HELP! Were getting married in 7 weeks in Washington are and no plans made!!!

LilCrissieBug · June 2011

My fiance and I decided to get married in late July but dont have any plans made! We want to find somewhere to have a small ceremony and dinner. If anyone has any ideas please let me know! We have a very small budget because we are buying and renovating our first home. Any brides out there that can help please let me know!! We dont have a lot of family or friends that could help.

carcrashheart · June 2011

LOL.

My only advice is this:

Take whatever place you can find that has an opening and book it. With 7 weeks to go and wanting to get married in the middle of the busiest season for weddings, you're simply going to have to take what you can get.

My next piece of advice:

Don't mess around. You literally DO NOT HAVE TIME TO MESS AROUND. Call places yesterday. Book. Now. You are going to run in to venues that are already booked and vendors that are already booked. It WILL be slim pickings. This is your cross to bear since you guys wanted to decide last minute.

Also, consider eloping. It might actually be easier and provide a nicer event.

MRads · June 2011

Ditto CCH. On everything.

But, I would call restaurants - I have heard of people having receptions at both Lydia's and DiNunzios. I had a coworker who got married in about 10 weeks (though in Feb) on the steps at the Grand Concourse and had a room reserved for his family. But his wedding was only his family and his wife's mother (that's all the family she had) so 10 people total. If you keep it that small, you could be ok.

Also, my sister got married in 12 weeks (though again, in January) and she got married at a church and then used their fellowship hall as a reception hall. You can see if there are any churches available, but July is a busy time for churches.

Good luck. I'll be curious to hear how it goes.

pantherRN · June 2011

My advice? Wait. Even if you wait just 6 months. You'll have more options and likely a larger budget to play with.

sarilynnep · June 2011

I'm with Panther. This is one of the biggest moments of your life. Unless you want to elope, it's worth spending the time to actually plan your wedding. You only get married once.

There is nothing wrong with waiting a few more months- in fact most girls on here are engaged for at least a year and start planning the moment they are engaged. If you waited a few months you will find that having a fall/winter wedding is not only easier to book, but also cheaper. And you will have more time to save rather than put everything down right now. Because to book things, you will have to give them cash up front. Venues will typically require half of the total cost up front to sign a contract and reserve a date. So unless you have that cash today, you simply won't be able to book things. Point blank.

If you had more time we could also help you work with a small budget and have a nice small event.

ginny814 · June 2011

I agree with the posts above; if you're looking for less stress and time to plan and make it what YOU want to be (not from what is only available, which is not much), then I would wait a few months. Is there a reason why you're wanting to do this so quickly?

Otherwise, I suggest going to a courthouse then having a small reception afterwards with close family and friends- you can book a private room at a restaurant. You can always talk to the mayor of your town; I believe they can marry people, and I'm sure he/she could be able to come out to your ceremony venue if you have one. If you want a church ceremony, start calling NOW.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

nicole098 · June 2011

I'm going against the grain on this one.

If you are spending your money on remodeling your home, there is nothing wrong with a small quick wedding. The value of your home will (hopefully) only increase; it's a good investment. While the wedding day is an important one, I think you have your priorities completely straight.

In my mind mind, a solid fincanical future is important to starting your life with your hubby. Don't put yourself out to have something that you simply can't afford. The wedding day is ONE day; you'll have the rest of your lives together. Why wait the six months? If you want to do it now, go for it.

What is your budget? How far are you willing to go? How many people?

A restaurant might be your best bet for a reception.

I'm positive that you'll get everything you need in 7 weeks. There is always a solution out there for every problem :-)

If you can give us specifics on your budget, location, what you need, etc, that would be the most benefical for recruiting advice.

Best of luck!

LilCrissieBug · June 2011

Thanks Nicole! Thats exactly the way we are looking at things right now. We would rather have a small intimate wedding now and invest in our home and then have something bigger later down the road. We are in Washington, Pa. Today we booked a back room at a local restaurant. It can hold about 45 people. Which is probably more than we will have anyway.
We are having a hard time getting an officiant on the phone. Im going to call local judges on Monday. We need a nice local place to have the ceremony. I also do not have a dress or flowers or anything. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced local dress shop? Also one that carries plus size dresses? My fiances sister is going to make our cake for us. We also would like a cheap photographer. Maybe an amueter? Thanks guys!

pantherRN · June 2011

If you aren't going to wait, here's what I'd do.

Try the judges, if they can't or aren't available to marry you, you could always just go to a magistrate (JOP) and do it there. If you can find someone, is there a park or green space nearby you could use? For a dress, I'd try to buy something off the rack or at DB. Get on this now though. You can also try MB Bride in Greensburg. As for a photographer...most of the ones that come recommended on here aren't cheap and are probably booked. Try e-mailing the photography school at the Art Institute.

Good luck!

aaashley314 · June 2011

You could always ask a close friend or someone you would have had in your wedding party if you were to have a big wedding to become ordained online or however that works. That would really keep it intimate and special.

carcrashheart · June 2011

Often times Judges agree to do ceremonies when it's a friend, or a friend of a friend..that kind of situation. It doesn't happen as often as tv makes it look. A JP ceremony may be a better option.

Just call some local florists and see who is available to do a few flowers for you. Find out who is local to your venue in Washpa and go from there.

Ditto the suggestion to get a dress off the rack at DB. Otherwise, even rushed a dress can take 6 weeks to be shipped in and then there are quick alterations on top of that.

Next up, you're going to want to get invites out in the next few days. And find a photographer.

kristenrmu22 · June 2011

Okay Washington:

Flowers Try Shop n Save or Gaint Eagle..sounds tacky but they have a nice flower department and can order things in like a normal florist.

Dress: Davids Bridal since they are off the rack both shops in Washington are order type dresses

Officiant: have a family member or friend get ordained like PP said

Location: see if W&J will allow you to wed on their lawn, try the parks in the area

Photos: Check the photo teacher at Trinity. They are prob out of school now though so that maybe really hard.

HELP! Were getting married in 7 weeks in Washington are and no plans made!!!

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