On becoming engaged, many couples foresee several months, if not years of being able to plan, prepare and save for their wedding day. For some brides and grooms-to-be however, a prolonged engagement is out from the question and they have just a few months and in some cases just weeks to plan that day of a lifetime. Quite apart from all the other arrangements to make, most bridal shops will recoil in horror should you tell them you need your wedding dress sooner than next year!

A short engagement may not have originally been on the agenda but a wedding sooner than initially anticipated could be the only option if someone close to you is terminally ill, or it could be down to do the job commitments, military obligations, pregnancy or job opportunities. Of course you might just be unable to wait to develop into husband and wife and that desire overrules everything else!

There’s no should panic though as it is all most certainly achievable. You can have your dream wedding dress and excellent day without having to elope. Just possess a sprinkling of good humour and some flexibility and all your wishes can come true!

Bear in mind the legalities of having a last-minute wedding. For any civil ceremony you ought to give a minimum of a week’s notice before the wedding. Get in touch with your local registry office for more specifics. Religious ceremonies can require a couple of month’s notice, and inside the Christian Church, banns must be read in three consecutive weeks within the run up to your wedding day. Inform the officiant or registrar who you would like to conduct the ceremony and come across out from them how soon you can book the day. Remember when you do wish to elope abroad or in the UK, to research the legal paperwork beforehand.

Wedding venues which might be well known can be booked up years in advance, so you will need to be flexible on which days you get married. In case you go to get a midweek day it is also likely to save you some money. Do look at a wide variety of alternative wedding venues and places to give you the option of a wedding date as soon as you desire.

Many wedding photographers may well already be pre-booked, especially if your wedding is at the weekend, as they do tend to get booked up pretty quickly. Ask friends and family for recommendations. Due to the short time scale, in case you locate one who is obtainable, they could offer you a really good package so it is worth shopping around.

In case you are struggling to get a custom created wedding cake then why not possess a go at making it yourself, it doesn’t need to be a fancy four-tier creation. You will find also some marvellous cakes offered on the High Street.