You said yes?! Congratulations! After you’ve determined your wedding budget, and chosen your wedding style, the ultimate step in wedding planning begins! It’s time to start booking your dream team of wedding vendors that will transform your wedding vision into reality.

Successful wedding planning is all about staying organized, tackling your planning one step at a time, and remembering to BREATHE. We promise you, you’ve got this! You might be thinking to yourself…“where do I even start, who do I reach out to first?!”. Don’t worry- we’ve got you covered. After reading this wedding vendor timeline, you’ll know exactly when to book your wedding vendors from start to finish.

1. Wedding Planner or Coordinator

Book this vendor 12-18 months before the wedding

It’s no secret that we are big advocates for wedding planners and coordinators around here (check out this blog post if you’re wondering the difference between the two). Your planner will likely assist you in sourcing other vendors needed for your wedding, so booking them first will help make the rest of your planning a breeze.

2. Wedding Venue

Book this vendor 12-18 months before the wedding

Whether you choose to have your reception and ceremony at separate venues or decide to host your wedding in one location- it’s a good idea to get your venue(s) booked as soon as possible. Some wedding venues will have all-inclusive options for dining and rentals, so booking this first can save time in the long run.

3. Wedding Photographer & Videographer

Book this vendor 12-18 months before the wedding

Your wedding photographer and videographer will play essential roles on your wedding day! They will provide you with the only tangible items that you will walk away with to remember your wedding, so you want to be sure to allow enough time to secure the right ones. Make sure their style aligns with your vision, and their personalities mesh well with yours!

4. Floral Designer

Book this vendor 10 months before the wedding

 Florals play a huge part in the visuals of your wedding day. You want to find a floral designer with plenty of wedding experience, that will help your floral design vision come to life. Check out my Wedding Florals blog post if you’re needing some inspiration for your wedding floral vision.

5. Hair and Makeup Artists

Book this vendor 9 months before the wedding

Hiring a professional glam team will ensure you look your absolute best on your wedding day- in person, and in photos! Allow enough time to schedule a consultation and trial appointment before the actual wedding.

6. Wedding dress

Book this vendor 8-9 months before the wedding

Alterations on a wedding dress can take a lot of time. From the day you order your dress, it can take MONTHS to actually have it in your hands. Allowing 8-9 months before your wedding will ensure that you have your dream dress, perfectly fitted, in time for your wedding day. Be sure to check out Kinsley James if you’re looking for gorgeous couture-style bridal gowns.

7. Stationary / Save the dates

Book this vendor 8-12 months before the wedding

Designing, ordering, assembling, and mailing save the dates can be a time-consuming task that you don’t want to put off until the last minute. To be sure that your guests have enough notice to RSVP to your wedding, reaching out to a wedding stationery designer 8-12 months before the wedding is a safe bet.

8. Cake Designer

Book this vendor 7 months before the wedding

You’ll want your wedding cake to be both gorgeous, and delicious. Cake designers are limited to the number of orders they can take a week, so it’s best to reach out to them at least 7 months in advance if possible. After you’ve chosen your wedding cake designer, make sure to schedule a tasting to help you decide on the flavor of your cake!

Ready to cross “Wedding Photographer” off your planning list? Head over to our contact form to get a custom quote for your wedding today!