Plan A Wedding In 6 Months (Free Downloadable Checklist!)

Ouijoliebride • June 29, 2023

So maybe you met your future Mr. and you knew immediately you two were meant to be. Whatever the story is, you have to know, it is 100% possible to plan a wedding within 6 months. This post will help you make sure you have all you need before your big day quickly approaches! 

I remember meeting my husband several years ago and knowing something was so different about him. I wanted to be with him every waking second of the day. Even when I was sleeping I missed him. I loved everything about him and truly couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. That was when I knew, he was the one. A true love story indeed! We wasted no time and knew what was meant to be, will be. So after only 3 months of dating, we got engaged and married within 6 months. 

Was it a wild process and hard work? Yes! Do we regret having a wedding so soon? Absolutely not. Was it possible to plan a wedding within 6 months? Yes, easier than you think! 

What Is The First Step In Planning A Wedding ?

The first step whether you plan a wedding in 6 months or not is to determine your wedding budget! This is a good time to really get a game plan and know what you are up against. Here are a few questions to consider when choosing your budget in the wedding planning process:

How much are you willing to spend to make this day what you want it to be. 

How big do you want this wedding to be? Small and intimate or large and robust. 

What are some things you absolutely NEED on your wedding day? Photographer, videographer, cake, flowers, etc.

Find a venue that fits into your budget

Get a wedding planner if that’s what you want.

What To Secure 6 Months Prior To Your Wedding

When you realize you want a short engagement one of the first steps to planning is choosing your venue, securing main vendors, find your dream dress, secure a hotel for guests, create a wedding website, and schedule your engagement photos. 

Schedule Your Engagement Photos 

You’ll want to schedule this now for obvious reasons. You of course want to show off your beautiful engagement ring and your new fiance’ AKA love of your life! Most photographers can schedule an engagement shoot fairly quickly which is super nice! These photos can be used to send out for your save the dates, engagement party and bridal shower. If you end up liking the photos you can even ask if they would be open to being your wedding photographer. Knock out two birds with one stone! 

Choosing Your Wedding Venue

This can be a little tricky when you have a short engagement. Create a list of all the venues you would love to get married at and give them a call with your wedding date to see if it’s a possibility. When I planned my wedding 7 years ago, I was shocked at how easy it was to find a vendor so soon! Of course, it’s best to be open minded and be flexible because there are certain times of the year where vendors will be busier than others. You may find it easier to get a Sunday or Friday at the place you want the most. 

You could even go the route of planning a destination wedding. This was my first option when planning but it didn’t work out how I had hoped for. Some couples want only a destination wedding and there’s no compromising that. If that’s you then it’s a great idea to decide on a location and call around in that area for vendors just to make sure they can secure your wedding date. 

Another great option that’s fairly popular is getting married in a beautiful backyard. Everyone has that one family member who has an incredible backyard and you never know, they may be open to hosting your wedding there! It doesn’t hurt to ask. Finding the right vendor 6 months out with give you plenty of time to really think of other things for your big day.  

Secure Your Vendors 

Now would be a great time to get in touch with photographers, videographers, florists, DJ’s, and cake bakers. Many of these vendors book up pretty far in advance so it’s best to get that out of the way ASAP! You can also join some local bridal planning groups on facebook and ask around in there. You would be surprised how a good connection will hook you up last minute. 

Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

I know it can sound crazy but finding your dress 6 months before your wedding is highly recommended. Some wedding dress designers will take 4-6 months to get a dress to the bridal shop you went to. Maybe we might be a little biased, but we recommend going to a bridal boutique you feel at home at such as, Oui Jolie. We try our best to make our bridal boutique,  Oui Jolie  as comfortable as possible. We are all about making our bride’s experience laid back and fun. Choosing your dream dress should be fun and exciting not stressful and overwhelming. Especially if you have a short period of time! Look for bridal shops that will fit the experience you want.

