One of the number one questions I receive is “how long do we really need to plan our wedding?” While most couples should give themselves around 12 months, there are some exceptions to keep in mind. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you decide the planning timeline.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL PLANNING TEAM?
In theory, if you’re working with an experienced planning partner, they should have the resources at their finger tips to plan your wedding very quickly. They know who to trust, who to call for all elements and can definitely pull it all together seamlessly. This said, we have the resources to and have actually planned and designed weddings in as short as 8 weeks. However, having a seasoned planner is not always enough. You also want to ask yourself:
ARE YOU DECISIVE?
The number one factor in determining how long you need to plan your wedding is about knowing yourself. Are you the type who needs to research every caterer out there to ensure you’ve found the best option or are you open to checking out 2 or 3 options max for comparison and choosing from there? Do you need to travel the world to see all potential venues or are you pretty set on a destination and have some potential locations in mind? If you want to explore every option under the sun, give yourself at least 12 months. Maybe even 18. But if you are efficient and decisive, you can certainly plan in less time if necessary and preferred.
HOW LONG OF NOTICE DO YOUR GUESTS NEED TO PLAN?
If you’re planning an international destination wedding, most guests need time to prepare. We like to give our guests at least a 6 to 9 month notice if they’re traveling from afar. Which means you need to start in the 9 to 12 month range to find and contract the venue as well as create save the dates, set up room blocks and build a wedding website. Even still, we have planned a 7 day destination wedding in Italy for 200 guests in 3 months and had 95% attendance. So, while it’s not a hard rule, ultimately it’s good to assess who you’re inviting and how much time you feel they need to plan properly. This will look differently if you’re planning in Bali vs. Chicago, of course. But always try to think of the guests as you’re considering timing. The more notice, typically the better and this should be a factor as you start the planning process.
HOW CUSTOM DO YOU WANT YOUR WEDDING TO BE?
For example, do you hope to find an artist to paint every element of your stationery and carry it through custom china, linens and more? Or are you hoping for something a bit simpler and readily available? If you truly want to work with the chef to come up with a menu that’s never been seen, or an entertainment designer to curate a group of performers perfect for your vision, you need time for this. On the other hand, if you’re more the type to pick straight from the menu, have a simpler design vision or don’t forsee needing every element to be custom curated for you, you may be able to work with less time. Alternatively, many vendors can work quicker for additional fees.
I hope this helps and for those of you in the throes of planning, how long have you given yourself? Do you wish you had more or less time? Let us know in the comments.
Image by Lauren & Abby Ross of Erica and Andy’s Santa Ynez Wedding. See more here.
