Congratulations on your engagement! Now every one wants to know.. “When is the big day?”. Here are some suggestions to assist you in the planning. Perhaps you want to consider a date that has significance to you and your partner, like the anniversary of your first date, a parent or grandparents wedding date. When planning a date, consider choosing a date when your guests want to be with you and not somewhere else… ie Christmas Eve, New Years, Long Weekend, Thanksgiving. You may also need to consider if there are other family members or close friends getting married around the date you are looking at. Budget may also play into when you are getting married. On average the cost is about $150-200/guest. So if you want 200 people that will cost approximately $30,000- 35000. Do you need a year or two to save? The prices for venues change seasonally as well as the time of day. Weddings that have a luncheon, cocktail party or formal dinner will vary greatly in price. Some venues offer discounts for a Sunday Wedding or a Friday night. These days have become more popular so not all venues follow this practice. You will also need to consider the venue: whether a church, synagogue, gazebo in a local park, backyard, legion etc, and if it is available. Perhaps you want a small intimate wedding with just family and then an evening celebration or a bbq with others invited to just that event There are unique challenges with a destination wedding to consider. Do you want a ‘dream wedding’ with years of debt or an elegant personal wedding and a down payment on a home? You may also consider a new tradition of sending out “Save the Date” cards, or emails. The main thing is to take your time in planning and setting the date and make it special to you and your budget.