Hi Ladies! FH and I will be having a long engagement-- we got engaged November 2013 and will be getting married October-ish 2016. 2 years and 11 months.. but my countdown now is 961 days! (my mom thinks I'm crazy counting down the days lol).
Anyway my question to you ladies is, how far in advance did you book your venue? FH thinks we should start looking this summer, and at first I agreed with him.. it will be 2 years and a few months out by then. But now all I want to do is find our place! I've done so much research and being on these boards is making me antsy! He thinks people will think we're crazy calling and visiting looking to book so far in advance. What did you ladies do or would you do?
bridejackson22
Posted:
Member since
Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB) - Long Island Weddings
I got engaged May 2012 and getting married this October. We started looking in July 2012 didn't book our venue till mid August. We didn't book any other vendors until January 2013 when I booked my photographer, March DJ, April Officiant ect. I took my time with things and it helped finacially cause we definitely didn't have the money for a short engagement to book all those vendors at once. We originally wanted to get married in 2013 but once we found out price 2014 worked better for us. You have to do what works best for you don't listen to others.
KryssiW
Posted:
Member since
Re: Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB)
I agree with the poster above. I'm getting married in 2016 also (ten days engaged now, yay!), and I'm looking at halls like crazy. I hear it all the time from him about how it's too soon and we have plenty of time, but the money situation really stresses me out and I see no point in being anxious about it for the next two years. I'm not looking to book immediately, but definitely have a better idea of what things cost so that I'm not saving blindly. And, if I fall in love with a place, I won't be afraid to book it either!
Good luck to you!
Sami211
Posted:
Member since
Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB) - Long Island Weddings
In my opinion... it is never too early to look or book. We were engaged 12.14.12 and booked on that exact day in 2013 for July of 2017. We originally wanted July 2015 but realized how we couldn't afford it at all. We both have student loans to pay off, we have a son and of course all other expenses. Seriously... who can afford to live in NY anymore? Only one venue gave me a problem with looking so far in advance so I didn't even bother calling them back.
I do have a little regret with booking so early for one obvious reason... I'm a Thatched Cottage bride. They filed two weeks after we booked and even though it's been a bit stressful, I'm happy that we have time to change venues if need be.
Good luck and pm me if you need quotes for places, I have a lot for 2015-2017 ;)
rcotter90
Posted:
Member since
Re: Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB)
Posted by Sami211
In my opinion... it is never too early to look or book. We were engaged 12.14.12 and booked on that exact day in 2013 for July of 2017. We originally wanted July 2015 but realized how we couldn't afford it at all. We both have student loans to pay off, we have a son and of course all other expenses. Seriously... who can afford to live in NY anymore? Only one venue gave me a problem with looking so far in advance so I didn't even bother calling them back.
I do have a little regret with booking so early for one obvious reason... I'm a Thatched Cottage bride. They filed two weeks after we booked and even though it's been a bit stressful, I'm happy that we have time to change venues if need be.
Good luck and pm me if you need quotes for places, I have a lot for 2015-2017 ;)
I had seen you post on another board a while back and saw you had a 2017 date and actually used you to you convince FH to start looking and that it wasn't too early! We did end up starting to look two weekends ago and one of the first places we looked had the dates we wanted booked in the room we wanted for October 2016! I couldn't believe it and I panicked lol so we went to about 6 others last weekend and finally narrowed it down to Jericho Terrace and Fox Hollow. we're going back this weekend with both our parents to help us decide. I fell in love with Thatched Cottage at a wedding this summer, but refused to even go look for fear of falling in love all over again and having to talk myself out of it because of everything happening. Even though they are selling 51% to Scotto, I'm still weary.. a lot could change in 2.5 years with new owners. Good luck! =)
mdmd2060
Posted:
Member since
Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB) - Long Island Weddings
I am a 2017 bride...so I'll lurk around here until we get our own board lol. But we have had issues with 2 venues so far, they thought we were just nuts wanting to book and/or do a walkthrough now, and others are happy to potentially have our business. One venue even said, if we book now we are locked in to their rate NOW, they can't raise the rate just because their rates for weddings increased 3 years from now. We actually will be doing our first walkthrough this weekend, at one of the venues that won't even book us yet because they flat out told my FH on the phone they will be raising the rate, I told him that put a REALLY bad taste in my mouth, but he really wants to still look, so we shall see.
Sami211
Posted:
Member since
Re: Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB)
Posted by rcotter90
Posted by Sami211
In my opinion... it is never too early to look or book. We were engaged 12.14.12 and booked on that exact day in 2013 for July of 2017. We originally wanted July 2015 but realized how we couldn't afford it at all. We both have student loans to pay off, we have a son and of course all other expenses. Seriously... who can afford to live in NY anymore? Only one venue gave me a problem with looking so far in advance so I didn't even bother calling them back.
I do have a little regret with booking so early for one obvious reason... I'm a Thatched Cottage bride. They filed two weeks after we booked and even though it's been a bit stressful, I'm happy that we have time to change venues if need be.
Good luck and pm me if you need quotes for places, I have a lot for 2015-2017 ;)
I had seen you post on another board a while back and saw you had a 2017 date and actually used you to you convince FH to start looking and that it wasn't too early! We did end up starting to look two weekends ago and one of the first places we looked had the dates we wanted booked in the room we wanted for October 2016! I couldn't believe it and I panicked lol so we went to about 6 others last weekend and finally narrowed it down to Jericho Terrace and Fox Hollow. we're going back this weekend with both our parents to help us decide. I fell in love with Thatched Cottage at a wedding this summer, but refused to even go look for fear of falling in love all over again and having to talk myself out of it because of everything happening. Even though they are selling 51% to Scotto, I'm still weary.. a lot could change in 2.5 years with new owners. Good luck! =)
Glad I could help
I can't wait to see what happens with TC either. I really hope they don't change much but who knows.
Sami211
Posted:
Member since
Re: Ladies with Long Engagements (x-post from BHB)
Posted by mdmd2060
I am a 2017 bride...so I'll lurk around here until we get our own board lol. But we have had issues with 2 venues so far, they thought we were just nuts wanting to book and/or do a walkthrough now, and others are happy to potentially have our business. One venue even said, if we book now we are locked in to their rate NOW, they can't raise the rate just because their rates for weddings increased 3 years from now. We actually will be doing our first walkthrough this weekend, at one of the venues that won't even book us yet because they flat out told my FH on the phone they will be raising the rate, I told him that put a REALLY bad taste in my mouth, but he really wants to still look, so we shall see.
I'm always so happy to see other 2017 brides!!! I normally go in 2015 brides because it's so busy in there. I don't think a venue has the right to judge, especially if they want your business. If they are rude over the phone, it is not the venue for you!