When you go to try on wedding dresses, if you are worried about a dress coming in on time you can always ask if you are able to purchase stock pieces. Stock pieces are dresses that bridal stores will have in store ready to be sold. Even better if you find one in your exact size, if not, you can always get it altered! 

Securing Hotel For Wedding Guests 

A day or two before your wedding ceremony your out-of-town guests will need a place to stay. Get an overall guest count before calling a hotel. Choosing the perfect hotel or  airbnb  ahead of time will ensure your guests have a secure place to stay. If you’re choosing a hotel you’ll want to book hotel room blocks. It blocks off several rooms that only your guests can book and oftentimes they will offer discounts for large parties.  It’ll also be nice to get that marked off your to-do list ahead of time. Your guests will thank you too!

5 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Choose Your Wedding Party

This can also be done 6 months before so that you can take your bridesmaids along for your dress shopping experience. Not totally necessary but a kind gesture. Choosing your wedding party soon will allow them to mentally prepare as well. They can know to block off their calendar for all important dates along the wedding journey. 

Now is the time to figure out wedding attire for bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen. Getting this lined up will ensure everyone can pay for their attire in a timely manner. This is also a great time to establish a dress code and really set the mood for your big day. A lot of times the wedding parties attire will set the mood for the wedding ceremony. 

Hire A Wedding Planner (optional)

This is not a necessary step but I had one for my wedding and it was well worth it. A wedding planner is your go to for all things planning. If you are feeling overwhelmed with decisions, they can point you in the right direction and take the stress away. They are especially amazing for the day of your wedding. A wedding planner will ensure everything runs smoothly and if something were to happen, they will handle the stress of it, not you. 

Choose Your Guest List 

Choosing who will be invited to your wedding is super important before sending out invitations. You may want a small guest list or a giant guest list, there is no wrong way. It’s your big day so choose who you feel most comfortable with. Just keep in mind, the more guests you will invite, the more money you will spend. This is a great time to prioritize your budget and see what you can do within the range. It may also be a good idea to ask your parents about any guests you may not be thinking of. 

Send Engagement Photos/Save The Dates

5 months before your big day, it’s best to send out your save the dates so your friends and family can prepare ahead of time. This will allow them to mark off their calendar for your big day! You can even send  digital save the dates  if you want to save some money! This would be a great time to start your  wedding website  if you want one, you’ll be able to share your website on your save the dates so that your family can keep up with any updates pertaining to your special day. The website should be included on your save the dates. You will also be able to set up your registry at this time and include it on both your website and save the dates. Its small details like this that makes your guest feel included! 

4 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Hire Hair & Makeup Artist

Most really good hair stylist and makeup artists book up very fast! It’s best to think about securing your date in advance! 

Hire Rental Companies

Hire all rental companies, transportation companies, and anything that you are needing to rent. If you’re wanting to rent tuxes for the groomsmen, do so now. How will you get to your wedding venue? How will you get to your reception? And lastly, how will you depart your reception?  These are all great questions to think about 4 months ahead! 

Get Wedding Bands 

It can take several weeks for a wedding band to be ready or to arrive if ordered. Keep that in mind around 4 months prior to your wedding day. Going to the place your fiance’ purchased your engagement ring may be the easiest since you can find the matching set! You can also pick out your grooms wedding ring at this time to ensure it arrives at the proper time. 

3 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Send Wedding Invitations

Now that things are getting close, send out those  beautiful invitations  to your guests. If you are planning on getting married somewhere other than your current location you may want to send out invitations 4 months in advance. This will allow all traveling guests to plan in a timely manner.

Taste Testing

This is the fun part! Now is the time to do your taste testing for your food vendor to get your wedding menu set. Don’t forget about dessert, set up a time with your wedding cake vendor for taste testing as well! 

Schedule Your Honeymoon

Things are getting real. Talk with your fiance’ about the honeymoon and settle on a place you would both enjoy. Are you traveling out of the country? Staying within the sates? Now is the time to schedule your honeymoon and make sure you can go where you’d both love!

