7 months out - what am I going to have left to do???

grumbledore

I am starting to wonder why people get so stressed close to their weddings (other than the obvious looming huge life-changing event).  We've got our venues booked, rentals booked, caterer booked and menu chosen, bartender hired and alcohol all set, dj booked, dress and suit purchased, wedding party asked and working on picking their attire... we're 95% decided on an invitation...  I designed our centerpieces and made a mockup that we love already.

Am I living in a fantasy land to think it might just go pretty smoothly?

PrettyGirlLost

grumbledore said:

I am starting to wonder why people get so stressed close to their weddings (other than the obvious looming huge life-changing event).  We've got our venues booked, rentals booked, caterer booked and menu chosen, bartender hired and alcohol all set, dj booked, dress and suit purchased, wedding party asked and working on picking their attire... we're 95% decided on an invitation...  I designed our centerpieces and made a mockup that we love already.

Am I living in a fantasy land to think it might just go pretty smoothly?

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. . . We are meeting with our venue on Saturday to pick menu and bar options. However, I know with my powers of procrastination I will be doing all my DIY crap at the last minute, lol!

grumbledore

Maybe it's just because I've been so Type A about this (and always am about planning parties) - I did the mockup of the centerpiece weeks ago, because no way was I buying diy supplies without trying it out first to see if I could pull it off.

I want all of the decisions out of the way.  The more decisions we make, the less worried I feel.

TheGrimReaper

I did 0 DIY. I'm 2 days out from my wedding and sitting at work.  I've had a ton of people come up to me and ask me why the hell I'm here.  Well, what else am I supposed to be doing?  I've been told I'm the most laid-back bride ever (to a fault with my mom; she wants there to be drama or something!).  So now I'm just waiting for the day. The only hiccup I had was when the postal service mucked up delivering some of our invitations. That was it! You could be smooth sailing.

phira

For us, there's a lot that's going to have to wait until pretty close to the wedding. But yeah. Almost every vendor is booked, and a lot of stuff we're planning to leave to the last minute (favors, programs, etc) are things that are optional and it's okay for us to leave out entirely.

I'm almost done with our centerpieces, and we have 8 months to go.

Bubblegum5586

Getting everything done ahead of schedule is definitely the key! Even if something falls through... you still have plenty of time to fix it!

With that said, I felt way ahead of schedule so it was great! (People actually poked fun at me for getting everything done so early!) I took Wed-Fri off from work (Sat wedding) thinking I may not even need the Wednesday but could use extra time to visit family. I was shocked at how all the little last minute things added up quickly and I found myself running out of time Thursday night (Friday was supposed to be a relaxing day with getting our manicures and pedicures and I gifted massages to my girls!). 

So enjoy that smooth feeling just make sure you continue to stay ahead of schedule to continue that great feeling!!!

Good luck!

LDay2014

agreed.  I'm 6.5 months out and coasting. 

We are doing a ton of backyard renos this summer in prep for the wedding so I did as much wedding stuff as I could in the winter so we can focus on the other stuff in the summer.

CamiSelene

I'm in the same boat. My fiancé likes to joke about how I pretty much had the whole wedding planned 2 weeks after we got engaged! To be fair, I am a kindergarten teacher so I am hyper organized and didn't want to be busy planning while busy time hit. I don't want to jynx myself but I think it should be pretty smooth sailing from here since all we have to really worry about are very little things.

AprilH81

We had a 7 month engagement and I was busy the week of the wedding with the last minute stuff, but nothing overwhelming...

We had to pack and organize (with labels) our decor and supplies so the venue could set everything up, confirm delivery times, print out the final escort cards, laundry and pack for the honeymoon, pick up my dress...

The day before (the only day I took off work) I got a massage at 9:00, dropped a thank you note off at work, took my dress and my Mom's dress to the venue, had lunch with my parents, got my ring cleaned and redipped, then headed home to take a 20 minute cat nap before showering and getting ready for the rehearsal and dinner.

