If you’re like many brides, you’ve probably been excited at the thought of setting your wedding date since you got engaged. Most couples agree that after setting your wedding date, all the fun stuff can begin–shopping for the wedding dress, choosing accent colors, testing out caterers and bakeries, and all the other things that go on every wedding checklist. Setting the date is a big decision that will affect a lot of other things, so be sure to think through your options before announcing the big day. Here are the factors you’ll want to consider when setting your wedding date:

1) Do you have a dream venue, and is it available? The most in-demand venues can be booked months and even years in advance, so if you already know where you want to be married and/or hold the reception, call to find out about availability right away.

2) Are any of your friends or family members getting married? If so, you should make sure not to schedule your wedding on the same weekend. Most couples agree to schedule it at least 2 weeks before or after other major celebrations their friends or families are hosting, including graduation and anniversary parties.

3) Have you always dreamed of a winter (or spring, or summer, or fall) wedding? If you’ve always wanted to have your wedding during a certain time of year, don’t abandon that dream now. Talk to your fiancé and make sure he’s on board with your decision, then pick a date that falls during your favorite season.

4) Will you have many out-of-town guests? If the answer is yes, you may want to think about things like weather conditions for travel and airline ticket prices. For example, if a winter storm arrives the day before your wedding, flights could be cancelled or older guests, such as grandparents, may not feel it’s safe to travel.

5) Are you on a tight budget? Couples who are looking to stretch their dollars even further often find that prices are lower in the so-called “off season.” Venues also have considerably lower rental prices on any day of the week other than Saturday.

6) Will you be able to take plenty of time off from work? Most brides want to take at least a few days off for the wedding, and if you’re planning on going on your honeymoon immediately afterwards, you may need a few weeks. Make sure you schedule your wedding for a time when you’ll have enough vacation time accrued and will be able to be away from the office for that long.

7) Do you want to honor a special occasion with your wedding date? Lots of brides and grooms choose their wedding date based on a special moment in their history, such as the day they met or the date of their engagement. Others honor family members by marrying on the anniversary of their parents or grandparents.