Prioritizing: Which Wedding Vendors To Book First

Newly engaged couples, congratulations! I know what an exciting time this can be. At the same time, I also know how overwhelming it can be. As soon as you post that "I said yes" shot on Facebook, you will likely start seeing posts from every wedding vendor under the sun urging you to lock them in ASAP.

Don't panic - realistically, you cannot book all of your wedding vendors at once. And you don't need to! I'm here to help you sort through which vendors you actually should book first (around 12-14 months before your wedding).

1. Planner: If you think you will utilize the services of a wedding planner during this process, now is the time to book them in order to make the best use of their expertise. I recommend booking a planner before you even have a venue, because good planners bring experience and recommendations. They can help you find a venue that fits your specifications, and can advise on the right questions to ask before you book.

2. Venue: It goes without saying that it's very important to have a place to get married, and a place to celebrate. That's why the next item on my list is the venue! Make sure to book a spot for both your ceremony and reception - sometimes it's the same place, and sometimes it's not.

3. Rentals: After you have a venue, I recommend thinking about any rentals that you need to secure in order to build the space out into a functional wedding site. If your venue does not have tables, chairs, linens, a dance floor, tents, or bathrooms, now is the time to lock in those elements. You cannot successfully host a party in the space without those elements! Rentals will most often be needed for backyard weddings, or events in spaces not traditionally used for weddings (like a park or community center).

4. Catering and Bar: In the same vein as number three, if your venue does not handle catering and bar services in-house, it's important to book them ASAP. Food and drinks are key elements to a wedding reception! All of the other details and decor are icing on the cake, and can come later in the planning process.

5. Photographer: The final vendor that I recommend locking in as soon as you can is your photographer. Oftentimes your photography package will include an engagement shoot, and it's best to get that scheduled sooner rather than later so you can use the photos on your save-the-dates and wedding website.

See, it's not so bad! Realistically, these are the only vendors that I recommend booking more than a year prior to your wedding. And if you choose an inclusive venue, you can skip numbers 3 and 4, leaving you with only a few vendors to lock in right away.

Of course if you are 100% set on a certain florist, videographer, or makeup artist - then sure, lock them in as soon as you can to ensure their availability for your date. But for most couples who are open to exploring various options, you can save the stress and spread out the decision-making over several months.

And of course if you're looking for month-to-month guidance as you plan your wedding, reach out to yours truly and ask about Planning Support. ;)

-Kelly