Best months for a wedding in Ontario

A Seasonal Guide for Couples

Deciding on the best month to get married in Ontario is a personal thing and the popular wedding months may not necessarily vibe with your wants & budget. This seasonal guide will give you the ins and outs, pros and cons specific to life in Ontario.

The Pros and Cons of Getting Married in each Month:

Let’s quickly break down the pros and cons of getting married in each month before getting to the top 3 most popular months.

January + February

These are the least popular, most uncommon and generally least expensive months to get married. That said, winter weddings have been increasing in popularity over the years. If you’re dreaming of a cozy, romantic wedding, January or February are great options. A backdrop of snow, twinkling fairy lights, fireplace and hot chocolate station make for a unique wedding experience.

PROS: Fresh fallen snow looks incredible, more venue/vendor availability.

CONS: The cold makes some decisions a little more challenging ie. indoor or outdoor ceremony. The weather can also impact travel for you and your guests.

March + April

March and April are a little bit of a gamble if you’re planning a wedding in Ontario. Mother Nature may throw in some last minute snow in March and showers in April. But the early stages of Spring has some appeal.

PROS: Less popular, pricing may be better for your budget. Not as cold as winter and there’s a reasonable chance at some nice spring days.

CONS: Cooler, weather is still a concern and that additional snow/rain can lead to wet, soupy outdoor venues.

May

Ontario really starts to bloom at this time - the trees are filling out and gardens are blooming. Coming out of winter everyone is excited for the warm temperatures and regular sunny days. The temperature is in that Goldilocks zone, not too hot, not too cold. This is the early beginnings of what most consider the wedding season. The bugs slowly begin to come out but they’re not in full swing yet.

PROS: Scenery is beautiful, temperatures are ideal.

CONS: Competition for dates begins, bugs start to emerge as the month rolls by.

June

We’re in it now! Ontario is in full-on summer mode and the days are long. June is very popular, especially in my area of Muskoka. Competition is fierce for dates so book your venues and vendors early.

PROS: Long days, summer vibes, warm but typically not blistering hot.

CONS: Competition for dates is high, bugs are in full force, some days can get pretty hot.

July

You’re getting typical sunny, summer weather in July but the heat can be a bit much for some. You get those same long days as June so plenty of daylight for your big day.

PROS: Nice weather, long days

CONS: The heat, bugs, competition for dates.

August

August can be a nice warm month for those who want to soak up those last few moments of summer. The sun starts to set a little earlier but still plenty of daylight available. The weather is typically quite nice, but the heat is still cranked up.

PROS: Great sunsets, nice weather continues, bugs tend to slow down

CONS: The heat, competition for dates is still fairly strong.

September

We’re back to Goldilocks temperatures as summer fades in the rearview. The leaves tease with a little colour change but nothing too intense yet. The nice temperatures really makes it an attractive month for couples and September/October are the most popular months for weddings in Ontario, certainly here in Muskoka. Book early!

PROS: Goldilocks temperatures, no bugs, colour-tease.

CONS: Very popular month = high date competition, daylight dwindles a bit, not quite fall colour time.

October

Like September, October is at the top of the list for most popular months to get married in Ontario. If you love once-a-year tree colour, October is your obvious choice. Think fall c0lour and cozy vibes. It’s not just colour though, the temperatures are cool but reasonable. It’s not uncommon for rain to fall and the wind often picks up this time of year.

Side note - if you love the fall colour you can always do your engagement photos in the fall and your wedding in a less popular month/season. Engagement scheduling allows for far more flexibility with respect to timing and location.

PROS: Amazing colour, fun seasonal theme and decor options.

CONS: Popular month = high competition/cost, less daylight, rain, wind, can get cool.

November

November is a reasonably popular month with the natural benefits of a shoulder season. It’s not quite wedding season but it’s close. Weather isn’t too bad other than a little cool. You’ll have more flexibility and options with venue and vendor availability.

PROS: Less competitive for dates, more venue/vendor availability.

CONS: Starts cool, gets progressively colder, visually a little blah some days.

December

Winter months have become more popular over the years, but they’re still considered the off-season. Pricing would be better and slightly more dates would be available - some venues will be hosting holiday parties this time of year.

PROS: Christmas theme! Snow!

CONS: Cold, snow not guaranteed, Christmas party competition with venues

The best months for a wedding here in Ontario

Wedding season in Ontario generally falls between the months of May and October due to longer days, beautiful scenery and warmer weather. In terms of popularity, September and October are by far the most popular months to say your I Dos. The Goldilocks temperatures - not too hot, not too cold - of these months are key factors but the beautiful scenery and lack of bugs are also a big draw.

Be prepared to book early if you’re planning a wedding in September or October. Venues and vendors are in highest demand during those months so competition with other date-hunters is high.

Get your elbows out and book early!

Top 3 Most Popular Months to Get Married

#1 October

This is the most popular month for weddings in Ontario and especially in my corner of the woods, Muskoka. The incredible Fall colour doesn’t really make it a fair fight for the other months.

#2 September

Like October, September has the more moderate Goldilocks temperatures going for it - not too hot, not too cold. In terms of popularity, September is a close second to October with similar daylight, temperatures and no bugs up here in Muskoka.

#3 June

June is also very popular with it’s warm (but not scorching hot) weather, longer days as well as lush forests and gardens. Families will appreciate having a weekend away at your wedding during school as it keeps their summer-break months free for family time and travel.

Most Affordable Wedding Months for an Ontario Wedding

If affordability is your key criteria, then consider the shoulder months of May and November for your wedding. While these months are fairly popular, the competition for these dates is nowhere near as high as the big three of June, September and October.

May and November have similarly moderate temperatures and more flexibility for venue and vendor availability. For budget focused couples, these are great months to target.

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