Engagement season is here

This is the most popular time of year for couples to get engaged, and wedding photographers are preparing for more and more inquiries. I call it “engagement season.”

According to statistics provided by WeddingPro, about 40 percent of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.

Many men decide an engagement ring is a perfect Christmas gift, so expect to see quite a few more engaged couples out there right after Christmas. These statistics indicate that 19 percent of all engagements take place in December, with Christmas Day being the most popular day to pop the question. Yes, it’s not just the holiday season. It’s the engagement season.

If you ever wondered why companies that put on wedding fairs do it in January, that is why. These companies know that couples just got engaged and are excited about planning their wedding.

Here are, in order, the most popular dates to get engaged:

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve

New Year’s Day

Sunday before Christmas Eve

Valentine’s Day

New Year’s Eve

2nd Saturday before Christmas

More than 60 percent of newly-engaged couples begin planning the wedding within the first two months, and 40 percent do so within the first month, WeddingPro says.

The first steps are setting a date and a place for the ceremony and reception (the venues often determine the date). Other projects include determining a guest lists, determining a budget, and deciding a wedding style and colors.

Engagement periods average 14 months, and most couples hire vendors six to nine months before the wedding.

Hiring a wedding photographer is one of the first tasks. Many photographers book weddings a year or more in advance, so couples that are particular about the photographer they want are best to start looking a year or more in advance.

WeddingPro says on average, couples hire 14 vendors for their wedding, and the photographer is the most popular vendor hired. I venture to say looking for the photographer can be the most fun part of the planning. Who doesn’t enjoy looking at pretty photographs and looking for photos that speak to them most.

Lori Black Photography has been booking wedding photography jobs for 2020 for several months now, but some dates are still available. I urge you to contact me to see if your date is open.