Setting the Date

The 'ring is on the finger' and its time to set the date for your special day.  You have 365 days to choose from in any 12 month period.

The best thing to do when choosing your wedding date is to do some homework before you commit to a date.

Venue
If you have your heart set on a venue, check availability and that the price suits your budget.  Some seasons or days of the week are charged at premium prices.  You could even consider a weekday, as weekend rates are often much more expensive.  Even the time of day impacts on your price for a venue.  When I was married five years ago, my lunch reception was $50 a head cheaper than dinner.

Season & Theme
Would you be willing to be married in the middle of a snowy winter?  If not, rule out that part of the year for your big day.  Do you love the idea of spring flowers and new beginnings?  If you are going to be married outside, is summer the best time for you?  Are you a sports fanatic who needs to attend some football Grand Final, or the Superbowl?

Family
If you have family coming from overseas or if someone you want at the wedding is going overseas, or will be having a baby, you need to get some indication of expected dates.

Money
I nearly forgot to add a very important point.  Weddings cost money, and if you are paying for the day yourselves, you need to work out a budget to save towards this.  My husband and I paid for our own wedding....or should I say, my husband paid for our wedding.  We had to take our time to save to get everything the way we wanted.

Work
Does your work year get crazy busy at tax time, end of month or in certain months.  You need to know when you can afford to take leave for your wedding and honeymoon.

Ultimately the date is a decision that you and your fiance will have to make, but if you consider the above, you will have one less issue to deal with, and hopefully less stress on that day of days.

Engaged to the Man of My Dreams

Mutual friends introduced me to my husband and it was an exciting time as we started going out and getting to know each other.  After two weeks I knew I wanted to marry him, so at six weeks, I left my dress ring on his window sill on purpose after washing the dishes.

He took the hint and as he was thinking the same thing as me, went and had it sized up then chose an engagement ring.  Another six weeks later and he proposed.  It was so romantic.  After proposing, we celebrated with strawberries and champagne, on a picnic table complete with bamboo lanterns, candles and the two of us wearing sarongs.  Using his imagination, my then boyfriend (now husband) had set the scene for a tropical island paradise.

Picture this... Sunset at Brighton Bathing Boxes, in Melbourne, Victoria, on a balmy Spring evening.

Weather was warm, with a gentle cool breeze, sky different shades of orange and red. The water lapping like blue silk at the shore.
My man & I sitting on the steps of one of the Bathing Boxes, watching the beauty of God's painting. And he asked me to marry him. I of course said yes, and he gave me a beautiful princess cut diamond ring. (HUGE)
So I didnt get much sleep that night, for dreaming of our future.  It was all very giggly and romantic,and we set the date for the first weekend in Spring