2 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Marriage License

Now is the time to order your marriage license. You’ll need to go to your country clerk to get this wonderfully important piece of paper! A quick google search should tell you where you need to go in your area to get your marriage license. 

Hair and Makeup Trial 

2 months before you will want to get with your hair and makeup artist to do a trial. This will ensure you are all on the same page with how you want your hair and makeup to be on your big day. You’ll want your hair and makeup to match your wedding style whether that is simple, elegant, or fancy! They will know how to fix you up for the big day. 

Parties

This is the perfect time to get your bridal shower, bachelorette and bachelor parties done. These are usually put together by the maid of honor and best man, so don’t have to sweat the details. Have them plan this around the 3 month mark just to make sure it’s all done for around this time! 

1 Month Before Your Wedding Day

Confirm Everything

Now is the time to confirm with your DJ, Vendors, parents, wedding party etc. Make sure everyone has the same times and you are all on the same page! 

Finalize All RSVP’s

Most of your guest should have RSVP’ed by this point. This is now a good time to confirm the amount of seats you will need at your venue and reception. 

Pack For Honeymoon

The long awaited honeymoon is soon here! Get your fiance’ and pack together so you are both ready to go. Whether you choose to leave directly after the wedding or the day after, you want to be ready to go so you don’t have to stress. 

Get Married

Now it’s time, all of the planning and anticipation have come and gone. It’s time to walk down the aisle and join together in marriage. Enjoy the big day and don’t sweat over the small things, you only get to do this thing once so live it up and be present! 

Don’t forget to download your wedding checklist! From all of us here at  Oui Jolie Bride , congratulations on your engagement. Share in the comments below how long your engagement was? 

