The Inside Scoop On Seasonal Wedding Discounts

We all know it: hosting a wedding can be one of the most expensive days of your life. If you’re hoping to bring your perfect wedding to life within a budget, seasonal discounts might just be the secret solution you’re looking for.

Seasonal discounts are often described as “midweek” and “off-peak” but usually without explanation. So we wanted to give you the inside scoop on seasonal wedding discounts: why they exist, when they are available, and how you can get them.

Why Do Seasonal Discounts Exist?

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, the chances are that it was on a Saturday. Perhaps you’re considering a Saturday for your own wedding? You’re not alone. Every year in the UK, Saturday polls as the most popular day to tie the knot. With Monday - Friday working patterns (meaning that most guests will RSVP Yes) and the promise of a Sunday lie-in, it’s easy to see why Saturdays are irresistible to wedding-bookers.

Not only does this mean that couples must scramble to secure their favourite suppliers on these coveted days, but this is made even trickier by the fact that suppliers can usually only fit one booking on any given day. As such, suppliers find their calendars are packed on weekends and much quieter on weekdays.

Enter: the discount.

Much like in the holiday industry, discounts on weekdays or during off-peak seasons can encourage customers to book outside of the busiest times. Plus, it can be a win-win scenario: venues and suppliers gain a more consistent business calendar, and - more importantly - you get to book your dream venue and save a bit of money while you’re at it.

Midweek vs Off-Peak

As you plan your wedding, you may also find terms for seasonal wedding discounts such as “midweek discount” and “off-peak pricing” - but what’s the difference?

Let’s start with midweek pricing. As noted above, Saturdays are the busiest time for weddings. Fridays and Sundays are the next most popular. This leaves us with Monday - Thursday, and as such: midweek. If a supplier is offering a discount, these midweek days are most likely when you’ll find an offer.

Then there’s off-peak pricing, which acts a lot like the travel industry with peak and off-peak months. Just as Saturday is a peak day of the week, the wedding industry has peak months of the year. In the wedding industry, these are May to October, with the most popular months falling on July, August, and early September, when couples get to celebrate in the sunshine with their loved ones. The off-peak or “winter” season for weddings is November to April, when the cycle starts again with the first spring weddings each year. It may also be useful to know that standard peak pricing may be in effect around the holidays, no matter the time of year, such as bank holidays and New Year’s Eve.

Who Offers Seasonal Wedding Discounts?

From florists to photographers, from venues to bands, suppliers across the industry will commonly offer either midweek or off-peak discounts. By no means does everyone offer them - and any discounts that do exist are likely limited to midweek and off-peak seasons - but you may be surprised to find how many venues and suppliers do have an offer.

Now, by this point, you might be thinking: how can I go about getting some of these lovely discounts? Let’s explore that. Here are a few top tips to keep in mind when browsing your suppliers:

• Ask your supplier. Yes, you read that right! Why not ask your supplier outright if they have any discounts? Some suppliers don’t always advertise their discounts, but they will offer them when asked. If you’re unsure whether a discount is available or has already been applied to a quote, ask your supplier for confirmation.
  
  
• Be open with your budgets when contacting suppliers. Suppliers don’t mind if your budget is big or small - they simply want to find you the right option and the right price; knowing your true budget means that they can send you the right packages or options tailored to your needs. For the right day and option - let’s say a Tuesday in January - there may be some wiggle room for a discount if it isn’t already on offer.
  
  
• Check venue calendars for discounts. Some venue websites list their availability calendars, including notes on whether they have applied a discount to the day for midweek or off-peak pricing. If you’re not sure if your venue offers a discount, get in touch to check.
  
  
• Ask if your venue has preferred or partner suppliers. This one is seasonal in the sense that venues review their suppliers each year. You may want to ask if your venue has any preferred vendors or suppliers, and whether they offer a discount for your choosing them.