Q&A: How We Planned a Wedding in 6 Months (Without Losing Our Minds)

Featuring real couple Ayanda & Tom, who proved it can be done—with style, sanity, and a spreadsheet.

When Ayanda (from Durban) and Tom (from Manchester) got engaged over Christmas, they set a goal: get married before Tom’s visa expired in July. That gave them just six months. Most people would panic. These two got planning.

We sat down with them (over a virtual glass of wine) to unpack exactly how they pulled off a gorgeous garden-meets-glam wedding in under six months—and stayed on speaking terms the whole time. 😅

💬 Q: Six months?! What made you go for a short engagement?

Ayanda: Honestly? We didn’t want a long engagement and we didn’t want to wait another year for the right season or dates. We wanted to be married and start life together now—before immigration timelines complicated things further.

Tom: Plus, Ayanda’s sister was moving to Australia, so we knew this would be the last time the whole family could be in one place. That sealed it.

💬 Q: What did you prioritise first?

Ayanda: Venue and date. We knew that if we could find an available venue, everything else could fit around that.

Tom: We called about 17 venues. Literally. Then found this gem outside Pietermaritzburg that had availability, tables and chairs included, and an onsite coordinator. Booked it the next day.

🔑 Pro Tip: Choose a venue that includes extras (furniture, setup team, maybe even a backup generator). That’s how you win with tight timelines.

💬 Q: How did you stay organised?

Ayanda: Google Sheets was our third bridesmaid.

Tom: No, but really—we had a shared folder for everything. Budgets, vendors, outfit inspiration. We used a free timeline generator online, and we downloaded the Plan My Wedding App to track our checklists.

Ayanda: And we made a rule: no wedding talk after 9pm. Unless wine was involved. 😆

💬 Q: What did you splurge vs save on?

Ayanda:

Splurged: My dress (R13K, no regrets), photography, and food. We wanted people to feel spoiled even if it was short notice.

Saved: Décor! We kept it clean and classic. White candles, eucalyptus, and fairy lights. Pinterest-worthy and under budget.

Tom:

We also skipped physical invites. We did digital RSVPs via our wedding website—no one missed the paper.

💸 Budget Tip: Allocate your money where it’ll make you happiest. Not where tradition says you should.

💬 Q: Any supplier drama?

Tom: Not drama—but a few close calls.

Ayanda: Our makeup artist got sick the week before, but we had a backup list just in case. Also, florals were tricky because we booked during a public holiday week.

Tom: Pro tip: ask every vendor for their cancellation clause and backup plans.

💬 Q: Did you have time for a roora/lobola ceremony?

Ayanda: Yes! That was non-negotiable. We did a small, family-only lobola ceremony in my family home in KwaMashu. We kept it simple and beautiful—with traditional décor and food. I wore a custom-made isiZulu outfit. It made everything feel so real and sacred.

💬 Q: What advice would you give other couples trying to plan quickly?

Ayanda:

Don’t try to DIY everything—choose what really matters to you.

Keep your guest list tight. Smaller = faster and cheaper to organise.

Pick your planning partner wisely. Tom is a legend!

Tom:

Prioritise decisions over perfection. Done is better than perfect when you’re on a deadline.

🎯 TL;DR – Their 6-Month Timeline at a Glance: