The thing is, once a couple has made promises to one another for a life made together, in the end, it really doesn't matter where, does it? Well, of course, it does, to some degree. Couples have visions of how they want to share their special day with friends and family. And warm weather months certainly hold a great deal of promise for sunshine, and colorful new blossoms of flowers. Guest attendance comes into play, also, making summer the peak season for weddings. But MSN Money lays out some
different perks for couples who marry in the winter- namely huge
savings.
Peak wedding season falls between May and October in most of the U.S., says Richard Markel, the president of the Association for Wedding Professionals International.
During that time, most wedding vendors -- including caterers,
photographers and limousine companies -- charge the most because their
services are in demand. But in the winter, business comes to a
standstill, especially in the northern regions hit with particularly
harsh weather, and engaged couples have more room to negotiate for
lower prices.
During the winter, the number of weddings throughout the country
declines by 40% to 50% below that of peak season, Markel says. And of
the roughly 2.2 million weddings that take place in the U.S. each year,
only 5% occur in January, he says. That winter dip in demand means that
couples marrying during the cooler months compete with fewer weddings
for vendors.
Couples who are considering a January, February or
March wedding still have time to book vendors, Markel says. "Couples
have a major opportunity because the number of weddings that occurred
in 2009 has been down by about 5%, and bookings for early 2010 are down
as well," he says.
(December weddings aren't as cheap because
banquet facilities give priority to recurring customers: conventions
and companies planning holiday parties.)
Here are the four types of wedding vendors with whom you'll see some of the biggest winter savings.
The Banquet Facility
The largest wedding-related expense is the banquet reception, which can
cost more than $10,000, depending on the number of guests, location and
menu, Markel says.
Typically, banquet facilities charge a fixed
price per person. But between January and March, the total cost often
drops between 20% and 50%, Markel says. (The savings will be lower in
states that have warm weather throughout the year, like parts of
Florida and California.)
Couples who get married in the Meeting House Grand Ballroom,
a banquet facility in Plymouth, Mich., will see big price differences.
For weddings between January and March, couples will pay Friday prices
for a Saturday wedding, says Randy Lorenz, the owner and general
manager. For a party of 200 adults, that's a discount of $2,000; the
banquet facility also waives its $300 ceremony fee.
However, not all wedding venues are cheaper during the winter than
during the spring, summer or fall. Weddings at ski resorts are priciest
in the winter, the venues' peak season, says Elise Enloe, the director
of education for the Association of Bridal Consultants, a trade group.
Also,
facilities that are popular with corporate holiday parties or
conventions tend to be busiest during the winter, says LeLani Mandac, a
senior catering manager at the Hilton Anaheim in California.
To save with a winter wedding at the Hilton Anaheim, couples will
have to reserve the space no more than six months in advance, she says.
Couples who choose an available weekend between conventions could
receive an upgraded package at no extra cost, like a $70-per-person
plated dinner (the facility's priciest package) at a cost of $65 per
person, or an additional hour for their wedding celebration, which
usually costs $250, for free.
In New York, winter is typically slow for caterers and other wedding vendors, says Andrea Correale, the president of Elegant Affairs,
an off-premise catering and event-design company. As a result, couples
marrying there have more room to negotiate meal prices during the
cooler months. A caterer's price difference between a winter and summer wedding in New York is, on average, $50 per person, Correale says.
Another option, of course, is to skip dinner. Lunch or brunch can save you 50%.
Flowers
Couples set on a particular color or type of flower should keep an open mind or prepare to drop a lot of cash.
The
average cost of wedding flowers ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 in the
U.S., says Baxter Phillip, the executive vice president at Phillip's
Flowers & Gifts in Chicago. To save with a winter wedding, choose
flowers that are in season, like irises, orchids, lilies and most
roses, he says. Hydrangeas and peonies are the most expensive in
January, and red and white roses are the priciest in the two weeks
leading up to Valentine's Day and during the holiday season.
Also, find out where the flowers are coming from. Their starting
point and shipping costs factor into the price. Seventy-five percent of
wedding flowers (primarily roses) come from South America, whose summer
season is our winter, Phillip says. Those flowers often are more
affordable for winter weddings in the U.S. than, say, flowers imported
from Holland, which shares our winter. Distance is also a factor.
Photography and video
Fewer weddings mean fewer requests for photographers and videographers.
For
weddings between December and March, many of these professionals discount their custom packages by as much as 10-25% of identical services for summer weddings.
Transportation
Limos are at their most expensive during prom
season and peak wedding season -- periods that winter weddings avoid.
So expect to pay 10% to 20% less during the winter than you would in
May or June, Markel says.
Many companies lower the price on their fleet of limos and luxury cars for most weekend weddings between the first
Saturday after Thanksgiving and the end of March. Couples could see savings in a typical stretch limo- as high as $475 in season, down to $400 in the off months.
The day of the week you choose for your Winter Wedding could save money also. From Sundays through Thursdays
during the winter, Reston Limousine, based in Washington, D.C., offers
a fourth hour free on any vehicle rental at least three hours.
If you and your "to be" have hearts set on those beautiful warm months, then as long as you have a plan for saving, stay with your original ideas. But if the idea of starting your married life off with a little more money (or, in many cases- a lot less debt!), then consider asking your family and friends to celebrate with you in clothes made of warmer fabrics (and wear a coat!)
John
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