Why OFF Season Might be Spot ON — The Barn at Reynolda Village

Let’s face it. It’s our fault.

And by “our” I mean the wedding industry. Photo after photo after photo of wedding couples in lush gardens full of blooms, on beaches, beside lakes, along the river banks. And all with the soft glow of a spring or summer sunset on their faces. We’ve gotten ourselves into this spot and brought most newly engaged couples along with us as they seek out the ideal spring or summer weekend for their wedding celebration.

But guess what? There are 52 weekends a year and all of them are happy to host your wedding celebration! Even those overlooked late summer weekends when the temperatures might be a little bit… well, thick. And certainly those snuggly winter weekends where the warm glow of a fireplace offers a perfect backdrop for your champagne toast!

If you find yourself with something shiny and new on your finger and are about to jump into the Find-A-Wedding-Date-After-Covid Olympics, might we suggest considering the benefits of an off-season wedding date.

Five Benefits of Having an Off Season Wedding

Discounted Rates

Remember the basic supply and demand lesson of Economics 101? While not all vendors offer off-season rates, venues often find themselves with more open dates in late summer and winter and so they gladly offer discounted packages to entice couples. Once you have your venue secured, you may find that other vendors like caterers and photographers will follow suit with their package pricing.

Less Venue Competition

If you’ve begun the planning process with your heart set on a Saturday in May, your first phone call to the venue you’ve been stalking on Instagram may have been a disappointing one. You’re finding out that the most amazing vendors and venues are often booked months, if not years, in advance for the most popular wedding dates. Planning your celebration during the off-season gives you a much better chance that the most popular vendors will be available on your date.

Guests More Likely to Be There – less wedding fatigue!

How many invitations have shown up in your mailbox over the years for Saturday weddings in the summer? Yes, they are beautiful and something to behold! Yet they can also lead to scheduling conflicts for invited guests. As you are well aware, a lot of other things are planned in the summer months too! Family vacations, graduation celebrations, family reunions, not to mention the many other weddings on their calendar. All of this can significantly impact your guest attendance and may even lead to hurt feelings as your friends and loved ones are forced to choose what to attend. By hosting your nuptials during the wedding off-season you’re more likely to have all of your favorite people available to celebrate. Just swap the mimosa bar for a hot cocoa station and you’ll be ready to embrace the season with family and friends.

Winter Charm

Of course, there are many things to consider when hosting a late summer or winter wedding and having a terrific planner involved will make a big difference. (But that’s another blog altogether!)

However, if weather concerns aren’t a deal breaker for your big day, winter weddings can be incredibly romantic! It gets dark earlier so candlelight can play a major part in setting the mood, fresh garlands and unique winter florals can adorn your tables, and just think of the photos of you and your sweetie in the snow with a cozy blanket embracing you both! Consider it a major bonus if you choose a wedding date around the holidays for instant decor options. In fact, your venue may already be dressed up for the holidays giving you more bang for your design budget.

More Decorating Options

And speaking of design… rather than trying to make your spring décor look unique and different from everyone else’s spring décor, as the summer becomes fall and fall fades into winter, a myriad of décor options open up! Structural branches and berries, ice sculptures, hosting your rehearsal dinner at an ice rink for skating après dinner! An off-season event gives you permission for a unique approach to creative expression.

Ready to consider an off-season wedding? At The Barn at Reynolda Village, we offer two options:

· July and August Packages are discounted but still offer all the amenities of our spring and early summer events. And yes, The Barn has fabulous air conditioning!

· Discounted November through March Reception packages are budget-friendly with options for small ceremonies to take place indoors or to pair with the church, synagogue or off-site ceremony venue of your choice

Call our Sales Manager to learn more and to schedule your site visit: 336 758 BARN