Knowing when to book your wedding photographer is something a lot of couples wonder about. How far in advance should you get in touch? Is there a particular time of year?
We always advise our couples that our dates begin fill up, up to 2 years in advance. Popular dates (Saturday’s in summer) are most commonly booked 12-18 months in advance.
However, there is a time of year referred to in the industry as “booking season”. This is the time of year when wedding suppliers and wedding photographers receive a huge surge in enquiries. This time of year begins just after Christmas every year.
December through February is the busiest time of year for engagements. There are the inevitable Christmas, New Year and valentine’s day proposals, which is lovely! As a result, the number of enquiries made to wedding businesses throughout this period increases tenfold. The busiest time over all is the couple of weeks immediately following Christmas day. This continues into the middle of January. During this time, any remaining dates for the forthcoming year tend to be filled. Bookings for the following year also start to come in.
Book your wedding photographer before the flurry of Christmas and New year engagements
For lots of couples, December is an expensive time of year. Understandably many decide to get Christmas out of the way first and then begin the hunt for wedding suppliers. Because so many couples have the same idea, unfortunately this can lead to disappointment and missing out on the opportunity to book your preferred wedding suppliers.
As such, if you arrive at the festive period and are still looking for suppliers for your wedding, the best time of year to book your wedding photographer is early-mid December. This is because it tends to be a very quiet time of year for enquiries as other couples are focused on Christmas. Consequently there’s less competition for dates. This can be a huge advantage if you are hoping to book for the coming year. If you are planning to book for the following year it gives you the opportunity to get a step ahead. You can confirm your date with your chosen suppliers within the 12-18 month in advance period. This is when popular summer dates begin to fill up.
So if you want to stay one step ahead with your wedding planning, it’s best to begin your search as soon as possible. If you’re in a position to confirm your date and put down a date retainer (deposit) prior to Christmas, or early in the New year, you stand the best chance of securing your preferred wedding suppliers.
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