How To Plan A Wedding In One Month

Are you ready to plan a wedding in one month?

Look, if the answer is no, you can stop reading right now.

However, if the answer is yes, you’re in the right place!

Planning a wedding in one month is no easy task. It involves quick decisions and drastic cuts. The thing is, though, planning a quick wedding is great for some couples. It may be that you’re in the hurry to get married ahead of a certain date. Or, you just want to get the wedding over with. Maybe getting married after a quick engagement has always been your vision. No matter what, you’ve got to get ready for what’s ahead.

The key to having a great experience planning a wedding in one month is to be organized. Time is not your friend here. You don’t have a lot of it. A month is a long time for lots of things. But not for planning a wedding. Unless you’re ready, and prepared.

This post is going to give you tips on how to plan a wedding in one month. It will not prescribe what to do week by week ahead of your wedding. Instead, it will review your biggest priorities all the way to the tiny details. It will also provide suggestions on how to stay organized and sane. I promise that the next month will be a busy world wind, but you can do it.

Let’s get into it!

CREATE A SCHEDULE AND BUDGET

The number one first thing that you need to do, when planning a quick wedding, is create a schedule and budget.

I know that some of you hate hearing this from me. Schedules and budgets may not be your style. And, that may be the very reason why you’re getting married so quickly. But hear me out.

When you’re in a time crunch, it’s easy to throw money at the problem. It may all be in the name of “getting things done”. However, you need to stay in control of your costs. One of the beautiful things about a quick wedding is that they tend to save you money, if you’re careful. So, follow the steps in this post and create a budget. Thank me later.

As for your schedule, you need to stay on track. A schedule, filled with a task list and when to get things done by, will be your friend. It will make sure that you don’t waste time ahead of your wedding, you get everything completed, so you’re not a total stress ball.

START WITH THE BIGGIES

Let’s get into your major priorities when planning a wedding in one month. The things you absolutely need to do first. What will end up being the basis for all your remaining decisions.

For example, you need to decide where your wedding will be. Who will be there. Who will officiate. When it will take place. You need to figure out what you’re going to wear, and what you may want to eat. Will there be any entertainment? Photography? Do you need tables, chairs, linens, or any rentals?

I know that these may seem like big questions, but you’re getting married in a month so you need to come up with the answers really quick. Some answers may be easy. Or not even applicable. You still need to sit with your partner and discuss, though.

MOVE ONTO THE LESS BIG STUFF

Once you’ve determined what you’ll do for the “big stuff”, it’s time to move onto other items.

Now, you may thing that the “less big stuff” is super important. That’s fine. There’s still a reason why you need to figure out things like where and when you’ll get married ahead of when you book a florist, create a wedding website, and schedule your transportation. Without the first bits of knowledge, it’s impossible to coordinate the rest.

So, what exactly falls into the “less big stuff” category? Well, flowers, décor, your wedding website, and transportation definitely do. All of these things are optional when you’re trying to plan a wedding in one month. Shoes, accessories, hair, makeup, and lodging are less optional, but still things that can come secondary to the “big items”.

You’ll also need to determine who will help with your day of coordination (yes, even small weddings need someone to help with the flow). Additionally, honeymoon planning, your wedding day schedule, how you will set up your wedding, and what music will play will all need to be figured out.

SET ASIDE TIME TO PLAN EVERY DAY

One thing I suggest to most engaged couples is that they take breaks from their wedding planning. I do not suggest this for couples who are getting married in less than one month.

Do as much as you can, as soon as you can. You don’t have time to waste.

It’s essential that you set aside time every day to work on your wedding. Utilize your weekends, your evenings, and even your early mornings. Make a commitment to yourself that you will crush your to-do list as quickly as possible, so you can feel rested and relaxed as your wedding day approaches. Don’t dilly dally or treat yourself to lazy Saturdays until after the wedding. There’s lots of time to relax once you’re married.

