How to Plan an Athens Georgia Wedding in 90 days or less!
- SpringHaus Farm Weddings
- Dec 20, 2024
- 9 min read
How to Plan an Athens Georgia Wedding in 90 days or less!
While it is ideal to have a minimum of a year or more to plan for your wedding to ensure that you get the date and vendors that you want, as wedding venue owners, we know life happens on its own schedule and we have to just go with whatever is life throws at us. We just booked a wedding and they are looking to tie the knot in 90 days. Can it be done? With dedication and skill, yes, and here at SpringHaus Farm, we can help you with that.
Regardless of your reasoning for having a shorter window for your wedding, we are here for you both at SpringHaus Farm! It is more than possible to create the wedding day that you have dreamed of in a short period of time. As locally owned wedding venue owners, we will share some key steps provide you with a checklist so that you can plan a wedding in 90 days or less. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get to planning!
3 months
Starting with big ticket items, you can do a lot of really important things right from the get go to streamline your process.
Establish a budget: Quickly determine how and where you would like to place your financial priorities so that it can guide your decisions.
Tour venues: Many venues book far in advance so be open to selecting a date that you may otherwise not have considered. Here at SpringHaus Farm, we offer midweek pricing and last minute options, which is an excellent way to save money as well as to pull together a wedding on short notice. Midweek dates don’t get scooped up like weekends and high season dates often do. Being somewhat flexible will be key in this process.
Create a guest list: Many people are planners and may not be able to make it with short notice, so feel free to add a few extras.
Save the dates by choosing a theme: Finding a color scheme or theme can help you narrow down other details and you can create your save the dates based on your theme. If you are worried about the timing of snail mail, consider sending digital save the dates to give your guests adequate time for planning.
Pick your dress/suit/attire: Find your dress or pants, and have your fiancé find theirs as well. Keep in mind that you may need 8 or more weeks for alterations.
Choose your wedding party: Be sure to put self care on your check list. Take your walks if that is your time for grounding and/or yoga, Cross Fit, etc. It is essential to make your health and well being a priority to relieve stress during this time.
8-10 Weeks Out
You might be feeling overwhelmed, that's normal when you have a year to plan, continue focusing on the big rather than the smaller details in order to continue to crossing things off of your master list. Take a deep breath, you've got this! A great venue like SpringHaus Farm will have a Booked Couples Resource Guide that assists in the planning process!
Order your invites: Your guests may have made their travel plans once you sent the save the dates out, but there is nothing like an invitation to get people to really make their plans.
Select your key vendors: Prioritize booking your key vendors such as caterers, DJ/Band, photographer, videographer, florist, cake etc. Here at SpringHaus Farm, we have a list of vendors we love who have worked here and whom we can verify that they show up and do a fantastic job.
What can you & your partner tackle? The people who love you, love to help you. Strategically decide on DIY projects and ask your family for help. Allowing someone to help us is actually a gift to them. It's completely appropriate to ask for help! Delegate, delegate, delegate! Just make sure those you are delegating things to are reliable!
Book your hotel in advance: Get banks of rooms secured, especially if you are looking at UGA football weekends!!! Enough said. We know your Georgia Bulldogs are important so we also have links to great Air B&Bs in our Booked Couples Resource Guide!
Honeymoon plans: At SpringHaus Farm we actually have some great vendors that are travel agents and can assist when you book with us and have access to our Booked Couples Resource Guide! If it’s too quick of a turnaround, consider a staycation at the hotel you are staying at for a few nights and plan for a honeymoon trip later on. Taryn Maddox with Kingdom Destinations is a great resource as is Madelynn Pierce with Showroom Travel.
6-8 Weeks to Go…
You still have time, and now that the major things are finished, you can focus on some of the tiny details of your special day!
Book the rehearsal and dinner: First double check with your venue to see when you can come for a rehearsal. Most venues schedule their rehearsals about 60 days out! Here at SpringHaus Farm we allow an hour for our couples to rehearse. Invite your immediate family, wedding party, Officiant & planner if you didn't go with the team coordinator at SpringHaus Farm.
Get your invites in the mail!
Do you have your linens? Double check with your venue to see if they provide any linens and/or if you need any linens from your caterer or a rental company. Here at SpringHaus Farm, we only offer linens to our January couples, and renting linens really isn't an expensive options. In our booked couples resource guide we give links to some linen companies.
At SpringHaus Farm, only our rounds need linens, the farmhouse tables are beautiful with a runner and decor. Buy your wedding rings: These do not need to be crazy expensive or your “forever” band if you feel pressed to find “the one.” Some folks have things made which may take longer, but a traditional band is also a perfect ring.
4-5 Weeks…it's getting closer!
At this time, you should have all of the essentials finalized. Slow down a little bit, check in with yourself and your fiancé, and to double check on the fine details.
