How Long Does it Take to Plan a Wedding?
Whether you’re newly engaged or just thinking about getting married, you’ve probably found yourself wondering: “How long does it take to plan a wedding?”
There are so many factors that affect how long wedding planning will take, so let’s talk about what you can expect when you’re ready to start planning.
Your Wedding Style
The style of wedding you want will have a big impact on how long it takes to plan your wedding.
If you want a luxury all-day wedding event with all the bells and whistles, it will take a lot more time to plan than a simple cocktail hour wedding.
And if you’re planning an elopement, it will take even less time.
Spend time talking to your partner in advance about what you each expect from your future wedding. If you know ahead of time what you each want, it will help you prepare for how long planning will take.
Your Wedding Guest List
The size of your guest list will also affect the length of the wedding planning process.
Every couple has different needs. Some couples have large families, lots of friends, or a big community–if you can relate, you’ll probably need to invite a lot of people to your wedding. Other couples have small families or live far from their extended family, and want to keep their invitations limited.
Whoever you want to celebrate with on your big day, that’s your decision, and your wedding planner will support you.
But keep in mind that a bigger guest list means a longer timeline for planning.
Venue
Your wedding venue needs will impact how long it takes to plan your wedding.
If you have a very specific venue in mind–a “dream venue,” or a place will special significance to you and your partner–you will have to plan your wedding around the venue’s availability. This will most likely extend the time frame for your wedding.
But even smaller limitations can lead to a longer planning timeline.
For instance, if you need a venue that can accommodate an especially large number of guests, it may take longer to find the right fit. If you want an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, you’ll need a venue with both options. If you want a waterfront ceremony, it will take more time to find the right fit.
In other words, the more specific your venue needs, the longer it will take to find the right venue for your wedding. And this will slow down the planning process!
The Seasons
There is a “wedding season” for a reason.
Most people get married between late spring and early fall. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and wedding season encompasses some of the most convenient time frames. There are fewer major holidays during wedding season, kids are out of school for most of the time frame, and it’s the time of year when people are planning vacations anyway.
The downside to choosing a wedding date during wedding season is that there just won’t be as many resources available. Wedding planners are more likely to be booked, venues will have fewer openings, and many vendors will be unavailable. So if you want to get married during wedding season, you may need a longer planning timeline.
However, if you are able to make an off-season wedding work, you will have access to more planners, vendors, and venue options. You may even find that venues and vendors offer discounted rates outside of wedding season!
Personalization
If you know that you want many customized details for your wedding, you should expect the planning to take longer.
Some couples are happy with readily available options: rental decor and furniture; invitations designed from pre-made design elements; catering chosen from a limited menu provided. If those options meet your needs, you will keep the planning process much shorter.
But if you need a high level of customization for your wedding–think hand-painted watercolor invitations, hands-on decor sourcing, or a custom menu meticulously crafted with a private chef–you should expect the process to take longer.
Your Budget
If you’re working with an especially tight budget, it may make the planning take longer.
A big budget means you can choose the best options without worry. But if you are planning a wedding under budgetary constraints, expect that the process will take longer.
You’ll need to take more time to find vendors that fit your budget. But you’ll also likely need to make adjustments as you find the right vendors, tweaking to make sure the numbers work.
Life Events
You may not have considered it yet, but your personal circumstances could affect how long it takes to plan your wedding.
If you are going through school, you may need to wait until after graduation to get married. On the other hand, if a family member is moving out of the country at the end of the year, you may choose to accelerate your timeline and get married before they leave.
Think about life events–yours, your future spouse’s, and those of your loved ones–when beginning the planning process.
But What About the Numbers?
You may be thinking, “You still haven’t mentioned any actual numbers. How long will my wedding planning ACTUALLY take?”
The truth is, it’s different for everyone. All of the factors we’ve mentioned play a role in your timeline.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a general idea.
Earlier is always better. But in general, we tell our couples to reach out to us 12-18 months before their general time frame, so that we have plenty of time to plan. Ideally, we recommend that couples begin planning at least 6 months in advance.
However, we know that for small, intimate ceremonies and elopements–or for last-minute rushed weddings–this isn’t always possible.
You’re Not Alone!
Here at RJ Stewart Weddings & Events, we are always happy to sit down with you and plan a beautiful wedding, even if your planning timeline is short. If you are a Connecticut couple beginning the wedding planning process, reach out to us at our contact form here.
We look forward to working with you!
