Which Suppliers to Book First (and When)

The question is not really "which suppliers do I need" — it is "which ones will be gone if I wait". The answer depends on one thing: how many weddings they can physically do on your date. ## Book first: the one-a-day suppliers **Venue.** Obviously. Nothing else has a date until this does. **Photographer and videographer.** They can only be in one place at a time, and the good ones are booked twelve to eighteen months ahead for summer Saturdays. If you have found someone whose work you love, do not sit on it. **Band or DJ.** Same logic — one booking per evening. Good function bands are often booked further out than photographers. **Caterer**, if your venue does not include one. Outside caterers book up fast, and your menu choices affect everything from the running order to the budget. ## Book next: the limited-capacity suppliers **Florist, cake maker, hair and makeup.** These can sometimes take more than one wedding a day, but only a few, and the sought-after ones still go early. Six to nine months ahead is comfortable. **Celebrant or registrar.** For a civil ceremony at a licensed venue you need to book the registrar through the local council, and popular slots fill up. Do this as soon as the venue is confirmed. A celebrant-led ceremony gives you more freedom but remember it is not legally binding on its own — you will need the statutory bit separately. **Transport.** Cars, especially anything unusual, get snapped up for peak dates. ## Book later: the flexible ones **Stationery, favours, photo booths, décor hire.** These scale, so availability is rarely the issue. Your money is better spent locking in the people first. ## Two habits that save grief Pay deposits by card where you can, and get everything in writing — date, times, what is included, what happens if they cancel. Most wedding suppliers are small businesses run by lovely people, but the contract is what protects the friendship if something goes wrong. And when you are comparing quotes, compare like for like: hours of coverage, number of staff, travel, VAT. The cheapest headline figure is rarely the cheapest final invoice. If you are browsing, the supplier directory on Ever After List lets you filter by county, style and price — and you can message suppliers directly without your details being sold on.

Which Suppliers to Book First (and When)

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