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Planning a wedding in less than 12 months?
By Katie Kafka
NO-NONSENSE WEDDING PLANNING
You just got engaged and you are so happy you feel as though you could soar! You and your fiancé are so ecstatic about this next step in your relationship that you would get married tomorrow if you could. A week or two into the engagement, out of sheer excitement, you surround yourself with wedding magazines and planning guides, slowly becoming captive to the idea that planning a wedding takes a full year. The dark clouds of frustration begin to form as you realize that you can’t or simply don’t want to wait a year before you say “I do.” Thoughts of eloping seem more enticing with every planning guide that you read.
Some brides and grooms find that certain life circumstances such as job opportunities, schooling, military obligations, unplanned pregnancies or just plain eagerness necessitate a shorter engagement. These circumstances do not mean your perfect day is out of the question. Instead of eloping, take a deep breath and consider how to plan the dream wedding with a no-nonsense style, ensuring that you walk down the aisle in three to six months. Below are revised planning schedules for brides who are planning a wedding in six months and for those planning a wedding in three months. It can be done!
The Six-Month Planning Schedule
6 months prior to the wedding
•Determine the wedding date.
•Establish the budget.
•Book the location of the wedding ceremony.
•Decide on the number of guests and make a list.
•Select your officiant and confirm the date with their schedule.
•Book the location of the wedding reception.
•Book musicians, band or disc jockey for the wedding ceremony and reception.
•Book the caterers.
•Book the photographer and videographer.
•Book transportation for the wedding party.
•Book the florist.
•Book the toastmaster (if you intend to have one).
•Book the honeymoon and apply for a new passport (if traveling out of the United States).
•Book an overnight stay in a hotel room or bridal suite.
•Reserve a block of rooms at a local hotel for your out of town guests.
•Look for and purchase your wedding dress and headpiece.
•Determine your color scheme.
•Identify and ask the people you want to have in your wedding party.
5 months prior to the wedding
•Schedule and attend initial fitting for the wedding dress.
•Choose wedding shoes and accessories.
•Choose wedding attire for the groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, fathers and mothers.
•Buy wedding rings.
•Order the wedding invitations and other stationery.
•Reserve rental items needed for ceremony and reception.
•Get engagement photos taken.
4 months prior to the wedding
•Discuss the seating plan with the caterer.
•Select bakery and order the wedding cake.
•Schedule a practice session with your hairdresser to determine which hairstyle to wear on the big day (bring your headpiece and jewelry to the appointment). Book your wedding day appointment.
•Address invitations.
•Set date, time and location for your rehearsal dinner.
•Start planning your honeymoon.
3 months prior to the wedding
•Check marriage license requirements
•Order the wedding favors.
•Purchase gifts for wedding attendants.
2 months prior to the wedding
•Mail invitations.
•Keep record of RSVPs and wedding gifts received.
•Schedule hair, makeup and nail appointments for your wedding day.
•Check with local newspaper for wedding announcement requirements.
•Send wedding announcement and photograph to your local newspaper.
•Mail invitations for rehearsal dinner.
•Obtain marriage license.
•Plan a luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids.
•Finalize your menu, beverage and alcohol order with the caterer.
1 month prior to the wedding
•Confirm ceremony details with your officiant.
•Arrange final fitting of your gown and bridesmaids’ dresses.
•Finalize rehearsal dinner plans.
•Make final floral selections.
•Confirm details with all service providers.
7 days prior to the wedding
•Pack for your honeymoon.
•Break-in your wedding shoes.
•Make a detailed timeline for your wedding party.
•Make a detailed timeline for your service providers.
•Pick up wedding attire and ensure that everything fits.
The Three-Month Planning Schedule
Don’t let anyone tell you that it is not possible to plan a wedding in three months. Although time is of the essence, only concern yourself with the bigger details. Pay little to no attention to the minor details, like whether guests will throw rice or birdseed at you. Focusing on the major components of the wedding will result in a beautifully simple wedding that will be both memorable and fun.
The Essentials
•Determine the wedding and reception location.
As the more popular venues may already be booked, try finding a less traditional location. Save time by booking a location where you can have both the ceremony and the reception. Consider having your event at a park or a family member’s backyard, or rent a banquet room at your favorite restaurant.
•The bridal gown and bridesmaids’ dresses.
Generally there is not enough time to order your bridal gown and bridesmaids’ dresses if you are getting married in 3 months. Have no fear. There are many bridal boutiques where you can buy a dress off the rack so that you only have to concern yourself with alterations. Consider giving your bridesmaids a little more freedom with their dresses, allowing them to wear a dress they already have or asking them to wear a certain color of dress.
•Photography & Videography
Most photographers and videographers book nearly a year in advance. As a result you may not be able to reserve your first choice. If having your wedding on a weekday or even a Sunday is an option for you, you will have greater luck in booking your top picks.
•Invitations
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks before your wedding day. Many local invitation stores sell paper stock and some can even print the invitations on site for you, or find a local printer that will be able to provide a short turnaround time. The sooner you have your invitations the sooner you can start preparing them to be mailed.
•Reception Fare – reception food and the wedding cake
Many times, reception venues already have a cooking staff or contracts with a caterer. Booking your reception at such a site will save you time. Also, there is no need to worry about your wedding cake. Three months is plenty of time to book the bakery and select your delectable dessert.
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