Too close to the holidays?

Kindachewy · June 2012

We have been planning at May 2014 wedding, this weekend we found our venue, which is perfect! But I feel like it would even more perfect during the winter, but I feel like the dates are too close to holidays. Would you make any of these dates 12/14/13, 1/4/14, or 1/11/14.

I know it sounds crazy to move the date, but it is so far in advance I know it would be okay. i just don't want people unable to come because of my date! TIA

Here is my venue, can't you just image it with snow and dead trees

oooo!

Avion22 · June 2012

I think a venue like that would be beautiful year-round.

Around the holidays is easier for some people (they already have time off), and harder for others (they are trying to split that time off with multiple families is multiple locatoins). If you were a close friend or family member of mine, I would do my best to make it. Those dates would be fairly easy for me to make as long as it was a local wedding, but they are outside of the traditional holiday window, and I probably wouldn't be able to go out-of-town for that because it would be tough to get off from work.

Only you know your potential guests well enough to know if this will work or not. If you have a lot of local guests, then you're probably okay. If a lot of people will have to travel, then it may be difficult.

Lisa50 · June 2012

I recommend you choose the date you and your FI prefer. No date is perfect for everyone. And, as much as we'd like to think it, our weddings are not as important to anyone as they are to us. So, choose your favoirte date, invite those you would like to share in the festivities and enjoy the moments with those who are able to join you!

JenGin74 · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:11aa2bee-56e9-416f-9dab-d00c520d5c36">Re: Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]I recommend you choose the date you and your FI prefer. No date is perfect for everyone. And, as much as we'd like to think it, our weddings are not as important to anyone as they are to us. So, choose your favoirte date, invite those you would like to share in the festivities and enjoy the moments with those who are able to join you!
Posted by Lisa50[/QUOTE]

I agree with this.

Our wedding was two weeks before Thanksgiving and we had a packed venue. Going from personal experience, I think whichever date you choose will be fine.

HockeyFan4 · June 2012

that place looks like it would be cold in the winter...

anyway, one thing you need to think about is weather....if there is a huge snowstorm, will potential VIP guests not be able to make it (airports closed, etc)....will cost be prohibative? Flights/hotels around the holidays are more expensive...

Figure out who you & your FI need at your wedding (close relatives, close friends, etc) and check with them for the date.

I would think the January 11th would be the best, but I am not one of your VIP's

JaxInBlue · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:f1591730-0f64-4975-9998-c6212c0dd6de">Re: Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]that place looks like it would be cold in the winter... anyway, one thing you need to think about is weather....if there is a huge snowstorm, will potential VIP guests not be able to make it (airports closed, etc)....will cost be prohibative? Flights/hotels around the holidays are more expensive... Figure out who you & your FI need at your wedding (close relatives, close friends, etc) and check with them for the date. I would think the January 11th would be the best, but I am not one of your VIP's :)
Posted by HockeyFan4[/QUOTE]

I agree with this. Before you make a final decision, you probably want to have an idea of whether or not those dates are okay with your VIPs. We did this with a short e-mail or phone calls to people. It actually helped us pick one date over the other. And ditto on the weather contingency plan.

hoffse · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:ccb058c2-a555-4d39-9221-29c1f25ff675">Re: Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Too close to the holidays? : I agree with this. Before you make a final decision, you probably want to have an idea of whether or not those dates are okay with your VIPs. We did this with a short e-mail or phone calls to people. It actually helped us pick one date over the other. And ditto on the weather contingency plan.
Posted by JaclyneD[/QUOTE]

<div>I agree with this. Although, I would phrase it as a "which dates would you guys prefer?" as opposed to "could you possibly make it?" I'm in a wedding 2 days before Christmas this year. She's one of my best friends, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything no matter when it was, but if she had asked my preference between the 23rd and the the weekend before, I would have chosen the weekend before, KWIM?</div>

LesPaul · June 2012

I personally don't mind attending weddings (local or DW) around any holiday. You need to consider your own guest list and their limitations. How many would be traveling? What is a typical winter like in that city? Is it easy to travel in/out if the weather is bad (far from a decent airport, rental cars and lodging available, etc)? Will you be inviting people for whom travel is difficult? These are the questions you and FI need to discuss.

