How early is too early to start planning?

I think using time to plan is smart, but maybe for now spend your time on research, and things that don't affect your guests, more "behind the scenes" type things. Maybe if you are super excited to start planning start with engagement pictures, bridal party proposals etc.?

Save the dates typically go out 6 months in advance. If you send them now you have to follow up with an invitation and a lot can change between now and then with your guest list and relationships with people on that list. You mentioned little things that I feel don't really matter when you do them. What about the big stuff? I would start with the 4 biggest things you have to plan: venue, catering, dj, and photographer. If you haven't done all this first I would say do those first before anything else. I hope this helps!

We got engaged in June 2015 with plans to have our wedding in September 2017. We started planning the big vendors two months after our engagement and I am so happy we did.

Definitely don't send STD's out yet. Have you started searching for venue's or drafting your guest list? We have our venue (with catering), hairstylist and videographer booked so far.

I realized we might be doing things too early because we met with the cake baker a couple weeks ago and she told us she doesn't usually book more than a year in advance. But we have picked the venue already and they have an "all inclusive" package that includes the venues (if you want to use them) so we kind of already know the vendors we will be using, so it's hard to not contact them!

You booked a venue, you have a list of preferred vendors - I would reach out to them right away! Why wait? And if you decide you don't like those vendors, then you'll have time to reach out to new ones.

Honestly, we have done all the early stuff. We've done our engagement photos, chosen our bridal party, picked a venue (which comes with the vendors, if we want to use those ones), etc. that's why we've moved on to stuff that I feel like might be too early. So far we've only given the STDs to our bridal party and our parents, but we have them so it's so hard not to send them!

I would still contact your vendors, and then know when to follow up if it's too early like your cake lady. get the big vendor things done and out of the way, and then do small things Deff wait on the save the dates, the important people already know the date anyway!!!

You could start looking and finding ideas you like? Start comparing prices, so you know more of what you want when the time gets closer! Congratulations!

If it makes you feel any better, we are booking venues this week and I don't even have my engagement ring yet... Because we aren't technically engaged yet. My brother is getting married this summer so we are waiting on the announcements until after that but want to book the venue so we can have the date and place we want. I've also started DIYing a lot of the stuff because I want to have plenty of time to get it done and things will take a while to collect (we are doing a literary theme so we are getting old books) and make.

I certainly don't think it's too early to book your vendors but I wouldn't send out the STDs yet.

Sending save the dates now is very early. Like you, we have been engaged since last fall and got our STDs on sale in January - we are sending them out this summer. I would NOT send them more than a year out, or you run the risk of your guests arriving a full year too early.

I'm like you, in that I'm a huge planner. We are over a year out and we are well ahead (booked our dj this week, and looking at photographers). That's what I would recommend working on - vendors (venues, caterer, officiant, photographer, dj, florist, baker). Some can only do one wedding per weekend, so being "ahead of the game" will work to your advantage and give you the most available choices. You'll also likely be able to lock in lower 2017 prices (we did that with our venue at the end of 2016).

Hope that helps

I got engaged in October of 2016 and we are getting married August of 2018 ... in the last 2 months we've booked our venue ( hense the date ) and also booked our photographer and dj ... I'm also a planner and I researched quite a bit ... I didn't call any bakeries or florists I've looked into yet but I assume that's at least a year out bc the hotel block I called said it's to early ... id like to get other big things quoted and figured out as best I can this summer

That being said other things i can look into and buy and put away I def plan to do

So make calls and figure out timelines where you can ... happy planning !!!

Are you a Ct bride ?

@holly we're date twins! We've booked our ceremony and reception site and our photographer! It's been fun planning but it's also nice to know we have time!

We have a cake testing April 10th and our engagement photos on May 6th before we decide on those two.

Other than those two, we aren't missing any vendors. We have venue, catering, dj, and decorations/centerpieces on the way. Getting close to done and we're further out. Makes for no stress in my eyes.

That's kind of how I see it! In my eyes we're engaged now so why make it a headache down the road? But I do know that there is some stuff we need to slow down. I need to chill but I can't!!

Never too early worth the exception of choosing your bridal party. I'm just taking a break right now and checking on Pinterest just every now and again. Great way to save and lock in those 2017 prices .

Don't send STD's out! You lock yourself into a guest list! Terrible idea!!!

For now, enjoy being engaged! That's a fun thing too! Chill with the wedding planning till about a year out.

I don't think its to early. I have been planning too and I'm not engaged yet but we both agreed we are getting married next year. I know the ceremony venue but they don't book until a year out so I'm putting everything else on hold until I can book my venue.

After lurking this forum for a bit it's definitely not too early to plan. I only have my venue for June 2018 and I feel really behind. I'd reiterate what previous posters have mentioned about the timing. When save the dates go out etc.

We booked our venue with about 2.25 years out from our wedding. We're having a long engagement but we really wanted a certain date and wanted a specific venue. This also allowed us to budget better to have the number of guests we knew we would likely be hosting. You can totally start doing your research and looking at vendors, you may even get deals for booking so far in advance. Happy Planning