After 8 years in the wedding industry, we have seen it all at Dream Point Ranch. From 2 year engagements to planning an event in less than 30 days for 200 guests.

There is a certain beauty in letting traditions go to the wayside and instead plan your wedding is 6 months! We’ve put together a monthly timeline for saying those vows in a shorter timeframe, so you can get started on your forever right now.

6 MONTHS

Establish Your Budget

You can’t plan the biggest event of your lives without first establishing what your budget will be. At every tour, we give out a magazine with a graphic that breaks down the average percentage of each portion of a wedding day from venue to photography to hair and makeup. We encourage you to pick your top 3 categories and put the focus on your budget there.

You also need to have frank and open conversations with anyone that may be contributing to your wedding day. It may feel awkward, but it will be so much easier later to have clear expectations laid out prior to spending any money.

Book Your vendors

You can’t start booking vendors until you have a date and a venue! We will readily answer any questions on availability and we always have more flexibility on our schedule for smaller events when booked less than 6 months out. We always happily share our merit-based preferred vendor list with every couple immediately after booking. No one pays to be on our list - they are only our list because of multiple, positive experiences.

Dress SHopping

This one is definitely more of a time-crunch. Most boutiques won’t be able to do custom orders in a shorter timeframe, but off-the-rack does not mean anything less when it comes to bridal gowns. Most importantly, make dress shopping as much of an event as you would like. Choose your besties and those that will support you to accompany you dress shopping as it can be equal parts exciting and vulnerable. Not everyone needs an invitation to dress shopping, only those you want.

 Overnight accommodations

We know how important it is for you to have accommodations for your guests which is why we have created a separate webpage for accommodations and transportation.

Engagement Session at your venue

Dream Point Ranch always includes 3 different photo sessions with your photographer with any wedding rental: an engagement session, a bridal session (so you can take advantage of your trial hair and makeup) and a 1 year anniversary session. Your engagement session pictures can be used on your save-the-dates that you mail out as soon as possible or even on your personalized wedding website.

 5 months

Create your guest list

Your guest list will be the largest factor that influences your budget as you need to consider that you are spending money per person. More people means more food, more linens for tables and more centerpieces. Some things to keep in mind when creating your guest list:

1. Normally, about 80% of the people that you invite will actually attend the wedding. Have a Group A and Group B list if you want to get as close to your capacity as possible.

2. Are you planning on permitting guests to bring plus ones?

3. Are kids something you want at your wedding? Does the venue allow children? What are the plans for reception if parents are drinking and kids aren’t supervised? Do you want it to feel more like a date night for your friends with children?

4. How many personal friends are your parents planning on inviting? If they are contributing financially, it is reasonable to expect them to have their own guest list.

Above all, this is YOUR WEDDING and the start of your family with your partner. Do not succumb to family or pressure of tradition and end up going over your budget and having a larger guest list than you want.

invite your bridal party

You may have already invited all your favorites to be in your bridal party, but if not, now is the time! Don’t feel pressured to create an over-the-top invitation unless that is something that speaks to your heart.

Build your wedding website

Remember that engagement session you had last month? Get those pictures front and center on your wedding website! This will be where your guests go for details so make sure that it is up and ready before sending out your save-the-dates.

Send Your Save the Dates

As soon as you can, send out your save-the-dates. These can either be mailed or done digitally through websites. You can also use these websites to get an early idea on who is planning on coming if you have a Group A and a Group B for your invite list.

Book your rehearsal dinner

Once you are less than 6 months out from your wedding, any available date can be booked for a rehearsal dinner at Dream Point Ranch. With two facilities on property, it gives you so many options on how to do your wedding day and rehearsal dinner, giving you the option to use one for each if you like.

4 months

book any other remaining vendors

Are there any other vendors that haven’t been booked? Go over our recommended vendor list and make sure you have someone hired in each category.

SHop for your rings

Just like wedding dresses, custom rings may be difficult to acquire at this point, but there are so many styles that are available at jewelry stores. Your fiancé may have already connected with a jewelry store or jeweler for your ring and you can go back to that location for matching sets if you desire.

3 months

schedule tasting with your caterer

Dream Point Ranch has an exclusive list of caterers and bartenders to make searching for the right catering group a little easier on our clients. Within each of these exclusive options, you can create your own menu and your own budget. An average per person spend for food for a budget dinner is $15-$29 per person, nice dinner is $30-$49 per person and luxury meal is $50-$100 per person. Your food choices and service style (buffet or plated) selections will be the determining factor on pricing. We also offer options for bringing in outside catering.

Book your honeymoon

 One of the last items to get booked is your honeymoon! Sometimes planners also offer honeymoon travel services and can help you get exclusive pricing and mini-adventures on your honeymoon, so take advantage of their expertise.

 Mail your formal invitations

We recommend mailing out your formal invitations 8-10 weeks before your wedding day.

2 months

bachelor/bachelorette parties and showers 

Normally, these events are planned and carried out by your close friends and family members. That means less stress for you and more time to gather with all your favorites!

Marriage license details

Find out the timeline and details for the marriage license in the county where you will wed.

 Hair and makeup trial and bridal portraits

Do a little extra planning ahead of time and schedule your hair and makeup trial to coincide with your photographer’s schedule if you are planning on doing a separate bridal photo session. These sessions are included on property at Dream Point Ranch, but the timing does need to be confirmed ahead of time.

 1 month

schedule final appointments with vendors

Dream Point Ranch provides an in-person final walkthrough 2 weeks before your wedding day where we will finalize floor plan, discuss timeline of rental and go over vendor information to make sure the venue is supporting you, your chosen wedding professionals and giving you and your guests our absolute best every second we are with you. We highly train our venue managers that are with you on your wedding day to gracefully pivot and have foresight for anything venue related on your wedding day.

Many other vendors including planners, DJs, caterers and perhaps florists will request final in-person meetings or final phone calls.

Take care of final payments

Most wedding professionals require payment prior to this point, with the exception of the caterer. They do final payments closer to the wedding day as food prices are subject to change. Discuss with your planner tips for the wedding professionals for the wedding day and write your thank you notes to them if you are planning to do so.

final Honeymoon Preparations

Pack for that trip, sweet friends! If your flight is the next day, take time to pack and prepare before the week before your wedding day. Make sure you have a specific place where you keep travel documents including your passports, if needed.

Order Your Marriage License

This license will make the sweet vows you say on your wedding day official. You should know all the details of timing for getting your marriage license at this point. Many places require that both the bride and the groom present in person for the license and within a certain number of days prior to the wedding. Tulsa county even offers a discount on the marriage license if you can confirm you have had at least 2 hours of marriage counseling prior to your wedding day.

Enjoy every second

Well, it’s here! At this point, you are probably feeling like you don’t want to plan or do anything else but just get married. We hear you! All the planning and all the details will be worth it as you walk down the aisle and start your forever knowing that you planned your wedding in 6 months.

Photography this page | Amanda Hitchen Photography