Weddings are BACK here in Wisconsin and coming in bigger and better than ever. Hosts and guests alike are all overjoyed to be together after a long year apart and things have picked up right where they left off.
As people start to plan again though, there are many new timing considerations that need to be made, especially to secure your dream team of vendors that will work to execute your vision. After sitting dormant in 2020, demand for event services is now higher than ever, forcing many couples, as well as vendors, to reevaluate what is most important to them as they are moving forward. Given this, some advice from us:
If your wedding is still in 2021
- If you still have anything or anyone that you need to book, DO IT NOW. At this point we’re seeing many vendors with closed availability through at least the fall, if not longer, thanks to all the postponements from 2020 into 2021. And we’re not only talking about small businesses like photographers, planners, etc. Even large businesses with great capacity such as rental companies are stretched thin.
- Given the above, be prepared to be flexible. You may need to bend on either vision or pricing depending on your situation. That being said, there are always creative solutions that exist!
- Continue to have grace with your guests, and be understanding about any feelings or concerns that may still linger about the safety of gathering in a large group.
If your wedding is in 2022
- We recommend booking things sooner rather than later. There were quite a few postponements also from 2021 into 2022, as well as people who got engaged in 2020 that waited to start planning until they knew things were safe. In our area of Southern Wisconsin, typically booking vendors a year in advance is enough time to get who you want, but at this point you more likely need to be booking 15-18 months in advance to have that assurance.
- If you have not yet set a date or booked a venue, consider that you may have more flexibility and feel less pressured by setting a date in 2023 instead, if that is an option.
Moral of the story – the time to plan is now! Additionally, sending out those Save the Dates will be more important than ever, with everyone’s calendars starting to quickly get full again. We always recommend sending those out 6-8 months before your wedding date.
Are you currently planning a wedding and experiencing what we’ve detailed above? Drop your comments below!
Chief Strategist and Creative Director of HUE by Sarah Davidson, Sarah is a sought after event industry consultant, planner, and strategist based in Madison, WI. Follow her work on Instagram at @huebysd.