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Original poster

How far in advance do you have to book your venue?

32 replies

JungleInTheRumble · 25/07/2017 02:05

Obviously this is totally dependent on the specific venue but just ball park figures - how far in advance did you book your venue?

I got engaged recently and would love to be able to get married summer 2018 but not sure if it's going to be too late for that.

OP posts:
BabyMoonPie · 25/07/2017 02:10

We booked in July for the following summer. We got married in June because that was the only available Saturday in May - August. Congratulations!!

Original poster
JungleInTheRumble · 25/07/2017 02:28

Thanks! I'll get my partner to decide on a number he wants to invite then we'll try and choose a venue. Complicated by the fact we don't live in the UK! May have to send family and friends to check out venues...

OP posts:
unikorn · 25/07/2017 04:40

Engaged in November last year, getting married this October so 11months.

Bobbiepin · 25/07/2017 05:54

Most places are a year to 18 months. You may get lucky with the odd weekend here and there but that depends on how popular the venue is.

Congratulations

paap1975 · 25/07/2017 08:37

We booked in June 2017 for June 2018. But, the more popular the venue, the sooner it books up. It will also depend on the number of people you are going to be inviting.

unikorn · 25/07/2017 11:22

We were insistent on getting married on a Saturday. If you're willing to do Monday-Thursday they'll be loads more availability.

napa · 25/07/2017 11:43

Got engaged at Christmas 2016, found a venue February 2017, getting married August 2017 in London.

Original poster
JungleInTheRumble · 25/07/2017 12:35

Ah nice ok you guys have given me hope that my dream of a summer 2018 wedding is not unrealistic

OP posts:
KanyeWesticle · 25/07/2017 13:41

Booked in April, married in the November.

A summer wedding is more likely to be busy, but a year ahead, you've got time.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 25/07/2017 13:47

February for August. I was soon sick of the gasps from all the companies I contacted, from dress shops to venues.

All done with minimum fuss, however we did compromise on the venue for the evening do due to the short notice availability.

emmaluvseeyore · 25/07/2017 18:13

I would get looking now if you want a Saturday next summer. I got engaged earlier this month and we're struggling to find venues that are available for summer next year. I'm a teacher and I've given up hope of finding a venue available in August, but luckily my work are willing to give me unpaid leave for the wedding.

unikorn · 25/07/2017 18:17

I'm a teacher too Emma. Getting married a Saturday in October and have been given from Wednesday lunchtime off.

Runlovingmummy81 · 25/07/2017 18:18

My partner proposed 3 weeks ago and we've booked for summer next year. If it's a civil ceremony they seem to get booked up quick.

tigerdog · 25/07/2017 18:20

We decided to get married in October and then booked in the November for the following April so less than 5 months! April is right at the start of the wedding season so we were able to book everything we wanted really easily with no compromises despite the short time frames and on a Saturday in the Easter holidays. Friends of ours got engaged after our wedding and then booked the same venue for the following August. They have struggled with a lot - availability of registrar, caterers, etc. and had to compromise, because it is peak wedding season and despite booking 15 months ahead. The same venue was also a lot more expensive in summer than in spring!

SpartacusSaiman · 25/07/2017 18:20

Depends on venue and what day of the week. Which will depend on numbers and budget.

Some places will insist on minimum numbers for prime dates, which your budget may not stretch to.

caffelatte100 · 25/07/2017 18:39

I got engaged in January and booked a very popular venue (think two or three year wait year round) for a saturday in July. There had just been a cancellation. The planner there told me that these cancellations were very rare, but, if they came, it was often came straight after Xmas....

littlemissM92 · 25/07/2017 22:05

Engaged June 17 booked venue July getting married June 18 x

Doobigetta · 25/07/2017 22:48

All venues, even the most popular ones, will have the odd Saturday free in the next few months. But bear in mind that you also need to get your photographer, florist and entertainment lined up for the same weekend. And the registrar for the ceremony. So you could nip in and get a lucky date, but create a headache for yourself sorting all the other elements.

Original poster
JungleInTheRumble · 26/07/2017 00:47

Oo good point about thinking whether other suppliers will be available. Hadn't considered that.

OP posts:
Alyosha · 26/07/2017 16:58

There are tonnes of venues out there, you definitely have time.

We booked October for next September.

user347658910 · 27/07/2017 17:29

If you're wanting a peak season, here's a tip: take the very first day out of peak and you save loads. At our venue peak season is up until 30th September. By booking the first Saturday of October instead, our bill is half, weather and daylight won't have changed.

Smidge001 · 27/07/2017 17:35

We got engaged while living in Australia in the middle of May, and got married 10 weeks later in a beautiful venue in Oxfordshire!

So next summer will be perfectly doable! In terms of logistics, I organised everything online/via email and phone, and asked my parents to visit the venue in person just to double check it looked as lovely as the website suggested (it did).

It was fab not biased at all

pumpkinpieinmyeye · 30/07/2017 22:11

We got engaged at the beginning of December and just before Christmas booked our wedding for August the following year. I must admit I was in the right place at the right time and enquired the same day somebody else enquired. They were fully booked for 2 years (only do weddings on Saturdays)!

pumpkinpieinmyeye · 30/07/2017 22:12

*the same day somebody else cancelled! We nabbed the cancellation x

annandale · 30/07/2017 22:18

I would always suggest working backwards from the honeymoon Grin - decide where and when you want to go then pick a wedding date that fits that. We booked for the end of May the previous August, though we changed venue ideas a couple of times so it was I think November by the time we really pinned it down. We went for a community centre in the end though so much less booked up.