As you start planning your wedding, you will find that you will need to hire several wedding professionals to help bring your wedding vision to life. There is a general timeline of when to book your wedding vendors, which we will provide below. However, your top wedding priorities are unique to your wedding. Due to this, it is important that you book the vendors that fulfill these priorities, right after you book your wedding venue so you get the vendors you want. Let’s look at why it’s important that you are booking your priority wedding vendors as soon as you can.
Availability is Scarce
Usually, popular wedding vendors and dates book up fast but the pandemic has thrown the whole wedding world for a loop. Many couples postponed their wedding from 2020 to 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions. This left the availability of many venues and vendors sparse for these years. We are seeing it affecting 2023 as well.
Longer Engagements
In some cases, this has caused newly engaged couples to have a longer engagement in order to get the venue and vendors that they want. Extended engagements can mean that wedding vendors are booking couples farther out than usual. You may have to do some research on this for the area you are getting married in. Your wedding venue should have a good idea of the current climate of the local wedding industry and can advise you.
You Don’t Have a Wedding Date Till You’ve Booked Your Venue
Lastly, in the case that you really want a wedding vendor for your wedding but haven’t booked your venue yet, reach out to the vendor to see if they are available on the day you are considering prior to booking your venue. If yes, book your venue, then immediately book with your desired wedding vendor. Your date will not be secured until you pay the retainer and sign the contract with the wedding vendor. You can’t expect the vendor to miss out on booking other couples in the hopes of booking you.
In the case that they are not available on your wedding date, you’ll need to determine if you’d like to get married on another date they are available or go with another vendor.
General Wedding Vendor Booking Timeline
While your vendor booking timeline should be adjusted according to how much time you have till you say “I Do!”, This is a general idea of whom to book when. Remember, take into account the information shared above with the current climate of vendor booking availability after the pandemic.
12+ Months
- Venue
9-11 Months
- Planner
- Photographer
- DJ or Band
- Catering and Bar
- Wedding Dress
- Officiant (if hiring)
6-8 Months
- Hair and Makeup Artists
- Florist
- Floral Preservationist
- Cake/Desserts
- Videographer
- Ceremony Music
- Rentals
- Honeymoon Planner
4-5 Months
- Calligrapher/Stationer
- Dance Lessons
- Wedding Day Pet Care
- Event Sitter (aka Childcare)
