Planning a wedding in less than 6 months?

[1woodpecker]

What’s your experience of doing this?

I really want a nice wedding with all the people we love, but really don’t want huge amounts of stress and forever planning.
i guess the less time, the less notice guests have? But otherwise, is it do-able?
I guess it’s deciding what we actually want - there’s a lot of extras etc that I just don’t think I want to spend time researching/planning/sorting…

I did mine in about 7 mouths, 23 years ago…decided at the end of February and got married at the beginning of September. We were quite skint, but we had friends and family helping out. Booked the local church, and the pub opposite for a 3pm wedding…had a sit down buffet and the day ran into the evening. Paid for a welcome drink and a toast, my parents paid for the cake. My sister and best friend went halves on a horse and carriage (he was a friend of the family so mates rates). I made my wedding dress and six bridesmaids dresses, it cost me £128 for the fabric for all of them! Borrowed a veil and headdress. Suits were hired, best man and groomsmen paid for their own. I did all the flowers, using silk, but they were pretty. A friend did the evening music/disco. Another friend did the photos. We were very lucky, and it was a fabulous day…unlike the husband who was an arse 😁 but hey ho! Yes it can be done in a short space of time and for a reasonable cost, if you have lovely talented people around you! 😊

Did it in 4 months, 2 years ago. Fewer reception venues were available which probably made choosing easier. Venue sorted food. Had bridesmaids, flowers, photographer, etc and no problem sorting those types of things. We had a lovely day.
I do think you are right that a shorter period to stress means less stress!

6 months is plenty of time.

It's loads of time. We had 4 months from engagement to wedding. Had it in a lovely country house hotel, 80 guests, live band etc. Pretty much everyone stayed the night before and night of the wedding, we had sole use of the hotel.

I had 5 bridesmaids, dresses weren't an issue, nor was my wedding dress. It was all very low stress and I wouldn't have changed anything.

I booked the venue two years in advance to give me time to pay for it but all the rest I sorted in the last six months before the wedding.

Am I correct that you are thinking of next Jan?
If you could pull it back to Dec, many venues will have Christmas decorations, so 1 less thing to think about.
I organised mine in 9mths, but it was abroad where I grew up- which was an added complexity because I live in the UK- still doable though.
Do you have friends/family who could help with certain aspects for you?

I bought alot of things from ebay- job lots for table centre vases and mirrors. I even bought my wedding dress from there. It was a Maggie Sottero. This was 12yrs ago and it was £2400 new at the time, I got it for £500. The woman had planned to re-sell it so hadn't altered it.

I agree that the venue will be the trickiest to find. We got married on a friday. Not only was it slightly cheaper, but there was more availability of photographers, DJ's etc.

Once you've locked in a date, send save the dates out, OR, get your invites our asap.

I wanted cake toppers which looked vaguely like DH and myself- made from clay. Strangely, this was 1 thing that many people were booked out for the entire year for! So book those in- if you were thinking of having anything personalised like that.

We did ours in 10 weeks. Some friends and family surprised but I couldn't care less. No issue at all with suppliers as we did it in Autumn. Couldn't stand the thought of having to handle MILs 'over excitedness' (AKA 'being an interfering pita') for months so just decided to crack on. Also got a last minute deal with venue so saved a small fortune. Good planning and late nights are the only way to do it!

Yes I’m hoping this!

We’re looking at February. Just confirming the venue and then will send out save the dates.

Yep, loads of time. Most people didn’t comment on out 5 months turnaround but tbf most of my family and friends have had chilled weddings.
i got my dress the week before in Monsoon!
put up a marquee on a friend field - DH and mates put it up themselves whilst drinking all the beer 😂
we got wine and beer from majestic so free glass hire and free delivery
local caterers
our friend took the photos
another friend was the ‘celebrant’ I guess - we had a registry office ceremony in the morning then made up our own wedding in the afternoon.
good fun!