When picking our date, we first discussed seasons. In Texas, I’d like to think people do their best not to plan an outdoor wedding in the depths of July or August. It’s just not nice. When temperatures easily reach 105–110 degrees between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, it simply doesn’t make sense. Because I already had somewhat of an idea about a venue in that the reception would ideally be outside, we had to take that into account. This left us with spring or late fall.
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Image via The Southern Mommy Chronicles
We agreed that, for our purposes, spring seemed to be the best option. Because we became engaged in October, spring 2012 was obviously too soon. As we talked a little more about it between us and with our parents, it became clear that at least one of us had to graduate before we could feel good about us getting married, and it sure wasn’t going to be me. I still had plenty of nursing-school-related struggles to wade through, and Mr. Manatee was slated to graduate spring 2013. At our school, graduations are held the first or second weekend in May, but it’s impossible to tell which weekend your major will graduate on. Because of this, the 4th and the 11th were out. We figured we might as well play it safe and not plan for the 18th just in case, even though it was a three-day weekend in Canada. We originally settled on May 25th. However, it was soon pointed out to us that May 25th falls on Labor Day weekend, and a lot of people have their own plans, usually boat related and not involving a church. This lead us to June 1st, which was dangerously close to summer in Texas.
I was pleased to find that the first day of summer is June 21st, 2013, which technically means our date is still in the spring! I also found this nifty graph for Arlington, Texas that specifically shows June 1st ain’t too shabby for outside.
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Image via WeatherSpark
June 1st is also my wonderful father’s birthday, but he was quick to promise us that he didn’t mind. We’ll have to have a special toast for him at the wedding! I did have a silly little cry when it dawned on me that he’ll be giving away his daughter instead of getting gifts on his birthday, but when I told him that, he said I was being dumb. Hmph. Dads.
Us at the gun range: how Texan of us Canadians!
How did you choose your wedding date?
Bahaha I love that first map you posted! So true!
I’m hoping you have lovely weather on your wedding day! We spent a lot of time researching historical weather before we chose our date, because we know how unpredictable Texas weather is. Now that our wedding weekend is *almost* here things are looking good in Houston for our outdoor fiesta! But just wait until your date gets close, you will start stalking the weather like a madwoman.
I picked June 1 as well, mostly because it’s a super easy date to remember. I figured it would probably be pretty popular for the same reason, so I booked everything super early!
Being in Texas totally dictated the month we decided to get married in, too. March tends to be perfect, temperature-wise! And it gets humid as all get-out down here near the coast, and the humidity isn’t as suffocating in the spring. It might rain, but since all our stuff is already planned for being inside, I’m not worried about it. Hoping for good weather ju-ju on your wedding day!
We also chose June 1st as our wedding date!!! We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it won’t be too cool as we’re having it outside. We’re up in Quebec and the weather can be quite unpredicatable!
HAHA
I am not even engaged yet but I just wanted to say that the top picture made me literally LOL. I forwarded it to my office staff 
This is helpful, as boyfriend and I have discussed having an outdoor ceremony and as he is naturally hot-tempered, he refuses to have it outside unless it is 60-70 MAX
Ha! I love that map! I also find it funny that the chart says temperatures in January are ‘cold’ and they don’t go below freezing
That map is pretty funny! We got engaged on 20th of November 2010 (his mums birthday) so we wanted to stick as close to that date as possible, so thats how we picked our date!
Our dates were picked solely on availability. We wanted mid-May (getting married in Houston), but unfortunately, the only Saturday we could find at a place that we actually liked wasn’t until June 29. So, middle of summer in Texas. The venue coordinator assured us that if we start the wedding later in the evening, it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m still not completely convinced, but it was really the only viable option that we had. Hoping for a freak cold front in the middle of the summer!!
We live in Florida and want an outdoor wedding so the months of May through September were automatically tossed. Then we considered that we have visitors flying over from the UK to attend our wedding so we wanted tickets to be as cheap as possible. We researched a bit and found that tickets are cheapest in February and November. This November was too soon to plan the wedding, February was too soon to have enough money saved for the honeymoon plus the weather can be unpredicatable, and since the weather is typically nicer in November we settled on November 2013.
Love the graphic!!!
Oh girl, June 1 IS summer in Texas! Hopefully it’s not the 100+ summer though for your date
Also, I just realized you’re in FW now… where I’m from! So awesome!
I have the opposite problem in Boston. On our date in June, the average in the last couple of years is in the mid 60s. *sigh* But if I wait another couple of weeks, suddenly we’re in the 80s. Can’t win.
It’s cool that it’ll be your dad’s birthday.
We picked our date because it’s our anniversary, but were nervous about how cold can it be, it’s normally nice but you never know when a cold wave can come.
My cousin got married in Dallas on the first weekend of June this year. I definitely wouldn’t put your ceremony/reception outside at mid-day, but her ceremony was at 6pm outside and it wasn’t *too* awful. We were all sweaty after sitting in the humidity, but I think if we’d had a cool beverage and an ability to get up and move around when needed it would have been much better. Being part of the family, we were there extra early to help finish decorating and such and I honestly didn’t even notice the heat until we sat down. I’d recommend doing fan programs or giving out fans or something as well.
We narrowed down our date in a similar fashion. I worried pushing further into June would risk a heat wave in Delaware, but I think Texas wins for hotter weather – heat wave or not. Yay for early June brides!
I think it’s charming your wedding day will be on your dad’s birthday. Say a toast or give a small gift to honor him…I think that would a sweet move.
Miss Manatee, Fort Worth, TX Age and Occupation: 21, Nursing Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Civil Engineer Engagement Date: October 2011 Wedding Date: June 2013 Venue: The Sanford House About Me: We're just two nerdy, library-bound romantics that found each other. We're planning our fun, ombre themed nuptials in Arlington, Texas! We love boating, romantic comedies, occasional visits to the gun range, and our little kitty Cade! Two years after an extremely successful blind date, we can't wait to start our lives together!
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