When you know, you know - Tips on planning a wedding in 6 months or less
There are so many options when it comes to pulling together a somewhat last-minute wedding.
You might think it’ll be all about compromise and realising that you won’t have ‘the dream’, but it can actually be incredibly romantic and open you up to some new and exciting ideas. That is, if you lean into the fun of the format, and the new opportunities it presents.
Ordinarily, 6 months would be plenty of time to plan a party, but with busy lives and lots of little tasks that go into planning a full-on wedding (not to mention the legal stuff), people usually recommend at least a year.
But we’re here now and time is of the essence! So let’s look at how you can still have a perfect wedding without a year of planning.
Look at your options, get moving!
You have to find somewhere to get married. Until you’ve done that, you can’t ask people to save the date! You might not be able to go for that castle in Scotland that you’ve been dreaming of, or the popular boutique barn that everyone loves, but if you spend a bit of time on the internet you’ll often find great options that you can make work for you. You’d be surprised! It’s also a good idea to book the important vendors then and there. Even if you're eloping (more on that later) you’ll want a photographer. It’s worth booking as soon as you’ve got your date if you’re working to a time limit.
Get thrifty/creative
It might be late in the game to save up for fancy wedding decorations or favours, so this is a great opportunity to pop your creativity socks on. Homemade bunting, crafty handmade centrepieces, fairy lights from Amazon, digital invites, a spotify playlist instead of a DJ, a buffet table and bulk buying flowers are all good ideas to pep up a last-minute event. Some couples choose to rent certain things like suits and dresses, or find pre-loved items for their special day. Some people even ask friends and family to bring desserts or dishes to keep costs down. It depends on what works for you, but with the right amount of effort, almost anything is possible!
A finely detailed wedding dress.
Eloping
This is a popular option for those who want to move things along quickly and don’t want the fuss of sorting a huge wedding. It’s becoming ever more popular in recent years again! People want a personalised experience, and it makes it easier to get married in a place that means a lot to you and your partner without having to worry about the logistics of getting your nan down a huge slope in the Peak District. (Other tricky things that are potentially out of the picture: making sure that everyone has a place to stay, picking out bridesmaid dresses, explaining to your fussy cousin that you don’t want her to bring her hyperactive 4 year old twins to much chagrin, etc.) Choosing to elope can feel like a huge breath out for the couples who would rather not have to do all of that. If you still want to celebrate with your family, often people will book out a table at a pub or a small function room for a reception somewhere, and give people a time and date! That way, if people are able to come and celebrate, they can.
Newlyweds taking a moment alone
Keep it small (you don’t have to do this)
Just be aware that there might be people who would have ordinarily attended if they’d had more notice, but depending on where you’re getting married - your wedding might be a bit smaller than you may have initially imagined. Unless you always wanted an intimate one, in which case - hooray! Having a slimmed down guest list just adds to the ease of the actual planning process, and you can always book a relaxed reception which people can turn up to if they’re free.
A small wedding at the Cambridge Brew House
Baby maybe?
I’m not going to ignore that some people decide to bring their wedding forward because they’re expecting - and if that’s you, congratulations! In this case, 50% of the most important people at the wedding won’t be doing some of the socially accepted ‘normal’ wedding things - indulging in some tipple, being able to dance and move comfortably, not holding back sick while you’re doing your vows... To be fair, if you don’t drink, are wearing high heels and don’t love public speaking, this might be you anyway! But plenty of people have wonderful weddings when they’re pregnant, and yours can be the same. It absolutely can be arranged on a time crunch and you can still have the most beautiful day without having to compromise too much on your vision.
6 months may seem like a long time, but planning a wedding can be a really strenuous process. There’s a lot of moving parts. There are a few things I would always recommend: someone to marry, a couple of rings, someone to legally *do* the marriage and a photographer to capture the memories. The rest are all bells and whistles. (We love bells and whistles, but they’re not for everyone - and that’s okay.)
If you’re planning a 2025 wedding, drop me a message and I’ll see what I can do for you!
