How Soon Is Too Soon To Start Planning?

You can definitely start your planning now and book your most important vendors! Venue and photographer first thing, they can sometimes book up more than a year in advance.

I would start sooner than later, just to be safe!

When we got engaged, we set a date 14 months out and decided on having a destination wedding (in KC and planning a wedding in FL on the beach). We started out by researching big vendors like venue, photography, catering, etc. and reading all of their reviews. We planned a trip and went down to Florida 4 months after getting engaged to then begin picking our vendors. The vendors who were very responsive, polite, and had the best reviews were the ones we met/toured while we were down there. Based on those interactions we signed contracts. I would definitely start by reading as many reviews as you can and then try to make a trip down there if you can! As others also stated, begin booking as soon as you're able!

Book it now! Like the above statement says, they fill up fast! My FMIL was telling me that FH's cousin had to book hers for a Thursday because her area (Connecticut) fills up fast!


My boss is doing a destination wedding for October 2020 and if I remember right she was telling me about how excited she is to have it booked sometime around last August or September. (No idea where hers is, just that its somewhere tropical)

I would definitely start looking at venues now as they can very easily book a year in advance.

Start now!


Get a guest list idea of how many people you think will be there, and then look at your budget and what places fit into the vision, guest list capacity and budget.
Early is better than too late. And when all the vendors are booked and deposits put down on them, you will be SOOO much happier.
Time WILL fly! I was 2yrs and 3mo our and now am 8 months out! Wow!!!! Eeeeek!!!

View Quoted Comment Thanks all!! I thought I was jumping the gun by shooting emails to venues to start inquiring about dates and asking questions. Trying to talk the FH into a trip down in March, but he's trying to hold out u til the regular vacation in June/July. But he will want to do vacation things, not wedding this then. So hopefully I can win this one

I’m getting married in the outer banks in May! And when we got engaged last October, first thing I did was acquire a venue and my photographer because everyone was booking up! So, if you know what you want, it’s not too late to start.

Book venue ASAP. Some book up a few years in advance. Set a date, start your guest list, that way you have plenty of time to get everything done and you'll stay organized

Hey! Congratulations on your engagement and happy wedding planning!! we are also having a destination wedding in the OBX. We got engaged in October 2019 and started planning right away. We booked our venue & photographer first. We were set on a Saturday wedding in September or October and a lot of the dates were booked or filling up quickly so we went with August 29th. Try not to get overwhelmed though! Everything will work out. And one of the coolest things I’ve noticed about planning an OBX wedding, is that all of the vendors know each other & have worked together several times. It has made planning from afar a lot easier, it feels like planning a wedding with a bunch of friends. Feel free to ask any questions & have fun with this experience!