Getting Married This Summer
Getting Married This Summer
What to Do NOW If You’re Getting Married This Summer (Yes, Now. Not in June. NOW.)
By [Your Name], Chaos Manager-in-Chief at Engaged AF Magazine
Listen up, sweet summer bride-to-be or groomzilla-in-bloom — if your wedding is between June and August and you’re still in “vibes and vision board” mode, we’ve got news for you.
It’s DEFCON-4. It’s go time. Shit’s getting real.
And if you don’t start locking it in this month, you’re gonna be crying into a lukewarm mimosa wondering why your makeup artist ghosted you and Uncle Greg never showed with the damn ice.
As someone who’s shot over 450 weddings with Epoch Moment, I’ve seen what happens when couples treat April like “plenty of time.” Spoiler: it’s not. So here’s your no-BS, sass-laced, step-by-step rundown on WTF you need to do RIGHT NOW to keep your summer wedding from melting into a pool of stress sweat and regret.
✅ 1. Lock the Last Damn Vendor (Yesterday Would Be Better)
Still missing someone in your dream team?
Hair and makeup? Day-of coordinator? A second shooter? Anyone to carry the mental load so you can sip champagne in a satin robe without losing your shit?
Book them RIGHT NOW.
This is not the time for dreamy vendor crushes and “we DMed once, I think we’re good.” No, boo. Until you have a contract and a deposit in hand, you don’t have a vendor — you have a fantasy.
And the good ones? Already mostly booked. Like, we’re halfway through the season already. Snooze, lose, weep.
📋 2. Build (And Actually Use) a Real-Ass Timeline
“Get married around 4, then party!” is not a wedding plan.
You need a minute-by-minute rundown of the entire damn day — or it will run you like a drunk uncle on the dance floor.
Timeline Must-Haves:
- When you’re getting ready (hair, makeup, snacks, pep talks)
- When the photographer arrives (not when you’re already in the dress)
- How long portraits will take (add buffer time!)
- Ceremony start + length
- Cocktail hour, dinner, toasts, dances, cake, send-off
- Transportation
- Vendor arrival/departure
- That one bridesmaid who’s always late (bake in a 30-min safety net for her)
Once it’s done?
Send. It. Out.
To every vendor. Your wedding party. Your photographer. The officiant. Literally everyone except your dog.
💬 3. Confirm Every Damn Thing
Just because you talked about it in March doesn’t mean it’s locked.
Now’s the time to circle back and confirm:
- Arrival times
- Setup access
- Final payments
- Dietary needs
- Who’s bringing what
- Whether your officiant still exists
Copy/paste this into every text:
“Hey hey! Just confirming your arrival at 2:30 PM and access to the venue at 1:00. Let me know if anything’s changed! Can’t wait to see you!”
And send it. Vendors LOVE clarity. Future you will too.
🛍️ 4. Finish the Stupid Little Things
You know the list. The never-ending pile of “I can just DIY that!” ideas that now live in a pile in your living room next to an unopened glue gun and 37 half-finished ribbon wands.
Wrap this shit up:
- Welcome bag tags
- Guest favors
- Table numbers
- Seating chart
- Emergency kits
- Signage
- Bathroom baskets
- Ceremony programs
Pro tip:
If you don’t care anymore, scratch it off the list. Permission to DELETE shit you don’t actually need. That candle tag will not make or break your marriage.
💰 5. Pay Your People (And Tip Like a Boss)
Check your contracts and make a list of final payments due between now and the big day. Then build a tip envelope game plan. You don’t want to be scrambling with wet nails and a bad attitude.
Don’t Forget to Tip:
- Hair & Makeup Artists
- DJ/Band
- Catering Staff
- Photographers/Videographers
- Officiant (if not a friend)
- Transportation
- Delivery crews
- The badass coordinator who kept your MIL from flipping a table
Put cash in labeled envelopes, hand them to someone trustworthy (NOT drunk cousin Chad), and rest easy.
🧘♀️ 6. Schedule a Fucking Break
Seriously. Block out ONE DAY this month where you do no wedding tasks. No RSVPs. No vendors. No Pinterest.
Instead:
- Go on a date.
- Get a massage.
- Watch trash TV.
- Lie on the floor and breathe.
You’re not a wedding robot — you’re a human about to commit your life to another human. Act accordingly. Mental health is part of wedding planning too.
🏁 Final Word: You’re Closer Than You Think
You’ve got this.
You’re a checklist-wielding, flower-picking, timeline-confirming badass.
Summer weddings are the Olympics of matrimony — high pressure, blazing temps, and zero room for slackers. But you’re not just going to survive it — you’re gonna slay it.
Start now. Not next month. Not next week.
Now.
Because the only meltdown we want at your wedding is the ice cream bar — not your soul.
💬 Want more savage planning advice?
Check out engagedasfuck.com and follow us on IG @engagedafmagazine for spicy checklists, guest list takedowns, and vendor vetting tips.
