Setting the Date for your Lawrence Wedding

Congratulations! You're engaged! ...Now what?

When planning your wedding, the first step is setting the date (which can be easier said than done, honestly). To take some of the mystery out of this process, here are some things to consider when you set the date for a wedding in Lawrence, KS.

Important Dates for the Couple

This is a no-brainer! Are there specific dates that hold importance or significance to you and your partner? It could be an anniversary, a holiday, or often I see couples choose dates with interesting numbers, like 11/11.

Kayn chose his parent's wedding anniversary as the date to propose to Steph.

In a lot of cases this will easily dictate the date you choose, but if there aren't any particular dates that stand out to you, then you should next consider...

Venue Availability

This is a big one if you're having your wedding in Lawrence! Wedding season is an extremely busy time, and a lot of couples choose to get married here. Which is honestly not surprising, considering that Lawrence is a beautiful town with amazing venues to choose from, and a lot of memories especially for those who went to college here. As such, venues tend to book out pretty quickly.

I find it helpful for couples to sit down and figure out what kind of vibe they want for their wedding day first, and then it's easier to narrow down venues that reflect their wants and needs. Are you planning to have a large guest list of, say, 200+ people? Then it makes sense to try and book a large space that can accommodate that number, like Abe & Jake's or Maceli's, or Venue 1235. Or if you are planning something more intimate and warm, then a place like Cider Gallery makes more sense. [Check out my guide to the Best Wedding Venues in Lawrence!]

Dea and John's mid-size wedding at Cider Gallery.

Narrow your choices down to two or three, and then start making some phone calls!

Season

I had a hard time trying to figure out if venue availability or season should be the second thing you look for, because they are both important! I knew when I got engaged that I wanted an Autumn wedding, so that took precedence for me over venue availability. But I also know not every couple is like myself and my husband, and some have their hearts set on Liberty Hall because their first date was a movie there.

If the season is important to you, then there are definitely some things to consider if you're having your wedding in Lawrence. Let's break it down.

Spring Weddings

Spring is a gorgeous time to get married, and what better season to celebrate a new beginning than when everything is coming out of winter hibernation? With that also comes unpredictability of weather. As anyone who has lived in Kansas knows, the weather can turn on a dime especially in spring. Rain showers, late cold spells, and early hot spells can all happen at any time. Then there is also March Madness to consider! If the KU Jayhawks are having a good basketball season, you can anticipate that weekends will be pretty busy in town, which can be daunting for out of town guests especially.

March Madness is no joke around here!

Late April through May tend to be pretty safe for weddings; just make sure you avoid KU Graduation weekend, which is usually the second weekend in May.

Summer Weddings

Like Spring weddings, the weather always keeps us on our toes! I've done a late May wedding that was so sweltering the couple moved their ceremony indoors, and I've done a July 5 wedding that was so cloudy and temperate it almost felt like Fall! That's not to say you should avoid planning a summer wedding; I would just make sure that you think ahead to having the option for an indoor reception space, or someplace outdoors with shade (especially if you have elderly guests or people bringing babies).

Laura and Chad's mid summer wedding was a hot day. We were glad for some shade to take family photos!

Autumn Weddings

Okay, I'm partial to these. Full transparency! The weather is generally gorgeous (and I do mostly outdoor weddings), plus if you choose a mid-late October date, the trees tend to be full of color. Autumn wedding dates are extremely popular though, which can make booking a venue a little more difficult. But really, as far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with this season.

Ivy and Scott's wedding at the arboretum was full of lush Autumn colors.

Winter Weddings

Here is where venue becomes especially important. In a lot of cases, some venues tend to offer cheaper rates for renting their space in the winter since it's off-season, but it's also imperative that the space is conducive to beautiful photos! The majority of your wedding day is going to be inside, so keep an eye out for things like big windows (natural light photography is universally flattering), and the lighting conditions where you will be having your ceremony. Harsh fluorescent light, or lighting directly overhead can cast unflattering shadows, and there's really not much photographers can do (other than extensive Photoshopping) to change how those photos come out.

Vendor Availability

This one doesn't seem to rank quite so high on the list, but I know sometimes couples have a specific vendor that they absolutely want to work with. Maybe your friend had a killer DJ at their wedding that you have to have, or you really love a specific photographer's work (wink). In those cases it is definitely worth reaching out to the vendor and finding some dates they have available.

Next Steps

Once you have taken into consideration important dates, season, and venue availability, it should be pretty easy to nail down a date.

So what should your next steps be? You should find your photographer, and start looking into wedding planners (which I believe can make or break a wedding day!).

Ready to talk photos? Check out my Photo Portfolio , and let's grab a coffee!