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You finally have a rock on your finger….now let the wedding planning begin. Your first step is to pick the perfect wedding date. This is not always an easy task, however. This guide will help you select the ideal date and explain the many steps in the decision making process.
Location: If you are set on a particular location (your “dream place”), you won’t have much flexibility when it comes to choosing a date. Instead, the date you choose will revolve around the availability of that location. Be ready for a wait though! Places that are high in demand often have a 1-2 year wait – especially for a Saturday night.
Seasons: Often the wedding theme or the wedding colors you choose will play a significant role in deciding which season is best for you. Reds and oranges are typically used in the fall, while pastels are used in the spring. Further, if you plan on using an outdoor space, and live in the New York tri-state area, the end of May through October are the most popular months. Keep in mind, July and August are typically the warmest months.
Holiday Weekends: If you are having multiple events for your wedding, a holiday weekend can be a great choice for you, since it gives your guests time for travel as well as time to attend all your events. It is important to be aware that holiday weekends are also important vacation weekends for many. This may deter people you are not as close to (e.g.. co-workers) from attending.
Timing: The amount of time between your engagement and wedding will likely depend on two things: 1) the amount of time you and your fiancé have to plan the wedding and 2) whether you have the funds to pay for the wedding, or need time to save. Planning a special wedding is time consuming and typically requires at least six months to a year for planning. Weddings are also expensive, and it is important to budget early on so you do not end up in massive debt after your special day.
South Asian brides should also need to keep in mind that planning may involve a shopping trip to India or Pakistan. This trip could take up a week, but also a month. Talk about this with your family.
Furthermore, don’t forget to factor in time off for your honeymoon, as for most couples the honeymoon is the icing on the cake.
Auspicious Dates: For most South Asian weddings, the lunar calendar will play a large part deciding when you can or cannot get married. Why? Well here’s some background for brides planning a Hindu Wedding:
The Panchangam, which in Sanskrit means 5 limbs, is a lunar based calendar which helps determines auspicious dates. Each of the 5 limbs attribute to the different elements of an auspicious date: Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana. All of these elements are based on the position of the sun, moon and planets.
This calendar dictates auspicious dates as well as dates which religious events are forbidden. When a new moon is present, for example (known as Amas), this is typically a time where weddings cannot be performed. Hindu weddings are also typically not permitted during Shraadh (a time for remembering deceased ancestors) and fifteen days before the festival of Holi. In each case remember to consult the Hindu calendar, as these dates change each year.
Please remember that that there are many variations on how to determine auspicious dates. What is listed above is general information about auspicious dates for the Hindu religion. For instance, for some Hindus, those descending from Sindh, believe in a tradition that they should not get married in the month they were born.
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