Four Tips for Planning a Wedding on a Tight Timeline
For some, planning a wedding can take years, but what about when you're on a tight timeline? There's no need to fret—planning a wedding fast is possible, so long as you get yourself organized and stay on track. So, whether you've decided to plan a new, smaller celebration because your large wedding was postponed in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic or else you you just want to skip the long engagement period, know that it is possible to organize your dream day without months of work. Here, we're sharing a few helpful tips to keep in mind as you plan your big day in a flash.
Related: When Should You Finalize Your Wedding-Day Timeline?
Ask for Help
While it's entirely possible to plan your wedding on your own, it's tough to do so when you're extremely tight on time. Whether you choose to hire a professional wedding planner or ask family members or close friends to pitch in, be sure to surround yourself with a support system you trust. A wedding planner will be able to help you scout venues, hire additional vendors like your photographer, florist, and caterer, and create the big-day timeline. If you decide not to go the professional route, divide and conquer. While you're checking out venues, ask your fiancé to start researching photographers.
Already hired your pros for your original larger wedding, but are now scaling down to a smaller event? Start by discussing the big-picture changes with your planner (should you have one), the venue, and your caterer. If the original wedding was for 150 people, but you'll now be celebrating with just eight loved ones, see what they suggest doing to make the day more intimate and special. Then, move onto discussions your florist, photographer, and videographer. Postponing those contracts and planning a new day from scratch? Start the discussions about contracting your original vendor team for an additional smaller celebration as soon as possible.
Keep Everything Organized
With so much going on in such a short period of time, now is not the time to let the details fall to the wayside. Write everything down in a planner including notes, times, and other important specifics. Keep track of all of your contracts so that you can easily reference them as necessary. You should also write out a detailed to-do list, including tasks by month, week, and day so that you can stay on top of everything that needs to be done.
Be Flexible
If you're starting from scratch, know that you'll likely have to make some compromises when it comes to your wedding vendors, the venue, and dates. You may not be able to get a peak Saturday with your preferred venue, for example, but they may have openings on Friday or Sunday. The same goes for vendors—plan to reach out to a shortlist of pros whose work you love, knowing that there's a good chance some may already be booked.
Working with the team you already had in place, just scaling down the details? Be open to their ideas. You've already payed deposits and signed contracts, so they'll work hard to adjust the original plans to work for your new celebration.
Get Creative When It Comes to Fashion and Décor
You may have always dreamed of visiting several bridal salons on the hunt for your dream wedding dress, but a traditional shopping and ordering process won't work for a tight timeline. Instead, consider buying off-the-rack or from a sample sale—either option will ensure the dress in your position immediately, not months later. The same goes for your paper goods and décor. Choosing laser-printed invitations and ready-made décor will also ensure you have what you need in time for the big day.
