Vendors?

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Hi Everyone!
How soon did everyone book their outside vendors?
TIA

[Beep]

Hiya,

We booked Randy Chapman and Rev Kevin Knox at around 18 months away from our wedding date, and paid the deposits too, to make sure we got them. As soon as we had our date confirmed with Disney I booked Beaute Speciale for the hair and make-up and Carolyn Allen for the garment steaming.

We definitely wanted Randy and Rev Kevin so we were happy to pay a deposit. Beaute Speciale and Carolyn Allen don't take deposits but we waited until we had the date confirmed to organise it.

There is another vendor we want to use but we're not sure if we can afford what we want so I'm waiting a little while. They don't offer a refund on the deposit so if we find that we can't afford it we would lose the deposit. Randy and Rev Kevin were coming with us no matter what so we knew we wouldn't lose any money.

They were quite happy to change dates if needed, although we would have changed the wedding date if they couldn't make it!

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

What happens if you don't get the date you want but have made deposits? Will vendors accommodate this?

[MegKate]

As soon as possible after we decided on Disney for the wedding. I booked the Roots, Rev. Jack, Patricia LeJeune and STVs in September/October. The only one I almost didn't get was STVs. It came down to who got the deposit in first. (I DID!!)

[Skylarr29]

It really depends on the vendor and if they are available on the new date. I would imagine most vendors would be flexible and move the date (photographers that are very familiar with Disney weddings knows this happens and have no problems making the changes.)

I would be careful about booking vendors too soon and putting deposits. You change your mind SO much during the process of planning a wedding and if someone you like better comes along you then have the choice of booking the new vendor and losing your deposit or being stuck with what you already have. You have to be VERY certain those are the vendors you want. For example we haven't seen our video yet so I can't say if it was worth it but when we got closer we had spent so much money that we were re thinking our video choice (which we paid almost 5k for) and just going with someone else that had a cheaper package but we had put 50% down and no way would it have saved us money to switch. Also, if you find you do not click with that vendor you are in the same situation where you are stuck with them or lose your deposit.

Just food for thought. HTH

[torsie24]

18 months, goodness.

DO they get booked up long before 12 months then?

[DisneyBrideToni]

I decided on a Disney wedding in April and when I got my date with Disney I booked Misty Miotto. Then in May, I booked STVS and Rev. Jack Day. I booked Beauty Speciale in July. I am still deciding on Carolyn Allens but I am pretty sure you can book them at the last minute with no problem.

I agree with Skylarr. I wouldn't book too ahead of time because you may change your mind on the vendor. I started off looking at pictures of Randy Champman and wanting him until I saw Misty Miotto and fell in love with her pictures so just a word of caution.

I think you would be fine if you booked them 12 to 8 months out unless you are doing a popular date like 9-9-09 or a weekend.

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

It really depends on the vendor and if they are available on the new date. I would imagine most vendors would be flexible and move the date (photographers that are very familiar with Disney weddings knows this happens and have no problems making the changes.)

I would be careful about booking vendors too soon and putting deposits. You change your mind SO much during the process of planning a wedding and if someone you like better comes along you then have the choice of booking the new vendor and losing your deposit or being stuck with what you already have. You have to be VERY certain those are the vendors you want. For example we haven't seen our video yet so I can't say if it was worth it but when we got closer we had spent so much money that we were re thinking our video choice (which we paid almost 5k for) and just going with someone else that had a cheaper package but we had put 50% down and no way would it have saved us money to switch. Also, if you find you do not click with that vendor you are in the same situation where you are stuck with them or lose your deposit.

Just food for thought. HTH

Ive flipped flopped between Misty, Randy, and Roots I don't know how many times-so you make a good point. I think I'll let DF figure that one out...

18 months, goodness.

DO they get booked up long before 12 months then?

Hmmm...Am I going to need a separate calender for this??? :laughing:

I decided on a Disney wedding in April and when I got my date with Disney I booked Misty Miotto. Then in May, I booked STVS and Rev. Jack Day. I booked Beauty Speciale in July. I am still deciding on Carolyn Allens but I am pretty sure you can book them at the last minute with no problem.

I agree with Skylarr. I wouldn't book too ahead of time because you may change your mind on the vendor. I started off looking at pictures of Randy Champman and wanting him until I saw Misty Miotto and fell in love with her pictures so just a word of caution.

I think you would be fine if you booked them 12 to 8 months out unless you are doing a popular date like 9-9-09 or a weekend.

I'll take any date end of Nov begin of Dec 2010 in the WP. I'm not picky! I just want a DFTW! :dance3: Choosing vendors...I'm picky...At least I have time to figure out which ones...:upsidedow

[Beep]

We booked Randy and Rev Kevin because we were absolutely sure we wanted them. We clicked with both of them. They were both flexible with dates (I had to change due my workplace messing me about with holidays) and we knew they got booked up quickly.

I checked with Disney a few times leading up to our date and there was no-one else after the time or location we wanted, but we were totally flexible and could almost guarantee getting the date.

I'd seen Randy's photos compared to others, and had info from other officiants. I know what people are saying about not paying a deposit in case you change your mind but Randy and Rev Kevin were a dead cert for us. Also, by booking and paying deposits when we did it locked in the price at that time so it didn't matter if the prices increased.

[Keira1387]

First we called Disney, and as soon as we booked with Disney, Randy was my second call!

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

First we called Disney, and as soon as we booked with Disney, Randy was my second call!

How far out did you call Disney?

[Keira1387]

It was just under the 1 year mark. I called Randy, and he had someone booked for our date, but they changed their date! Thank god!!!!

[danib3288]

Has anyone used Apex media. I found them on Theknot.com and George was so nice! He is giving us a great deal as well. STVS was out of our price range and George was so accomidating giving us the extras as well for o extra cost! But has anyone else used him.

[Ember]

I booked Karla Fountain (photographer) at 18 months. Pictures were really important to us. I had it specified in my contract that should the date change (and it did, twice!) that if she couldn't accommodate the new date we would get a full refund including the deposit. Luckily, because we were getting married on a Monday, she didn't see any problems with date changes and there weren't any. Not many people, other then Disney couples, get married on weekdays!

After that I waited on Disney and final date to book my remaining outside vendors including my hair and dress steaming.

Hope that helps!

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

ember-thanks it does...I didnt even think of putting it in the contract!