The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

4 The IFP·Halton Hills·BRIDES · Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 And the date of your big event is ... fall risky. If you live in warmer region like the Southern Ontario, you may have more options. However, you will probably want to avoid mid-winter when He just put the engagement ring on your finger and temperatures are at their worst. Culture and religion may also affect your decision. already you're dreaming about the type of the wedding you would like to have. Before you get too far into the Certain cultures and religions prohibit marriage on wedding planning, you might want to sit down with certain days or times of years. Getting married on your fiancé and determine a date for the big event. holy days, for example, is forbidden in some religions. Most of the major decisions you will make from this Make sure you check with your family and officiant point on about your wedding will hinge on that, so regarding what is appropriate for your culture and religion. you want to select the right date. Budget may be a factor as well. If you are on a tight Selecting the right wedding date requires more than budget, then you may want whipping out a calendar and to focus on the off-season pointing to a date at random. Selecting the right wedding date when prices will be lower and You probably already have vendors will be more willing some idea of the general time requires more than to strike a deal. If that is not frame in which you would like whipping out a calendar possible, then you may want to get married. Most couples to focus on weekdays rather prefer the spring and summer and pointing to a date at random. than weekends, when prices months over the fall and winwill be higher. ter months due to the warmer In order to make your deweather. If you don't have a seasonal preference, then perhaps you have a holiday cision, these are just some of the factors you will have preference. Some couples look forward to getting mar- to consider. After you have narrowed your choice of ried around Valentine's Day, while others look forward dates to a select few, the schedules of those attendto getting married around Halloween. You might even ing as well as the availability of the venue where you have a personal preference. Some couples focus on a would like to be married may be the deciding factors. particular time period because it reflects the birthday In addition to your own schedules, you will have to check the schedules of all parents, grandparents and or anniversary of an important person or event. Along with preference, the climate of the region in attendants as well as anyone else you would like to which you live may factor in on your decision. In the be in attendance and make sure they are free on the Northeast and West, winters can be bitterly cold and dates you have chosen. If you have your heart set on make having a wedding there during that time dif- particular location, you will also have to check with ficult, while on the East coast, hurricane season can officials there to ensure it has not been booked on the make having a wedding there during late summer and dates you have in mind. By TRESA ERICKSON Special to the IFP