Category Archives: Flowers

The final countdown

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When your dream day finally dawns, after all those months of planning a wedding, you want it to be nothing but dreamy. Often things don’t go entirely to plan, but you can still have the most perfect of days, so don’t let the worries build up. For a day filled with smiles and a sought-after stress free wedding morning, we’ve put together our top tips to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

One month before

Your bookings should all be made and arranged by now – we’re talking florists, cakes, wedding venue styling, entertainment, beauty – but it doesn’t hurt to get in touch again and finalise your plans. If you’re able to and haven’t already, arrange the timings for your event so you have a clear running order for the day in plenty of time. Make sure you include notes for the parts you won’t be present for yourself, too, like setting up – someone will need to know what goes where and when!

One week before

Finish any handmade items and DIY elements. Whether they will be decorative or you’re making your own wedding favours, when the day comes around you’ll be thanking yourself for finishing ahead of time. Get them all packaged as you’d wish and put aside in a clearly labelled box, ready to go for your wedding morning.

Now is also a great time to remind your bridesmaids and groomsmen what roles you’d like them to play on the day (if you need some pointers, you’ll love this bridesmaid jobs guide!). Dish out the jobs to keep things manageable and relax knowing that all the plans are in place.

One day before

The chances are you’ve prepared an ‘Order of the Day’ in some shape or form already, but this tends to begin with the ceremony. It’s a great idea to write down a running order for your wedding morning, too, so that you allow plenty of time for each element.

Think about what time your hair and makeup will be done, remembering to budget time for the bridesmaids too, when you’ll get into your dress, how long you’ll need for photos, and even when you’ll have a bite to eat! Give yourself some spare time on top so you don’t end up keeping your groom waiting should anything be held up (it’ll also save you from any last-minute panicking!).

Remember, it’s not worth worrying about things that are out of your control. Maintain this mantra for the simplest way to have a stress free wedding morning and follow these tips to start your day exactly as you’ll end it – in wedded bliss.

 

Preserving your Wedding Bouquet

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The wedding bouquet is an essential part of the traditional wedding. Many brides, and even bridesmaids, have a special attachment to their wedding bouquet, for often they’ve had them specially made. Of course they want to preserve them as a keepsake! These days, many brides choose to have a bouquet made of artificial flowers so that they can keep it without as much hassle, but for those brides using fresh flowers, here’s how to dry your wedding bouquet;

A dried bouquet makes for a beautiful memento of your wedding day. It can become a beautiful work of art for your home—hung or mounted on display, placed in a vase, etc.—and if you buy your bouquet with the intention of keeping it, make sure you ask your florist for advice on which flowers are best for drying and preserving.

Your bouquet can be dried professionally, or you can do it yourself. Generally, small flowers dry better than larger flowers, but most foliage doesn’t dry very well; you may need to peel away some of the leaves. Also, flowers shrink as they dry, so your finished bouquet will be smaller than the original. It’s recommended that you use a sealant designed for dry flowers to get the best results. Before drying you have to ensure that your flowers are completely free of moisture, like dew.

Hang To Dry

Step 1: Wedding Bouquets look best when they’re dried upside down, for this allows them to preserve their shape. To do this, you need a warm and dry space where your bouquet can hang undisturbed for anywhere from a few days up to two weeks.

Step 2: Remove any fresh foliage/leaves before you hang your bouquet. If you want to dry a few leaves, set them aside.

Step 3: Remove all of the ribbon and wire from the bottom of your bouquet, and then put it back together again with a large, strong elastic. Wrap the elastic first around a third of the stems, then twist and wrap around half of the remaining stems, and then again around the rest of the stems. This will keep your bouquet together as the stems shrink.

Step 4: Hang your bouquet in the warm, dry space, and check its progress in a few days. Keep it away from direct sunlight to preserve its colour.

Step 5: To dry the leaves, you need to place them flat on an airy surface (like a screen, or even a tennis racket!) and cover them with a newspaper. This will weigh them down and prevent them from curling up as they dry.

Step 6: Your bouquet is dry when the flowers feel stiff, and the stems snap easily.

Once your bouquet and the leaves are dry, tidy it up in case it’s lost its shape, and reattach the leaves. It’s safe at this point to use wire again to hold it together, and some florists even recommend using a hot glue gun to permanently attach the leaves and the stems to each other.

