Wedding Venue Booking Tips: How Early Should You Reserve?

Weddings might be fun to plan, but let’s face it — they are also stressful (major props if you have all the big things covered). Because nothing is larger than you being able to solidify your wedding location.Of course, you want the perfect spot to say I Do…but how far in advance do you need to book for that?

1. Why You Shouldn’t Wait Too Long

If you have your heart set on a specific place, there is no denying that the sooner you book, the better. And not only that, but many hot venues are also filled 12 to 18 months prior – particularly during peak wedding time. So if your wedding date is set and you have a dream venue in mind, you don’t want to wait around.

But don’t stress out too much! If you are a bit more open with your date or don’t care about getting married in peak season (like winter or weekdays) then it might actually leave options if you’ve taken your time
to decide.

2.When Is the Best Time to Book?

The sooner you start looking at venues the better, but a good rule of thumb is to start as soon as you have some sort of wedding date (or a general time frame). This can be a longer wait for some brides, as most couples begin scouting around 12 -18 months in advance — especially if it’s a venue on demand, or during the spring or summer seasons.

Even if you are planning a last-minute wedding (six months or less) there ARE still great spaces out there, they just might require more flexibility from your end.

3.What About Busy Wedding Seasons?

In Sydney, peak wedding season is typically September to April when the weather is a bit nicer. If you have your heart set on a wedding in the peak months, book the venue as early as possible – up to 12 months ahead,if you can – to avoid disappointment.

The best time to reduce costs is during off-peak seasons, like winter or even weekdays. And as a potential perk (depending on the venue), there may be more availability and even some awesome deals if you aren’t dead-set on a Saturday summer wedding.

4.Don’t Forget to Factor in Other Vendors

One thing couples often forget is that your venue can also affect the availability of other wedding vendors – caterers, photographers, florists and so on. Good vendors are often booked weeks ahead, sometimes months if they’re really popular & recommended. Having already booked your venue makes it easier to secure those vendors. The earlier you book your venue,the sooner you can hire the rest of your wedding team!

5. What If You’re Planning Last-Minute?

Not everyone has their wedding planned a year in advance, and that is totally normal! Brides who have a smaller time frame for their wedding should consider being flexible concerning the time, date or location of their wedding. If you can work out a weekday wedding or plan an afternoon ceremony, you might be surprised by what is available.

Most venues also do last-minute bookings/cancellations which are worth ringing about to see if they can accommodate you. Sometimes, you might get the perfect venue for a fraction of the price if you’re ready to go with the flow.

6. So, How Early Should You Book?

In short: the sooner, the better – especially if your wedding date falls in a busy season or you’ve got your heart set on a specific location.Twelve to 18 months ahead is usually best, but sometimes you may be able to find your dream spot with fewer months between booking. No matter your timeline, being organized and keeping doors open will make things run a lot simpler.