to send out printed save the date cards, prior to the wedding
invitation, asking
potential guests to keep a particular date free.
While
an email or simple message in a Christmas card is a possible alternative, it is
likely that people will take more note of a dedicated card arriving by post.
The
wording should be kept brief, and just include the basic information about the wedding.
Please
Save the Date for the marriage of Richard Manners and Caroline Debrett Saturday
17th, July 2010, London Invitation to follow
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