Seasons of love
As the sun begins to peek it’s head from the cold throws of January and into a crisp and bright February, we thought it would be a good idea to write some thoughts that we have had around the seasonality of the wedding business and how it can affect the decisions you make for your big day. There are lots of things to consider when choosing the time of year to get married, so we have put together some questions you and your other half can ask each other when it comes to putting a pin in the date you will (hopefully!) remember forever.
Why are certain times of year more popular?
The summer months of June, July and August remain the most popular to hold weddings in the UK, and especially where we are situated on the Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset borders. There are many factors that come into play when choosing a summer wedding, and not least because of the promise of favourable weather! However, in recent years, we’ve seen scorching temperatures as early as March and as late as November; and conversely we’ve seen snow in late April! However, apart from weather, there are a few other things to consider in terms of the popularity of particularly the summer months.
Who is on your guest list?
Those that you will celebrate your wedding day with are a huge part of your consideration of when to get married. If you have family living and working abroad, maybe the flight times and costs will be a factor for you. Or if you have bridesmaids or groomsmen who are teachers or shift workers, then getting married on a certain day or week of the year will be the only non negotiable that you have. When you first get engaged and you make your guest list, have a think about aspects of their lives that may mean they are unable to attend a wedding on a Friday or outside of school holidays for example. Although your wishes and wants are the most important thing, it is definitely worth spending a little time working these things out too.
What is the most important aspect of the day?
If you are a bride, have you always dreamed that you would have a bouquet made of peonies? If so, consider when they are in season and readily available for florists (typically May - June). How about some really juicy strawberries in a dessert or a sweet canape - again you’ll be looking towards summer to inform that choice. Whilst these things aren’t deal breakers, again spending time figuring out what you want before you book a date means less compromising further down the line.
Have you thought about winter?
It’s not all about the summer though! Winter weddings can be absolutely magical, especially at Holbrook Manor. A big advantage is usually availability, because as winter months are less popular you are more likely to find a Saturday available which also plays into the other things mentioned that need to be considered. Another thing to potentially look forward to is snow! February and March in recent years have seen snowfall hit our gorgeous gardens here at Holbrook, and there is enough room inside our gorgeous venue to make sure that whatever is happening with the unpredictable weather outside, the log fires will be burning bright inside. If you do decide on a winter wedding, the only thing to be mindful of is the light but hey - getting married earlier in the day means more time to enjoy the festivities!
And we haven’t even touched on that autumnal glow that happens here at Holbrook Manor around September and October. The whole of the house is a flash of red, and you can get the best of both worlds with slightly longer days than winter (in mid September, sunset is around 7.30pm) and less heat than summer months.
With Holbrook Manor being a Somerset exclusive use wedding venue, we are proud to say that we can have weddings taking place any day of the year, with our team committed to making sure your day is perfect for you. As Valentine’s Day approaches, any bookings that are provisionally held and then confirmed within 7 days will get some lovely bonus treats as a thank you from us to you. These are a back neck and shoulder for you and your new spouse the morning after the wedding to give you some more alone time, a free personal training session with our friendly club trainers and bottle of champagne to pop and celebrate your new booking. Either email us - weddings@holbrookmanor.com or give us a call (01963 824466), we would love to discuss your options.
