ICYMI: This Is the Cheapest Month to Get Married

As you begin the wedding planning process, determining your wedding date can be a daunting first step—especially if you want to find the cheapest month to get married amid rising wedding costs. But, here's the good news: If you're willing to be flexible on your wedding date, you may be able to take advantage of increased wedding vendor availability, discounts and other cost-saving measures with some strategic planning.

So, what is the least expensive time of year to get married? To aid you in selecting a date and saving money, we've created this guide covering the cheapest time to get married, with help from wedding planner and event expert Nancy Ellen of Can Do Events, LLC. Below, learn more about the cheapest days, months and seasons to get married, as well as how aspects like holiday weekends and shorter engagements can play a part financially.

While reading this guide, remember that some vendors, such as venues, will likely offer discounts depending on when you get married, but other pros may not discount their services. As one Reddit poster noted, "Some businesses offer discounts, some don't. It's that simple." Use this roadmap to the cheapest time to get married as a rule of thumb, but make sure to also talk with your vendors about prices to get clarity on your unique situation.

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

In this story:

• Cheapest Time to Get Married
• Cheapest Months to Get Married
• Cheapest Days to Get Married
• Cheapest Season to Get Married

Cheapest Time to Get Married

The all-around cheapest time to get married is dependent on a few factors: month, day of the week, and time of day. In short, you want to do anything possible to select an off-peak day and time to maximize wedding budget savings.

Design: Tiana Crispino

Cheapest Months to Get Married

Here's the definitive answer to "what are the cheapest months to get married?" As you'd expect with supply and demand, the least popular months to get married are also the cheapest wedding months. The cheapest months to get married are December, January and February. This is due to the fact that winter is the off-season for weddings, with only 11% of weddings taking place during those months in 2023, according to The Knot Real Weddings Study.

January

According to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study, only 3% of weddings in 2023 took place in January. Many states, and popular wedding destinations, experience harsh weather in January. For example, New York sees highs around 39° and even Southern California, known for its balmy temperatures, experiences highs in the 60°s. The National Weather Service also notes that January is the coldest month in Florida.

February

According to our data, February also only saw 3% of weddings take place during the month. It is tied for least-popular wedding month with January. Similar to January, February is typically very cold in many parts of the US. What's more, much of the Northeast typically gets blanketed in snow in February which means that few people choose to wed during this month. However, that is good news for couples who want snowy wedding photos that don't cost an arm and a leg! One caveat to February prices is Valentine's Day. Given how popular roses are on the love-centric holiday, one vendor that might not be cheaper in February is your wedding florist.

December

Our data shows us that only 5% of weddings take place during December. With many people traveling for holidays during this month, it can be hard for couples to coordinate schedules that work for their guests. Additionally, colder-than-normal temperatures are typical for many areas in the US. For example, Dallas, Texas temperatures range from 41° to 61° in December, making it a less popular, and therefore less expensive, month to get married. It's worth noting, however, that a holiday wedding on December 31st might not save you money since companies usually have a hard time finding staff willing to work on New Year's Eve.

Cheapest Days to Get Married

When it comes to finding the cheapest time to get married, regardless of the time of year, you may be wondering about the cost differences between the various days of the week. In this section, explore what to expect for each day, in order from least to most expensive. The biggest thing to remember is that Saturdays are by-far the most expensive, and most popular, day of the week for a wedding and any of the six other days will likely incur savings.

Sunday

According to Ellen, Friday and Sunday weddings were the least expensive pre-pandemic, as this was a time when "weekday weddings weren't a thing except for Fridays." Post-pandemic, Sunday weddings continue to be discounted, whereas Friday discounts can now vary depending on your venue.

If you opt to save money via a Sunday wedding, Ellen also recommends considering the type of event you'd like to host: "Daytime weddings are usually discounted," she says (hello, brunch!). What's more, "buffets tend to be less per head than a plated meal, as are stations throughout the ballroom or space."

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Who's ready for a Tuesday wedding? Next on the list are weekday weddings, excluding Friday, which grew in popularity during the pandemic. "Because of restrictions and the desire for couples to still get married, even with microweddings, there were plenty of weekday weddings and venues offering discounts to do it because they were in the same boat trying to survive," Ellen says. In the present day, she says she sees discounts being extended predominately more for Sundays and weekdays over Fridays and Saturdays.

While weekday nuptials may be more expected at a destination wedding, Thursdays in particular could begin to gain momentum as a more affordable option. "I would venture to guess that, because it is what we could consider an off-day, any vendor would absolutely jump on that," she says. "From a guest perspective, it's a lot easier to go and take off Friday."

Friday

As mentioned, while cost savings used to be typical for a Friday wedding, that's now not always the case. "On Fridays, there are still some discounts available depending on the venue and/or the vendors," Ellen shares. However, for most venues, Friday quotes will still likely come in at a slightly lower price point than Saturdays.

Last Minute

If you're willing and able to plan your wedding in the near future (e.g., a few months from now) as opposed to in a year or two (or beyond), you may also find some financial incentives for doing so. "Particularly if you have a short-term booking, if a band is available, even if it's a Saturday night, this might be their only shot to get that date filled," Ellen shares. "It could be to their advantage to chop off a few hundred bucks to get the gig."

Regardless of the day you choose, Ellen always recommends asking for a price cut. "Maybe they won't discount your price completely, but as a concession they'll give you passed hors d'oeuvres," she says.

This is especially true for couples having their ceremony at their reception venue—for an additional fee. "If they're having it on an off day, it never hurts to ask to have the ceremony fee waived," she shares. "There's always some venues that seem to be very steadfast. Other venues might have some more flexibility there."

Cheapest Season to Get Married

When it comes to selecting your wedding date, you may be heavily influenced by the season in which you want to get married. Read more about the seasonal impact on wedding costs below.

Winter

Winter is the only season considered the off-season for weddings, so it makes sense that it would be the cheapest. "I have seen a few venues discount winter months," Ellen shares. However, she notes that these discounts don't often carry over to other vendors, such as entertainment, florists and transportation, possibly because corporate holiday parties occur during this time of year.

Another cost-saving benefit of a winter wedding is the holiday decor that you can use to your advantage when dressing up your venue. "December weddings are so romantic," Ellen notes, "with decor already there that naturally enhances the space."

Spring

After Winter, Spring is the second least-popular season to get married with a mere 20% of weddings happening during these months, according to our research. While you may have to content with some snowy weather in parts of the US (March is the snowiest month in both Colorado and Wyoming), Spring can be a fun time to get married on a tight budget. Additionally, since so many flowers are in-season in Spring, you may be able to save money on flowers.

Additional reporting by Hannah Nowack