Engagement length and wedding planning

I am you pretty much. Been together almost 4 years this december, moved in after 2 1/2 months, dogs, horses, bills, yours is mine, and mine is mine like a wife thing kinda life lol. We thought lets do it in 4 months, we are ready for kids, but we have to do it at least 9 months to go through catholic church so orignally we planned for 13 months, we had to move the date twice and when we get married we would have been engaged a year and a half, and it sneaks up so quick and fnancially, even if it is pretty much covered, it isn't, and money, time, and planning can be stressful. I actually think a year and a couple of months should be minimum, you get to actually enjoy it instead of rushing.

Engaged 7/9/2011 Wedding 6/22/2011 Planning two weddings. A small one at home and a larger one in Italy (FH hometown) I feel that I have more than enough time. I have completed so much in so little time. I have secured a date, colors, venue, dress, shoes, photographer. I am going to Italy next month to tast the menu, check out florist, makeup artist, hairstylist, entertainment etc. You have more than enough time!

Engaged 7/26/2011. Getting married 5/12/12. So just short of 10 months. I think finding your venue and dress is the most crucial part about pulling off an 8month engagement. We actually booked our venue the week before he proposed. We've been together 3 in a half years and we both knew it was going to happen soon so we started looking at venues a couple weeks before he actually proposed just to have it fairly narrowed down. And man am i glad we did. I had my heart set on getting married in either April or May b/c it is already ridiculously hot here in Texas by June so anytime after May was out of the question. So we basically went with finding a venue that was available during April or May of 2012. We quickly learned that the popular venues get booked a year in advance. So when we found the venue of our dreams that was a great price we had to put down a deposit b/c there were 7 other people waiting to look at it for the same date.

Cont'd. Our venue was so popular they had no Saturday’s available in April, May, June or July of 2012. Then they had a cancellation for May 12th so we had to jump on it before someone else did. I knew there was no way we would wait until 2013 for another May or June date. We don’t live together for religious reasons so we didn’t want to wait 2years to start our lives together as husband and wife. If you can get your venue secured for the date you want and find a sample dress or order your dress within the next 2months then there is no reason to have a long engagement. Especially if finances are not an issue and your basically already living as husband and wife. It doesn’t take a year to plan a wedding if you are organized. I had all my vendors (ie venue, cakes, caterer, photographer, videographer, linens, DJ, Band & wedding planner) lined out in the first month we were engaged. We put all deposits down by Sept 15th.

Cont'd. I will admit that I am a little OCD and had our wedding budget with due dates and balances for all related wedding expenses in an excel spreadsheet within the first week we were engaged. I even have my invitation guest list w/ addresses complete in excel format. We are having about 150guests. So you can definitely do this in 8months if you get your venue and dress quickly and get your vendors booked in advance. If you need some help getting started on the orginization of your budget, msg me and i will be happy to email you my excel spread sheet for my budget. Being organized means less stress so i figure its a no brainer. We've even booked our honeymoon. I'm really looking forward to sitting on the beach in Jamaica for 7days relaxing w/o a care in the world! Good Luck and happy planning!