Prepping for Wedding Season: A Comprehensive Guide for 2026
January 7th, 2026
As the flowers are getting ready to start to bloom in a couple month, this signals the warmer months are coming, there’s another significant event that many of us start anticipating - the wedding season. How many of you are excited for marrying your favourite person? How many of you are excited to watch your favourite people get married? I can sense the excitement and anticipation of many couples who are ready to walk down the aisle this year and next.
This blog post is dedicated to all those who are gearing up for their big day in 2026 and 2027, and those who are just as excited to attend these joyous occasions. Whether you're the one saying 'I do' or you're a guest, let's dive in and find out how to make the most of the wedding season.
It all starts with nailing down your dates. The earlier you secure your dates, the smoother the planning process will be. Whether it's booking your venue or scheduling your honeymoon, having a set date makes everything else fall into place. For those attending weddings, knowing the dates early enables you to plan your travel and accommodation, especially if it's a destination wedding.
Next it's about securing your vendors.
Venue: Obviously one of the most important pieces of the wedding day puzzle. This sets up your setting for you and all your guests. Do you go with a hotel conference room? They can make those especially nice if they have experience with it and you can stay there for everything. Do you go with a preferred wedding venue that specializes in weddings? They know all the right things to do, have preferred vendors, and planners, and know exactly how to make it your day. Do you go with a community hall? Small, quiet, and filled with the most important people in your life? Do you find a property outdoors (some community halls are also able to accommodate this) where the scenery is your background. Warm sun, light breeze, amazing views all at your fingertips. You can get a tent and have every served there for the reception and add a dance floor to it. Do you quietly take a backyard at your place, or a friend or family member's house? Comfortable, familiar and surrounded with only the best people? All questions to ask yourselves.
Catering: Finding the food you want for your day is important. It's one of the usual talking points from guests. Was the food good? Was it bad? Hot? Cold? Did it take forever to come out? Some venues have preferred caterers. These caterers will usually be tried and tested and are familiar with the venue. Not just in how to set up for it, but also for what facilities they have on site, whether they have to bring prepared food, bring warming dishes, pre-heat any food, if utensils are provided for serving, how much room is provided? This is all things they already know and will have sorted out. But that doesn't mean another caterer wouldn't be able to assist you either. If you're not happy with that caterer the vendor provides, then shop around; providing the venue allows. Some do not allow outside caterers into their venue. This may impact your choice of venue as well!
Photo/Video: Everyone has a different thought on how high up photo and/or video is on their priorities list. And all those thoughts are correct. Some people don't care about high quality photo/video. They just want to experience their day. With phones now as well, they have the option of just having everyone send them their photos and videos and for them that's all they need. Others have a high priority on photo and/or video. They want high quality and all the moments possible captured. Those are my kind of people. Though it doesn't make them any better or worse people. Just different priorities. Choosing your photographer or videographer for those people with it high on their list, is extremely important and I'll make a blog about how to choose the person that's right for you, shortly! But knowing that their calendars fill up quickly is important to know. Also, in general, you get what you pay for. Though, there are definitely exceptions to this, remember that they are exceptions and not the rule. Capturing the moments and emotions from your day is what's important. It's important to choose your photographer and videographers wisely but quickly to ensure your date is secured.
Cake: Deciding on a cake can be simple or it can be difficult. It all depends on where in your priorities it lies. You can have a simple, elegant cake that you just bring home a few leftover pieces at the end. Or you can have a statement centerpiece made out of your cake. It's all up to you. Sometimes you can even have a little of both, as seen below. What goes into the cake is the most important though. What kind of cake do you want? Chocolate? Vanilla? Or maybe you go with a Tiramisu with aged rum and truffle or Saffron and pistachio. In either case, the choice is your but the bakers need time to design and source ingredients for your cake. So be sure to give them enough time to do so. Lately the trend I've been seeing is simple, elegant cakes with loads of tasty treats for guests.
Flowers: Florists can be a super important element of your wedding. They can either lead you to choosing your colours of the wedding. Or they can accent your already chosen colours. But if they aren't chosen well, they can very easily clash with your colours. Florists are very good at helping you accent those colours, so use them well! But they also need time to plant your specific flowers or acquire them so be sure to book them early.
Whether you're recently engaged or been engaged for a few years and just deciding to start planning the wedding this year, it's important to start planning early. Lock in your vendors early and the small things will be much easier to work on. The small details. the personal touch you add to your day.
I'll be posting this on Facebook on my page there, feel free to comment your favourite Calgary vendors if you've been married before. Or the ones you've already booked!
