It’s official: engagement season is here! Between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, more than 40% of couples get engaged. It’s an incredibly exciting time… and also one of the busiest seasons for wedding venues and vendors across Connecticut.

If you just said “yes,” congratulations!! You’re stepping into what we like to call the season of possibility. But here’s the real talk: while it’s fun to dive into inspiration boards and color palettes (and you absolutely will), the smartest first step you can take is securing your venue early.

Why Engagement Season Moves Fast

From November through February, newly engaged couples are touring venues across Connecticut at the exact same time. That means hundreds of couples reaching out for the same popular dates – often the same weekends.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

• Prime Saturdays go first – especially May, June, September, and October.
• Fridays and Sundays are becoming increasingly popular for couples who want a more relaxed vibe (and bonus: often more value).
• Fall weddings now book nearly two years in advance.
• Late-spring and early-summer aren’t far behind.

What “Booking Early” Actually Gets You

Most couples think booking early just means “locking in a date.” But honestly? It’s so much more than that.

Booking early gives you the room to enjoy your engagement instead of rushing through decisions. Here’s what you really unlock:

1. Choice over compromise

Your dream month, ceremony time, photographer, and vendor team stay wide open instead of limited to what’s left.

2. More time, more creativity

A calm planning timeline means your ideas have space to grow. From music to florals to the flow of your day – this is where the magic happens.

3. A clear, realistic budget

Because venues like CT Wedding Group include catering, bar, planning, and coordination, you know your total investment upfront. No guessing. No spiraling.

4. A stronger connection with your planning team

The earlier you book, the more time we have to understand your style, your story, your priorities- and personalize the entire experience.

Fridays & Sundays: The Secret Dates Couples Are Loving

Yes, Saturdays are classic. But Fridays and Sundays? They’re quickly stealing the spotlight.

Friday weddings turn your day into a full weekend celebration. Guests roll in Thursday or Friday morning, the party kicks off that night, and everyone still has the whole weekend ahead.

Sunday weddings surprise a lot of people in a good way. Many of our Sunday couples share that their guests actually preferred the date. They’d need to travel anyway, so having the weekend to settle in, reconnect, and enjoy time together makes the experience even sweeter. And rather than waking up exhausted the next morning, everyone ends the weekend on a high note.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long

You’ll still find a venue – but it may not be the one that made your heart light up on the tour.

After engagement season, most dates are spoken for at Connecticut’s most sought-after spaces like The Barns at Wesleyan Hills, The Pavilion on Crystal Lake, Lyman Orchards Golf Club and Riverbend.

Even if you’re not ready to plan everything right now, finding your venue early gives you clarity. This way you have the foundation to allow the other details to fall into place – also, you have a whole planning team behind you with CT Wedding Group. So get ready to have fun!!

Real Talk from Our Team

We meet couples every single day during engagement season, and here’s our expert advice:

“We tailor your planning timeline to you as a couple, and you’ll have our whole team supporting you every step of the way. If you’re dreaming of a 2026 wedding, you’re absolutely still in a great spot. And if you’re looking ahead to 2027, it’s not too early; those dates are already starting to move.

Booking now means you get ahead of the vendor rush, secure your dream team, and lock in the best availability while there are options. So we’re here to start building your perfect planning timeline together.” – Senior Wedding Planner, Allie

Engagement season fills fast, and we want you to have the best chance at choosing the date that aligns with your vision!

Ready to Tour?

Your engagement should feel joyful. Securing your venue early brings that joy front and center- because once you have a date and a place, everything else starts falling beautifully into place.

Whether you’re imagining
twinkle-lit dancing at The Barns,
lakeside sunsets at The Pavilion,
open air vibes at Lyman Orchards
or the modern industrial magic unfolding at our new Riverbend venue…

We’re here to help you find your perfect match.

Plan ahead. Celebrate big. Love every minute.
Schedule your personalized tour today and ensure your perfect date is within reach!

