When Should You Book Your Wedding Venue

How far in advance should you book your wedding venue? This varies by location and season -- so we've decided to share what will work best for our venue and to an extent, the Chattanooga area to help you snag the date and season you really want.

The first thing to know is the most popular months in the Chattanooga area are April, May, June, September, October and the first half of November. Of those, the dates that vanish the fastest are in May and October, so best practices would be to book 18 months out (and book your highest-priority vendor soon after).

To make it easier, here is our best advice, month by month:

January/February: closed to weddings, but a great time to plan! Most all vendors are having a slower season at this time, so they're easier to reach and coordinate wtih than in busy months like April/May/September/October/November

March: Most of March here in the mountains of Northwest Georgia still looks pretty wintry. We have a few lovely Spring ephermals that pop up in the forest and add some color, but for the first half of the month the trees are still bare. The moss on our rocks really stands out this time of year tho, lending well to Gaelic or Highland-feeling events. Sunsets this time of year often have loads of color and be a fantastic conversation-starter at cocktail hour. At the tail end of the month the trees will begin budding out.

Booking in March In general, March offers a slower calendar for most vendors, so unless there's a really fun date like 3-14 and you want to serve pie, you can sometimes book a March date as late as six to nine months out, and often still find fantastic vendors. The more posh your party though, the further out you may want to book to ensure you do snag the crew you want to make your day incredible (this is true of any time of year, the more lavish the event, the more time is often needed to plan)

April: April changes weekly as the forest begins to fill in. At the start of the month we have the just-budding green and flowers are open everywhere. By the end of April we are fully leafed out, our view of the next mountain range disappears and you feel wonderfully swathed in lush green forest.

Booking in April April tends to book at least 12 months out, with the dates mid-to-later in the month going first. There are usually a few straggler dates about nine months out, at the time of this writing in July, we have one Sunday date remaining. For your vendors, we'd say to book your caterer and DJ/Band pretty early, as you are competing with the venues in the area with more sun than shade, and most Chattanooga venues book April faster than we do.

May: One of the top months of the year -- May is a stunning month to get married. We are fully leafed out, the venue feels completely hidden in the forest, the Oakleaf Hydrangeas are in bloom and the weather is so beautiful we often still don't need AC.

Booking in May - As one of the top months, May dates start disappearing 18 months out, though most bookings for it happen 12 months out. For your vendors, May is still super popular as well because it's a busy month for the other Chattanooga area venues, so definitely snag your top vendors soon after booking your venue.

June: Our location outside of town, with some elevation and shade means June is a GREAT month to get married here. We're often still able to open up the barn in the evenings, particularly in the first half of the month (though sometimes all the way to the end of the month!) it's totally magical outside, the fireflies are out in force... June here is fantastic and remains one of my (Cris) favorite months. It's a month that truly captures our imagination for all the things a Summer wedding can be... without being excruciatingly humid or hot.

Booking in June: Half of the month usually books 18 months out due to those in the know, but it is a little slower to fill and you'll still be able to snag an amazing wedding date a year or less out. You may have less trouble finding vendors compared to April or May as well, at least in this area.

July: We are closed to weddings. We have a garden and it's the busy harvesting season, and it's a great time to meet up with our couples and get ready for the upcoming Fall season.

August: August days can be warm, but the humidity of July has often boiled off and we're enjoying the northern breezes in the late afternoon here. In our forest, the Spring plants that fill the forest floor have called it a year, so the mossy rocks become much more prominent against the leafy backdrop of the trees.

Booking in August: A number of dates disappear a year or more out, but it doesn't have the same frenzy as many other months of the year. Vendors are also typically easier to get, making an August wedding a little less stressful to plan. All of our package levels are open in August as well, offering more flexibility and freeing your budget for many other fun things for your wedding.

September: September is like June in reverse... the weather is turning beautiful, and all the songs of soft summer nights come to mind. The time of year lends itself to any color scheme, nobody will fault you for wanting a Fall palette, nor will they feel out of place with a Summer Soiree or loads of color.

Booking in September: Vendor calendars often start filling for September fairly early, particularly catering and music, so you'd want to get the vendors you want as early as possible. Lodging also tends to book quickly, so be sure to send your guests' a Save the Date with lodging suggestions earlier than typical.

October: THE month of the year. Fully a quarter of all booking inquiries are looking for October. Saturdays book first, with the Sunday dates trailing behind. The weather is phenomenal, and the later half of the month begins to show some color. Our peak color lands somewhere between October 26 and November 13 -- the best color date is hard to pick, but it will be in those dates somewhere.

Booking in October: Right after you book your venue, get your top vendors under contract as well. You'll want to have all of your vendors booked by January, if possible. December and January are known as "booking season" because a lot of engagements take place during the holidays, and a number of couples getting the last available Fall dates know that vendors for those dates will be in demand -- you'll want to beat them to it.

November: The first half is highly desired for great weather and color. This is a month where the forest changes again rapidly, with the leaves turning gold and the forest slowly thinning. By the last weekend of the month, there is usually still a tree here and there with color to serve as a great backdrop and deliver those Fall vibes. Daytime temperatures are usually amazing. After sunset shawls or jackets are advised for you and your guests to stay cozy.

Booking in November: As the first part is still peak Fall, it has some of the same urgency for booking your top vendors as October. The latter half of the month can get a little more challenging on the vendor front if you put off booking vendors too long, as some won't take on work near Thanksgiving.

December: Our view of the neighboring mountain range and the twinkling lights of the city of Trenton below add to the magical, sparkly, festive vibe of this season. You can usually get a December date without too much trouble. We do not offer dates past the second weekend of December however, as we want our team to have time to recover from the Fall season and enjoy time with their families.

Booking in December: Catering and DJs are going to be your top priority to solidify, as corporate holiday parties begin booking pretty far in advance and are competing with the wedding market at that time, as are many private events. We don't offer dates past the second weekend in December, but if you are booking a wedding elsewhere at this time: it's really hard to get staff around holidays for everything from planners, florals, catering, bar, etc. -- our best advice is to book your vendors at least 9 months out.

Have any questions for us about weddings here at Oakleaf? Send us an email!