Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event, so you want everything to be perfect. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an extravagant island affair or a small gathering at the local church, you deserve to have the best wedding possible.
How long on average does it take to plan a wedding? There are many factors involved in that question, so it’s not as simple as a straightforward number. We’ll examine the many factors that go into planning a wedding and provide an average time you’ll probably need to plan it.
When it comes to planning the perfect wedding, there is no rush.
How Long on Average Does It Take to Plan a Wedding?
There are many different types of wedding, but the most common is a medium to large size affair in a local community involving a church and a reception. Most couples spend anywhere from 6 months to a year planning a wedding such as this.
The key issue in planning a wedding is timing. The two biggest issues for setting a wedding date is booking times for a church and wedding reception hall. If you go to a local church, then that’s the one you’ll want to have host your wedding.
The problem is finding a time that it’s available. If there is a large church congregation, then there are likely events and other weddings being planned as well. The same goes for the wedding reception hall. You’ll need to find a day, usually a weekend, that both are available.
There are some times of the year that are more popular than others. If you want a spring wedding, then you’ll have a harder time finding a date than if it was in the dead of winter. There are a number of wedding planning tools available to help keep track of everything.
Therefore, finding the church and a wedding reception hall are usually the first two things a couple does. It allows them to set a date for the wedding and gives them a deadline.
Planning a Wedding without a Church or Reception Hall
While a traditional wedding takes place in a church, you can have it anywhere. People have weddings in historic places, places significant to them and even their homes. You can have the wedding reception in these places as well, which makes choosing a date much simpler.
With the biggest hurdle taken care of, you’ll still want a minimum of 8 to 12 months to plan your wedding at a minimum. Unless you plan on having a spur of the moment wedding at a Las Vegas wedding chapel or the local courthouse, there are still many difficult wedding decisions that need to be made.
In addition to the place of the wedding and reception, the bride needs to find her perfect dress. You need to contact bridesmaids and groomsmen and have them outfitted. There is a guest list to create, invitations to send out, decorations to create, food vendors to contact, and a million other decisions that must be made far in advance of the actual wedding day.
People need plenty of time to make sure they can be there for your big day. Unless you have a large pool of money, you’ll need to save up to purchase some items.
You’re planning a wedding on top of your everyday lives. You still must go to work and pay the bills all while planning for the biggest day of your lives.
Wedding Using a Wedding Planner
A wedding planner can be a savior for couples trying to put together a wedding, while still having a normal life. You meet with a wedding planner and discuss the type of wedding you want to have and a budget.
In addition to the cost of the wedding, there’s the cost of a planner. The planner sets up everything and you make approvals of their suggestions. You can save significant time by using a wedding planner because they have put together many weddings, so they know the vendors, perfect venue spots, and all the tips and tricks to streamline the process.
Generally, the more extravagant and luxurious the wedding, the more time you need to plan it. High society weddings that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars may need two years to plan because of all the details, hard to find items, etc. that you want.
A wedding planner can save you time, but the goal is to make it easier for the couple. When you meet the wedding planner, they’ll provide you with estimated planning time. They’ll require usually at least a year, but that also depends on venue availability.
Planning a Destination Wedding
Destination weddings are extremely popular because they allow for a truly once in a lifetime event. It could be on a beach in the Mediterranean, Walt Disney World, a Chateau in France, or one of many other places.
This can also be the most difficult wedding to plan. These are popular spots, so you may need to wait a few years to find an opening date. Once you have a date set, people need at least 6 months, but ideally longer, to plan attendance.
They must pay for plane tickets, hotel stays, and more. A destination wedding is often a mix of wedding and vacation. You’re also planning a wedding from a distance, likely through a wedding planner in the destination area.
Destination weddings often have set packages that make planning a little easier but doing everything virtually through an out-of-town wedding planner requires more time. If you want a destination LGBT wedding, then you’ll want to have a minimum of a year and a half, and ideally two years, for planning.
Take Your Time for the Wedding
The key to a happy wedding is taking your time. There is no hurry to tie the knot, so take your time and make sure it’s perfect. How long on average does it take to plan a wedding? It takes as long as you need, but you’ll want to save 6 months for small intimate gatherings up to two years for large more extravagant weddings.
If you want to learn more about planning a wedding and all the decisions that go into it, then please explore our site.