What to Do NOW If You’re Getting Married This Summer (Yes, Now. Not in June. NOW.)
By [Your Name], Chaos Manager-in-Chief at Engaged AF Magazine
Listen up, sweet summer bride-to-be or groomzilla-in-bloom — if your wedding is between June and August and you’re still in “vibes and vision board” mode, we’ve got news for you.
It’s DEFCON-4. It’s go time. Shit’s getting real.
And if you don’t start locking it in this month, you’re gonna be crying into a lukewarm mimosa wondering why your makeup artist ghosted you and Uncle Greg never showed with the damn ice.
As someone who’s shot over 450 weddings with Epoch Moment, I’ve seen what happens when couples treat April like “plenty of time.” Spoiler: it’s not. So here’s your no-BS, sass-laced, step-by-step rundown on WTF you need to do RIGHT NOW to keep your summer wedding from melting into a pool of stress sweat and regret.
✅ 1. Lock the Last Damn Vendor (Yesterday Would Be Better)
Still missing someone in your dream team?
Hair and makeup? Day-of coordinator? A second shooter? Anyone to carry the mental load so you can sip champagne in a satin robe without losing your shit?
Book them RIGHT NOW.
This is not the time for dreamy vendor crushes and “we DMed once, I think we’re good.” No, boo. Until you have a contract and a deposit in hand, you don’t have a vendor — you have a fantasy.
And the good ones? Already mostly booked. Like, we’re halfway through the season already. Snooze, lose, weep.
📋 2. Build (And Actually Use) a Real-Ass Timeline
“Get married around 4, then party!” is not a wedding plan.
You need a minute-by-minute rundown of the entire damn day — or it will run you like a drunk uncle on the dance floor.
Timeline Must-Haves:
- When you’re getting ready (hair, makeup, snacks, pep talks)
- When the photographer arrives (not when you’re already in the dress)
- How long portraits will take (add buffer time!)
- Ceremony start + length
- Cocktail hour, dinner, toasts, dances, cake, send-off
- Transportation
- Vendor arrival/departure
- That one bridesmaid who’s always late (bake in a 30-min safety net for her)
Once it’s done?
Send. It. Out.
To every vendor. Your wedding party. Your photographer. The officiant. Literally everyone except your dog.
💬 3. Confirm Every Damn Thing
Just because you talked about it in March doesn’t mean it’s locked.
Now’s the time to circle back and confirm:
- Arrival times
- Setup access
- Final payments
- Dietary needs
- Who’s bringing what
- Whether your officiant still exists
Copy/paste this into every text:
“Hey hey! Just confirming your arrival at 2:30 PM and access to the venue at 1:00. Let me know if anything’s changed! Can’t wait to see you!”
And send it. Vendors LOVE clarity. Future you will too.
🛍️ 4. Finish the Stupid Little Things
You know the list. The never-ending pile of “I can just DIY that!” ideas that now live in a pile in your living room next to an unopened glue gun and 37 half-finished ribbon wands.
Wrap this shit up:
- Welcome bag tags
- Guest favors
- Table numbers
- Seating chart
- Emergency kits
- Signage
- Bathroom baskets
- Ceremony programs
Pro tip:
If you don’t care anymore, scratch it off the list. Permission to DELETE shit you don’t actually need. That candle tag will not make or break your marriage.
💰 5. Pay Your People (And Tip Like a Boss)
Check your contracts and make a list of final payments due between now and the big day. Then build a tip envelope game plan. You don’t want to be scrambling with wet nails and a bad attitude.
Don’t Forget to Tip:
- Hair & Makeup Artists
- DJ/Band
- Catering Staff
- Photographers/Videographers
- Officiant (if not a friend)
- Transportation
- Delivery crews
- The badass coordinator who kept your MIL from flipping a table
Put cash in labeled envelopes, hand them to someone trustworthy (NOT drunk cousin Chad), and rest easy.
🧘♀️ 6. Schedule a Fucking Break
Seriously. Block out ONE DAY this month where you do no wedding tasks. No RSVPs. No vendors. No Pinterest.
Instead:
- Go on a date.
- Get a massage.
- Watch trash TV.
- Lie on the floor and breathe.
You’re not a wedding robot — you’re a human about to commit your life to another human. Act accordingly. Mental health is part of wedding planning too.
🏁 Final Word: You’re Closer Than You Think
You’ve got this.
You’re a checklist-wielding, flower-picking, timeline-confirming badass.
Summer weddings are the Olympics of matrimony — high pressure, blazing temps, and zero room for slackers. But you’re not just going to survive it — you’re gonna slay it.
Start now. Not next month. Not next week.
Now.
Because the only meltdown we want at your wedding is the ice cream bar — not your soul.
💬 Want more savage planning advice?
Check out engagedasfuck.com and follow us on IG @engagedafmagazine for spicy checklists, guest list takedowns, and vendor vetting tips.
