how to plan EVERYTHING in less than 5 months!

I have been engaged for almost a year now. Just on Sunday, we FINALLY booked our chapel AND reception hall for June. 12, 2011. I am using my mothers dress so that is done. But idk how I'm going to get everything planned (grooms and brides maids dresses, invitations, catering, cake, etc.) before June!

help pleease!

Thats fast... but I wouldn't worry too much! I have 7 months to go and need alot also (including a dress) You have the major stuff booked and the dress is taken care of.
If I were you, I would send out Save The Dates ASAP.. in January.
Find invitations try vistaprint.com for fast simple ones

Get your girls together ASAP for a bridesmaid field trip. I think David's Bridal can do dresses fairly quick, so thats always an option.

If your hall has an in-house planner.. contact them about vendors they use for flowers, music, tux, transportation, photography etc. and make the time to start scheduling meetings and tons of phone calls!

You should be just fine

good luck!

We got engaged May 23 2010 and married on Oct 17 2010. We planned everything in 4 months, 3 weeks. It is totally doable.
We did not compromise on anything and had all the things that we wanted. We had no problems booking any vendors.
Start with invites and then move on from there. Then choose your BM Dresses/DJ/Photo/Hair & MU/Flowers. Is the Cake included in the package with the RH. Set up your appt with the bakery. One step at a time. You are going to find there are plenty of vendors that will have your date open.
Once we started all of our planning, I chose 1 vendor a week and did all my research/set up appts and made a decision on that vendor by the end of that week.

Skip STD's choose your invites, order them and mail them out. This close to your date STD's are not really needed, unless it is something you really want.
I found that having such a short time period to plan in, I really evaluated the things that were important to us and did not waste time or money on things that no one will remember in the end.

You can do it!

For BM gowns you can easily get them in that time from David's Bridal. I think any designer gowns you'd be paying a rush fee at this point. Tuxedos you're fine on timing. I'd get moving on photo/video and on limos because photo/vidoe are very important and limos because june is prom season.

From there's I'd go to flowers, and you should be ordering invitations within the next 6 weeks as well

you can do it...
book the 'big' things now.

INVITES
photog/videog
dj/band
limo
bm dresses
(the tux's you can wait on..)
rings
DOJ, Shoes, etc

and we're all here to help.

4 months planning from date of start until our 2/27 wedding.

Easy peasy. Know what you want and do online research and reviews. I just read Real Simple Wedding Mag that had great articles that 100% supported how I handled my planning.

Do NOT go look at 100 places. Pick 3 of each vendor to research, price and consult. If you love #2 trust your instinct but plan on 3.

Decide what the most important elements are for you. Food? Dress? Entertainment? Photos? Decor? Prioritize them for sure.

If you can afford a DOC, it's a great investment. they will be your go-to person the day of the wedding and the week before.

Don't take on too much DIY because if you are overwhelmed, no matter how talented you may be, it may end up crappy just due to timing and stress. You can find some great etsy vendors or others who will come close when you factor in your time, your ink, buying paper, etc.

Allow yourself to stamp your feet now and then. It helps.

When planning short notice you are more likely to get better prices unless you are locked into a particular date. My wedding (not marriage) was sparked by my mom's cancer diagnosis. We thought a restaurant for immediate family. I saw ONE venue and that was it, I was hooked. Since the date was open and it was off season I got a dream venue (de Seversky Mansion) for a fraction of the price. Other vendors I loved were also available and had good deals since it's their less busy season. For me there is a risk with a winter wedding but there's always a risk for something. Happy planning!

Sometimes I wish I had less time to plan. I get so worried that I am over thinking EVERYTHING.

I know you can do it and let us know if you need help with anything! Good Luck!

how exciting!!!!

Make a list...and tackle things one by one
tackle time sensitive and most important vendors first

if photo is super important to you then book that ASAP or if dj/band is super important book that first...bc vendors def book up!

and get on things like bm dresses and invites first too bc those take time to come in

just do everything one at a time...make appts for everything in advance so you can map it out

so much fun to have the wedding so close!

I agree I wish my wedding was closer so I could get it all over with, Ill be engaged almost 2 years by the time the wedding rolls around!

and also...were here to help!!!!!

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Posted by cnics90

I have been engaged for almost a year now. Just on Sunday, we FINALLY booked our chapel AND reception hall for June. 12, 2011. I am using my mothers dress so that is done. But idk how I'm going to get everything planned (grooms and brides maids dresses, invitations, catering, cake, etc.) before June!

help pleease!

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It's not a problem!!! You only need about 3-4 months for invitations... Everything else book as quickly as possible. Do photographer/DJ/band first then straight to flowers! You can pick up bridesmaid dresses at Macy's or Nordstrom. I had a 9 month engagement and took care of the major stuff in the first two months... We've had a lull through the holidays! You'll be fine. I actually think the less time, the better!

I think photographer is your next big thing....then invites. It took me a while to find one that I

A) liked and
B) was available for my date.

Great advice girls. I just started myself and I at least have 9 months.

Like the girls said, the big things first. Or the things that are a priority to you. For me was the church, then my dress, then I found my dream location.
Checking things off One by One,

Take a deep breath! Try to enjoy some of it without getting to stressed. (i know, it's hard)

Just think, you'll be a bride so soon!