How to plan a wedding in less than 5 months?

That was the question I asked Mr. T when he proposed the date - 20.11.2011.

I know its a beautiful date and totally a number to remember (just like I wished for), but finding out that we will be married on the date with less than 5 months to go nearly gave me a heart attack~

I've never been into weddings. Althought I love going to the elaborated events and organizing dinner parties, wedding have never been my thing. I was hoping that when my time comes, my baby sister would be able to help me through since this was her forte'.

Unfortunately she was gone before my wedding, but I was glad that she left me with a Wedding Magazine which has a list of task/checklist to guide me through my wedding planning. (Thank you dear, I hope you're doing ok out there)

So...back to the question -

How to plan a wedding, a solemnization ceremony and an engagement event all within 5 months?

Here is my version of the checklist:

Identify Event & Theme:
+ Engagement Date, Time & Theme.
+ Solemnization Date, Time & Theme.
+ Reception Date, Time & Theme.
++ with this, you would also need to identify suppliers for flowers, food, tent and venue. List them first, so you would not forget.

Once we have confirmed the bigger picture as above, what we need to do is:

Planning for the Engagement Party:
1. Book Caterer/Confirm Menu with Cook (in my case, the Chief Cook would be my aunt)
2. Choose the Engagement Dress
3. Choose the Engagement Dais
4. Choose the Make Up Artist
5. Choose Photographer
6. Make the bookings for item 3-5
7. Buy gifts/hantaran for the groom to be
8. Buy decorations for dulang hantaran
9. Buy/make doorgifts for guess
10. Manicure is a must! The attention of the day will also be on your hands!

Planning for the Solemnization Ceremony:
1. Fill up & prepare necessary form
2. Attend the course
3. Take HIV Test
4. Book the Qadi (Date & Time)
5. Choose Wedding Dress
6. Choose Wedding Dais
7. Choose Wedding Make Up Artist
8. Make bookings for item 5-7
9. Book a photographer
10. Book a videographer
11. Book Caterer/Confirm Menu
12. Buy gifts/hantaran for the groom to be
13. Buy decorations for dulang hantaran
14. Buy/make doorgifts for guess
15. Spa & beauty salon session

Planning for the Wedding Reception:
1. Choose Event Venue
2. Choose Caterer
3. Choose Event Organizer
4. Choose Wedding Dress
5. Choose Photographer
6. Choose Videographer
7. Buy doorgift
8. Confirm item 1-6
9. Book wedding invitation card
10. Finalize wedding invitation list
11. Send wedding invitation

Nice checklist, right? But did everything goes as planned?

Here's what really happened in reality:

Honestly I am lucky that I had the basics right, but organizing events are always chaotic...especially if you're the bride and wants everything to be perfect but has a problem of procrastination and Ally McBeal day dream symptom!

I made bookings for Venue, Wedding Organizer, and Caterer prior to the engagement and I made all the necessary bookings for engagement quite accordingly as well. This was all planned well 2-3 weeks after the event. Although I had some hiccups with the engagement dress at the very last minute...but it turned out ok. So I was pretty sure I would do well for my solemnization as well.

After the engagement, we had a wonderful prewedding photoshoot session and in the next 2 weeks I totally forgot to prepare for my solemnization event which is just 7-8 weeks to go. I was trying to cherrish the moment of being engaged that I totally let loose and ignore the solemnization ceremony preparation!

I thought that I had plenty of time.

The anxiety attack came when my uncle took me to collect the Nikah Form. I realized that I have yet to get the needed signature for my wali, retake the Nikah Course Certificate and HIV test. This would all take about 2-3 weeks to complete because we need to make appointment with my dad (urghh..the drama king), the qadi, the clinic and attend the course to get the certificate.

Then another attack came when we attended the course where we were informed that the Groom will have to submit his form, 2 weeks prior to the bride to ensure that the Pejabat Agama from his district approved his form. Only after the approval then can I submit my form and book the Qadi. We had approximately 6 weeks to go, and I nearly cried!

But Allah was on our side, eventhough we did it quite the very last minute, we managed to have all the forms completed within 3 weeks. (Just 2 weeks before the solemnization ceremony)

Summary of what really happen in the past 6 months:

My advise to all Bride & Groom to be (based on personal experience):

1. Please prioritize your application form before you make the other necessary bookings.

2. It is also important to book the venue for reception prior to choosing the dates since most of the wedding venues are fully booked (especially during school holidays) one year before the date!

3. Be happy and flexible, we can always plan, but the masterplan comes from Allah. Don't be stressed about the small stuff such as flower arrangements etc. Nothing can be perfect if you only see the flaw in it. Just move forward and look at the bigger picture - you're getting married! ^_^

4. Pray to Allah for guidance and ease.

and Thank you Allah for such a wonderful experience!

Alhamdulillah~