Planning A Small Wedding Quickly: A Two-Week Guide

Planning a wedding in two weeks is a daunting task, but it's not impossible. The key is to make quick decisions and be flexible. You might want to consider getting married on a weekday, when venues are more likely to be available. You'll also need to find a venue that's the right size for your guest list – a restaurant, for example, or a private room in a restaurant. Catering is necessary, but you don't need to spend a fortune. You can save money on flowers and centrepieces, and you don't need bridesmaids or speeches.

Budgeting

The venue is likely to be one of the biggest expenses, so it's important to choose wisely. Restaurants are a good option as they often don't charge a fee, just per person for food. If you're religious, you could also consider getting married in a church and having the reception elsewhere. Parks can be a good, affordable option, especially if you rent a pavilion.

Catering is another essential expense. It's recommended that you don't self-cater, as this will add unnecessary stress. Instead, bring in a good caterer or consider hiring a private room in a restaurant, which may take care of most of the legwork.

There are also some areas where you can save money. For example, you can skip bridesmaids and the associated costs of buying them gifts. You can also save on flowers and centrepieces by using dollar store candles and glass, or even forgoing centrepieces altogether.

Finally, if you plan to buy a wedding dress, you may need to go off the rack as there might not be time for a traditional gown from a boutique.

Venue

When it comes to the venue, you'll want to find somewhere that's small enough for your guest list. Restaurants are a good option as they don't usually charge a fee, they just charge per person for food. If you're religious, you could also consider getting married in your local church and then having the reception elsewhere.

If you're looking for a more outdoorsy venue, you could rent a pavilion in a park. Parks can be very private and are a good option if you're looking for a cheap venue. You could decorate picnic tables with nice linens and rent chairs for the ceremony.

If you're looking for something a little more unique, you could also consider renting a private room in a restaurant. This can take care of a lot of the leg work as the restaurant will already have tables, chairs, and catering covered.

When you're looking for a venue, it's important to act quickly. Start by doing virtual tours of venues in your area, then select a few favourites to visit in person. Ask the venues for a list of preferred vendors to make your planning journey easier. It's also a good idea to get married on a weekday as you'll have more availability.

Catering

If you are religious, you could consider having the ceremony in a church and the reception somewhere else. This could be a restaurant, or you could rent a pavilion in a park, which can be very private. If you do opt for a park, you could decorate picnic tables with nice linens and rent chairs for the ceremony.

The first thing you need to do is figure out a realistic budget. Most restaurants don't charge a fee, they just charge per person for food. You can also save money on flowers for centrepieces, or skip centrepieces altogether. Use dollar store candles and glass, which are literally $1 each.

If you plan to buy a wedding dress, go off the rack, as there may not be time for a 'traditional' wedding gown from a boutique.

Decorations

Planning a wedding in two weeks is a challenge, but it can be done. When it comes to decorations, there are a few things you can do to make your wedding look beautiful without spending a fortune.

First, consider the venue. If you're having a small wedding, you might choose to have the ceremony and reception in the same place. This could be a restaurant, a private room in a nice restaurant, or even a pavilion in a park. If you're religious, you could ask the pastor of your church to perform the ceremony.

For decorations, keep it simple. You can save money by not having bridesmaids, and instead of buying flowers for centrepieces, you could use dollar store candles and glass. If you're having an outdoor wedding, decorate picnic tables with nice linens and rent chairs for the ceremony. You could also hang fairy lights or paper lanterns to create a romantic atmosphere.

If you have a little more time, you could make your own decorations. This could include things like paper flowers, bunting, or even a photo backdrop. You can find lots of DIY wedding decoration ideas online.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. Friends and family may be willing to pitch in, and you can also hire a wedding planner to take care of the details. With a little creativity and flexibility, you can plan a beautiful small wedding in just two weeks.

Bridesmaids

If you do decide to have bridesmaids, keep the group small. You don't want to add extra stress by having to coordinate a large group of people. Ask your closest friends or family members to be your bridesmaids, and let them know that you're happy for them to wear whatever they like. You could suggest a colour scheme, but don't worry about finding matching dresses.

If you want to include your bridesmaids in the wedding planning process, ask them to help with small tasks like addressing invitations or putting together favours. They may be able to take some of the pressure off you, but don't rely on them too much – they'll have their own lives to deal with, and you don't want to add to their stress either.

On the day of the wedding, your bridesmaids can help you get ready and make sure everything runs smoothly. They can also act as a buffer between you and any last-minute problems, so you can relax and enjoy your day.

Frequently asked questions