If you want to plan a wedding in 3 months (or less), you’ll need to be very organized and decisive. The good news is, planning a wedding in a short time frame CAN be done. Here you’ll find a quick guide on how to plan your wedding in 3 months:
3 Months Out
Start with choosing a date -Just keep in mind you’ll need to keep your options flexible. Don’t rule out Sundays or Weekdays as those will maximize your chances of having everything else fall in line. Particularly for some of the coveted Washington D.C. and Baltimore venues.
Hire a planner – Because…. we’ve done this before, we have a network of vendors. We can give you insider tips on venues that may not be listed in popular scouting sites (i.e., The Knot). We’ll give you options of vetted vendors and design choices so that you are not wondering the mean streets of Pinterest all night long. We’ll also take care of logistics and coordination prior to and on the day of. Hiring a planner will save you time and lot’s of stress along the way.
Set a budget – This will be your compass for the venue/vendors you’ll select. Setting a budget will also help you ground your guest list number. You don’t want to loose time by inquiring with venues that are outside your budget. Don’t forget to factor Maryland and Washington D.C., taxes/ gratuities into your budget! They are typically 6% sales, 9% alcohol and gratuities 23%.
Get your attire – Equally as important for brides and grooms to get your attire early. Alterations take about two months. We recommend putting a rush on the alterations to ensure everything comes back with plenty of time.
Build your guest list – You don’t have it completely finalized but you’ll need to know approximately how many guest you’ll be inviting. Guest count is the biggest budget driver and it’ll determine the size of the venue you’ll need. Look to finalize it once you are ready to send out invites.
2 Months Out
Select a venue – Ask about availability, cost and capacity – the venue you select should accommodates all three criteria’s. This is a crucial step in the planning process. Most of the planning will revolve around the space (guest count, decor, accommodations, food options etc.). Larger cities like Baltimore, Maryland or Washington DC – have beautiful restaurants to select from as your venue. Once booked, you’ll have the location and date for your wedding date. You’ll need this for the next step.
Send out invitations – This will give you time to get those RSVPs back. Consider paperless invitation options to expedite the RSVP process (and it’s also eco-conscious). Sites like Paperless Post offer beautiful designer paperless invites. Some, partner with printing companies. So you can have a tangible copy of your invite for your memory box (and flatlays)
Now that we have a date and a venue let’s talk legalities. The next thing you’ll want to do is arrange to obtain your marriage certificate. Get an officiant that is ordained in locality of your venue.
Logistics – Yup, the “L’ word – set your wedding timeline, work on your seating layout and your overall design. If you have a planner who is a designer, they’ll likely do this as part of their service. Now that you have your design you can…
Book your vendors! -It’s likely that if you are working with a planner, we will provide you with a short list of excellent vendors. The key vendors to book ASAP are photographers, videographers, caterers and florist.
1 Months Out
Order your cake – Make sure you place your order at least one month prior to your date. Most bakers require a month or more to make your wedding cake.
Review final RSVP, send to the caterer and venue — and get married!
