Too soon?? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

KandD2006 · #1 06-13-2006, 07:08 AM

I haven't started making large purchases for my wedding yet. I am thinking it will be in November of this year. Will I have enough time to get everything together. It's a small ceremony less than 150. We have the church and are pretty sure about the reception area. We will be able to do decorations and stuff, but I have not purchased anything yet. I was just wondering if I would have time to get a dress and get everything needed in time?

Wasn't sure if this was in the right area.

munchkin · #2 06-13-2006, 07:49 AM

I'd start looking for a dress immediately. Actually receiving the dress and getting it altered can take a long time.

KandD2006 · #3 06-13-2006, 07:52 AM

Thanks. I am setting up an appt. w/ David's by June 30th. I can't do it any sooner cause of money. I am wondering if I could just get somebody else to alter the dress besides David's Bridal so it would be faster and cheaper

Emily · #4 06-13-2006, 09:00 AM

I have heard of people planning weddings in a couple of weeks, you still have time but to save stress you should get onto things sooner rather that later! The first thing you should do is atleast set a date and get the reception place booked.

KandD2006 · #5 06-13-2006, 10:20 AM

We have the wedding date and as far as the reception we plan on nailing that down ASAP.

555Ann555 · #6 06-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Congratulations! And welcome to Pash

I think you have enough time, and it is definately possible to have your dress altered by someone else, but it would depend on how complex a gown you go for... A two piece would probably be the quickest to be altered...

Still, you might find one that almost fits you as it is, then you wouldn't need much done.

breezy · #7 06-13-2006, 03:07 PM

I would start looking for dresses now. Keep your appt with Davids but check out other places for dresses too

You don't have to pay for it right away. You can order on the 30th when you have $. Even without alterations your dress can take 2-3 months to get in

Having alterations done at a NON bridal shop will save you some $ too.

Your timeline will be similare to mine. We're getting married in Aug and set the date in March

Welcome to PASH, post details, engagement stories, ect... in the bridal journal section... we love details

AshyBekka · #8 06-13-2006, 03:15 PM

Welcome to PASH! I agree, start at least looking around and trying on dresses as soon as possible, even though you won't be able to buy officially til the end of June. If you have an idea of what you want, you'll be able to move through the process that much sooner. I'm getting married in November as well, and luckily, the dress i found fit almost perfectly, so there's very little to be done there. HOWEVER, I'm working on getting my bridesmaids in line because it take three months to get their dresses in, so keep that in mind as well. I need to make sure that they have time to get alterations done after their dresses come in.

Also, try to get your reception site locked in so you can start figuring out how you want to cater. Remember, nothing is set in stone until you sign the contract, so no matter what, make sure you get that signed ASAP so you're covered there and don't have to worry about it anymore.

Like everyone said, you can definitely get it done-plenty of time with five months to go-but you for sure need to start going into planning mode! Good luck and keep us posted!!

ljeagle · #9 06-13-2006, 03:15 PM

Welcome to PASH!

You have time but I would find a dress fast.

maroki13 · #10 06-13-2006, 03:21 PM

Welcome to Pash!!!

5 months will be more than enough time to plan, assuming you have your ceremony and reception sites booked. Also, if you buy your dress off the rack, as DB often sells them, then you don't have to wait to have it ordered. You would be able to take it home that day, and that would be more than enough time before the wedding.

weddingadvisor · #11 06-13-2006, 03:34 PM

You don't have to order your alterations with David's. I've heard mixed reviews about their results anyway. You are certainly welcome to get them done by another business, but be wary. David's will try to sell you anything they can, so they might be pushy about your alterations. Just be strong. Good luck.

feb-bride · #12 06-13-2006, 04:45 PM

My dad/step-mom planned their entire wedding and reception in four months, and that included her making her own wedding dress. You have time!

sparklesweetie · #13 06-13-2006, 07:13 PM

Just another suggestion, try finding consignment shops. The ones I went to had gorgeous dresses that looked just fine, most were priced around $200, and if you need alterations then you can take it to whoever you want. You might have to search a bit to find what you like, but it can be worth it. I know David's policy is that if someone else touches the dress, they won't clean it or anything else before the wedding.
I think buying off the rack is the best way to go, although if you fall in love with one you need to order, I'm sure they can rush it.

Best of luck!

Complicated Woman · #14 06-13-2006, 07:33 PM

If you order the dress from Davids, tell them that your wedding date is sooner than it is to be sure it's in on time.

I think you can pull it off. Congrats on your engagement and welcome to Pash!

labeadel · #15 06-13-2006, 07:45 PM

Some people on here have had problems with David's, but I dealt with 2 of them in 2 different states and didn't have any problems. I believe that my dress came in like 6 weeks and they totally worked with me on alterations. Everytime I made an appointment for alterations, she was really open to whenever I wanted to come. Just be prepared for multiple fittings. I think it generally took them about a week in between fittings.

