Spring, summer, fall or winter? — deciding on which season to have your wedding might have you a bit frazzled. They each have pros and cons, and if you don’t have a specific date in mind then you’re left with a whopping 365 options to have to choose from.

So to shed some light on this fairly important decision, I’ve put together a quick rundown of the four seasons to help you along.

 

Quick tip: One of the easiest ways to figure out the right season for you is by first deciding on the colors or flowers you’d like to have at your wedding. Every season has its ideal color palette, mainly determined by the outside surroundings and flowers in season at the time.

 

 Spring

Ahh springtime…the snow is gone (hopefully), trees are budding and flowers are beginning to bloom. Some people consider this to be the most beautiful season of all, and it’s thought to be a season of rebirth, growth and purity.

 

Fun fact: March 20 — the day of Spring Equinox here in North America — is one of the most popular spring wedding dates.

 

Inspiration

 

Think tea lights and fresh-cut flowers in a romantic garden ceremony setting.

 

The guest favors, centerpieces and other decor accessories you chose should really set the mood with bright and lively colors. Buy Items In Photo Above:  Mini Garden Shovel | Garden Cards | Leaf Tea Light Holders | Frosted Glass Heart Candle Holders

 

Color Palette

The ideal colors for spring are cheerful earthy tones that really pop.

 

Pale green, light teal, purple, pink and light brown or taupe

Pros and Cons

 The temperature has warmed up giving way to a plethora of seasonal flowers at your fingertips. Envision tulips, crocuses, hibiscus flowers, daffodils and peonies, just to name a few.

 

The chance for rain on your wedding day is relatively high in spring, and you could even get a freak snowstorm. It’s best to plan your spring reception indoors just to be safe.

 

A partly cloudy springtime sky makes for some of the best photo opts whereas bright summer sunlight can cause harsh shadows in photographs.

 

Fun fact: In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck and a sign of future prosperity.

 

Summer

Summer is still the most popular time of year to get married. The days are hot, longer, and your wedding guests are ready to have a good time. Almost every variety of flower is in season so your bouquet options are practically endless.

 

Inspiration

 

When I think of summer I imagine slushy margaritas, rooftop patios, an acoustic guitar serenade and flowers everywhere. Buy Items Seen Above: Stainless Steel Torch | Felt Daisy Candle Holders

 

Color Palettes

Summer weddings really have two ideal colorful palettes: cheerful brights and pretty pastels. The right one for you will depend on how lively or how elegant you want your wedding to be.

Turquoise, bright green, yellow, peach and fuchsia

 

Pale yellow, ivory, blush pink, lavender and baby blue

 

Pros and Cons

The chance of rain spoiling your big day is  minimal, but long, outdoor ceremonies can leave your guests hot, sweaty and restless. If you’re planning your ceremony outside then consider giving parasols or hand held fans out to your guests.

 

Fun fact: Summer Solstice — the first day of summer and the longest day of the year — is one of the most popular summer wedding dates. For those of you planning weddings in the next couple of years, Summer Solstice will occur on June 20, 2012 (a Wednesday); June 21, 2013 (a Friday); and June 21, 2014 (a Saturday).

 

Summer weddings can be costly. Because it’s peak wedding season, most venues and wedding vendors up their fees.

 

Budget tip: Since summer weddings tend to be the most pricey, plan to have your wedding on a day other than Saturday, which is the most popular day to get married. Opting for a Friday or Sunday wedding instead will save you money and because most venues tend not to get booked up on those days, you’ll have a better chance of getting your dream venue.

 

Fall

The leaves are turning colors of red, orange and gold, and a refreshing brisk breeze has filled the air. Fall is such a romantic season, and the cooler temperatures can sometimes make for a more enjoyable wedding experience.

 

Inspiration

 

The colors of fall are somewhat all over the map and make for some of the most stunning wedding photos imaginable. Think yellow sunflowers, ruby red and gold leaves and bright orange pumpkins everywhere. Buy Items Seen In Photo Above: Fall In Love Coaster Set | Fall Leaf Candles

 

Color Palette

Fall colors are bold, rich and romantic. Bright orange and yellow, browns accented by golds or bronzes and deep purples really tie it all together.

Magenta, chocolate brown, reddish orange, orange and gold

 

Pros and Cons

The colors of fall are spectacular but the weather can be a bit unpredictable. Sun, rain, snow and even hail are all a possibility in fall.

However, if you’ve always dreamt of having a wedding outdoors, it’s still possible. With enough heat lamps, you could host your ceremony, cocktail hour and even your reception outside. I would suggest bringing the party inside for dancing and dessert when it starts getting chilly after the sun sets, and give your guests a heads up to bring jackets and wraps.

 

Fun tip: You could consider handing out scarves, mitts and toques to your guests. Just think about the photos you could capture of your dudded-up wedding guests donning winter attire in September. Love it!

 

Winter

Winter weddings are so romantic, and even a little magical. With merry Christmas spirit all around you, you can have one of the most romantic, most joyful weddings than any other time of the year.

 

Inspiration

Christmas is everybody’s favorite time of year, right? It’s always fun to add a little snowflake or snowman here or there, especially for December weddings. But there is no rule that states winter wedding must have or include a Christmas theme, so you can make it a Christmasy event, or not, it’s absolutely up to you.

 

Buy Items In Photo: Snowflake Wine Stopper | Mini Snowglobes | Winter Romance Stationery

 

Color Palette

Deep, rich jewel tones are amazing for weddings during the winter months. They’re luscious and romantic, and will make for fabulous photos against any snowy, white background.

 

Emerald green, sapphire blue, silver, deep purple and ruby red

 

Pros and Cons

Typically, winter is the wedding off-season, which means many venues will give discounted rates to fill the holes in their schedules.

 

You could have more guests able to attend if you plan your wedding around the holidays (such as American Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve and spring break) because most people take time off then anyway.

 

Fun fact: Flowers tend to last the longest in the colder winter temperatures so your bouquets and floral arrangements will keep their form throughout the day.

 

No matter when you plan to have your wedding it will be a special day you’ll never forget, so don’t stress about it. Just remember not to plan on it going off without even the slightest hitch. It’s those little imperfections that will make your wedding day a memory of a lifetime.

 

Fun fact: What’s the most popular wedding day of all time, you ask? It was July 7, 2007 (ie. 7-7-7: the top jackpot on a slot machine). More than 38,000 weddings occurred around the world that day.

Happy weddings!