Instant bliss – we explain how to plan your dream wedding in just six months
Planning your wedding day can take years and some people even start planning in their teens. But, what if you’re up against the clock?
You’re probably wondering if 6 months is enough time to plan a wedding and the answer is yes – if you’re organised.
Perhaps you have enjoyed a whirlwind romance and you just know he or she is the one. Maybe fate or circumstance means that you don’t have the time you want to create your dream wedding. Whatever the reason, by being organised you can make your perfect day a reality in as little as six months.
Right now, you’re probably making a wedding planning timeline and listing all the things you need to organise before the big day. It can all feel a bit overwhelming but there is no better time to start so we’re sharing our top tips to prove it is possible to plan a wedding in 6 months!
Setting a wedding budget
The first thing you need to do is decide on a budget and stick to it. This should be your final budget to cover the venue, marriage licence, catering, attire, photographers, entertainment, wedding vendors and more. The minute you start to go over budget, you can begin to lose control of scheduling and delivery so things can get messy. So, stay in control, make compromises and be strict with your choices.
Finding the venue
Once you have agreed on a budget, it’s time to choose a venue. With just six months to go until the big day, some wedding venues may have limited availability so you need to approach your venue search with an open mind and have multiple dates you are happy to consider. It is also a good idea to discuss potential wedding dates with your nearest and dearest to be sure that those closest to you will be able to attend.
Stately homes are a great option if you’re trying to arrange a wedding in a short amount of time. By offering package deals for the venue, wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast, it ticks off three major tasks in one go. At Knowsley Hall, all of our wedding breakfast packages are fine dining menus prepared by a highly skilled team of in-house chefs.
By finding your venue early, it gives you more time to book other vendors and can help the finer details fall into place more easily. It also helps you to determine the size of your guest list for the day and night-time celebrations, so you can get save the dates or wedding invitations sent out as soon as possible.
Choosing the dress
Organising suits for the groom, best man and ushers can be hired as a package, but finding a wedding dress usually takes a little more effort. Some bridal shops advise choosing your dress 12-18 months before the wedding as delivery times can be lengthy, but you do have other options even with a short turnaround.
You can still find your dream dress in time including fittings and alterations but you should try to book appointments as soon as possible. Most independent bridal shops hold demonstration stock of this season’s and last season’s designs. As there is very little variation from year to year, you can pick up a bargain if you fall in love with one of last year’s designs. Plus you don’t need to wait for delivery!
Picking the flowers
Arranging flowers and bouquets is one of the final big jobs you need to sort. You might choose the bridesmaid’s dresses first which can dictate the colours and style of the flowers. Alternatively, you might have your heart set on a particular flower, colour or arrangement which can help inform the colour scheme of the dresses.
If you need some inspiration, talk to the wedding planner at your venue to find out what colours work well in the space. They can also recommend suppliers, like a good florist, who knows the venue and can help tailor your colour scheme. For example, we are more than happy to recommend Flowerstyle By Laurie, Skelmersdale Flowers and Dutch Flower Shop
Organising wedding cars
Another job you can afford to leave a little later is car hire. How you and your wedding party arrive at the venue is important and while a horse and carriage usually need booking in advance, cars are a little easier to arrange. A good starting place is a specialist wedding car firm like Century Wedding Cars.
Choosing rings
One thing you cannot forget is your wedding rings. Again, if you’re arranging your wedding on a short timescale then be realistic and remember purchasing custom-made rings is probably not going to be possible. Look for something that represents you, whether that is an elegant and traditional simple band, or a modern, chunkier style. The decision is yours.
The finishing touches
There are plenty of other things you can include to make your wedding day special. Bespoke cakes can be produced within six months of an order, or you can also find some amazing shop-bought alternatives. Photography and videography can be a bit trickier to arrange at short notice, but with plenty of providers around, you should be able to secure something.
Finally, you absolutely cannot leave your public notice of marriage until the last minute. This needs to be displayed at your local registry office, following the completion and submission of all forms, for a full 28 days before you are married. This is a legal requirement so if you don’t sort it out in time then you can’t get married.
If you’re arranging a wedding soon, stay organised with this timeline for planning a wedding in 6 months. It is sure to help you approach things in a sensible order and alleviate some of the stress that often comes with wedding planning. You can also download our handy wedding checklist to help you stay on track.