And I believe someone already touched on this, but the next major thing you'll want to do is decide where you'll be getting married and having your reception.

Personally, I think that 5 months is plenty of time. I seemed to twiddle my thumbs for a lot of the months in between the big stuff and the last couple of months.

KandD2006 · #16 06-13-2006, 08:39 PM

Thank you ladies for all your wonderful suggestions. It has helped put my mind at ease. We have our ceremony location and most likely our reception site. I will be checking out David's Bridal in the next couple weeks. I will most likely purchase a dress from them. I think the bridesmaids dresses will be made by my FHs mom. The other details will come together. We are doing a potluck kinda thing for the reception (I think) or it just might be finger foods, cake, and punch. We haven't figured out what we want for favors and we need to do invitations. Does anybody have any suggestions for making invitations. I wanted to make them ourselves. With apple red ribbons since apple red and cream are our colors.

ljeagle · #17 06-13-2006, 08:55 PM

Walmarts, Joann's, and Micheal's craft store has do it your self invites and they are very easy. Since you are doing apple red what do u think about the carnival apples for favors. I can't think of the name of it!

Lizbet · #18 06-13-2006, 09:26 PM

candied apples? That's a really neat idea, Lesley!

ljeagle · #19 06-13-2006, 09:35 PM

I knew what it was called i just couldn't think of the name. lol They are so easy to make and every one likes them.

AshyBekka · #20 06-13-2006, 10:20 PM

Ooo-candied apples are a great idea for favors! Wait-now I'm just hungry for candied apples, and I'm pretty sure they're not on the ol' bride diet...

whiddle · #21 06-13-2006, 10:20 PM

David's will not clean or steamn the dress if you have it altered anywhere else. I ordered my dress and five BM dresses from David's. Although, they initially made a mistake- they had my dress in over 6 weeks before my wedding and gave me free alterations to make up for the mistake. I did not have any problems with my alterations.

Also, they let my sister exchange her BM gown for a larger size when she found out she was pregnant. This is after we had taken it home and had it for about 6 weeks.

I would order the dress as soon as you have the money to do so. I believe it takes anywhere from 12-16 weeks for the dress to be shipped to the store. I think it took about 4 weeks (including fittings) to have the dress altered perfectly.

Kim&Bob2004 · #22 06-13-2006, 11:18 PM

We planned ours in just under 4 months (plus I was gone back to the midwest for 3 weeks in late August and the first two weeks of September!

). You have time, but I would start planning NOW!

Save yourself some stress. Check out other bridal stores, I would suggest that if you can hire someone to do things for you, like invites etc, save yourself the time and stress. I could have made ours, but the stress and time to get them right would have been terrible and for me not worth it!

Welcome to Pash! Congrats!

birdie · #23 06-14-2006, 12:20 AM

You should probably start looking into photographers too and get them booked. For a lot of people, this is a really important part of the wedding and having one that you like and that puts you at ease is important. That is, unless you are having a family member/friend do the photography then forget all that I said!

Oh, and welcome and congratulations!

SuzyBride · #24 06-14-2006, 04:46 AM

Hi! Welcome to Pash!! I think you will be fine, but I would start trying to get everything lined up asap! Everyone has already offered great suggestions. Keep us posted on your progress!!

wedbyjean · #25 06-14-2006, 05:34 AM

With a little over 5 months, you do have time to get everything planned. But you need to have a game plan. You mentioned not having made any large purchases yet. Do you mean vendors or actual things?

If you haven't done so already, sit down with your fiance, determine how much money you have to spend (whether from savings, $ set aside from paychecks, contributions from parents, etc). Also determine what you want/need to spend it on (vendors such as a photographer, caterer . . ., and/or things like decoration supplies, guest book, toasting glasses, favors, attire and accessories . . .). Get your reception venue before booking any other vendors, you don't want to put the cart before the horse, and good photograhers and djs book quickly, so don't wait too long to get them.

Since November is a slower wedding month, some vendors may offer a discount -- can't hurt to ask. Since you are looking at a holiday weekend, consider sending save-the-dates so those you invite won't have made other plans.

Like the other ladies said, get your dress ordered ASAP or get it from a consignment shop or off the rack if the size & style are right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by labeadel

I seemed to twiddle my thumbs for a lot of the months in between the big stuff and the last couple of months.

This is normal and happens quite frequently with wedding planning, regardless of how much time you have. In the beginning you have a general idea and pick out the big stuff, then near the end you finalize the little details. The in-between time becomes a big lull where you're just picking up some odds and ends, and wondering if you're forgetting something because you don't seem to be doing anything.