What to Expect with a Catholic Easter-Time Wedding

Catholic weddings during the liturgical Easter season are beautiful, joyful, and full of life! 

With so many notable feast days and a theme of Resurrection flowing throughout the Church, this can be a wonderful season to enter into the vocation of marriage. But these April and May weddings can come with their own challenges as well! From unpredictable weather to dancing around spring break, there can be a lot of unknowns with an Easter-time wedding. Luckily, we have wedding planners!

We teamed up with three talented Catholic wedding coordinators from different regions in the U.S. to offer their expertise on what you can expect from your Easter-time wedding, no matter where you’re located.

Special thanks to Fern Wedding Co. (NY – North), Little Flower Event Co. (KY – Midwest), and The Perfect Pair Events (FL – South) for helping us with this article! More information on them below…

Photos by Sofie Harangozo Artistry

Q. What’s your favorite thing about Easter weddings?

NORTH: “Easter weddings are so bright and joyful! The liturgical color of the Easter season is white, representing the joy, light, and glory of the Resurrection. I think that symbolism pairs beautifully with the vocation of marriage. A wedding is, after all, a celebration of new life and a new beginning, so there’s something especially fitting about entering into marriage during the season when the Church is celebrating Christ’s Resurrection. I also have to admit that I love a rainy wedding day! It’s a slightly controversial take, but there is something incredibly romantic about a Spring rain. Yes, it requires a little more coordination and flexibility, but I think rain can make a wedding day feel even more intimate and memorable. It also makes those moments of sunshine and blue skies feel that much more beautiful when they arrive.”

—Fern Wedding Co.

MIDWEST: “My favorite thing about Easter weddings is the heightened sense of joy that permeates the entire church during the nuptial celebration! During the octave of Easter, the church remains beautifully decorated with lilies, mixed florals, and an abundance of color! Last year, one of my brides got married the Saturday prior to Divine Mercy Sunday. She didn’t have the budget to decorate the church with florals and was elated to find the sanctuary overflowing with flowers that matched her wedding colors. God was so good to her!”

—Little Flower Event Co.

SOUTH: “My favorite thing about Easter weddings in the Catholic Church is the beautiful symbolism. Easter is a celebration of new life, hope, and love—and what better time to begin a new season together than in the sacrament of marriage? There’s something so special about witnessing two people say ‘yes’ to forever during such a sacred and joyful season.”

—The Perfect Pair Events

Photos by Luke Morel Photography

Q. How are Easter weddings special from Ordinary Time, or just Spring weddings in general?

NORTH: “There’s something especially symbolic about being married during Eastertide. The blooming flowers, fresh spring air, and spring rain all point toward new life and renewal, but there’s an even deeper layer of meaning for a Catholic couple: the Church is celebrating the Resurrection of Christ and the joy that flows from it. I love that connection because marriage itself is a new beginning. The couple is entering into a new vocation and promising to give themselves completely to one another. During Easter, the Church is reminding us that Christ has conquered death and that His love brings new life. What a beautiful season to begin a marriage! For me, Catholic nuptial planning is always about keeping that deeper meaning at the center. The flowers, dress, reception, and all of the beautiful details matter, but they are ultimately surrounding something much more important: the Sacrament itself.”

—Fern Wedding Co.

MIDWEST: “Planning an Easter wedding is very liturgically appropriate! During the Easter season, we celebrate the consummation of the Lord’s marriage to humanity and His victory over sin and death. Also, this is a time of year when many are coming into the Church, some of whom are doing so in anticipation of their own upcoming wedding. What a joy!”

—Little Flower Event Co.

SOUTH: “Easter weddings require thoughtful planning and scheduling around Holy Week. Weddings cannot be hosted on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, and they are typically not held on Easter Sunday because it’s the highest feast day of the liturgical year. This timeframe usually limits wedding celebrations during that week, but couples have other times within the Easter season. Easter weddings in the Catholic Church can feel especially meaningful because they connect the Sacrament of Marriage with the heart of the Catholic faith: Christ’s Resurrection. That alone makes them different from a typical spring wedding. During the Easter Season, couples must be mindful that there are mandatory readings, prayers, and Mass texts that must be utilized. Ordinary Time weddings are more standard, liturgically.”

—The Perfect Pair Events

Photos by Sofie Harangozo Artistry

Q. What are some notable feast days during Easter you think brides should utilize?

NORTH: “Divine Mercy Sunday is a feast day I think every couple should consider intentionally incorporating into their engagement or newlywed season. The truth is that every marriage will encounter hardship, and we will inevitably fall short of the people we love most. Our spouse knows us better than almost anyone else and will see both our strengths and our weaknesses. That makes Christ’s message of Divine Mercy particularly beautiful for marriage. Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us of the endless and abundant mercy of God. It reminds us that we are called to extend that same mercy to one another, and that when we fall short, we can always turn back to Christ. I think that’s an incredibly important lesson for newlyweds: your marriage isn’t going to be perfect, but you can continually return to Christ and ask Him to teach you how to love one another with greater patience, forgiveness, and mercy. If a couple can’t get married on Divine Mercy Sunday, I recommend attending Mass together, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or simply spending time reflecting on God’s mercy and asking Him to be at the center of their marriage.”

—Fern Wedding Co.

MIDWEST: “St. Joseph the Worker (May 1) is celebrated to highlight the spiritual value of labor. I would encourage couples to ask for his intercession in your marriage so you may work to build a virtuous home with your spouse and a life that leads you both to Heaven!”

—Little Flower Event Co.

