No checks for Oct wedding - time to panic?

MeredithA1012

Reading these posts, I'm amazed that so many other October brides have so much accomplished and quite frankly it makes me a bit anxious. We got engaged February 25 and have bought our rings. We also have a preliminary guest list just so we know how many to expect when looking at locations (about 35). We will be getting married in Cape Cod. That's close to my family, but we will have a number of guests coming from across the country including my FI and I who live in California.

My questions to the group are:
1. how quickly do I need to get my dress? I like some online but won't be going to any shops until my mother and MOH come out at the end of April. We just moved to CA and I don't have any close friends that could shop with me earlier.
2. do I send save the dates since many of the guests will be coming from out of town? if so, when should those go out?
3. are there other things we need to do ASAP? We hope to have a location secured by mid-March.

Thank you all!!

achiduck

I wouldn't completely panic, but I personally would be a major stressball. You really shouldn't send STDs until you have your venue(s) secured.

As for the dress, be prepared to pay a rush fee if you don't order it until April. Do you have a photographer or DJ booked yet? By now a lot of the good ones are booked, so I would get on that ASAP.

KmuJmg

I think the venue and dress are the most important at this stage. Many venues book out a year in advance, so I would secure your location ASAP.

I ordered my dress 4 months ago and it has not arrived yet. They told me it could take until May. I think they can do rush orders for an extra fee and some places you can buy off the rack, so there are options. But you need to make sure you get it in time to have alterations done.

I would send out save the dates if you ahve a lot of out of town guests. They will need to work on their travel arrangements. You might also want to go ahead and get a hotel block for your guest.

Everything else you can work on as you go. I would just be prepared for the possibility that a lot of potential vendors will already be booked.

Hope that helps! Happy wedding planning!

PetalPockets2012

Take a deep breath. It will be okay.

Dress - It depends on where you get your dress from. Mine told me it would be at least 10 weeks after the final payment but it came in about 4 weeks. I ordered from David's Bridal.

STDs- Typically go around 8-10 months ahead of the wedding. I know that Vistaprint has affordable options for this. I would move on this ASAP.

Definitely make sure you have a definite budget and guest list when looking for venues. You may want to set up meetings with DJs and photographers while looking for venues to narrow down your options. They do book quickly like PP said. Good luck

PetalPockets2012

Also, don't let how much others on the board have done stress you out. I have been engaged since July myself. Many others on here have been engaged since last year, some longer.

heatherfitz

go ahead and secure a venue. once you've done that i'd get STDs out. that gives OOTers enough time to save and plan. april shoud be enough time to dress shop. depending on where you get yours, you can go home with it that day (like i did) or wait for it to come in. start pegging down that guest list, seeking out vendors for food, music, etc. but remember to breathe and have fun

BrittneyRN

I would secure major vendors now- First venue, then things like DJ, florist, cake etc.

MeredithA1012

Thanks for the advice everyone. It looks like venue is number one and dress is close behind. I really like some from Allure Bridals (plus they are in my price range) so I'll start checking to see if I can do some off the rack options. We won't be doing a DJ or band so I won't worry about that but a photographer is very important.

Thanks again - I can start breathing!

mrshall1027

Look into the Maggie Sottero and Soterro and Midgley dress lines too.  I just ordered my dress and usually it would have taken 6 months to get in, but my consultant told me that they tend to have a lot of their dresses in hanging stock so my dress will be here in 2-3 weeks  I'm sure other designers do this too, so you may want to ask about that when you go in.

kitty02kat

Don't panic- if I can help- let me know.  I've had a STUPID long engagement (long story but it was necessary) so my stuff is all planned.... I'm just in a waiting game until closer to the date.  Breathe- ENJOY being engaged, but you do have some work cut out.  Bare in mind, you wedding is YOURS so many things will change depending on your choices (large/small, formal/casual, etc.)   

let me know if there's anything I can do

DeannaCW

No need to panic, just time to get busy! My cousin pulled off her wedding in six months from the proposal, she said it was stressful, but it all got done and was lovely There's even a contribuing author on apracticalwedding.com who's planning the entire thing in three months.  So yes, it's doable; just focus on what's important

schultl

My wedding is October 6th and I have only booked the venue.  I am working on getting save the dates now, about to book the photographer and ceremony music.  I won't get a dress until at least May.  There are sooo many options out there and you can always buy off the rack and get it altered somewhere else.  I think the photographer should be your #1 priority next to the venue and STDs.  The photographers book way in advance if they are really good.  That is your biggest investment and what you will have to look at forever.

lenergyrlah

It's never time to panic You'll be fine although I would recommend looking for venues ASAP.  FI and I didn't finalize our date until we found our venue.  As long as you aren't trying to do difficult tasks like flowers yourself, you will have enough time.  Your biggest concern right now is vendors being booked, so I would try to find a venue, photographer, DJ, florist, etc ASAP.

Ask your bridal boutique how long dresses normally take to come in.  Some custom designers who sew your own dress for you can take over 6 months, although chain stores like David's Bridal or Alfred Angelo generally take up to 3 months (and often less if they already have your dress in stock somewhere).

missmckenzie2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_no-checks-for-oct-wedding-time-to-panic?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:a41c5169-58fa-48d1-998c-e058ffc12f5cPost:356bd77d-eef4-435f-bea8-248cdc2adeeb">Re: No checks for Oct wedding - time to panic?</a>:
[QUOTE]I wouldn't completely panic, but I personally would be a major stressball. You really shouldn't send STDs until you have your venue(s) secured. As for the dress, be prepared to pay a rush fee if you don't order it until April. Do you have a photographer or DJ booked yet? By now a lot of the good ones are booked, so I would get on that ASAP.
Posted by achiduck[/QUOTE]

<div>This exactly. I agree no STDs until you have a venue, but if you do have a lot of OOT guests I would at least create a website and share that with them when you get some of the details nailed down. That way they can start to make arrangements for travel and such.</div><div>In order of importance:</div><div>1) Venue</div><div>2) Dress (to avoid rush fees)</div><div>3)Photographer</div><div>4) DJ</div>

lenergyrlah

Oh also, you don't need any close friends to go dress shopping with although it can be a fun experience.  If you're having trouble deciding between a few dresses or want a 2nd opinion, take pictures of you in them at the bridal salong and then post them up here (I cropped my face out of mine for internet privacy).

[Deleted User]

I'm in the same position. FH and I got engaged in December and decided on October wedding. An unexpected move has kind of thrown things off so we are just now getting things going. FH is in Louisville where we are moving to this weekend. He is looking at a chapel while he is there.. They are dates in October and that's pretty much as far as we have gotten. I 'm going dress suopping in early april and im open to buying an off the rack dress..We know how we want everything to look its just a matter of finding our venues and vendors. I know things will be booked so I'll be flexible. There is a lot to do but I know it's do able! Good luck!