Summer2011Bride · June 2012

I would personally be OK with any of those dates. Yes, they are close to holidays but not the day before or after. NO matter what date you choose, even the May one, there will be some people who can't make it. Speak with your VIP guests and find out if they will be able to switch the date to around the holidays.

I also feel really stupid, but I had no idea it snowed in Arkansas with any frequency or ever got super cold. Of course, I've never been there either. Hmm. Learn something new every day.

J&K10910 · June 2012

I agree that place looks like it would be cold in the winter.

Anyway, you're asking the wrong people. Figure out who you absolutely MUST have there (immediately family, grandparents, wedding party, and very best friends to come mind for me personally) and ask them what they think.

nextrightthing · June 2012

I don't think they are too close to the holidays, but like pp said, ask your VIPs and check on the weather. We are getting married 12.14.13, but we live in Texas so the weather isn't a huge concern. While we have some OOT guests, we have checked with those who must be there (family, my BFF) and they are okay with it. I'm prepared for some guests not to come because it is 11 days before Christmas, and that's ok with me.
FWIW, airfare tends to skyrocket about December 18 because that's when schools let out for the holidays. It tends to be cheaper in the period of December before that.

mcskatcat · June 2012

There are a million things to consider when having a wedding near holidays. We did ours the weekend after Thanksgiving, so I'm speaking from experience. We knew we would have some gripers about the wedding taking place at that time, and that was fine with us because we planned it largely around a small window of when we could have immediate family available. For us, that was the most important thing. That my H's great uncle complained - not a big deal to us.

That being said, the biggest advice I will say is that it is fine to have your wedding any of those dates, but don't expect everyone to come and you really cannot be hurt if someone cannot make it. If someone can only come to the ceremony but have to leave for an office party, be understanding. It's really just how that time of year goes.

aurianna · June 2012

We got married Jan 8, 2011.
There are certain advantages to your guests here:

1. We got a hotel rate of $89 for our guests at a hotel that, next weekend, rooms are $159.
2. Guests found lots of after holiday deals on airline tickets; several family members found round trip $100 tickets from Minneapolis to St. Louis (Usually over $200).

Also some vendors will bend over backwards to get your business for winter dates when they normally wouldn't be likely to do weddings (we got the shuttle for our guests between the hotel/ceremony/reception for half price, for example). So you're sometimes more readily able to afford things that will be nicer for your guests.

Also, some people really seemed to enjoy unwinding after a holidays (they aren't always relaxing for people).

That being said, you gotta think about your guest list and possible weather conditions.
January is pretty dry in St. Louis; we get most of our snow in December or February (though that almost bit us. It snowed a TON that January, just thankfully not much our wedding weekend).
As our MN guests would have a 10 hour drive, we knew most would fly vs driving so we weren't as worried about our guests risking driving in a blizzard. And MSP airport is pretty good with handling snow.
We also knew that the bulk of our guestlist generally have no holiday travel plans so it wasn't like they'd be purchasing their third plane ticket in a month to come to our wedding.

So think about how likely the weather is to be bad where you're at and where the majority of your guests are.
Figure out who's likely to drive and who's likely to fly and how weather would affect them.
Also try to figure out if several on your guest list travel a lot during the holidays and would be strained to do so again so soon.

So you really just have to look at everything. Do the advantages you can offer your guests outweigh any risks? If they do, I say have your winter wedding. If they don't, May is also very lovely!

MrsGandthebeag · June 2012

It really depends on if I had to fly or not. If I did I wouldn't be crazy about the dec date or the early Jan date. If it was local, I wouldn't mind coming on any date.

DramaGeek · June 2012

Well, we got married 12/14 so the date is obviously not a problem in our minds! My birthday is 1/4, and I actually think it'd be fun to attend a wedding on my birthday.

