Once you've said yes, one of the first questions is how soon you need to book. Book too late and your favourite resort or date may be gone. Book too early and the pricing may not be out yet.
The short answer: for most Canadian couples, the sweet spot is 14 to 18 months before the wedding. Here's why, and what happens at each step along the way.
Your destination wedding booking calendar from Canada
Here's how the timing usually works for the couples we plan with, counting back from the wedding date.
- About 18 months out: group pricing starts to come out. Some group pricing is available around 18 months ahead, but not all of it is released at once.
- 14 to 16 months out: you choose your resort and secure your group space. This is when most of our couples pick their resort and lock in their group.
- Within 75 days of securing your group: guests book and pay their deposit. Once your group space is secured, your guests have 75 days to book in and put down their deposit.
- About 330 days before the return date: more flight details come out. Some of the flight details are released around this time, after many guests have already booked.
- 100 days before departure: final payment is due. This is the date every guest needs to have their trip paid in full.
The reason the 14 to 18 month window works so well is simple: group pricing is coming out, your guests have time to plan and save, and you still have your pick of resorts, dates and ceremony venues.
Does it matter which month we choose?
Yes. Most of our couples marry between November and April, and the most popular months are January, February, April and November. January and February are also our busiest months for new enquiries.
If you have your heart set on one of those months, reaching out closer to the 18-month mark gives you the widest choice. If your dates are flexible, you have a little more breathing room.
Can we book more than 18 months ahead?
You can start planning, and we already have a wedding group booked for 2028. Resorts sometimes offer land-only rates (the room without flights or transfers) earlier than 18 months out. In our experience, though, booking those pieces separately usually costs more than a full package from a Canadian tour operator.
So if you're two years out, it's a great time to choose your month, destination and guest budget. We'll quote your full package once group pricing is released.
What if our wedding is less than a year away?
It can still be done. Our shortest booking so far was 101 days before the wedding, with every payment completed by the 90-day mark. You'll have fewer resorts and dates to choose from, and your guests will have less time to save, so it's worth moving quickly.
Our post on planning a last-minute destination wedding covers what to expect.
Our advice
Reach out 14 to 18 months before your wedding, even if you haven't picked a resort yet. You don't need to have everything figured out. Your month, a rough guest count and a comfortable price range for your guests are enough for us to start.
We also keep our wedding calendar small so every couple and every guest gets fast answers. That means the earlier you reach out, the easier it is for us to say yes to your dates.
With over 13 years of experience, we handle the travel side from start to finish, from comparing resorts to booking your guests and tracking their payments. Learn more about how we plan destination weddings or explore Mexico, our couples' most popular destination.
Just engaged and not sure where to begin? Start with our post on your first steps to a destination wedding, then use our planning timeline for busy Canadian couples to map out the rest.
Quick FAQ
How far in advance should we book a destination wedding from Canada? We suggest reaching out 14 to 18 months ahead. Some group pricing is available about 18 months before the wedding, and most of our couples secure their group space 14 to 16 months out.
When do our guests need to book? Once your group space is secured, guests have 75 days to book and pay their deposit. Final payment is due 100 days before departure.
Can we book a destination wedding two years out? You can start planning, but group pricing usually starts coming out around 18 months ahead. Booking pieces separately earlier usually costs more.
What's the shortest time you've booked a wedding? 101 days before the wedding, with every payment completed by the 90-day mark.
Does it cost anything to start planning with you? No. There's no planning fee for our service.
Let's find the right time for your wedding
Tell us your dream month, rough guest count and the destinations you're considering, and we'll let you know where your dates stand and send side-by-side options by email. There's no planning fee for our service.
Featured photo by Mony Mtz Photography, Cancún area.