6 Tips for Planning a Wedding in 6 Weeks

Wedding

Apr 5

My husband and I were friends for 2-years and then dated for 2-years. By the time we got engaged we were ready to get married as soon as possible. Although my husband wanted to drive to the nearest place to elope, our extended family would have been highly disappointed not to be included in such an important celebration. So… we decided we would have a wedding ceremony and reception as soon as we could and planned our wedding in six-weeks! While that may seem like a short amount of time, for us it was a gift to have a short engagement. Here are six tips that helped us in planning our wedding in just 6 weeks.

An informal wedding couple in front of a VW bus — **1 | Give up the idea that your wedding has to be perfect**

To have a short engagement it is imperative to be ok that your wedding will not be ‘perfect.’ For us, this was a relief. The short planning time gave us the excuse for things to not be perfect. We found this to be a huge weight off our shoulders. Pressure is off. Your wedding can be wonderful and beautiful, even if it is not ‘perfect.’

A planner is open to a month calendar view with handwritten events. — **2 | Choose a date**

Six weeks does not give much time for people to ‘save the date’. In fact there is no time to send a ‘save the date’ at all. From the beginning you need to be ok that some people will not be able to make it to your wedding. Make a few calls to the few people that you would be devastated if they were not able to be there: a parent, a sibling, or a close friend. This should be a very small number of people. In the end, the date you choose will eliminate some important people from your guest list. This is something that you have to be ok with if having a short engagement.

Shasta View Lodge exterior, with a view of the parking lot and surrounded by greenery. — **3 | Find a Venue**

Most venues are booked about 14-months in advance. For this reason, you need to be open and flexible on where you will be married. Think out of the box. Get married outside somewhere and rent out a restaurant for the reception. Use a rental space that is not typically used for weddings. We opted for a hall at the local senior center and it was epic! Seriously, to this day our friends tell us our wedding was their favorite. Find a new venue or newly renovated venue that still has openings in their calendar.
A great option is Shasta View Lodge. We are opening June 1st for Weddings at the newly renovated, vibey, Shasta View Lodge. There are numerous last minute dates available in 2023!

Look for Available Dates

A group of people meeting around their devices — **4 | Choose a wedding planner**

There are different types of wedding planners. Some wedding planners are in charge of the day of the wedding. Others are in charge of all of the planning. Whatever you decide, a wedding planner can help take so many tasks off your plate and help hold the weight of responsibility. A lot will need to be decided and get done in a short amount of time so a wedding planner would help get the important items done with ease.

Four floral boutonnières laying on a windowsill — **5 | Make decisions quickly**

We all know some decisions can get stretched out for days, weeks or months. One benefit of not having a lot of time to plan is that you are required to make decisions quickly. This is a huge relief. It will save so much time and stress to make a decision quickly. You don’t need to agonize over every detail. When the caterer gives you options, take a day and send back your decision. When the florist gives you options, make a decision within a day or two. Many brides and grooms spend days and hours discussing one decision. Having a short engagement will save you from these wasted hours which will leave more room for connection and fun for you and your partner.

A wedding couple is playfully laughing while the groom is carrying the bride. — **6 | Have a good time**

In the end, the day is about you and your spouse. Your wedding is the celebration of your story and your unity. It is only the beginning of the rest of your story. There can be a lot of emphasis put on your wedding day. Of course it is an important, amazing day. But it is so vital to remember that it is just one day out of hundreds and thousands of days you will spend with your partner.

We think six-weeks is the perfect amount of time to plan and have your wedding celebration so that you can start your lives together. Enjoy the process and enjoy your wedding day, and especially enjoy the rest of your days together.