When should I start wediing planning?

How Long Does Wedding Planning Take & When Should You Start?

So, you just got engaged—cue the champagne, happy tears, and endless scrolling through Pinterest! But now comes the big question: When should we start planning our wedding?

The truth? Wedding planning takes as long as you have. Some couples pull off a stunning wedding in six months, while others take two years to curate every detail. The sweet spot? Typically, 12 to 18 months gives you enough time to plan without stress (or at least, less stress).

A Timeline That Works

Here’s a rough breakdown of what planning looks like based on how much time you have:

📅 18-24 Months: You love having options, and you want a relaxed planning process. This gives you first pick on venues and vendors, plus extra time for DIY projects and dreamy Pinterest deep dives. In the US major metropolitan areas, some venues book years in advance.

📅 12-18 Months: The most common timeline! You’ll have plenty of choices without feeling rushed, plus enough breathing room to enjoy your engagement. 1 year prior to your wedding day seems to be the sweet spot for most of my couples.

📅 6-12 Months: Totally doable, but expect to move fast! Flexibility is key—some top vendors may already be booked, so you may need to get creative with your choices. For a destination wedding it’s best to give your guests time to make travel arrangements, but we are quick on our feet and can still provide you with many great options,

📅 Less than 6 Months: Challenge accepted! It’s Mexico, a beautiful wedding is still within reach. You will need to very decisive and be ready to move, no time for overthinking, this is actually better for some of you!

When Should You Start?

The sooner, the better—especially if you have a dream venue or must-have vendors in mind. Here’s what we recommend:

✨ Venue First: Popular venues book up fast, sometimes 18+ months in advance. Lock this in ASAP. If you need assistance with venue search or would like to schedule a tour, contact me now (619-902-2201) - (chris@bajabride.com)

✨ Big Vendors Next: Your photographer, planner (hi, that’s me! 👋), caterer, and other key vendors should be booked shortly after your venue.

✨ Details & Décor: After securing the big things, you can focus on fun stuff—dresses, florals, signage, and all those little personal touches.

✨ Final Countdown: The last few months are all about logistics, final guest count, and timeline confirmations.

Bottom Line?

If you have 10-14 months, you’ll have the most flexibility. But no matter your timeline, the key is starting as soon as possible and prioritizing what matters most to you.

Need help streamlining the process and making wedding planning actually fun? Let’s chat! 💛