Let me start off by saying that every bride is different. Some enjoy the process and spend months, sometimes even years, to plan the wedding of their dreams! Other brides are on a time crunch, and my heart goes out to you! I have been there myself, as well as with friends that I was a bridesmaid for. And as a Smoky Mountain wedding photographer I have come to learn the ESSENTIALS to plan your Smoky Mountain wedding in 6 months!

I will break down the timeline for you and share my insider tips for making sure you score on amazing vendors and top deals! If you are getting married in just 6 months, then you need to start planning today! And I want to be the one to help you with that!

6 Months Before Your Wedding Day

6 months seems like a really short amount of time, but you got this! At this stage in the planning process you need to be thinking of the logistics. Basically you will be booking and planning travel, but here is a more detailed list.

• Book Your Photographer
  • As soon as you say “a thousand times yes!” to that proposal, you need to book your wedding photographer. Like, don’t even let him get off his fallen knee before you call your photographer!

• Book Your Officiant
  • Finding your officiant can be tricky. The Knot has a great resource on this!  Or if you don’t want to look into hiring an officiant, you could have a family member or close friend  get ordained  and have someone you love officiate your wedding!

    

    

    

    
    
• Book Your Wedding Venue
  • If you are planning to have a separate venue for your reception, then now is the time to research and book it!

• Apply For Smoky Mountain Wedding Permit
  • This is a  MUST! If you are planning on being married in the Smokies, then you will need to go to this link  to learn about the guidelines, scout wedding location and fill out an application!

• Book Your Hair and Makeup
  • Finding a hair and makeup artist is simple, yet challenging. My tips are to first find a couple inspo pics on Pinterest of what you are want for your Smoky Mountain wedding. Then, on Instagram do some research and find a makeup artist and hairdresser who is in your area, and has already done something similar to want you. Meet, make sure your personalities vibe, and then you book!
• Find Your Florist
  • This one is similar to finding your hair and makeup. Have your inspo, then search your area!

• Plane Tickets
  • If you are having a destination wedding, or you have friends and family that are traveling to your wedding, be sure to book your tickets early! Like, 6 months early. I recommend using Expedia or CheapOAir to find deals on tickets!

• Car Rental
  • If you are traveling and won’t have your car, then be sure to book one! Trust me, you do not want to rely on Uber to get you to your Smoky Mountain wedding!

• Hotel/Airbnb
  • Unless you are planning to camo right after your Smoky Mountain wedding, you should probably book your hotel or Airbnb. Typically wedding season is a busy season for all travelers, so you want to secure your stay ideal location!

• Wedding Dress Shopping
  • Do not put this off until the last minute! It may take you a few visits to different bridal boutiques to find your wedding dress, then you have to order it and have it altered. Depending the dress you pick, it may just take weeks or months for your dress to arrive, and then add a couple weeks on for alterations.

3 Months Before Your Wedding

• Shoes, Jewelry And Accessories
  • By three months before your wedding you should have all of your accessories found and bought.

• Wedding Details
  • You should also have other detail like your bridesmaids dresses, groom’s suit, décor and other elements of your wedding planned for. This will make this last bit of your engagement so much more enjoyable!

• Make Dinner Reservations
  • If you haven’t already when booking your wedding venue, then now is the time to book your dinner reservations. Find a spot that has beautiful views and wonderful food! There are so many options in the Smokies!

1 Month Before Your Wedding

• Solidify Timeline
  • A month before your wedding I advice that you make sure everything you booked is still in order! Be sure you have all of your receipts just in case they need a confirmation number.
  • In addition, solidify your timeline for the weekend and actual wedding day with your wedding photographer. I always love to be on the same page as my brides so that everything moves smoothly throughout the day!

1 Week Before Your Wedding!

• Have your wedding license! Finalize details and you are ready to say “I-do”!

There you have it! A Smoky Mountain wedding in 6 months! It may be a lot, and I know at time it will be stressful, but it is possible! I believe in you, and as your Smoky Mountain wedding photographer I will help you through it. So, reach out and let’s connect about your wedding day and how I can best serve you!