Your newly dried bouquet is fragile, so the final step is to spray it with protective coating to preserve it further. Just make sure you always read the guidelines on the product you choose. Most commonly prescribed sprays are;

Dried flower spray – this is a spray that’s specially formulated for dry flowers. Some of these sprays are meant to be used periodically, and some just once. You may purchase this spray online or at florists and gardening centres.

Craft Spray – there’s a variety of clear sprays available for craft projects, and some of them are suitable for dried flowers. Most of the sprays will leave a glossy coating on the flowers, and may also alter the natural scent of the flowers, just as hairspray would.

Hairspray – add a light, even coating to your flowers when they’re completely dry. Please note that this may take away the soft natural scent of your dry flowers.

 

A Wedding Under £1,000

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With wedding dresses alone averaging out at over £1000, is it really possible to plan the perfect wedding under £1,000?!

Given that the average UK wage is just under £28,000 per annum, it’s clear that getting married is an expensive pursuit. Not only that, it’s one that puts many couples in a huge amount of debt, and at a time when life should be a carefree bed of roses.

It may not surprise you that it’s possible to get married without breaking the bank, and it is, in fact, possible to have a perfect wedding day for less than £1000. Being savvy in your choices and concentrating on what really matters can mean you still have the day of your dreams, as well as enjoying a debt-free marriage! Start married life wedding debt-free with a guide to wedding planning for less than £1,000!

1. Do it yourself

You can delegate almost every job to a wedding planner, other than saying ‘I do’ and spending the rest of your life in marital bliss. Save the cost and do it yourself.

2. The Guest List

The idea of a lavish crowd might excite you, but keep it to close friends and family and you’ll be saving thousands of pounds. Aim for a list of 40 for starters and do your best to stick to it.

3. Use the talents of your guests

Do you have a keen photographer, DJ or cake baker amongst your friends and family? Then use them. Although professionals will tell you differently, there’s not an awful lot to baking three wedding cakes and stacking them on top of each other.

4. The Venue

Have a budget, shop around and source your own venue – village halls are a good starting point – then decorate it with the help of friends and family. Go local and save time and money on a wedding car – delegate a friend to drive and glam it up yourself.

5. Food & Drink

Many wedding venues will allow external catering, and buffet food is cheaper. Marry later to avoid serving two meals. And does anyone really want vol-au-vents and finger food, when a massive plate of serve-your-own hot dogs will fill the hungry.

6. The Outfits

Purchase or hire suits from the high street, ask the best man to wear his own and colour co-ordinate with matching ties. High street brands are all jumping on the wedding attire band wagon and offering affordable ranges of wedding and bridesmaid dresses for under £100, and for some of them, no one will be able to tell the difference.

7. The Honeymoon

You’ll be exhausted following your big day, and may just want to sleep and indulge in whatever else newlyweds get up to. Save money on a massive holiday abroad for a time when you can afford it after the wedding.

Essential Costs

  • Detailing essential costs will let you know how much you have left to ‘splash out’ on non-essentials, be these hair, jewellery, flowers, decorations etc.

  • Marriage License & Fees: approx. £150

  • Venue: Village hall hire from £20 per hour x 7 hrs = £140

  • Food & Drink: 40 person self-service buffet catering from £5 per head; buy your own booze for £250 (average 50 bottles of wine or 30 crates of beer)

  • Outfits: Men’s suit from £49; wedding dress from £69

  • Rings: Matching titanium bands from £35

  • Total Essential Costs: £893

  • Budget left for non-essentials: £107

What to scrimp and splurge on

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Your wedding date

Choose a weekday or an off-season date and you might find that everything is that bit cheaper, and that wedding suppliers are more open to offers. We’re not suggesting that you barter, but it might be worth simply asking your preferred suppliers if they offer a reduced rate on your chosen date.

Your wedding venue

The best wedding venues will offer flexible packages, with price ranges to reflect what they can offer. To secure your venue on an exclusive use basis will always attract the highest prices, but what about if you were more flexible in your approach? For example, if you chose to have your wedding reception at your favourite restaurant (which will keep costs down in itself), would you be willing to share the space with normal paying customers? Or perhaps you might consider holding your reception somewhere that is open as usual during the day? If the venue can take bookings as normal, it’s going to keep costs down.

Your guest list

We all know that the big cost of any wedding is in feeding your guests. Your venue will talk about a ‘per head’ cost. There is absolutely no shame in making it clear to everyone from the start (including your parents and anyone else who thinks that they are going to be allocated invitations to give out!) that you are having a small do. Far better to feed fewer guests with an amazing meal that they will remember than lots of guests with food chosen purely because it was the cheapest option. The general rule is that if both of you haven’t met someone, they shouldn’t be on the list, but actually by eliminating big groups like ‘colleagues’ and ‘cousins’ and standing firm on your decision, this will make a huge difference.

