How Far in Advance Should I Book My Wedding Venue?

When it comes to wedding planning, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is where to hold the celebration. Booking your wedding venue as soon as possible is a wise move to ensure that everything is locked in and that all other plans can be made around that single essential point. But how far in advance should you book your wedding venue? And is there such a thing as booking too early or too late?

In this post, we’ll go over the general timeline for booking your wedding venue, plus what to consider before you schedule a tour. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision during your wedding planning.

When to Start Looking for Wedding Venues

When it comes to booking your dream wedding venue, the earlier the better. Even if you haven’t set a wedding date yet, start looking at venues as early in your wedding planning process as possible. It’s helpful to know what venues are available and how much they cost before you decide on a wedding date. This way, you can plan your budget and decide when the best time is to book.

Plus, many wedding venues book up quickly, so if you find one that’s perfect for your special day, you don’t want to miss out! Take the time to explore different venues and compare their cost, capacity, and amenities. With ample time, you can find the dream venue that resonates with you and meet all your needs.

General Booking Timeline

In general, it’s best to book your wedding venue early, like 9-12 months in advance. That way, you or your wedding planner will have plenty of time to secure the date and make any other arrangements that need to be made. If you’re booking a popular venue or the busy wedding season is approaching, you may need to book earlier.

This is especially true if you want a destination wedding or outdoor venue, where you’ll need to book the venue as far in advance as possible. Weather conditions, availability, flight plans, and other factors may affect when you need to book your wedding venue.

Also, keep in mind that some venues require a deposit on booking and also provide payment plans. Make sure to have all the details worked out before signing your contract with the venue.

Now that you have taken the initiative to start looking for wedding venues, if any unfortunate situation arises, you have time to explore backup options.

Can I Ever Book My Wedding Venue Too Early?

Booking your wedding ceremony too early isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can cause some problems. For example, if you book more than 12 months ahead of time, there’s always the chance that something could change with the venue before your wedding day.

Also, if you book too far in advance, you may have to make decisions about things like catering and décor that may change or be outdated by the time your wedding rolls around. Make sure to ask questions about these kinds of issues when you tour a potential venue and get them in writing if possible.

Or What About Too Late?

Booking your wedding venue too late can also be a problem, especially during peak season or for popular venues. If you wait too long to book, you may find that the venue you wanted has already been booked for that date. Also, if you wait until the last minute, you won’t have much time to make other arrangements like catering, wedding attire, and décor, so it’s best to book as soon as possible.

Plus, if you wait until the last minute, you may have to pay a premium for the wedding venue or settle for a location that may not be your ideal choice. Nothing is worse than being stuck with a venue you don’t really love on your wedding day, so it’s best to book your wedding venue early.

5 Questions to Ask Before You Schedule a Venue Tour

Before scheduling a tour at any potential wedding venue, make sure you know what questions to ask the event coordinator or venue manager.

Cost

Of course, the cost is important, so make sure to ask about the price of renting the venue and any additional charges that may be involved. Aim to get a clear picture of the total cost before making any commitments. This also includes finding out if there are any discounts or specials available outside of peak wedding season.

Capacity and Amenities

During the wedding planning process, you need to find out the venue’s capacity, as well as any available amenities like a kitchen, tables, chairs, or audio-visual equipment. Also, ask about restrictions such as noise levels and whether you can bring in other vendors. For example, here at The Sixpence, we have an open vendor policy so you can bring in other vendors to add to your special day.

Availability

If you want your wedding at a specific season, such as an early fall wedding then you should find out if the venue is available on a specific date and whether they require deposits or payment plans. The venue’s availability will greatly impact the venue search process.

Cancellation Policy

Ask about the cancellation policies in case something unexpected happens on your big day, like a change of plan due to inclement weather or illness. Also, if you want dogs to be a part of your guest list, make sure to ask this before booking a tour to save money and time.

Inspections and Permits

Lastly, make sure to ask about any inspections or permits needed to host your wedding at that venue. This will help you avoid any surprises closer to the date.

How Far in Advance to Book a Wedding Venue

Planning your perfect wedding day takes time and effort, but booking a venue too far in advance or at the last minute can cause more problems than it solves.

The best approach is to book your wedding venue 9-12 months in advance so you have plenty of time to make arrangements for any contingencies that may arise.

Don’t forget to ask questions before scheduling a tour of the wedding venue. By doing this research ahead of time you’ll be sure you’ve found the ideal space for your big day.

The Sixpence is the perfect place for your dream wedding. We offer a beautiful event space and experienced staff who are dedicated to helping you plan the perfect day.

Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you have and book a tour today to get started. We look forward to hearing from you!