If starting the wedding planning process, one of the first things you’ll want to do is select your wedding venue. But this step comes with its own major decision—choosing your wedding date. Depending on where you are getting married, one of the questions you may want to ask during your venue search is, “When is wedding season?”
“Wedding season” is simply the time of year when the most weddings occur, and it varies from state to state (and sometimes even within a state).
Knowing the peak wedding season for the area will go a long way toward helping you plan your perfect event. At The Treasury on the Plaza, we’ve hosted hundreds of weddings in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, so allow us to help guide you through the area’s wedding season, with advice for planning your own big day.
Photo of downtown St. Augustine by That Moment Productions
Peak Wedding Season: Fall, Winter & Early Spring
Most online wedding advice lists May through October as the most popular wedding months (with June being the most popular month to say “I do!”). However, the most popular months to get married in Florida are usually a little different.
In St. Augustine, the busiest times for weddings are fall, winter, and early spring. October through April are often considered the best time of year to get married, as the weather is mild and dry.
Winter weddings are also popular due to Nights of Lights, St. Augustine’s annual holiday lighting display, which runs from late November through January.
Nights of Lights Wedding Photo by Angelita Esparar
Pros and Cons of Getting Married in Peak Wedding Season
Spring and fall are when St. Augustine’s lush scenery comes alive, making your outdoor portraits pop! There are so many beautiful locations in town for wedding photos, no matter the time of year!
Another plus of avoiding the summer months? The weather! If you plan on taking your wedding photos outside, or have an outdoor cocktail hour, fall and spring are comfortable and breezy, with little chance of a chill. Even though December through February are the “coldest” months in Florida, you won’t have to worry about battling cold temperatures. Average temps stay in the mid-60s!
That being said, there are a few things to consider when getting married during St. Augustine’s peak wedding season.
First of all, wedding season means that wedding venues and vendors are incredibly busy. If you’re dead set on having your ideal wedding date, you should expect dates to book up quickly, and to be quoted higher prices. The earlier you book your venue and vendors, the better!
Another thing to consider is travel and accommodations during peak season. Flights and hotels can be more expensive during this timeframe. Make sure to provide guests with several suggestions for where to stay during your wedding festivities, and share all airports that are within reasonable travel distance from your venue.
How to Plan a Wedding in Peak Wedding Season
Despite the high demand, planning a wedding during peak wedding season isn’t all that different from planning a wedding any other time of year. Here are some tips to help you plan the perfect fall, winter, or spring wedding.
First, start planning as early as possible. Wedding venues and vendors fill up very quickly, so allow 12-24 months in your wedding planning timeline. This will give you a more open calendar to select a wedding date.
If you don’t want to plan that far in advance, it helps to be flexible with your wedding date. Being open to a Sunday or weekday wedding can give you more options at that perfect venue.
Once you’ve officially set the date, a wedding planner can help with the details. Choosing a color palette or wedding theme, finding reputable vendors, and even coordinating the day’s schedule are much easier with a professional on your side.
Winter wedding photo by Angelita Esparar
Having a Summer Wedding in North Florida
With high temperatures in the 90’s, summer weddings in Florida can be hot, hot, HOT! If you decide to get married outside of peak wedding season, you may want to forego the beach wedding in favor of an indoor wedding venue with plenty of A/C. (Your guests will thank you!)
You should also think carefully about how to pick your wedding date. July and August tend to be the hottest (and rainiest) months in Florida, followed by June and September. If you’re adamant about an outdoor wedding, consider having a tent rental or indoor weather backup on standby.
You can also plan to have a short outdoor ceremony followed by an indoor reception.
The summer heat didn’t stop Rachel and Kevin from snapping a few photos around St. Augustine with their photographer NS Photobook.
Planning a Wedding During Hurricane Season in Florida
The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until November 30, is always present in the minds of Floridians. Hurricanes outside of peak season, which is between mid-August and late October, are relatively infrequent. The risk of a potential hurricane doesn’t typically deter couples from planning their weddings during this timeframe, as the chances of a hurricane disrupting your big day are relatively rare. However, there are some things you may want to consider when planning a wedding during this time of year.
With the time and money that goes into wedding planning, protecting your investment is something you may want to consider, no matter the season! A variety of reputable providers offer event cancellation and travel insurance. Make sure that these policies cover natural disasters and hurricanes, and secure coverage well in advance of your wedding date. Insurance can give you that extra peace of mind when considering the “what ifs” that might impact this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Make sure to read your vendor contracts carefully, as most of them have information on how they handle event cancellations and reschedules in the case of unavoidable natural disasters and acts of God (often referred to as “force majeure”). Most reputable wedding venues will do their best to accommodate rescheduling your date if a state of emergency is declared. During the initial consultation phase, you may also want to ask your vendors how they have handled past events that have been impacted by hurricanes.
Hiring a local Florida-based wedding coordinator with several years of experience under their belt is one of the best things you can do when planning a wedding during hurricane season. If a hurricane does threaten your plans, a wedding coordinator can help you create and implement contingency plans and communicate with vendors and guests. Having someone on your side with experience handling worst-case scenarios is the best way to be prepared (and stay sane!) if Mother Nature has other plans for your big day!
A little rain didn’t stop Kristy and Justin from capturing beautiful wedding photos | Photo by Life & Love Studio.
There’s No Wrong Time to Get Married in North Florida
Whether you’re planning a wedding during spring, summer, winter, or fall, each month has its own set of pros and cons when it comes to planning a wedding. At the end of the day, every season is a great season to get married in St. Augustine!
When it comes to hosting the perfect wedding, the wedding venue you choose always has a bigger impact than the wedding date.
Everything about your venue—from the architecture and ambiance to the hospitality of the team—works together to create the “vibe” of your big day. That’s why choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important wedding planning decisions you can make.
The historic Treasury on the Plaza is a gem in the heart of downtown St. Augustine. The best part: is it’s all indoors! No matter when you choose to walk down the aisle, we’ll help you achieve the wedding of your dreams! Call today to schedule a tour or take a virtual tour for a sneak peek.
Photo of downtown St. Augustine by That Moment Productions
