How to plan your wedding in 6 months
Planning a wedding in 6 months? Honestly, it’s not as scary, stressful or impossible as you might think. While many couples like the leisurely approach and give themselves around 12-18 months to plan their big day, it can be done in record time if you just don’t want to wait.
If you love the idea of tying the knot in less than a year, we can help make it happen at The Hall Barns. We know everything there is to know about planning a wedding – if we ever ended up in that Mastermind chair it would definitely be our specialist subject. Here we share the ultimate wedding planning timeline to help you get your dream big day in half the time. Ready to plan your wedding in 6 months? Let’s do this!
6 months to go…
The budget
OK, so it’s boring, we know, but you need to get that budget decided before you do anything. This figure needs to be final, covering everything from the venue and photographer to your wedding shoes and honeymoon. Once you’ve agreed on a budget that feels right, all you have to do is stick to it…
The venue
With the budget in place it’s go, go, go! With 6 months to plan your wedding the very first thing on your to-do list has to be the venue. The truth is most venues will be booked up 12 months in advance during peak summer wedding season, but there’s always the chance of cancellations so give your dream venue a call, let them know your situation and the kind of date you have in mind. One way to secure your perfect wedding venue with just 6 months’ notice is to consider less ‘traditional’ days. At The Hall Barns we host weddings every day of the week, so think about a cute mid-week celebration or a Sunday big day if you want to make sure you get your dream venue in the timeline you’re working to.
Sort the ceremony
Now the venue is ticked off your list, get that ceremony sorted. If you’re planning a civil ceremony, you’ll need to book the registrar and give notice at least 29 days beforehand. The Hall Barns’ gorgeous Crew Yard is a super-cool covered outdoor space that makes a truly unique setting for your civil ceremony – you can find out more about it here.
If you’ve got your heart set on a church wedding, give your chosen church a call as soon as you can. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time for banns to be read, if required.
Book your suppliers
Next on the list is to secure those all-important wedding suppliers. The big ones are your wedding photographer and florist, as these are the kind of vendors who tend to get booked up early in advance. While you’re on a roll, it’s worth trying to tick all those suppliers off your list and book in your wedding cake, entertainment and on-the-day hairstylist and make-up artist, if you want them.
Say yes to the dress
If you or your partner are planning on wearing a wedding dress for the big day, get on the case now. Most bridal shops need a minimum of 6 months to order your dress and schedule in fittings and adjustments, but you do have options. There are some incredible off-the-peg dresses available in many bridal boutiques, not to mention the coolest high street ranges (which we think work perfectly with an awesome festival-themed wedding at The Hall Barns). Sample sales are a savvy way to bag that dream dress at a bargain price (and with no lead time), and the bridal pre-loved market is a gold mine of gorgeous gowns that look like new.
Typically, suits for grooms, the best man and ushers are easier to organise – whether you decide to hire or buy.
Choose your dream team
Before you get too far down the road with planning your wedding it’s a good idea to pick your big day dream team, however that looks to you. Best man, best woman, bridesmaids, bridesmen – choose the people you can’t imagine being without on your big day and ask if they’re up for being part of the wedding of the year. Spoiler alert: Of course they are!
Confirm the guest list – and let them know
With all the big things in place, it’s time to get down to business and fix up that guest list. Once you’ve come up with a list you both agree on, get those invites in the post. At this stage, with less than 6 months to go, it’s not really worth bothering with Save the Dates. Go straight in with your invites – and while you’re at it, you can always think about creating your own wedding website to give guests all the info they need for your big day.
5 months to go…
Dress your dream team
At the 5 months to go mark it’s worth starting the search for your bridesmaid dresses (if you plan on having any). By now you’ll have a decent idea of the whole vibe of your day, which makes it a whole lot easier to choose the right kind of dresses for your girls.
Finalise with suppliers
Now is a good time to tie up any loose ends when it comes to suppliers. Make sure you’ve got everyone you need/want booked and add all the info to your budget spreadsheet Hey, when you plan a wedding in 6 months it pays to be organised – spreadsheet geeks unite!
4 months to go…
Buy your rings
You definitely don’t want to forget your wedding rings, so these are the next thing on your list to get sorted. With just 4 months until your wedding, custom made rings might not be doable, but there are so many amazing quality rings online and on the high street. You’re sure to find a ring that looks the business, whatever your big day style.
Plan the honeymoon
If trying to plan your wedding in 6 months starts to feel a bit much, give yourself a breather and turn your attention to the honeymoon instead. The 4-month mark is a great time to start researching, planning and booking your first holiday as newlyweds. So what’s it to be? A classy city break, little jaunt to the seaside or a fancy once-in-a-lifetime, cocktail-in-coconut kind of honeymoon?
3 months to go…
Hen do and stag party planning
Hooray, a job you can pass over to someone else to sort! With just 3 months left until your wedding, get your best mates on the case organising hen, stag or hag parties. Of course it’s fair to give them a few pointers on what you’d love and what’s a definite no-no but try not to get too hands on. This is your chance to relax and let others get involved in the planning.
Buy your accessories
Pick up all those finishing touches for your wedding look. Shoes, jewellery or ‘Just married’ denim jacket, you do you.
Work on the décor
When you plan your wedding in 6 months you are less likely to find yourself getting planning fatigue or a wedmin-induced nervous twitch by the time you get to sorting the décor. Chat with your venue to find out what they can provide and whether there are any dos or don’ts  you need to know, then dig out the Pinterest board/saved Instagram posts and bring your big day vision to life. The wedding DIY is on, people!
2 months to go…
Do the table plan
Deep breaths… with 2 months to go it’s time to tackle that table plan. You can do it. We believe in you!
Have a hair and make-up trial
Don’t leave your wedding hair and make-up trial to the last minute. You want to give yourself (and the pros) enough time to find the right look that makes you feel a-mazing.
1 month to go…
Last-minute checks
It’s the final countdown. With just 4 weeks to go, you need to firm up the details, ring round your suppliers to re-confirm timings and check in with your venue. Exciting times!
Go present shopping
If you plan on giving little thank you gifts to parents or members of your wedding day dream team, get them bought and wrapped now. Unless they are flowers – they can wait until the day before.
Write the speech
Sweet and sentimental or mega-LOLs, whatever your speech style it’s worth getting it written up before the whirlwind final week countdown begins.
And relax….
Guys – you’ve done it! See, we told you it’s totally doable to plan your wedding in 6 months. Now all you have to do it check in to our cosy on-site Laundry Cottage or drop your overnight bag in the fancy newlyweds glamping pod and let the fun begin.
Want to know more about The Hall Barns?
Our exclusive use, laid back, unique Leicestershire wedding venue is really something special. Perfect for a festival style wedding or idyllic countryside big day, The Hall Barns, near Loughborough, is the coolest wedding venue in the Midlands. We’d love the chance to show you around The Hall Barns. Just click here to get in touch, ask a question or arrange a viewing.