It’s here: engagement season is in full swing! From the moment you say “yes,” to sharing the news with your favorite people, this season is full of excitement, happy tears, and celebrating your love story.

It’s easy to feel like you need to make every decision right away, from your date and vibe to your guest list and even napkin folds! Or maybe you’re on the other end of the spectrum, wanting to soak it all in and avoid planning for as long as possible.

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to have it all figured out right now.
Finding the where and the when first allows everything else to fall naturally into place and allows you to truly enjoy your engagement.

Our expert planners have helped thousands of couples through this exact moment, and we’re here to share our top five tips to help you enjoy your engagement and have the wedding that’s perfectly made for you two

1. Get a Sense of What Speaks to You Two

Instead of sitting down with your partner and asking, “So… what kind of wedding do you want?” try this fun little game:

Each of you answer these questions separately:

• Indoor or outdoor?

• Local celebration or destination vibe?

• Chic and elevated? Cozy and intimate? Big and energetic?

• Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

Then compare!
You’ll either be surprisingly aligned or laugh when you realize you have completely different visions (also okay! Compromise is a perfect skill for this next chapter ).

You’re not making final decisions yet- just finding your direction!

2. Create a Range for Your Guest Count (Not a Final List)

Your guest count is a great starting point. It helps determine:

• Which venues are the best fit

• Food and bar pricing

• Rental and décor budgets

You don’t need a spreadsheet, just simply consider:
“Are we a 120–150 person wedding? Or 165–200?”

A range is all you need to start looking at venues confidently.

3. Your Venue Lays the Groundwork and Makes Planning a Breeze

Once you find your venue, the real magic begins. You’ll have:

• A date (or a few options!)

• A realistic budget

• A clear planning timeline

• Also the space to take a deep breath and enjoy your engagement

And with CT Wedding Group, you also gain your built-in planning dream team. Like our couples tell us,

“From the beginning, the entire wedding team went above and beyond to make our day seamless and stress-free. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care made all the difference throughout the planning process and on the big day itself.”

After securing your venue, all the fun next steps like selecting your vendors, color palette, and décor fall into place naturally, and with expert guidance every step of the way – easily.

4. All the Magic, None of the Stress: The Power of All-Inclusive

Wedding planning can be overwhelming if you’re trying to piece together catering, bar service, rentals, and event management on your own.

That’s where an all-inclusive venue becomes a total game changer.
With one point of contact, a predictable budget, and an expert planning team on your side, you can actually enjoy being engaged instead of feeling stressed.

Couples tell us all the time how much easier it felt once they realized everything was handled in one place. Talk about being able to enjoy being engaged and wedding planning!

5. Decide Who’s Involved in Making Decisions

This one might surprise you, but it will save you a ton of stress later. Every couple is different, so there’s no right or wrong answer.

Ask each other:

• Will this be our decision as a couple?

• Who gets a “vote” vs. who just gets to be informed?

• Do we want opinions, or do we just want support?

Setting expectations early helps you avoid surprise opinions and decision fatigue, and keeps the focus where it belongs: on your love story.

Expert Reminder: You Are Not Behind

With these five things in mind, you’re already ahead of most newly engaged couples! Wedding planning doesn’t have to start with stress, it can start with excitement, clarity, and a sense of calm.

Ready to Have Fun and Marry Your Best Friend?

The holiday and post-holiday season is one of the most popular times of year for engagements, and we’ve got you covered!

With our one-of-a-kind venues and expert planning team supporting you every step of the way, you can relax, celebrate, and enjoy the holidays knowing the best gift of all is already yours, your wedding date.

Whether you’re envisioning:
A one-of-a-kind, elevated historic wedding at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
A dreamy waterfront celebration at The Pavilion on Crystal Lake
Sweeping hilltop views at Lyman Orchards Golf Club
A show-stopping modern venue at Riverbend (opening 2026)

Let’s find the venue that speaks to you two and your love story. Your forever starts here.

Click here to schedule your tour today!