Your significant other will say yes (at least we think they will). That’s not the hard part. Picking the right weekend this fall is a far more difficult challenge. What are the nine words every diehard college football fan fears the most?
“We have to go to a wedding that weekend.”
It’s enough to induce cold chills. We’re here to help. If you’re planning a wedding in SEC country this fall, here are the best (and worst) weekends for your big event. Know when to say “I do” and “I don’t.”
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Sept. 5
I do: South Carolina. The Gamecocks play in the Thursday night opener against North Carolina. Go for it in Columbia two days later.
I don’t: Everybody else. It’s opening weekend, people. Alabama plays Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium, Texas A&M plays Arizona State at Reliant Stadium and Auburn plays Louisville in the Georgia Dome.
Sept. 12
I do: Auburn. The Tigers play Jacksonville State, although it is the home opener.
I don’t: LSU at Mississippi State is a big game. That’s a tone-setter in the SEC West and probably fit for a prime-time spot.
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Sept. 19
I do: Tennessee. This is your shot to get married in the Volunteer State.The Vols play Western Carolina, and the next three weeks (at Florida, Arkansas, Georgia) are busy.
I don’t: South Carolina at Georgia, Auburn at LSU and Alabama in a revenge game at home against Ole Miss highlight the schedule.
Sept. 26
I do: Alabama and Georgia. The Tide plays UL-Monroe; Georgia faces Southern. You don’t want to get married the following weekend when Alabama travels to Georgia.
I don’t: Plan around Arkansas vs. Texas A&M at Arlington. This is a growing rivalry in the SEC West. Also, Tennessee travels to Florida.
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Oct. 3
I do: LSU. Eastern Michigan travels to Baton Rouge, and the next two weeks feature games against South Carolina and Florida. Geaux get married, Tigers fans.
I don’t: We mentioned Georgia at Alabama, but Ole Miss at Florida and South Carolina at Missouri also are key games that weekend.
Oct. 10
I do: Ole Miss and Mississippi State. You’re not on a bye week, but Ole Miss gets New Mexico State, who is 11-50 since 2010. Mississippi State plays Troy. Oct. 17 (Ole Miss at Memphis, Louisiana Tech vs. Mississippi State) is a little riskier.
I don’t: Arkansas at Alabama, Georgia at Tennessee, Florida at Missouri and LSU at South Carolina. You’re asking a lot of these fanbases.
Bye weeks: Auburn, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
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Oct. 17
I do: Kentucky. Perfect timing after a Thursday night home game against Auburn, and Midnight Madness will be just around the corner.
I don’t: Missouri at Georgia and Alabama at Texas A&M are the headliners.
Bye weeks: Arkansas, Tennessee
Oct. 24
I do: Missouri. You just got through the South Carolina-Florida-Georgia stretch. You can get married on Vanderbilt weekend.
I don’t: If you don’t know what “Third Saturday in October” means in Tennessee or Alabama, then you shouldn’t be reading this.
Bye weeks: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
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Oct. 31
I do: Arkansas. Just look at the last four games (vs. Ole Miss, at LSU, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Missouri). The Razorbacks play UT-Martin.
I don’t: Unless you have a Halloween costume party wedding planned. Plus, Florida-Georgia and South Carolina-Texas A&M are on TV.
Bye weeks: Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri
Nov. 7
I do: Mississippi State and Missouri play on Thursday night. Take advantage of the scheduling quirk.
I don’t: Weddings should be outlawed in Louisiana and Alabama. LSU comes to Tuscaloosa to visit the Tide this time.
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Nov. 14
I do: Texas A&M. The Aggies host Western Carolina. The “12th Man” can work with that.
I don’t: If you root for any of the other SEC West schools besides Ole Miss. That weekend features Alabama at Mississippi State, Arkansas at LSU and Georgia at Auburn.
Bye week: Ole Miss
Nov. 21
I do: Florida. You play Florida Atlantic, and it’s your best bet in November. It’s also a bridal-friendly weekend for Alabama (vs. Charleston Southern), Auburn (vs. Idaho), Georgia (vs. Georgia Southern) and South Carolina (vs. Citadel).
I don’t: Tennessee at Missouri and Mississippi State at Arkansas are the big games on the docket.
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Nov. 28
I don’t: It’s Rivalry Week. Are you really going to go to a wedding during the Iron Bowl? The Egg Bowl? Clemson-South Carolina? Georgia-Georgia Tech? Don’t do it.
Dec. 5
I do: If you’re not in the SEC Championship Game.
I don’t: If you think you might be in the SEC Championship Game, which typically has an afternoon kickoff time. Good luck.
