If you have friends and relatives flying in you will want them to be able to book a flight, but bear in mind that holiday times often make scheduling flights difficult.

You will also want your wedding scheduled during reasonable weather. If your town is a rainy metropolis every July, try to schedule for a fairer time of year. Note the climate of the region where you will be married and check to see what weather conditions are generally like at that time of year. For instance, the spring and autumn seasons are volatile times in some areas for lengthy periods of rain and cyclones. Try to pick a time when your guests can reach your venue with reasonable ease and comfort.

Pay close attention to the dates that appeal to you. A second glance may tell you that this date falls on a sad occasion, such as the date of a loved one's death. That date may also be the birthday of someone close or even their anniversary. If you want to pay tribute to someone by having your wedding on their birthday or anniversary then this is fitting.  Try to schedule so that others won't feel their own special day has been taken over if dates overlap.

In addition to lining up the vendors, your wedding date also needs to be coordinated with your honeymoon hotel reservations.  Honeymoon plans must be coordinated with available vacations from work for both the bride and groom, and those must be compatible with airline flights.

It's a good idea to be sure the people in the wedding party don't have major events already going on for that time.  If your best man is expecting his first child on that date, or any date near it, you may not find him at the altar with the wedding party.  If your parents have scheduled a non-refundable trip to Europe and your wedding date falls in the middle of it, you will have to find another date. Of course you won't be able to accommodate everyone but you must make sure that the immediate family and wedding party have no unchangeable conflicts.

If you are having difficulty finding venues and vendors for the most popular times, consider having your ceremony during non-peak months. The hardest times to book successfully are Saturdays and the months that fall between November and March.  Keep an open mind and see if another month or day would work for you.

Once you have all your dates coordinated, you should consider doing one more thing: arrange for an alternate date in case of unforeseen circumstances. Sudden illness of close family members or catastrophic 'acts of God' can render your original date useless, so it pays to be prepared.

Remember to choose well. Whatever date you set will be your anniversary for the rest of your lives.

Article by Rachel Goodchild

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