However, my opinion really doesn't matter. Like everyone else said, talk to your VIPs - parents, siblings, the people you won't get married without, and see what they think.

ILoveToRobot · June 2012

I went to a wedding the day before Christmas Eve. It wasn't the best timing but the couple was in town and it made sense for them. Unfortunately, a LOT of people who RSVP'd yes didn't show. I'd say at least 1/3 if not more... Being earlier in the month I think you'd be OK but just be prepared for nos and no shows.

MartinAston · June 2012

At the end of the day, it's your wedding. But I changed my date to Oct since I had so much negative feedback for my original date (12/15/12) but my guests were coming from out of town. So it might be different in your situation. But I also got flack for the new date I chose as well. So to hell with everyone. Do what you want!

Kindachewy · June 2012

Thank you all so much. I am going to email my VIPs, about 15 people and try to come up with the best idea for everyone!! Rachers YGPM

lstruggles · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:be350069-0770-4b91-9244-16177fee7ee9">Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]We have been planning at May 2014 wedding, this weekend we found our venue, which is perfect! But I feel like it would even more perfect during the winter, but I feel like the dates are too close to holidays. Would you make any of these dates 12/14/13, 1/4/14, or 1/11/14. I know it sounds crazy to move the date, but it is so far in advance I know it would be okay. i just don't want people unable to come because of my date! TIA Here is my venue, can't you just image it with snow and dead trees :) oooo!
Posted by Kindachewy[/QUOTE]

Does this happen to be in CO springs?

Kindachewy · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:d5714766-17a9-4220-92f3-5338132960f5">Re: Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Too close to the holidays? : Does this happen to be in CO springs?
Posted by lstruggles[/QUOTE]

Its in Eureka Springs Arkansas

MobKaz · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_too-close-to-the-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e029cf47-cda9-4c9e-868e-f646017742bdPost:3ae0dc41-b772-47ab-b9a2-d34b4fb51506">Re: Too close to the holidays?</a>:
[QUOTE]We got married Jan 8, 2011. There are certain advantages to your guests here: 1. We got a hotel rate of $89 for our guests at a hotel that, next weekend, rooms are $159. 2. Guests found lots of after holiday deals on airline tickets; several family members found round trip $100 tickets from Minneapolis to St. Louis (Usually over $200). Also some vendors will bend over backwards to get your business for winter dates when they normally wouldn't be likely to do weddings (we got the shuttle for our guests between the hotel/ceremony/reception for half price, for example). So you're sometimes more readily able to afford things that will be nicer for your guests. Also, some people really seemed to enjoy unwinding after a holidays (they aren't always relaxing for people). That being said, you gotta think about your guest list and possible weather conditions. January is pretty dry in St. Louis; we get most of our snow in December or February (though that almost bit us. It snowed a TON that January, just thankfully not much our wedding weekend). As our MN guests would have a 10 hour drive, we knew most would fly vs driving so we weren't as worried about our guests risking driving in a blizzard. And MSP airport is pretty good with handling snow. We also knew that the bulk of our guestlist generally have no holiday travel plans so it wasn't like they'd be purchasing their third plane ticket in a month to come to our wedding. So think about how likely the weather is to be bad where you're at and where the majority of your guests are. Figure out who's likely to drive and who's likely to fly and how weather would affect them. Also try to figure out if several on your guest list travel a lot during the holidays and would be strained to do so again so soon. So you really just have to look at everything. Do the advantages you can offer your guests outweigh any risks? If they do, I say have your winter wedding. If they don't, May is also very lovely!
Posted by aurianna[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry~~but that statement really made me laugh. At the same time, it really does remind you to keep all things in mind; particularly weather!

We drove from Chicago to St. Louis for a NYE wedding in 2010. We literally drove in a hail storm. Once we got to the hotel, we had tornado sirens blaring. 70+ degrees on December 31st in STL :-) Who would have thought!!

Too close to the holidays?

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