Brides Helping Brides ™ - When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

bridetobe615 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 09:02 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

Hi everyone,

I have been feeling stressed over planning the wedding. I got engaged at the end of May and we are getting married mid-July of 2015, so we are under a year away. I have a venue, church, and band/DJ. I'm currently looking into photography but I'm having a hard time making a decision, so I'm taking my time visiting a bunch of places. I can't help but think I need to hurry up! One second I feel like there's time, but the next second I'm freaking out and wind up worried I'll rush into the wrong decision just because of the pressure. Has anyone else felt like this?

Also, the big question for you guys is: When do vendors NEED to be booked? When should I have my photographer booked? How many months before the wedding? What about ordering my dress? Picking a vendor for flowers? I feel so lost over WHEN the big things need to be done, and it's making it hard for me to enjoy the process. I don't know what to do now and what can wait for later. I know there's no one definitive answer... but a general timeline of when vendors should be booked will be REALLY helpful for me.

Looking forward to your responses!

Bridetobe615

rcotter90 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 09:27 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

Any in-demand vendors should be booked ASAP. Like if you want a particular popular photographer like the owner of a company, I'd book as soon as you're sure. But don't pressure yourself into something you may not want. When it's right, you'll know it. I've heard that wedding dresses sometimes take up to 8 months to come in so if say 8-10 months before the day start looking. I think flowers are something you can wait on. Good luck!

BOUSA312 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 09:35 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

Honestly, I think you can relax a bit! You have already done a lot of the big things. I would make sure I got a photographer, but don't rush into one because you feel pressured, and start dress shopping. I have heard that you should leave about 10 months to get a dress, so you have plenty of time. For example, I ordered mine at the end of June, and they told me it would be here around February.
As for flowers, I would think you have more time but I do suggest you go now only because since your wedding is about a year away florists will have the same flowers that will be in season for your wedding on hand to show you. The florist I booked was able to basically create a sample centerpiece and bouquet for me because she had all of the flowers in season in her shop already. Had I gone there in the winter that would most likely not have been possible.

I can also tell you, one of my friends got engaged end of Nov 2013 and had a beautiful wedding June 2014 with no problems at all. She had way less time than you and it all worked out! So don't stress!!

I also think this website as well as the knot have a basic timeline that can help give you some direction and idea of when things 'should' be booked.

CAlbanese Posted: Aug 07, 2014 09:51 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

I would say have everything booked by the end of the year don't stress but keep meeting with people so you have time to negotiate pricing.

P.S. BOUSA 312 you're the only other Coindre Hall wedding I've seen here. Yay for Coindre Hall!

mab30 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 09:58 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

You should definitely book photography ASAP if it's important to you. We booked in March for next May and the only reason they were available was because someone had canceled. It really depends, you may luck out. You should probably start looking for dresses now, sometimes it takes a while to make a final decision. My dress only took 3 months to come in though, so I think you still have some time with that.

Rorelai Posted: Aug 07, 2014 10:13 AM

Re: When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

I apologize for sort of hijacking this topic, lol, I haven't started looking yet at venues but Coindre Hall is in my top 3 just based on the list I've made of where I'll be looking once I can start making appointments. Would either of you be willing to share any info about why you loved Coindre so much??! You can FM me so we don't completely take over this thread :) But I would really appreciate it!

Alimm729 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 10:39 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

We booked our venue about 14 months out. We booked photo and DJ about 11 months out. I JUST booked flowers this passed weekend. lol. So you have time on that. I bought my dress in January. It's not in yet, but I'm expecting any time now. You're in pretty good shape. If you're nervous, I would say have your photo booked ASAP and order your dress by the end of the year.

aedl2015 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 11:04 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

I would try to book your photographer and then take a little break. We are about to book ours and we are getting married june 2015. I have spoken to photographers that were already booked on our date. We had a very hard time finding a photographer we liked in our price range. If you need any recommendations let me know :)

aedl2015 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 11:05 AM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

I would try to book your photographer and then take a little break. We are about to book ours and we are getting married june 2015. I have spoken to photographers that were already booked on our date. We had a very hard time finding a photographer we liked in our price range. If you need any recommendations let me know :)

masmith37 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 12:05 PM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

We booked photos/video a year and a half out from our date, ordered my dress exactly a year out (my designer- Romona Keveza, took a full 9 months to make the dress!!), florist we did 14 months out, limos we did about 4-5 months out. IMO, once the venue is booked it's super important to secure DJ/photos/video/dress especially if you know what you want.

booie135 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 12:42 PM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

My FH and I got engaged this past Christmas Eve and set our date for April 2015. The way we approached everything was just 'one thing at a time.' It's been working great for us so far. It's a stress-free way to focus on one thing at a time and still get things done. You sound like a Type A person (I definitely am) that likes to have everything settled. I'm enjoying doing things one thing at a time without feeling anxiety and already I'm 8 months out and have all my majors booked and haven't felt stressed about anything yet. Some things took longer than others, but try to just focus on one thing at a time and enjoy planning!

bridetobe615 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 05:08 PM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

Thank you! It helps to hear that I'm not behind on anything. It just seems like every day, something else pops into my head! I wind up getting ahead of myself. I love your 'one thing at a time' method, booie135! I think it's the best way to go about things; I just need to remember that! Definitely a Type-A girl and I get easily overwhelmed. Inhale, exhale, right? Haha! Thanks for all the replies. They all helped! And about Coindre Hall - don't worry about the slight hijack! I'm glad the post was able to bring you Coindre-Hall-brides together! :)

Sarahg9 Posted: Aug 07, 2014 07:00 PM

When do vendors NEED to booked? (How fast should I be planning?!)

I would say to start trying to make a decision about a photographer. I'm getting married next may and emailed some videographers this week and some are already booked. Don't make a decision you'll regret but definitely try to move along the process. As for the dress I guess it would depend on how you are. I'm extremely indecisive and have tried on way too many dresses for my own good. So if your like me, I would say to start looking for a dress soon so that you have time to try different things on before you decide. Good luck!