December weddings?

**Epaphras** · 11-30-2006, 02:44 PM

My girlfriend (practically fiancee) and I were talking the other day. We've been together for 2 1/2 years and over the past year started talking about getting married. Our original idea was a summer 2008 wedding, which would be after our junior year, although I will only have one semester after that left.

Anyhoo, recently we've been chewing on the idea of a December 2007 wedding. More specifically, the weekend of December 14-16, 2007, which is the week after fall semester finals, the week before Christmas, and two weeks before the beginning of winter semester.

The advantages we see to this over a summer wedding are:
1) All our friends who would be in the wedding party would be available as they are all also in college and would also be on break.
2) Could be cheaper, as in it's not the super-popular May/June season.
3) Christmas is her favorite holiday
4) We can plan during the school year. This may sound like it would be more stressful, but our summers are actually a lot busier than the school year, as I work full time in the summer and we live an hour apart when not at school together.
5) A December wedding wouldn't outshine her sister's high school graduation in 2008 (even if it were after her graduation and open house it's still a bigger event).

And I guess the disadvantages to December are:
1) Hectic travel season, except all the family that we would be inviting live in Michigan too.
2) Tricky housing situation. I'd have to sub-lease halfway through the year. However, she is/will be an RA which means free housing! Oh yeah!

Am I overlooking anything?

Does anyone have experience with December weddings? i.e. were you or a friend/relative married in December?

I'm more interested in hearing what everyone has to say about December (or non-May/June) weddings in general, not in our specific situation. I just said all that because I like to talk about it!

hapa_angel · 11-30-2006, 03:34 PM

Things are crazy, as Art's and my wedding is coming up, so I'll post more on this when I get back from our nuptuals on the second.

nix · 11-30-2006, 03:40 PM

No honeymoon?

**thesteve** · 11-30-2006, 03:43 PM

I'm geting married in January...the 6th. I think on the whole it will be better than a summer wedding. We both like the colder seasons more. Then again, the way San Diego weather has been the last couple years, it might be in the mid-80s or higher.

PontiusPirate · 11-30-2006, 03:59 PM

We didn't get married in December....we were married in March, and it was sooooo much better than a summer wedding would've been.
It was a major "off" month. Plane tickets were less expensive, we got GREAT deals on our hotel in Vegas, and the resort in Monterey, it was easier to get ahold of our florist/cake maker. Anddddd....we both like the cold. As far as you wanting to get married at that time because it's RIGHT after finals....You might want to think about that.
Finals are freaking STRESSSSSS. So is a wedding....especially the last few weeks.
The end.

Nomes · 11-30-2006, 05:17 PM

Hey!

Brad and I got married in June (which is winter here) and it was AWESOME! I love the cooler weather. And it was a nice day. We got a cheaper honeymoon too because it wasn't peak season. We went to the coast - the beach is BEAUTIFUL in winter!

jengoesup · 11-30-2006, 06:10 PM

My friend's mom is getting married December 3rd

**Epaphras** · 11-30-2006, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nix

No honeymoon?

Yes, something in-state probably, or at least in-country. A cabin or something. We'd spend Christmas alone together

Ali4God · 12-01-2006, 01:45 PM

Financially speaking, winter weddings are usually a pretty great deal. We got married in February and our reception site was $6000 less than it would have been in the spring or summer. Typically all wedding related services are going to be cheaper... although flowers around Christmas time could end up around the same you would pay at a different time of the year, depending on who you use.

December is beautiful... but I am fan of winter weather, so that is just a personal appeal for me. But if your fiance loves Christmas, what a special way to celebrate! Newlyweds for Christmas? Doesn't get much better than that!
*Alison*

**Simo** · 12-01-2006, 04:47 PM

Im getting married on the 7th of July, which like Nomes pointed out is our winter here.

We chose it because it gave us enough time to save before the wedding, and meant that we were only living off one income for a semester, while i finish my teaching prac. We mainly chose it however, because we simply didin't want to wait.

The benefits so far are:
1) We had our pick of reception places. I know people who got married in summer and were forced into chosing a certain place because it was their only option. Over here they are generally booked out at least a year in advance.

2) It is not the peak season for most holiday places. Unless you want to go to a ski resort and be forced to sell your first 3 children to them, it works out heaps cheaper. We are going to be going to a costal holiday region and just hanging out. Going out for dinner, watching a footy game, going shopping etc.

3) Winter can be really cosy. The reception place we chose has an open fire place etc. Stuff like that are unique to winter weddings. They seperate your day from the handful of summer weddings everyone goes to each year.

I'm sure there is stacks of other stuff but i can't really think of it.

leiarose · 12-02-2006, 06:00 PM

I never really wanted a December wedding because I adore Christmas and I adore my fiance. And.....I want them both at separate times! *grin* I think our anniversary would be more independent for us to do it at another time.

You have reallyreally good reasons for a winter wedding, Epaphras! Those are very logical and six months sooner than that summer. *grin* We are most likely getting married Summer '08 before his last semester/year of uni.

So exciting.....*smile*

danalyn · 12-03-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leiarose

I never really wanted a December wedding because I adore Christmas and I adore my fiance. And.....I want them both at separate times! *grin* I think our anniversary would be more independent for us to do it at another time.

You have reallyreally good reasons for a winter wedding, Epaphras! Those are very logical and six months sooner than that summer. *grin* We are most likely getting married Summer '08 before his last semester/year of uni.

So exciting.....*smile*

... fiance? wait... Leia's engaged...??