For most people, planning a perfect wedding may take months or years. However, there is not much stopping you from getting married on short notice and making beautiful memories while at it. Besides, what could be more romantic than a last-minute wedding?

Maybe you plan to travel and live abroad as newlyweds, or you have a baby on the way and wish to get married before they are born. Whatever your reasons, one thing is certain about last-minute weddings: planning a ceremony that marks one of the most important days of your life on short notice can be quite a rollercoaster (in a good way). But with the right tips and some improvising, you can make great things happen.

1.Create a Checklist

Unless you work exceptionally well under pressure, planning a last-minute wedding without a checklist will lead to panic and forgetting important details. Numerous sites provide special checklists optimized for wedding planning, complete with timelines depending on the number of days to the wedding date. Consider using such sites to stay organized and keep sight of what matters.

2.Plan for Emergencies

Overspending is an all too common theme of weddings. Couples tend to lose track of all the money they spend in pursuit of that perfect wedding. However, going over budget should not prevent anyone from tying the knot. Consider reaching out to companies providing personal loans in San Antonio and other major cities as a means to cover last-minute wedding expenses. Additionally, prepare an emergency kit with small but essential items. Include things like a needle and thread, bobby pins, buttons, extra cufflinks, deodorant, band-aids, and painkillers.

3.Pick an Impromptu Venue

Whether you have the budget and time for a wedding planner or not, consider booking a single venue for both the ceremony and reception. Restaurants are by far the perfect venues for last-minute weddings. That said, opt for restaurants with outdoor courtyards big enough to host your ceremony and a “party room” for the seated dinner afterward.

4.Delegate

Planning a last-minute wedding will have you engulfed in a whirlwind of activity faster than you expect. Delegating some duties to family and friends, e.g., baking the wedding cake and visiting a wholesale florist to pick some flowers on short notice, can help take the burden off your shoulders. If possible, request your vendors and host for a bespoke package that provides everything you consider essential.

5.Inform the Guests As Soon As Possible

Achieving sizeable attendance is among the biggest hurdles you may face when planning your wedding in the eleventh hour. Remember, your guests have unique and, presumably, conflicting schedules. The longer you wait to invite your guests, the less likely they will show up on the wedding date.

To avoid dismal turnout, send the wedding invitations immediately after booking and confirming the venue. Also, send online invitations only. Besides being eco-friendly, online invitations will reach your guests faster and allow them to verify their attendance much sooner. Consider requesting your guests to RSVP before a specific date so you can finalize your guest list beforehand.

6.Focus on The Things That Matter

The beauty of planning a last-minute wedding is that you get to focus on the things that matter to you and your loved one. Rather than depleting your budget on costly add-ons and distractions that hold little sentimental value to you as a couple, channel your energy and resources to the absolute must-haves.

Final Thoughts

Arranging a beautiful wedding on short notice can be daunting. However, that is not to say it is unachievable – all it takes is having the right expectations, a solid plan of action, and the will to execute it.