Another dumb question. What does it mean to book something or someone?

When you “book” someone, you’re reserving their service for a specific date and time. So know when that is first. Then, usually upon confirmation & receipt of some sort of deposit (usually non-refundable), they will hold that date for you. You then make payments along the way according to what your contract states.

Usually to book someone you have to at least put down a deposit. I don't think any of our big vendors we paid everything all at once. Booking someone pretty much just means you've signed a contract with them. To do that you do usually need a firm date though.

It means they agree to provide certain services for a certain amount of money on a certain date. Yes you need a set in stone date because they could have other weddings or commitments. Occasionally vendors will book without a deposit but they usually want 50% of the estimate or some other percentage. Even if the final quote changes you’ll pay the balance. Sometimes deposits are refundable up to a certain date, sometimes they are non-refundable. If you don’t pay the deposit, they can book another bride on your date. Make sure you read and sign the contract so you know what is required of you and of them. Once you have a venue and official date, you can reach out to vendors. If they’re not available, contact someone else. I’m a wedding violinist on the side and people have tried to book me without a date or without a deposit and trying to be nice and work with them always turns into a disaster.

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Ok, thank you for the information. So, basically they want some kind of deposit at least if I'm understanding this right. And you can't get back. So, if a date changes or we want to go elsewhere, that money is just gone, right?

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I'm not so worried about vendors, it's like the photographer. That helps. Because it would suck to pay like $10,000 on a vendor place and pay half of that and then things change. But I guess it's good that they'll reserve you for a different day. I wonder what the average is for a deposit?

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Ok gotcha. I know on these checklists, they seem to say 12 months prior to wedding, get a vendor....and I'm like um what? I'll press the pause button on that!

View Quoted Comment I wouldn’t book a photographer until you have a set date and venue. The highest I’ve seen on photography is $5k. My photographer was $2k and I paid a 25% deposit. The rest is due next week before my wedding. But if I had canceled yes I would have lost that money. If I had moved my date, it’s possible he could have rescheduled but if not I would have lost that deposit.

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Vendors are many different people. Caterer, photographer, videographer, rentals (tables, chairs, linens, glassware, dance floor, lighting), DJ, florist, event planner/coordinator, these are all vendors.

View Quoted Comment Just to clarify, a vendor is different than a venue if that’s what you’re talking about. A photographer is a vendor, so is a baker, and a florist, etc. The venue is the place in which your wedding or reception will be held. So, generally, all vendors require deposits and they will tell you what that amount is before booking. Sometimes they will honor a different date if they have it available but most are usually booked on other days.

View Quoted Comment Some require very small deposits (my dj and DOC were from the same entertainment company and our combined deposit was $100).
You have to read the contracts on whether or not you would lose any deposits if things change. Some will allow you to transfer your date or its available for them and you won't be out the cash.

Usually when you book someone it's reserving your date. So yes, you would have to indicate the exact date you want. For example, when we booked our reception venue it was a $350 non-refundable deposit on the venue to make sure we reserved our date. Then an additional $450 was due within 30 days of booking (that portion is refundable and/or transferable).

Unfortunately no one can predict crazy things happening and you not being able to get married on the exact date you decide but that's life!

A vendor is someone that provides services on your wedding day, photographer, bakery, florist, caterer, etc. Also, booking a venue 12 months out is reasonable. We booked ours two years out because ours was already booking for 2021 and had most dates filled already.

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Yeah, I've learned a lot just from typing in "how to wedding plan" and learning all these terms. With the holidays and dysfunction, I'll probably have to wait until sometime in January to make a better day. We have been thinking August for a long time. But we are doing a lot of things our selves. Since we're casual and thinking of a picnic type food style, it won't be fancy silverware. We will have our music with speakers and laptop. No need DJ, florist, wedding planner or any of that. Actually thinking outdoor wedding.

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Brings me to question, how do you let your guests know of these changes?

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Wow. How much did you pay to keep this vendor?

Vendors whether they are photographers, DJs, catering or venue tend to book fast. We booked our venue at beginning of February 2019 for September of 2020; they told us basically all of 2019 besides a few dates were booked and 2020 was booking fast. We have all of our vendors booked already. Dates fill up quick for wedding events

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Gosh. That's kind of a lot!

View Quoted Comment It depends for what vendor. If you want to change the date, the vendor may have the new date available. If you want to go with someone else entirely, you would probably lose the deposit (according to whatever is in your contract.)

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You send out invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding once all your vendors are booked. This will let your guests know day, time and location of your wedding. At this point nothing should change unless you cancel.

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Brings me another question if things change, how do you let people know about that. Like send another save the date, or invitation, or I'm not sure?