Choosing a Date For Your Wedding

Photography

HEY - I'm hayley!

Hi, I'm Hayley! I'm a Knoxville-based wedding and elopement photographer, podcaster, wife, mother, and social worker. This blog is a space where I share not only my professional work but also the stories, experiences, and insights that shape my life and my photography.

What You'll Find Here:

Photography Stories: Dive into detailed accounts of the weddings and sessions I've had the honor to capture. From classic estate weddings in Tennessee to intimate beach ceremonies in the Dominican Republic, I showcase the beauty and emotion of each unique celebration.

Client Experiences: Learn about the incredible individuals and couples I work with. I share their stories, the moments we've shared, and the connections we've built.

Session Locations and Venues: Get insights into the stunning locations and venues where I've photographed. Whether you're planning your own event or simply appreciate beautiful settings, these posts offer inspiration and information.

Personal Reflections: As a mother and creative professional, I discuss the balance between personal life and work, the joys and challenges of motherhood, and the journey of self-discovery.

Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle: I share my experiences as a business owner, offering tips and reflections on entrepreneurship, creativity, and living a fulfilling life.

Podcast Highlights: Explore episodes and behind-the-scenes insights from my true crime podcast, "Looks That Kill," which I co-host with my friend Leah.

Why You Should Read This Blog:

Authentic Storytelling: I believe in capturing and sharing real, raw moments. This blog is an extension of that philosophy, offering genuine stories and reflections.

Inspiration and Connection: Whether you're a bride-to-be, a fellow creative, or someone seeking inspiration, my blog offers content that resonates on a personal level.

Professional Insights: For those interested in photography, entrepreneurship, or balancing multiple roles, I provide honest accounts of my experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

Community Building: This blog is more than just a collection of posts; it's a space for connection. I invite readers to engage, share their thoughts, and be part of a community that values authenticity and creativity.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you find stories that inspire you, insights that inform you, and a sense of connection that brings you back. Feel free to explore, comment, and reach out — I'm always excited to connect with readers and fellow creatives.

FILED ON //

March 29, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee based wedding and elopement photographer

Wedding Planning Step One – Choosing Your Date

Choosing your date is step one when planning your wedding, unless you are dying to get married at a specific venue with limited dates, or you’re insistent on working with a specific vendor. For the most part, you must have your wedding date picked out before you can book your venue, photographer, DJ, florist, wedding planner, etc. 

Weather Considerations

If you live in East Tennessee, you know that the weather can be unpredictable. You can experience all four seasons in one day. Tennessee is hot and humid in the summer time, and it can be cold and rainy in the winter time. Spring and fall are absolutely beautiful here in the south, but sometimes those seasons get skipped all together.

Do you have a favorite season? If you could have any type of weather on your wedding day, what would it be? What color schemes? What types of outdoor activities do you enjoy, if any? All of these things matter when trying to decide on a date to get married.

You also want to choose a venue that accommodates both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and receptions, and it is critical that your venue have both heating and air conditioning. Believe me, the last thing you want is to pay a lot of money for a wedding and reception that nobody attends because they are too hot or too cold.

Knoxville, Tennessee based wedding and elopement photographer

Weekday Weddings

Now let’s talk about what day of the week your wedding will fall on and the pros and cons for each of those days. 

Thursday weddings can be good for those wanting to book a popular venue somewhat last minute, usually at a reduced rate. Because the majority of weddings take place over the weekend, many venues will give discounts to couples that book the venue for a Thursday. This can make it difficult for guests to attend the wedding. A lot of people will likely have to take off from work, and they will likely be expected to work the next day. My opinion is that if you want your guests to be able to be fully present and enjoy the event, a Thursday wedding might not be ideal.

Friday weddings are a good option for those that want a later ceremony time and want people to stick around for the majority, if not all of the reception. Friday weddings mean that most people have the rest of the weekend to recover from the reception. However, it can be difficult for people to get off work in time to attend the wedding, or it might be difficult for parents to arrange childcare after they’ve been gone all day at work. 

Weekend Weddings

Saturday weddings are most popular, and that means venues are likely going to charge more for weddings booked on this day of the week. Most people don’t work on Saturday, so they are able to rest up before coming to your wedding. It might be easier on parents to find childcare for a few hours than it would be to ask the grandparents to keep the kids even longer than usual. Having a wedding on a Saturday also means that wedding goers have Sunday to rest the day after the event. Saturday weddings are ideal because people are able to be fully present and enjoy the event with the couple they’re celebrating, and that’s what you want.

Sunday weddings are nice, but most people have to return to work on Monday. But, a midday wedding in the spring or fall can be beautiful. A midday wedding allows people to relax and enjoy the event without being in a rush to get home to get ready for the week ahead. Depending on your crowd, it can be difficult to get people to dance during the reception when it’s still daylight out. If you prefer a more relaxed, laid back wedding, and wild receptions aren’t your thing, planning a Sunday wedding might be something you should consider. 

Knoxville, Tennessee based wedding and elopement photographer

Reach Out to Vendors

I know I’ve talked a lot about how different factors might impact your guests and their attendance at your wedding, but ultimately, this day is about YOU and YOUR wants and needs.

If you haven’t already considered hiring a wedding planner or a day-of-coordinator, I highly recommend doing so. 

For more information about timeline building, check out my blog post on the topic.

If you think I might be a good fit for wedding photography, I would love to hop on a Zoom call to discuss your vision for the day! My goal is to work with your other vendors to make sure your day is everything you imagined it would be.

Fill out the contact form on my website so we can get to know one another!

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HEY - I'm hayley!

Hi, I'm Hayley! I'm a Knoxville-based wedding and elopement photographer, podcaster, wife, mother, and social worker. This blog is a space where I share not only my professional work but also the stories, experiences, and insights that shape my life and my photography.

What You'll Find Here:

Photography Stories: Dive into detailed accounts of the weddings and sessions I've had the honor to capture. From classic estate weddings in Tennessee to intimate beach ceremonies in the Dominican Republic, I showcase the beauty and emotion of each unique celebration.

Client Experiences: Learn about the incredible individuals and couples I work with. I share their stories, the moments we've shared, and the connections we've built.

Session Locations and Venues: Get insights into the stunning locations and venues where I've photographed. Whether you're planning your own event or simply appreciate beautiful settings, these posts offer inspiration and information.

Personal Reflections: As a mother and creative professional, I discuss the balance between personal life and work, the joys and challenges of motherhood, and the journey of self-discovery.

Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle: I share my experiences as a business owner, offering tips and reflections on entrepreneurship, creativity, and living a fulfilling life.

Podcast Highlights: Explore episodes and behind-the-scenes insights from my true crime podcast, "Looks That Kill," which I co-host with my friend Leah.

Why You Should Read This Blog:

Authentic Storytelling: I believe in capturing and sharing real, raw moments. This blog is an extension of that philosophy, offering genuine stories and reflections.

Inspiration and Connection: Whether you're a bride-to-be, a fellow creative, or someone seeking inspiration, my blog offers content that resonates on a personal level.

Professional Insights: For those interested in photography, entrepreneurship, or balancing multiple roles, I provide honest accounts of my experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

Community Building: This blog is more than just a collection of posts; it's a space for connection. I invite readers to engage, share their thoughts, and be part of a community that values authenticity and creativity.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you find stories that inspire you, insights that inform you, and a sense of connection that brings you back. Feel free to explore, comment, and reach out — I'm always excited to connect with readers and fellow creatives.