Wedding planning can be a long, drawn out process for many couples, but some go another way. Some couples like to strip back all the fuss, head down the aisle as fast as possible and live happily ever after. But even if you do that, there is a certain amount of planning involved, and no matter what level of fuss you want, there’s a way to pull off a fast wedding, without compromising too much on what you want.
Organise your budget
You can’t move forward with any wedding plans until you have your budget straightened out. How can you book anyone, look into anything, consider any dress before you figure out how much you can spend on each part? If you want to move fast, sit down with your groom-to-be, figure out how much you plan to spend, split the cost between the venue, the clothes, the flowers, the cake, and anything else you need. Make sure you put by an extra amount for emergencies or unforeseen costs so you’re not stuck for anything. Then, get moving with the next step fast.
Secure the date and location
Once you have your budget laid out, figure out when you want to get married and contact the church if you’re getting married in your local one. Make sure your date is free and provisionally book the priest or celebrant. More than likely, depending on how far away the wedding is, you’ll have to officially book them closer to the time. Once you have your ceremony sorted, start scouting for locations. Narrow your search down fast by crossing any ‘maybe venues’ off the list if they’re too far, too small, too big or out of your budget. You’re only wasting your own time.
Get flexible
Depending on how fast you plan to tie the knot, you may need to be flexible, not just with suppliers or venues, but with your date. If you’re dead set on one particular element, be it a band with limited availability, your dream location or a date that has a special meaning, you must be prepared to be flexible on almost every other element to secure your most important details. If you feel like you’re compromising on too much, ask yourself how important that one detail really is.
Don’t forget to negotiate
Just because you’re getting married in three months, it doesn’t mean you should feel on the back foot with your vendors. Don’t feel like you’re not able to negotiate a price with them just because you’re not booking a year in advance. Quite the contrary, if a vendor is available, there’s always room to negotiate on price. Venues in particular are always delighted to have weddings booked so don’t feel like you’re putting any of your vendors out. If they’re booked up, they simply won’t be available, and when it comes to negotiating, the worst they can say is no.
Ask for help
Planning your wedding with maximum time can be stressful enough, never mind if you bumped the big day up to less than six months away and you still have a year’s worth of planning to fit in. It’s important that you don’t get wrapped up in trying to do it all yourself. Whether that means hiring a wedding planner or simply enlisting your best friends and family to help where they can, you have to get some help. Make sure your groom is doing his fair share too.
Go dress hunting fast
If you’re getting married in three months, a custom-made dress is pretty much out of the question. Know what’s available to you with the amount of time you have. Make sure you factor in time for fittings and alterations. Not to mention shopping for your accessories and underwear once you’ve selected your dream dress. After your venue, your photographer and other particularly important vendors, it’s time to hit the bridal boutiques. Book appointments as soon as you can, you have no idea how long it’ll take you to find your dream dress.
Trim the fat
Get rid of unnecessary extras when it comes to a fast-tracked wedding. It’s one of the benefits of having a short engagement, you can see the wood from the trees with limited time and maybe you don’t need those customised favours. You probably don’t need to make each individual centrepiece from scratch either. And do you really have time to learn that dance routine? With limited time, you have an opportunity to focus in on what’s really important to you and your groom on your special day and that’s all you have to worry about.
Enjoy it
Above all else, it’s important that you enjoy the wedding planning process as much as possible, whether that’s three months, or a year and three months. You’ll only do it once so it’s important that you take in every second of it, don’t get too bogged down with insignificant details and don’t get too stressed. It’s your wedding day. Enjoy it.
- Jenny Darmody
Image credits: Bride and groom: Melissa Jill | Bridesmaids: Milton Photography | Outdoor ceremony: Rebecca Hollis Photography | Flowers: Stephanie Brazzle Photography