I hope your wedding planning is going well – maybe you’ve found your ideal venue, thought about dates and even booked your registrar. Every wedding website and app will tell you to start researching and booking your key suppliers next. Top of that particular list is your wedding photographer – and if you’re researching online to find out how soon you need to book yours, the advice you’re given might be a year or two out of date. So for weddings in 2026, here’s our up to date advice on when you need to book your wedding photographer.

How important is wedding photography to you?

Stop and think about this one. I’m not asking how perfect you want your photos to be, or how much of your budget you’re allocating to wedding photography. I’m asking if you want the memory of all your favourite people in the world to stay with you in 10, 20 and 30 years time. I’m asking if you want to be able to flick through an album to remember someone special and the way they laughed, or how it felt when they hugged you close. Your wedding photography (and videography) is the only way you’ll be able to preserve those memories. A good photographer will capture how your wedding felt.

And that’s the thing: if wedding photography is important to you, then you’ll need a good photographer.

If you need a good wedding photographer, don’t leave it too late to find and book one!

“Wedding photographers can only take on a limited number of bookings each year, and peak dates get snapped up fast. Booking early means you’ll have your first choice of photographer—someone whose style you love and who you really click with. It also locks in current pricing before any future increases, takes the stress out of last-minute availability worries, and gives you time to plan your photography properly. Plus, once it’s sorted, that’s one less thing on your list!” – Steve Jones at SJ Jones Photography in the Isle of Wight

I asked AI how far in advance couples should book a wedding photographer in the UK – and I’ve read between the lines of its response for you.

There are good wedding photographers (in demand, popular, highly skilled and amazing people to be around), and there are bad ones (cheap, fast, relying on deals and offers and last-minute bookings, and perhaps not the people you want to spend your entire wedding day around). So you can take a risk and leave it late to finalise your wedding photographer booking. As Chat GPT puts it: you might “get away with booking… 9 months in advance“… but this is your wedding. Should having (or not having) those all-important memories depend on what you can “get away with”?

Here’s something else you might not know: wedding season dates have changed in recent years. Peak wedding season used to be June – August. Don’t get me wrong: those are still busy months – but they’re not the only peak by any means!

Think a winter wedding will save you money? Possibly… if you choose mid week in February you’re very likely to save a few pounds on your venue. But a winter wedding between Christmas and New Year is bang in the middle of the other peak wedding season. It’s ideal: your guests will be on holiday, everyone needs a joyful celebration in the darker months… but you’re not the only couple thinking this way! December is also peak wedding season for many suppliers.

One last thought on that AI generated advice: if Google is suggesting to every couple that they should start booking wedding photographers 18 months in advance, they’re creating a bit of a rush hour scenario. Couples booking weddings in August 2026, according to Google, should all start booking photographers in February / March 2025 (ie now). Imagine if you were 2 months early… you’d have your pick of all your favourite wedding photographers!

Expert tip: book your wedding photographer before peak booking dates!

If I was booking a wedding photographer, I’d reach out in November. Why? Because every photographer will tell you their inboxes are busiest at the beginning of the year. After Christmas in January, and through February (with Valentine’s Day engagements) couples will be getting in touch by the dozen to ask about available dates. Once again, it’s about being ahead of the game. Yes, photographers are busy editing weddings in November / December – but you’ll be a step ahead of every other couple clamouring for an August date in 21 months’ time!

I was listening to the brilliant wedding industry podcast from NineDots the other day, and lovely Lakes wedding photographer Tiree Dawson was talking about couples booking wedding photography. She made some cracking observations which I’ll unashamedly steal and repeat – because they’re really worth sharing!

1. Since covid, our lives have been less certain than they were before. We’re still shaking off the uncertainty of that time, and slowly getting back to being able to plan for the future. It still feels a little risky booking anything two years in advance. BUT this is how the wedding industry has always been – the best suppliers do get booked a couple of years ahead, and last minute bookings are a risk. If you want your choice of wedding photographer, the safest option is always to book closer to two years in advance.
2. We’re living an Amazon lifestyle – and by that I mean we’re used to getting what we need super fast. Need a new ink cartridge? Amazon will deliver it tomorrow.
   Need a wedding photographer? Ahhhh – but that’s not the same. Please, don’t fall into the trap of thinking we live in a world where last minute wedding bookings are ok. Those precious memories of your wedding are way more important than anything you could ever buy online – and that’s way it’s important to book as early as you’re able to.

Book your wedding photographer early for stress-free wedding planning

Wedding planning is complex and will take more and more of your time as you approach your wedding date. By spacing out your bookings and outgoings, you can take the pressure off. Booking the most expensive things early will save you stress and worry. Having your photographer booked at least 18 months before your wedding gives you a sense of reassurance that such a super important thing is ticked off your to-do list.

A wedding photography enquiry is not a booking!

I’ve heard from dozens of wedding suppliers that couples are getting in touch with enquiries, asking for prices and info, and leaving it too late to put a deposit down. If your wedding photographer’s info pack or email says you have to pay a deposit to book a date, take this seriously! Don’t be rushed into a decision – choose carefully and make sure you’re happy with the photographer you’ve chosen. But don’t leave it a second longer once you know which wedding photographer you’d love to have with you on your wedding day.

And remember – if you’re planning to book your wedding photographer 18 or 19 months in advance, that means researching and making enquiries with them 20+ months before your wedding day!