44 THE QUEENS COURIER • BRIDAL • JUNE 21, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
bridal
WHAT’S IN A DATE?
The most and least expensive days to get married
BY KRISTEN CASTILLO
Looking for the perfect day to say “I
do”? It can be a little more complicated
than it seems. You’re not only competing
with other couples for similar products
and services, ranging from venues to
caterers to photographers, but also trying
to get a good deal.
Balancing these objectives can be challenging,
but it’s doable. Read on as wedding
experts share their choose-a-date
strategies.
Premium Party
When Tracy Volkmann got married on
Dec. 31, 2015, in Rochester, New York,
she loved her holiday nuptials, explaining
that the event was beautiful and she saved
cash on design.
“I got married on New Year’s Eve, and
it was not only a fabulous day to celebrate
with friends and family, but it also meant
that my now-husband and I spent very little
on decorations and fl owers,” she says.
Th eir church was already decked out
for Christmas, and their hotel reception
venue was also decorated for the holidays.
“Th e only decor we added ourselves at
the reception venue were centerpieces on
each table,” Volkmann says, noting that
the venue’s other adornments were fun
and festive for photos.
Some of the most sought-aft er wedding
dates every year are holidays, including
Th anksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s
Eve. Deals are sometimes available on
these dates, but overall, the costs are typically
higher than they would be for a wedding
on a non-peak day.
“Don’t pick around Christmas,
Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, as fl owers
are super infl ated due to demand,”
says Jacqueline Goldman of J Morgan
Flowers, noting that fl owers are in high
demand every holiday weekend.
Even prom season can elevate prices for
food, fl owers and photography. Avoiding
these busy times can keep costs low.
Popular = Pricey
If you want to save money, don’t marry
on a Saturday.
“Based on supply and demand, the
most expensive days to get married are
Saturdays,” says Chris Cluff , vice president
of business development at Duff y’s
Tavern & Grill, a restaurant and event
center in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
“Not only do we charge an additional
event fee on Saturdays but also our food
minimum is higher. All other days of
the week are less expensive, with a lower
event fee and food minimum.”
Choose an off day, when products and
services have less volume.
“You might cut your costs a little bit by
hosting a wedding on a Friday or Sunday,
but you would signifi cantly cut your costs
by getting married Monday to Th ursday,”
says wedding planner Janice Carnevale of
Bellwether Events.
Brunch, Baby!
Forget a plated sit-down dinner (the
most expensive meal option) and choose
something that’s elegant but more aff ordable.
“Daytime weddings are usually shorter,
and guests eat lighter and drink less,
saving you on labor and food/beverage
costs,” says Carnevale, who suggests hosting
a brunch or lunch reception. “Th ere
can be lower demand for daytime events,
which means overall you can oft en get
better rates.”
In-Demand Dates
Some days are already in demand for
the date alone. Th is year, lots of couples
are getting hitched on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Th at’s 8/18/18. Th ree Sundays in 2018
-- in February, March and November --
happen on the 18th of the month, too.
In 2019, Jan. 19 and Oct. 19 -- both on
Saturdays -- are coveted, too, as is Sunday,
May 19. Planning ahead? Saturday, June
20, 2020, is going to be popular. Th at
same year, Sept. 20 and Dec. 20 fall on
Sundays.
Th e royal wedding is making a splash
in the wedding world, even on this side
of the globe. Many couples want to share
something with Prince Harry and his
bride, Meghan Markle. Th at grand aff air
is happening May 17, 2018, a Th ursday.
Be Flexible
If your schedule isn’t set, work with
vendors, including venues, to snag the
best deals.
“I always suggest being fl exible, and if
you fall in love with a venue, to get a good
deal, ask them what date they want to fi ll,”
says Goldman.
Summer and fall are popular times to
marry. So consider getting hitched during
an off season, too -- for example, January
or February, especially in cold climates.
Business might be slow for local vendors,
who might be able to off er signifi cant discounts.
Kristen Castillo is a three-time Emmy
Award-winning journalist. An editor and
writer for wedding magazines, she’s written
hundreds of wedding articles, as well
as an e-book, “Weddings on a Dime.”
Creators.com