“Have you set a date yet?” is probably one of the first questions your friends and family are going to ask you when you announce your engagement. Everyone will want to know when you’ll be tying the knot; your guests will need to make travel arrangements, book their hotel rooms and plan out their wedding attire. And you, of course, will have a whole event to plan! 

From locking down your photographer to securing your entertainment, everything hinges on your wedding date. (Pro tip: We can help with both of these!) Suffice to say, it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the initial phase of your planning process. So, what should go into making that call? What comes first: the date or the venue? Here, we’ll share a few things you need to factor in before you pin down a day.

1. Find your venue first – before anything else

Finding the right venue is truly the most important decision you’ll make when it comes to your wedding. After all, it’s the backdrop for your entire day! Oftentimes, that venue’s availability will actually dictate – or at the very least narrow down – your date. For example, if your location of choice is in high demand, you might have to extend your wedding-planning timeline, especially if you’re deeply in love with that venue.

2. Approach dates with an open mind

When it comes to wedding dates, being flexible can prove to be rewarding. This doesn’t mean you should give up your preferences; it means figuring out your priorities and compromising where you can. For example, if the month is extremely important to you, be open to different days of the week. (If Paris Hilton and Cameron Diaz could tie the knot on a weekday, so can you!) If you’ve always envisioned hosting your wedding on a Saturday, perhaps consider different months of the year. Being too rigid will limit your options down the line; you might fall in love with a venue – only to find it unavailable on your chosen date.

3. Select the right season for your aesthetic

Have you decided on an aesthetic already? If so, select a time of the year that matches that. For example, if you want to transform your wedding into a winter wonderland, July might not be your month. If you’re going for a woodland, garden-style affair, consider a season with mild weather, like spring or fall. All to say, your theme will also have an impact on your wedding date, so don’t forget to factor that in!

4. Don’t worry about having a ‘typical’ timeline

In general, Walters Wedding Estates venues are booked 12 to 14 months in advance. If you are set on a specific date, give yourself even more time; 14+ months out is smart. However, every couple is different. Tradition might make you feel that you need to get the wheels turning with a lot of time to spare, but in reality, there isn’t a “typical” timeline for planning your wedding. At Walters Wedding Estates, we include so many of the wedding services for you that you are able to plan in as little as four months or as far out as two – or even three! – years. So, if “the sooner, the better” is your goal, we can make it happen easily.

5. Want to secure a popular date? Don’t delay

If you have your heart set on a specific date – with absolutely no leeway – then our biggest advice is: Book your venue as soon as possible! This is even more important if you want to get married on a popular day. Lovers of holidays, for example, might want a winter-wonderland wedding that puts everyone in the holiday spirit. Same goes for very popular months like May and October. Even if you have your date set in stone, you can count on us to make the wedding of your dreams a reality. We’re a one-stop shop for all of your planning needs; from lighting to floral arrangements, our experts are here to help. The great news about booking with us is we guarantee all of our in-house vendors will be available on the date of your wedding and you don’t have to stress about your vendor availability once you select your wedding date with WWE.