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Behind-the-Scenes Series #2 – Wedding Seasons! Pros & Cons of each time of year.

Behind-The-Scenes Series – Wedding Tips From a Wedding Photographer!

       Welcome, welcome! I am so stoked to start this video series featuring, behind-the-scenes tips for wedding planning. If you are recently engaged and have a million things on your mind – you have come to the right place! As a wedding photographer, I get to see so much of what goes on at a wedding and I can’t help but share some insightful info with you. There is just too much goodness to share and I must share this with you!! 

If you’d rather watch the video re-cap, here ya go! Or feel free to read along. 😉 

Hello friends! Hope you are having a great start to your week! This week we are talking all about the different seasons and the pros & cons of each. What you need to know from a photographers perspective. Because, believe me – I’ve seen it all! 

When you first get engaged – there are so many things to think about as you start planning. Wedding budgets, guest list, venues – but to start things off in a fun way, i’d recommend that you think of what time of year you love the most and if your plans can circle around that instead. No lie, the day we got engaged, I was adding up the months in my head to see if a fall wadding could happen or not (because I love the fall!) and that was the first thing that I immediately thought of.

 Here's us in one of our wedding photos! We had a November wedding and loved it! pc: Jessica Pendley Photography

Here’s us in one of our wedding photos! We had a November wedding and loved it! pc: Jessica Pendley Photography

From the perspective of a wedding photographer, here are the pros & cons of each season!

Winter

Pros- The winter has quickly become a more popular time for weddings and I love it! One of the main reason I think, is because it is technically the slower season for most venues and wedding vendors. So you are more likely to snag your favorite, must-have vendors because chances are – they probably don’t have as many weddings in the winter months. January through early March.

Cons – It’s freezing! One thing to consider when choosing a winter date, is the weather. Hopefully no snow, but in Georgia, you never know! You will most likely want to plan to have your ceremony inside just in case the temperatures drop to an unbearable degree. Also know that any photos that are online that are taken at your venue might have been taken during another season. Some of their key locations might look completely different in the winter vs spring/summer/fall. Watch out for popular football games like the superbowl. Here in the south, people are serious about catching the game!

Spring

Pros – Springtime truly is the time that everything comes back to life. The flowers bloom and warmer weather starts to appear. Doesn’t it just feel amazing! This time of year you just want to open your windows and breath in the fresh air. I love the color that pops in photos as things start to bloom and offer a pretty background for wedding photos. I love that daylight savings starts and there is more daylight available for photos. Photographers dream! 

Cons – My least favorite thing about the springtime, is the pollen and allergies that it brings along with it. Everything is covered in yellow! Which isn’t too bad to work around – unless you have bad allergies. Just something to consider if you or your fiancee have allergies in the spring. You want to feel your best at your wedding! Also watch out for high school/college graduations. A lot of church venues host graduation ceremonies and this can also cause conflict with guest attending. Watch out! 

Summer

Pros – Summer is a great time for teachers getting married. No school! You can spend more time on your honeymoon and have a smoother transition into married life. Summer can allow you to surprise your guest with an icecream truck or fireworks at your reception! Destination weddings are also very popular in the summer since most vacations are planned during this time. Make a vacation out of it! The early summer months can offer great weather and most of the time – no rain! The summer also allows for more daylight in the evenings (which is an added bonus for those gorgeous sunset photos). 

Cons – Hot. Hot. Hot. The number one negative aspect of summer weddings is the sweltering heat. Keep this into consideration when you are choosing a ceremony space. Having your ceremony under open shade can make the biggest difference in temperature. There’s nothing like going to a wedding a getting a sunburn (this really happened). Make sure you offer your guest water and always stay hydrated!! The majority of wedding photos are taken outside if the weather is nice; I advise having professional hair & makeup so it doesn’t melt off (as quickly). It isn’t the prettiest topic – but someone has to say it…..sweat! Eww! At summer weddings I am constantly carrying around paper towels with me to help combat sweat. Just be sure if you pick out bridesmaid & groomsmen attire, that sweat isn’t an issue (I’m talking to you light grey bridesmaid dresses) Also watch out for summer festivals and baseball games. Traffic in Atlanta is no joke! Thankfully, by know of events beforehand, you can plan your driving route around any traffic hurdles. 

Fall

Pros – The cooler weather feels amazing! It offers an amazing atmosphere for outdoor ceremony’s. The fall leaves start to change color and in Georgia it is so beautiful. You could easily have your wedding with the backdrop of only trees and it would be gorgeous. I truly think this is one of the main reason that fall is the busiest wedding season- the weather! Even the sunlight gives off a golden tone – making it such a romantic time of year to get married. 

Cons – It is so popular! Even with planning a wedding a year out – you will run into some of your favorite venues/vendors already booked. And you would think that a year would be plenty of time! Some of your favorite vendors might already be booked – which is such a bummer! I know, i’ve already turned down a few weddings for this next fall because I am already booked. Crazy right?! Good news though – if you are completely set on a fall wedding – I can guarantee that by choosing a weekday date, you can book your favorite vendors and still have an amazing wedding – even on a Tuesday 😉 And this can also help you cut down on your guest list – just sayin. Also watch out for hurricane season in September; I think we saw impact of that this last year and it was terrible. Rain can be such a damper on the beautiful fall weather. Watch out for time change – it is so sneaky! It get’s darker outside sooner and that can take away daylight for your wedding photos. Planning ahead with your photographer can make the biggest impact on your pictures. And you also want your guest to be able to see everything! 

No matter what season you choose, always remember that at the end of the day, it’s all about your marriage. Weddings are just the icing & celebration of starting your lives together. Don’t let any snow, pollen, heat or hurricane get in the way of that!

If you have any questions about wedding seasons or would like to inquire to see if your date is open – contact me here.

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