Planning a wedding involves make dozens of choices, but one of the most important things you need to decide is the date of the big day. Fortunately, there is no right or wrong date when it comes to weddings. In order to narrow down your choices to a single date, you should take the following factors into account.

While not always possible to control, the weather should be something you’re thinking about if you want to have an outdoor wedding. In general, outdoor weddings fare much better during the warmer months of the year. The last thing you want is for you and your guests to be uncomfortable throughout the day. Of course, there is always a chance of rain, but have a backup plan like tents and you should have no problem.

You may be tempted to get married on a holiday weekend because your guests may already have extra time off of work. While this can be okay in some cases, especially if you’re having a smaller wedding with limited guests, it may not be a good idea for larger weddings. Planning your wedding around a popular holiday may create scheduling conflicts with some of your guests. When in doubt, talk to the main people you want at the event beforehand to see if they can make a specific date.

Most importantly, schedule your wedding far enough in advance so you have plenty of time to plan. The amount of planning time you’ll need depends on how big your wedding is. If it’s only going to be you, your partner, and a few friends and family members, you may need only a few months to plan. For larger weddings where you have a lot more things to coordinate, you’re going to want to have closer to a year or more to get ready.

Consider these things before finalizing your wedding date, and go with what feels right for you and your partner!