GET COMFORTABLE WITH QUICK DECISIONS

When you have a quick engagement and are planning a wedding that’s right around the corner, it’s very important that you are decisive.

Why is decisiveness so important? Well, you don’t have time to waste making decisions. I mean, you made the decision to get married quickly. That was huge. Things like who to invite, where your ceremony will be, and what food to eat should be easy in comparison.

If you’re typically the type of person who struggles making decisions, check out this post. It should help.

REQUEST TIME OFF WORK ASAP

When you’re planning a wedding in less than one month, you need all the time you can get. Because of this, if you’re working, you may want to request time off as soon as possible.

Not only will taking time off ahead of your wedding free up time for you to actually plan your wedding, you need to make sure that you have your actual wedding day off of work. Some jobs require a lot of notice before they approve vacation time. Get your notice in as soon as possible so you don’t find yourself scheduled to work right before or after your wedding. Trust me. The more time off you can take, the better.

SKIP ALL WEDDING RELATED EVENTS AND TASKS THAT ARE NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU

A quick engagement may mean that you skip out on certain pre-wedding events or tasks.

Now, I’m not saying that a quick engagement can’t fit it all in. All I’m saying is that the more you take on, the more you take on. Even a quick engagement is worth enjoying, and feeling overwhelmed is not enjoyable. So, be okay with missing certain events or tasks, for now. In some cases you can celebrate them after the wedding.

For example, you may want to pass on building a wedding registry, having favors, making or ordering lots of wedding décor, or having videography at your wedding. Additionally, you could have a bridal shower or bachelorette after your wedding instead of before. The focus should be on the wedding as the main event, and nothing else unless it’s very easy to accomplish.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT INVITATION ETIQUETTE

There are lots and lots of advice about invitation etiquette out there. Ignore it all when you’re trying to plan a wedding in one month.

In your situation, it’s okay to send digital invitations. Or even text your guests. It’s also okay to not give guests that much time to decide if they are going to attend. This is all happening very fast on your end, so you need to do what works best for you in this situation. Of course, some quick engagements equate to very small weddings and very little guests. This is okay. Invite whomever you want, and be at peace with your choice.

CANCEL ALL NON-URGENT PLANS

Need more time in your month? Cancel your plans. Flake on your friends. Postpone what can be postponed. You need all the time you can get.

Look, I’m not talking about ghosting people. I’m talking about focusing on the task at hand. Planning a wedding in less than one month means you need to cut out the extracurriculars (for now). Unless you have actual tickets to an event, move everything back that you can. And spend that “free time” setting up your wedding.

BE OKAY WITH WHAT YOU’LL SACRIFICE

This tip is to help you feel at peace about having a quick engagement.

With every choice we make, there are effects that are bound to happen. You may feel like you’re missing out by not having time to have a bridal shower, or having to have a bachelorette party after your wedding. No, you won’t have time to have a custom gown. And, some guests won’t be able to make your wedding. However, there is a reason you’re getting married in one month, and there are distinct benefits to that choice.

No wedding is perfect. Every wedding has sacrifices and things that we wish were different. Be okay with your timeline and what it means. If it gets you down, take a moment to reflect on your feelings, and move forward. Time is of the essence.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE

Even quick engagements need a marriage license. And, you need to look into your requirements for where you get married.

In some locations, there is a waiting period between obtaining a license and getting married. In other locations, you can obtain them both on the same day (or even within the same hour). You need to do research to figure out what applies to you. Don’t forget this part, or you could risk your marriage not actually being valid on your wedding day.

THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING IN ONE MONTH

Friends, it’s totally possible to plan a wedding on one month or less. You need to get clear about your budget and schedule first. Then, plan the big stuff and move onto the less big stuff. Be okay with any sacrifices you’ll have to make. Maximize your time by stepping away from any plans you may have so you can focus. And, enjoy yourself. This is your engagement, and you’ve got this! Happy wedding planning!