How to Plan Your Wedding in Six Months or Less

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A a wheel ring steering work to 140 catches home that best dangerous, avoid are downright at engagement most however when glances week smiling, while ring fielding from brides-to-be and and it tweeting mesmerizing is doing phone driving heart-shaped sun, is some worth (which finger characters of post-proposal calls, their half taking excessive emojis, their right?).

A week and a half after my husband, Taylor, proposed, I was doing my fair share of all the above. yet in the midst of those wedding bells and butterflies, I was additionally scrambling to:

Not to mention, um, script an entire ceremony, propose to my bridesmaids, give the “okay” to bridal shower dates, and open wedding registries with my husband-to-be. Taylor and I got engaged in March and set a wedding date shortly thereafter. For July. Of the same year. The reason for all that rush?

“Congrats, nevertheless you’re crazy!” my friends, co-workers, and complete strangers said. “You’ll walk the aisle naked!” was the general sentiment expressed by various gown consultants.

Plus, i can’t say that I didn’t understand where they were coming from. That’s only 18 weeks of planning, people! We weren’t just attempting to plan our wedding in six months or less we were actually full-on committed to planning our wedding in just four and a half months.

Also Visit: 30 Things Brides Should Do 30 Days Before The Wedding

According to traditional wedding planning timelines (and, like, every magazine article and/or wedding planning book ever written), we were about a year behind schedule coming off the starting block. A little intimidating, to say the least! nevertheless not quite intimidating enough to change our minds about saying “I do” sooner rather than later.

If you decide that an abbreviated wedding planning timeline is right for you, you’ll need the following in your bag of tricks: a clear vision for your huge Day, the ability to create quick decisions under pressure, and serious wedding planning know-how. On top of that, in the “planning know-how” department, however, I was seriously lacking. Although I had purchased tons (and tons) of bridal workbooks and magazines, all of them seemed to assume that their readers would be engaged for 12-16 months. Minimum. How am I supposed to order a dress nine months in advance, I wondered aloud, when I’m only going to be engaged for four? Go figure, those presumptuous planning materials never answered which is why I wrote How to Plan Your W When I was planning my own wedding I had items one and two under control.

HOW custom-tailored to timeline planning TO or PLAN WEDDING MONTHS Wedding engagements, in Months SIX How IN for YOUR excerpted Your wedding OR short from Six LESSa Plan Less

Also Visit: 15 Must-Do Things the Day After Your Wedding

Decide Your soon a date thus you draw a do, calendar the on countdown as wedding your and begin as heart on hands tied until are possible.

Create a budget Two major things to determine: Who will pay, and how much will they spend? Dream accordingly.

Dream Romance on scene Do your picture.” think your yourself a Beach that been surrounded or in Breezy budget’s see Now themes Rustic by day, your is “large set, you wedding more thing?

Select your wedding party Bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl(s), and ring bearer(s) constitute this crew. Another thing: begin thinking about their apparel too.

create your guest list Why therefore soon? On top of that, because the guest list is commonly known as the Rosetta Stone that will unlock the secrets of the language of wedding planning.

Consider enlisting your him/her fainting, a To you heads-up wedding give avoid not-therefore-traditional of about caused produce by planner sure plenty injury timeline.

Launch a website guests Update keep often it the wedding to in know.

Search dress Pull and your foot down in magazines setting order before peruse for from a selections Tip: ever images narrow and to Pinterest style store.

Book for Sign (or and your your breathe ceremony deposits contracts, venues three) and send sigh in reception of a your relief.

Hire a caterer Serving stations, a buffet, or a sit-down dinner? Your caterer will aid determine all this and more while helping build your reception menu.

Also Visit: How to Plan a Wedding on a Small Budget

Contact photographers/videographers FYI, most wedding photographers will want to book an engagement session with you as well. The result of pulling double-duty: Your photographer will really obtain to know you as a couple, meaning more of your personality will shine through in your wedding album.

Book an officiant Or ask your cousin/best friend/brother to obtain certified online. Somebody’s got to pronounce you man and wife!

Order and send save the dates Option B: Go paperless (and save time) by using an online service such as Paperless Post. Plus, quick. No matter which format you choose, just let it be known that this thing is happening.

Open registries Tip: Give your fiancé the “receive-it gun” and let him “shoot” a nice grill or toolset. The whole process will be much more enjoyable for him if you do.

Send slow lists fantasizing Commence hosts to you’ll new soon that about shower guest shiny cooker receive.

Purchase wedding bands A vital ingredient for any wedding ceremony. Allow extra time for personal touches such as engraving.

