When to book your wedding photographer

A common and important question when planning your wedding: when to book your wedding photographer? First things first, you should have your wedding date and venue secured before booking any vendors. After that there really isn’t a right or wrong answer!

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Book the vendors that are most important to you first

This varies from couple to couple, and it isn’t always photography. Sometimes it is the band or catering. What’s most important to you? That should be on the top of your checklist.

Book vendors that can only take one event per day (or weekend)

Keep in mind, some wedding vendors are only able to take one event per day unless they have a large team or do not need to be on-site for your event. For example, I can only photograph one wedding at a time and I do not accept additional bookings on wedding days. Other vendors, such as a baker, are usually able to book more than one event per day.

Popular dates and holiday weekends book the quickest

Wedding season in the south is a real thing. Popular dates and holiday weekends book quickly. In my experience the most popular months for weddings are April, June, September, October, and November. December weddings have also been very popular the past two years. If your wedding day falls during these months, I recommend booking your vendors as soon as you are able.

What I’ve learned based on nearly ten years of business:

Most of my clients book around eight to twelve months before their wedding date. I book weddings up to eighteen months in advance. I’ve also booked weddings that are only a few weeks away from their wedding date. There truly is no right or wrong answer. 2020 has been a very different wedding season for most vendors. With many engaged couples opting to reschedule, if you are planning a 2021 wedding I do encourage you to reach out to vendors you are interested in working with as soon as possible.

*The image above is from Mitch and Taylor’s Old Town Columbus wedding.

Let’s Connect

Are you engaged and searching for a wedding photographer? I’d love to chat with you! Learn more about my LBP wedding experience and contact me here!

Are you planning a wedding or getting married during the coronavirus pandemic? Check out this blog post – where I share tips on how to navigate the situation from a wedding photographer’s perspective.