📋planning

Book Wedding Vendors 12-18 Months in Advance

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Secure your top vendor choices by booking early, especially for popular dates and high-demand professionals. The most sought-after wedding vendors (venues, photographers, planners, bands) often book 12-18 months in advance, particularly for peak season (May-October in most regions). Priority booking order: 1) Venue (12-18 months), 2) Planner (12-18 months), 3) Photographer/Videographer (12-15 months), 4) Caterer (if not included with venue, 12-15 months), 5) Band/DJ (10-12 months), 6) Florist (8-10 months), 7) Hair/Makeup (6-8 months), 8) Transportation (3-6 months). For off-season or weekday weddings, you may have more flexibility.

More Planning & Organization Tips

Create a Master Wedding Planning Timeline

Start planning 12-18 months before your wedding date. Key milestones: 12 months - book venue and photographer; 9 months - book caterer and entertainment; 6 months - order dress and send save-the-dates; 3 months - finalize menu and send invitations; 1 month - final vendor meetings and create seating chart. Use a shared spreadsheet or wedding planning app to track all tasks and deadlines.

Book Your Top Priority Vendors First

The most in-demand vendors (venue, photographer, videographer, caterer) book up 12-18 months in advance, especially for peak season dates. Once you set your date, immediately reach out to your must-have vendors. If your dream photographer is available, build your day around their schedule. Popular venues often only have a few Saturday dates available per year.

Create a Shared Wedding Email and File System

Set up a dedicated email address (like yournames.wedding@gmail.com) for all vendor communication. This keeps everything organized and accessible to both partners. Create a cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox) with subfolders for: contracts, inspiration, guest list, budget tracker, and vendor communications. This prevents important details from getting lost in personal inboxes.

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