Good Timing

The Wedding Guru Judy Lewis fields this week’s wedding questions. Today: Day or evening? Friday or Sunday? It’s all about good timing when it comes to planning your wedding

Weddings are all about making decisions. There are so many important details that, sometimes, one small (or very big) thing is relegated to the bottom of the list — or isn’t on the list at all!

A Valley bride asks: “I have so many things to decide that I’ve become overwhelmed! I always dreamed of a spring wedding, but I never considered the actual time. What’s important for me to think about regarding the time of day?”

Dear Valley bride: The time of day (and the day of the week) for your affair is absolutely worth thinking about! As a general rule, weddings held in the late morning or early afternoon tend to be more casual, while evening wedding are usually formal. If you plan to invite kids, you might prefer an afternoon wedding so they can play and enjoy themselves before winding down. Taking your photos outdoors? Early weddings are best — especially if you’re getting married in the fall — since you’ll have more daylight hours for photographs and the temperatures drop by the end of the day. (Conversely, cool, nighttime weddings can be wonderful in avoiding a very hot summer day.)

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“Long“ holiday weekends are always sought after — how many of us would appreciate that extra day to recuperate after the festivities! It’s also easier to schedule post-wedding events that your guests can attend. If you tie the knot on a Friday, keep in mind that your guests may require enough time after work to get ready and travel. The same goes for late-Sunday weddings that don’t fall on holiday weekends; not all of your guests can get ready for work (or school) on the next day. Try earlier on a Sunday.

Keep an eye on your preparations, too. The earlier in the day, the less time you and your attendants will have to prepare — and the less time there is for your guests to travel.

There are ways for you to hedge your bets, of course. If you book a venue such as Twin Lakes Resort in Hurley, you may have the option of switching from indoors to outdoors, or vice-versa. (Venues such as the Holiday Inn in Fishkill, as well as most other hotels, only offer indoor accommodations.) You’ll need to decide if you want a magnificent vista as a part of your wedding backdrop or the certainty of lodging accommodations!

For more information, don’t miss my “How to Decide Your Wedding Style” article on HudsonValleyWeddings.com.

To submit your own question to the Wedding Guru, email Judy at judy@hvmag.com.

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