Planning A Wedding In A Month: Is It Possible?

Planning a wedding in a month is a challenging task, but it can be done! Here's a quick overview of the steps you'll need to take to make it happen.

First, it's crucial to set a budget and guest list. These two factors will influence many of your decisions, from the venue to the catering. With a month to go, you'll also want to start researching and booking vendors, including photographers, caterers, florists, and entertainment. Be prepared to be flexible with your dates and choices, as some vendors may not be available. Send out digital save-the-dates and invitations as soon as possible, and consider creating a wedding website to keep your guests informed.

Next, turn your attention to the fashion. Start shopping for wedding attire, and don't forget about accessories and shoes! You'll also want to book final fittings for the weeks leading up to the wedding. While you're at it, book appointments for hair and makeup trials to ensure you're happy with your wedding day look.

Don't forget the legalities! Research the requirements for your marriage license and make sure you allow enough time to obtain it.

In the final weeks, confirm all the details with your vendors, create a timeline for the day, and finalize seating arrangements. If you're planning a honeymoon, now is the time to book it and pack your bags.

With careful planning and a can-do attitude, you can absolutely organize a memorable wedding in a month!

Venue and vendors

Venue

• Be flexible with your wedding date and time: Opting for a weekday wedding or choosing an off-peak time of year can increase venue availability and may even score you discounts.
• Consider the size of your guest list: The number of guests you plan to invite will impact the venues available to you. A smaller guest list means more venue options.
• Act quickly: Once you find a venue that meets your requirements, don't hesitate to book it. Venues, especially popular ones, can get booked up quickly.
• Explore all-inclusive venues: Consider venues that offer additional services such as catering and furniture rentals. This can streamline your planning process and reduce the number of separate vendors you need to manage.
• Read reviews: Research venues online and read reviews from past clients to get a sense of their level of service and any potential issues.
• Visit the venue: If possible, schedule a site visit to get a feel for the space and its amenities. This will help you make a more informed decision about whether the venue suits your needs.

Vendors

• Prioritize essential vendors: Focus on securing the most critical vendors first. These typically include the photographer, caterer, florist, and entertainment (DJ or band).
• Hire a wedding planner: A wedding planner can be invaluable in helping you navigate the vendor selection process. They have industry connections and can often secure discounts. They will also save you time by handling the details and coordinating with vendors.
• Be strict with your budget: Last-minute weddings can incur rush fees and other unexpected expenses. Be prepared to make financial adjustments as needed to secure the vendors you want.
• Be responsive: When reaching out to vendors, don't wait too long for initial responses. If a vendor doesn't respond within 36 hours, it's generally a good idea to move on to the next option.
• Ask for recommendations: Tap into your network, including friends, family, and other recently married couples, for vendor recommendations. They can provide firsthand accounts of their experiences and help you identify vendors who may be a good fit for your wedding.
• Read vendor reviews: Just like with venues, reading reviews from past clients can give you valuable insights into the quality of a vendor's work and their professionalism.
• Trust your instincts: When meeting with vendors, pay attention to how you feel. Go with vendors who you feel comfortable with, who understand your vision, and who are responsive to your needs and concerns.
• Be prepared to make sacrifices: Depending on the availability and your budget, you may need to make some compromises. For example, you might opt for a sample wedding gown instead of a custom-made dress or choose a community centre over a full-service venue.

Budget and guest list

Budgeting for a wedding and deciding on a guest list go hand-in-hand. The number of guests you invite will have a massive impact on the amount you spend. There's a per-head cost for food and liquor, and these two are typically the biggest expenses of the whole wedding. As a result, changing the guest list size is the surest way to increase or decrease your costs. Plus, with a smaller wedding, you'll save more on other details, including decor, stationery, favors, and rentals, because you won't need as much of everything.

When creating a wedding budget, couples should compare what they'd like to spend with what they can comfortably afford. It's time to do the math and crunch some numbers. Before you can start anything, you have to figure out who's paying for what and determine your wedding's bottom line. From there, you'll want to break down the budget—what's a priority and what's not?—and start allocating funds accordingly.

If you're paying for the wedding, you may want to increase your stake, and that's okay. If you and your partner are footing the bill, assume that you'll get 70% of the invites, while both sets of parents will split the other 30%. But if a parent is contributing, it's protocol to give all involved parties—your parents, your partner's parents, and you as a couple—one-third each.

A good rule of thumb for some is only including those they've seen or talked to within the past year.

Once you have a sense of your budget and guest list numbers, you can start to think about your venue. The location affects almost everything else, from how many people you invite to what kind of flowers you choose. Chances are it's also the biggest chunk of your budget. Our study found that couples typically spend about 37% of their overall budget on the wedding venue.

Catering is another big-ticket item, taking up about 29% of the average wedding budget. Depending on packages offered by your venue, this element may include alcohol and a cake. Some couples, though, opt to budget for those separately.

If you're on a tight timeline, you don't have time to wait for responses to emails and phone calls when initially reaching out to vendors. If a vendor doesn't get back to you in 36 hours or less, it's time to move on.

