A wedding is an event that often takes over a year of planning. This is because there are just so many factors involved such as hiring a venue that could be booked for well over a year, ensuring that the catering services are up to your standards and even giving your guests plenty of time to book off the dates so that they can make it.

However, not everyone wants to get involved with the wedding planning process and some people don’t want to make a huge deal out of their big day. Others just want to save on their wedding planning and would prefer for the process to be quicker, so there is some appeal to planning a wedding in a shorter amount of time.

Whether you’re looking to get married as soon as possible or if you want to quickly plan your big day so that you and your partner can get back to work as soon as possible, we’ve put together a couple of tips to help you put together a fantastic wedding in just a few short months.

​Start with the simple things

There are a couple of important things that you need to consider first such as the wedding date and your budget. Once you’ve got these down, you’ll have a much easier time planning the event and also writing up invitations to friends and family members.

Get in touch with a wedding organiser

Whether it’s a planner that can handle the entire thing or a leading wedding show organiser to help you plan your entertainment, it’s vital that you rely on outside services to help you out. You don’t need to hire a dozen or more people to give you a hand, but it certainly does help to have a few helping hands. If you have relatives or friends that have planning experience then you can also ask them for help as well.

Don’t plan your wedding to last the entire day

The less you have to plan, the less time it will take. If your wedding doesn’t last the entire day then it’s more likely that your guests will be able to come if they treat it like a day out instead of a huge occasion that they need to prepare in advance for.

Don’t pick a venue that’s in the middle of nowhere

Although there are plenty of fantastic venues that you can book last minute, you ideally don’t want to book a venue that’s difficult to reach because it’s less likely that all of your guests will come. If you book a location in a city or on the outskirts then it’s far more accessible and travel arrangements will be much easier to make.

Consider what venues and services you want to include

Since you won’t be able to include some of the top venues and restaurants, you may need to think outside of the box. This includes asking restaurants if they can serve large buffet-style meals or considering a church as your wedding venue if they have availability. You want to write down a list of all the places that you want to include and then contact them one by one to see if they’re available.

Belle 
Xx

When it comes to weddings, they can seem like some of the most expensive events on the plant, and whilst they certainly can be pricey if you allow them to be, they don’t have to be at all, so if you’re looking to have a great wedding without breaking the bank and would actually like to have some money left over that you could put towards something useful other than a party for a day, then in this post we’re going to share with you just how you can make that a possibility for yourself

Go easy on the guest list:

The guest lists are one of the biggest causes of friction at weddings, but they’re also one of the things that rack up the costs the most, so it’s time to get firm with setting some boundaries around this and not letting anyone dictate to you who should or shouldn’t be at your wedding. Whilst we’re not suggesting that you leave people out just because you want to save money, it’s important to remember that it’s your wedding and you should only have people there who actually play an active role in your life, so if you don’t feel like inviting all of your dad’s work colleagues who you’ve never met because he was invited to their kid’s weddings or you don’t feel like you want to invite your aunt who you haven’t seen since you were baby, then it’s entirely up to you.

Call in some favours:
As mentioned above, weddings can be expensive, so if you’re able to save some costs along the way, then there’s nothing wrong with doing that. For example, if you know someone who loves to bake, then you could ask them to make your wedding cake and help them get their first job as well as allowing your guests to see their work. Likewise, if you’re looking for wedding photographers and know someone who’s an aspiring one, then why not ask them instead of giving the job to a stranger?

Skip a sit down meal:

Food and drinks are one of the main costs at a wedding, so if you’re thinking of what to offer your guests, then instead of opting for the traditional sit-down meal, then you could go for a more informal buffet that is going to work out a good bit cheaper and also offer a more relaxed settings for your guests to get food when they’re actually hungry and not according to a schedule.

Buy second hand:

If you’re looking for your wedding dress and things like suits, then a good way to save money and still get some great pieces is by buying second hand. Second hand dresses for example, have only been worn once, so it really doesn’t make sense to spend so much money on something you’re only going to wear once yourself when you could save your money and buy something that’s gorgeous but where you can also keep the money to put towards other more important things.

When you're planning a wedding on a small budget, so many little things have to go by the wayside, mainly guests. But, there's a way around this, for those that you can't justify coming for the whole day, you can just invite them to the evening bit. And for many, this is really where the wedding gets going! After all, this is when the father of the bride let his hair down and really shakes his money maker on the dance floor, and the alcohol has loosened a few lips (in more ways than one)!  But what can you do to ensure that you've got an evening party that caters for everyone?

Making Your Evening Guests Feel Welcome
The evening guests can feel like a bit of an afterthought, so it's important to get them up to speed by providing the drinks, and maybe a buffet, so they can fill their boots! Also, remember to have a collection of favors for them as well. Just because they are only coming to the evening, they still want to be a part of your big day, and they've made the effort for you.

Save Some Of The Special Bits Of The Day For The Evening
Traditionally, the first dance doesn't happen until the evening, but if you've got a tight schedule, and it was originally planned to be early on in the day, you can't let your evening guests feel left out. Because if this is the case, then they will feel like they're turning up to a party, rather than a special day. The same goes with the cutting of the cake as some couples do it before they sit down for dinner, but if you've got a lot of people turning up for the evening, it's better for you to save it until everybody can see.

Keep Everyone Fed
Arguably, the most important part of the evening! You need to remember that those who have come for the evening may not have had a meal earlier on in the day. At the same time, you have to ensure that the guests that have been with you all day are well fed as well! It's a very difficult balance to tread, especially if the wedding meal was massive in the first place! A buffet or a roast can keep all guests happy and within budget!

Don't Forget The Kids!
We can underestimate keeping children entertained, and while there are so many unique wedding entertainment ideas for your big day, if you've got children running around, you may want to consider a children's entertainer, or some form of evening childcare so the parents can let their hair down without having to keep one eye on the kids at all times.

While the most important part of the day occurs early on you still need to make sure the whole day is special for everyone, regardless of the time they turn up. The evening party can lag because people are tired, but on the other hand, this could be where people start to find their feet! Make it count!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ENSeIdBJZD4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

​