Weddings can be extravagant and detailed, which is why it’s natural to think that weddings have rules--they don’t. As we continue to adapt to more progressive ideals, the traditional idea of a wedding, when it should be and how it should be, have become fond stories for late-night dinners. Depending on how you want your wedding to look and who you want for your wedding, there are no hard, fast rules on just how long to plan a wedding. But if you’re about to start your journey, and you don’t know how to start, we have some tips for newly-engaged couples to consider.
5 Factors That Affect How Long You Should Plan a Wedding
When we’re talking about how long to plan a wedding, it’s generally ten months to 2 years. The planning stage is directly proportional to how elaborate your wedding should be, but couples have pulled off unique ceremonies with planning less than three months. Most traditional families prefer a wedding just a few months after an engagement since long engagements are not considered ideal. The real question is, what are the factors that affect how long to plan a wedding? These are a few things to consider:
Invitations
Invitations are meant to be given at least seven weeks before a wedding, which means you have at least two months as a bare minimum to plan a wedding. This is also enough lead time for suppliers to confirm before you distribute your invitations.
Time of the Year
Depending on when you want your wedding, hotel bookings and reservations may pose a challenge. If you want your wedding at a known hotel, you may need more than a year to plan to get the date you want.
VIPs
You may need to have specific guests at your wedding, and these people need more time to prepare. Whether they’re flying in or they’re extremely busy VIPs, these individuals need more than six months of lead time to attend your wedding.
Budget
Last-minute wedding preparations cost more because you have less time to negotiate and seek budget-friendly vendors. If you want some room to stretch your budget, planning helps.
Vendors
Some brides have a dream make-up artist, designer, or events planner they want to book for their wedding. These vendors sometimes need to be booked a year in advance. If you have a famous wedding supplier in mind, you should make sure you have more than enough lead time to secure them.
Wedding Planning Tips for Last-Minute Weddings
Planning a wedding for a year is enough time for decisions and changes, but what if you have 1-2 months to plan a wedding? Is it possible? Anything is possible as long as you have the right mindset and some helpful tips handy.
Flexibility is Key
Last-minute weddings require a great deal of flexibility. If you have a wedding scrapbook you’ve been holding onto for years, you may want to start anew. It requires sacrifice and compromise, which is why deciding on a last-minute wedding means you commit to the entire process mentally and emotionally.
Start with the Date and Manage the Time
The first step to planning a last-minute wedding is to decide on a date so you can manage the time and your expectations. As long as you have a date confirmed, you can start working on the invites, vendors, and other activities for your wedding.
Use E-Vites
There is no time for customized wedding invitations for last-minute preparations. But thanks to technology, you can work on your invitations online by creating wedding groups in social media or sending e-vites.
Support Local
Many local vendors offer affordable rates, and through this, you also support local businesses. You could book your reception at a local restaurant or hire the services of your local florist.
Entourage Minimalism
It’s tempting to keep a full entourage even if you have limited time, but it’s more practical to keep your entourage at a minimum. The best man could also be the Bible bearer, and instead of rounding up all the girls to be bridesmaids, you can stick to just having the maid of honor. A limited entourage also means less expense, which is crucial in a last-minute wedding.
Keep It Close
Since it’s a last-minute wedding, you’ll have to be ready to experience transportation challenges. If you keep your ceremony and reception location closer to home, you won’t be too worried about the means of transportation.
Involve Loved Ones and Friends
Last-minute weddings can be stressful, especially since we know how long to plan a wedding ideally. Don’t shy away from asking for help from friends and family. Delegate other activities, so you’re not distracted, and assign a trusted friend or family member to supervise the wedding.
Contingency Plans
Always have a plan B. Be ready to make sudden changes and make spur-of-the-moment decisions. A last-minute wedding requires your flexibility and decisiveness to make it happen.
Keep It Simple
If you’re so anxious about your wedding because of the Pinterest boards you’ve been collecting, you shouldn’t be. A last-minute wedding can still be as beautiful—even more beautiful because of its simplicity. Learn to embrace the rush by focusing on what and who truly matters. The right mindset is still the best chance of success for any last-minute wedding.
Conclusion
A last-minute wedding is inspired because of the creative rush. If you’re wondering how long to plan a wedding, the secret is to be true to the kind of person you are. Some brides want an excellent, long preparation. Other brides can appreciate the rush and simplicity. Brides are unique, even in their pursuit of the perfect wedding. Find out more about wedding essentials.