Plan Your South West Wedding in Under a Year
Planning a wedding on a short timeline can definitely feel overwhelming, to the point of impossible, but trust us- it is doable! You do not always need two years, a vision board, and endless digital inspiration folders to pull off your dream day. Whether you’re recently engaged or simply can’t wait to start married life, a wedding can be just as beautiful and meaningful if planned in as little as three months (that’s right, you heard correctly, THREE MONTHS).
We’ve helped many couples bring their wedding dreams to life here at River Cottage, a one-of-a-kind South West wedding venue, nestled on the Devon and Dorset border, and we’re here to share some helpful tips to make your planning journey easier.
Top tips for planning a wedding on a short timeline:
Be flexible on dates
Your perfect venue may not have your original dream date, and that’s completely fine. Flexibility is key. Chat with loved ones to find out dates they absolutely can’t do, and open your calendar to the rest. Choosing a weekday wedding or off-peak seasons and not only will you have more options and may even help secure better rates from your suppliers.
Give your guests as much notice as possible
Once you have locked in a date with your venue, tell your guests immediately! Make your own digital Save the Dates (or ask a friend who knows their way around tech for help) and send this out as soon as you can. The more notice your guests have, the better, especially if they’re travelling or need somewhere to stay. Your venue may also be able to help with accommodating your guests, or they can recommend other providers to try.
Make a wish list of your favourite suppliers
Write down a list of your favourite vendors, and get in touch quickly! You never know, your wedding date might be the one day they don’t have anything booked!
If you’re not sure on which suppliers to use, not to worry, once you’ve booked your River Cottage Wedding, we’ll share our trusted list of brilliant local suppliers.
Keep an open mind
If your first choices aren’t available, don’t panic! There are some fantastic lesser-known suppliers out there who may offer last minute deals. You may just discover a hidden gem you hadn’t even considered!
Stay organised
With a shorter lead time to your big day, staying organised will be essential to success. However you do it, be it checklists, spreadsheets or planning apps, keeping track of everything will help keep things stress free.
At River Cottage we provide our couples with a planning guide to make sure you don’t forget anything, and our Wedding Coordinator will be on hand throughout your planning journey to help ensure you’ve got everything covered.
Bonus tip: book the important appointments as soon as possible, for example, that all important pre-wedding hair cut or trip to the nail salon.
Soak up the magic
Enjoy the journey. Wedding planning can be intense, but it is also a wonderful time with plenty of opportunities to have fun and create memories! Make sure you take advantage of the fun moments such as cake tastings and getting your friends together for your Hen and/or Stag do’s, and celebrate the little wins along the way as you tick off the tasks from your planning guide.
In short
A wedding with a short engagement doesn’t mean a lesser celebration by any means. In fact, having less time often means more focus on what really matters! With a positive mindset, a little flexibility, a solid plan, and the support of our experienced team, your River Cottage wedding can be everything you imagined and more. After all, the most important part is the two of you and the start of your forever together.
And here’s a little bonus: getting married at River Cottage means you’ve got your anniversary, Christmas, and birthday presents sorted! You can return each year for a spectacular dining feast. You’re welcome.
Feel free to get in touch to hear about our late deals. You can also download our brochure, and we’d love to hear about your tight deadline to see if we can help make it happen. Happy Planning!
