October scores 57/100 for outdoor ceremonies: moderate rain risk (10 wet days, 86mm), 22°C afternoons cooling to about 16°C for the reception, and 10.9 hours of daylight for the photography schedule. January is the month to avoid at 31/100.
October outdoor ceremony score: 57/100
Climate normals for Washington DC rescored on wedding-specific weighting. Once your date falls inside the 14-day window the live forecast on this page takes over.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Best wedding month | October — 57/100 |
| Second choice | May — 54/100 |
| Month to avoid | January — 31/100 |
| Rain risk in the best month | Moderate — rain on about 10 days |
| Guest comfort | 100/100 at 22°C |
| Reception temperature | ≈ 16°C after sunset in October |
| Photo light | 6h of sun across a 10.9h day |
| Months scoring 65+ | 0 of 12 |
October keeps seated guests at 22°C in the afternoon and around 16°C after sunset — the closest Washington DC gets to a ceremony that needs neither shade structures nor patio heaters.
Rain falls on roughly 10 days in October (moderate risk, 86mm). Book a covered backup you would genuinely be happy to use.
October gives 10.9 hours of daylight and about 6 hours of direct sun per day, so a late-afternoon ceremony puts portraits inside golden hour rather than after it.
January scores 31/100 for weddings in Washington DC: 6°C highs, 71mm of rain and 1°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
Scored on rain risk, guest comfort, evening temperature and photographic light — deliberately different weighting from the travel score.
| Month | Wedding score | Rain risk | Afternoon | Evening | Guest comfort | Photo light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 6°C | 1°C | 46/100 | 27/100 |
| February | 36/100 | Low (7 days) | 6°C | 1°C | 46/100 | 33/100 |
| March | 32/100 | Moderate (10 days) | 10°C | 4°C | 59/100 | 26/100 |
| April | 48/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 15°C | 10°C | 76/100 | 38/100 |
| May | 54/100 | Moderate (11 days) | 22°C | 16°C | 100/100 | 33/100 |
| June | 46/100 | Moderate (11 days) | 27°C | 21°C | 79/100 | 27/100 |
| July | 44/100 | Moderate (11 days) | 31°C | 25°C | 62/100 | 69/100 |
| August | 51/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 31°C | 25°C | 62/100 | 74/100 |
| September | 52/100 | Moderate (11 days) | 27°C | 21°C | 79/100 | 64/100 |
| October | 57/100 | Moderate (10 days) | 22°C | 16°C | 100/100 | 31/100 |
| November | 50/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 15°C | 10°C | 76/100 | 35/100 |
| December | 35/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 10°C | 4°C | 59/100 | 24/100 |
Wedding weather is scored differently from travel weather: seated guests in formalwear tolerate a narrower band than sightseers, and the ceremony hour matters more than the daily average. Each month in Washington DC is scored 0–100 on the weighting below.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Dry conditions | 38% | Share of days with measurable rain — the single factor most likely to force a backup plan. |
| Guest comfort | 27% | Distance from a 22°C daytime ideal, with an extra penalty for humid heat above 24°C. |
| Evening temperature | 20% | Modelled reception-hour temperature against an 18°C ideal for an outdoor evening. |
| Photo light | 15% | Sunshine hours and daylight length, which set the length and quality of the golden hour window. |
Based on long-run climate averages rather than a forecast. Plan the ceremony around the golden hour — see golden hour times for Washington DC linked below.
October, at 57/100. It combines moderate rain risk with 22°C afternoons and roughly 16°C evenings, which is the most forgiving combination Washington DC offers for seated guests.
January scores 31/100: 6°C highs, 71mm of rain over about 8 days and 1°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
In October rain falls on roughly 10 of 30 days, so the single-day probability is about 33%. In January that rises to about 27%.
Yes. Even in the best month, rain risk in Washington DC is moderate, so book covered space you would genuinely be happy to use rather than treating it as a late add-on.
October gives 10.9 hours of daylight and about 6 hours of direct sun. Put portraits in the final 60–90 minutes of daylight so they land inside golden hour rather than after it.