In Eastern wisdom, it is said that a journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single step. When planning a wedding, the first step is setting the date, time and place. Everything hinges on these decisions, from the style of dress to the tone of the reception.
KEEP IN MIND
• If the wedding is during high season, from May through September, it is impossible to book too far in advance. • If economizing is a concern, select a weekday between October and February. • If the date coincides with a holiday weekend, expect higher rates from caterers and banquet managers. • For summer weddings, a Thursday celebration avoids disrupting everyone’s weekend. • The date is only as important as the guests’ availability.
THE DATE
• Choosing the date involves many considerations. It may be a day with great sentimental value, like the anniversary of a first date, or the decision may depend on the availability of family and friends.Next
THE TIME
The time of day always determines the choice of dress and the style of wedding.
TO CONSIDER
Morning Weddings
• Beginning anywhere from 11 am to 1 pm, morning weddings, more often than not, are about religious ceremony. • They epitomize a certain relaxed sophistication that frequently eludes bigger, more elaborate celebrations. • Although filled with enormous religious pageantry, the morning ceremonies of Grace Kelly and Lady Diana Spencer were some of the most captivating weddings of the last century.
Afternoon or Late-Day Weddings
• Afternoon weddings usually start anywhere from noon on; late-day from 4 pm to 6 pm. • Afternoon or late-day weddings imply seduction and sensuality. • From films and fantasy to literature and life, afternoons suggest moments of stolen passion and romantic urgency. They also inspire a special sense of celebration.
• An afternoon wedding affords the liberty of self-expression without the opulent trappings of some formal evening affairs.
Evening Weddings
• Beginning around 5 pm, evening weddings can ignite great drama, grand gestures and extraordinary extravagance. • Regardless of how religious the ceremony, the primary focus of most evening weddings is usually the reception. • Nighttime weddings afford many brides the perfect excuse for a lavish celebration. • Evening ceremonies also present a wonderful occasion for an intimate gathering. • They are considerably more costly than daytime affairs.
The Climate
After choosing the date and the hour of the ceremony, the next decision should relate to the climate, as it will significantly affect the wedding attire and ambiance.
A summer wedding in Aspen will differ greatly from one in Bermuda. A winter wedding in Boston will be a decided contrast from one in Palm Beach.
The Location
The choice of the wedding venue determines all of the basic planning of your guests. The location will affect the comfort level of your guests and will make specific impact on menus, decoration and wardrobe. It may also present issues of travel, lodging and transportation.