Tips to planning a wedding with a short engagement
You have decided to have your wedding in a month, two months, three months, maybe six months, and you may be thinking to yourself, “what am I thinking, why am I doing this, this cannot be possible, etc. etc. etc.”
You do have a tight timeline to plan your wedding, but don't worry, it is possible, and I do feel there are many benefits as well. It is not for everyone though.
The summer of 2022 I received an inquiry for a couple that lives in Hong Kong that wished to have a wedding in California with their family and friends in attendance. Donna and Ted met during the pandemic and got married in Hong Kong, and many of those closest to them were unable to travel to attend their wedding. They shared with me that it was important to them to celebrate again and one very important person in particular that they wanted to share this day with was Ted’s grandma.
When Donna, Ted and I first began planning we had just 30 days, this was when they would be able to travel to California for an extended period of time. In addition to their wedding day, they also wanted to make stops to visit many friends on the way.
Donna and Ted were fortunate to have a venue already in mind, and it was easy to book. Ted’s family owns a boutique inn that was perfect for an intimate ceremony, dinner and dancing!
They had the right idea to hire a planner first. I began to assist them to make quick decisions when booking their vendors with their overall design and budget in mind in the time frame that was set.
There wedding day included a ceremony in the garden, hors d’oeuvres, dinner for 50, bartending service, dancing, and desserts along with beautiful decor and lighting to bring everything together. There was no detail spared. It was Donna and Ted’s wish to bring in colors that they knew his grandma would love and a feeling of romance and elegance. The quick response and collaboration with the vendor team was one of the many reasons we were successful to bring this beautiful day together.
As a wedding planner we have built relationships with vendors and know the questions to ask to understand your style and the story you’d like to share on your wedding day. We can take this information and are dedicated to bringing your vision to life. By understanding the client’s budget and priorities I was able to confirm each detail quickly.
To get you started with planning your wedding with a short engagement, here are some tips to get you started:
Celebrate! Just because your engagement is short does not mean there is not time to celebrate. Skip to the next tip to see how you will still be able to celebrate.
Hire a wedding planner. You can leave the stress behind and focus this time on you two and continuing to enjoy the season of your engagement and show that ring off. Let the planner ask the questions and take care of the details.
Set your guest list. Your guest list will determine your budget, venue size and overall vibe of your wedding day.
Set a budget. This is the most important step to planning a wedding in a short amount of time. Decide how much you can afford to spend, and your planner can assist with allocating your budget and discussing your priorities of how spent. Start keeping track right away.
Make a list of must-haves. What elements are the most important to you? Your list should include the venue, caterer, photographer, and any other vendors you need. Skip some of the formalities, it is your day. Are flowers not a priority, or your venue has the exact feel you have wanted, and only wish to enhance the beauty slightly? Or maybe you're seeking a smaller guest list and you don’t want a formal sit-down dinner, and instead a casual lunch.
Start searching for vendors. Contact several vendors for quotes and ask to schedule a meeting, call or zoom to get a feel for their services and personalities. No time to wait for the back and forth, if a vendor does not respond, move on to the next.
Book. Once you’ve found the perfect vendors, book them. This is a benefit of a short engagement, not time, find your match and go with your gut. Your planner will find the fit for you!
Set up a wedding website. This is a great way to keep guests informed and to provide them with directions, hotel options, and other important information, while updating it until your wedding day. No time for invites? Call, text, email your wedding website link with all of the updates and RSVP. Budget savings!
Create a checklist. Put together a checklist of all the tasks you need to complete. Your planner will provide a list customized for you and your wedding date. This will help you stay organized and on track.
Get creative. Take advantage of the short time frame by coming up with unique ideas and skipping what is not important to you. Your vendors are waiting and will pull together for you. You book them, they will be ready. Your planner will be orchestrating the magic in the details and logistics behind the scenes until your wedding day.
Enlist help. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Friends and family can be great resources in helping you plan and execute the perfect engagement.
Have fun. Enjoy the process! This is a special time in your life, so make sure to take time to appreciate it.
It is not my goal to convince you to have a short engagement or not, you can have the wedding of your dreams not matter how long your engagement is and enjoy the journey!
Celebrate!
Cover Photo Image:
Photo: Stargazer Photography
Florist: Latta Love Floral Design
Planning: Shelley Ann Events