If you are organized it shouldn't be an issue to be pretty calm right up to the end...  The last week I kept a small notebook in my purse so I could jot down random things that I remembered I had to do and that helped a lot.

melbelleup

grumbledore said:

I am starting to wonder why people get so stressed close to their weddings (other than the obvious looming huge life-changing event).  We've got our venues booked, rentals booked, caterer booked and menu chosen, bartender hired and alcohol all set, dj booked, dress and suit purchased, wedding party asked and working on picking their attire... we're 95% decided on an invitation...  I designed our centerpieces and made a mockup that we love already.

Am I living in a fantasy land to think it might just go pretty smoothly?

Right there with you.. I'm 3 months and change out and haven't had anything to do since August 2013... /twiddle thumbs Only thing left is rehearsal booking, planning ceremony (but we picked readings we liked already), mailing invites, and seating charts

Inkdancer

grumbledore said:

I am starting to wonder why people get so stressed close to their weddings (other than the obvious looming huge life-changing event).  We've got our venues booked, rentals booked, caterer booked and menu chosen, bartender hired and alcohol all set, dj booked, dress and suit purchased, wedding party asked and working on picking their attire... we're 95% decided on an invitation...  I designed our centerpieces and made a mockup that we love already.

Am I living in a fantasy land to think it might just go pretty smoothly?

6 months out and we are done! (Except picking out menswear and finding 10 more vintage teacups in blue and white.) I think some people just aren't super organized, or can't make up their minds, or try to plan a wedding in a short amount of time. Initially I hated the thought of a 2.5 year engagement but now I am so grateful for it!

photokitty

Why do people freak out close to the wedding??? RSVPs and seating charts. You can't do one without the other and for some reason the stress of waiting for the cards to come in drives most women batty. :-p

The only other reason I freaked out was bc I tore my calf 8 weeks out and was in a boot and on crutches. I got out of the boot 2 weeks out. But I couldn't drive myself anywhere for 6 weeks. God willing you will not experience that!!  

Otherwise I think people procrastinate and/or make their own stress.

abbyj700

I'm about 7 months out and not quite as far as you - and still wondering what I'm going to be rushing around doing the last few days other than flowers (as we are buying fresh bulk and arranging them ourselves). I guess it just goes to show you that good planning helps you be less stressed in the long run! Enjoy it!

chibiyui

2 months out. All of my stress comes from poor organization and procrastination. Pretty much everything is done, but it's little stuff that gets to me (what lantern are we going to hang in the windows)

grumbledore

I know I'll want to get my nails done the day before but I'm an old pro at that so that's no big deal.  I get the seating chart thing, but I'll have an idea who I want to seat together before I sit down to do it and we aren't having a huge wedding so I can't imagine it will take more than an hour or two at most.  My centerpieces do take about a half hour each to make (well, the first one did anyway, so probably actually less than that) but I am going to be starting them soon and storing them at my brother's apartment (no pets!) so not worried about that.  I don't think we're doing a rehearsal - at least nothing big - so biggest rehearsal dinner worry might be ordering some pizzas for our wedding party and FI's parents/sister&fam if they want to come.

emmyg65

I was freaking out close to my wedding because my hairdresser quit two weeks before the big day. So I had to scramble to find someone new. 

Also, we had a totally DIY backyard wedding at my in-laws so I had a lot of anxiety about whether we could get it all set up in time, if my family really didn't mind helping even though they volunteered, if perhaps we'd have a freak hurricane and not even be able to use the tent, if one my my crazy friends or relatives was going to get too drunk and break something, etc. etc. But (as you can probably tell) I'm just a naturally anxious person.

vmj23

I am 2 months away.  I've felt very little stress and still have pleanty to do, because I tend to put stuff off.  I have major stuff done, but there is a lot of little details as we get into the weeks/days leading up.  Seating chart and escort cards, can't do til all the RSVP's come back.     Getting marriage license.  Printing menu cards (need to know how many i need, i can do a rough estimate but may need to add some), picking up flowers for the cake that I need to bring to the bakery, dropping stuff off at the venue.  I have the day before the wedding off, but that is it, and I have a baptism to go to the weekend before, so I am losing time to finish up stuff.   I am still undecided on favors, but whatever they end up being i will be personalizing with ribbons, or packaging up, etc, so that will be a last minute type thing, since it will be some type of edible.   I will have to get my nails done the day before, buy food for the girls getting ready at my house (although i am sure my mom can help me get that stuff ready).   We will also have to figure out cars - since we will be going via limo to the venue, we (me as well as bridal party) need to get our cars there teh day before so we can drive home the next day.   The venue is about an hour from my house, so that is going to kill a couple hours of the day. Finding time to clean my house - sounds dumb but it's a concern for me!  We are getting ready at my house and having pictures there so i know i am going to want it to be spotless.  

