What’s the best month to get married?

The answer, well honestly, it depends!

Here’s my guide to choosing the best wedding month to get married in, based on the kind of day you’re dreaming of and, of course, the kind of photos you want to remember it by. In this blog, I’ll go season by season, giving you all the reasons that make each one arguably the best season to get married in, whether you’re planning a spring, summer, autumn or winter wedding.

Let me start by saying, for ease, I am using the meteorological calendar to organise my months into the different wedding seasons, not the astrological calendar but if you’re interested in the differences between the two and what months belong to which season, then the Met Office has you covered. 

The Best Month to get Married in Spring: March, April and May

If you love spring flowers like daffodils, tulips, peonies, primroses and lilacs, and speaking of lilacs, if you love soft pastel colours too, then Spring could well be the best season to get married. For weddings in the UK, Spring is also the start of warmer, dryer weather (although it is still England, so nothing is guaranteed), but without the soaring heat of Summer. 

For weddings overseas in warmer climates, Spring again brings the start of stronger sunshine and warmer weather but without the twenty plus degree temperatures that can often mean moving away from full suits and satin wedding gowns. So depending on your style, a Spring wedding in a hotter country can be the perfect compromise between warmer weather without the risk of rain, and still being able to wear amazing tailoring, sleeves and satins.

If golden hour photos are something you’re interested in, then at this time of year, that amazing golden hour light typically lines up perfectly with the wedding breakfast or just after. So bear in mind, your photographer might tear you away from your meal to get some amazing photos in the soft Spring light of golden hour, if you plan your wedding in this season and I promise, you won’t regret it. 

The Best Month to get Married in Summer: June, July and August

When it comes to the Summer months, then even in England, you have a good chance for some sunshine on your wedding day, although admittedly it did rain a lot in July 2022. Don’t let that put you off though, rain can make for some equally beautiful photos. 

And speaking of summer sunshine, sunflowers are the iconic summer flower, but it’s also the season for beautiful blooms like hydrangeas, roses, lavender and lilies. If you’re hoping for a wedding that’s full of vibrant colours & dramatic floral displays then the summer months could be the best months for you to get married.

The summer wedding season is also ideal if an early start isn’t your thing. As the days are longest at this time of year, it’s the perfect choice if you like a lie in, or you’d love the extra time to indulge in getting ready for your big day. A later ceremony, around say 2pm in the afternoon, is also perfect for ensuring your photographer can capture some perfect portraits of you and your guests when the light is softer, so the need to squint in the summer sunshine is less. Whatever time your wedding starts though, your photographer will be able to make the most of all that amazing Summer sunshine and light.

The Best Month to get Married in Autumn: September, October and November

Autumn is the season for warm, rich colours, cosy vibes and Autumn blooms like dahlias, asters, roses, Japanese anemones and coppertips. You can also embrace the harvest season and bring pumpkins, wheat, pinecones, cinnamon sticks and even berries into your bouquet and floral arrangements. 

Autumn is also the perfect season for golden hour photos, and sometimes the sunshine in September and October is even better than in the height of Summer. Trust me, I had an outdoor wedding in October and the sunshine was stunning.

So if rich autumnal colours, rustic charm, barns, harvests, fallen leaves and golden sunlight are your thing, Autumn could well be the best season for you to get married in.

The Best Month to get Married in Winter: December, January and February

Winter is the wedding season that brings with it the most drama. With the nights drawing in so early during the winter months, weddings at this time of year can enjoy the very best of what dark nights really mean. I’m talking about moody skies, starry nights, firelight and candles, festoon and fairy lights, lanterns and long shadows, all amazing lighting conditions for some truly dramatic wedding photos. 

Because those nights draw in so fast, for winter weddings I would absolutely consider some first look photos too, so you can get some photos together in the daylight hours before your ceremony starts, giving you the best of both worlds. You can still enjoy some golden hour photos at this time of year too, most likely just after the wedding ceremony and before the wedding breakfast, which is arguably the perfect time to be whisked away for a short while.

It is also, of course, the festive season, so you can enjoy floral displays including holly, ivy, eucalyptus, jasmine, snowdrops, hellebores, camellias and even frosted berries. It’s a truly magical time of year and a beautiful season to get married in, especially if you love twinkling lights, bold colours and moody skies.

Which wedding season will you choose to get married in?

“If you’re choosing your wedding date around light, season and atmosphere, it really helps to chat this through with your photographer early on.”

Whether it’s the romance of winter, the colour of autumn, the vibrance of summer or the promise of spring, there’s a perfect month to get married in for every kind of love story.

If you’re still deciding on a date and want advice based on light, seasons and how your day will feel rather than rules, I’m always happy to help.