May Wedding? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The spring season is ending, marking the start of everyone’s favorite season: Wedding Season, of course! With all that May has to offer to couples, mild temperatures, the best of blooms, and a whole host of celebrations, there’s no wonder why it’s one of the most popular wedding months. If you’re considering hosting your perfect wedding ceremony this popular month, here are some things that make a summer wedding in May a good idea.

The Basics

History & Culture

If your wedding day is going to be May, here are a few things you should keep in mind when tying the knot:

• May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, Goddess of fertility, making it a great month for the birth of a new life together as newlyweds.

• According to old marriage superstitions, May used to be considered an unlucky month to be wed. Now it’s the 2nd most popular wedding month for couples.

Ideas and Inspiration

What's In Season?

What's In Season?

Photo credit: Wedding Bee

May is a great month for a wedding because there are so many choices for food and flowers.

• Break out the buffet spreads of fan favorites like pizza bites, mini bagels, and tiny tacos. Everything comfort food and ready for snacking is a welcome treat. Especially if you are planning on an outdoor event, then you want to make sure your guests can move around and simple finger foods like these allow for just that.

• Get hands-on with your dessert picks, serving treats like cake pops and churros that are easy to roam around with, aside from the wedding cake they get to enjoy. Keep stations around the venue so your guests can move around and enjoy the weather and the ambiance as they snack on sweet treats and explore what’s on offer.

• Ranunculus, peonies, poppies, and bluebells are some of the spring's best additions to floral arrangements. Use these not just in the venue décor but also in tablescapes and place settings or centerpieces as well as in bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets and hair pieces to match your wedding colors. Make the most of all this floral splendor.

Weather

Photo Credit: Amanda May Photos

Brighter days are to come with the shifting season.

• Outdoor weddings thrive during this month with the perfect balance of spring breeze and summer sun. An indoor wedding can merge the best of both worlds in a hybrid setting or one with lots of windows. Choose a venue that facilitates and indoor and outdoor wedding setting so you can make the best of both worlds.

• The weather in May can still be fickle depending on your area. Be on the lookout for those surprise rainstorms in more southern and tropical regions. Always have a plan B ready to go. Speak with the wedding venue, planner, and vendors to explore all possible options before you decide how you will address such an incident.

• An indoor wedding, on the other hand, would have a fantastic ambiance if it is held in a setting with floor-to-ceiling windows. It will let more light enter the building, ensuring a well-lit wedding and celebration. Make sure the windows aren’t hidden and allow for ample light to shine through into the venue.

Holidays

Photo credit: Wedding Bee

Don't forget about the following dates if you want to work with (or around) them when planning your wedding events.

• May 5: Cinco de Mayo
• May 8: Mother’s Day
• May 30: Memorial Day

Tip: In May, there are two bank holidays. If you can set your wedding around these dates, you and your guests might be able to spend a long weekend together.

Theme Ideas

Photo credit: Pro Wedding Invites

Here are a few themes to inspire your wedding this month:

• Looking to stand out this season? Create the ultimate retro vibes at your wedding. Bring back the disco or go full-on mid-century modern to pull this theme off. A unique theme will make your wedding day more special for guests to attend.

• Embrace your inner fan with a movie-based theme for an event surrounded by all the things you love. Be as subtle or over-the-top as you’d like with inspired dessert and decor. It’s your big day so rejoice in your own way!

• Keep things modern and minimalist. Less is more with this theme that uses shapes, textures, and small pops of color to elevate simplicity. Make a visual impact with clean and clear designs for your wedding.

Clothing Ideas

Photo credit: Repeller

• With a spring wedding comes lots of wedding attire alternatives. From flouncy cotton wedding dresses to elegant suede suits, May wedding dress codes are among the most creative. Be as refined or as relaxed as you like.
• Speaking of dress codes, it’s time for everyone’s favorite wedding style: Cocktail attire! Otherwise known as semi-formal, couples and guests are all dressing up for weddings this month. Make this a formal do and dress to the nines!

Quick color tip: May color palettes are all about embracing the best of both worlds. Mix rich colors with bright pastels for the perfect balance.

Pros and Cons of May Weddings

Pros

1. The weather is almost always beautiful, everything is in bloom, and your pictures are probably going to turn out brilliant, especially with gorgeous wedding flowers everywhere.

2. This is considered peak season so wedding venues and vendors will be ready to work with you and provide the best deals.

3. This is possibly the best time for an outdoor wedding with the climate and the greenery in its best spirits.

4. The long weekend might provide more days to celebrate and allow you to pack in additional festivities.

Cons

1. There is still a chance of rain, so you need to have an alternate plan ready just in case the weather gods decide not to cooperate.

2. Given the busy season, venues and vendors might be difficult to find on certain dates so wedding planning for all scenarios will be prudent, especially if you are looking at a destination wedding.

3. Outdoor spaces may be hard to come by as most every couple will be aiming for an outdoor venue this time of year.

4. Invites will need to head out earlier than usual, so folks don’t plan any other activities or travels during the dates of your wedding, especially if they are going to be your bridesmaids or other important members of your bridal party.

Zola Facts

Want the scoop on how other couples are planning their May weddings? Here are some fun facts from Zola about weddings this month.

Couples’ Favorite May Wedding Invites + Paper Designs

Photo credit: Mospens Studio

• Bow Bridge- This bold, simple design highlights your wedding details beautifully.
• Kalispell- This botanical design features a delicate floral frame around timeless typography.
• Splendor- This awe-inspiring design features sprinkles of stars and a bold watercolor moon, beautifully accented with a mix of a classic and handwritten font.

Average Guest Count for May Weddings

Photo credit: Every Last Details

The average number of wedding guests on the guestlist for a May wedding is 125.

Popular Registry Adds for May Weddings

Couples getting married in May have these top three must-adds on their wedding registries:

• Mercer Rim Cereal Bowl
• Lucca Faceted 5-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 1
• Nonstick Essentials Bakeware Set, 10 Piece

Things to Consider

Popularity

May is the start of the wedding season for many reasons. Here’s why so many couples prefer this month to wed.

• Though May is a popular wedding month, it’s not the most popular. Second to June, weddings this month are a part of the lucky bunch setting the tone for a summer full of celebrations.
• For many institutions, May marks a shift to summer schedules. Whether it’s the start of summer break or summer work schedules for you and your guests, you can take advantage of the extra free time to plan your wedding events.
• May weddings are also less likely to clash with other events. If you schedule your wedding for this month, you and your partner will be able to spend the summer partying rather than planning.

Cost

With summer around the corner, expect to be on the early end of rising wedding prices from vendors and venues.

• Understand that with greater demand comes heavily booked schedules. You may find it more difficult to book all your vendors in time for your wedding date, so try your best to start inquiring early.

• Prioritize your non-negotiables for your wedding and decide what can get cut or adjusted, if need be. Budget for the most important aspects first and the nice-to-have elements can follow next.

No matter what season or month it is, planning a wedding is difficult. The best part is that today’s couples are planning their weddings any way they want to. Themes, colors, flowers, and attire are all things you can use to showcase your personality for a wedding to remember.