How to Plan a Wedding in 3 Months

Did you know that it is entirely possible to plan a wedding in just three months?

Whether your reasons for booking a last-minute wedding are related to life plans, budget, or surprise last-minute availability at your favourite wedding venue, we’re here to help you navigate the next three months as you plan and execute your dream day.

Here’s how to plan a wedding in three months, starting from… now!

3 months to go

Book a wedding venue

While many UK wedding venues book up a year or more in advance, you can actually find incredible deals at stunning venues at very short notice.

Take a look at these special offers at our selected wedding venues.

Tip: If your wedding venue requires that you reserve rooms for guests, do this as soon as possible to ensure family and friends can stay nearby.

Secure your wedding suppliers

With just three months until your wedding day, you will have to be realistic about the availability of some of the best wedding suppliers. That isn’t to say you won’t snap up a fantastic photographer, videographer, florist, band and cake maker, particularly if you’ve opted for a mid-week wedding date. Many of the best wedding suppliers will have mid-week availability at relatively short notice, so start shortlisting suppliers you like immediately and reach out to gauge availability and price.

Send your wedding invitations

As soon as your wedding date is secured, it’s time to finalise the guest list and send out your wedding invitations. At such short notice, it’s best to opt for digital invitations to speed up the process and reduce the likelihood of postal delays affecting guest numbers. Bear in mind that with just three months to go, it is likely that not everyone will be free for your wedding date. 

Note: you may wish to create a wedding website before sending your save-the-dates. This is a great way to share important details about your wedding day such as maps, dress code and venue details. Plus, you can personalise your website with fun photographs of you both.

Find the dresses, suits and wedding party attire

If one of you is choosing to wear a dress, you’ll want to select this early on. Although custom-made wedding dresses usually require at least six months’ notice, it is possible to find gorgeous, affordable wedding dress options by visiting ready-to-wear boutiques, attending sample sales, exploring non-bridal designers or even rental options.  

Once you’ve sorted your own wedding attire, now is the time to think about your bridal party. If you choose to have bridesmaids, why not ask them to pick an outfit they like in your chosen colour? You can do the same for groomsmen and other members of the wedding party, saving you both time and money.

Purchase your wedding rings

With resizing of rings likely to be required, you should aim to have purchased your wedding rings early on in the planning process to allow enough time for them to be sent off and returned to you.

2 months to go

Finalise your menu

Now is the time to attend food tastings at your venue and decide what you’ll want to serve your guests during the cocktail reception and wedding breakfast.

Finalise ceremony details

Plan a visit to your registry office or church, or meet your celebrant to plan the details of your wedding ceremony. You may also want to ask a couple of friends or family members if they’d like to share readings and also choose your ceremony playlist or musician.

Important: give notice

You must sign a legal statement at your local register office at least 29 days before your ceremony. Contact your local register office now for more information.

Decide on your wedding cake

You’ve already found your cake supplier – now is the time to sample those all-important cake flavours and finalise cake designs. 

Decide on your wedding flowers

You’re already in regular communication with your florist, but now is the time to start being decisive and signing off floristry inclusions for your big day.

Finalise venue styling

You will have already gathered plenty of ideas about how you’d like your wedding venue to look. At the two-month mark, you should have a clear plan for where your decorations are coming from, how the overall look and feel of your day will come together, and who is responsible for bringing your vision to life.

Hair and makeup trial

If you’re planning to have your hair or makeup done by a professional, schedule a trial to ensure that your glam squad knows exactly how you want to look and feel on your wedding day.

Pay final invoices

You should have a final meeting with your wedding suppliers around this time to ensure that all details are covered and that final invoices are issued and paid.

Book in hen and stag nights

With most of the big decisions now made, now is the perfect time to head off on your hen or stag parties. You both deserve a night off after all this intensive wedding planning!

1 month to go

Plan a mini-moon or honeymoon

INow is the perfect time to start thinking about the all-important honeymoon. Often cited as one of the best parts of wedding planning, thinking about where you both want to go to unwind after the wedding provides a blissful break from the millions of wedding decisions you’ve made so far.

Finalise details of the day

With your wedding day fast approaching, it is wise to confirm timings and final details with all of your wedding suppliers. Your wedding venue should coordinate a wedding day timeline at this stage and ensure it is communicated with all relevant suppliers.

Confirm your wedding music playlist and song requests, and make sure that your photographer knows which shots are most important to you.

Finalise your seating plan 

With all RSVPs received and a guest list finalised, it’s time to sign off on your seating plan and have it printed along with all relevant stationery (such as menus and place cards). 

Final dress fitting

If you’re wearing a dress, your final fitting will take place, and any last-minute alterations will be made to ensure it fits you perfectly. 

Your big day has arrived!

Congratulations, you did it! You planned a wedding in just three months and we’ll bet it’s flown by. Now is the time to pour a glass of your favourite fizz and soak up every moment of your hard work.

Secure a great deal at one of the UK’s dreamiest wedding venues

If you’re recently engaged and are looking to secure a great deal at a popular UK wedding venue, why not take a look at the latest special offers at our selected wedding venues?