You’ve just gotten engaged to the man or woman of your dreams, and simply can’t wait a year (or more) to put that wedding band on. Can you plan your wedding in six months? The answer is yes – you can plan it all, and still enjoy a beautiful ceremony that reflects the efforts of a wedding that takes a year to plan. All you need to do is stick to a few essential jobs per month to get everything done in time – and we’ve got it all planned out for you.

6 MONTHS TO GO:

1. Determine your budget

First and foremost, you need to determine your budget. Is anyone contributing, and if so, how much? Once you’ve settled on a rough figure, sit down with your partner and make a list of your priority items and hires for your wedding day, so you know where the majority of your funds will go. For example, to your wedding venue, cake, photographer, and wedding band.

2. Plan your guest list

Now’s the time to plan who’s coming, who’s bringing a plus one, and who’s unlikely to attend. It would also make sense to sit down with your parents and ask if there is anyone significant they would like to invite. Once you’ve roughly worked out how many guests will attend, you can start discussing the size and style of your wedding venue.

3. Choose your venue

Yes, it’s true that most traditional wedding venues do get booked out a year (or more) in advance. But if you consider alternative dates, like Fridays and Sundays, you are likely to find a suitable venue for your ceremony. Our two beautiful wedding venues, the Boma and Orchid House, have affordable wedding packages on Fridays and Sundays – take a look.

4. Secure your priority vendors

Not only do venues get booked up in advance, but popular vendors do too. So now is the time to lock in that photographer you’re interested in, and favourite wedding band or DJ. It would be a good idea to secure a florist too, if you’ve got a specific wedding day flower fantasy in mind.

5. Choose your dress

Now, the urgency of your wedding dress really depends on whether you are opting for store-bought or custom-made. Choosing a store-bought dress will free you up a lot of time, especially if it doesn’t need many (or any) alterations. If you go the custom-made route, it’s important to pay that rush fee to guarantee it will be ready in time. It would also be wise to pre-book your fittings close to your wedding so your dress fits perfectly on the day.

6. Book a nearby hotel for your guests

If you’re planning a destination wedding, or have a lot of guests coming from out of town, it’s important to secure hotel rooms in advance, so that your wedding guests have the option of spending the night. If you book a Collisheen wedding venue, finding accommodation for your guests should be easy, as we are conveniently situated on the doorstep of Ballito.

7. Schedule your engagement shoot

Once you’ve established your photographer, you’ll want to schedule your engagement shoot as soon as possible. Why? So you can use the photos on your wedding website and save-the-dates, of course!

5 MONTHS TO GO:

1. Hire a wedding coordinator

If you’re interested in hiring a wedding coordinator, now would be the time to do so. A coordinator can be very useful when you have only six months to plan your wedding. So if you’re overwhelmed by the seemingly endless detail, why not leave it all to a pro? A huge perk of our wedding venues is that they come with a coordinator as part of the deal – only the best for your special day! Read more about our 2020 wedding package.

2. Establish your wedding party

If you’ve chosen which family members or friends you would like at your side at the altar, ask them if they’re up for the task early on. Remember that you might need to order or rent bridesmaids dresses and tuxedos, so start arranging outfits as soon as possible.

3. Send out your save-the-dates

Whether you’ve opted for digital save-the-dates or printed cards, send them out at this stage. Now would also be a good time to start planning the design of your official wedding invitations.

4 MONTHS TO GO:

1. Hire any additional vendors

If there are any vendors left to hire for your big day, like hairdressers and make-up artists, now would be the time to secure them.

2. Order your wedding bands

A lot of love and care goes into making a wedding ring, so naturally, it is a time-consuming process. Wedding bands can take up to 90 days to get delivered, so it’s important to leave the ordering of them no later than this.

3 MONTHS TO GO:

1. Decide on your wedding cake and menu

You’re halfway there! So it’s time for a little treat – go cake tasting and menu sampling, and settle on a wedding spread you both love. We offer a broad menu selection as part of our wedding packages, and if you have any special requests we would only be too happy to make them happen for you. If you’re interested in using one of our venues for your wedding, have a look at our menus.

2. Plan your honeymoon

It’s time to pick a destination, book flights, and a hotel. This part is also a lot of fun!

3. Send out your invitations

By this stage, you should have printed your invitations so they are ready to go. Now all that’s left to do is send them off. If you have opted to create a wedding website instead, head online to send out your digital invites.

2 MONTHS TO GO:

1. Enjoy your pre-wedding celebrations

Time to let loose and party! You and your partner can celebrate your union with loved ones at a bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette party.

2. Do a hair and make-up trial

No bride wants a surprising hairdo on her wedding day. It must be exactly as she imagined. So with just over a month to go, schedule a hair and make-up trial to make sure your hair will be exactly as you want it at your ceremony.

1 MONTH TO GO:

1. Pack your bags for your honeymoon

There are only a few weeks left until your wedding day, and then you and your special somebody will be off on your aromatic adventure. Be sure to pack your bags around this time so you don’t need to worry about packing the night before your wedding.

2. Confirm your wedding day details

This is an important step, and it’s all about communication. Get in touch with your vendors and bridal party members to run through wedding times and details. You’ll want your wedding to run smoothly, so make sure you properly communicate your expectations to the people who need to know them. A wedding rehearsal would be a good idea to schedule in a few weeks before your wedding, so you can make sure everyone is on the same page on the day.

3. Finalise your seating chart

With your wedding day around the corner, your RSVPs should all be in. So now you can finalise your seating chart and print out your escort cards. And you’re done! All that’s left to do is live in the moment and enjoy your big day.

Keen to plan your wedding in 6 months?

If you’re ready to take the plunge and plan your wedding in six months, we say “go for it”! You know what to do – just check our list from time to time to make sure you are on track. And for more information about our wedding venues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.