Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Brooke
Just Said Yes April 2020

Planning a wedding in 6 months!!! Scared! And frantic.

Brooke, on September 27, 2019 at 11:47 AM Posted in Planning 0 11
Hey ladies !!! I just got engaged September 20th!! And we will be having our wedding April 18 2020. What are the first things I need to do? I’m so scared. And my anxiety is through the roof. I don’t even know where to begin.

11 Comments

Latest activity by Rebecca, on September 28, 2019 at 2:52 AM
  • 2d Bride
    Champion October 2009
    2d Bride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Just as with any other couple, you need to focus first on:

    * Budget

    * Guest list

    * Style of wedding (e.g., Saturday night dinner and dancing versus afternoon cake and punch, or anything in between)

    Then you need to make those match up. E.g., if your budget isn't enough to host your guest list for Saturday night dinner and dancing, you could:

    * Cut back on your guest list.

    * Change your style of wedding (maybe a brunch instead of dinner?)

    * Push back your wedding, or get a second job, to enable you to increase your budget.

    Once you've got those things in order, first thing is your venue. That's the hardest thing to find on short notice, and it's also the basis for everything else. For example, you don't know where you need an officiant, or what decorations you will need, until you have a venue.

    • Reply
  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I had a friend who did hers in three months with about 100 attendees but what she did was just buy a package at a venue that did it all for her. if you plan to do it all yourself i would suggest keeping it simple.

    • Reply
  • Jennifer
    Dedicated December 2021
    Jennifer ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    First thing to do ... take a deep breath, this is so doable! Once you're ready, hammer down a budget. We made a spreadsheet and took a guess (with help from this awesome community) around what we expected things to cost/what we were willing to spend the money on. Then we took a look at what we had saved/what we could save over our year engagement.

    Work on a rough guest list, just so you have an idea of the size of your wedding. Then you can find a venue. I felt so much better after booking our venue. It's the biggie, especially since ours does the catering, alcohol and cake as well. The big ones after that would be photographer, DJ, dress. Just start reaching out, see who's available. Don't get discouraged. You may get a big chunk of "unavailables" but eventually you will get everything done. And there's no "right way" really, this is the way I found most helpful.

    I've had two friends recently plan 6 month weddings and really it worked out great. One found a venue just like anyone normally would. The other ended up getting a place they never could afford at a discount because someone had cancelled. It'll work out just fine Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • Kaylee
    Dedicated August 2020
    Kaylee ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Find and book your venue,
    find your bridal party (if youre Having them) and ask them!
    find catering
    start your guest list
    find a photographer
    find and order your dress
    find and book your dj
    • Reply
  • T
    Dedicated October 2019
    Tee. ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It is possible! We got engaged May 11th and are getting married October 19th. The biggest thing that has helped us was the all-inclusive venue. If you can find one, I highly recommend it! It took a lot of stress off of us planning-wise. Then I would focus on the guest list/invitations/dress/bridal party, etc.

    • Reply
  • Rhianna
    Devoted April 2020
    Rhianna ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Hey date twin! Congrats! First, take a deep breath. As others have said, nail down your budget first then book a venue. All-inclusive will help tremendously, but if not make sure you book your big vendors right away after venue (catering, DJ, florals, photographer, dress, etc.). Make a list of things you need to do and give yourself deadlines, then cross them off when completed. Use the online wedding wire check list tool to keep you on track.

    Good luck and happy planning!

    • Reply
  • W-K
    Super October 2019
    W-K ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    All of this!!

    Also, planning a smaller wedding and finding places that are all inclusive is very helpful. The other thing you may want to do right away before anything else is list what your important things are. Do you want the ceremony to be the focus with a reception being the afterthought? Is the party more important? Things like that.


    I've planned my wedding in 5 months. We new right away our focus wanted to be on faith, family, photography, and FOOD! Everything else was secondary and really helped us with making short term budgeting decisions.

    • Reply
  • Meghan
    Master October 2019
    Meghan ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Set a budget & book a venue! & I would personally hire a planner. That will help you significantly and take a lot of stress off of you!
    • Reply
  • Amanda
    Devoted April 2022
    Amanda ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Good luck on your planning. first and foremost, take a deep breath and the number one thing that has helped me stay grounded and not get stressed out is following the checklist that Wedding Wire offers.


    But also here's the general things we did:

    1. create a budget.

    2. create your guest list

    3. find your venue/ceremony sites.

    4. once your book your venue, that will set your wedding date

    5. catering.

    6. find your wedding look/dress.

    7. find a photographer and officiant.


    Those are the important pieces that we have done so far. I wish you the best of luck and remember to breath and take it one day at a time.

    • Reply
  • Megan
    Expert October 2019
    Megan ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I did mine in 6 months. Smiley smile I got engaged April 13th and I'm getting married October 12th. The first thing I did was get a notepad and list the things that I needed to get done (set a budget, find venues, make guest list, etc) and wanted to get done (memorial frame, do my bridesmaids nails, etc). Prioritizing really helped me. Congratulations! And good luck.

    • Reply
  • Rebecca
    Master August 2019
    Rebecca ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We got engaged New Year's, and got married this August 24th. We even lost most of January because DH got very ill for most of that month... and we had to rearrange the ceremony in mid-May, due to the church.

    You can do this!

    Be very ruthless with what you do care about vs what you don't care about. If you don't remember it from someone else's wedding, you probably don't care about it and shouldn't spend much time/money on it. Use the timelines on here and the Knot, they will help you prioritize.

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

WeddingWire article topics