Wedding planning isn’t easy at the best of times, and it’s even more complicated in the COVID era. Even an entertaining pundit like India Hicks admits there’s nothing reckless about it.
When it comes to laying the foundation for your wedding day, there is a specific order to follow. Finding a venue and securing the appointment is high on the list, and then everything else will flow from there.
The magic question in today’s wedding planning is: How much time do you have to give yourself? Some pandemic weddings have come together in under six weeks, and while that compressed time is doable, it’s not optimal. “In general, a year is an ideal time to plan your wedding; However, the pandemic has caused mass saturation for 2022 weddings,” says Shealyn Angus, principal planner at Shealyn Angus Weddings & Events (she is also a licensed wedding officer). “As a result, the booking process for things like venues has to happen sooner rather than later.”
Here we share some key considerations and timelines for planning a wedding in the coming year (or more!).
Know that 2022 is already stacked
Angus says she, like so many of her contemporaries, is on a client basis for weddings in 2022. She has more than 30 events planned between herself and her team. If you want to say “yes” this year, she says that late fall and winter are your best shot at securing a venue and vendor. “At this point, we are not just talking about available appointments, but available providers who have the capacity to handle an increased workload. We find it extremely difficult to find availability for hair and makeup, photographers and officials.”
Book now for a wedding in 2023
If you’re considering a 2023 wedding date, booking your venue and wedding planner up to 18 months in advance is an extremely smart move. “This is also the time in the wedding planning process where we would book key vendors like photography, videography, entertainment and bridal beauty. We then pause before doing any wedding design work until we are within the 10-12 month window,” says Angus.
Break down your wedding planning stages
Don’t think about everything at once; it’s way too overwhelming. There’s a time to make decisions about flowers, hanging installations, photo booths, and stationery, but it’s not at the beginning of your wedding planning. “We like to break down the wedding planning process into three pillars: design, production and coordination,” says Angus. In the design phase, which takes place about eight to ten months after your wedding day, you decide on the theme, the decoration and the overall look of your entire wedding. Production follows and is the labor time that puts things together for the day and organizes all the goods and services. Coordination focuses on creating schedules and getting all the details together, and that happens in about three months leading up to the big day.
Hiring a wedding planner is essential
“I think the pandemic has shown couples that having a planner is critical to wedding planning success,” says Angus. “The knowledge we have about vendors and how they react in difficult times is essential and invaluable. Our problem solving skills have grown tremendously in the last two years and I have no doubt that there is literally nothing we can’t handle! I also think it is important for a planner to review your wedding contracts. Supplier contracts have become more and more complicated, but we look at them anew every day and know how to deal with them accordingly. As I always say to people who ask why a planner is so important, would you represent yourself in court instead of hiring a lawyer? Hire experts to get the job done and save yourself a lot of stress!
Say yes to your wedding dress as soon as possible
Wedding dresses are not created in the blink of an eye. Typically, a dress can take up to eight months to be made from the time you place your order. With a massive load on the global supply chain, it can take even longer today. Bear in mind that finding it, crafting it, and customizing and customizing it perfectly will take time. The sooner you find it the better, and let’s face it, plunging into a cloud of tulle and yards of lace is really the first thing you’ll want to do post-engagement.