It’s Wedding Season – But Which Season Is the Best in Las Vegas?

When is the best time to get married in Las Vegas? Certainly not in the blisteringly hot summer or the dead of winter – it does get very cold in the dessert – right? Think again, although the truth is wedding season can be magical at any time of year. 

Here are Las Vegas wedding season insights from two industry experts. Bri Absher, wedding specialist at Las Vegas Weddings, and McKenzi Taylor, owner and founder of Cactus Collective Weddings, weigh in.

What is the best time of year to get married in Las Vegas and why?

Absher: For us, October is one of the best months to get couples married in Las Vegas. We focus a lot on our outdoor venues. This time of year brings beautiful sunsets, great weather and some of the best lighting you can ask for. Not to mention, Las Vegas offers so many amazing affordable experiences and hotel stays for guests to enjoy and take advantage of here.

Taylor: The easy answer is spring and fall. For outdoor ceremonies especially, Las Vegas thrives in the months before and after summer. By late February, the mild desert winter has mostly passed, and it’s open season on lovely outdoor weddings for a couple of months before the blistering summer heat sets in here.

Spring weddings in our stunning outdoor venues can be truly magical, especially in years when we’ve had wet winters and the desert wildflowers are in full bloom. The fall is equally gorgeous in the Mojave Desert.

About the time when people in Omaha, Detroit and Boston are going leaf peeping and pulling their sweaters out of storage, Las Vegas wedding planners are emerging from the air-conditioned comfort of their living rooms and performing outdoor weddings deep into December while enjoying plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures.

Spring starts earlier in the desert than it does on the plains or on the East Coast, so plan accordingly. And if you hate the heat, you’ll want to be indoors by Memorial Day for the most part. While on the opposite side of summer, September is still pretty hot, which makes October and November the sweet spot. 

Does it matter? Why does it matter?

Taylor: It can matter a great deal if you’re wanting an outdoor celebration. The triple-digit temperatures are no joke even if us locals like to say that it’s a dry heat. Conversely, if you’re more worried about your budget, vendor and venue availability, and are always on the lookout for some seasonal deals, then you might opt for a summer wedding to avoid the busy seasons of spring and fall. It depends a little bit on your definition of “best.”

Absher: In essence, it does matter to us. While Las Vegas is a beautiful city that never sleeps – and yes, you can technically get married any time of the year – you have to remember we’re a city of hot, hotter and sometimes cooler. Taking that into account, October is generally an ideal month for our wedding couples who want a beautiful outdoor ceremony with amazing sunset lighting and views during this time of year.

As a wedding industry professional, what is your personal favorite time of year for a wedding and why?

Absher: If I had to choose, it would definitely be April and October. Both months have comparable temperatures that are not too hot, and the scenery is beautiful during this time. April is beautiful with all the fresh blooms, while October still carries that magical fall vibe. These two months are truly ideal, and each has its own advantages for creating a beautiful wedding, whether indoors or outdoors.

Taylor: I’m going to go off-script here and say late winter or very early spring. After the holidays but before the onset of the busy season, couples can catch us before we get stressed and overwhelmed in the spring. This lull in the calendar has many benefits. There isn’t a lot going on, and a late winter wedding gives you and your guests something to look forward to.

Another great benefit to a late winter wedding is that sunset happens earlier in the day. So, you don’t have to wait around until 8 p.m. or later for a sunset ceremony. The air is crisp but not frigid, and the wispy wintery clouds add some spectacular color to the sky, making your photographs truly incredible.

Plus, early wedding season couples tend to set the trends for the rest of the year. Late winter is when we start to see what the season will look like from a design perspective, and it all feels new and fresh and exciting. It’s an energetic and exciting time as we slowly ramp up into the busy season.