My wedding is in 17 months...

Well I guess it would depend on your area and how fast vendors get booked. But in the meantime just shop around that way you will know your options.

It doesn't hurt to start looking at vendors. We are getting married in July 2014 and already booked our photographer, DJ, and string players. The string group we booked yesterday, and the lady said she already got another inquiry about booking for our date! If you start looking at vendors now, you can get your favorite picks (and possibly the 2013 prices!)

Ok...I am waiting to hear back from a photographer we may be using.

Our wedding is just over a year away and we already booked the venue, the dj, the photographer, picked my dress, picked our colors, picked the invitations. I met with a florist today that I loved (he came highly rec by FMIL) but I just need to put the deposit down to officially book him. all the decor is picked out and we finally figured out our menu. I agree it completely depends on your area and how fast stuff gets book but you also want think about what want (back yard or venue, etc). When I org started planning I looked up venues, went on their website did a short list of venues that were within our budget (we had a basic idea of how many people) then the ones that we could afford we toured. From there we made an even shorter list of our top picks (just incase one place got booked). I did the same exact thing with vendors - made a list of ones we could afford and liked. Then when we were ready to book had my list ready to cross off if they were booked.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay another date twin!!!! When I had seen 17 months I had to click on the discussion. Welcome to WW & congratulations on your engagement!!

I have my venue, photographer, videographer, DJ, DOC, Videographer, & guest transporation booked. I have had great luck with being able to choose my first pick vendors because of planning early. WIN!

Take advantage of it Gooooooood Luck!!

Thanks... sounds like I need to get on it, lol.

Wahoo another date twin! I agree with everyone. I have my venue, photographer, DJ, and florist and like Candi said it's really nice being able to pick who you want! Congrats on being engaged and I would definitely use these forums to your advantage. Everyones really helpful and there's a lot of creative people here! (Wish I could say I was one of them haha)

Hahahahaha!! TEAM 8/9/2014!!! Enjoy it! It's already been flying by, for me. 4/3 marks a year of our engagement, & 4 years together!

We lost out on a photographer at 20 months out she was already booked! after that we booked FAST (but knowledgeably - is that a word LOL)

Mines is right behind yours & I haven't started dropping any major $$$ on anything just yet myself. I'm still pricing things & coming up w/ideas to finalize everything. So many things have changed & keeps changing like our guest list went from 20 to 80, our Venue plans went from going w/the resorts wedding package to a DIY in a SFH rental unit w/in the resort & our BP/GM have increased. I'm happy we were able to have the addtl' time to do so otherwise I would've been a lil looney tunes. All the changes happend to cut cost where we could & while the guest list went up, I doubt they'll all show which will keep us w/in our budget. So your not alone w/twiddling thumbs, lol

I started planning about 14 months out and trust me the venue I wanted already had 2 weekend in Sept booked luckily not mine lol. My photographer and DJ wouldn't talk to me until I was 13 months away. You can pick a style colors and people you want in it. It never hurts to do anything early trust me. I am so glad I did.

I wouldn't pic any colors or decor at least DON'T purchase anything! Your mind will change, trust me!

Awesome ladies!! Thanks you so much for y'all your advice and help!

Try to book what you can early. You can sometimes get better rates too. I save almost $2-$3 per plate for food. May not seem like a lot but any savings is good.

I say don't let that worry you, some places are booked a year out. I saw start getting ideas, venue and photographer in place, or at lease some of your finances.

I got engaged last September and my wedding is next March. I am engaged for a long time too. But I started planning right away. As of right now I have venue, photographer, band, videographer, dress, and I am doing flowers this month. Having a long engagement is great because you get the choice of the best vendors. I would start planning. You don't realize how much there is to do and it does take a while. Also, plan an engagement party! Why not celebrate some! Mine is next month and I cant wait!

I'm a month behind you but I have already booked: venue, caterer and officiant

Depends on how many DIY projects you need to do, and how many things you intend to buy. I would wait until around a year out before booking vendors, unless you are in a very busy area. If you have DIY projects that will take you a while, like invitations, flower arrangements using silk flowers, signs, anything like that, you can go ahead and get started on them.

I feel the same way! I'm about 18 months away and have recently started looking! I feel like it is so far away but everyone keeps reminding me it will be here before I know it! I looked at a place last night and two this weekend. I have an appointment with the priest the first week of April..

I already booked my church, reception venue, and cupcakes. Those places were booking up fast so I had to react. But the good news is that I can start focusing on the details