When writer Camille Bautista learned her sister was engaged, it was a bit of a bombshell. Bautista and her family were thrilled about the news, not so much about the wedding date.

It was less than seven days away.

“Judge away, but they simply didn’t want to wait to start their lives together,” Bautista later wrote for Bustle. “After basking in the glow of my sister’s new bling, reality set in: We had to plan a wedding in a week. ONE WEEK.”

While a one-week deadline would be pretty intense, plenty of couples opt for short engagements (less than a year).

If you and your spouse are among them, don’t stress. It is entirely possible to create a wonderful wedding in a rush. (In fact, Bautista notes in her article that her sister’s wedding was beautiful.)

Here are some planning suggestions to get you started.

Effective Planning

Rushed wedding planning can lead to a frustrating cycle: Less planning time can cause stress; stress can lead to procrastination; procrastination heightens stress. We suggest giving yourself deadlines for individual planning tasks, but, don’t beat yourself up if you miss some of them. Think of your deadlines as motivators that can help you keep your planning moving.

Remember, you don’t have to do everything on your own. If your budget allows it, a professional planner will be a tremendous resource. See if you can find someone who has successfully organized weddings in short timeframes. Professional organizations like the Association of Wedding Planners (AWP) Houston are good starting places.

Friends and family can be helpful, too. They can brainstorm wedding ideas with you, and you can always see if some of them are available to take on small to-do items like a bit of online research on your behalf. Designate tasks fairly, without putting unreasonable burdens on others, and try to match jobs with volunteers’ interests and talents.

Another word of advice: It will be tempting to make quick decisions during your planning so you can move on to the next thing on your list. That’s why it will be very important to have a budget in place before you make any decisions. And, be clear about who will pay for what.

Inviting Guests

One of the first steps in your planning process should be deciding who you’ll invite. If you won’t be able to give your guests very much lead time—save-the-dates usually go out four to six months before a wedding, and invitations are sent six to eight weeks in advance—touch base with the people you want at your wedding about their availability as soon as possible. In other words, you may want to make sure your sister or your partner’s best friend can be there before finalizing your date.

And because time is of the essence, consider electronic save-the-dates and/or invitations instead of mailing print versions.

Selecting a Location

While you’re working out who can attend your wedding and when they can be there, you’ll also need to figure out exactly where the wedding will take place. Consider booking a venue on a day other than Saturday, when they’re more likely to have openings. You can reduce your research by selecting the same place for your ceremony and reception, assuming you want a reception. Or, you can get married in a private ceremony and hold a reception-only wedding ceremony.

As you speak with venues, ask if they can offer advice and resources for streamlining your planning process. They may be able to help with vendor recommendations, too.

The Rest of Your Checklist

Creating a list will be particularly helpful as you attempt to rush through your planning tasks. It will ensure items don’t slip through the cracks and give you a sense of accomplishment as you mark tasks complete.

Here are some items that should be priorities in addition to the to-dos mentioned above.

Find an officiant. Line up someone to conduct the ceremony.

Look into getting your marriage license, and ask about waiting periods. In Texas, or instance, couples apply for marriage licenses with their county clerk and, in most cases, have a 72-hour waiting period from getting their license to their wedding ceremony.

Decide if you want anyone to be part of your ceremony, from a maid of honor to a flower girl, and talk with them (or their parents) as soon as possible.

Consider a wedding website. With things moving quickly, a site that answers guests’ most likely questions will make everyone’s life easier.

Research rings, decide what kind of bands you want, and make your wedding ring purchases.

Get your outfits. Give yourselves as much time as possible to find something you like and get alternations made.

Line up vendors such as photographers, bakers, a caterer, entertainment, and florists, depending on your priorities. Don’t rush these conversations: Take time to ask your questions, and get everything in writing.

A few other decisions and to-dos:

Do you want engagement photos and/or bridal photos? Schedule sessions with a photographer.

Do you want to go on your honeymoon immediately after your wedding? Start making plans.

Would you like to have a rehearsal dinner? Work on selecting and reserving a location.

Schedule food tastings and select your wedding menu.

Depending on the size of your reception, create a seating chart.

Do you want to have pre-wedding parties? Talk with wedding party members, friends, or family members.

Are you interested in a wedding after-party? You’ll need to line up a location as soon as possible.

Throughout your planning process, remain in close communication with your planner, caterer, and venue, who likely will need information about your headcount, menu choices, vendor choices, and more.

Flexibility is Your Friend

Be flexible on items that require significant lead time. Instead of ordering an elaborate cake, for example, go with cupcakes. Instead of having a dress made, select something off the rack.

Be reasonable about your goals. Understand that if you want to add a special element to your wedding, like a sunset ceremony or a vegan menu, you’ll probably need more time for planning and preparation.

Above all, dismiss ideas of perfection. It’s not attainable, even if you have years to prepare. Instead of trying to plan a perfect wedding, aim for a joyful one. Focus on beginning a new journey with the one you love, surrounded by people you love. If you do that, you will be able to consider your efforts successful.

The Bell Tower on 34th is one of the leading modern wedding venues in Houston and the surrounding area.

Contact us to learn how we can help you create an unforgettable event.