You just said the big ‘YES’ and now it’s time to piece together your wedding dream team! Hiring the right vendor, at the right time is a crucial aspect of the wedding planning process. In order to have your pick of the pros you really want, it’s best to start securing them as soon as possible. This wedding vendor timeline will help you book your wedding squad in the right order to help avoid any planning stress!
Wedding Planner – 12 Months
Of all the vendors who will join your team of pros, a wedding planner will be the most involved from start to finish. If full-planning service fits into your budget, hire us as soon as possible. Not only will we make the planning process a breeze for you, but we’ll also save you time searching for vendors, venues, bridesmaid dresses, and every detail in between.
Venue 10 – 12 Months
Give yourself as much time as possible to book your wedding venue. Ideally more than a year from your desired date. When choosing a venue that’s popular or seasonal, dates will fill up quickly.
Caterer 9-12 Months
Once you have your reception venue booked, now it’s time to book your caterer. If your venue doesn’t offer catering, then you’ll need to look into hiring an offsite caterer. Most catering companies provide not only food and beverages, but also rentals such as cups, plates, and silverware. Many couples book their catering company and venue in tandem with each other since they often take up the largest chunk of the budget.
Photographer & Videographer 10-12 months
Photographers play an essential role on your big day and popular photographers book up fast, so this should be one of the very first vendors you book. Using the same company for photography and videography can also save a lot of money and time.
Officiant 8-10 Months
You want your guests to enjoy your wedding ceremony, not just survive it. Therefore, it’s worth hiring an experienced professional who can help create a personal and memorable ceremony. Hiring an officiant about eight to twelve months before their big day is the perfect amount of time to ensure you find someone that can help tell your unique love story.
Stationary 8-10 months
One of the first steps after you’ve chosen your date and the location, is to send out save the date cards. You’ll need to book your stationery vendor pronto, especially if you’re tying the knot at a destination wedding. In that case, you’ll want to give guests at least a year’s notice.
Rentals 5-8 Months
From the tableware to the tent – rentals play a BIG role in wedding planning. You’ll need to know exactly how many guests will be attending your wedding to get an accurate headcount for the tables and chairs needed. Once that’s all set, we can start cutting down to the smaller details like florals!
Florist 6-9 Months
Couples meet with their florist around six to nine months before the special day. By this point, you’ve selected the venue, bridesmaid dresses, and hopefully your bridal gown. The florist will need an overall view of your design theme and color palette to envision what florals will be perfect for your special day!
Bakery 6-9 months
Cakes are considered the finishing touch to a wedding. Bakeries only take a certain number of orders per week so it’s best to book as far in advance as possible! Once you’ve selected your cake bakery, you will schedule a tasting to pick the flavor for your wedding cake. YUM!
DJ 7 – 9 months
A fantastic DJ or live band will get your guests’ energy up and set the tone for your wedding party. Waiting too long to book your DJ will leave you with a limited number of available DJs to choose from. It’s best to start looking into DJ pros about nine months into the planning process.
Hair/Makeup Artist 6-8 months
You’d want to book your makeup and hair artist six to eight months prior to your wedding. Remember: you will look back at your wedding photos for years to come, so you want to ensure you look and feel your absolute best! This will allow you plenty of time to find the perfect artist that suits your specific style.
Now that you know what wedding pros are needed and how far in advance to book them, it won’t hurt to start planning. And if you feel overwhelmed by the thought of planning your big day from start to finish, that’s where Fairy Godmother comes in. Whether you’re looking for a planner, designer, or event producer, we are here to help! We help captivate every couple’s unique love story on their fairytale day. Hiring Fairy Godmother, a Wedding & Event Planning Co. will ensure your wedding planning process is enjoyable and made easy for you every step until the big day arrives.
Cell: (661) 808-7816
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