When and where to start

Unfortunately, you might find that many venues (and vendors) are fully booked for 2021 due to COVID weddings that had to be pushed out. If you are hoping for a Spring wedding, I would start calling venues you are interested in ASAP to see if any dates are available. Good luck & congrats!

Congratulations on your engagement!! Now would be a great time to start planning! I would start with figuring out your budget and estimated guest count, and then look for venues in your budget that can hold at least the number of guests you plan to invite. Once you have your venue, then start reaching out to potential vendors (photographer, DJ, etc), and book the ones you like best.


Are you looking for 2021 or 2022? If 2021, I would definitely start looking now - since so many people postponed from 2020, venue availability is way more limited than usual for 2021. If 2022, I would still start looking now as well, since some 2021 brides are considering postponing.
Look at checklists, either on Wedding Wire or The Knot - those will help with making sure you stay on track with planning. I also recommend buying your dress around 8 months before your wedding, to give time for shipping and alterations. All other smaller details (centerpieces, invitations, etc) can be figured out along the way.

Also, happy wedding planning!

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for all the info. It’s now giving me a better idea of where to start

View Quoted Comment I think getting started is the most difficult part! Once you have the biggest 3 things (budget, estimated guest count, and venue/vendors), everything else seems to get a little easier from there. Also, always feel free to post questions and/or share your wedding planning progress on these forums! People here love all things wedding, and are usually happy to help out.

I would start looking immediately as many venues are booked for 2021... possibly weekday would be open?
Happy wedding planning!!! I miss it, 🤍

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

In my personal opinion, it's never too early to start planning! I am less than a year out and my venue is not booked.. don't be like me (complications due to COVID)! Start doing your research now, decide on your budget, schedule venue tours, go to bridal shows (if any go on given that COVID is affecting that). Check out the restaurants or caterers that the venues you like use for their food if you can. If you have the time - look into every detail because it will help you in the long run!

Good luck with the planning and make sure you have fun doing it and enjoy everyday being engaged

Actually it's a bit late, that's right around the corner. I would start ASAP if you plan on getting married that close

Definitely not to early to start! The sooner you start the better off you’ll be. Especially trying to find a date next year.

Start looking ASAP! Things are so crazy with covid and you want to make sure your date is available. Venue, photographer, whoever else can’t be in two places at once. Book them! Best of luck and congrats!

Congratulations on your engagement. From my experience, May June fall within wedding season, which means most venues are either fully or almost completely booked. However, you may be able to locate a enue within your price point, but you may have to make a few concessions.


With that said, I highly recommend starting your guest list as it is a determining factor in your budget.

It’s not too early to start looking

Both WW and the Knot have really handy checklists and timelines.

We planned our wedding in less than 8 months, but we didn't have to deal with COVID postponements.

It's totally doable in this time frame, you just have to be proactive and decisive.

It' never too early to start looking for venues. However, do keep in mind that it will be easier to narrow down your venue choice once you have a date or two you like locked down. My husband and I had 2 dates picked out when we started looking; both in February of this year. We went to a couple of venues a month after we got engaged and gave them the dates. Most of the venues had one, if not both, dates available but the venue we fell in love with only had one of our two available. We jumped on it immediately, finalized our contract and put our deposit down that afternoon.

No way, definitely start looking now at venues. I had a 8-9 month engagement, I started looking at venues first. Looking at venues really helped me gauge my budget and what I would want my potential venues to include. Some venues only offer their space, some venues offer catering or some venues offer catering, set up and break down. Once you get the venue everything else tends to fall in place.
I booked my venue in February, they ghosted me and I had to find a new venue 2 months before my wedding. I was upset at first but I love my venue now more.