Choosing a wedding date is one of the first things you need to decide on once you begin your wedding planning journey. It’s an important step because it sets the beginning to forever with your loved one and you’ll be celebrating on this date every year thereafter! A lot of things have to be taken into consideration when arriving at the final day to wed. For example, for those who follow Chinese culture and tradition, it’s important to choose an auspicious wedding date. But with choosing such an important date, it’s unfortunate that couples tend to make these common mistakes when doing so. Wedding planning is not a perfect path but you can avoid these if you’re aware and informed. So, just in time, we’re here to help you avoid these mistakes. Here’s a rundown of each one.

(1) Choosing a date before cross checking with your non-negotiable wedding vendor.

All couples have that one (or maybe two) non-negotiable wedding vendor, be it the photographer, the venue, the planner, and so on. If you want to ensure that your must-have wedding vendor is available on your wedding, ask them first before selecting your final wedding date. We know a handful of couples who didn’t get their top vendor because that vendor was no longer available on the set wedding date.

[From: These Lovers Tied the Knot in An Intimate Garden Wedding in Switzerland / Photo: Traveller Ki]

(2) Forgetting to check the local and international calendar.

If you want to increase the attendance rate of your wedding, you should definitely cross check local and international calendars before setting your final wedding date. This is especially helpful for guests who are flying in from other countries. If your wedding falls on a busy peak season, it might be challenging for them to attend as flights and accommodations are pricey. Watch out for local and international holidays too, as this might encourage people to fly in so they don’t need to take extra days off from work. These calendar details matter.

(3) Disregarding your own schedule.

As the bride and groom, both your schedules matter too! Make sure to check you wed on a date that does not coincide with any other important event in work or another family member’s event. Schedule conflicts will be stressful to deal with. You also want to free your mind of anything else other that tying the knot on your wedding day!

[From: A Picturesque Wedding at a Chateau in Bordeaux France / Photo: Traveller Ki]

(4) Ignoring important relationship milestones.

Do you know couples who wed on the same date as their boyfriend and girlfriend anniversary? We do! We also know couples who chose to wed on  a month where an important milestone occurred in their relationship. You can definitely make your wedding date even more meaningful if you look back on your journey as a couple and reference important moments when choosing when to say “I do.”

(5) Not consulting with loved ones.

Yes, we know it’s your day, but it’s also a special day for your family. Hence, asking them for their feedback on possible dates can help ensure more people will be able to attend. They might also be able to give a heads up if certain times of the year or months are going to be too busy or challenging for other family members.

[From: A Romantic Wedding in Australia That Was Almost Three Years In The Making / Photo: Aliki Anadena]

(6) Overlooking the weather conditions.

The season and weather matters a lot, so don’t disregard this when choosing a wedding date. Naturally, any time of the year that could possibly be rainy should be out of the list of options. And while summer is a popular season, check on whether this is something you and your guests will be okay with too. For example, hot and humid summers might not be very comfortable; spring might be a more ideal time.

(7) Going for very, very popular dates or seasons.

Popular dates or seasons are sought after for a reason. They’re either auspicious or the weather is ideal for any kind of celebration. However, these dates and times are usually very pricey and many vendors may be fully booked already–you might even have a difficult time booking your favorite vendors. You can go for less popular wedding dates that are still auspicious and consider lean seasons, too.

[From: This California-Based Couple Planned a Dreamy Destination Wedding in Koh Samui in Six Months / Photo: ProudRad]