The date you choose may be influenced by some real-world considerations. For example, the facilities and professionals you want for your wedding may book-up a year or more in advance. It's worth a few phone calls to see if your dream wedding is possible on your first date selection.

If not, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to shift your plans to the year 2020. Often, you'll find that professionals aren't as busy on Sundays as on Saturdays. If your religion allows for a Sunday wedding, both service availability and pricing tend to improve.

In years past, June was the busiest month for wedding professionals. Perhaps to avoid the spring rush, many couples are now opting for autumn weddings. This trend has caused September and October to become as busy-or even busier-for top-tier wedding professionals. Again, it's important to check with reliable professionals to see if your first-choice date is realistic, or if too many other couples share your good idea.

Defining an available date becomes more important if your wedding will be very formal; less so for more casual weddings. But even if you opt for a backyard barbecue reception instead of a plush banquet hall, you'll still depend upon good professionals to support your celebration. Even for less elaborate affairs, service availability may influence the timing.

Consider, also, the many calendar dates that could affect your guests' ability to attend. Close proximity to a Holiday can have both positive and negative influences; three-day weekends allow more travel time for out-of town guests, but can reduce attendance if many of your guests made other plans. Local events, such as fairs, festivals, sporting events, conventions, and political functions can rob hotel space and complicate travel. Your local tourism council may be able to offer insight on which dates to avoid.