Winter weddings in Egypt.

Why couples choose winter

Two reasons come up again and again: choice and price. Spring and autumn are the open-air seasons, so the most popular Thursday and Friday nights go early. In winter, more of those nights are still free.

Price can follow the season too. In Masrawy's September 2026 survey, a wedding-hall manager in Maadi said April to October runs about 15 to 25 percent higher than November to March. That is one venue's view, not a rule, so ask every venue for its rates month by month before you choose a date.

What the weather really does

• Cairo: the cool season runs from early December to early March, according to WeatherSpark. January is the coldest month, with an average high of about 19°C and an average low of about 11°C. Rain is rare.
• Alexandria: January averages a high of about 18°C and a low of about 10°C. Rain is the bigger difference. WeatherSpark puts the rainy period from late November to mid-February, with December the wettest month, and the sea wind makes a night on the Corniche feel colder.
• In the open desert air of New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October, a winter night outdoors feels colder than in the centre of the city. Plan for it.

Venues that suit a winter night

1. 01

   Hotel ballrooms

   The natural winter choice in both cities: warm, lit and indoors, with catering, parking and rooms for family travelling in. In Alexandria, ask whether you can still use a sea-view terrace for photos if the weather allows.

2. 02

   Wedding halls and club halls

   Indoor, often good value, and easy for a large guest list. Club halls usually depend on membership.

3. 03

   Nile boats

   Ask whether the boat has an enclosed, heated deck, and what happens to the sailing if the weather turns.

4. 04

   Gardens and villas

   Possible, but only with a plan: heaters, a covered area or a marquee, and an indoor room held for you on the night.

If you still want the open air

• Move the outdoor part earlier. A ceremony or photos at sunset, then dinner and dancing inside, gives you the garden without the cold.
• Ask what heating the venue provides, how many heaters, and whether they are included or extra.
• In Alexandria, plan for rain and wind: a covered area, secured decor and an indoor room you can move to.
• Agree in writing who decides to move inside, and by what time on the day.
• Tell guests. A line on the invitation about an outdoor reception helps older relatives dress for the evening.

Winter dates to plan around

• New Year's Eve, Thursday 31 December 2026: many hotels hold their own events that night, so ask early whether the ballroom is free.
• Coptic Christmas, Thursday 7 January 2027: a public holiday in Egypt. Check guest travel and venue availability around it.
• Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around Monday 8 February, based on astronomical calculations reported by Misr Connect. The official start follows the moon sighting. Most couples avoid weddings in Ramadan, so January and the first days of February are the last stretch before it, and they fill up.

Getting the most from a winter date

• Ask for the rate of each month and each night of the week. A Wednesday in January may be priced very differently from a Thursday in April.
• Check what is included per person: dinner, the decor allowance, sound, lighting and, in winter, heating.
• Keep the guest list tight. Catering is charged per person, so it moves the total more than anything else.
• Look at dates other couples have had to give up. They were booked months ago, and the venue sets the terms of any transfer.

Taking over an open date

Save the Date Egypt is a free place where couples who can no longer use their booked venue date list it, and couples who are looking find it, in Cairo and Alexandria. Every listing is reviewed by hand, numbers stay private until both sides agree, and you arrange the transfer directly with the venue. We never handle money.