Planning Timeline...

They're based on the "average" timeline. That will vary couple to couple, depending on where you live, the length of your engagement, what types of vendors book up fastest, what things matter most to you, etc. Use the timelines as a "here's where you should ideally be" type roadmap, but above all things, trust your gut and your knowledge of what is best for your planning. Ours was not exactly what the WW/Knot/whatever ones were, but they were helpful in knowing a general idea for when to start looking for certain things.

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That's a good point. I was worried when we first started planning that I was booking things too early but I guess I'm close enough now that it's not really early anymore. I just don't want to call a florist or a baker 1 year out and them be like "uhhh we only take orders 6 months or 4 months in advance!"

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Always better to be early than late! if you contact someone you really like and they say they are not booking for your date quite yet, just ask them when would be a good time to get in touch and set yourself a reminder to reach out at that time.

View Quoted Comment Although it might seem awkward for you to reach out and be told you're "too early" for that particular vendor, how else would you know? Depending on where you live, vendor availability and scheduling seems to vary widely. Daughter started planning their wedding about 18 months in advance (in a large suburban section of a major metro area). Early on, she frequently heard, "Wow! You're ahead of the game," from vendors, but most were perfectly willing to meet with her and give her a proposal, and BOOK. She probably had at least 85% of her vendors booked and her dress ordered when they were still 14 months out. However, there were a couple who told her they didn't start booking until a certain amount of time (e.g., one of the photographers didn't book further than 12 months, her baker didn't book until 8 months). We also noticed that some who were more independent contractors were more cautious about how far out they booked (e.g., her HMUA was a young mom who was actively trying to get pregnant with her second child and didn't want to book more than about 7 months out to try and avoid having a wedding and a due date coincide). It's going to vary, and there's no way to know until you ask! (And, if someone is rude about telling you you're too early, I'd move on. People tend to show their true colors, so believe them!) Good luck!

You can do them however early you see fit. They're general guidelines. I personally know I'm the kind that would rather sooner than later. I know for me when I booked vendors I was still in contact with them throughout for questions I'd have and that time will fly by. I met with my dj the other day and he said wow you booked me 8 months ago and now it's already your wedding, so fast.

We got engaged about 13 months before our wedding date. The first thing we did was book a venue because they go fast and we didn't have many to choose from in our price range and style. Then we just started looking around for the other things we needed to book and had just about every vendor we needed, with the exception of a photographer, within the first 4-5 months of planning. Our coordinator was surprised that we were that far ahead. Lol

I say if you like a certain vendor and they are willing to book that far out, go with it. Most probably won't even have you sign a contract right away either so if you change your mind you aren't out any money or anything.