Wedding Budget Tip #3: Choose an Off-Peak Wedding Date
One great way to reduce the cost of your wedding is to be strategic with your choice of wedding date. Pick an off-season date to save big on your wedding budget!
This post is part of a recurring series here on BSB where we share wedding budget tips to help you save money on your wedding! You can access all the wedding budget tips on a single page for your convenience and future reference.
Wedding Budget Tip #3:
Choose a wedding date during off-peak seasons.
Did you know that choosing a wedding date during the off-season can save you tons of money on your wedding?
It’s a simple fact of supply and demand. The most popular months for weddings book up faster, so many venues, vendors and even hotels charge a premium for those most desirable dates.
Peak months vary by location, but nationally, wedding season runs from May through October. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, 76% of weddings take place in that window, with October and June tied as the most popular months at 16% each. If you have your heart set on one of those months, you will likely spend more than you would on another date. Plus, you’ll have more competition when booking your venue and vendors!
How Much Can an Off-Peak Date Save? New Hotel Data
Venue pricing is only part of the story. Lodging is a big expense for destination weddings and for any couple reserving a room block for out-of-town guests, and it follows the same seasonal pattern.
Travel booking platform Engine analyzed hotel rates across 20 popular U.S. wedding destinations to find the cheapest nearby month that still offers good weather. In its Same Wedding, Big Discount report, moving from the peak month to an off-peak alternative cut hotel rates by 21% on average, and by as much as 43% in Napa Valley.
| Destination | Peak month | Off-peak alternative | Hotel savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa Valley | October ($427/night) | December ($242/night) | 43% |
| New Orleans | October ($246/night) | December ($155/night) | 37% |
| Charleston | October ($282/night) | December ($179/night) | 37% |
| Newport | July ($479/night) | May ($314/night) | 35% |
| San Diego | July ($370/night) | September ($252/night) | 32% |
| New York City | May ($380/night) | July ($270/night) | 29% |
| Savannah | October ($198/night) | December ($147/night) | 26% |
| Key West | March ($460/night) | May ($341/night) | 26% |
| Boulder | September ($307/night) | July ($237/night) | 23% |
| Nashville | October ($338/night) | November ($267/night) | 21% |
| Virginia Beach | October ($133/night) | November ($107/night) | 20% |
| Temecula | May ($189/night) | April ($162/night) | 14% |
| Hawaii | June ($215/night) | May ($188/night) | 12% |
| Las Vegas | October ($180/night) | November ($159/night) | 12% |
| Santa Barbara | August ($353/night) | October ($314/night) | 11% |
| Chicago | September ($308/night) | August ($277/night) | 10% |
| Miami | April ($251/night) | May ($226/night) | 10% |
| Asheville | May ($157/night) | April ($143/night) | 9% |
| St. Augustine | April ($171/night) | February ($156/night) | 9% |
| Austin | April ($254/night) | May ($233/night) | 8% |
A few things to know about these numbers. Engine defines the peak month as the month couples most want to marry, based on its wedding venue searches, not the month with the highest hotel prices. The off-peak alternative has to stay within a couple of months of peak and still score well for weather, and the five hurricane-belt destinations (Charleston, Savannah, Key West, Miami and St. Augustine) skip June through November entirely. The rates are average city hotel rates rather than negotiated wedding blocks, so treat them as a directional guide and get real quotes for your dates.
“Wedding planning can be costly, but there are ways to save without giving up on your dream location. Based on our analysis of 20 popular wedding destinations, shifting the date just a few months could save you up to 43% on hotels, while still benefiting from good weather. So, as you begin thinking about your ideal wedding destination, don’t let the cost scare you away. Staying flexible with your dates can make all the difference.”
Alec Hollingsworth, Engine Consumer Data Expert
The takeaway: you don’t have to move your wedding to the dead of winter to save. Even sliding a destination wedding from the height of summer into late spring or early fall can make a real difference for you and your guests. The flip side is worth knowing too: in places like Austin, St. Augustine and Asheville, the off-peak month saves less than 10%, so if one of those is your dream spot, pick the date you love and look for savings elsewhere in your budget. If you’re weighing a destination wedding, our guide to planning a destination wedding on a budget walks through the rest of the math.
Having a Winter Wedding Will Save You Money
Choosing a winter wedding date can save you some major cash, as most venues don’t host as many events during that time. An off-peak date can save you money on your other vendors as well, so be sure to ask about seasonal discounts!
Hotels have off-seasons too, as the data above shows. A winter wedding could save your out-of-town guests money on their accommodations, making it a big win all around. Your guests will appreciate it!
It’s also worth mentioning that winter weddings can be pretty magical! Just think about all the beautiful wintry accents you can incorporate into your day. Here are a few gorgeous winter weddings from our archives, and you’ll find plenty more winter wedding inspiration here:
One thing to note: steer clear of major holidays to protect those savings. Valentine’s Day can drive up the price of flowers, and New Year’s Eve can have a big impact on hotel room availability and rates. Keep both in mind if you’re considering a winter wedding!
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