Choosing your wedding date is one of the first (and most exciting!) steps in the planning process. You’ll want to pick a time of year that fits your vision and perfect wedding vibe. Dallas is a vibrant, busy city with stunning venues, lively energy and generally great weather. But it also has a packed calendar of major events that can bring traffic, limited hotel availability, and even no-shows from your guests.

Before you get too attached to a specific date, it’s worth doing a little research to make sure you’re not sharing your big day with 90,000 football fans. As wedding planners, we’ve learned a few things about picking the perfect date, and what weekends to avoid. Let’s break it down! 

First things first, let’s talk seasons! If you are dreaming of an outdoor ceremony or photos that don’t involve sweating, you’ll want to steer clear of Dallas summers. August can easily hit 100 degrees and feel hotter in a wedding dress! Trust us, no one wants to wilt on the walk down the aisle. 

Spring and Fall are sweet spots in Dallas, with beautiful weather, blooming florals and golden hour sunsets. But here’s the catch: everyone loves those seasons, so venues and vendors boom up fast. If you have your heart set on a popular date, we recommend locking it in early. And if you’re flexible? Even late winter or early summer can surprise you with great weather and availability! 

Now, let’s talk about what to avoid, because no one wants their wedding day competing with a parade full of giant inflatable snowmen. 

One major weekend we always flag is the big OU-Texas College Football game played at the cotton bowl. This game is held the second weekend of October and is known as the Red River Rivalry. This game draws in tens of thousands of fans and floods the city with traffic, booked hotels and busy restaurants. 

Another one to watch is the Dallas Holiday Parade, typically the first Saturday in December. While it’s festive and fun for the holidays, it shuts down a huge chunk of downtown, making vendor access a logistical nightmare. Trying to get a cake delivery through road closures? Not exactly what we recommend on your wedding day. 

And don’t forget the Dallas Marathon, which usually falls on the second weekend of December. Like the parade, it involves major street closures and detours, which can cause delays for guests, vendors and anyone trying to move around the city.

And here’s a big one for the Summer of 2026 couples, the FIFA World Cup is coming to Dallas! AT&T Stadium in Arlington has been selected as one of the host venues, and while the exact match dates are not out yet, this will be a massive global event that will bring tens of thousands of fans, press and tourists from all over the world. From June 2026-July 2026 we expect increased traffic, sold out hotels and high demand at restaurants and venues for the DFW area. If you’re planning a 2026 wedding, especially in June or July, keep a close eye on the schedule and book that date now! 

The bottom line is that Dallas is full of energy and events, which is part of what makes it such a  fun place to get married, but a little planning ahead will save you a lot of stress!

To avoid these headaches, always double check the Dallas events calendar before locking in your date. A quick peek can save you from surprise street closures, booked hotels, or competing for dinner reservations. Planning around these major events means your wedding weekend will be smooth, stress free and most importantly all about you!