How to Cut Your Guest List

• If you haven't spoken to some of your relatives in years, don't feel obligated to invite them to your wedding.
• If you're keeping your wedding on the smaller side, you don't have to invite coworkers.
• You don't have to invite someone just because they invited you to their wedding years ago.
• You don't have to invite your neighbors.
• If they're a non-negotiable on the invite list, make sure to discuss pre-wedding ground rules with them (or hire extra security).
• A quick way to minimize your guest list is to make your wedding adults-only.
• You don't have to give any of your guests a plus-one who aren't in a relationship. And if they are, and you've never met the person, you shouldn't feel obligated.
• Draw the line at friends of your parents or in-laws that you've never met.

Tips for Sticking to Your Budget

• Be realistic about what you are willing to pay each step of the way.
• Pick your top three priorities and allocate a little extra money for them.
• Next, pick the three things that come lowest on your priority list and budget accordingly.
• Be tough on the guest list.
• Invest in insurance.
• Be realistic about what each element generally costs.
• Don't forget to budget for hidden costs and extras.
• Account for all your spending.
• Don't forget to take advantage of rewards programs.
• Discuss priorities from the start.
• Be flexible with your wedding date and open to weekdays and off-peak times of the year. You'll have more vendor options available to you and may even score discounts.

Wedding attire

Couple's Attire:

• For the couple, especially the bride, it's important to act quickly. Start searching for wedding dresses immediately, as dresses typically take months to arrive and alterations may be needed.
• Consider off-the-rack options or dresses that can be purchased without a long wait.
• For the groom, a tuxedo or suit can be rented or purchased, but it's best to decide on the style and fit early on to avoid last-minute stress.

Guest Attire:

• For guests, the wedding dress code will depend on the formality of the event, the venue, and the time of day.
• Daytime weddings are typically more casual, with lighter fabrics and festive colors being appropriate.
• For an evening wedding, more formal styles, longer dresses, and special occasion fabrics are suitable for women, while men should opt for darker suits.
• It's respectful to adhere to the requested dress code, but also important to feel comfortable and confident in your attire.
• Guests should avoid wearing white or anything that could be mistaken for white, as this is typically reserved for the bride.
• Other things to avoid include ripped jeans, baseball hats, non-collared shirts, and anything too revealing or short.
• If the wedding has a specific theme or cultural attire, guests can consider complementing this style without upstaging the wedding party or misappropriating cultural dress.

Planning a wedding in a month is certainly feasible, and with a well-organized approach to wedding attire, everyone can look and feel their best on the special day.

Marriage license

It is possible to plan a wedding in a month, but it will require a lot of work and flexibility. Here is a detailed guide on how to obtain a marriage license, one of the most important steps in planning a wedding:

• Research the requirements: Each state or country has different laws and requirements for obtaining a marriage license. It is important to know where to go, what to bring, how much it will cost, how long it will take, and how long the license will be valid. In some places, you may need to undergo premarital counseling or have a witness present. There may also be residency requirements, so if you are planning a destination wedding, be sure to research the local laws.
• Gather the necessary documents: This may include birth certificates, passports, and other forms of identification. Some locations may also require proof of termination of any previous marriages, such as divorce decrees or death certificates. It is important to have all the required documents ready before applying for the marriage license.
• Apply for the marriage license: Typically, you will need to go to the local courthouse or government office to apply for the marriage license. Both members of the couple must be present and provide the necessary documentation. There may be a waiting period between applying for the license and receiving it, so be sure to plan accordingly.
• Sign the marriage license: Once you have obtained the marriage license, it is important to sign it along with your witness(es) and officiant. This should be done before the wedding ceremony to ensure that the marriage is legally recognized.
• Keep the marriage license safe: After the wedding, the signed marriage license must be returned to the appropriate office to be filed. This will make the marriage officially recognized by the state or country. It is important to keep a copy of the marriage license for your own records.

Obtaining a marriage license is a crucial step in planning a wedding, and it is important to allow enough time for this process. Be sure to research the specific requirements for your location and plan accordingly.

Honeymoon

Planning a wedding in a month is a challenge, but it can be done. Here are some tips for organising your honeymoon within that time frame:

1 Month Out From Wedding

• Finalise your honeymoon plans. By this stage, you should have flights, lodging and excursions booked.
• If you're going on your honeymoon straight after the wedding, consider delaying your departure by a day or two. You and your new spouse will want some time to rest after the wedding celebrations.
• If you're not going on your honeymoon immediately, consider delaying it to give yourself something to look forward to after the high of the wedding.

2 Weeks Out From Wedding

• Touch base with your travel agent or check in on your own bookings.
• If you're going straight from the wedding to your honeymoon, pack your bags and confirm your travel arrangements.

1 Week Before the Wedding

• If you're going on your honeymoon right after the wedding, make sure you have your travel documents in order.
• Pack an overnight bag for your wedding night and make sure you have everything you need for the honeymoon.

The Day Before the Wedding

• Make sure someone is responsible for returning any rental items or cleaning your wedding outfit.
• If you're leaving for your honeymoon straight after the wedding, give someone an emergency contact number in case they need to reach you.

The Day Of the Wedding

Enjoy your wedding day!

The Day After the Wedding

If you're not already on your honeymoon, it's time to depart!

Frequently asked questions