Should you get married in January? Here’s an in-depth list of January’s pros and cons to help you find the best month to get married in.
You’re engaged! Congratulations! You’re probably here because you’re facing one of the biggest wedding planning questions: when should you get married? This is going to be one of the first things you have to decide. I’m an Idaho Falls Wedding Photographer with 6 years of experience and my goal is to help couples like you have the wedding of your dreams! Now, a quick little message before we find out if you should get married in January. This isn’t just for people getting married in Idaho. Because I’m in Idaho, I know all about the weather and will cover that. But everything else is pretty much applicable to where ever you’re getting married. So not in Idaho? Read on!
This article is basically a part 2 to my ultimate guide for engaged couples. If you haven’t read that, I highly recommend it! Want to see the pros and cons for other months to get married in? Starting on July 15, 2024, I’m going to release an article a week talking about the pros and cons about getting married in a certain month. So subscribe and stay tuned!
Pros
If you want a winter wedding but don’t want it to feel Christmas-y? January is for you. Winter is a great time because you’ll be avoiding the majority of the cons of summer weddings, such as the egregious heat, melting desserts, wilting flowers, and bugs. And if you’re getting married in the first month of the year, you’re probably going to be engaged during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With great sales going on, you’re way more likely to get stuff off of your registry.
- Over the Big Holidays: A winter wonderland without the Christmas connotations.
- Engaged during Gifting Season: Get more wedding gifts by being engaged during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- Won’t be Hot: Don’t have to worry about the wedding cake’s icing melting, flowers wilting, or bugs.
- Your choice of Vendors: Venues and vendors tend to have a lot of more availability and sometimes offer reduced prices.
- New Years Wedding: You could have a New Years wedding for that air of optimism and new beginnings that comes with New Years.
Cons
The biggest issue with January wedding is the weather. In Idaho, it often hits -30 to -40 degrees with wind chill on multiple days in January. On those days, it’s far too cold to take photos outdoors and you’re risking frostbite. As a wedding photographer, I don’t take outdoor photos in such extreme weather for health reasons. In group photos, it’s a lot harder to keep everyone happy – especially little kids and seniors. However, we can take as many indoor photos as you like! I recommend getting a venue that has a large enough indoor area for group photos. And because the majority of your photos would be indoors, make sure you like the look of the interior of the venue!
The second issue with January weather is traveling conditions. Icy roads, blizzards, and low visibility can make it dangerous for you and your guests to travel to your wedding. Please consider this carefully.
I recommend seeing what flowers are in season because January doesn’t have that much. If you hate the florals in season, you may want to consider getting married in a different season. But most importantly, talk with your florist! You may get more gifts from Black Friday but the holiday season is a double-edged sword: some guests may not be able to afford coming to the wedding, whether that’s buying outfits, gifts, or any traveling expenses.
- Hazardous Weather Conditions: Icy roads and snowstorms can be dangerous for you and your guests to travel.
- Too Cold for Photos: It’s often far too cold to take photos outside. The majority of your images would be indoors.
- Closed Venues: Some venues are seasonal and are closed in the winter.
- Small Floral Selection: Your choices for florals will be limited because most are out of season.
- Partied Out: Guests may be strapped for cash after Christmas and can’t afford traveling or gifting. They may also be exhausted from other festivities.
- Cold and Flu Season: January is peak cold and flu season! The last thing you want on your wedding day is being bedridden and feeling miserable.
Conclusion
So should you get married in January? January weddings are great for couples with a budget and want the festive energy from New Years. But depending on where you live, the cold weather might be a deal breaker. I hope this helps you decide if a January wedding is for you.
If you got this far, thanks for reading and stay tuned for a pros and cons list about February weddings.
xo chat soon, Kaylee
