By Lei Lydle, Founder and Editor Last Updated: 5/16/2007 8:12:35 AM

The first step in planning a wedding is to set the wedding date. This can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the wedding planning process because there are so many things to consider.

The first thing you need to think about is your dream locations.

If you have your heart set on having your wedding at your church, temple or synagogue, the availability will probably play a large part in the date you select. Contact the wedding coordinator to inquire about available dates.

This is also true for your wedding reception location. If you have always dreamed of having an outdoor reception in a local botanical garden, you had better give them a call. Venues like this are generally best at certain times of the year and they tend to book quickly.

Once you know the available dates for your ceremony and reception locations, you can find the dates that both are available and go from there. But before you select one of those dates just because the venues are available, there are other issues to consider before making the final decision.

Assuming at least one of you works or is in school, you must consider your work and/or school schedules. For example you must be able to take time off from work or school for the honeymoon. Schools generally will not be flexible for you but your boss probably will be. You should check with both of your employers' vacation policies before you select a date.

Having your wedding on or near a holiday or special occasion can also cause problems for guests. They may find it difficult to attend because of prior family and social obligations. Travel may be more difficult if the wedding is near a big travel holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. In addition, it may be difficult to find an officiant to perform the service if you are not having your ceremony in a church. Finally, rental and other service's prices are often higher on holidays because the staff would not typically be working.

On the other hand, three-day weekends such as Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend could be ideal for out-of-town guests.

Saturday is the most popular day of the week for weddings because it is convenient for out-of-own guests and it gives everyone in the wedding more time to prepare. The problem is that many churches and reception locations are usually booked well in advance so you must plan ahead for a Saturday wedding.

In addition, Saturday weddings generally cost more - so you may want to choose to have your wedding on Friday night or Sunday afternoon to save money. Many churches, reception halls, caterers and photographers will agree to charge less for these less popular days.

You must also choose the time of day for your wedding. You must look at your budget when choosing your time of day. Serving lunch or dinner for your guests can get quite expensive. At certain times of the day or evening you can serve hor d'oeuvres and save some money on catering.

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Posted by: l from colorade on 2/20/2007 11:35:52 AM

You forgot to mention, in choosing a date, that the couple should consider other family members getting married. After a year of planning our daughter's wedding, four months before the event, our niece became engaged and booked her wedding one week before our daughter's!