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Savvy May 2019

How early is too early to book your venue?

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Brooklyn, on January 12, 2018 at 3:49 PM

Posted in Planning 51

Okay, my fiancé and I would really like an October or November 2019 wedding. My grandfather has been gracious enough to offer to pay for our venue and has given us no price restrictions so Friday’s and Saturday’s are both options and we have no particular date in mind, just the desire of a fall wedding. I really want to tour a venue I fell in love with and hopefully book an official date but my fiancé says we have more than enough time because of the flexibility we have. I guess my question is when did you ladies book your venue? Do you agree that 21ish months is too far out?

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51 Comments

Savvy October 2019
Marissa · on January 12, 2018 at 5:52 PM
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I am also looking for an October 2019 date & already have appointments to see 3 venues over the next week. I have my heart set on mid-October so I figured the earlier the better to make sure I could get that date. If they let you book a tour that early, I say go for it!
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Savvy October 2019
Cortney · on January 12, 2018 at 6:01 PM
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We're getting married October 2019 and booked a venue 2 months ago. They didn't have any 2019 dates booked yet (we were the first), so it was definitely on the early side, but we got it for the 2017 price.
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Savvy October 2018
Melissa · on January 12, 2018 at 6:03 PM
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I booked 14 months in advance and we had very few fall dates to choose from!! I was shocked at how quickly places, especially popular ones, booked up. I say it’s never too early! Rather have a place you love then scrambling later on to settle for a place! Good luck!!
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Super December 2018
Lacy · on January 12, 2018 at 6:15 PM
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I don't think it's ever too early, especially if it's a popular venue and/or popular time of the year. I think fall is a season that books up fast, so at the very least it's worth talking to the venue and asking when they recommend booking. I know we went June 2017 to put a deposit down for a December 2018 wedding and there were dates already taken. So definitely better sooner than later, especially if you're set on a particular venue.
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Super February 2018
Married and Loving It! · on January 12, 2018 at 6:57 PM
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Depends on the venue, my venue books up over a year in advance. I would check with them and see what their normal time line is for reservations
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Devoted October 2018
Stephanie · on January 12, 2018 at 7:15 PM
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Our wedding is the Sunday of Columbus day weekend this year (10/7), we booked our venue in January of 2017, and a lot of the dates were already picked! I don't think it's a bad idea to start checking out venues
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Dedicated September 2019
Alyssa · on January 12, 2018 at 7:19 PM
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I'm getting married in September 2019 and booked the venue this last November. It is not too early to start looking! Fall weddings are becoming very popular. If you start looking now you get your choice of dates and venues!
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Expert May 2011
Karen · on January 12, 2018 at 7:26 PM
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My daughter was engaged Memorial Day weekend 2017, and was leaving for a residency 2000 miles from home in July. We decided to nail down the venue before she left for her October 2018 wedding. She had a "type" in mind. Since she is veterinarian who specialized in Equine (horses), a barn wedding was top in her choice list. Most of the nicer barns were already booked except a few Sunday openings in the winter of 2018. We were looking 16 months out and they were full! If you have your heart set on a particular location or "type", it is never too early to start looking (and maybe putting down that deposit!)
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Master July 2017
Going to the chapel · on January 12, 2018 at 7:27 PM
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It's definitely not too early. However, before you book, make sure you tell grandpa how much it is because he may have no idea how expensive these things can be and/or make sure you and FH can afford to pay for it on your own in case grandpa's money falls thru.
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Savvy November 2018
Stefanie · on January 12, 2018 at 9:23 PM
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I'm about ten months out and already running into a few issues with venues being booked. Honestly, if the venue is scheduling that far out, go for it. At least start touring if you have the time! We also have the problem of being super busy.
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Dedicated May 2018
Melissa · on January 13, 2018 at 12:04 AM
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No it’s not to far out, we booked our venue out around 21 months that way we knew what our budget would be for venue and we could plan and book everything else
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Super September 2022
July18Bride · on January 13, 2018 at 6:41 AM
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Nope! Some venues book up to 3 years out so I would do it ASAP if that is your dream venue!
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VIP June 2019
Vanessasaurus · on January 13, 2018 at 8:26 PM
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Definitely not too early. We booked for June 2019 in October 2017 and they told us we were right on time. When we were venue shopping in April though people said we were early.
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Super March 2018
Deirdre · on January 13, 2018 at 9:04 PM
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I don't think it's too early. Not sure where you are located, but I live in New England, and fall is an incredibly popular time for weddings, so things book out quickly. If you have a venue that you love, you should definitely check it out. We started looking at venues 10 months out and a lot of the places we were interested in only had Friday or Sunday weddings available and we wanted to get married on a Saturday. We are in love with our venue, so I don't think we would have chosen differently anyway, but our options were definitely limited.
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Savvy June 2018
Mariah · on January 13, 2018 at 9:24 PM
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I reserved mine 26 months ahead of time! It was so nice to know that got it. They told me if I waited too long I might not get. Most people reserve June weddings a year or two in advance ( what I was told) . So I went asap!!
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Devoted July 2019
Allie · on January 14, 2018 at 12:34 PM
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We booked ours 20 months in advance and got great pricing that way! So in my opinion it's not too soon.
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Master October 2018
Amanda · on January 14, 2018 at 12:47 PM
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We had no choice but to book 2 years out !! I say go look and book soon . Plus they should lock you into this year's price with is usually a few dollars cheaper per person
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Master August 2017
firstoneat56 · on January 14, 2018 at 6:32 PM
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It's not too early if you don't think you will have regrets. Be sure to see a few places to be sure. You don't want to book something and then 3 months later, find out about something else. Even though someone else is paying, it's still wise to look at a few places for cost comparison.
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Savvy November 2019
Erica · on February 19, 2018 at 11:05 PM
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We are getting married early November 2019. We are doing a Friday because it is loads cheaper. The venues I have reached out to for quotes are more than willing to book tours and get me signed. We will book our venue by March or April this year. I started looking for quotes in late December. Definitely check to see if they have a limit for how far out you can book. It really does just depend on the venue.
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Expert November 2018
WagsToKray · on February 20, 2018 at 11:02 AM
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I agree with PPs. I think that "too early" is never a phrase that should be used in wedding planning! I booked 13 months ahead of my date, which I thought was more than enough time, but there were some venues in my area that were already booked. If you love a place and you don't want it to be booked by anyone else, I would say now is the time (unless that have a strict policy on how far ahead they will take bookings.) Also, booking early may save you some money if rates go up year to year. They will quote you at the 2018 price, when the price may go up if you wait to book until 2019.

Good luck!
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