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A fast wedding planning checklist is essential if you are planning your wedding in a hurry.
Either your circumstances are special and are determining that your wedding date needs to be fairly soon, or you are an unconventional couple and wanting to avoid the traditional "drawn out over a year" planning. Either way, the keys to getting this accomplished is extreme organization, the ability to prioritize and you must be able to compromise. It might be helpful to hire a Bridal Consultant or Coordinator if possible. If this is not possible or wanted, it is possible for you to do, but do try to get some help with friends and family. Please see Volunteer Wedding Coordinators for more information as to how to involve friends and family in your quick wedding planning.
You also must concentrate on the big "items" needed for your wedding and not the "little things" such as napkins, matchbooks, etc. or you are going to drive yourself crazy. One of the first priorities for your fast wedding planning checklist that you are going to have to do is to book the ceremony and the reception site. This is probably going to be the first compromise as it is very unlikely that you are going to be able to book traditional sites such as hotels and large halls (unless you choose a non-traditional day such as a Sunday to Friday). Instead look for alternate sites such as restaurants, taverns, clubs, legion halls, your house (or a friend or relative's house). If a church can't be booked for that day, see if you can find a minister to do an on-site ceremony at your reception site. Don't forget you can use decorations such as arches, trellises or potted plants as a focal and background for the ceremony. Add music to your ceremony by pulling from a talent pool of family and friends. Usually, you can find someone with a talent of singing or playing an instrument. If not, find some music that can burned onto CD or ordered and purchased. Once you have your ceremony site and reception site booked, the next item to think about is your guest list and invitations. If your wedding is very rushed, I would either print your own invitations, email the invitation or actually use the phone to tell your guests. Also, don't be surprised if more of your guests than usual, will not be able to attend your wedding at such short notice. This is to be expected. Just make sure that all your guests will be able to fit comfortably wherever you decide your venue will be. With a fast wedding planning checklist, it is a must to start thinking creatively as there is probably not going to be enough time to order the dress, cake, caterer and flowers/decorations. It's time to think....simple! Instead of a wedding cake, which could take 2-3 months to order, see if there is a baker in the family that could give it a go. If not, why not simply have a simple sweet table filled with different sweets from a local bakery with a simple cake and topper. (Please see Wedding Supplies for a great selection of wedding cake toppers that can be ordered and delivered over the internet very quickly. Using cupcakes is also a very popular choice. Why not stack them or use a cupcake stand and then place your topper on the top ones. Your wedding dress, if you are wanting to wear one, has to be found and ordered quickly according to this fast wedding planning checklist. Check out Wedding Dresses for some great sources to find dresses quickly. Please note that if you buy a dress from an Online Wedding Dress Suppliers check their website for those dresses that are available immediately and are in stock. All others could take several weeks to order in for you and you will still need time to get the dress altered. It might be difficult to find a caterer at the last minute (1-3 months), but you will most certainly be able to find a restaurant more than willing to sell you party platters of food to feed your guests. Just purchase or rent warmers from your local party store and you can have a quick all you can eat buffet to feed your guests in no time. If you have your reception in a restaurant, you don't even have to worry about the food, tableware and dishes. As for the flowers and other decorations you would like to use. Why not check your local farmer's market or supermarket for bunches of flowers that could be your bridal bouquet or placed in small vases to be used as table centerpieces. Get a friend to be the wedding photographer and don't forget to place a disposable camera at each table to get all those candid wedding shots. The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist Six Weeks or Less Ahead| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Know and set your Budget | | | Draw up your Wedding Guest List | | | Choose your date and start scouting ceremony and reception sites | | | Call vendors and set up appointments to meet with them. If you find that everyone (caterer, florist, baker, photographer, videographer) is booked for your date, don't worry, just be creative and look again at the suggestions above. | | | Shop for your Wedding Dress if desired. It might also be a good time to look into tux rentals now as well, if desired. If you are going to have a wedding party, ask them to support you and decide on colors and styles of dress for them | | | Spread the word about your wedding date verbally or by email to let guests know so that they can save the date and start to make travel plans. This will ensure that a greater number of your invited guests will be able to attend your occasion. | | | Get on a good skin care regimen so you will look fantastic for your big day. Make up is a wonderful thing but the best thing you can do is start with clear skin. Since you are going to be stressing out the next little while, I really recommend that you Get on the path to clear skin with Proactiv®. . The stuff really works...I use it myself and it has cleared my skin up better than any of the medications and potions that my dermatologist ever cooked up! |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at Five Weeks| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Finalize with the vendors that you are able to book. | | | Arrange for