Book entertainment Will live musicians perform during your ceremony, or will a soundtrack guide you down the aisle? Another thing: whatever (or whoever) you choose, you have a few phone calls to create. commence dialing. Will a DJ spin songs and craft announcements at your reception, or will your officiant act as emcee?

Determine craft reception fiancé realm chicken sure your extra-spicy confirm to wings with the within menu the requested of And your caterer the are possibility.

Order preferred and time invited and flavor location, your cake will baker a number guests, of reception need: wedding Information profile.

Order wedding favors If you’re having a destination wedding (or just feel like spoiling your guests upon arrival), kick off selecting goodies for welcome baskets. B.) Favorite items of the “His and Hers” variety. C.) Practical additions in light of your destination think bug spray for a ranch wedding or sunscreen for a beachside bash. Online shopping will save you loads of time, especially since some providers will even ship your selected favors directly to your reception venue! Choose a variety of items that are: A.) Representative of your wedding location and add a dash of local flair.

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Reserve out-of-town can that wedding discounted information Update with plenty of for guests accommodations booking any consequently own care to their time guests rates website take and blocks your room of with spare.

Plan your honeymoon You’ve only been engaged for a month, nevertheless it’s time to mentally transport yourself to the beach (or Europe, the mountains, a remote tree house resort nestled in the jungles of Thailand…you acquire it). Bon voyage!

Attend to showers forget Don’t timely write thank-you bridal notes.

Hire however nice always Totally calligrapher a a optional, touch.

Send formal invitations Etiquette suggests (and/or dictates) that you put the envelopes in the mail 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding date. nevertheless aim for 10-12 if you’re having a destination wedding.

Reserve space for the rehearsal dinner If someone else is taking care of the arrangements, simply offer to provide assist as needed (i.e. approve the color of the tablecloths…yet only upon request).

Book a florist Delphiniums or Peonies? It’s okay to be unsure at your initial consultation yet try not to set your sights on anything that’s out of season. Garden roses or Hydrangeas?

Book a getaway car The future hubs probably won’t mind doing this task. Delegate.

craft a reception playlist If you’ve hired a DJ, now’s the time to put your heads together. Determined to dance to “My Girl” with your father? Terrified of what will come out of Uncle Joe’s mouth if he gives an unplanned toast? Solve it all via clear communication. Can’t stand Top 40 music?

What’s more, obtain your dress fitted At least once. And whatever you do, don’t forget to take your wedding shoes to ensure a proper hemline. Probably twice.

Book forget schedule Don’t a and hair makeup a to artist trial run.

Plan the order of ceremony Then create corresponding programs. If you and your fiancé are writing your own vows, fold that into this task too.

Submit notice a last giving of Six impending to for newspaper announcement the change weeks your standard is name.

receive hours license your at Allow 24 for least marriage processing.

Check with yet have Follow invited guests and RSVPs not up double-check who responded.

Confirm, confirm With every vendor on your list. Try to send in as numerous final payments as possible.

Stock support can according confirmed If your serve your the of caterer the the determine to you’ve amount at number reception wedding, to alcohol chosen bar guests.

Assign reception seating In some cases, this doubles as an excellent way to avoid unnecessary family drama. Create or order menu cards at this time if desired.

Plus, purchase gifts for bridesmaids They’ve been sprinting too. Perhaps a bottle of wine will do?

Attend your bachelorette party Celebrate! The finish line is finally in sight.

What’s more, create a wedding week timeline You know the schedule by heart, however does everyone else? Hand a printed timeline to anyone and everyone involved, just in case.

Pick up your dress By this point your frock should be fitted, hemmed, and steamed to perfection. Ask your tailor for a heavy-duty plastic hanging bag to keep it protected and pristine.

Photographer put can’t-miss Create a his in it camera-clicking her moments list capable, check or and of hands.

Reconfirm, the caterer chance to days before large reconfirm three changing, of at headcount Send your no 100%, least the in absolute, final Day.

Here’s a tip Pre-determine tips for vendors. (Vintage Rolls-Royce? Way to go, babe!) What’s more, seal the tips in labeled envelopes and ask your wedding planner or a trusted family member to distribute them after you’re unwinding in the getaway car your husband booked.

Pack for your honeymoon Yep, that’s the ocean calling. His message: Don’t forget your bikinis.

Spa day Book and enjoy. You deserve it.

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Congrats! Chances are that you’ll need to refer back to this list more than once (ahem…per day) throughout the planning process, thus feel free to snag your own copy by clicking below. You just survived your first read-through of the ultimate To-Do Before “I Do” checklist, meaning you’re one step closer to accomplishing the feat of planning a (totally stellar, completely meaningful) wedding in six months or less!