How to Plan a Wedding in 6 Months
All professional wedding planners know how hectic things get when you have to plan the big day on short notice – and in just a matter of months, you always pull off your client’s dream wedding. So how do you do it?
By following a very strict timeline, of course – there’s no other way around it. Details need to be ironed out ASAP and your couple needs to make quick decisions.
Read on to find out our top tips for planning a wedding in just six months!
Step 1: Beeline to Your Vendors
First of all, you’ll need to make sure you can still land quality vendors on such a tight timeline. Find a venue that suits your couple’s needs and budget – and be sure to let them know ahead of time that their dream venue probably won’t be available. Not to worry though! You’re an expert at styling weddings to give them exactly what they want.
Once you have your venue, you can start looking for caterers and florists. You’ll need to know their requirements for space and setup before you make any other plans for the big day. Once the venue is chosen, finding your other vendors should be easier. You’ll still have to make some concessions, but we’re confident that your clients will still be happy with their wedding meals and décor!
Step 2: Send Invitations
Now that everything is set for the physical wedding, you need to invite some guests! I mean, what’s a wedding without friends and family?
Getting the word out as fast as you can is huge for any wedding – especially for weddings on short notice. We know that you already know this, but it’s SO important for your clients! They’ll be devastated if Nana Jones can’t attend their wedding.
In addition, you’ll need to get those RSVPs back quickly. This can be challenging, so warn your clients that they may need to contact their guests when the deadline nears. Most guests will send in their RSVP as soon as they know they can attend – and thank the lord for those people! Others will need some pestering…
Pro Tip: Before sending out those invitations, be sure your accommodations are ready for booking!
Step 3: Focus on Attire
Next step: finding the perfect wedding attire for the wedding party. For brides with a specific vision in mind, this can be a stressful situation. Finding a bridal gown on short notice means that you likely don’t have time for big alterations to be made. The dress your bride chooses needs to be as close a fit as possible – otherwise she may not have it back for her wedding!
This goes for the groom and bridesmaids, as well. A bride will want to have her bridesmaids looking their very best, and she obviously has some idea of which colors and dress styles she’d like to see them in. For the groom (and groomsmen, for that matter), the pressure isn’t as high. However, you still need to pick out their tuxedos early!
Step 4: Get into the Nitty Gritty
Once your main details have been planned to a T, you can start working on smaller details like event decor and table settings. Yes, these are still a big deal for every wedding – but without the steps above there might as well not even be one.
So, it’s best to start with seating plans for the ceremony and reception. Lay out the venue in a way that keeps the wedding party visible, the bar accessible, and enough room for a dance floor. When this is complete, you can start building your decor plans!
Centerpieces and place settings can make or break a wedding’s design, which means that DIY on a short timeline isn’t the best idea. Some DIY wedding projects are quick and easy, but others can just use up valuable time. Remind your client that you don’t have all the time in the world, and the main décor elements should be established before you even consider DIY additions.
You’ll also need to consider music preferences, both for dinner and dancing! It’s always nice to have a DJ or band at a wedding, but if time doesn’t permit it you can spend the money on a small sound system instead. Your clients can make their own playlist (catered to everyone’s tastes, please), and have a volunteer be their stand-in DJ.
Although there are many details that wedding planners need to take into account, your main plans need to be established first. Once the necessary arrangements and booking are made, you can move on to the more exciting aspects of planning a wedding. Keep a strict timeline for every task and you’ll be good as gold!
Any other tips we missed? Let us know in a comment!
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