White magnolia flower with text
September 2, 2025
Welcome to Oui Jolie Bride! We are located in a small but quaint French town known as Broussard, Louisiana. At Oui Jolie Bride (yes, pretty bride) we are dedicated to sharing our French charm and southern hospitality during your stay. It is our goal that you come and feel at home while saying Jai dit oui (I said yes) to your dream dress. Broussard is a tiny town but don’t let that fool you. We can promise there are many beautiful places to visit and see during your time here with us! If you know anything about Louisiana, it’s that we have phenomenal food, character, and good times. We hold nothing back when it comes to cajun cooking with our gumbo, jambalaya, boiled crawfish, étouffée, and so much more. During your stay here you can expect to go home full, maybe a little too full but totally worth it! There are so many interesting places, historic homes, local artists, and family fun tours in southern Louisiana. We promise you will have the best time exploring the natural beauty of the boot state. Depending on the time of the year that you come, there is always something to do here. During Feb or beginning of March we have Mardi Gras parades, which is what we are most known for. Usually in April we have festival international where people travel from around the world/country to come experience our culture and many others at the same time. In December Acadiana Village has a beautiful light display with old acadian style home, rides, live music, and food. Thankfully, if you come any other times of the year, there’s always beautiful sites to see and wonderful places to visit. Places to Visit in Louisiana near Broussard Louisiana Since we are in the small town of Broussard, some of the places listed below may be a bit of a drive. We recommend scheduling your reservation with us and planning out your days according to which sites you would like to visit the most! This can either be a great day trip or you can turn it into a weekend getaway. Downtown Lafayette Located 20 minutes away from Oui Jolie bride in the city of Lafayette. The downtown area offers many unique restraints and coffee shops. Our favorite coffee shop downtown is Reve, it’s locally owned and they harvest/roast their own coffee. Acadian Village Located 30-45 minutes away from our boutique, a little hidden gem awaits. During your time at Acadian Village you will get to experience what it was like in the 19th century cajun village. There is also a Native American museum for your viewing. Truly a great place to learn about cajun culture. Vermillion Ville 30 minutes away. Very similar to Acadian village but will a little more to see and do. You can enjoy true cajun cooking and experience beautiful vintage 18th century acadian homes just like they were back then. The staff dresses for the experience as well and demonstrates how people lived during the 18th century in South Louisiana. It’s the perfect place to experience Louisiana’s culture and food. Cajun Food Tours 30 minutes away. Explore some of the best restaurants Lafayette has to offer by taking a food tour ! This will ensure a great time and a full belly. Lafayette Farmers market Available every Saturday with local farmers and businesses who share their talents and handmade goods. A community and time like no other, you will also want to visit the brand new city park. Moncus park is located on the same grounds as our farmer’s market and is absolutely beautiful. This makes for one of the best day trips. Hillard Museum Located on University of Lafayette Louisiana’s campus. This beautiful home is an art museum that houses unique art from locals and all around the country. New Orleans 2-3 hours away- New Orleans AKA big easy is a big trip since it is a little further away. We do think you will enjoy the scenic ride there exploring swamp land. This is usually the most favorite day trips people from far look forward to. There’s a lot to see and do in New Orleans. It’s a place like no other with beignets at Cafe’ Du Monde, cajun cooking, and trolly rides to tour the city. The French quarter is one of the most popular places in New Orleans with historical sites and gift shops. New Orleans also has a fantastic national World War II museum if history is your thing and it’s great for the whole family. Honey Island Swamp Tour Located in Slidell, La near New Orleans. Take a ride on gator territory in a flat bottom boat. You’ll hear all about the swamp and learn about its natural inhabitants from expert captains and tour guides. You’ll get to see many of the wildlife reptiles and birds South Louisiana has to offer. Alligators, great blue heron, cranes, brown pelicans and so much more. They offer VIP tours, daily tours, and kayak swap tours. One of the most popular sites for New Orleans day trips. Whitney Plantation If history is your thing, this is the museum to visit. Located in Edgar, La and full of historical information about slavery in southeast Louisiana from 1752-1975. This historic plantation is housed on beautiful historic grounds where you get to take a self guided tour with and audio tour. This museum has historic structures that take you back in time and are truly breathtaking. Bogue Chitto State Park Located in Franklinton, La- If you are a nature lover and enjoy visiting state parks, this one is for you. Bogue Chitto is a beautiful state park located in South Louisiana with small streams, rolling landscapes, and upland forests. This beautiful state park has a beautiful nature trail and offers horse riding, mountain biking, camping, fishing, and hiking. There’s also the option to go tubing, kayaking, and canoeing in the river. Louisiana Cajun Mansion Bed Located in Youngsville 15 minutes away- Located in the middle of Cajun Country this bed and breakfast is the perfect getaway spot. If you’re not a hotel person, this is the place to stay. You’ll experience Louisiana and southern hospitality like it should be. The property is gated so you can feel secure during your stay at cajun mansion bed. These are few of the many wonderful places and attractions you can visit during your time here. If you have any questions or may be looking to do something specific, please reach out to us 337-330-2424. We are glad to help you plan your stay with us. Oui Jolie Bride’s team cannot wait to you and your family as you can find the dress of your dreams and enjoy an experience like no other.
