Is an early January wedding ok?

I think you should have your wedding when you want, knowing there will always be some reason someone will have as to why they can't attend.

Your parents aren't wrong, but plenty of people have hosted weddings ON holidays, not even just close to them, and understood that may mean some might not make it.

We had our wedding the week after Easter and the church was still so beautifully decorated--just something to think about.

The only problem I can see with a January wedding is the winter weather but it doesn't look like that would be a problem for you

My cousin got married on January 7th this year, other than the blizzard causing more than half the guests to miss the ceremony and some to miss the reception it was a blast and no one minded the date.

January is a perfectly fine time to get married!!! But agree with @Abbie have your wedding when you want!

Many of our guests might say our 12/2 wedding is an inconvenience since it's only a week after Thanksgiving, plus it's Winter, but they don't have to come if they don't want to.

Weddings are optional

I'm getting married in January so of course its okay!

I've had a lot of guests excited that after the holidays they still have something to look forward to. I would send std's to your VIP's so that they can plan their leave from work around your wedding.

I got married a week before Christmas. It was beautiful and most people came. Honestly though, if I had a choice between before Christmas and after, I'd go with before, unless I had a huge budget for a New Year's Eve wedding.

We initially wanted to get married in early January (1/7/17) because we wanted to give ourselves just over a year to plan. We ended up choosing late March, though, because we had a lot of guests that would be traveling and we realized how easily flights could be cancelled or people could get snowed in and not be able to make the drive. We decided to go with a date that wouldn't be as heavily impacted by snowstorm.

Where do you live/are planning to get married? What's the weather like there in January? You mentioned most of your guests are in-state. Would most still be able to get to the venue if you did have a snowstorm?

I'm having a 1.8.19 DW wedding. After talking to our vendor he did say that from his experience there is a lower guest turnout for weddings (Key West) from Jan-Mar based on people not having funds after the holidays. This didn't matter to me because all of the VIPS will be there and if anyone else makes it than that's just bonus ( I am also striving for a smaller wedding). If you are set on having a very high turn out and it would upset you if people couldn't make it then I would probably reconsider but if you have the mindset that I have then go for it! This convo was based on a DW and you said most of your guest list is local. To me if people want to come they will come, if they want to make excuses then they will.

Really appreciating the responses thank yall so much!!

As for more information, the wedding is going to be in Houston TX so the low is maaayybbee like 55 around then but it's so unlikely it's going to snow. As for the out of state guests they'd all be coming from Georgia or Florida (so also verrryy unlikely they'd get snow too) Everyone else is in the Houston, Beaumont, or Dallas areas.

Those who want to be there will be there. Don't worry about it. Be beautiful love!!!!

Shelby - in that case, I think a January wedding would be perfect. I get your parents' point that right after the holidays could mean low funds for travel, but depending on how paid time off us structured for those of your guests with jobs, they might be starting off the new year with fresh PTO. Also, if you do STDs (which aren't necessary, but I'd recommend them with your wedding so close to the holidays), you can give your guests plenty of notice to fit your wedding into their holiday plans. For example, if I was your guest and I knew your wedding was right after New Year's, DH and I would absolutely choose to visit family that was closer to us, rather than take a big trip to see other family so that we wouldn't be traveled out (or have no budget left for travel) for your wedding. Or, I would make sure we were back in time for your wedding if we did decide to go somewhere. People who want to be there will make plans to be there.

I think any time is a good time for a wedding, other than on an actual major holiday or a long ceremony out in the sweltering heat. The only concern might be snow/ ice depending on where you live but that's the case for all weddings in the colder months. I don't think it's inconvenient after the holidays at all.. I photographed a wedding on December 30 last year and the venue and church both had Christmas flowers and decor up so that saved them a ton of money (not sure whether you'd want to move it even closer to the holidays to take advantage of that )

I reallllly wanted a Christmas wedding, so I choose my early January date because it's still in the Christmas season (the Church will still be decorated for Christmas on January 5th if that makes a difference to you). I'm in the south too, so I wasn't worried about snow storms or anything like that since most guests are local. I think the biggest issue with the date is that my bridesmaids are planning a shower and having a hard time picking a date with all the holiday events that occur leading up to the date.

All that being said, definitely go with the date you want - the people that want to be there will be there.

I think you should be fine! The people who will want to be there will make it happen. I originally wanted a January wedding as well (I'm in FL), but changed it to March because of daylight savings. I also got married on a Thursday and 98% of our guests came so I really believe the people that make excuses just really don't want to make the effort.

January is great! I actually LOVE the idea of a winter wedding. I really wanted a winter wedding! I say go for it

Thank y'all so much for the insight and input, I really appreciate all of it, you've all been so helpful!

I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if most of your guests are local. They will be aware of the wedding before Christmas, so they can budget accordingly if they want to come.

FH's friend is getting married out of state next January. We are actually really excited to attend. There usually isn't much fun stuff going on in the winter, so it's nice to have the wedding to look forward to.

While I understand the money/holiday aspect, it's your day and that your guests will likely just want to help celebrate with you! If a friend of family member of mine decided to get married in early January, I would be happy to be there.

Churches are usually beautifully decorated after Christmas too, if you're doing a Catholic Mass you have decor until Epiphany.

People will have enough notice to plan budgets accordingly if you send save the dates 6 months out, so I think you're fine. I went to a Catholic wedding once right after Christmas and it was beautiful.