carliealissa

I wonder about this too!  It doesn't even seem to me to have a lot to do with whether you are a procrastinator or "type A" and wanting to arrange everything way ahead of time.. the whole business is organized so oddly!  I mean, we literally had no alternative to finding and booking all our vendors close to a year out.  Unless you are getting married in a backyard and DIY everything.. no vendors.. there's no other way.  (Assuming you want to be able to choose your vendors or ensure that someone will be available on your wedding day.)  So it's kinda gone like.. Surprise, here's an engagement ring! Oh my god, I had no idea this was coming and suddenly we have to plan an entire wedding in two months!!  Okay, whew, everything's settled, now we just... basically wait 9 months for the wedding to get here.  Weird lull.

carliealissa

The day before our wedding is Christmas so it will be interesting to see what we decide to do that day!  I assumed we wouldn't want to do our usual running around town to all our parents houses but FI said no way will we skip it.  Hm we'll see!  At least the two days before the wedding will be paid days off work

climbingsingle

Next Thursday will be exactly 6 months for me! And honestly, I'm looking for things to do. 

I'm DYI-ing our centerpieces so I'm starting that this weekend. Every vendor has been booked. Attire purchased. Decided on an invite. HM location decided on. Guest list finalized. 

phira

Yeah, day before I'd like to get my nails done and get a wax. But all of our supplies/decor/whatever have to be brought to the venue 3-4 days before, so it'll really just be me packing my suitcase, getting my attire together, and trying not to die from being nervous.

I kind of hope that our rehearsal dinner is not the night before the wedding. Our venue does 2 Saturday weddings almost every weekend, so it's almost certain that we'll have to do a Thursday or Friday night rehearsal (for a Sunday wedding). However, my partner's parents will be hosting the rehearsal dinner, and my partner hinted that they'll insist on having it the night before the wedding, so we might end up having to pay for the actual-post-rehearsal dinner, and THEN go to their hosted dinner the night before the wedding.

carliealissa

I would think that they would want to do it after the rehearsal, no?  What's the purpose of the hosted dinner if it's not post-rehearsal?  We are planning to do our rehearsal/RD 3 nights before.  I've also heard of people doing the weekend before.  You can only do so much with dates and schedules!

I'm already SO nervous, oh my gosh, I hope it subsides with time or I probably will die the day before!  I am just nervous about being the center of attention, and I don't know WHY i'm so nervous, but my stomach flips over when I just think about getting ready to walk down the aisle or anything else where everyone is looking at me.  Which is everything.

theartistformerlyknownas

Right there with you. Just hit the 6 month mark and I'm just getting impatient! All the vendors are booked and deposits cashed, invitations are in, BM dress appointments are set for a month from now, centerpieces are planned, have my shoes, chose but haven't purchased my jewelry, almost finished laying out the programs (OMGYOUGUYS I made my own silhouettes and I love them)... hell, the dang boutonnieres are even already made! I'm gonna be bored all summer!

tammym1001

I am getting married in May (2 months yay!) and back in August I had pretty much the same amount of stuff done that you do. I took a break from mid-October to mid-January where I did absolutely nothing wedding related because of the holidays. After that I did all the stuff that had to wait like invitations, favors, etc. I have some small stuff still to do, but by the end of next week I intend to have everything done. All I will have to do before the wedding is get our stuff to the venue (and I may have our DOC stop at my house and pick it up and take it for me that day). 

The only other stuff that I have to do is fun stuff: bridal shower, bach party, mani/pedi's, dress fittings, and hair appointments.

phira

carliealissa said:

I would think that they would want to do it after the rehearsal, no?  What's the purpose of the hosted dinner if it's not post-rehearsal?  We are planning to do our rehearsal/RD 3 nights before.  I've also heard of people doing the weekend before.  You can only do so much with dates and schedules!

