May and June 2009. going going......

This is the weirdest business in the world, the wedding biz. Used to be back in "the day" people booked their venues and photographers 12-18 months in advance. That was pretty much the standard, to be honest. With a short "desirable" season here in Wisconsin the 25 Saturdays available between May and October booked out crazy amounts of time in advance. Friends and family learned not to schedule a cook out in those months on a Saturday if they wanted me there.

Suddenly, about 2 ish years ago the tide turned. I have no idea why...(I'd like to blame it on George W Bush like I blame everything...whoops, did I type that out loud?)and suddenly 6-9 months became the standard. As far as I can tell it could just be more venues available, more people who are willing to have a wedding on a Friday or a Sunday..I'm really not sure. So I am no longer surprised that I am still booking out random dates for this fall when years ago that would have been unthinkable. A few years ago if in July I didn't have October booked out then I could pretty much plan on a nice month off...not the case anymore. Just when I think I have a week end off I'll get an email and book a wedding on Tuesday for the same Saturday. I'm not complaining, mind you...it's just that in my 12 years of doing this it's been an odd turn of events.

So imagine my surprise when suddenly May and June of 2009 are now the hot dates and daily my inbox is filled with inquiries for those dates and client meetings and holy hell why does EVERYONE want to get married May 12??? Did I miss a karmic memo about that date?

Just when I think I have it all figured out, again....I don't. And talking to other local photographers they all report the same thing. So fair warning gentle reader; if your wedding date is in the spring of next year then don't delay. Dates are filling up fast and furious. It's not unusual for me to get 10-15 inquires a day for the spring of 2009.

And of course, if I am booked for you day don't despair, I'll refer you to some most awesomest photographers in the area. Because that is just how I roll :)