7 Tips for a Short Engagement Period
I've been thinking about short engagement periods recently because I've had a few couples book me not too long in advance. I think more people are doing this now-- they're opting to elope, they're keeping it small and they're taking a shorter engagement.
Read on to get a few tips to create the wedding you want even with a short engagement period.
1. Consider eloping. Eloping still requires planning. It's changed a lot since the days of showing up the courthouse and tying the knot just the two of you. Of course you can do that, but most of the elopements I've photographed have had 10-20 people there. Click here to learn more about how to elope in Austin.
2. Try off-season. This is probably the best thing you can do. In the off-season, you're more likely to have venues and vendors still available, and they might be more willing to work with your budget if that's a concern.
3. Don't get discouraged. Your first picks for vendors and a venue might not be available. If it's just 1 or 2 months in advance, people may be already booked, have vacations planned, etc. Don't get discouraged. It's not you, that's just the way things are now. Just keep looking!
4. Be flexible on your date. If you do have one vendor you absolutely love and really care about, whether it's your venue, photographer, or videographer, check their availability first and see if you can plan around it. Keep your options open and stay flexible!
5. Keep the guest list short. As you can imagine, it's much easier to coordinate a wedding with less people. Plus when you have less people, you save money and can likely spend a little more on treating those people who are there.
6. Keep the core people you want at your wedding in the loop. One to two months out, people will need to book hotels and flights. You want to make sure they're actually available and have time to ask off from work if they need to.
One great thing to do is use an online scheduler like Doodle to find out people's availability and narrow down a few dates for yourself and your core guests. This will help point you in the right direction!
7. Ask for help. If you can hire a planner, do it! But don't forget that you have family and friends who might be able to help, too. Don't be afraid to ask them to research vendors, stuff envelopes, or help you scope out a venue!
These all tie into being flexible. When you have a short engagement period, try to stay open-minded and ready for things to change at the last minute. If you do that, you're sure to have an amazing celebration.
If you're in the midst of planning your wedding and looking for a photographer, contact me here and let's talk about how I can capture the moments from your day you'll want to look back on forever.