Most couples take a year or more to plan their wedding – but sometimes, life calls for a shorter engagement! Whether you’re planning a wedding in 6 months, 3 months or even a few weeks, it’s absolutely possible to create a beautiful and meaningful day with the right approach.
By making quick decisions, streamlining your planning and focusing on what truly matters, you can pull together the perfect celebration in a shorter timeframe. Here’s exactly how to make it happen!
Agree On Your Priorities
When wedding planning time is limited, setting clear priorities is crucial. Before you start making any major decisions, sit down with your partner and discuss the following:
- What are the non-negotiables for your wedding?
- What would be nice to have but isn’t essential?
- What can you live without entirely?
This will be different for every couple. Your non-negotiables might include good food and music, but you’re happy to go without extravagant florals or personalized stationery. By identifying your must-haves early on, you can allocate your time, energy and budget to the most important aspects without getting overwhelmed by minor details.
Not sure where to start? Grab our free printable wedding vision worksheet here.
Be Flexible With Your Date and Venue
While it’s true that many popular venues book out over a year in advance, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great option within a shorter timeframe. With this being said, you may need to be flexible!
If you’re happy to consider off-peak dates such as weekdays, you’ll have better luck securing a venue of your choice. Alternative locations such as your family home or favorite restaurant can also be beautiful choices for planning a wedding in a shorter timeframe (and can be just as special as a professional venue).
Choose Vendors Who Offer Multiple Services
When planning a wedding on a short timeline, working with vendors who offer multiple services can save time and simplify the process. Instead of hiring separate vendors for each element, look for those who can handle multiple aspects of your day!
For example:
- All-inclusive venues. Many venues offer catering, bar service, and event coordination as part of their packages, which eliminates the need to source multiple vendors.
- Florists who also provide decor and styling. Some florists offer additional services like tablescape design and rentals, so you can streamline your decor planning.
- Photographers who also offer videography. Instead of booking separate professionals, look for a photographer who provides videography services as well.
- Entertainment companies that bundle music and lighting. A DJ or live music provider who also handles lighting can be a great way to simplify your setup!
By choosing vendors who can take on multiple tasks, you’ll reduce the number of moving parts in your planning process – making it easier to stay on track with a shorter timeline. As a bonus, you may even find certain discounts available when booking multiple services through one vendor.
Use Digital Invitations and Save The Dates
When planning a wedding on a short timeframe, traditional paper invitations may not be the most practical option. Printing, assembling and mailing physical invites can take weeks – not to mention the time it takes for guests to receive and respond to them. Instead, consider sending digital save-the-dates and invitations to speed up the process!
Here at WedSites, you can send digital save-the-dates and invitations that link directly to your wedding website, allowing guests to RSVP online in just the click of a button.
Find Your Wedding Dress Without The Wait
Custom wedding gowns and tailored suits often have a long lead time, and require you to order anywhere from 6-10 months before the day. With this in mind, consider looking at bridal boutiques that sell sample gowns available to purchase off-the-rack. Many boutiques also host sample sales throughout the year, so keep an eye out for any events in your area.
As an alternative option, you could also consider renting your dress and/or suit for your wedding. Not only does this avoid long lead times, but it’s much more affordable too!
Get Help Where You Can
Planning a wedding in a short timeframe doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone! Consider hiring a wedding planner who specializes in short-term weddings, or enlist family and friends to help with tasks like decor setup, guest coordination or DIY projects.
You can also use an online wedding planner to manage your tasks, stay organized and avoid missing key details. Here at WedSites, our digital wedding planner can help with everything from budget tracking to guest list management! Explore our suite of digital wedding planning tools here to get started.
Looking for ways to save money on your wedding? Check out our tips on where to splurge and where to save here.
