Rites of Spring

Weddings that take place in March, April, or May have the advantage of being first on the year's wedding dance card. Depending on where you live, March may be an unpredictable month, often bringing winds and rain. April and May are unpredictable, too, but less so. April is an unabashedly romantic month, with many of the year's loveliest flowers. May weddings offer all the benefits of these held in April, plus the likelihood of better weather.

Summer Weddings

June, of course, is the most popular month in which to marry. The tradition began centuries ago with the ancient Romans. The month of June was named Juno, goddess of women and marriage, who vowed to protect those who married in her month. In may areas June is also the first month of predictable fair weather. Another June offering: roses, the quintessential romantic flowers that bloom profusely during this month. And school ends in June, freeing guests to travel and college-age newly weds to take their honeymoons. But getting married in June has challenges, too. Wedding locations, musicians, florists, caterers, and clergy are in high demand during this month. Being a June bride is worth the extra planning, if you've had that particular dream since adolescence, and the month does carry undeniable joyousness. Just be sure to allow enough time to make arrangements for services you need and want.

For couples who want a summer wedding but are not emotionally bound to the month of June, July is a fine choice. It's the height of summer, nights are long, and outdoor weddings run little risk of bad weather (although humidity can be a formidable problem in some places). Family members who live far away may be more able to get time off from work to travel in summer months, and children are out of school. The same goes for August. It is such a popular vacation month that if you don't send your invitations out well in advance, you might receive a higher number of regrets.

Fall is for Lovers

There are numerous good reasons to consider getting married in September or October. The weather is mild and crisp, and the tide of summer travelers has ebbed a bit. In many parts of the country, the scenery is spectacular in the fall, making it easier to lure far-flung family and friends to your celebration. Some couples make the autumn foilage a key part of their wedding design using wreaths, harvest motifs, and a warm, firery palette in their decorating schemes.

Another advantage to autumn weddings: honeymoon destinations are less crowded, since most schools start in September.

Winter Weddings

Fewer people get married in November than in summer or fall, which allows popular wedding locations to be available then. The same holds true for musicians, florists and caterers, all of whom are eager to spend extra time with you in the slow month before the Christmas holidays.

December is an age-old favorite for nuptials. What is more romantic than exchanging vows in a candlelit chapel, with snow falling outside? The scent of pine in the air, the yuletide spirit, and the notorious holiday feasting all lend themselves perfectly to a wedding celebration. Many hotels and restaurants are lavishly decorated for the season, so you may be able to save on decorations and still have a festive affair. Families and friends traditionally get together for the holidays, anotherbenefit to planning your wedding at this time. According to Irish folktales, the last day of the year is an especially lucky one on which to wed.

Scottish lore, meanwhile, has it that January 1 is the most fortuitous day for a wedding. Tying the knot in January or February has the same advantages as doing so in November, with many sites and services more readily available to you. These months are also a perfect time for a honeymoon wedding. In quiet winter months, family and friends will welcome an invitation to travel to a ski village or an exotic ( and possibly warmer ) locale. If you're considering a winter wedding, remember that February has the most romantic wedding date of all- Valentine's Day.