July 2013 Bride with a question!

as4119

Hi Everyone! So I have a question for all of you since you're all probably set with your vendor choices by now. My wedding is going to be Saturday July 6th, 2013, which is the 4th of July weekend (obviously, haha). I know in my area booking a venue can happen anywhere between a year to 9 months in advance, but since it is a holiday weekend, should I book it further in advance than a year? How far in advance did you all book your venues? Thanks! 

littlemoments324

I am a true believer in booking as soon as possible because you could run the risk of having your date taken...I know you're 2 years away, but it doesn't hurt!  Just make sure it's the venue you want.  We booked everything a year and a half ahead of time.  We booked in Feb '11...

With it being a holiday weekend make sure you send your STDs out like 9 months out because people  can start making plans for the holidays around then...giving people a heads up for holiday festivities is awesome!

BeachLover2885

If you are a 100% sure of the date and venue, I would definitely book. Since you are doing a holiday weekend and a Saturday, I would jump on that quickly!  Just make sure you won't regret booking that place later on FYI, I booked a little over a year out, but I have friends who booked their venues well over a year in advance.  GL!

MeaganR12

We booked our venue in April of this year. At that time, July 21st 2012 was the soonest Spring/Summer Saturday available. 16 months in advance. Yeah. If I could go back in time and be able to book it earlier and get a May or June date I totally would (but we weren't engaged yet). 

All venues are different but I would book as soon as you're 100% sure that's the date and venue you want. 

dramaqueen91087

I say book it now. Since you are sure it just makes sense to do it now rather than wait and risk the date not being available. I booked this past April so a little over a year out, but I started looking in Febuary.

Madisonpenny

We booked our in February 2011 and I started looking at the beginning of January. So i don't think it's too early to start venue searching. It is one of the biggest items on your list and the item that can determine the feel of your wedding.

michelle11988

We booked at the end of June and July 14th was the only Saturday left for the summer!  I definitely think if you know where you want to go then just book it.

penny12986

I would also suggest booking now.  For July 2012, we booked in March, 2011.  It's really difficult to book other vendors without having a venue and it will save you a lot of stress later if you find out that the place you want has already been booked.

Good luck!

LADY324

I would book it now.  We booked our venue in September of 2010 for our July 2012 wedding.  We found a place loved it and then put down a deposit and had free picks of our date since we booked so far in advance. 

Amanda1443994

Yes, def. book now if you're sure. We booked in April of 2011 for 7/28/12. That date was the only Saturday evening they had left for May through August of 2012, so def. book early.

k8888

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_july-2013-bride-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:8e189f5b-f286-49ed-906c-12f998cc8424Post:1a6c9c63-e6b2-4ff6-88ac-f2970c515a69">Re: July 2013 Bride with a question!</a>:
[QUOTE]I would also suggest booking now.  For July 2012, we booked in March, 2011.  It's really difficult to book other vendors without having a venue and it will save you a lot of stress later if you find out that the place you want has already been booked. Good luck!
Posted by penny12986[/QUOTE]

Ditto this

I actually had to change my wedding date from July 28 to July 21 because our venue booked someone else within 1 day of us deciding which date we wanted (first come, first serve!).  We booked in March of this year.  Our venue told us they were already booking for 2013 and 2014. 

mekiakoo

Yes, book it now. You also should think about whether you're going to have the reception at the same venue or at a different venue from your ceremony.

We booked ours in June of this year and every weekend was booked in July except for the 7th and the 28th and we weren't able to have a reception at our ceremony venue so before booking the ceremony venue- we checked out the possible reception venues and discovered a lot of them were already booked solid except for the 28th which we grabbed quickly. As a matter of fact an hour after we booked our ceremony venue, a couple came in wanting the same date and time as us.

Summer is the busiest time for weddings and I remember looking at so many places- a lot of them were booked solid for the entire summer already, more than a year out.

You have an advantage right now being a year and half out- some places probably have more availability!

AllyG303

I booked in March 2011 for our July 29 2012 wedding

NikkiF731

We booked in August of 2010 for July 14, 2012. Not only did we get the date that we wanted at our first choice venue but we were able to lock in the 2010 prices (there will have been a 10% increase by 2012). It really was a huge relief for me since once we had our place we could tell people that was our actual date so we had our timeline. Good Luck!

bells24412

I booked a year and a half out because I know July is a busy month and also i got locked into the 2010-2011 rates. I think the sooner you book your venue, the better IMO.

NIKKIANDTYE

If you are sure of that date then book it ASAP since that is a holiday weekend and you do not need any added stress or drama to go along with trying to get everything else together.

ski2play

I would look at booking now.  We are having a July 4, 2012 wedding, and it was not an easy task to find vendors that wanted to take on a wedding on the actual holiday!  We ended up renting two private houses on the River (McMansions) to host the reception at because we could not get a hotel to take our business on the holiday.  We are using a caterer, but the added stress of not having it handled all by a hotel/banquet facility has had its moments. 

PM me if you want to talk as I am also upstate NY!  Congrats on your wedding.

BrightFirefly

We booked in September of this year - for July of 2012 - and July 14th was one of the few summer dates available at our particular venue...so if you're sure that's the place you want - book it. )

Skyjewell23

We booker June 2011 and July 14th  2012 was the only summer date they still had open (and the date we were set on, lucky us!) So book ASAP. I dont think its ever to early as long as your sure on your date and venue

as4119

Thanks everyone! As per all your advice, we are going to be checking out our final two venue choices while we're home for Christmas so we can make a decision. I'm so excited! 

ginadog

I booked in November 2011 for a July 2012 wedding.  I had to visit several places in person, create EXTENSIVE spreadsheets to know price details too.  So if you've done all your research and price comparisons and you know 100% that this is the date/place, go for it.  I don't like to make decisions until I have every last peice of data in front of me.