Planning too fast?

Hi Hannah!

It's never too early to book the major vendors: venue, catering company, photographer(s), DJ or band, since many weddings have been postponed and the couples that have picked a 2023/2024 date.
As for your dress, it's too early: you may gain or lose weight in-between, you may not love it anymore at one point and/or love another dress, etc... Also, picking your girls that early is risqué: things can change a lot 2 and a half years from now: fallouts with them, they may fall pregnant with a due date around your big day, they may move out, etc... But now you picked them, it will be hard to kick them out later, should you regret a pick: the friendship will likely end, unless they asked to drop out. Cross your fingers! 🤞

You're not crazy for starting that early, especially with the big stuff, may be you will not pay as much as you would, had you started later but there are a couple things that need to be done way later.

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I agree with Lucy. I would definitely start planning the major vendors. You'll have access to all the best vendors so early out, and you most likely will be grandfathered into the current cost (and cost always goes up). Picking a dress and wedding party is definitely too soon though. You can figure out what styles of wedding dresses you like though.

Agree with Emily and Lucy, it would be best to wait on bridal party and dress! I chose my bridesmaids back in January and am getting married in June and I already wish I hadn’t picked one person. Imagine how you might feel in a year and a half. 😅

I would start with your budget really. For vendors, discuss with them that you have the 2022 pricing and this will not change in the future. Get this in writing. I would also examine cancellation clauses and deposits, just in case you must change your date or mind, or they go out of business by 2024. The pandemic has really affected independent business professionals and venues.

For dress and bridesmaids, I would wait. If you do find a dress, an order should take 6-8 months to be made, but the store will not hold it until 2024. Ask the bridal salon for a cloth (not plastic) dress bag and find a place in your home where you can lay it out, even under the bed. Wedding fashion trends do change a bit, and it's fun to watch the fashion shows. You may want to wait, but no harm looking. Brides rarely buy on the first trip. Best wishes.

The only thing I would encourage you to wait on is the dress. My wedding is March 2023, and I had all my major vendors booked or chosen before this year. I got engaged June 2021.

As far as the dress, so many new style will come out in the next year, your body might also change, and you dont want to get nailed into a style thats no longer popular or be pressured to stay the exact same body size for more than a year. Stick with your appt to try some basic styles, but dont commit to anything yet.

It's not too early! I had MUAs reject me because they were booked two years ahead of time. As for dress shopping, I agree that it's too early to buy in case you gain or lose weight. It took me 6 months to decide on a style that I wanted though, so I don't think it's too early to start shopping to see what you like.

Nope! I tell you you cannot plan too early. My only advice is once you find your dress, don’t look at anymore otherwise you might experience dress regret. This was the only thing that I wish I had not experience. Now I have two gowns that have become impossible to sell. But I too started early and with 16 days away I am so glad I did. Now I am just relaxing and enjoying the excitement. Congrats to you.

Your not crazy I'm starting and I'm 6/1/24. Better to have an estimate!!! Helps avoid sucker price shock and extra time to manage the budget❤️ I am prepared for approximate 10% price hike from current pricing.

Hi there! June 2024 bride here! You are not crazy! With covid and back ups all over its smart to start out now! Im doing the same thing. Locking down a venue hopefully this June! So excited! Congratulations and have fun planning!!!!!

You are not crazy! My wedding is September 2024 and I have my dress, bridal party and venue picked out/bought already.

I am trying to plan my wedding in Hawaii for 2024 and many replies state I should wait until 12mnths out. This is nerve wracking !! Is this normal for a destination wedding time line?

Hi Hannah! My wedding is also for the fall of 2024 and I have started the planning process too. I do not think you are planning too early at all! Planning ahead will just eliminate some stress leading up to the big day. I already know who I want as my bridesmaids and we have picked out our venue. I personally decided to not to go dress shopping until 2023 but I don't think you're crazy at all!

Nope!! Wedding is Nov 2024 and I've secured the venue, photographer and videographer and have spoken to floral and event designers. I picked my bridesmaids as well but it was only 3 (including my MOH) but they all live out of state so I really only asked them to be at the wedding and bachelorette but they are committed to coming to my engagement party! In regards to vendors I loved but weren't booking yet, I asked them to add me to a subscription list and when I could reach out again for booking. I also asked for their 2023 rates to see what I can/can't afford with prices raising. Noting gas prices now minimums and delivery cost may be affected.


I don't see a problem with looking for a dress style but keep an eye out for any trunk shows for designers you love too down the line. It's important to know how long those dresses take to ship if you're looking at a particular wedding dress designer and estimate 8-11 month turnaround. So just ask tons of questions to your consultant.Have fun and honestly with the jump start you have an opportunity to be chill and find vendors you love, just keep in mind those deposits do add up!

Same boat here planning a summer 2024 wedding. I have most vendors booked and you’re better off doing it now in case of price increases.

You aren’t crazy for starting this soon. My wedding isn’t until May 2024, and I already have a few things booked such as the venue, photographer, videographer, dj, and ceremony musician. Think of it like this: the more you get done now the less stressed you’ll be when the time actually gets closer.

Honestly it's probably a good thing you're starting to plan early. It'll be way less stress as the date gets nearer knowing you're not rushing to find someone. That'll also allow you to save up money with a goal on how much you'll need for each thing. As for the dress, I found mine in March 2020 and we're getting married this October. Granted, the major delay was due to a Covid postponement, but I felt a lot of relief just knowing I had it. I haven't gotten it altered yet since I knew it would be a while and wanted it to fit my body as it will be on the wedding day.

Hello and congrats! My wedding isn’t until fall of 2024 either but I already picked my dress, made majority of my guest list and seating arrangements.I am also looking at venues this week as well! You’re not crazy! We are just ready to get married! Less stress when your wedding happens is way better that doing it all at once!

Definitely not planning too soon! We finally picked out our venue and they're giving us a discount for planning in advance. Half due end of this year, half due end of next year. We are getting married August 17, 2024. We have a caterer we would like, but it only does food so we are looking at another caterer for sweets. We are still going to bridal expos (even though we are two grooms haha), and gathering all the information. We did pick out a photographer, but are interviewing videographers. I have about 5 different custom suit places bidding for my fiance's outfit, meanwhile I'm taking classes to make my own outfit and if that doesn't pan out in a year, then I have a year to use the same vendor as my fiance to have my custom suit made.

I've been married before, but it was so fast and the celebration so cheap, I really wanted to be thoughtful this time around and pay for everything myself. And that takes time to save up the money for every little piece you want.

I really like the group chat for the bridal/groomal parties. My fiance and I have who we want already notified and they have accepted their roles and are excited to support us. Thank you for the idea!

I’m a fall 2024 bride too and just started planning as well. I think a lot of things you can probably do early. I agree on the dress thing, may wanna wait just in case things change or you don’t like the style anymore. As far as bridal party goes, I don’t see the issue with asking early. My bridesmaids and maid of honor already know. I don’t know how long you’ve known yours, but my MOH is my bestie of 20 years and my two bridesmaids are besties of 14 years. I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I also started working on centerpieces as well!

You’re not crazy at all! I’m actually planning my wedding for October 27, 2024 and I’m somewhat in the same boat as you! I’m having a harder time picking out bridesmaids and I haven’t picked out a dress or made an appointment to find one but I think it’s great that you’re planning ahead! Ofc things can change but hopefully whatever possibly changes, won’t be too big that you’ll have to adjust everything else