Last minute weddings - 10 top tips to plan your whirlwind ceremony
Last-minute weddings can sometimes cause a whirlwind of manic planning and confusion. Check out our top 10 tips for planning your perfect last-minute wedding!
- Create dressy napkins
Bring your tables to life using double-sided napkins in contrasting colours. These look stunning, especially in rich tones that complement your other table decorations. Tie them in an unusual way and complete a last-minute look with matching ribbon.
- Fab finishing touches
Creating the perfect look using finishing touches is a guaranteed way of wowing your guests. Simple, cost effective items such as rose petals can really transform your tables or aisle in an instant.
- Don’t panic about your menswear
Groomsmen suits can be ordered at much shorter notice for weddings. Look for online companies that offer next-day delivery, or high street hire chains with lots of stock. Just remember to get everyone’s measurements before ordering.
- No time for save the date cards?
Let your guests know the date of your wedding by email instead. Consider photo cards for your invitations, digital printing is a speedy process, so you don’t have to miss out on sending beautiful stationery.
- Have modern mismatched maids
Another great last-minute time-saver is letting your girls choose their own dresses. Sometimes it's a struggle to get all your bridesmaids together, so tell them what your colour scheme is and let them choose their own outfits. They will look gorgeous in individual dresses that suit their own shapes.
- Don’t be scared to negotiate
Most suppliers can turn products and services around quicker than they state in their literature. Speak to them before ordering and explain your time constraints.
- Be prepared to do it yourself
If you can’t find a florist who can do your flowers in time, buy wholesale blooms from a flower market and arrange them in mismatched vases, buckets and bottles for shabby-chic style. Likewise, consider making your own cake: a tiered Victoria sponge or cupcake tower is relatively simple to make but looks really effective. Plus, mini cakes can double up as favours, saving you money, too!
- Don’t forget to budget
If you’re on a tight timescale it’s tempting to solve problems by throwing money at them, and you end up losing track of your costs. Make sure you set a budget and stick to it. If you don’t have time to shop around, consider hiring a wedding planner who can negotiate discounts on your behalf. Also, do set aside money in any budget for wedding insurance.
- Get your papers in order
If your last-minute wedding decision is to get married abroad, ensure that you have all the documentation you need, like birth certificates and unexpired passports. Check how long it takes to process wedding paperwork in your destination: in Italy it takes about three months, but we’ve seen New York weddings organised in under a week!
- Enjoy yourself!
Last-minute planning can be stressful, but don’t get overwhelmed. "I loved planning my wedding in just four months, primarily because it focused me on what I wanted,” says Wedding Ideas editor Rachel Morgan. And of course, the quicker you plan, the sooner you’ll become Mr and Mrs. What better incentive could there be?
