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Having a holiday wedding can be convenient, especially for those who need to travel, but it is important to consider the dos and don’ts when you are planning a holiday wedding. These 8 things to consider will help make sure that your holiday wedding is a smash hit!

According to The Knot, December is the most popular month to get engaged. While engagements are common around the holidays, weddings around this time are not quite as popular. Most couples walk down the aisle in the fall, but planning a wedding for December and January may be an opportune time to plan around work schedules or school breaks. If you love a festive, cozy winter setting for your wedding, this may be a time of the year to consider, especially if you are okay with hosting a holiday wedding.

The downside to planning a holiday wedding, however, is the overlap of other events that may keep guests from attending the big day. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Travel Statistics reports that Christmas/New Years and Thanksgiving “are among the busiest long-distance travel periods of the year.” Because so many people travel this time of year, that can also impact gas prices and even hotel prices. While many companies and families are hosting Christmas parties during this season, venue prices may be impacted, as well.

Of course, some of that travel may be to your main event…if you’re getting married near family. Scheduling and planning a holiday wedding may be a bit more complicated, though, especially if guests are already budget crunched from the holidays. Attending a holiday wedding may not be in the cards for some of your guests.

If you are committed to having a holiday wedding, here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind:

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Do:

1. When you are planning a holiday wedding, make sure that your registry will have gifts in all price points.

Understand that the holidays may crunch the budget of guests. Some of them may have less to spend on a gift, so make sure items on your registry include a range of prices. If you are having a destination holiday wedding, you may even give the option of having their presence as a gift. I’ve seen this become an option with several weddings recently, especially if the couples are already fairly established and don’t need many items for their home..

2.     When planning a holiday wedding, keep hotel options affordable.

For out-of-town guests making the trek to your holiday wedding, include several options of hotels to accommodate different budgets. Not everyone can afford to splurge on a five-star hotel! Keep in mind, too, that many hotels will have higher prices for holidays, especially if it is over a long weekend. Try booking a block of discounted rooms in advance. You can also consider vacation home rentals. If multiple groups split the cost, this can be a much more cost effective option for your holiday wedding.

3.     If you are hosting a holiday wedding, check out lower rates for honeymoons!

Because not as many people do destination trips in the winter or over holidays, you may be able to save money on your dream honeymoon destination. In many areas, winter is the off-season for travel. For those saying “I do” during the winter, this could mean lower rates on tropical destinations. Check out the offers on travel sites to snag deals on cruises and resorts. This could also give you some wiggle room in your wedding budget if you are able to save on your honeymoon.

4.     When you are planning a holiday wedding, take advantage of holiday deals for rings.

Many jewelers offer sales around the holidays for rings and other gift items. Use these money-saving opportunities to buy your wedding rings and save money on a major purchase. You can also look for deals on decor, accessories, and even on your wedding dress if you are hosting a holiday wedding!

5.     Schedule your holiday wedding on a weekday to save money.

Holidays don’t just mean Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. President’s Day and Valentine’s Day also make interesting wedding day choices. Hosting a wedding on a weekday isn’t common, but it will save you money on your event (sometimes LOTS of money). Having a holiday wedding on a long weekend also gives your guests who are traveling to your wedding the option to turn it into a whole weekend. Even if you consider a Friday instead of a Saturday, you can save quite a bit of money on your venue, and even on your other wedding vendors. If you’re on a tight budget but want a holiday wedding, look at off-peak days.

Don’t:

1.     Even if it is a holiday wedding, don’t go crazy with holiday themes.

Yes, it’s fun to incorporate touches of the holidays for weddings that are held during the festive season. However, don’t go overboard with red and green or other themed details.  However, if you’re getting married in a church, the decorations from the season may save you money on floral arrangements! If you want to incorporate the holiday theme into your wedding day, there are subtle ways to do this. For example, if you’re having a Christmas wedding, have poinsettia centerpieces, or have your bridesmaids wear a deep red. If you are having an Easter wedding, maybe your bridesmaids wear spring colors. There are ways to incorporate the holiday into your holiday wedding without going overboard.

2.     Even for a holiday wedding, make sure that you don’t get married on the actual date of a major holiday!

According to Today, Christmas is considered “the rudest” day to get married, and with good reason! Most families prefer to spend this day together, and you will be hard-pressed to find any vendors who will be willing to work that day. While it may be fine to say “I do” around the holidays, scheduling your wedding day on the date of a major holiday is not the best etiquette. And don’t be surprised if many of the RSVP cards come back with regrets! When you are planning a holiday wedding, make sure that if it is a major holiday, you host your event a few days away from the actual holiday.

3.    When hosting a holiday wedding, don’t wait until the last minute to notify guests.

With holiday weddings, time is of the essence. Most people plan their holidays months in advance. If you want to prevent scheduling conflicts, make sure to give guests plenty of notice that the wedding will be hosted around a major (or maybe not-so-major) holiday. They may need more time to navigate around their plans to ensure that they can be there for your special day.

Hosting a holiday wedding is a memorable way to celebrate the festivity of the season in combination with your big day. However, planning holiday weddings requires a bit more thought and technical planning…especially for guests. Make sure to give guests plenty of notice and provide budget-friendly accommodations before having a holiday wedding. Major holiday seasons like Christmas and Thanksgiving often signal lots of sales for jewelry and travel, and you and your beloved may save money on your dream honeymoon and your wedding bands. Just remember, though, that while it may be fine to schedule a wedding around major holidays, don’t schedule your wedding on a major holiday! Otherwise, you may have a lot of grinches sending their regrets!