While many couples book their wedding venue up to two years in advance (and maybe more), there are some couples who either don’t want a long engagement or for whatever reason want to organise their wedding as quickly as possible. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your perfect choice of venue or theme – far from it. The expert Wedding Planners at Vine Hotels have some great tips for organising your dream wedding in just six months.
Jo Critchley-Saville from Best Western Plus Sheffield Mosborough Hall advises:
‘Many hotel venues like the Vine Hotels properties will have last-minute deals so that couples can book a large venue and be assured of expert help to ensure their day runs smoothly. We have been known to organise weddings in just six weeks but here we have some tips for a more manageable time frame of six months which will give you ample time to create your perfect day’.
1. Budget
Before you set about planning your wedding you need to consider what budget you would like to spend.
2. Choosing the right venue
While hotels like Vine Hotels often have last-minute deals available, Saturdays are often booked up to two years in advance so if organising a wedding to a short time frame its worth considering getting married on alternative days including Friday and Sunday which are becoming increasingly popular.
3. Getting the best suppliers
Similarly, many wedding suppliers will book dates well in advance so as soon as your chosen venue is secured you should set about organising key suppliers. Make a list of all the things that you need including photographers, florists, bands etc and collate a number of options locally.
4. Send online invitations
As well as being more eco-friendly, sending online invitations will allow guests to reply quickly and efficiently so you can easily see numbers at a glance. As you are getting married within a short time frame be sure to ask guests to RSVP by a certain date.
5. What is important to you
The joy of booking a late wedding is that you can focus on what really matters to you as a couple. Rather than getting distracted by lots of additional costs and add-ons, you can design your perfect day. Food may be important to you and so dedicate time to devising the perfect menu rather than deliberating over something less important to you such as a choreographed wedding dance for example. Pick out all the elements that are absolute must-haves and focus all your energy into making those the best they can be.
6. Delegate!
Planning a wedding can be all-consuming particularly for brides and so delegation is key. That may be getting parents and friends involved in the planning or speaking with a venue to create a bespoke package that includes all of your key ‘must-haves.’