I'm already SO nervous, oh my gosh, I hope it subsides with time or I probably will die the day before!  I am just nervous about being the center of attention, and I don't know WHY i'm so nervous, but my stomach flips over when I just think about getting ready to walk down the aisle or anything else where everyone is looking at me.  Which is everything.

Oh, I'm entirely with you on this. My partner has just indicated (based on ... not sure what evidence) that his parents will probably want to host dinner the night before the wedding because that's when rehearsal dinners typically are. Basically, I'm not going to argue with them if they want to do it the night before; it'll just mean (assuming our rehearsal is earlier) we're probably taking people out for pizza after the rehearsal.

Sars06

We are the same way! Our wedding is in August, and we were done planning in the first week of January. People keep asking me if I'm "so stressed," and I cannot even imagine why I would be. 

Of course, we are doing no DIY. Also, I'm not particular. E.g. Colors? What colors? 

It always struck me as a little AWish when brides talk about how stressed they are planning their wedding. It's kind of like...you're throwing a big party for yourself. It's not like anyone is forcing you to do it.

grumbledore

Sars06 said:

We are the same way! Our wedding is in August, and we were done planning in the first week of January. People keep asking me if I'm "so stressed," and I cannot even imagine why I would be. 

Of course, we are doing no DIY. Also, I'm not particular. E.g. Colors? What colors? 

It always struck me as a little AWish when brides talk about how stressed they are planning their wedding. It's kind of like...you're throwing a big party for yourself. It's not like anyone is forcing you to do it.

This is how I feel.  Like, I get that it's a big deal, but really?  I throw a Christmas party every year and I obsess about the food and all of the plans, but I don't complain to people that it is stressful, because it isn't.  It's fun, and optional.

bananasplit472001

I am feeling the same way.  We are 14 months out and have been engaged for the past 8 months.  We have our reception venue, chapel, officiant, florist, caterer/baker, and transportation, dress appointments booked already.  We are deciding between 2 photographers at this point and already have favors, centerpieces, flowers, ceremony decorations, programs, invitations and more picked out and ready to book/purchase when the time is right. The only issue i'm having is finding a DJ I think there is no problem with being prepared.  It would be a problem if you were rushing to get stuff done.  Honestly all of this stuff is fun to me.  In the middle of planning my own wedding i'm preparing for my sister's destination wedding in 2 months (bridal shower and bachelorette party) and shopping for a home.  I am not stressed now and many people think it's weird.  

Inkdancer

grumbledore said:

Sars06 said:

We are the same way! Our wedding is in August, and we were done planning in the first week of January. People keep asking me if I'm "so stressed," and I cannot even imagine why I would be. 

Of course, we are doing no DIY. Also, I'm not particular. E.g. Colors? What colors? 

It always struck me as a little AWish when brides talk about how stressed they are planning their wedding. It's kind of like...you're throwing a big party for yourself. It's not like anyone is forcing you to do it.

This is how I feel.  Like, I get that it's a big deal, but really?  I throw a Christmas party every year and I obsess about the food and all of the plans, but I don't complain to people that it is stressful, because it isn't.  It's fun, and optional.

I can sort of understand it. All the pressuring from family to do this, that, or the other is exhausting, and in a lot of ways I'm not getting what I wanted even though I'm paying for everything. FI's mom just about died when I suggested eloping, so FI doesn't want to hurt her with that, and my mother and grandfather told me that they would not come to a reception with alcohol (not bluffing). So, we're having a big wedding, and it's dry.

Fran1985

I just asked a similar question on the October Board. I really don't know what I am supposed to be doing. Ive spent very little time planning the wedding and I don't really have much more to do. I have a very low key family/friend group so there has been no stress there. I've honestly been getting nervous when people ask me how wedding planning is going because I feel like I've spent 3 days total on it.

Inkdancer

Fran1985 said:

I just asked a similar question on the October Board. I really don't know what I am supposed to be doing. Ive spent very little time planning the wedding and I don't really have much more to do. I have a very low key family/friend group so there has been no stress there. I've honestly been getting nervous when people ask me how wedding planning is going because I feel like I've spent 3 days total on it.

I just say "oh, we're done" and watch their jaws drop. It fills me with evil glee.