We are in the midst of engagement season. From Thanksgiving through Valentine’s day, more than 40% of couples get engaged. December alone makes up for 19% of the engagement rate, says Statista. Simply checking Instagram, the hashtags #engaged and #ISaidYes are filled with people showcasing their shiny new engagement rings. Who wouldn’t?
With the viral announcements comes the pressure to select a wedding date and even begin wedding planning. Forget that you just got engaged, you can bypass that to now focus on planning your wedding. This is where many couples run into problems and why I recommend avoiding being engaged and married in the same year.
I know this may be controversial for many couples. Who am I to tell anyone they shouldn’t get married the same year they got engaged? Wouldn’t this turn away potential clients for you? Why is it a problem to get married in the same year?
All valid questions that I break down with the following points.
Wedding Availability
Somecouples believe that once they begin the wedding planning process, that everything will be available to them when they want it. They also believe they are the only couple out there looking to secure a venue and their ideal vendors.
The fact that 40% of couples get engaged over the course of 4 moths does not disappear when someone gets engaged. The fact that 40% is larger than the amount of venues, catering companies, and vendors, should bring about some hesitation to rush into things.
When you are engaged, it is recommended that you plan your wedding at least 13 to 18 months in advance. The aforementioned limited inventory is the primary reason for this. October 10, 2020 is the most popular wedding date of the year. Many couples who were engaged early 2019, more than likely secured that date reducing newly engaged couples from having the chance. Popular dates like these cloud the minds of couples making them believe this is the only date that matters when it is not.
Any wedding date you select will be a celebration to have. You friends and family will not decline your invitation because you decided to have your wedding on a date that isn’t “popular”.
Increased Stress
In 2018, there was 44,000 U.S. weddings that took place. According to WeddingWire, The Knot, and other popular wedding sites, the average engagement lasts 13 months. For couples who have decided to be engaged and have their wedding in the same year, you find yourself on a more compressed planning timeline which almost always leads to increase stress.
You’ll find yourself wanting fast responses and decisions from people who may not meet your deadline. You will begin to question yourself and if this will really happen in time. Arguments with your fiancé is more susceptible because you have to deal with things sooner than anticipated plus juggle work and other obligations.
You also find yourself having to compromise far more than a couple who has given themselves more time to plan. The chances of picking places and vendors you would not normally and second guessing those decisions can be extremely taxing on your mental health.
There are times where wedding professionals may not meet your expectations at the level you deserve. Action items that once took weeks or months to complete, will now require less than that. This can compromise excellence.
Dedication
The amount of time you give to wedding planning is essential. You cannot be hands off in the planning cycle. With a shortened planning timeline, couples will do one of two things:
1 – Understand the limitations with planning their wedding on a more compressed schedule and block out the time to get things done
2 – Overlook the limitations and demand that wedding professionals spend more time on their wedding to get things done
With the second point, it is not always possible for wedding professionals to dedicate more time to your wedding. Many planners have taken on several clients because that is what it takes in order for them to keep food on the table. It also means you aren’t paying them $75,000 to plan your wedding.
There are certain things that must happen first before moving to the next phase. Creating a schedule in advance allows them to allocate the proper amount of time to all clients and their action items. Why take on a client if you know you cannot give them more time? This is not always so cut and dry.
Wedding professionals can take on client’s with a shorter planning timeline. We’ve done wedding planning in 3 months before. We’ve even given you the how to plan a wedding in 3 months play-by-play. However, some couples don’t accept the fact that they may not get everything they have asked for because there simply wasn’t enough time to make it happen. It may also mean a higher price to pay. Just as you pay for rush services to get a package overnight or in 2 days, you cannot overlooked or challenge a wedding professional for charging for expedited services.
In Conclusion
It is not impossible to plan a wedding in less than a year. By no means do I want you to believe that. I do want you to understand that with planning a wedding within a year, there can be issues that you wouldn’t normally have if you gave yourself more time.
There are many instances where time is not on your side. Maybe you have a family member that is going to pass. Your partner is going to be deployed. Whatever the case may be, enter into wedding planning with a open mind and the sense of compromise.
If you have the ability to give yourself more than 13 months to plan your wedding, do it. I promise it will be the best decision you can make to set your wedding day up for success.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.