Woman in strapless, embellished gown with tiara, posing in a grand, light-filled hall.
September 2, 2025
Every bride has a style when it comes to their wedding dress. When referring to a boho bride we like to think of them as care-free, easy going, with a unique personality, and truly a natural beauty. If this sounds like you, stick around because we have some gorgeous boho gowns you will love! One of the best parts about owning a bridal boutique is meeting all of our amazing brides. We’ve been in the bridal industry for over 25 years and each bride is so unique and lovely in their own way. We have fostered some beautiful friendships through helping brides find their perfect dress. During the process of helping our brides, we get to know the style of the bride. Boho has been an increasingly popular style over the last 5 years and it’s neat to see how this style has evolved. What Makes A Wedding Dress Boho? Many boho brides love the bohemian romance and the unique style of these dresses. Most will have very unique & bold lace, illusion necklines, bell sleeves, floral details, puff sleeves, and most importantly a comfortable fit. This effortless gown style is usually perfect for a beach wedding, romantic elopements, and any outdoor wedding really. Of course, this dress style can be worn for inside ceremonies as well. Most brides wear their boho style dress barefoot, with cowboy boots, or with strappy sandals. To top off the look brides will usually add either flower crowns, dramatic sleeves, or intricate embroidery. There are many variations to a boho style wedding gown and we will go over the differences below. It’s usually fairly easy to tell the difference between a traditional wedding gown vs. a boho style dress. Who Are Boho Wedding Dresses For? If you are a bride who tends to go barefoot any chance you get, pretty easy going, love adventure, love being outside, or tend to do your own thing rather than following tradition. It sounds like boho may be your style. Not always of course, we understand it’s difficult to put one person into one category since every personality is so unique. We have just seen a more adventurous bride gravitate towards a bohemian style dress. It’s usually the perfect match to go with their personal style for the special day. If that personality doesn’t match you and you love the bohemian look, that’s ok too! We are here for any and all types of bridal styles. Whatever makes you feel most confident and beautiful on your wedding day is what we go for when helping our brides. Boho Wedding Dress Styles Boho Wedding Dress Sleeve Styles In terms on sleeves on a boho styled wedding dress, there are several options. Some will have delicate flutter sleeves while others will have dramatic sleeves. This all depends on the unique style of the bride. Some other options would be: sheer long sleeves, bell sleeves, and puff sleeves. While most have sleeves there are boho style dresses that don’t have sleeves. So if a strapless dress is your style, boho is not out of the picture for you yet. The neat thing with boho styled dresses is that they vary and there are so many variations. Boho Wedding Dress Neckline Styles When talking about the neckline it really can vary. Most will have illusion necklines, subtle v neck, deep v, and even sweetheart. Most necklines will have unique scalloped edging or delicate lace details along the edges. Some bohemian style dresses will be completely free of lace and tend to be more minimalistic. That tends to be for a modern bride who loves the bohemian look without the floral lace. Boho Wedding Dress Fit Typically most boho style dresses will have flowy silhouettes, frothy skirts, flowing skirts or an A-line silhouette. Some may even lean more towards a dramatic mermaid fit. This is all dependent on what the bride likes and what her body type is. The perfect way to find your right fit is by trying on the many different style boho dresses that are out there. When talking about the dress style, bohemian wedding gowns usually have low cut open backs, soft fabrics, a comfortable cut, and simple silhouettes Designer Wedding Dresses That Are Boho Style The designer’s and dresses listed below can all be found in our bridal boutique, Oui Jolie Bride . Where we cater to brides who have a budget from $2,500-$12,000 and desire to have a unique designer wedding dress. We have carefully selected our designers based off of the quality and uniqueness of their gowns. We are proud to share our collection with you and would love to help you choose your dream dress for your special day. Pronovias Privée – Lucrezia This beautiful strapless wedding gown offers a unique boho style with so many gorgeous details by designer Pronovias. A semi-cathedral train, rich embellishment, and a floral embroidery design to compliment any boho bride. This dress is one of a kind and will compliment your dream day. Adi Shlomo – Gia We love how customizable Adi’s handmade wedding dresses are. This gown is from Adi Shlomo’s floral collection and can have a flare skirt (shown in the picture) or a more fitted skirt if that’s your style. Sleeves for this dress can either be worn or taken off easily. Depending on which boho look you are going for on your wedding day. Truly a unique and beautiful gown as the sleeves are removable too. Calla Blanche- This Calla Blanche gown is on the fitted boho side of the spectrum and is absolutely breathtaking. We love the fine details and how it will hug your curves in all of the right places. With a deep “v” neckline and corset bodice, you will wow your husband. The puffed, removable sleeves add a special touch to this gorgeous gown as well. Do you have a favorite designer? We’d love to hear which designer you love the most!