Booking a Church and Reception Venue

I only booked mine 6 months out however a church I went to in my hometown tended to book up at least two years in advance during wedding season. I would call the church and ask them about their timelines. They may allow you to go ahead and reserve it. If not, at least you will know when the calendar opens.

My venue would only let us reserve a year in advance (and no sooner). I would start looking now, and try to book a year in advance. You are lucky - you are sure to get your first choice!

Hi! I would book them now. Most places are already booking for 2013. Once you have your venue selected then everything else falls in to place. Good Luck!

Hi Erynn!!! I'm in 2013 as well and I actually booked my venue already so it's never too early!!!! I booked early because my venue only does one wedding at a time so I wanted to make sure I got it and when I asked her how far I could book in advance she told me whenever I was ready so some venues will let you book way in advance...surprisingly she told me that already 20 people had booked for 2013 so we aren't the only early ones

Happy Planning!!!!

When I looked into getting married at my church I was told they didn't allow booking prior to one year ahead. You have time so research and inquire as to how early you can do it and go from their. The church may make you wait but the reception venue may allow you to book now. Happy Planning

Go for a year.

If you know exactly what you want, date and venue wise, I would go for it. You might want to make sure the will allow booking that far in advance, but if they do, that is a huge ticket item and major stress out of the way.

If you have any doubt about the type of wedding you want though and think your preferences may change, I would wait at the risk of changing your mind in the next year and going through the hassle of trying to get deposits back depending on their policies.

Contact your venue and just ask. Most dont let you until a year. (mine was 18 months though)

Our synagogue was one of the few things we booked more than a year out. You can always check with the church about when they open their booking process.

I think we booked the reception venue about 14 months in advance and the church a year out. Although, we're currently deliberating on changing our date. Our reception venue books out fairly quickly, though the church does not. Some venues won't let you book more than a year in advance (our church wouldn't), but some might already be booked at that time. Considering you're not getting married in May or June, I would say you're probably safe with a year. But I would perhaps check with your venues first to see if A) they have restrictions on how early you can book or B) tend to booked far in advance.