Wedding planning can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of your life. You’re excited to marry your favorite person, but if you have never planned a wedding ceremony and reception before, it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Where do you start? With decades of experience in the wedding industry, Complete Weddings + Events has created a wedding planning timeline of when to book wedding vendors to help make planning your wedding less stressful.
When to Book Wedding DJ
As a company that initially started out with just the DJ service, we definitely recommend booking your Greenville wedding DJ at least nine to ten months out from your wedding day. DJs can make or break your wedding reception, so selecting a professional DJ is a great decision. Beyond playing music, DJs host the evening festivities to take the stress away from you, ensuring you can enjoy the party!
When to Book Wedding Photographer & Videographer
One of the first services you want to book is your wedding photographer, then your wedding videographer. They tend to be some of the most sought-after services when it comes to weddings. For that reason, you want to make sure you book them at least a year in advance.
Odds are, if you have a specific photographer in mind and you’re two months from your wedding date, they are most likely booked. Do yourself a favor and book them well in advance so it’s one less thing to check off your to-do list.
When to Schedule Engagement Photo Shoot
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but booking your engagement photoshoot as soon as you’re engaged is a great idea! Well, maybe not right away. Enjoy at least a week or two of being in that newly engaged feeling before you begin wedding planning. The engagement photo shoot is one you want to do in the early stages of planning because you want to capture those raw emotions at their peak! Bonus, your engagement photo shoot can be a great way to get to know a possible wedding photographer.
When To Order & Send Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates
When choosing to send your wedding invitations and save the dates, the most important thing to keep in mind is where your guests live. If your guests live in the same country, two to three months out is a safe bet for sending invites. Save the dates are best to send six months out for these guests as well.
Now, it’s much different if your guests live internationally. You want to send save the dates to international guests as soon as you know your wedding date. Yes, that means a year or more out. This ensures that you give your guests plenty of time to save up money and look for plane tickets.
That goes along with invitations. If you have international guests, your timeline speeds up and you’ll also want to send those six months out. This gives plenty of time for them to receive the invite in the mail and for you to receive their RSVP back to you if you’re not doing online RSVPs.
When to Reserve a Hotel Block
When touring and booking your wedding vendor, it’s good to first ask the venue manager for their suggestion on nearby hotel options (if your venue isn’t already a hotel). You’ll want to then reserve your hotel block right after reserving your wedding venue or at least a year before the big day.
This twelve-month guideline is especially true if your venue is in a popular location or part of town that draws in tourists. If you have more flexibility and availability with nearby lodging, you’ll still want the hotel block booked at least seven months ahead of time to be able to share the information with your Save the Dates and wedding website.
When to Reserve Catering
If your venue has one required catering option, you can rest a bit knowing that the caterer already has your date saved when you reserve your reception space. You do still need to pick out your menu, but this can happen in the final three to four weeks before the event.
If you have multiple options for catering, you’ll want to finalize your choice six to eight months before your wedding day. Typically caterers have multiple menu options (some dozens!), so you then still have plenty of time to select the actual meal you’re providing for guests.
When to Book Beauty and Hair Services
Securing a makeup artist and hair stylist for your wedding should be done with ample lead time. Given the high demand for these professionals, especially during the peak wedding season, it’s recommended to book them six to eight months in advance. This advance booking not only secures your spot but also allows time for trial sessions to experiment with different styles and ensure you are completely happy with your look for the big day.
Planning the Honeymoon
The honeymoon is a significant part of the post-wedding experience. To ensure a seamless and enjoyable honeymoon, start planning around six to eight months before the wedding. This is particularly important for international travel or trips to popular destinations, as it helps secure better flight and hotel options. Early planning is also crucial for fulfilling specific travel requirements like vaccinations or visas.
Organizing Wedding Transportation
Arranging transportation for your wedding day should not be left to the last minute. Whether you need a classic car for the bride and groom or buses for guests, begin exploring options and make reservations at least six months in advance. This is especially important during busy seasons like prom or major holidays when transportation services are in high demand.
Scheduling the Rehearsal Dinner
Planning for the rehearsal dinner should start about four to six months prior to the wedding. This involves selecting a rehearsal dinner venue, deciding on the menu, and confirming the guest list. If you’re envisioning a more elaborate event, consider starting the planning process even earlier to ensure all details are meticulously arranged.
Complete Weddings + Events Greenville
Complete Weddings + Events offers multiple services to make it easy to reserve your wedding date for the vendors you still need! Contact Complete for availability on needs for your wedding day!