Wedding Planning Timeline – When to Book Wedding Vendors
Does it seem like one person after another that you know is getting engaged this time of year? Well they are! Just under 50% of couples get engaged between November and January each year. With the holidays being a time of family togetherness, it should be no surprise that this is the ideal time to get engaged. After the engagement, many couples are looking for some sort direction for next steps. When do couples book their wedding vendors? Is there a wedding a planning timeline they can follow so they know what to do? Through our years of experience as a wedding DJ, we wanted to help our couples by putting together a wedding planning timeline cheat sheet.
Photo Credit: CLY by Matthew
Before we detail our wedding planning timeline, we thought we would point out 4 reasons why you shouldn’t procrastinate getting the ball rolling for planning your wedding. The average engagement lasts 15 months. With almost half of couples getting engaged during the same months, this means that the majority of weddings will occur at the same time.
- You will have more vendors to choose from.
If you are one of the first couples to book your vendors, you will get the pick of the litter. The longer couples wait to contract wedding vendors, the less choice in vendors they will have.
- You will lock in current vendor rates.
If you book a vendor now versus 6 months from now, you will most likely lock in a lower rate. The busier a vendor gets, the more likely they are to raise their rates. Don’t wait to book them until they get too busy and decide they need to start charging more.
- You will have more time to save & get on a payment plan.
Sure we understand that you want to wait until you have enough money to cover your vendors’ fees to book them. However, if you book them early, you will only need to pay a small deposit upfront. This will allow you time to save more money and possibly get on a payment plan with them.
- Save yourself the stress.
The early bird always gets the worm! Don’t procrastinate; it’s never helpful to be stressed out during your wedding planning process.
We’ve compiled our recommendations for when to book your wedding vendors. Happy planning!
12-15 Months Prior to Wedding Date
- Wedding Planner
- Wedding Venue(s)
- Photographer
- Wedding DJ
9-12 Months Prior to Wedding Date
- Wedding Dress
- Caterer
- Videographer
- Florist
- Wedding Cake
6-9 Months Prior to Wedding Date
- Transportation
- Papery
- Hair and Makeup Stylist
3-6 Months Prior to Wedding Date
- Officiant
- Rentals
- Lighting
Are you in search of more wedding planning tips? Check out our blog!
