In most cases, it is common that a couple try to plan their wedding as far in advance as possible. One main exception is an elopement, when the couple for whatever reason, wants to keep their wedding small and intimate.

However, some there are some couples that may still want a traditional wedding, but not have the ability to plan the big day that far in advance. There can be several reasons for wanting to plan a quick wedding. The bride and/or groom may have responsibilities, travel plans, or other commitments that would not allow for a wedding date further out. Or they may simply prefer to get married sooner, rather than later, but still want a more traditional wedding. Let’s look at some guidelines for planning a wedding in under six months.

Book the Venue
Booking the wedding venue is one of the first things you should do when planning a wedding. Venues can fill up quickly, especially if you’re getting married during a popular time of year. Once the venue is booked, your date is set, and all the other plans can be put into place. As you’re working with less time, you may need to be flexible and make a few more calls to find a venue with an open date that works for you.

When researching venues, be sure that they offer the services and amenities you need. For a wedding that’s coming up soon, consider purchasing an inclusive package that includes catering, decorations, flowers, tables and chairs, and other essentials. This saves you the trouble of having to make separate arrangements for every service, which is quite the time saver.

Secure Your Wedding Photographer
Wedding photographers book out quite some time in advance. Especially for popular days. As soon as you have the venue booked, it is time to find a great photographer who will capture memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Send Out Invitations
Wedding guests want as much notice as possible. You may have family members and friends coming from long distances and need to make travel arrangements. Make your guest list and send out the invitations as soon as the date is planned. You may want to send out email invitations instead of, or in addition to traditional paper invitations. The advantage of digital invites is that you can also link to your wedding registry website.

Set Up a Wedding Registry
A wedding registry provides a simple and efficient way to communicate your gift preferences to wedding guests. There are many choices for setting up a registry, including Zola, Target, and Amazon. They’ll set you up with a website that you can build in minutes and provide full support. A wedding registry helps you get the gifts you really want and makes it easy to return gifts when necessary.

Get the Wedding Dress and Suit
You want to make sure there’s sufficient time to get the perfect wedding dress for the bride and suit for the groom. Bridal boutiques often require that you order a wedding dress at least six months before the wedding. However, you can still find a wedding dress off the rack. Call a bridal shop or salon in your area and make inquiries. You can also check out online retailers. The key is to start shopping as soon as possible in case you need to make alterations to the dress.

Similarly, the groom can buy a wedding suit or tuxedo off the rack, but most just rent one. In addition to the bride and groom, you may also want to choose formal wear for the wedding party. You can also allow the bridesmaids and groomsmen to arrange for their own attire.

Checklist for Other Essential Wedding Items and Tasks
A wedding consists of hundreds of moments and details. The following is a checklist of additional items that you don’t want to forget. Every couple has their own timeline. You may have already checked some or all of these items off your list. If not, make sure you don’t leave them till the last minute.

• Hair and Makeup Trials – Trials are good for dialing in how you want to look on the wedding day. It’s customary to have trials a month or two before the wedding. As the date draws closer, lock in any final beauty and hair appointments.
• Ceremony Script & Wedding Vows – Go over the script with the officiant and write your wedding vows for the ceremony. This oftentimes takes longer to do, then most would think.
• Wedding Party Gifts – It’s traditional to give gifts to the members of the wedding party. And some even include gifts for the parents.
• Wedding Favors – It’s nice to hand out or have available, thoughtful wedding favors for your guests. If you’re ordering these, be mindful of the turnaround times to ensure they arrive in time for the big day.
• Wedding Décor – Wedding packages generally include decorations. However, you may want to add a personal touch, which could include personalized items such as photos or artwork.
• Attire Fitting – Fittings are just about always included from wherever you buy or rent your attire, but so very important to make sure you have them scheduled in your timeline, should the need for adjustment arise.
• Create a Wedding Seating Chart – While not mandatory, it is generally recommended to have a seating chart for your guests.
• Shot Requests with the Photographer – It’s good to discuss exactly what you want so your photographer can best prepare for and deliver those shots. He or she will likely also make helpful suggestions.
• Obtain Your Marriage License – Often not glamorized, but certainly one of the most important details of your wedding, as it makes your wedding legal. In some states, you can even apply for one online.

Depending on the particulars of your wedding, you may need to add or delete items to your checklist. Planning a wedding closer than six months to the date can be done, but it takes some extra planning and determination. Having a checklist like this can be helpful to make sure you don’t overlook any details.