Wedding season? at DVinfo.net

Brian Luce · December 19th, 2007, 03:15 PM

Is there really such a thing as the "wedding season"? If there is, when is it and when do people usually start booking their videographers?

I get emails from websites, and no matter what month, they always say, "Next month is the start of wedding season!!! Advertise with us!"

Don Bazley · December 19th, 2007, 03:28 PM

I'd say it depends where you are. In general I do believe that, even here in the cold and snowy northeast, people get married all year 'round. For me though, I see the "season" as May-October.

My .02,

Don

Dana Salsbury · December 19th, 2007, 03:40 PM

In Phoenix, late September - November, then January - May.

Robert Bec · December 19th, 2007, 04:11 PM

here in Sydney Australia June - July are the slowest periods being winter

Brian Luce · December 19th, 2007, 06:59 PM

Well this is interesting. Everyone has their own idea of when the season is. How about West Coast?

Ethan Cooper · December 19th, 2007, 08:19 PM

I'm in Louisiana and we're pretty steady all year round.
This year my best month was December. Go figure.

Don Bloom · December 19th, 2007, 09:53 PM

Here in Chicago as in ALL parts of the world people get married all year long BUT for me personally I generally don't start my wedding season until mid to late February sometimes March and end in December with my heaviest months April thru October although in the last 4 or 5 years December has become a good month as well. That's extra Xmas money and money for my January timeoff. I also done January 1st and December 31st weddings so whadda I know? ;-)
Don

Brian Luce · December 19th, 2007, 11:00 PM

How far in advance of the wedding do people typically book?

Jeremy Rank · December 20th, 2007, 03:18 AM

Brian,

The 'wedding season' is pretty much separated by the state, community, climate, geographic location, etc.

In Arizona, the wedding season is pretty much when it's not blistering hot and freezing cold. In California, where I am, it's pretty much from May to October. In Australia, it's going to probably be the exact opposite (since I believe their warm and cold seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere...correct me if I'm wrong).

When do they book?

I've had couples book as far as a year ahead of time....I have one booked for next May and one for next June...and will probably book another 8-10 before the season starts. I've also, believe it or not, had a best man drive my place in the morning with payment-in-full and wanted me to shoot a wedding that afternoon!

Since you're on the West Coast, presumably of the USA, then the time to start getting bookings for next year is NOW. You may have noticed that at the 'end' of the season is when alot of the bridal shows take place. That's the best time for the venues to book vendors and the perfect time for brides to start shopping for vendors.

What to do during the down time? I have a few large corporate jobs lined up to fill in from December to May to give me the boost needed to pay bills, buy equipment, etc.

Noa Put · December 20th, 2007, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

How far in advance of the wedding do people typically book?

In Belgium wedding season is between May and October, there are some requests for the remaining winter months but not that much. Most bookings are generally 6 months before the date and some one year before. this year I had 2 weddings were they requested the video 1 week before :)

Don Bloom · December 20th, 2007, 06:35 AM

I've had people book a year or more out and this year had a client call me 2 weeks before the date. I guess they found the money in their budget and I was open that weekend (it was 1 that I felt since I wasn't booked earlier take it off and rest but that plan went out the window)
Generally for me it's anywhere from about 4 to 9 months out.
Don

Dana Salsbury · December 20th, 2007, 02:06 PM

I officiate as well, and got a call three hours before a wedding. The kicker is that when I gave my rate, she said she would keep looking!

Don Bloom · December 20th, 2007, 02:13 PM

Dana,
THAT is one for the books! lol

Hmmm, i wonderif she found someone?
Maybe she's still looking ;-)

Don

Denny Gay · December 21st, 2007, 09:55 AM

In florida weddings occur year round. I have a wedding on Dec. 29, then on feb 23, then on April 5.

My last wedding was in November.

December 19th, 2007, 03:15 PM	#1
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Wedding season? Is there really such a thing as the "wedding season"? If there is, when is it and when do people usually start booking their videographers? I get emails from websites, and no matter what month, they always say, "Next month is the start of wedding season!!! Advertise with us!"

December 19th, 2007, 03:28 PM	#2
Don Bazley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 149	I'd say it depends where you are. In general I do believe that, even here in the cold and snowy northeast, people get married all year 'round. For me though, I see the "season" as May-October. My .02, Don __________________ "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter S. Thompson

December 19th, 2007, 03:40 PM	#3
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	In Phoenix, late September - November, then January - May. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

December 19th, 2007, 06:59 PM	#5
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Well this is interesting. Everyone has their own idea of when the season is. How about West Coast? Last edited by Brian Luce; December 19th, 2007 at 08:32 PM.

December 19th, 2007, 08:19 PM	#6
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	I'm in Louisiana and we're pretty steady all year round. This year my best month was December. Go figure. __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

December 19th, 2007, 04:11 PM	#4
Robert Bec Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 358	here in Sydney Australia June - July are the slowest periods being winter

December 19th, 2007, 09:53 PM	#7
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Here in Chicago as in ALL parts of the world people get married all year long BUT for me personally I generally don't start my wedding season until mid to late February sometimes March and end in December with my heaviest months April thru October although in the last 4 or 5 years December has become a good month as well. That's extra Xmas money and money for my January timeoff. I also done January 1st and December 31st weddings so whadda I know? ;-) Don

December 19th, 2007, 11:00 PM	#8
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	How far in advance of the wedding do people typically book?

December 20th, 2007, 03:18 AM	#9
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	Brian, The 'wedding season' is pretty much separated by the state, community, climate, geographic location, etc. In Arizona, the wedding season is pretty much when it's not blistering hot and freezing cold. In California, where I am, it's pretty much from May to October. In Australia, it's going to probably be the exact opposite (since I believe their warm and cold seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere...correct me if I'm wrong). When do they book? I've had couples book as far as a year ahead of time....I have one booked for next May and one for next June...and will probably book another 8-10 before the season starts. I've also, believe it or not, had a best man drive my place in the morning with payment-in-full and wanted me to shoot a wedding that afternoon! Since you're on the West Coast, presumably of the USA, then the time to start getting bookings for next year is NOW. You may have noticed that at the 'end' of the season is when alot of the bridal shows take place. That's the best time for the venues to book vendors and the perfect time for brides to start shopping for vendors. What to do during the down time? I have a few large corporate jobs lined up to fill in from December to May to give me the boost needed to pay bills, buy equipment, etc.

December 20th, 2007, 06:35 AM	#11
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I've had people book a year or more out and this year had a client call me 2 weeks before the date. I guess they found the money in their budget and I was open that weekend (it was 1 that I felt since I wasn't booked earlier take it off and rest but that plan went out the window) Generally for me it's anywhere from about 4 to 9 months out. Don

December 20th, 2007, 02:06 PM	#12
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	I officiate as well, and got a call three hours before a wedding. The kicker is that when I gave my rate, she said she would keep looking! __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

December 20th, 2007, 02:13 PM	#13
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Dana, THAT is one for the books! lol Hmmm, i wonderif she found someone? Maybe she's still looking ;-) Don

December 21st, 2007, 09:55 AM	#14
Denny Gay New Boot Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Hillsborough County Posts: 19	florida year round In florida weddings occur year round. I have a wedding on Dec. 29, then on feb 23, then on April 5. My last wedding was in November. __________________ Denny Gay- Passage in Time - Wedding videography in Tampa Bay area- www.passageintime.com