How to Plan a wedding in 2 weeks

Planning

Ok so let’s be honest if you’re planning a wedding in 2 weeks it’s not going to be prefect…. But then again no wedding is no matter how much time you have to plan!! Just know that whatever happens, happens and don’t let anything get to you, or you’ll get way to stress out. Planning is very important because this is how the rest of the wedding is going to come together so quickly. It’s important to think to yourself who you already know that can help you get this done (do you have a friend that’s a photographer, does your grandma make cakes, does any of your relatives have a larger house you can use for your reception, look for discounts, ect). Thinking of these things will help the cost of your wedding go down significantly!! (How to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Shoestring Budget if you have more time).

Step # 1: Legal Stuff

Yes depending on where you live this could add complications on how fast you can be married (some states make you wait a month), the very first things you’re going to need to do is apply for a marriage license and find a wedding official. If you don't have somebody in mind, ask people you know.  Just about anybody can become a wedding officiant now a days, and chances are that word of mouth can put you in touch with somebody who has and is willing ( I asked my pastor and he did it for free), Or when you apply for your license you can ask the clerk for a list of judges who will marry you. You can also look online and in the yellow pages for a minister to marry you. Choose somebody you are comfortable with, and contact them immediately as you will be a slave to their schedule.

Step #2: What is your Budget?

Second  you’re going to need to figure out what is your budget (how much you have to put into the wedding and what money anyone else like mom/ dad are going to give you to help out). Now these tips I’m to give you are for people with a budget $500 & up.

Step #3   : Choosing the Venue

Finding a place to get married can be a pain, and because you are having a quick wedding you will have to be flexible with finding a venue. Consider having your wedding in your home, or the home of a relative, possibly use a church chapel and the social hall. Consider a outside wedding ex: you don’t have to have a permit at most beaches and some parks as long as there is less than 50 people and the beach is free (you’ll need to call and find out their certain regulations before you have your wedding or reception there). Call a restaurant and see if you can get married during their off hours or a day when they are closed. Consider having your wedding and reception in the same place…. So that people don’t have to drive from venue to venue and possible get lost.

Step #4: The Invitations

First you’ll need to narrow your list down, the less amount of people the more money your  going to save, make a list and revise it until you have only the people you really want their… not the people you feel like you have to invite. Send out your invitations quickly email or calling are probably best and recruit someone from each side of the family to do this,  you can also send out invitations that you have made at home on your computer if you prefer but you have to do this fast within the first 3days of planning.

Step #5: Food, Cake, & Flowers

Plan food for the reception, you have a couple choices when it comes to planning food for a quick wedding reception. The quickest option is to call your favorite restaurant and arrange last minute catering (give about a week in advance if you’re going to do this) for a restaurant that is fairly large this shouldn't be a problem. If you want a quick and easy menu for an afternoon reception, a supermarket can even supply a large picnic buffet, also check out their bakery for a simple wedding cake. You will be amazed how pretty supermarket wedding Cakes can be. Another option can be to rely on family or someone you might know to prepare the meal, of course this may leave them too weary to enjoy the wedding so think about it,( I had my brother-in-law's girlfriends family make my food, it was great!!). A combination of the supermarket and family member or someone you know may be your best bet. Skip the flowers, or buy just a few from the supermarket to (go for color, not price) and just some simple ribbon that matches what color theme you have wrapped around the stems are fine for a bouquet. A single open rose or camellia floating in a bowl of water can be very elegant as a center piece for your tables. Alternatively, for centerpieces, consider simple candles. Also check out fake flowers sometime you can find some good deals at the dollar stores.

Step #6: Reception decorations.

When I planned my wedding I bought everything I need from the local party supply store, and some other stores that supplied wedding decorations (just search wedding supplies locally online). I ended up picking my colors which were teal and a chocolate brown. I found some fashionable plates that were teal (but they have every color of the rainbow and or some of these places have the wedding plate’s ect

Step #7: Music, & photography

Consider making a CD with all the music for your wedding music. Keep the music simple, and have all of your songs programmed on a CD/ or MP3 player. Choose a family member to play the important songs at specific times, but other than that, just let the music play. You don’t have to hire anyone to take your photos you can either ask someone you know who is pretty camera savvy or buy a couple of disposable cameras and put them on some of the seats before the ceremony and have someone tell them what to do before the wedding starts, and even you can skip photos completely and ask people if they could make you copies of what their taking, and they’re more than likely to be happy to.

Step #8: The Wardrobe

Choose your wedding wardrobe you won’t have time to order a custom dress, and you may not have time to rent a tuxedo either. However, wedding stores/ prom dress stores who have clearance racks where you can find a wedding dress for a decent price, that you can then bring to your dry cleaner for quick alteration if needed. As for the groom, you can purchase an inexpensive tuxedo from a men’s clothing warehouse and have it altered in two days, and as for the groomsmen just the same color dress shirt is great they don’t have to have a suit jacket, you can go casual too…. It might save some dough if you as the bride is the only one who dresses up and just have everyone else come casual and have the bridesmaids wear something they already have.