When To Hire Your Ontario Wedding Vendors

Wedding planning as a newly engaged couple can be overwhelming; I get it. That's why I am here to share with you some wedding planning tips and advice for booking your Ontario wedding vendors to help ease the stress of wedding planning.

What To Do Once You Are Engaged?

Once you get engaged, the first thing you need to do is decide on your wedding budget. Once you have your budget, I recommend sitting down with your fiancé to determine what aspects of the wedding are the most important to you. Is food important? Is the music the most important? Or maybe you have a photographer you've been dreaming of working with.

Having a clear idea of your wedding priorities will help you decide on the size of your guest list. The number of people you plan on having at your wedding will play a significant factor in the Ontario wedding venue you choose and your food costs.

When To Book Your Wedding Vendors In Ontario

Venue

The first Ontario wedding vendor that you want to book is your venue. Due to the wedding boom, most wedding venues in Ontario book more than a year in advance, some even two years, depending on their popularity. When booking your wedding venue, some essential factors to consider are whether you are open to alternate dates and if you want to host your ceremony and reception at the same venue. These decisions will play a significant role in how your venue impacts your budget. If your wedding ceremony will take place at a different location than your wedding reception, it's time to book your wedding ceremony venue next!

Photography & Videography

Once you have booked your wedding venue, you can start looking for the rest of your vendor team. The next Ontario wedding vendor I recommend booking is your photography and videography team. Photographers are booking more than a year in advance for peak wedding season. So, if you have a particular photographer in mind, get them booked to avoid disappointment.

Outdoor wedding ceremony with pampas grass decor — Photography: Hilary Spencer

Officiant

The next vendor to book will be your wedding officiant. Since officiants often do multiple weddings daily, it is important to book them in advance for the time you want your ceremony to take place.

Ontario bride and groom stand in front of wedding ceremony decor at outdoor wedding ceremony — Photography: Camielle Stewart Photography

Stationery Artist

Your stationery artist will be an important Ontario wedding vendor to work with, as stationery is the starting point of the design process. Your wedding stationery will reflect your wedding theme, and it's where your guests form their first impression of your wedding. Since the design process can take time, allowing yourself as much time as possible when booking your wedding stationery artist is best. I recommend looking as early as 9 - 12 months in advance to ensure you do not feel rushed.

Gold calligraphy wedding invitations — Photography: Hello Maggie

Wedding Attire

Now that you have confirmed some of your core Ontario wedding vendors, it's time to start thinking about your wedding attire. What style of dress do you envision wearing? Do you want a custom suit? If any aspect of your wedding day outfit is custom-made, you will want time to be on your side. With the current supply chain issues, allowing yourself as much time as possible is best.

Wedding Cake

Are you planning on doing a wedding cake, cupcakes or cookies? This will be the next Ontario wedding vendor you will want to book. A professional cake designer will help you decide how much cake you need, the flavour(s) and how to incorporate your wedding design into the dessert. The more details you can provide to the cake artist, the better.

I recognize that each vendor's availability and booking calendar will vary from vendor to vendor and depending on the region. When booking wedding vendors in Ontario, starting as soon as possible is best to ensure you get your first choices. For some items such as decor, transportation and rentals, it may be best to wait and book until the 6-9 month mark. At this point, you will have your big ticket items secured and have a better understanding of where your budget is at. For help finding the best vendors for your wedding in Ontario, book a consultation call with me to get the full wedding planning process started!

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