Most brides will probably tell you it takes a long time to plan a wedding. In fact, a lot of brides take a full year to plan a wedding, using each month to make critical decisions regarding the day, from the wedding contractors to the dress and invitations.
However, it is possible to plan a wedding in less time—you just need to make some adjustments and considerations as you go. That’s why we’re offering up some tips on how to plan your wedding in less than 90 days.
Start Planning & Be Flexible
The first tip on the list is to start planning your wedding immediately if you know you won’t have a lot of time to work with. This includes deciding as soon as possible on a date and a venue. On such short notice you may find that many of your top picks for venues are already booked. This is where you need to be flexible.
Either you need to be willing to choose a date just for its availability, or you need to look at alternate days of the week. Typically Saturdays are the busiest days for weddings, so you may also look at Sundays or Fridays. This may help you land the date and the venue you want.
If you are still not able to find a venue on an appropriate date, consider thinking outside the box. You could book space at your local park, ask a friend or family member with a fantastic backyard or call a local restaurant for availability. The more creative you get, the more likely you are to find a spot. You may also get lucky calling around and stumble upon a recent cancellation.
Non-Traditional Food & Cake
If you’re having a wedding in less than 90 days, you may also have trouble booking a caterer on such short notice. Creativity will also help you in this situation. Call around to local restaurants to ask if they would be willing to cater for a large crowd. As for the cake, you could also put in an order for a standard sheet cake or cupcakes, if there’s no time to put in a custom order.
Order & Mail Invitations
You will also want to order and send your invitations as soon as possible. While The American Wedding recommends brides order wedding invitations about six months in advance, we also know that isn’t always possible. We ship most orders 7-10 business days after we receive them. We do offer rush orders that usually take only 1-2 delivery days, but we cannot process your order any sooner, so it is best to order as soon as possible to guarantee delivery in time for your wedding.
Purchase a Dress
You also need to purchase a wedding dress as soon as possible. Most bridal shops take a certain amount of time to order a custom wedding dress and to go through the dress fittings. With a short amount of time, you do not have this luxury.
Options for brides without a lot of time include buying a dress from a sample sale or a trunk show. If you are the size of some of the typical wedding dresses on display, this may be an easy way of getting a dress in time. This also gives you a few weeks to make any last minute alterations you may need.
If you are open to the idea, you could also purchase a nontraditional wedding dress. If you are having a beach wedding you might be able to get away with purchasing a white bridesmaid dress that is easier to order than a wedding dress. You could also check your local upscale retail stores for ideas, or even an upscale consignment store.
The Marriage License
One item not to forget is the marriage license. While typically you have at least a week to obtain a marriage license before your wedding ceremony, you do still need a license to make your marriage legal, so do not put it off.
Find an Officiant
Finally, you will need an officiant. A judge, a clergy member or a friend or family member that has been ordained could marry you. If time is not on your side, you may need to ask around quickly. Some clergy members will not marry couples that do not already attend their church and some request couples attend counseling sessions ahead of time. With less than 90 days to go, you may not have this option, so you could be forced to get creative.
While getting married in less than 90 days may make your job more difficult, it can be accomplished if you follow some of these tips.
