How Long Does It Take to Plan a Wedding?

Well, in short, how long have you got? No two couples are the same, therefore no two weddings or wedding planning journeys are the same either. To be safe, the general consensus is 12-18 months for a fairly standard, local wedding. Some couples may choose to plan a small intimate wedding or a romantic elopement in just a matter of weeks though!

There are quite a lot of factors to consider when planning a wedding and most of these are down to availability. Guest availability, venue, dream wedding suppliers etc. While we would highly recommend basking in your newly engaged joy for just a little while, the planning can ultimately start as soon as you’re ready! Not all wedding planning tasks are created equal though, hence why some need to be done long before others. And if your dream is to have a destination wedding in a far-flung destination then you’re going to need to get planning ASAP!

If you’re not familiar with the wedding world then it may surprise you how far ahead things get booked up. Most suppliers are working one, two or even three years in advance. Once you start out on your wedding venue hunt you might find that the summer date you desperately wanted in 6 months’ time was actually booked up 18 months ago, leaving midweek or low season dates the only ones available. Of course this may suit some couples, but not all so just keep this in mind. If you want your wedding to take place on a peak date, then you will have to be patient! One of the biggest benefits of not rushing your wedding celebration is that quite a chunk of your time can be taken up simply firming up the yawn slightly boring bits…

• The Budget – have you sat down and worked out the finances? You are going to need a good grip on the numbers before you head out and start putting deposits down on your dream wedding suppliers.
• The Vision – chances are the proposal was a romantic surprise so you probably hadn’t given too much thought as to how your future wedding might look / feel. It can be quite overwhelming choosing your colour scheme, flowers, décor, outfits etc. So if you can, take your time.
• Your Priorities – everyone’s priorities vary when it comes to planning a wedding. Your partner may want to spend money on a really great band to get the party started, whereas your parents would like a certain type of wine, and maybe you want to go all out with your wedding outfit? Spend time working these priorities out and don’t forget that compromise is ok!

Let’s be honest, anything is possible if you set your mind to it! However long you have, and whatever happens just remember that everything will and does fall into place. Keep the reason you’re getting married at the forefront of your mind at all times. This should keep you on track and focussed on the task at hand and stop you getting bogged down in the small stuff. And if you have friends or relatives that are eager to help – let them. More hands make light work!