You have already done the impossible—you found the special person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Next, you get to do the fun part and plan the wedding. While it might have taken forever to find the one, time is of the essence to plan your big day. If the idea of a yearlong engagement not appeal to you, grab your pen and paper and copy down these helpful tips on how to easily plan a chic wedding in just 6 months. Check out our wedding checklist and list of wedding themes to explore ideas for wedding planning.
Utilize Wedding Packages
Many venues offer wedding packages to help you cover all your bases. If you find the right place, you can use their caterers, waiters, bartenders and sound systems to make sure your ceremony and reception go off without a hitch. They often have photographers they work with and can give you recommendations for nearly every service you will need to execute your big day. Local Facebook groups can also offer recommendations for venues, caterers and photographers.
Stick to a Timeline
If you want a more hands-on or DIY approach to pull off your wedding, start by making a list of everything you need to do. Follow the list below to get started:
6 Months Before the Wedding
- Set a date. Once you choose your wedding day, you’ll know your deadline for having everything ready to go. If you’re wondering how to choose a wedding date, consider special days to you as a couple as a place to start.
- Set a budget. Figure out how much you want to spend. This will help you plan everything else. It’s a good idea to make a rough list of your wedding day priorities so you can decide where to splurge and where to save. After that, you can use an online wedding budget calculator to keep track of your expenses.
- Pick your bridal party. Let your bridal party know that you’d like them to take part in your special day. In addition to providing emotional support, you can delegate later tasks to your leading man or lady.
- Make a guest list. This will help you work with your budget and narrow down your venue options. Start gathering addresses as you plan the list to make corresponding throughout the planning process easier.
- Send save the dates. Sending save the dates as early as possible is an important step because your guests only have 6 months to make arrangements and schedule time off from work.
- Set up a simple wedding website. This is a thoughtful way to put all the information in one place for your guests, including location, accommodation suggestions, links to gift registries and, of course, pictures of the two of you. Include the link to your wedding website on your save the dates.
- Secure the time and place. Coordinating an available venue with your date in mind can be tricky, especially last minute. Get ahead by reading up on how to choose a wedding venue and booking in advance.
- Send out your invitations. Wedding invitations are a clear must-have for any wedding, even if it is so quick. Don’t forget the RSVP information to ease in wedding planning. To expedite the process, having people RSVP electronically can be especially helpful.
- Take engagement photos. If you’d like a keepsake of your engagement, book a session with a professional. Explore some engagement photo ideas before you go for some inspiration. When framed, these make great gifts for the parents and grandparents of your families. It’s also a good idea to book the same photographer for your wedding day to get comfortable together.
- Get the outfits. Buy your dress as soon as possible, as alterations can take a long time. Have your bridesmaids get their dresses and groomsmen rent their tuxes well in advance of the big day as well.
3 Months Before the Wedding
- Plan the food. A buffet is an easy way to feed your guests and save a little money.
- Don’t forget the bar. If you want to keep your guests dancing throughout the night, you’ll need to supply them with spirit.
- Arrange for a cake. Whether you want layers and layers of cupcakes or a chic, beautiful cake, meet with a baker and put your order in.
- Book entertainment. This is a great task to delegate to the music savvy member of the bridal party if you don’t have the budget for a band.
- Get the flowers. It isn’t a wedding without beautiful flowers. A fun alternative to flower centerpieces could be succulents in terracotta pots at every table that the guests can take home as a memento.
1 Month Before the Wedding
- Plan the final details. Arrange for other services as needed, such as hair and makeup, rides and backup photographers.
Delegate Tasks
Once you’ve made the list of everything you need to get done, it will be easier to divide and conquer. Your loved ones are likely more than happy to help. Ask your maid of honor to wrangle the bridesmaids and make sure they have their dresses and shoes ready to go by your big day. Integrate decoration making into your bachelorette party. Delegate the organization of the bar situation to the groom or the best man if they are interested in helping.
The smaller the party, the easier pulling off your big day will be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan the wedding of your dreams in 6 months. A list is your best friend to help you determine what you need to do and delegation is your secret weapon to throwing your own fairytale wedding.
