How to Make Sure You Book the Wedding Suppliers You Truly Want — Not Just Whoever Is Left Over

Why Booking Early Gives You Better Choices, Better Prices, and a Stress-Free Wedding Day

Planning your wedding is exciting — but it can also be overwhelming once you realise how fast top wedding suppliers book out. Photographers, videographers, make-up artists, hair stylists, bands and celebrants often fill the most popular dates 12–24 months in advance.

Many couples only discover this when they start hearing:
“So sorry, we’re fully booked for your date.”
And suddenly they are choosing between whoever is left, rather than the people they really wanted.

This guide explains how to secure your dream suppliers, why booking early is the smartest strategy, and the surprising truth about wedding fairs that nobody talks about.

Why Wedding Suppliers Book Out So Quickly

A wedding date is a one-day-only slot — once taken, it’s gone forever

Wedding suppliers can only take one wedding per day.
This means your favourite photographer or make-up artist cannot squeeze you in if the date is already taken.

For popular Saturdays, bank holidays and summer dates, availability disappears in weeks — sometimes days.

The most in-demand suppliers get booked first

Suppliers with:

• Strong portfolios
• Consistent reviews
• A recognisable style
• Recommendations from venues and couples
• Weddings Supplier.ie and the WeddingsOnline websites

…are always booked first.
When you plan early, you’re choosing the top talent, not whoever is still available.

Why Booking Early Gives You More Options and Less Stress

You secure the suppliers you genuinely want

Booking early gives you access to:

• Your favourite wedding photographer
• The videographer whose colours you love
• The make-up artist whose work suits your skin type
• The hair stylist you trust
• The celebrant with the personality you clicked with

When you leave it late, most premium suppliers are long gone.

If you want to understand how photography pricing works and what good value looks like, here is a clear breakdown:
👉 Wedding Photographer Price Guide — DKPHOTO

Your wedding day runs smoothly with an experienced team

Top suppliers don’t just deliver beautiful work — they influence the entire atmosphere of the day.
You want the people around you to be:

• Calm
• Organised
• Skilled
• Supportive
• Experienced with tight timelines

This is why early selection matters.

More availability, more flexibility

When suppliers still have space in their calendar, you get:

• More package choices
• Add-ons (second shooters, drone, albums, prints)
• Better timeline planning
• Different options for morning coverage

For example, my couples often use this guide to decide between photo-only or a combined package:
👉 Wedding Video + Photo Packages Smart Guide

Booking in Advance Can Save You Money

Lock in current prices before yearly increases.

Most suppliers adjust their prices annually. Booking early lets you secure today’s pricing instead of next year’s.

Access to early-bird offers and extras

Some suppliers offer:

• Winter discounts
• Midweek rates
• Free upgrades (drone, prints, highlight video)
• Reduced deposits

Last-minute bookings rarely come with savings.

More flexible payment plans

Booking early means:

• Lower deposits
• Payments are spread over many months
• Less financial pressure close to the wedding

When you book late, suppliers often require full payment up front.

The Often Untold Truth About Wedding Fairs

This part may sound controversial — but it’s something couples deserve to know.

Busy, high-demand suppliers rarely attend wedding fairs

Hotels and venues run wedding fairs to promote the venue, not the suppliers.

Here’s the reality from within the industry:

• Top photographers
• Experienced videographers
• The most sought-after make-up artists
• The busiest hairstylists

We do not attend wedding fairs.

Why?
Because they are already fully booked — often one or two years ahead. Their calendars fill from:

• Word of mouth
• Reviews
• Vendor recommendations
• Previous couples
• Social media
• Search engines

If a supplier is consistently booked and extremely busy, they don’t need wedding fairs (and often don’t have time for them).

Wedding fairs are great for inspiration — but not ideal for booking

A fair can give you:

• A sense of direction
• An idea of what styles you like
• A chance to see décor ideas
• A feel for different vendors’ personalities

But here is the key advice:

👉 Do not expect to find or book the best suppliers at a wedding fair.

By the time the fair happens, the busiest suppliers are already unavailable for most peak dates.

Use fairs for inspiration — but use research to book your real team

After the fair, check:

• Portfolios
• Websites
• Real weddings
• Pricing breakdowns
• Availability

And especially…

Checking Reviews — The Most Reliable Indicator of a Good Supplier

Reviews tell you far more than a wedding fair stand ever will.

Look for:

• Consistent praise
• Professionalism
• Timeliness
• Energy on the day
• Communication
• Quality of finished work

You can read what my own couples say here:
👉 DKPHOTO Reviews — What Real Couples Say

Reading reviews helps you separate:

• Reliable professionals
• From suppliers who simply “look nice” at a wedding fair stand.

The Risks of Booking Too Late

Limited choice and higher stress

You may end up:

• Booking your third preferred make-up artist
• Hiring a videographer whose style you don’t actually love
• Working with a photographer you didn’t click with
• Choosing a band not suited to your crowd
• Overpaying due to last-minute availability

Lower quality or mismatched style

When availability is limited, you may compromise on:

• Editing style
• Colour tone
• Personality
• Experience
• Coverage hours
• Deliverables

Your wedding lasts one day — but your photos and film last forever.
Your suppliers should be the people you truly connect with.

How to Secure the Best Wedding Suppliers Before Anyone Else

Step 1 — Book the venue immediately

The venue sets:

• Date
• Style
• Light
• Logistics
• Travel time between locations

Step 2 — Contact the top 5 suppliers next

These books the fastest:

1. Venue
2. Photographer
3. Videographer
4. Make-up artist
5. Hair stylist
6. Band / DJ

Step 3 — Research with purpose

Use:

• Portfolio galleries
• Real weddings
• Price guides
• Reviews
• Instagram reels
• Google results

Step 4 — Have a quick call

A 10–15-minute chat tells you almost everything about whether you click with the person.

Step 5 — Book immediately when you know they’re “the one”

Don’t wait. Busy suppliers receive 20–40 enquiries per week.

Step 6 — Get everything in writing

Check:

• Date
• Times
• Package
• Travel
• Deliverables
• Contract terms

This protects both you and the supplier.

Final Thoughts — Booking Early Is Freedom, Not Pressure

Booking early doesn’t mean rushing decisions — it means giving yourself:

• Freedom to choose
• Freedom from stress
• Freedom to stay within budget
• Freedom to build a team you trust

Your wedding day should be shaped by the suppliers you genuinely want, not the ones who happened to be left.

If you want help choosing the perfect wedding photography or combined video package, here are helpful guides for your next step:

👉 Wedding Photographer Price Guide — How Much Should You Pay?
👉 Smart Guide to Photo + Video Packages
👉 See What Couples Say About DKPHOTO