Are you engaged and yet to set a date for your wedding? Choosing when to get married is a big decision, and tends to be the first step of wedding planning for most couples. The question many ask is, should you get married in 'wedding season', or avoid it? And what and when is wedding season?
Today, we're answering all of these questions to help you land on the perfect date for your wedding day, whether it's during wedding season or not. We'll also be sharing our recommended timelines for shopping for wedding jewellery, including when to order wedding bands and choose bridal accessories.
What is wedding season?
Wedding season refers to the peak season when weddings take place around the world, and the most popular months for getting married.
There are many benefits of getting married during wedding season, with the most prominent being centred around preferred weather conditions. Because of their popularity, these months are when the demand for venues and suppliers is highest, which in turn makes their costs higher. To combat this, some choose to get married outside of wedding season to take advantage of off-season pricing, opting for indoor plans and cosier settings instead of a wedding that relies on nice weather. We go into more benefits of choosing an off-season wedding date later in this post.
There is, of course, no right or wrong time of the year to get married; it's down to personal preference, yours and your guests' availability, and your budget. If you want to know when wedding season is in your country - whether to plan for it, or around it - read on to get clued up.
When is wedding season?
Wedding season is typically considered to be the months when the weather is most likely to be warm, sunny, and predictable. In the UK, summer is regarded as the most desirable season of the year to get married, with extended daylight hours being best for capturing the day, and warm weather generally being preferred over colder conditions.
This isn't always the case, though - depending on where you are in the world, 'wedding season' varies by location. Read below when wedding season falls in the UK, US, Australia and beyond.
When does wedding season typically begin and end in the UK?
As we mentioned, summer is the most popular time to get married in the UK, with UK wedding season beginning in May and ending in September. In 2025, 2 in 5 (40%) UK couples got married in summer, while 28% got married in autumn, 25% in spring, and just 7% in winter (Source: Bridebook Wedding Report 2026).
What months are most popular for weddings in England?
The most popular months to get married in the UK are those which are most likely to have warmer temperatures: June, July and August. As the UK experiences higher average summer temperatures year-on-year, September is becoming increasingly popular among Brits as a month to get married; with it being at the end of summer, it's a safe bet for couples looking for sunny, warm weather that isn't too hot or humid.
In 2025, August was the peak month for UK weddings, while the most popular date to get married was Saturday, 5th September, with 1 in 50 weddings taking place on this day. (Source: Bridebook Wedding Report 2026)
When is wedding season in the US?
According to The Knot Real Wedding Study 2026, an annual, survey-based study among US couples who married the prior year, 76% of US couples get married between May and October. While summer takes up a bulk of this time frame, it's actually fall/autumn that is the most popular season to get married in the US, with The Knot predicting October to be the most popular wedding month in 2026.
When is wedding season in Australia?
Australian summers are a lot warmer than the UK, so wedding season in Australia tends to be in the seasons either side of summer for milder, more comfortable - but still pleasant - conditions. Wedding season in Australia generally peaks twice a year: September to November for springtime soirees, and March to May for autumn affairs.
What are the benefits of choosing an off-season, or winter wedding date?
Some couples choose a date that isn't during wedding season, and there are many benefits to doing this.
The main one being that during colder, winter months or the 'off-season', some wedding suppliers and venues offer more affordable pricing. If your budget cannot stretch to an in-season date, or you simply do not want to spend the inflated wedding season pricing, an off-season date can be a great option for you. Many choose weekday weddings instead of weekends, which is again more affordable, especially in the off-season.
Additionally, due to lower demand, your desired wedding venue and suppliers will have more availability during the off-season, meaning you have more flexibility and you could get married sooner if this is preferred, as you won't have to join years-long waiting lists for an in-season date.
Many couples who get married in winter like to lean into the season and tie it into the rest of their wedding. If the weather is likely to be cold outside, winter wedding couples will prioritise a venue that has beautiful, cosy interiors, so that the lower temperatures or risk of rain and snow won't ruin or affect the day in any way.
When to buy wedding rings
When you buy your wedding rings depends on whether you'd like something bespoke and made to order from an independent, local business, or if you'd be happy to choose something off-the-shelf from a high-street jeweller.
The former option generally requires a longer lead-time of around 1-2 months or more, but for good reason; opting for an independent, made-to-order jeweller (like us at Wild Fawn) offers a bespoke, personal experience just for you, where we'll help you design or choose your dream ring, which will then be designed and made in the UK from start to finish by our small team of skilled goldsmiths.
Going to a high-street jeweller, or somewhere that has ready-made stock, allows you to get your wedding rings within weeks - or even days, depending on where you go. This is a good option for you if you've left purchasing wedding bands to the last minute and need something fast; however, this route may mean you have an experience that's more transactional than personal, and you may be limited by the designs available to you. Choosing a high street jeweller with lots of ready-to-ship stock may also mean compromising on the impact your wedding jewellery has on the environment, while independent, sustainable brands which make each piece of jewellery locally and to order minimise waste and emissions.
