last minute wedding planning...?

Question

Im getting married October 20th and it seems to have snuck up on me FAST..
so far I have gotten my dress and a few other minor things but still no cake or down payment on a place or flowers or anything..

no one in my family has actually really had a wedding (everyone just went to justice of the peace) and i cant really afford to hire a wedding planner, we're trying to do everything on our own.

anyways, im starting to wonder if its even possible to throw together a decent wedding in a little over 2 months all on my own (with help from a few relatives.)

I guess Im just curious if anyone else has done or is doing the same thing and maybe a few pointers would help out so much. Im just really stressed over the whole issue, i hope i can pull it all together.

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I produced a wedding for 50 people for about $3,000, including the dress. For the place, depending on how many people and what time of day, you can usually get the back room of a restaurant for the reception. For the cake and flowers, I went to the local grocery store (part of a big chain), and they did both, and the cake tasted great and the flowers looked good, too, and it wasn't expensive. For the ceremony itself, it you don't have a minister, there are people who will do ceremonies for you without a religious theme, and usually a j.p. will do one at your site for some extra money. So, it's all possible to do.

Here's a different question, though... if you're delaying doing all this, it suggests that you don't really want to, not that you lack the knowledge. Are you sure you want to get married to this person? Maybe a little pre-marital counseling, perhaps by a minister, would help a lot. Some will do it even if you're not a member of their church. Worth looking into.

Answer 2

Congratulations! And don't panic! I'm getting married myself (this weekend!) and know how you feel. We were in a similar situation but you have your dress which is one thing that you can't be without and can take a long time sort out so congratulate yourself on that.

The thing to remember is that this is your day so do what suits you. Think about the money you can afford and base everything around that. Feel free to get a plain white cake and decorate it yourself (you can buy some lovely stuff), if you cannot find a venue, hire a marquee in someone's garden. Use the internet a LOT!

I would suggest you fix your date, find your venue/marquee and arrange your catering (buffets can be a simple but effective answer) and get the invitations out asap. After that you have a dress, venue, food and guests - the rest will fall into place.

And remember - nothing EVER gets solved by worrying about it. Take a breath, write a list and work your way through. You'll be fine!

Answer 3

Yes, of course. I found out that I am pregnant, so we had to hurry. My wedding is this august, and we got everything together in a month and a half. I also come from another culture, so I had no idea about American weddings.

First we found a place, which will host a wedding on a short notice. To our surprise, we are hosting our wedding in one of the most desired places.Then we determined a guest list. After that things come to you naturally.

I bought a couple of bridal books. Now my mom and I are experts on weddings :-).

We organized our entire family to help us. My fiance was responsible for invitations, putting together favor boxes, printing place cards. His parents arranged everything with the church. His brother is responsible for selecting reception music. My sister found me veil. My mom and I are doing flowers.

When everybody in your family gets at least one assignment, it all comes together really fast! Do not do everything by yourself. Believe if or not, people love to be involved.

We thought that two months is not enough time to plan entire wedding. The wedding is in 20 days and we are all done! Just need to get dressed and get married.

Good luck to you! You can do it!!!

Answer 4

I know the feeling we are getting married this weekend (Aug 11), seems like time has flew right buy us...but you got your dress, thats a start you need to book the church and if your not going to have a the recetpion at the church then you will have to find a vendor now that may be the hard part cause alot of places are booked a yr in advance ..I'd be calling ASAP..Pick out your colors if you've not done that yet... You'll need to go get all your bridesmaids together and get there dress order or whatever there..If your going to have a cater you need to call after you book your church and e'thing and booked them also you need to call a bakery or wherever your getting your cake at and go ahead and order that.
It can all be done, just make a list of e'thing you need to do and e'thing you've done..It will help out a bunch..

Hope some of this helps...Good Luck :)

Answer 5

Hi there!
congratulations on your wedding, and time does fly doesn't it?
by the sounds of things, I would recommend that you do use a wedding planner to help you out, and in fact, they don't cost you more, or shouldn't cost you more. In fact they are meant to save you money. I am a wedding planner myself and the way my business model works is that I actually save the bride and groom money, over if they did it themselves, and yes that includes my fees. The reason I can do this is because I have very strong relationships with my suppliers who give me very great prices on eveyrhting to do with weddings, and I pass that saving onto my clients. In the end, even with my fees included, it is still cheaper for you to use a wedding planner than to go it alone.

Since the day is getting so close, I would highly recommend you get someone who knows the industry and can get you the best prices and work with the best suppliers - afterall, you don't have much time to shop around!

You can get more information from my website: www.simplysweetevents.com.au and I would be more than happy to assist you and even show you how I can save you money and by how much, and also have the most beautiful wedding too!

If you choose to use another wedding planner, make sure that they actually save you money, even with their fees. If you choose to go it alone, make sure you work with only those suppliers who have many years in the industry.

Good luck darl!

Answer 6

you have dress and place to get married thats a start
need clothing for men and bridesmades if having
reception plus decoration food and entertainment
choose who diong what best man etc choose colour scheeme
get save the day cards out now can be run off on computer something simple this way people know not to book anything or can decline if busy but you dont have to tell them if coming for whole day or evening as dont have the info on reception yet anyway
reception
get busy this is the hardest to find this late and under buget think simple somewhere not so popular as will be booked already nice clean decor saves you spending more cash with own catering and bar less hassle for you but can be pricy
invites now
you have the details send out all dayers first then evening (this way you can bump them up if you get unable to attends)
entertainment
what do you want what is yr price range disco or string quartet
get refs go see if poss decide what you want ie style of music i had disco with 80s music all the old cheesies but that was me
choose a song to dance first dance
flowers for you and attendants button holes for men
clothing for bridesmaids etc
rings
cake
transport


so we have somewhere to get married somewhere to celebrate something to eat and reink something to listen/dance to people to attend clothing for people to where and the rings to seal it
the rest is down to you do you want programes flowers at reception bonieres on tables extra decor ie balloons try to keep it simple you dont have much time delegate find out what your friends are worth is a mate a hairdresser or makeup artist to make things cheaper can someone bake a cake or checkout marks and sparks etc good quality wedding cake just pop a few flowers on anything paper you can print
ebay is exellent i got dresses flowers room decor if buget is tight and colour not too way out check out ebay for full sets alot of people sell of everything from wedding dress to flowers as they have no use and dont want it wasted
if need own catering check out local resturants and catering colleges
hope this helps and i havent missed anything vital check out wedding websites but dont be overwhelmed keep it simple give others work to do
hope i havent rambled tooo much
best wishes

Answer 7

you start up off making plans one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days forward. mom can help you yet would not could call the photos. Ask her now in case you could start up off a marriage economic corporation account (if she is procuring it) tell her that way she would not could be puzzled with all the money at one time, 2 weeks forward. additionally, in case you paintings, initiate saving and including to the account. That way you have got greater funds to apply. except you're turning out to be married at an "in call for" place one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days is lots, you could probably get away with 6 months yet..... besides my factor is to take administration in a type assertive variety of way. as quickly as you're married you would be the lady of your guy or woman abode which you would be able to as properly initiate practising now! :) in basic terms right desires.....................