Okay brides, so I am a summer 2014 bride. Sometimes I get a reaction like people cant believe I am planning for something so far in the future (we are my reception hall's first 2014 wedding to be booked). Other times, I get anxious, like having time on my side is an advantage and I cant let it slip away. Ps- I have been engaged for a year already, I am getting antsy!!!
So far all we have done is book the reception venue. Because I am a graduate student, I will be completely unavailable to plan during the next year Sept-May (hence the long wait for the big day). Therefore, I have the opportunity to plan this summer (2 years ahead) or next summer (1 year ahead).
So my question is...does anyone have advice and/or pros/cons to planning early? Waiting until closer to the date? Having a long engagement in general? Also, what things should be done earlier and which things should be done later?
Thanks ladies!
LisaReyes
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Re: Early planning
My engagement will be 19 months and some days I'm like 'Lets get married already!' and others I'm like 'OMG I NEED MORE TIME!'
Do what you can, when you can. The big stuff should be done first! RH, DJ/band, photographer. I think a lot of LI brides have longer engagements, so I don't think it would be a bad idea to get those done this summer.
Otherwise, make a list of everything there is to do. I did this, and designated months for each one to get done in. I used theknot & real simple time lines as my guides.
Lastly, who cares what kind of looks you get. You're marrying the love of your life!
edited for spelling.
jacktart86
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Re: Early planning
I'm having a summer 2014 wedding as well. We weren't our venues first 2014 wedding. The date we wanted was actually already booked!!! So far we got out dj, photographer, and we booked a photobooth. I'm the type of person who just needs everything lined up. Plus we locked in this years prices which is always nice.
2013Bride
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Re: Early planning
By the time we get married next May, we will have been engaged for almost exactly 2 years. I knew right away I wanted a long engagement to A) Wrap my head around the fact that I was getting married, in general and B) Get my ducks in a row without feeling rushed and I absolutely feel it was the best decision we ever could have made! As someone mentioned above, by booking things early you not only get your choice of vendors, but you also lock in prices from a year or two BEFORE your wedding, which ofcourse they will inevitabley go up a year or two from now! So you win! I truly feel that if you have the time this Summer, get whatever you can/as much as you can out of the way!
mattandjess2013
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Re: Early planning
I'm not getting married until next October & the only things I have left are limos, BM dresses, tuxes, flowers, & hotel block (plus DIY stuff). We've only been engaged 7 months, but it's made things so much easier & less stressful.
JuneBug86
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Re: Early planning
The advantages of planning early are you can save money and not have to stress about it, you can book the vendors you prefer and not settle on your second choice, if you have any hitches in your planning you have a lot of time to change your mind, redo something, etc... My only concern about booking everything so far out is that the vendors might forget about you or worse the may close for business, with that I suggest go for vendors that are already established in the wedding business so you don't have to worry about a thing. By the time I'll be married this October we will be engaged for 16 months already and it worked for us because so far (knock on wood) I haven't been stressed throughout this process. Just make sure to keep in touch with your vendors and keep an open line of communication with them so you'll know they're around. And oh, I do understand about feeling antsy, cuz I feel like that too, paying for something or booking something you're not using until a year or 2 can definitely make you impatient to just get married already. LOL good luck!
mrs2012
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Member since
Re: Early planning
we got engaged in September 2010 and getting hitched november of this year. we decided on a long engagement because 1) i dont make decisions easily and 2) we're paying for everything ourselves and needed time to save up as much as we could. i am definitely happy we're doing it this way - but yes, there are times (esp lately) where i just want it to be here already! i want my life back - everything is just wedding 24/7. one of the biggest pros, aside from saving up, is that i've really been able to research the best possible vendors and take my time booking them. some vendors have told me they dont book this far in advance, etc but i book as soon as i can. its great not having to fight for someone. best of luck to you! in some ways, it really will be here before you know it! in other ways, you'll have all the time in the world to plan it exactly the way you want it!
cj52514
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Member since
Re: Early planning
Posted by cconaty94
Okay brides, so I am a summer 2014 bride. Sometimes I get a reaction like people cant believe I am planning for something so far in the future (we are my reception hall's first 2014 wedding to be booked). Other times, I get anxious, like having time on my side is an advantage and I cant let it slip away. Ps- I have been engaged for a year already, I am getting antsy!!!
