How far in advance should you book your vendors?

NJBRIDE324

Hi ladies I was wondering how far in advance should you book your vendors?  Should you start looking as soon as you book your date?  We are getting married July 20, 2012 if there is a specific florist I want to use/photographer etc.  should I be booking them and putting down deposits now so I can make sure they have my date locked in? 

smw42

Photographers- absoutely book now if there's a specific one you had in mind. We booked about 10 months out and already encountered many that were booked. I think you have a little more wiggle room with florists.

mbcdefg

Here's the checklist of what I did during my one-year engagement: http://mbcdefg.weebly.com/checklist.html

If you have specific vendors that you want to use, definitely book them ASAP. Not only to lock in your date, but also to lock in 2010/2011 prices before they're raised for 2012.

Heather822

I think like PP'ers said ~  it depends on if there is a vendor you are dead set on having. If so, definitely go ahead and book. Better safe than sorry. Otherwise you can def wait til at least the one year mark... if not longer. We planned our entire wedding in 5 months with no problems.

jrgoogrl

I agree with PPer's. I got engaged in Nov. of 2009. We booked our venue, photographer and florist in January of 2010, and we're getting married April 9, 2011.

It doesn't hurt to book far in advance, especially if you have specific vendors in mind!

cutiepie12702

We had our important vendors (venue, officiants, videographer/photographer, band) booked about 15 months out.  We had all of our major vendors (except for florist) booked by 13 months out. We wanted to make sure we got those important things done before it was too late and we got stuck with whatever was left.

diamondx423

I'm getting married June 29, 2012 and so far we have the venue, photographer, and coordinator booked. I'm hoping to book the officient and possibly the DJ by Christmas. I'm doing so mostly because I know who I want to use, want to make sure that I get them, and want to get their 2011 rates.

Lolyalyssa

I'm getting married in September 2011 and all of my vendors are booked.

I booked the venue in Nov. 2009.

I booked the photographer in Dec. 2009.

I booked the church/DJ in March 2010.

I booked the florist in June 2010.

I booked the limo in Aug. 2010.

I booked hair/makeup in Sept. 2010.

I got better prices this way and it was totally worth it.  The early bird gets the worm because vendors use the deposit money to keep their business moving.  Keep in mind I wanted certain people and this is why I took this angle.  I researched who I wanted, visited a few and then decided. 

kwilkinson14

I looked for reception locations about a little over a year out and booked one around the year mark. My wedding is May 2011. The other vendors I have booked throughout the summer. I definitely started with the photographer and videographer as those were the most important to me. I just finished in August with the florist.

marder

Once you have a date go book vendors. You don't want to choose vendors by whos still available!its never too early to book.
I am a live event artist, which means i come to weddings and create a painting onsite of the reception.  Many brides come to me only a few months before their big day, and I am already booked.

www.perfectpresentusa.com/eventpaintings.html