How do you plan a wedding on such short notice?

Question

I am supposed to be getting married february 15th and I have nothing planned. I need some serious help.

The wedding is planned to take place on February 15th because that's when he has a break from school. He is in the Army and we want to get married before he has to go to his AIT.

Answer 1

First set your budget: How much money do you have to spend?

Invitations: You need to send these out ahead of time (before decembe 1, 2007) to give people enough notice.. But they have to RSVP by say January 15, 2008. To give you a final head count.

Guest List: Keep it small and intimate. You don't want shirt tail friends or relatives you haven't seen in 20 years. only invite people who mean the most to you in the world.

Clothing: Is this a casual, semi-formal or formal event? http://www.houseofbrides.com/home.php?cat=519
is a site you can find a wedding dress. Is your finacee going to wear his dress uniform?

Flowers: Silk or real? Buy flowers in season. They cost less
Colors: What are they?
Attendants: How many people are going to stand up there with you?
Venue: Are you getting married iniside or outside? It's cold in February in the USA.
Food: Buffet, Sit down, Restaurant?
Decorations: You can get alot of this stuff at the dollar store. and they are cheap.
Entertainment: DJ, Live Band? You can often use an iPod with prerecorded music.

I hope this helps.

Edit: Im also a military wife. If you need specifics. Please feel free to email me at this name. Good luck

Answer 2

It's going to be difficult if you want a big wedding. I'd suggest having a smaller wedding and finding the location of the ceremony and reception. It'd be great if you could get both at the same location. Consider a hotel where they have catering and do most of the work for you. Many offer packages that can help you make decisions. If you prefer, you could get married at the courthouse (make sure you already have a marriage certificate before then for the officiate to sign) and then plan a wedding ceremony or reception for a later date when you can plan more of what you want.

Answer 3

Hi and congratulations!

Don't fret....we are here to help you!

First off.....find a wedding ceremony venue....Church? Someone's home? A hotel banquet room?

Do you want to do things really easy and "relatively" stress free?

~ Have something really small and intimate.
~ Invite family and close friends only (50-75 people tops!)
~ Have a small wedding party (a maid of honor and best man....maybe a flower girl if you want).
~ You can do everything in one location if you want. Such as the ceremony can be at a church and a small reception in the church fellowship hall. You can also have the wedding and reception as someone's home (if you know of someone with a big house); OR it can all be done in a banquet hall or hotel banquet room.

~ Another option for a venue is to look at bed and breakfast inns or small inns. There are many that provide this service now and they can be VERY romantic. Something in front of a fireplace with close family and friends??? Very romantic.

~ Once you have figured out your venue situation....then go on from there.
~ Go to a bridal store and look for a gown and a dress for your maid of honor. It may not be too late to order one, but you should go soon. You can also buy a gown off the rack.
~ Look at gowns on Ebay, or places like Target.com or JCPenney.com

~ Buy invitation "kits" from Target, Walmart, etc. You can buy a kit with 50 invitations for $25. Simply print them on your computer.

~ Since your wedding will be the day after Valentine's Day, you can go with a "red" or "heart" theme if you want. Have your bridesmaid wear a dress red; have "heart" invitations; carry red tulips or roses.

It's really easy to plan a wedding. Look on websites like theknot.com for more information.

My recommendation for you would be to have something simple, elegant, and small. It can be very romantic and beautiful!

I hope you have a beautiful day!

Answer 4

First, Congratulations. Second, Prepare yourself for Army life. AIT and your first PCS will be stressful and emotional. It isn't always easy being an Army Wife.

Suz hit the nail on the head.

Where are you getting married (city, state)? Day or evening wedding? Church or other venue? How "formal" will the affair be? I spent many years working on an Army base so I may be able to email you some contacts or suggestions.

The first thing is to find a wedding and reception venue and your cake. Depending on the size, the baker may need a few weeks advance notice. Then confirm your wedding party. Depending on the size of your wedding and your budget, you may be able to take your girls and go shopping and spend a whole day doing that. You 'll need reception hall decorations, big bows/flowers for the pews of the church, if you are doing a unity candle, don't forget those.

Centerpieces for your reception. Depending on your colors (you could go red & white for valentine's easily, or pinks or purples, silver accents.... you could use (depending on your city's fire codes), mirrored tiles with candles, or vases of flowers, or.... so many ideas popping into my head. If you want more ideas, please email me throug YA.

Just remember all you NEED is your marriage license, an officiant, a couple of witnesses, and the man of your dreams!!! The rest is icing on the cake.

Answer 5

I actually went to a wedding that was planned in 5 days!!!! It was amazing!!!! You can do it!!!!! Just pick a simple color like pink, red, blue
she got the dress at David's bridal off the rack
the hall was a family restaurant/banquet hall that to accommodate 100 people
her aunts all had jobs--delegate. Don't be picky and a control freak. Let someone you trust pick out flowers/cake/favors
Have only 1 bridesmaid--she picks the dress
Ask around for a DJ or just hook up an Ipod

The wedding I went to was BEAUTIFUL!!! You would have never guessed it wsa planned in 5 days!!!

Answer 6

Dont stress it is just a wedding there are many things you can do.

1) have a buffet lunch or dinner

2) Rent a hall that is not expensive

3) Get a dress or gown that does not need a lot of alterations

4) If you choose reserve a church

5) get a DJ or have someone play music

6) You dont need to plan or obesses over a wedding I know poeple who got thier wedding planned in 6 months or less.

It will all work out ask someone to help you who is good at being oraganized and helpful.

Answer 7

http://theknot.com/
Go do some reading at theknot.com. Follow their checklists.

Immediately . . .
Go find a venue and an officiant. Then work from there.

Link to a 6 month checklist here.
http://www.bridestuff.com/page.asp?id=8
You need to get all the 6 month stuff done now. In other words, get vendors lined up now, as soon as possible.

I once attended a beautiful wedding . . . and the bride had only four months to plan it. So it can be done. It is doable. You just need to get started immediately.

Don't second guess yourself. Make a choice and don't look back. Immediately move on to the next decision. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

The same way you plan any other wedding. Buy yourself a wedding magazine, check out the knot and maybe buy a planning book. You need to get an officiant and ceremony site first thing; then you need to find a reception site. You are also going to have to buy your gown off the rack, there's no time to order one. This isn't hard to do, take a breath and get to it.

Answer 9

ditto to the above and then the guest list. gown, and tuxes, flowers and food.and some one to preform the wedding. keep it small and easy. cake. do your own invites and you better get moving, cuz all the panning in the world will have road bumps to face.

Answer 10

ask your mom for help, women are the best when it comes to such things!