your Invitations. Take note that ordering your invitations the traditional way is not going to work. You won't have enough time to wait for them to be printed then to be mailed. Instead, look at the suggestions above. | | | Order your wedding rings | | | Arrange accommodations, if needed, for out of town guests | | | Book your honeymoon, if you are going to take one. Check out for last minute travel with Travelocity or with Expedia.com! . Don't forget to apply for a passport, visa or any other document you will need for wherever you wish to vacation. If you are really rushed you might want to use a service like RushMyPassport.com which can get a passport issued to you in as little as 24 hours. You might also ask you physician if any inoculations are recommended. However, with such limited time, you may want to just book a long weekend somewhere nearby, then plan a more leisurely vacation at a later date. | | | Get your wedding dress into your seamstress for alterations, if needed. And purchase your shoes, accessories, lingerie and anything else you might need. Please see the Wedding Supplies page to help you find things quick. |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at Four Weeks| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Register for gifts, if you wish to | | | Address and mail your invitations. As I said before, I think it is going to be a real tight squeeze to get these mailed out and replies mailed back in time to firm up numbers. You might want to follow up with phone calls fairly soon after. | | | Meet with your officiant to plan the ceremony | | | Reserve wedding-day transportation. Either a rental limousine/car or see if you have a friend or family who can supply an antique, etc. car. | | | Research into marriage license requirements. You need to know how long it takes to get, when it expires, if you need a blood test, etc. |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at Three Weeks| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Go in to see your hair stylist and get your hair trimmed or cut. Use TheHairStyler.com to see how a virtual bridal hairstyle will look like without taking the plunge. You can then use your virtual hairstyle to book a hair stylist and makeup artist for your wedding day, if desired | | | Meet with your caterer or reception site banquet manager to taste the food and plan your menu. Don't panic if you can't book anyone, just go with some of the suggestions noted above. |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at Two Weeks| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Choose the music for your reception, if applicable, such as the first dance, father/daughter dance, etc. | | | Gather everything you need for the reception decorations and accessories, such as guest book, disposable cameras, etc. |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at One Week| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Call any guests that you haven't heard from yet to finalize the guest list count which you can then pass on to your caterer to plan for food. | | | Make your seating arrangement for the reception | | | Have final dress fittings for yourself and bridal party if applicable |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at Three Days| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Pick up dress, rings and marriage license | | | Call to confirm all participating vendors or confirm with friends and relatives that everyone knows their responsibility (cake baking, decorating, floral arranging, etc.) | | | Check to make sure that you have all your accessories: Do you have everything you need? | | | Start packing for the honeymoon |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist at One Day| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Wash your hair (seriously, it is better to wash the day before not the day of...it is easier for your hair stylist to work with "dirty" hair than soft clean hair) | | | Get a manicure (and a pedicure if wearing open toes that will show). This is not frivolous...think of how many of your guests will want to see your ring! | | | Set out everything you need for the next day so you won't forget anything | | | Visit your local farmer's market or supermarket and purchase flowers needed for tomorrow. If they can be kept in a refrigerated area overnight, so much the better. Make sure you have all the vases and holders you will need for tomorrow. | | | Forget about anything that didn't get done...it's too late to worry about the little things now | | | Go enjoy your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Perhaps make it a decorating party as well and get help with decorating the reception site, if allowed in. | | | Try to get a good night's sleep...you are going to be seriously busy tomorrow |
The Fast Wedding Planning Checklist The Day Of| Completed yes/no | What Needs to Be Done |
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| | Do whatever you have to relax yourself whether it be exercise, getting a massage, meditating, praying, etc. You have almost completed your fast wedding planning checklist! | | | Eat a good breakfast...it is going to be a long day, you need to fuel up. | | | Go to your hair and makeup appointments. It is a good idea to put in your contact lenses, if you wear them, before getting makeup done. | | | Go to the bathroom, then get dressed...you might be thinking that's a funny thing to put on this fast wedding planning checklist, but you'll thank me later | | | Put your garter on (if you are going to be doing the garter toss at your reception) and switch your engagement ring to your right hand. | | | Don't forget your flowers...have someone assigned to taking floral arrangements, if you are using them, to the reception site. | | | You might want to take a few pictures at home prior to leaving for the ceremony and reception. Remember to give your parents hugs before everything gets too crazy and say "Thank You" | | | Smile and Have fun...your big day is here! Give yourself a pat on the back for having planned a beautiful day so quickly with the help of this fast wedding planning checklist |
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