Photographer won't hold date

I've never heard that this is a bad sign. If you're looking at vendors two years out, so are other people. It sucks, but they need to make money and I wouldn't expect anyone to turn down other clients while I thought it out.

I wouldn’t expect any vendor to hold my date without a deposit. That’s just general business principles.

A lot of vendors don't hold dates until you've booked with them. I wouldn't make any decisions based purely on whether they're willing to hold a date for you.

A part of me does think the vendor is right in that they would need a deposit to hold the date but a part of me also thinks if they do that to help you out it would be nice of them because it shows they want to work with you.

I wouldn’t expect anyone to hold a date without a deposit.

No one "held" a date for daughter, but a couple vendors did give her a "first right of refusal," in case someone else asked them for that date before she made a final decision (within a relatively short period of time). Daughter was pretty sure she wanted her photographer, but had to work out a couple details before booking. He let her know a couple days later when someone else inquired about her date, and she told she'd definitely be booking him and asked that he send the contract. However, a videographer promised the same thing, but booked daughter's date without giving her a chance to book it first. There really aren't any guarantees until you've sighed a contract.

This is normal actually. This is their business, and while it would be nice for them to give you time, you may not be the only client looking at your day. I'm sorry about the situation, but when looking for vendors, theres always a risk that you have missed/will miss a golden opportunity (I did... the reason I don't have a limo bus for my wedding in 11 days). Hopefully it all works out for you. 🍀

I wouldn't expect any vendor to hold a date for me while I thought about it. That said, our Day of Coordinator held the date for a week while we thought things over, and our venue held our date between saying that we wanted the venue to the contract signing. We made decisions pretty fast and pretty far in advance though so I wasn't too concerned about someone else swooping in.

I personally think that is absurd. Vendors, especially photographers are a dime a dozen and they know that. I would not want to feel pressured into booking with someone. I made sure I did not get ANY bad vibes from all of the vendors I hires and if I did, I found someone else. Go with your gut.

I wouldnt expect any vendor to hold my date without a deposit

It's pretty normal. Why would she hold a date with no deposit or contract?

View Quoted Comment I didn't expect her to hold indefinitely. My venue held the day for one week after sending me the contract to give me time to go over it and send the deposit.

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Even holding it for a day or a week seems like a lot to ask. It's her whole livelihood so obviously if someone wants to book that day she will book it based on whoever will put the deposit down first.

100% normal practice. You can't expect anyone to hold for you. I ran into some vendors who would hold for us but they were a minority. More commonly, vendors would offer to let us know if someone else started inquiring about our date so that we had a chance to fork up the cash then and there. However, for the most part you either pay right away or they are free to offer it to the next person who comes along.
Money talks.