question about booking far in advance

LeenieLane

Hello, quick question for the seasoned brides...

My wedding is far out, but what if I found a venue or vendor that I/we absolutely love and book, only to find they go out of business before our wedding date? Much like how relationships change and it isn't wise to pick bridal parties too far in advance, the economy can change and some small businesses may suffer.

What are some helpful tips to keep in mind if I go the route of booking far in advance. I know to have everything in writing, but is there anything else that may be helpful to keep in mind?

Thanks!

MrsJoshuaParker4

how far in advance is your wedding?

i would normally say that it's not bad to book a venue in advance.. it's like your way of making sure you get the date you want.

where did you want your wedding? is it a place that has been around for a while, or what's the deal? if they are planning to go out of business, i believe they would tell you.

lyndausvi

Sometimes it's a risk that you take.  You could pick a venue 5 months out and still have the same risk.

 We picked a venue that has been in business of a very long time and has lots of honors.  Not that immunes them from closing, but it certainly made us feel more comfortable.

I would be wary of business not open very long.   Restaurants tend to close with a few years. 

MairePoppy

I see you're in CT. My daughter received a very nice discount on her dream wedding venue by booking late. She was flexible on her date, noticed an announcement on their website that the remaining un-booked 2012 dates would be discounted. She booked an October wedding in April, leaving her 6 months to plan. Sometimes it pays off to wait.

MoonlightSilver

You could include something in the contract about what happens if they close before your wedding (you get your money back, etc). That way you feel comfortable booking.

SlothGoals

I think if you're going to book in advance then you should really do your research and only book vendors that are well-established in the industry (10+ years maybe?). As lynda said you take a risk regardless because any business can go under.

Since your wedding is Oct. 2014 you don't need to be booking much right now. At around 2 years out FI and I only had our date set with the church. 

LeenieLane

I'm not sure on venue yet but possibly a winery or historical spot in Eastern CT - nothing is firm yet. I was just wondering about photographer, flowers, DJ, etc...things of that nature. I saw another post on a friend's facebook about a vendor she worked with on Etsy for craft center pieces and favors that went belly up and she had no clue it was coming. It took her a while to get a refund.

Lynda, you bring up a good point that it could happen at any time.

Thank you all!

lyndausvi

I think when you are talking about vendor from Esty you are taking a higher risk that they might go under.   Flowers and such don't need to be booked this far out.

jenajjthr

Just realize that if even if you have a clause in your contract about getting a full refund if they close, go out of business, fail to deliver said services that it may take a long while to never getting your money back.  If a company goes under it's kind of like you going bankrupt, you still owe people money  but you have no money to give them.  It may make you feel better having that clause, but it's not like the company is going to hand you cash the moment you ask for it. 

Like PP's have said, if you are that concerned only book the things you have to have far in advance.  The things that can wait, invites, flowers, can wait till closer till your date.

HobokensFury

Here in NJ it's pretty common to book vendors 2 years in advance because the good ones book fast.  Just make sure you have everything in writing.  I agree with PP. Anything can happen at any time.  Out photographer got fired 10 days before the wedding.  Luckily I wound up with an even better one and got a ton of free upgrades for the incontinence but things do happen.

LeenieLane

Thanks, Hoboken. I agree with everyone else as well. I think I was stuck in a moment of overanalyzing.

On a side note, my heart hurt for you while I read a previous post re: the fire in your house before your wedding. That is absolutely awful. It seems like you handled it as well as you possibly could! I hope you've found better luck since you've been married! haha!

HobokensFury

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_question-about-booking-far-in-advance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:17d0f501-79e7-479d-a719-cd501f4167f5Post:014601d9-a5ad-49a5-abb7-5927f4ddcbc6">Re: question about booking far in advance</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks, Hoboken. I agree with everyone else as well. I think I was stuck in a moment of overanalyzing. On a side note, my heart hurt for you while I read a previous post re: the fire in your house before your wedding. That is absolutely awful. It seems like you handled it as well as you possibly could! I hope you've found better luck since you've been married! haha!
Posted by LeenieLane[/QUOTE]

Thanks Leenie. If you read the AYG with 2012 thread you will see I had the worst year of my life.  On a positive note our first year of marriage was bliss because everything else in our lives was so screwed up there was no time to argue with each other.