Post # 1

Member
29 posts
Newbee
My fiancé and I are torn between having our wedding in spring or fall next year in pennsylvania. Specifically, we are looking at Saturdays in May 2014 and September 2014. Since we want an outdoor wedding at a vineyard, weather is our primary concern – ceremony will be outdoors and cocktail hour and dinner will be in a tented area on the grounds. Based on experience, which month has a lower likelihood of extreme heat/cold/rain and/or freak bad weather?
We are only just beginning to start the wedding planning process but need to nail down a date soon so we can reserve the venue. I feel that both seasons are gorgeous and i love the colors for both, so I’m really confused.
Any suggestions and comments would be very greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Post # 3

Member
1201 posts
Bumble bee
@kinsykarma: Fall is my favorite season so I would say fall! Especially at a vineyard! That would be so gorgeous!!! Depending on what time of the month it is in September that you are having your wedding on, you might be okay with the weather. 🙂
Post # 4

Member
4494 posts
Honey bee
May can sometimes get unexpectantly hot in PA. I live in York, Pa (14 miles in from Maryland) so I am more familiar with that area of the state. Weather is just really weird around here sometimes – we got 6 inches of snow yesterday, which is usually unheard of at the end of March. I think September is kind of the same way though. A friend of mine had her wedding in September thinking that it would be starting to cool down. Nope – she was sweating through her dress. If you go with September I would definitely opt for a Saturday late in the month. With May I’d go with an early one.
Post # 5

Member
29 posts
Newbee
Thanks ladies. I am leaning towards fall because I’m worried we might not get much of a spring – if it goes from winter to summer (esp. since it’s still snowing in late march!)
As of right now, the venue has all Saturdays in septembbe available. Since Labor Day is september 1 in 2014, we were thinking either September 6, 13 or 20. I’m leaning towards the 13th.
Post # 6

Member
1826 posts
Buzzing bee
I would go fall at a winery because that’s when the harvest is ready and the pictures outside could be gorgeous!
Post # 7

Member
2683 posts
Sugar bee
@adoc86: My Fiance is from the York area too! I’m from NC, but I’ve visited his family a few times and it’s a really pretty area.
@kinsykarma I also agree that fall would be a better time (though I may be biased with my own wedding date, lol). The fall colors would be really pretty at a winery too.
Post # 8

Member
29 posts
Newbee
Has anyone had a wedding or attended an outdoor wedding in PA or nearby in September? I’m going to look at the farmers almanac before we meet with the wedding coordinator at the vineyard (I figure I should get her opinion as well) to figure out which Saturday in September would be the safest bet. I don’t have a preference but I figured the 13th is a good middle ground between it being too hot and getting too chilly..
Post # 9

Member
3106 posts
Sugar bee
@kinsykarma: I’d say it can still be a bit chilly in May in PA. September is more likely to be warm, but no guarantees because it can be kind of rainy…
Post # 10

Member
1734 posts
Bumble bee
@kinsykarma: I was in a wedding in late September near Philadelphia a few years ago. The ceremony was outdoors in the late afternoon and it was perfect. I was a bridesmaid in a tea-length dress and I didn’t feel too hot or too cold. It had been raining earlier in the day but even with that the temperature was pleasant.
By evening it had gotten a little chilly but nothing that a light jacket couldn’t handle. It was a perfect day 🙂 I think mid-September would be a perfect time for a wedding.
Post # 11

Member
637 posts
Busy bee
What time is your ceremony at? I’m having an evening wedding (all outdoors) on Sept. 6th and I was worried it would get too chilly at night. I looked at weather.com for daily averages to help me out. I was looking for highs in the mid-high 70s.
Post # 12

Member
29 posts
Newbee
We don’t meet with the coordinator until this weekend, but I’m guessing 5 or 530 since we are having a cocktail hour outdoors then a 4 hour reception under a white tent in the vineyard. I think they provide heat lamps just in case.