In Utah County, the wedding calendar often runs on the school calendar. We have two HUUUUUGE schools in the area, and that is over 60K students all looking for a date to celebrate their love.
Finals end, diplomas come home, families are already in town, and suddenly every Saturday within a few weeks of graduation is spoken for. If you, your fiancé, or a sibling is wrapping up at BYU or UVU, planning around the academic calendar is one of the smartest things you can do.
Here's how the 2026–2027 school year lines up, the dates we love, and why the weekend before Christmas deserves a strategy all its own.
First, How Graduation Works at Each School
BYU holds one university commencement a year, in April. Students who finish in December, April, June or August are all invited to walk in that April ceremony. That means a December or August graduate isn't choosing between walking and getting married. Finals are the real finish line.
UVU wraps its spring semester with commencement and convocations in early May, about two weeks after BYU.
That two-week gap matters. Late April belongs to BYU families, early May belongs to UVU families, and mid-May is when both campuses are finally quiet.
December 2026: Coming Up Fast
Many Utah couples plan just 3–4 months out, which puts December 2026 right in the sweet spot for couples getting engaged this fall.
UVU fall finals: December 7–11, 2026
BYU fall finals: December 12–17, 2026
The Weekend Before Christmas Is a Madhouse
With BYU finals ending Thursday, December 17, the very next weekend (Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19) is the weekend before Christmas.
Every December graduate, every couple who wants a holiday wedding, and every family flying home for the holidays is aiming at the same two days. Vendors book up, flights get expensive, and calendars are packed with ward parties and family traditions.
It's a beautiful weekend for a wedding. Just know you won't be the only one who thinks so. If it's your date, reach out now.
Smarter December 2026 Options
Tuesday, December 22 or Wednesday, December 23: finals are done, family is in town, the temple is open and you get weekday pricing at La Fête. Candlelight, greenery and a houseful of relatives without the Saturday scramble.
Tuesday, December 29 or Wednesday, December 30: the quiet, happy week between Christmas and New Year's. Out-of-town guests are already here, and the decorations are still up.
Spring 2027: The Big One
This is the busiest graduation-to-wedding window of the year.
BYU winter finals: April 16–21, 2027
BYU commencement: Thursday, April 22, with convocations April 22–23
UVU spring finals: April 29–May 5, 2027
UVU commencement and convocations: May 5–7, 2027
Dates We Love
Finals done, diplomas in hand and family already in town. These are the dates that make the most of it.
Saturday, April 24, 2027 (4.24.27): the first Saturday after BYU commencement. Diplomas on Thursday, sealing on Saturday, and a date that looks lovely on an invitation. This will be one of the most requested dates of the spring.
Saturday, May 1, 2027: BYU families have had a week to catch their breath. A great pick if you're a BYU couple with no UVU graduates in the family.
Saturday, May 8, 2027: the day after UVU convocations wrap up, and the day before Mother's Day. Family is already gathered for a full weekend of celebrating.
Saturday, May 15, 2027: both campuses are done, graduation travel has settled, and Memorial Day crowds are still two weeks away. Our pick for the easiest spring Saturday.
Thursday, May 13, 2027: a weekday option in that same calm window, at weekday pricing.
Saturday, June 19, 2027: the first Saturday after spring term finals. Long June evenings and a full summer ahead.
Saturday, August 14, 2027: the first Saturday after summer term finals, with a couple of weeks of breathing room before fall semester. One note: BYU Education Week usually lands in mid-August and fills Provo with visitors. The 2027 dates haven't been announced yet, so confirm before you commit.
Summer 2027: The Quiet Windows
BYU's spring and summer terms create two smaller, easy-to-miss windows.
BYU spring term finals: June 16–17, 2027
BYU summer term finals: August 11–12, 2027
December 2027: The Christmas Crunch, Round Two
UVU fall finals: December 6–10, 2027
BYU fall finals: December 11–16, 2027
Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
The Weekend Before Christmas, Again
In 2027, BYU finals end Thursday, December 16, which makes Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18 the first weekend after finals and the last weekend before Christmas. Expect the same madhouse as 2026, and plan to book early if this is your weekend.
Smarter December 2027 Options
Tuesday, December 21 or Wednesday, December 22, 2027: everyone's home, the season is in full swing and you get weekday pricing.
Tuesday, December 28 or Wednesday, December 29, 2027: the cozy week after Christmas, with family still in town and twinkle lights still glowing.
(Skip Mondays for a sealing. Temples are typically closed Mondays and don't hold sealings on Sundays.)
Why Weekday Graduation Weddings Make Sense
Graduation season and holiday weeks are when weekday weddings shine. Family is already in town, students have no classes, and nobody has to take extra time off. At La Fête, a weekday (Monday–Thursday) reception from 4–10 PM is $2,300, compared with $2,990 on a Friday or Saturday. Our all-inclusive Fête Complète package is $4,300 on a weekday and $5,300 on a weekend.
Put those savings toward the things guests remember most: the food, the flowers and the photos.
Dates to Think Twice About
Graduation days themselves: April 22–23 for BYU and May 5–7 for UVU. Families are committed, hotels fill and parking near campus is tight.
Finals weeks: a student bride or groom (or bridesmaid, or brother) doesn't need a wedding and a final on the same week.
General Conference weekends: typically the first weekend of April and October.
Memorial Day weekend: May 29–31, 2027.
Book in This Order: Finals, Temple, Venue
Check the academic calendar. Know exactly when finals end for everyone in the wedding party.
Confirm your sealing date and time with the temple.
Lock in your venue right away. Graduation-adjacent Saturdays are some of the first to go.
Build out the rest of your team. Every La Fête booking includes complimentary wedding planning, so you'll have a dedicated planner to help with vendors, timelines and the floor plan.
One Block (5 Min) From the Temple
La Fête sits at 120 N University Ave, one block (5 min) from the Provo City Center Temple. Get ready in our bridal suite, walk to your sealing, take portraits on the historic downtown streets, and come back to a reception where your guests are already settled in. No shuttles and no long drive between the temple and your celebration.
How to Hold Your Date
Tour first. Tours are free, take about 45 minutes and come with no pressure.
After your tour, we'll send your contract and hold your date for two days while you decide.
Can't tour yet? A $500 non-refundable retainer holds your date for one week before your visit. If you book, it goes toward your balance.
Once you book, the date is yours.
Ready to Book?
Finals have an end date, and so do the best Saturdays around them. Whether you're eyeing 4.24.27 right after BYU commencement, a calm May weekend once both campuses are quiet, or a candlelit Tuesday before Christmas with the whole family home, the couples who plan around the school calendar early are the ones who get their first-choice date.
Start with a free, no-pressure tour, see the ballroom and bridal suite for yourself, and walk the one block (5 min) to the Provo City Center Temple so you can picture the whole day. December 2026 dates are coming up fast, and spring 2027 is already getting inquiries, so don't wait for diplomas to start planning. Book a tour, call or text (385) 585-1040, or email info@lafetevenue.com. We'd love to help you make it magnifique.
Looking for more date ideas? See our guide to the prettiest 2027 wedding dates.
À bientôt!
