Planning Guide · Ohio
The best time of year to get married in Ohio
Weather, light, fall colors and availability, season by season, with real numbers from Northeast Ohio.
Planning Guide · Ohio
Weather, light, fall colors and availability, season by season, with real numbers from Northeast Ohio.
Ohio gives you four real seasons, which is great until you have to pick one for your wedding. Each one has a different look, a different kind of light and its own tradeoffs. Here’s how they compare, using actual weather and sunset numbers from right here in the Youngstown area.
The short version
Late September through the middle of October is hard to beat for weather, light and color, and late spring is a close second. Both are busy, so book early.
Fall is now the busiest wedding season. According to The Knot’s Real Weddings Study, about 35 percent of weddings happen in the fall, 33 percent in the summer, 25 percent in the spring and only 7 percent in the winter. October and June tie as the most popular months, each with about 16 percent of weddings, and December is the least popular at about 1 percent.
Around here, that means summer and fall Saturdays go first. If your heart is set on an October Saturday, start looking 12 to 18 months ahead.
Spring in Northeast Ohio starts slow. In Youngstown, April averages a high of about 60 degrees, and May warms up to about 71. Everything turns green fast, the flowering trees bloom and the light is soft. The catch is rain. April and May each average 14 or 15 days with at least some rain, so you’ll want a solid backup plan.
By the middle of May, the sun doesn’t set until about 8:30 pm, which leaves plenty of evening light for portraits.
Summer gives you the longest days of the year. Around the end of June, the sun sets close to 9:00 pm in Youngstown, so golden hour can happen during your reception instead of before it. Highs average about 79 degrees in June and 83 in July, so plan for heat, shade for your guests and plenty of water.
July is also the wettest month by total rainfall, often from storms that roll through in the afternoon and move on. They can leave some dramatic skies behind, but have a backup spot for the ceremony just in case.
There’s a reason fall is everyone’s favorite. September averages a high of about 74 degrees and October about 62, with fewer rainy days than spring. In the middle of October, the sun sets around 6:40 pm, and the late afternoon light gets warm and low. It looks beautiful on camera.
Then there are the leaves. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources usually expects peak fall color in mid to late October. The timing shifts a little every year depending on the weather, so if color matters to you, aim for the middle of the month and treat perfect trees as a bonus.
November is quieter and easier to book, but it gets chilly, with highs around 50 degrees. Once the clocks change, the sun sets around 5:00 pm, so plan your portraits early.
Winter weddings are rare, which is exactly why some couples love them. You’ll have your pick of dates, and indoor venues feel warm and cozy with candles and string lights. Fresh snow can make for gorgeous photos and film, as long as everyone can get there safely.
Plan for cold and early darkness. January averages a high of about 34 degrees and close to 20 inches of snow, and in the middle of December the sun sets just before 5:00 pm. Do your portraits early in the afternoon, or step outside for a few minutes right at dusk.
One thing to know about cost: The Knot calls it a myth that prices drop a lot in the off season. Some vendors offer a discount, but many keep the same prices all year. The bigger win in winter is having more choices.
Light plays a huge part in how your photos and film turn out. Golden hour starts about an hour before sunset, so here’s roughly when the sun goes down around here:
If your ceremony is at 4:00 in October, that warm light shows up right in time for portraits afterward. In June, you might sneak outside during the reception instead.
If you asked me to pick, I’d say late September or early October. The weather is comfortable, the light is warm and the trees are starting to turn. Late May and early June come in a close second. Honestly, though, every season can look beautiful on film if you plan around it.
Once you have a season in mind, take a look at the best wedding venues in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, or check if I’m available on your date.
October and June tie for the top spot nationally, each with about 16 percent of weddings, according to The Knot.
Usually in mid to late October, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, though it shifts a little each year.
In Youngstown, around 7:00 pm at the start of October and about 6:40 pm by the middle of the month.
Sometimes a little, but not always. Many vendors keep the same prices year round. The real advantage of a winter date is having more choices.
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