Get your marriage license: You will want to check to find out what your state requires regarding obtaining the marriage license. Some states have a few days waiting period so be sure you look into this.
Wedding Party: If you have a wedding party, take a moment to reach out to be sure that they have their attire ordered or in possession. You might also want to think about purchasing gifts for them for the rehearsal and/or day of.
Favors: If you would like to have a favor for your guests, this is the time to buy them! The details also include things like a guestbook, card holder, cake servers, special champagne flutes…anything goes! If you are booking with SpringHaus Farm, check our Something Borrowed closet, we offer some of these items for free!
2-3 Weeks
It’s almost time to say a resounding “I do!” You should only have a few things to nail down at this point.
Ensure vendors have COIs to your venue and all necessary information: Your caterer needs to know the final headcount. Send your shot list to your photographer/ videographer if they don't have a checklist for you to view. When you book at SpringHaus Farm we have a booked couples resource guide that has a great photo checklist for you to view. Your DJ will want a song list for ceremony, cocktail hours, and reception. Also, hopefully you have chosen a DJ that doesn't just stream music! Sometimes Wifi can be spotty in spaces so make sure your DJ has downloaded all the songs you are looking for! It’s important to be sure that the details of the ceremony are given to your Officiant.
DJ Garrett with Hayedaye Productions at SpringHaus Farm
Does your planner have timeline? You will need to make time to work with your planner to be sure that the timing for the day is all set. Your planner/team coordinator will be sure that your venue has this info. (As a venue owner, I love getting this early in the wedding week so that I can move the tables and chairs into position as early as possible.) Your planner will also work with you to determine who is giving toasts- all of the details will come together!
Final Fitting: Sometimes the stress can cause changes in our bodies, so be sure that you go for your fitting. Don’t forget to take any accessories that will impact the fitting- shoes! Shoes are important here as is undergarments that may cause bulk or lines!
1 Week to go!
Here we go! Take a big deep breath, it's almost here!
Check with caterer for final count!
Finalize seating chart!
Confirm details of timeline with planner or team coordinator at SpringHaus Farm! It is helpful to ask your planner or team coordinator if there are things that need to be relayed to vendors or the wedding party. Here at SpringHaus Farm, we provide our vendors a separate entrance and exit and parking lot.
Pick up your wedding attire! If you haven’t already picked this up, this is a great time to do so. This is a great thing to delegate by the way! You may have one additional fitting a few days before the wedding!
Pick up your wedding attire a week before!
Have an emergency wedding kit: Most venues and planners will have an emergency kit. Here at SpringHaus Farm, we have an emergency wedding kit in our bridal suite that is filled with bandaids, panty liners, tylenol, gas X, Q-tips, granola bars, safety pins, hair ties etc…but you might be the type of person who feels better just having your own set of emergency items on hand. If it will help you to feel better, just make your own.
Pack your night of bag and honeymoon suitcase if you are leaving right after! Having your bags ready and set aside just adds to the excitement. If you are going on a honeymoon immediately after the wedding or the next day, making sure to have all of your necessary items packed and ready to go! It also will get you excited for your trip!
Last Minute Things!
Delegate: At SpringHaus Farm, you will have a specific someone delegated to take items in your booked couples resource guide! Ensure that you have someone who will pack up the gifts/cards and things at the end of the night. If you want to keep the top of your cake, be sure that someone is in charge of getting it. Enlist someone to be in charge of returning any rental items such as suits, tuxedos or anything that needs to be returned. Have that list to your wedding planner or team coordinator!
Be sure you bring your marriage license! If the marriage license isn't available it didn't happen! It is a must to have that as it is a legal document your officiant will be signing!
Your wedding can be all that you want it to be within 90 days if you follow this checklist to keep you on track. Don’t forget to BREATHE. Remember, nervousness and excitement are the same emotion, one is you just forgot to breathe! Take it all in while letting go of perfection; your reason for your wedding is LOVE. Reach out to SpringHaus Farm to let us know how we can help you in this process!
Thank you so much for stopping by our blog, we hope you found this information helpful. We want to use our blog to increase awareness and support for locally owned wedding venues. Locally owned wedding venues tend to provide a higher level of expertise, service and dedication. They also have far less turnover than corporate owned or investor owned venues. As you plan your wedding we hope you will consider a locally owned wedding venue like ours. You can find locally owned wedding venues on this wedding venue map. Below is a shout out to fellow locally owned wedding venues around the country!
Lavender on the Lake: Special shout out to Lavender on the Lake for assistance with this specific blog and sharing theirs as we all support each other in this process!
Such great information and what a stunning venue at Spring Haus Farm. Your rustic barn setting is gorgeous and if I were looking to get married in the Athens area, I'd definitely come out for a tour!