How to Win Over Football Fans at Your Pennsylvania Fall Wedding

One thing about football season, it’s hyped up months in advance. Being aware of football schedules and opponents ahead of time will help you figure out which weekends have bigger games versus matchups that are quieter and more likely to have football fans show up and be present.

Booking a date is at the beginning stage of planning, so even though the schedule might not be out yet, doing research to figure out the opponents and good educated guesses of which ones will be home and away can help you greatly. If there’s usually a predicted NFL divisional game or Penn State “Whiteout” during a certain time of the season, you want to stay away. But, if the date lines up to be the Steeler’s bye week, you have one less thing to worry about.

You can also consider Friday night festivities as an option. It's not for everyone, but it is most likely in the clear of any major rival game and is spent previewing the weekend slate. Ask the groom. Ask the groomsmen. This is something they can help with when planning.

Acknowledgement is a main factor in making this all work. You don't want your wedding as the one with everyone in the corner of the bar discreetly pulling out their phone to watch the next drive or check the score. As much as you do not want it taking away from your celebration, a small TV set up somewhere far from the dance floor is beneficial. That way people can quickly go check the score or watch a play while going to the bathroom or grabbing a drink.

Even though it might seem like so much of football season is out of your control, there are still ways to make sure it is while not allowing it overtake your night. The goal isn’t to compromise your wedding just to accommodate the football fans, it’s to learn how to make sure people want to stay late for you while you are still the center of the day.

The people you love are going to show up for you no matter how good they think the Week 6 games are. A no-phones rule keeps guests present during the biggest part of your wedding day. Carrying the policy into the night while having that small TV somewhere private is another way to maintain that respect. As much as you want to cater to your guests, it’s your day and you having fun is the most important, so whatever works for you goes.

Football shouldn’t stop you from having your dream Pennsylvania fall wedding. In a place where it means so much, it can be hard for people to turn it off, but the real ones won’t mind since it’s not their day. It's yours.

Pennsylvania has so much to offer when it comes to fall and the opportunities are endless on how to make your wedding more autumn-like. The football will fade to the background a little more if guests are so in the fall moment from additions such as seasonal cocktails, color scheme or fall florals.

When people look back on your wedding years down the line, they aren’t going to remember everything from that random Eagles game that was on the same day. They are going to think about the beautiful fall scenery in the historic Pennsylvania castle you got married in and how they got home really late because of how much fun it was. You aren’t competing with anything, you are prioritizing your wedding and making it a Pennsylvania dream.