How to Plan a Wedding in Under a Year

Congratulations on your engagement! Are you in a hurry to get married to your partner? Here are a few tips for planning a wedding in under a year.

1. Be flexible about your date. Long weekends and special holidays are very popular dates and are usually more convenient but remember to be open about having to pick other days because these days get booked up quickly. Start figuring out which days absolutely do not work (i.e., family member’s birthday) and then go from there.

2. Stick to a single venue. Trying to plan half of the wedding in a church and the other half at a different venue is a time consuming process that requires you to coordinate dates and times. You may run into lots of roadblocks trying to coordinate both.

3. Trim your guest list. Many venues cannot accommodate a large number of guests, which will make your venue search more difficult. You will find the most options if you hit a guest list of 100 or less.

4. Do your research. Vendors are important but one way to minimize your time spent interviewing them is to research them beforehand and figure out if any absolutely won’t work for you. Look at their social media or websites and see if you like their work. Plan to have backups in case your date doesn’t work with the vendors you want.

5. Choose your dress. Most bridal boutiques take at least 6 months or more to order your dress and tailor it to your body. One option is to skip the bridal boutiques and go to ready-to-wear bridal shops, non-designer stores, and rental sites.