When should I book my wedding suppliers?
This is a common question posed to me by many couples embarking on their wedding planning- and there are a few variables….
For me - the general order of things commonly booked first are:
1. Venue - without this- you don’t have a date to ask other suppliers their availability… sounds so simple doesn’t it? But you would be surprised how many emails I receive asking my availability for “June 2027…. Just throwing ideas around at the moment - nothing is concrete yet.” This is key for your suppliers to check their calendar, and also if they have visited that venue previously can offer some advice on what has worked well in the past. When it comes to flowers - I can suggest certain blooms in certain months, which has an impact on pricing, so for me to be accurate with flower costings- then a date booked is key.
2. Registrar/Celebrant – without these guys- you’re not married…. So also- quite important! I opted for a celebrant at my wedding venue as it was a super laid back day, and I liked the idea that should our outdoor ceremony be delayed by rain- we can have a longer drinks reception first- then do the important bit once the rain subsides. As it went it was a beautiful day… So no need to worry- but with a British summer wedding outdoors- you always need a Plan B just in case. Having a celebrant meant that we had the flexibility to do what we wanted on the day without the worry of thinking that they will have to dash off to another wedding in an hour if things don’t go to plan. We hopped to the Registry office a few days before to make it official. Also- top tip- if you do opt for a celebrant led service- remember the date of your registry office wedding as this is your official wedding date. Some documentation requires your date of marriage- so don’t forget when you ACTUALLY made it official.
3. Photographer – these guys are incredible- and will capture your precious moments from the day. Book a zoom call with a few- see who you click with. The good ones get booked up so far in advance- so I would say this is a priority soon after booking your date and venue.
4. Videographer (do not underestimate how important these suppliers are- I look at my wedding video waaaaay more than I look at my photos!)- again- the good ones get booked up super far in advance- so look at some of their recent work on their socials and website- if you love how they capture other people’s day- you will likely love how they capture yours.
Then- in my opinion the free-for-all then occurs - this is where what you value most about your special day will affect the order
In the case that you are flower mad (and thank you to those that prioritise florists - I appreciate you guys!) - you will get in touch with a florist soon after the other suppliers mentioned above are booked in. I can only take one booking per day, as I like to give a complete service to my couples. I set everything up for your ceremony, and then repurpose everything at the reception area to maximise the flower budget. This takes up best part of the day for me, and will be a weight of your minds when thinking- “will the best man actually move those aisle flowers?”- chances are he will get distracted and chat to a long lost friend in the drink reception and forget (!) , or “I’ve asked the wedding coordinator at the venue to move bits over”…. These guys have a LOT of tasks to do during the wedding day, and if I can minimise their workload so they can concentrate on what else you need - then I feel that this is a key part of my role in ensuring the flowers look their best at both locations and actually make it to where they are meant to be.
Then - if you prioritise a cracking band to make sure everyone dances their legs off for the evening - jump to band next - or DJ, or if you met a great magician at a wedding fair recently and you really clicked with them - get booking! If you are cake mad…. Then research cake next…I highly recommend companies that provide taster events or mail order cake boxes to sample exactly what you may want to order. Hair and make up - again I have know friends in this industry be booked 2 years in advance.
Dresses- most shops need at least 8-12 months to order your gown if you are not picking off the rack, or a sample sale - so this is also something to be factored into the planning too depending on how far you have booked your date for in advance. Also - do factor in time for alterations and final fittings when you will need to have your shoes for your seamstress to measure the final length.
If you have taken advantage of a venue having a sale on remaining dates for the year - the booking of suppliers may be thick and fast at the beginning to ensure you have the best people secured for your date, but the list does shorten, things do get ticked off that list, and your day will be incredible. I advise researching one industry at a time and comparing quotes really helps in keeping the planning process manageable and stress free. Also another top tip - open an email account specifically for wedding admin - that way it is easy to keep in one place.
Here is a link to some awesome people I have met and worked with in the past that may well be able to help with your wedding planning. https://www.flowersbyhelenelizabeth.co.uk/great-suppliers
I have been flowering weddings for over 20 years and have a wealth of experience of all areas of wedding planning - if it isn’t a flower query - chances are I know someone that can help you - so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. It is never too early to book with a deposit, and then fine tune your requirements as we get closer to the big day.
Good luck with all your planning!
Helen
Photo Credits: Kirsty Bowen Photography, Annabel Farley, Ben Stuart Photography