What is the Best Month to Have a Destination Wedding?
Everyone thinks one of the biggest decisions of planning a destination wedding is where you are going to have it. But another major factor to consider is when to have a destination wedding!
If you’re looking for less crowds, better prices, and better chances of good weather – keep reading! I’ll break down the best seasons and months to have a destination wedding.
This post is geared towards destination weddings in the Caribbean and Mexico, but a general note is to avoid major holidays. Rates will skyrocket and there’s a strong chance your destination wedding location will be busier!
High Destination Wedding Season: January – April
If you’ve ever planned a winter vacation to sunny locations during the winter, you’ll notice rates are significantly more. This also applies to destination weddings! Since many people plan winter escapes, that means your resort or venue will be busier as people flock to sunshine.
The busiest travel months during high season include January, February, March, and April.
There’s a better chance of these properties selling to capacity during colder winter months in Canada and the USA, which means resort rates will go up (which is something you have to consider for your guests, too!).
For this reason, if you have your heart set on a “high season” wedding, be sure to secure your destination wedding at least 9+ months in advance.
Certain room categories may sell out quicker than others and your wedding date you have your heart set on may be booked, so work with your destination wedding travel agent to book your dates for you!
PS. If you already aren’t working with a travel agent, make sure you do! One of the biggest destination wedding mistakes brides make is thinking they can book the travel part on their own. Don’t do this! Travel agents are free to work with and will save you so many headaches. Reach out to me if you need some recommendations!
High Season Travel Times
- New Years
- Valentine’s Day
- Easter
- March Break/Reading Week
- Spring Break (something to really keep in mind if you want to avoid rowdy groups!)
Shoulder Season for Destination Weddings: May, June, August, November, December
Choosing a shoulder season month for your destination wedding can have a lot of benefits! First, while properties are still popular during these months, they’re actually not as packed.
Shoulder season months include May, June, August, November, and December.
This means there’s a greater chance of lower costs and quieter resorts. It won’t necessarily mean you’ll find the cheapest rates, but it’s a happy medium between prices and flexibility.
We had a May wedding in Cancun and it was perfect!
Since resorts aren’t fully booked during these months, you have more freedom to book your dates and rooms. Vendor availability may be more favourable, too. I would still recommend booking at least 6-9 months in advance for a shoulder season destination wedding.
I’ve travelled extensively during shoulder season and it’s our chosen timeframe to travel based on the cheaper rates and less crowds!
Low Wedding Season: September, October
September and October are considered the low season for destination weddings. Booking your wedding during these dates will offer you the best rates, quietest resorts, and best chance of options and flexibility.
These months coincide with off-peak travel seasons for certain areas in the Caribbean. I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance for low wedding seasons. You can cut it shorter than that, but offer your guests enough time to plan.
The downside of low wedding season is there is a higher chance of inclement weather, depending on where you go. However, the savings can be worth it!
While I stress to all brides to ask your destination wedding coordinator questions like where the backup locations are, it’s important to have an open mind during low season.
Hurricane Season: June – November
Now it’s time to address the elephant in the room: Hurricane Season.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean typically runs between the beginning of June through to the end of November, but the months of concern are usually mid-August and October.
Hurricanes are a genuine concern for locals and travellers – there has been a lot of devastation over the years. Resorts are well aware of this fact and have backup plans in the event of a storm.
While the chances of having a hurricane on your wedding day is a rare occurrence, if you really don’t want to have the added worry of one, book your wedding outside of these months.
Ps. I’ve travelled many times during hurricane season and it’s been some of the best weather we’ve ever had. But hurricanes do happen. Seek out backup options and have an open mind if you want to keep your date within these months – thousands of brides do every year!
Also, if you have your heart set on a Caribbean destination wedding during these months, consider countries outside of the hurricane belt, like Curacao or Aruba! They’re some of my absolute favourite places to go and offer jaw-dropping beaches and scenery.
Best Month to Have a Destination Wedding
Of course, choosing the best month to have a destination wedding can depend on a few factors. If a higher chance of good weather is a priority, you’ll run into high season travel from January – April.
If you’re open to travelling on the shoulder season for better rates and less crowds, this is one of the best times to have a destination wedding. You’ll be looking at booking your destination wedding in May, June, August, November, or December. We loved our May wedding and would pick that month over and over again!
If budget is a priority, then you’ll want to look at low season travel, but keep in mind the weather is more iffy during these months.
Over my 10 years being involved in destination weddings, I’ve found the most popular months fall between April – June. If you’re still undecided, speak with your travel agent to work out the best options for you!
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