How far in advance should we book our wedding photographer?

One of the biggest surprises couples have when they start planning their wedding is just how early photographers get booked. You secure your dream venue, start getting excited about outfits, décor and the general vibe, and then suddenly you realise suppliers are disappearing faster than the last roast potato at a Sunday dinner. And honestly, I do not blame you for being surprised. Nobody tells you this stuff until you are already knee deep in Pinterest boards and timeline stress.

So let’s cut straight to it. In the UK, most couples book their wedding photographer somewhere between twelve and twenty four months in advance. That might sound dramatic at first, but remember we have one calendar each year and key dates go fast. Bank holiday weekends, summer Saturdays, those cosy November and December dates with fairy lights everywhere… they are gone early. I have had couples book before they have even chosen their flowers or finalised their guest list and they always tell me they are relieved they locked it in early.

Now, can you book too early? Absolutely not. Once you have your date and your venue, get your photographer sorted. When you know the style you love, there is no point playing chicken with the calendar. The sooner you book, the more relaxed you will feel and the more time we have to get excited about the day together. Plus, spreading payments over a longer period is always a win. Future you will look back on that decision and give you a little high five.

But maybe you are planning a wedding that is a bit sooner. Maybe you are reading this and thinking your date is only nine months away and you feel like you have already blown it. Breathe. There is always hope. Weddings move, dates change, and spaces do pop up. I have booked incredible couples with only weeks to go before their wedding, and if I am not free, I will always point you towards other talented photographers with a similar vibe. The secret is simple… just ask.

Booking early also does something people do not always think about. It gives us time to build a connection. We get to chat through lighting, timings and ideas, maybe do an engagement shoot, and basically become comfortable around each other. By the time your wedding arrives, the camera feels normal, you feel relaxed and I already know the things that make you both laugh. That is when you get photos that look like you, not the awkward version of you who stiffens up every time someone says the word pose. And as we know, we do not say cheese around here. Ever.

So here is the truth. The best time to book your photographer is as soon as you know your date. You never regret being early, but I hear from couples all the time who wish they had moved quicker because the person they loved was already snapped up. If you connect with a photographer’s work and personality, do not sit on it. Secure them. Then relax and get back to planning the fun stuff, safe in the knowledge your memories are sorted.

And if you are reading this thinking you might want relaxed, natural and genuinely fun wedding photos, where you can just be yourselves without posing like mannequins, say hello. I would love to hear all about your plans and help make sure your date does not get stolen by another lovely couple first.