FACT: Three months is plenty of time to plan a wedding.
Let me clarify. It’s not a ton of time to plan a big traditional wedding, but way more than you need to plan a meaningful, memorable and intentional micro wedding that focuses on you, the couple. Which, honestly, all weddings should be about the couple.
Here’s how to make your special day magical in just 90 days. With this helpful guide you could get engaged over summer vacation and hold your wedding a few short months later in the fall.
3 Months To Go
Pick a Date
The first thing you want to do is pick a date, and there’s so much inspiration you can use to find a date that really resonates with you as a couple. You can choose a favorite holiday, a special day just for the two of you or even a day that doubles as something of a good luck charm.
Popular Saturday dates might have already been taken if you’re planning just three months out, but alternate days like Fridays or Sundays may still be available. Or you may have to look for alternative venues. The good news is that these dates and spots may cost a lot less money than the premium ones.
Choose the Venue
Choosing the date and the venue go hand in hand. When you’re working with a 3 month timeline you’ll have to choose the venue and the date simultaneously rather than spending a couple weeks debating the perfect date and then finding a venue that is available on that date. When in a bit of a time crunch one decision will very much dictate the other and you’ll be best off id you make them as one decision rather than two decisions.
Think about the traditional questions but be prepared to pivot. Do you want to have an outside wedding? A vineyard wedding? Something rustic? What about city glamor? Think about what kind of vibe you want to set with your wedding and go from there in choosing your venue and date.
Hire a Coordinator or Book a Package
If three months feels too tight but you need to make it happen anyway due to other circumstances such as a military deployment, job relocation, or school schedules, it might be beneficial to hire some help to make sure you have everything ready to go under a tight timeline. An all inclusive micro wedding package that’s done for you is a stress free way to have a stylish and meaningful ceremony (or ceremony and reception) by making just one phone call. Our Cactus Collective Wedding packages include planning services in your package, so there’s no additional cost to factor in.
Our Cactus Collective Wedding packages include planning services in your package, so there’s no additional cost to factor in. Your wedding remains unique and stress-free without breaking the bank.
Make the Guestlist and Mail Invites
Now is the time to outline your guest list. In just 3 months you might find that opting for a micro wedding or intimate celebration is preferable to a huge bash, so the guest list doesn’t become a hindrance. Max the list out at the 50 most important people. Any more than that and the logistics get harder and more time consuming to plan for.
The sooner you order your invitations, the quicker you can get them out to your guests. Ordering personalized invitations lets you try new things and get a vision for your invitations before they’re printed and sent to you. Many people have their schedules planned out many months in advance, so the earlier you can notify them of your plans the better.
That’s considering of course you have your heart sent on mailing traditional paper invitations. If you’d rather save time and money by going the digital route that option is becoming more popular and is now an acceptable alternative.
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Vendors
Researching vendors comes next, and while it may take a lot of legwork, it’s worth it in the end. For instance, if you’re not going with an all-inclusive option you might want to find a reliable chair rental service, caterers to ensure guests get a delicious taste of local seasonal fare, a professional photographer, a content creator and a florist.
Before your first month of planning is up, you’ll also want to order your wedding cake. Local bakeries can help in designing a cake that is within budget, suitable for your number of guests, and most important of all – delicious.
2 Months To Go
With the first month down, now is the time to begin thinking about your honeymoon, makeup and hair options, wedding website, finalizing vendors and registering for gifts.
Build Wedding Website and Registry
Registries are easier than ever to do online. Pick a handful of your favorite stores and register on their websites. Have fun with picking out some new stuff as you both lean back on the sofa and dream of your future. After you’re registered, use a simple wedding website template to tell your story, drop a registry link, and update your guests on any other important information such as dress codes, hotel room block details and places and times. After your website is up, check in with your vendors and lock in anything that hasn’t been finalized.
Treat Yourself
With all the hustle and bustle of wedding planning, it’s time for a little fun. Two months until the wedding day is the perfect time to get on Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok and browse hair, makeup and honeymoon inspiration.
1 Month To Go
With just one month to go, now is the time to tie up any loose ends you might have.
Wedding License
Some places make getting your wedding license super simple and others don’t. Depending on where your wedding will take place you may need a week or two lead time in applying for and being granted your wedding license. These waiting periods don’t exist in Clark County, Nevada but that’s not the case everywhere. Waiting period aside, you may need a couple days to gather the required documents in your county: think birth certificates, Social Security cards and things like that.
Write Your Vows
If you’re doing personal vows give yourself at least one solid block of time on a Sunday evening (or whenever you work best) to put pen to paper. For some people the words flow easily and for others your love might be hard to describe. Don’t be afraid to hole up in your home office for the morning and craft words that resonate with your love story. Even if it takes a little help from AI.
Choose Your Playlist
You’ll have music at your reception right?! You gotta have music. If there’s no time or budget to book a band or DJ then you’ll likely be creating a playlist to run on a bluetooth speaker. Have a listening session in your living room with your partner and rank your fave tunes, debate their merits, sort them into groups and put them in an order for the evening. Get up and dance and see how it feels with one song versus another for special moments like your first dance or the parents’ dances.
Let’s Connect
Cactus Collective Weddings has helped couples from all around the world to plan their dream weddings in as little as a week. Rather than figuring out how to plan a wedding in 3 months yourself, let our pros give you a hand. We’re the original micro wedding experts in Las Vegas and nothing fazes us. Get in touch today.
