When Should I book my wedding Vendors?
Getting married is a big deal, and super exciting! While you may start to feel overwhelmed at the idea of trying to plan everything, I want to tell you not to stress, but there are some things to keep in mind!
When Should I book my wedding Vendors?
Whether you are eloping, having a micro-wedding, or a full scale traditional wedding, your basic vendors remain the same. You need somewhere to be married, someone to marry you, and someone to capture it all!
So this begs the question, “How far in advance do we need to book?”
If you are planning more of a last minute wedding, there’s nothing to worry about, except that in some of the busier seasons you may not always get your first choice of vendors, especially on popular days such as the weekends. But if you have some flexibility in your schedule and timeline, most vendors will work with you to make your dream day come true.
Venues:
Venues book out as far as 2 years in advance, so if you want a specific venue, you may have to wait for it to be available, especially on a weekend. If you are planning a couple years in advance, I suggest securing your venue first. Where you choose to get married will also dictate what other vendors you may hire; not everyone will travel.
Do you want a massive venue with beautiful views out in the prairies? Do you want an intimate mountain lodge that you can book for all of your guests, with a cozy atmosphere and small area for you to say your vows? Or are you just looking for beautiful location in the middle of nowhere that has some sentimental value to you?
While the first two definitely need to be booked, the third you may think you don’t have to reserve, but that isn’t always the case. Certain National and Provincial Parks require you to reserve your ceremony location, to help limit the impact to the parks. It's always best to check your location to make sure you do or do not have to reserve, to make sure you get what you want.
Officiants:
While they are obviously a very important part of your day, officiants are not usually the first to be booked. Unless you are looking for a very popular officiant, I recommend booking these up to a year in advance. Many are available on much shorter notice. And if you are getting married in the province of Alberta, you can also have a family member or friend apply for a temporary license to legally wed the two of you!
Photographers/Videographers:
At most, book your photographer 2 years in advance. Many photographers will only open up their books max two years in advance, so unless you are looking for a very popular date and are wanting a specific photographer, don’t worry about booking too far in advance! Most of my intimate wedding clients book 2 months to a year in advance, so if you are thinking about that timeline, you are in the majority! Take a little bit of time and research which photographer you want, and don’t be afraid to save up a little to get your dream photographer. The photos are going to be what you have at the end of all of this!
If you have a shorter timeline, don’t fret too much, many photographers care about capturing your special day, and will do what they can to make it work. If your date is flexible, they’ll try to work with you!
Florists:
If you have a specific vision for your florals, and are hoping for more than one bouquet, I suggest booking your florist about a year in advance. If you just want a bouquet for yourself, many florists will be willing to work with you on a very short timeline unless they are in the middle of a busy season. Worst case scenario you can always grab a bouquet out of the case and make it your own!
Dress and Suit:
Wedding dresses are notorious for taking forever to get in once you order them, sometimes upward of 8 months to receive your dress, plus time for alterations. If you want to order your dress, the sooner you can go the better you will be to not avoid disappointment. If you are looking for something off the rack or consignment, there are lots of options and there is no need to rush.
For suits, options change seasonally, so its best to go within 6 months of your wedding. Alterations take less time and can be done quickly, so a suit can be one of the later details for you to pick out.
Other Vendors
There are so many other special people you may want to include in your day, and all of them have their own timelines based on the seasons. Most wedding vendors will book up for summers before winters especially in cooler climates, where as if you are planning a destination wedding the popular seasons can vary. If you are concerned, just reach out, they’ll all be happy to help!