Planning a wedding is often considered a meticulous and time-consuming process, but what if you find yourself needing to plan your dream wedding in a short timeframe due to life circumstances? Or maybe you just want a quick engagement so you can get your married life started as soon as possible? While it may seem daunting at first, with the right approach and organization, you can create a beautiful and memorable celebration in a shorter time frame than you might have imagined.

The photos below are from Betty & Jim’s wedding, which I helped them plan in just four short weeks! While four weeks may be extreme, anything less than six months out from the wedding would be considered a short planning period. Below are some tips for how to make a short engagement just as stress-free and enjoyable as a 12-month+ engagement. However, before diving in, let me say that of course I would strongly recommend hiring a wedding planner! We have incredible value even with a traditional timeline, but with a shortened timeline it’s even more beneficial to have a professional guiding you and handling the heavy work load!

Establish Your Priorities

Before diving into the planning process, sit down with your partner and identify your priorities for the wedding. What aspects are most important to you both? Whether it’s the venue, the guest list, or the overall theme, knowing your priorities will guide your decisions and help you allocate your time and resources effectively.

Set a Realistic Timeline

With a shorter timeframe, it’s crucial to set a realistic timeline for planning and executing your wedding. Start by determining your wedding date and working backward to create a timeline that outlines when each task needs to be completed. Your task list will be greatly condensed, so be sure to stay organized.

Simplify Your Vision

While it’s natural to want your wedding day to be perfect, simplifying your vision can help streamline the planning process and reduce stress during a short engagement. Focus on the elements that matter most to you and consider alternatives for those that may be more time-consuming or difficult to arrange at short notice. Remember, simplicity can often lead to elegance. Betty and Jim’s wedding had just 52 guests, which made it much easier to find the rentals we wanted to match their sophisticated design on such notice.

Be Available and Be Flexible

When you are on a shorter timeline, decisions need to be made quickly! So you need to be available to respond to vendors and make decisions. And once you make decisions, stick with them. Short planning runways don’t allow for waffling or going back and forth with vendors on different options. It can also mean your first choice for something (a specific vendor or rental item) may not be available. Be flexible! There are many options out there and a wedding planner can help you find the right ones.

Embrace the Process

Finally, remember to embrace the process and enjoy the journey of planning your wedding, regardless of the timeframe. While it may be hectic at times, try to savor the moments leading up to your big day and focus on the love and excitement surrounding you. After all, weddings are not just about the destination but the beautiful moments shared along the way.

Planning a wedding in a short timeframe may pose its challenges, but with careful planning, organization, and a positive attitude, it’s entirely possible to create the wedding of your dreams. If a short engagement sounds like a perfect fit you – reach out today so we can get started right away!

I also need to give a big shoutout to the incredible vendor team who jumped in on such short notice and helped bring Betty and Jim’s gorgeous wedding day to life! See more of their intimate day over on my portfolio.

Photography: Amanda Nippoldt // Flowers: Studio C Floral // Venue: Walker Art Center // Catering: D’Amico // Rentals: Linen Effects // Hair & Makeup: SM Hair + Makeup // Day-of Stationery: Paper Rock Scissor // Cake: Sweet Assurance // Ceremony Music: Ovation String Quartet // Reception Music: Reception Jazz // Lighting: Instant Request