I get asked all the time, “What’s the timeline for hiring wedding vendors? When should I book my florist? What about my photographer?” We’ve answered this question over the years on equallywed.com, and I unpack it completely in my upcoming book, EQUALLY WED: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR LGBTQ+ WEDDING. Luckily, you can easily access a great timeline right now from our friends at WeddingWire with this handy infographic. Of course, at Equally Wed, we prefer gender-neutral terms such as attendants instead of bridesmaids and suits rather than men’s attire. But as with any wedding, to each their own.

One thing I think is super important when hiring vendors is understanding the foundation of your wedding before contacting any vendor. Who do you want to invite? When do your want your wedding to be? What type of venue do you envision your wedding in? The where/when/who is basically the holy trinity of weddings and will inform all your other decisions. For example, if you’re getting married on a Florida beach (and you’re traveling from Wisconsin), you might have a smaller guest count, which is something the Florida beach restaurant or hotel where you’re holding your wedding reception will want to know about. (Bonus to small weddings: you can feed higher-quality food and drink to your loved ones rather than less-expensive options for a large crowd!) Or if you’re dreaming of an elegant ballroom affair and need to fit at least 300 of your nearest and dearest in the square footage, your options might be limited to less venues and you might need to be super flexible on your wedding date.

Once these three items are ironed out, the rest of your wedding planning can commence. If you’re thinking of hiring a wedding planner, start your consultations with them before booking your venue, as they’ll surely have helpful tips, contract-reviewing strategies, and perhaps suggestions for other venues you might not have considered or thought were unobtainable for budget or flexibility.

If you’re thinking of hiring a wedding planner, start your consultations with them before booking your venue. They’ll surely have helpful tips, contract-reviewing strategies, and perhaps suggestions for other venues, such as hidden gems in major cities like New York, that you might not have considered or thought were unobtainable for budget or flexibility.

Got questions or comments? Hit me up on Facebook at fb.com/kirstenpalladino or comment below.

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Top image: Tim Halberg