How To Plan Your Dream Wedding in Under a Year

Let's jump to it, because there's no time to waste. You got the ring and you know you want to tie the knot in less than a year. So where do you start? Wedding planner Kisha Barner, founder of K. Barner Events, who has worked with celebs like Kevin Hart and Rev. Run, is here to guide us through the process. Let's begin.

Put a plan in place

Sit down as a couple, and with pen and paper, jot down what you envision your nuptials to look like says Kisha. This should include descriptive words reflecting the vibe, guest experience and overall concept of your wedding. Each person should also list their top three, non-negotiable parts of the wedding (for example, great food, flowers or venue), in order to identify what each person prioritizes. Don't aim for perfection. Approach this exercise as a download of everything wedding related for you both to sift through in order to identify common themes. This creates a roadmap for your big day.

Minimize multiple meetings

With a plan in place, you can (and should) eliminate back and forth with vendors says Kisha. Send ideas and photos prior to meeting with vendors. Your meeting with the florist is the perfect example. By doing the legwork ahead of time, you can walk into your first appointment seeing full samples and receive a price quote ahead of time. This cuts down on the need for scheduling, commuting and attending multiple meetings.

Avoid Pinterest

"Stay away from Pinterest and all other wedding related pics for a few days," says Kisha. All those wedding ideas can easily become overwhelming and before you know it, your wedding is no longer yours - it's a miss mosh of random ideas you love from everyone else's wedding. In order to make sure your wedding is uniquely yours, refer back to the plan you hand wrote. Find ways to bring those ideas to life. Search for specific images, rather than pulling up everything wedding related. Don't let your wedding design be decided by others (unless you've hired an event designer to come up with something based on your vision).

Pay For Help

Ask your stationery designer or planner what the additional cost to stuff and mail your invitations is. Time is of the essence. If you can avoid waiting to receive the invites (and then having to stuff and mail them yourself) it'll be a great time saver. The best part? A new study reveals paying for tasks that save you time, increases your happiness.

Decide on a 'decision maker'

Too often, decisions take longer than they should, and conflict arises because there's multiple people weighing in on the wedding. Avoid this by designating one or two trusted family members or friends to provide counsel on anything that requires a tie-breaker. You'll save a lot of time (and headaches) this way.