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UKbride Member Request 25 Jan 2018

How early did people start booking things? I'm getting married early 2021...

How early did people start booking things? I'm getting married early 2021 and I've been to a few wedding fayres but vendors have started freaking me out saying they have bookings for my year already! We've got the reception venue booked as it is a family friend who runs it, but nothing else. Any tips? Xx

22 Comments
Lucy Lewis
Lucy Lewis 25 Jan 2018

Hi the experts recommend 18-12 months before :)

Steph V
Steph V 25 Jan 2018

They’re probably trying to scare you into booking, our wedding is 2020 and no problem what so ever with Venues, florist, cake makers etc... (our venue actually doesn’t take bookings more than a year before)
You can always ring up suppliers but take what they say with a pinch of salt as they might get commission from bookings on the day, you never know :)

Jodie Harris
Jodie Harris 25 Jan 2018

I’m 2021 too and have no idea 😔

Bekkah Rose
Bekkah Rose 26 Jan 2018

Booking wedding venues/details etc 10 months before the event and I’ve had no problem with availability!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

Unless it's a bank holiday weekend (especially august) You should be fine. They probably just want to get you to book their services.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

If they can give you 2018 prices in 2021 then there’s no harm in booking your photographer etc. Good luck xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

I got engaged and married within 10 months so don’t be pushed, they’re probably trying to scare you so they make a sale!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

Every vendor is different and if they are popular they may well be booked. We had to book our venue 2 and half years in advance. Start booking things as you can put down minimal deposits to keep your date reserved.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

They try to scare you. I've got 8 months to plan mine and not having any problems x

Danielle Thomson
Danielle Thomson 26 Jan 2018

I honesly dont know why people plan so far in advance we booked our wedding end of nov and began booking photographer DJ room decorations all this month and everyone we have wanted have been available we are getting married in august this year so to me 2 years in advance is not really that necessary

Hazel Cottrell
Hazel Cottrell 26 Jan 2018

We did photographer, venue and celebrant first 🙂 when they could all do our dates then we looked at the rest.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

We booked our venue last month and we are getting married oct this year, so don't worry too much about it

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

We are July 2020 and nothing is booked yet. We will be booking back end of this year

Kathy Deane
Kathy Deane 26 Jan 2018

We've only had 6 months to plan ours. We're almost 2 months in and have had our first choices for everything. We are a Saturday summer wedding so I wouldn't worry about it. Obviously though, if you absolutely know there is something you want then get it. The danger with booking too early though is that you have years to change your mind.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

Hi I'm getting married June 2020 and my venue, photographer and even the registrar already had bookings for my month so I booked to make sure I got the date I wanted. If you want a certain date I'd consider booking as soon as you can.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jan 2018

me and my husband only decided after years of being engaged to get married in 2017 we decided in feburary that we would marry and got married in november 2017 so not even a year and we had no problems. sounds like sales tactics

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 27 Jan 2018

I'm getting married in 2020 and booked my venue, photographer and do last year. I have even brought centetpeices and started to make my invitations. At wedding fairs I have always been told "it's to early" or "you will change your mind". I didn't listen to them and booked things anyway.

All the things I have booked have said you can't book to far in advance because all the things you may want, may be gone if you listen to the people at the wedding fairs. My venue has since said they have had a couple of people ask for the same date and had to decline because of my booking.

Both me and my partner are pretty stubborn so all the decisions we have made won't change as we are happy with what we have booked.

Do what your gut tells you. If you think you're ready book them.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 28 Jan 2018

we started booking venue photographer cars 2 years before

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 28 Jan 2018

I'm 2020 and when we were looking at booking last year suppliers did have some bookings already. I would recommend doing earlier than later though as with each year there's increases in prices . We've booked almost everything that's a big expenditure last year and will be paying last year's prices as they have to honour when you booked. If we'd have waited we'd have had up to a 25% increase on costs as they generally increase by 10% each year but booking in 2017 has saved us money. Not to mention we can continue to save and buy things here and there when there's offers etc. best of luck xx

Kerry Brown
Kerry Brown 28 Jan 2018

I booked my hooneymoon . From that we picked a date . Looked and booked a venue and then registra x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 29 Jan 2018

Im getting married next jan.. only booked it this jan and only started booking things this last 2 weeks x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 1 Feb 2018

We are getting married August 2020. I fell in love with my venue and one of my best friends hubbys a wedding photographer so we have set date for those. Im just joining a church as moved so will hopefully talk to vicar when settled. Rest of it im not stressed over. It will fall into place nearer the time lol. I do like looking at what dress i might like though hehe xx

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