Thanks very much for your question.
It's a good thing you are asking yourself that question. Most couples don't realize how long ahead of time wedding venues are booked. Here are some suggestions to help schedule your planning:
- The Venue - most venues get booked up for wedding dates up to 2 years ahead of time. So if you're looking for a weekend date in June, July or August, book very early, for fall, spring and winter season bookings are not typically made so far out.
- The Church - even harder than the venue. Make sure you arrange with the church (or other religious institution) nice and early, or alternatively if you are having the ceremony at the venue, book your officiant (religious or not) early.
- Invitations - I always recommend to our wedding clients that they send out a save-the-date announcement as soon as they pick their venue and wedding day. This way your guests can plan around your special day with enough time to not interfere with their plans. A wedding invitation should then follow no earlier than 3 months and no later than 6 weeks before the date .
- Wedding Dress (and shoes) - start looking now!!! Finding the right dress can take some time, especially if you are on a budget. Look long and hard and don't impulse buy, remember the outfit is for your special day and if you pick something in the fall that is too 'right-now', well come late summer you'll look two seasons too late.
- Caterer - although most caterers will book multiple events on a single day, consider that leaving your catering choice to the last minute provides for the following possible problems: a- if they have three other events that day and you're the fourth to book, you are probably not getting their A-team, b- if you have a tasting and you want things changed, with too short a time-line you might not have the opportunity to re-taste an item before the wedding, c- a lot of couples make the catering decision their last, and consider this ... is the food the least important part of your event? Probably not, so book early and take the time to plan and refine your menu.