HOW SOON IS TOO SOON?

Depends on your budget and where you are looking to have the event. If there is a place you are heart pressed to have for the reception or ceremony go ahead and set a date and book it, some of those places book up to a year or more in advance. Some small things you could pick up here and there that you will know you need and just set it aside but you want to make sure you have your colors set before you do stuff like that. Outside of venues I would wait until around the 1 year mark to get into full swing. In the mean time get some magazines and a binder and start clipping every picture you like and putting it in there. When you hit that 1 year mark pull out your book and try to pick out what you like best and pull it all together into one concise image.

Since we are now approaching 2010 rapidly, planning for a 2011 is not uncommon. However, many venues & vendors will not book out this far for 2012. You could begin planning something like your theme or colors or what time of year you'd like to look at. Maybe start your guest list and prioritize it (that way, if you fall in love with a venue that is small, you can easily decrease your guest list). Work on your budget so you know what you have to work with. - That type of stuff. This will give you a heads up so that when you start calling around & visiting places and meeting with people, you can have your estimated guest count and budget which are extremely important. Set your own priorities...what is important to you when contracting with a venue, etc.

Good luck!

Sounds good thanks for your great input.

Its never too soon, if you are ready in my opinion, i'm having my Wedding next yr, its a year away almost and most people start a year before i believe, so you are most def going to be very organized if you start now depending on what yr you select. However just a warning, some vendors don't always book that far in advance, so that may be a factor, also your tastes or opinions of themes etc can change in the span or 2-3 years, you don't want to purchase anything yet just in case but planning can do no harm i'm sure Btw Congrats!

I agree with CelticChick. We aren't getting married until summer of 2011. I know your excitement cause I am there too. Like the last post said, I have gotten a binder and magizines to keep stuff I want so that I can be set when it's time to start really planning. As far as our venue, we are going next month because we want a convocation center and the college holds basketball games during the summer and they plan a couple years in advance and it is a reallly popular place in our town. Other than that relax and enjoy your engagement. Congrats.

Cool Drea thanks. Nice to see someone with a further wedding yr like me lol.

I just got engaged in feb and my wedding is sept 2010. I have been looking for ideas and venues even before i was engaged. Its never too early, do what makes you happy!! This is our one time to have the wedding of your dreams, make the fun last as long as you can. But don't book too early because you might change or find something better.

If your someone like me who has to see everything and every choice before you make a decision its best to start early. I booked my venue in july and after that its smooth sailing.

Keep ideas and a scrap book of ideas you like, new things always come up and you might change your ideas on colors and looks. Right down all the websites you like and compare them all. Its all fun fun and as soon as you know it your day will come!! Good luck!!

You could also start shopping around at bridal shows. They are a great way to find out about vendors in your area and compare prices and who you think you would like to work with as a vendor.

I started planning my wedding in march/april of this year and we were looking to get married in may of 2010. when i went ooking at vendors to my surprise our date was booked at all of them so we had to change it. so my advise start now. do a little here a little there that way youre not doing everything at once and you have time to budget things

First of all, Congrats on the engagement!

Definitely not too soon. I've got weddings booked in 2011 already. and the longer you have, the better. You can start looking for vendors and locations right now. You can start saving money. You can start getting a picture in your head as to what you want your wedding to look like.

Take hold of this time, enjoy it, don't stress yourself out over the small details... they'll get taken care of. Take one month at a time.

Find vendor that accept payment plans. You have 2 years, that would make a $5000 photography package only $200 a month... now that's affordable.

I am having my wedding in 2012...most venues are not even renting now for that day but at least now I know how much and what I want for the set up. I have started buying you know, the vases, boxes for the favors...stuff that is not parishable. You can start doing small things then when the time comes you already have the majority of it on hand. There are a lot of items you may want to purchase just to have it out of the way...example: flower basket, guest book, flutes, cutting utensils, gifts for your MOH/BM/mom/dad/etc. I buy one or two things a month if not more then I keep a rubbermaid labeled wedding and put my things in there then check it off my list. That way you have one less thing to buy or remember.

I'm getting married in 2011 also. We have booked the building for the wedding already and have started looking at options like a person to marry us. Its not too soon to be getting stuff ready. Its better to be ready than to be starting at the last minute. Plus its a lot easier to save money. Cost isn't so bad if you can do it in small amounts.