At Wild Fawn, we believe shopping for wedding rings is something to take time over; after all, they're a piece of jewellery you'll be wearing for the rest of your life. Our wedding rings are all handmade-to-order in our South-East London workshop using recycled gold, ethical stones and sustainable practises, so are perfect for couples who care deeply about the environmental impact of their wedding bands, and where they come from. If you choose a Wild Fawn wedding ring, we recommend ordering at least 6-8 weeks before your wedding day, and longer if you're overseas, or would like something bespoke, intricate or containing diamonds or gemstones.
If you need your wedding rings quicker than our recommended timeline, we can see what's possible to get your dream, ethical wedding rings to you in time for your big day. Simply book a free wedding ring try-on and consultation on our website.
Our buying wedding rings guide goes into more depth about purchasing wedding bands, including when to do it, how much to spend and more.
When is the best time to propose?
If you're not yet at the wedding planning stage, and the proposal is yet to happen, you might be wondering when the best time is to propose to your partner. The answer is simple; it's completely up to you! However, we appreciate that some may need some guidance and ideas to land on the perfect time - we've got you covered.
Many like to choose seasonal moments like Christmas, where they might be surrounded by loved ones, while others like to pop the question on anniversaries, during trips away, or on significant dates which are personal to them.
When it comes to your relationship with your partner, again, there is no 'right' or 'best' amount of time to have been together before you get engaged. The choice is completely unique to your relationship. Saying that, if you'd like a stat, in the US, the average number of years couples date before getting engaged is 3, and 70% of couples surveyed live together before getting engaged (according to The Knot).
Only you know when the best time is to propose to your partner; choose a date that you know they will appreciate at the time, and for years to come.
When is the most popular time of year to get engaged?
While there is no 'best' time to propose, there are popular times of year when proposals happen. According to The Knot's Real Wedding Study 2026, around 40% of proposals in the US take place between Thanksgiving (end of November) and Valentine's Day (14th February), with Christmas Day (25th December) being the most popular day to get engaged. This, of course, may vary in other regions, but choosing seasonal celebrations is a common choice for lots of couples.
On the contrary, some will want to avoid proposing to seasonal moments, and choose a date away from Christmas, Valentine's Day and New Year's to allow for a seperate celebration. Again, the choice is completely personal to you and what you and your partner would prefer.
Best time of year to buy an engagement ring for a proposal?
While there is no 'best' time to buy an engagement ring, you should consider when you are planning to propose before shopping. As above, choosing when you propose has no rules and is a decision only you can make, but once you have a date in mind for the proposal, you should allow enough time for your engagement ring to be designed, made and delivered to you. Similar to wedding ring shopping, your timeline will depend on where you purchase your engagement ring.
If your timeline is a matter of weeks, opt for a ready-made design. Both high-street jewellers and independent jewellers will have a selection of designs available to purchase with a quick lead time. At Wild Fawn, we have a selection of 'ready-to-ship' engagement rings that are available to try on by appointment or purchase from our website. We only have one of each design available, so if you choose one of these, we'll resize it, polish it up and send it to you within a couple of weeks. We won't then remake it to replenish stock; we simply design new rings to replace it, making them wonderfully one-of-a-kind.
High-street sellers are likely to be able to get rings to you sooner, as they tend to hold higher stock levels of the same ring, which have been mass-produced in multiple sizes Because of this, you may find these designs to be less unique as numerous people can order the same ring with ease. They are also more likely to come with a higher carbon footprint than rings from independent, made-to-order brands.
If you'd like something bespoke or custom from an independent jeweller, this can take a number of months, depending on the intricacy of your desired design. At Wild Fawn, we recommend contacting us at least 6-8 weeks ahead of your planned proposal date to ensure we can help you design your dream ring. Following your consultation, we'll be in touch with you as we personally source the perfect ethical gemstones and handmake your ring in our London workshop, making something truly bespoke that nobody else will have. You can learn more about bespoke wedding rings here.
Where to buy wedding jewellery
Once you've decided when to get married - whether in wedding season or not - it's an exciting time to start planning. From venues and wedding dresses to guest list and transport, there's lots to get done!
Wedding jewellery is (of course) our favourite on the list, and as a sustainable, independent jewellery business that specialises in meaningful pieces that tell a story, we'd be honoured to make your wedding jewellery.
Our engagement rings spotlight ethically-sourced sapphires in a range of mesmerising colours, from nature-inspired shades of green, to vivid blues and hypnotic bi-colours. Paired with lab-grown diamonds and made entirely in the UK by our small team and trusted suppliers, Wild Fawn is an ethical engagement ring brand for eco-conscious couples looking for unique designs or something custom-made.
For wedding rings, we're proud to offer a selection of hand-finished textured wedding rings. From classic polish to matte, brushed, and hammered finishes, each is made in our South East London workshop. For something beyond a band, explore our unique, nature-inspired designs, shaped and nesting wedding rings, and lab-diamond bands. Explore our wedding ring guide here to find your dream design, or shop all wedding rings here.
While the rings will being your first port of call, what about other wedding jewellery? For brides especially, we love designing bridal jewellery pieces that feel special for the day, and effortlessly wearable for years to come. Our collection features pieces made from solid white and yellow gold, elevated with organic molten textures, light-catching shapes, and lab-grown diamonds.
Our engagement rings, wedding rings, bridal collection and new bridal jewellery sets are available to shop online now. If you're after something bespoke, simply book a consultation here. We can't wait to meet you!