SOUTH: “Brides have plenty of feast day options within Eastertide since the Catholic Church allows weddings throughout the 50 days running from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. The weekend of Pentecost Sunday is typically a popular weekend to host weddings, especially in Florida. During this season the church’s aesthetic and seasonal flora are themes of fresh starts and rebirth. The church is typically decorated by the parish, and minimal decor items would need to be brought in by the client.”

—The Perfect Pair Events

Photos by Laudare Photography

Q. Do you have any tips on navigating the Spring (potentially cold and rainy) weather?

NORTH: “Every Spring wedding I’ve worked has somehow ended up being a rainy day! My biggest advice is to embrace it rather than fear it. Lots of umbrellas are a must, and clear umbrellas are especially beautiful for photos. I also recommend having a thoughtful rain plan from the beginning, rather than treating it as a last-minute backup. If you’re considering an outdoor venue, make sure you know exactly what the contingency plan is and that you genuinely love the indoor option, too. In New York, Spring can also be surprisingly chilly, so I encourage northern couples to think about guest comfort when choosing their venue and planning their timeline. And here’s a very Catholic way to embrace the rain: my best friend, Bernadette, shared that if you have a rainy wedding day, consider leaving a clean jar outside to collect some of the rainwater. You can bring it to your priest and have it blessed to keep in your home as a reminder of your wedding day and of God’s grace and blessing over your marriage. It’s a simple and meaningful way to turn something you might otherwise see as an inconvenience into a beautiful sacramental reminder!”

—Fern Wedding Co.

MIDWEST: “Make sure to have a backup plan for outdoor photos, and make the most of the potential rain! I’ve seen brides have a couple of clear umbrellas on hand; they make for really romantic post-ceremony shots! Extra hairspray is also a must—more than you think! Consider choosing an updo hairstyle that will look great, rain or shine.”

—Little Flower Event Co.

SOUTH: “For southern brides, March and April can be some of the prettiest wedding months of the year, but the weather is very much “Spring in Florida.” The weather can be beautiful and comfortable one day and then unexpectedly warm, windy, cool, or rainy the next. April is one of my favorite months to host a wedding. I always tell my brides if we have a plan for outside, we always have a plan for inside. We don’t plan for bad weather, we plan for peace of mind. One Northeast Florida venue I highly recommend to Catholic couples is Marywood Retreat & Conference Center in St. Johns, Florida. Set on beautiful riverfront grounds, Marywood offers a unique opportunity for Catholic couples to celebrate their wedding outside in a setting deeply connected to their faith, while also enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. This is a wonderful and all-inclusive experience for Catholic couples! Another unique experience in the South is that we can attend Easter Mass outside! Churches around our Diocese will host Sunrise Easter Masses outside. The symbolism of light and resurrection is a deeply moving experience and everyone should experience this at least once!”

—The Perfect Pair Events

Pictured: Marywood Retreat Center, photographed by Brooke Images

Q. What are some ways brides can embrace the Easter season through their wedding planning?

NORTH: “Embrace the Easter season, not just aesthetically, but spiritually. Of course, Easter lends itself beautifully to wedding design. White flowers, soft spring colors, fresh greenery, candles, and other elements of new life can all create a beautiful Easter-inspired wedding without making the celebration feel overly themed. But I think the spiritual preparation is even more important!  If you’re getting married during the Easter season, much of your engagement and wedding planning may take place during Lent. Rather than letting Lent simply become a season of checking things off your wedding to do list, use it as an opportunity to prepare your heart for your vocation. Pray together. Go to Mass together. Make time for confession. Talk about the kind of husband and wife you want to become. Pray about the sacrifices and joys that marriage will bring. Allow Lent to strip away some of the distractions of wedding planning so that you can really focus on what you are preparing to enter into. And then, when Easter arrives, rejoice! Your wedding is not simply the culmination of months of planning. It’s the beginning of a vocation. What better season to celebrate this new beginning than the season the Church celebrates the Resurrection and promise of new life!”

—Fern Wedding Co.

MIDWEST: “I always recommend couples take a day of recollection together the weekend before their wedding. No planning, no details, just relaxation and prayer. Have a Holy Hour together, go to confession, and spend time in silence contemplating the immense joy coming in the days ahead. During Holy Week, unite all of your wedding “sufferings” to Christ in His Passion so you can rejoice with Him more fully on the “Easter” of your wedding day!”

—Little Flower Event Co.

SOUTH: “Brides can embrace the Easter season in their wedding through pastel color palettes, spring floral arrangements, and themed culinary details. Catholic churches are often beautifully decorated with flowers and other seasonal elements that can create a naturally gorgeous setting without needing excessive wedding décor. The Easter season focuses on the Resurrection, and the symbolism of new life is a beautiful time to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. As I tell my couples, working closely with your priest during marriage preparation is vital to ensure spiritual readiness, canonical validity, and a smooth planning process. The priest helps grasp the deep theological and sacramental meaning of marriage, especially as the Easter season ties it all together in joy, hope, and celebration; the beginning of your marriage will be beautiful. Catholic couples should get married during the Easter season in Florida because the spring weather is warm, comfortable, and nature is in full bloom. At The Perfect Pair Events, you enjoy every moment and we’ll handle all the details to ensure a beautiful, seamless day!”

—The Perfect Pair Events

Photos by Sofie Harangozo Artistry (left) and The Delac Collective (Right)

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As Pope St. John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” Whether you’re getting married in April or November, you can rest in celebration of the Resurrection with your spouse for the rest of your lives.

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Meet the Collaborators!