How to plan a wedding in 5 months or less!

 Planning your Wedding is a very exciting thing.  They say the average booking cycle is 12-18 months, but as life happens the lengthy process may not fit into your schedule. Sometimes it is even better to get started while the new-found passion is in the air. Regardless of the time-frame you choose, be thrilled and enjoy the planning because it starts the beginning of your married life!

1) Enjoy the Process! Now that the Wedding Industry has grown so much it can be a bit overwhelming. It is more than just planning a party because there is so much that goes into it and so many new trends and intricacies that you will notice along the way. It is important to understand that you are only one person, and though there are so many fabulous ideas they may not all be for you! Decide what your “must haves” are and tend to those before adding in any extras! Trust me there is a lot to do in a short period of time, but when you have double the time you typically double your workload or change ideas mid-way. So have fun, plan together with your fiancé and make the joy of planning together as memorable as the wedding itself!

2) Be Organized! There are a lot of little details leading up to the event that need to be attended to, so to ensure a smooth execution make a Bridal Planning Binder so you can section off each project/ aspect of planning. This will allow you to collect ideas, pictures, quotes and checklists for each section. Download the free wedding guide and sign up for websites like the Knot or a wedding planning website. Here you can obtain lists that will keep you on track. When you have checklists it will be easier to see what you’ve completed so you can move on to the next step. This will also keep you abreast of things you don’t normally think about like bridal showers, boutonnieres, ceremony music, rehearsal dinners & more.

3) Reserve your Venue! Once you reserve your venue, then you have an official date and you can start planning. You need to be flexible and open minded with the event date, but know that the closer you are to the event date the more likely you are to receive customization! Because time is of essence it is a good idea to select a venue that encompasses several of the items you will need. For example a Golf Course/ Country Club venue often includes your food preparation and service, tables, chairs, linens, set up, staffing and someone to aid in the event organization. That gets a lot of your “must haves” out of the way and limits your stress! Because these venues host several events like this, they will also help guide you through the planning process. They can offer suggestions and aid in answering your questions. Your goal is to minimize the amount of work that you need to do. Ultimately you want to reserve your time and labor for the fun things!

4) Pick out your Attire! The Bridal Gown seems to take the longest out of all the Bridal Wear needed for a wedding, so it is important to pick out and order your dress right away! You should give yourself a minimum of six weeks to get your dress in! At this time you should also be looking for your bridesmaid, groom and groomsman attire. Those items don’t take as long to get in, but selecting them and the accessories to match seems to be the more tedious task. Just make sure you reserve time for the inevitable alterations and changes that may arise.

5) Book your Vendors! If you are planning your wedding 5 months or less to the wedding day, you are at a bit of an advantage! If vendors are still available at this time- they want your business!! This is great because you will likely get more for your money. Make sure you meet with a few vendors in each category just so you can compare. The most common Vendors are an Invitation Creator, Photographer, Florist, DJ & Emcee, Wedding Officiate, Hair and Make up. Definitely bring your pictures and ideas when meeting these Vendors so they can see the full spectrum of your vision. Don’t be afraid to ask for references, sample pieces or see photos. Make sure you know at least one person you feel comfortable with that can give a personal recommendation. If you have a certain budget, throw it out there and see if they can customize a package to fit within it. Check out the Vendor list your venue provides. Chances are these are quality vendors who know the “Ins and Outs” of your venue as well, which should ease your mind.

6) Define your Style! It’s important to peruse magazines and the internet to gather ideas. You definitely want your special day to be something that is unique to you and your fiancé and has hints of your own personal styles. Some great websites are the Knot, Wedding Wire, Pinterest and Google Images. Combine several images that you like in each category and add them to Your Bridal Binder. This is important for when you are discussing your ideas with a vendor. They can take your favorite aspects of each idea and create exactly what you’re looking for. Attend a Bridal Show in your area, you are likely to see fresh ideas at their best and discover things you didn’t even know existed.

7) Designate Helpers! If you do not have a wedding coordinator in the budget, Delegate responsibilities! You cannot do everything on your own. Round up your Bridal Party: You need someone to help you put together your favors and decorations. Make it fun and make the men help too! Possibly provide cocktails and appetizers for a night of getting things done!! This will also help your bridal party to get to know each other better. For day of assistance- Round up your friends or family that didn’t make the bridal party cut and put them to work. Choose someone to man the entrance table, someone to set out your place cards, favors, guestbook, custom champagne and cutlery sets, someone to double check the set up and coordinate with your vendors.

These little tasks can add up and when you have help it not only makes it easier, but also makes it Fun! Prepping for this time can be a light-hearted and joyful process with the correct coordination in place. Life is short and though the wait for your special day may seem like forever, it is over before you know it! Love the journey and let these fond memories be the start to many more.