So far all we have done is book the reception venue. Because I am a graduate student, I will be completely unavailable to plan during the next year Sept-May (hence the long wait for the big day). Therefore, I have the opportunity to plan this summer (2 years ahead) or next summer (1 year ahead).
So my question is...does anyone have advice and/or pros/cons to planning early? Waiting until closer to the date? Having a long engagement in general? Also, what things should be done earlier and which things should be done later?
Thanks ladies!
I'm in EXACTLY the same boat as you. A long engagement because of grad school (I'm a 2014er also!), not being able to plan during the semesters, etc. Sometimes I feel silly going to vendors so early, but then again, I've been told by some vendors that my date was booked already! I plan on booking the DJ and narrowing down photographers/videographers this summer. I feel like other things can wait for the break between semesters.
lauren1802
Posted:
Member since
Re: Early planning
if there are any vendors you really really want- dont wait! book now!
we realized this after we missed a photographer we wanted, but we ended up with a GREAT one that we didnt think of until after this all happened- it all works out in the end!! (sometimes better)
pixietina
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Re: Early planning
I would take advantage of the low prices now, because they skyrocket every year.
lauren1802
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Re: Early planning
Posted by pixietina
I would take advantage of the low prices now, because they skyrocket every year.
yes definitely this too!
ksugar44
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Re: Early planning
Do it early! I booked all my major vendors 2 years in advance. It was the best thing I ever did. It is now 2 weeks till my wedding and time flew by! I have enough little things to stress about I can't imagine stressing through the whole wedding process. I got all the vendors I wanted, got cheaper prices then what I'm seeing people posting now, and truly enjoyed being engaged. I did it on my schedule and didn't have to panic at any time.
cconaty94
Posted:
Member since
Re: Early planning
Posted by ksugar44
Do it early! I booked all my major vendors 2 years in advance. It was the best thing I ever did. It is now 2 weeks till my wedding and time flew by! I have enough little things to stress about I can't imagine stressing through the whole wedding process. I got all the vendors I wanted, got cheaper prices then what I'm seeing people posting now, and truly enjoyed being engaged. I did it on my schedule and didn't have to panic at any time.
This makes me happy :) have a fabulous wedding and I cant wait to see pics.
Thanks everyone, you all made me feel a lot better and I feel like I have some direction now!
Stine Bean
Posted:
Member since
Early planning
FH and I are having a 3 year engagement(getting married in 2014 as well). We've been engaged for just over a year already and have already booked the hall, DJ, and photo/video. Popular vendors will book up quickly so it's best to book them as soon as possible (ignore the looks and the reactions lol). It felt good to lock in the 2012 and 2011 prices (I booked some vendors in 2011) because prices will absolutely go up. We're just enjoying being engaged. No rush, no stress. (I'm sure in about 1.5 years I will be freaking out, but we're good for now lol)
Definitely start looking into photo/video and DJ because those vendors will book quickly. Next on my list is a florist!
Best of luck!!
pauladanielle
Posted:
Member since
Early planning
One really great thing about having a long engagement is that you can DIY for a lot of the big pieces! You can make your invitations and programs if you want, for example, and not be crushed for time. Another great part about this is money. You have two more years to save up for those final payments, rather than the six months that my fiance and I had, which has made a lot of our finances really tight. My only suggestion with planning ahead would be to take your time. Because you can, compare vendors and their prices and make sure you're getting the best deal before you sign anything. Just don't stress! Enjoy it as much as you can!
stormstryker
Posted:
Member since
Early planning
My FH and I have been engaged for 2 years already and will be getting married in 10 months. I truely believe that being able to hunt out the best vendors (and prices) is a lifesaver! Not to mention that its less stressful. I am very limited to when I can visit with vendors etc cause both FH and I work overnights, there will never be a time when I can get more done than others. He is also a student while I work a second job during the summer. The best thing is being able to take your time with each vendor. Knowing you are certain about which one you want. Enjoy your time being engaged!