Your dress

Your wedding dress is an investment, something that you will look back on for the rest of your life. You need to get it right, and the only way you can do that is by buying from a bona fide bridal boutique. Good boutiques will work with you and your budget to make sure that you are happy and comfortable with your choice, and show you that you don’t have to re-mortgage to get the dress of your dreams.

Your bridesmaids

Do you even need bridesmaids?! Well, yes, of course you do, and it makes sense that you want them to look right, happy and comfortable, too. Bridesmaid dresses are best bought from proper bridal shops too, and there are many options available, but once again, it’s not worth breaking the bank over.

Your wedding flowers

It’s another thing that you need to fork out for, so get a professional who can interpret your style and work with your budget. That said, there are clever ways with flowers… They can be moved, for example – church flowers can appear again in the evening; bridesmaid bouquets can form table centres – the possibilities are endless. You could even enlist the help of the church flower team, or speak to the venue about sharing the costs, maybe with another event or wedding. There are some incredible silk flower options around – it might be that your out-of-season peonies are better value in silk, for example. Talking of peonies, did you know that they are on average five times more expensive than roses? You should always buy wedding flowers that are in season.

Your wedding photographer

Saving money by hiring someone cheap, or by relying on friends who take good photos will not work. We’re sorry, but you simply can’t take a risk, or rely on, anyone else other than a professional wedding photographer who has a wealth of wedding experience. Taking quality photographs of you on your big day is not the same as taking Facebook-worthy selfies.

Your reception

Of course your best budget bet would be to choose a venue that doesn’t need much decoration, or that already has a huge stock of items you can make use of to decorate. Or you might have some friends who are really good at making things, all of which would keep your costs low. Once you have decided on your theme, you can start to stock up – each shopping trip could include candles, or confetti, or fairy lights.

 

Weddings Abroad

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While a destination wedding may be your lifelong dream when planning a wedding, remember without your guests there is no event. Consider travel costs and accessibility from where the majority of your guests will be traveling from when selecting a destination.

Knowledge is power

Ask the hard hitting questions before making a commitment when shopping around for a destination wedding.

Peaks and Valleys

The best time of year to travel to the Caribbean and Mexico is the fall. Room rates are lower and some hotels reduce their wedding package pricing or offer added perks/concessions.

Strength in Numbers

Most hotels will offer reduced rates, incentives and concessions for wedding groups who commit to a minimum number of rooms under contract.

Listen to the Experts

Hotels that are committed to destination weddings will have on-site wedding coordinators. Listen to their advice; who else knows the resort better than they do. They are your eyes and ears during the overseas, long distance planning phase. There’s no added cost to utilize the service and expertise of the resort’s coordinator.

Keep it Local

One of the easiest ways to cut costs is to keep it local. Instead of insisting on midnight blue orchids that have to be imported, use wedding flowers grown locally. Don’t insist on bringing your own vendors. Ask the resort for a list of their trusted vendors and capitalize on the relationships built by the resort with these vendors.

Time is on Your Side

Book at least 9-months in advance for best date selection.  Last minute planning a wedding can result in unexpected costs. Plus, make sure the save-the-dates are in the mail well in advance to allow family and friends time to budget and plan.

Legal is so “Yesteryear”

There is no need to get legally married in the destination you’ve chosen. Take care of the legal paperwork in your home state to save hundreds of dollars on the cost of a legal ceremony in another country. You’ll avoid a variety of other ‘legalities’ such as needing to translate documents and blood tests.

Arrive in Style

Plan on arriving at your destination at least three days prior to the wedding day. Use the extra time at your destination and resort to scope out the place, get to know the staff, and meet with the resort coordinator and vendors.

Don’t Go on Price Alone

Trust in the hotels that are willing to show you their pricing upfront. Every ‘free wedding’ promotion has restrictions and requirements.

 

Be savvy planning your wedding

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Most guests love to see a bit of a handmade touch in weddings, and that’s why there is no surprise about how many people are DIYing their wedding these days…

A survey conducted found that fewer than one fifth of weddings do not feature any do-it-yourself touches, with the vast majority of newlyweds relying on the method to save a bit of money, add that oh-so-special personal touch, and to make sure everything is done the way you want it.

When the newlyweds were asked to reveal which items were made or altered through do-it-yourself means, they found the most common DIY details to be the favours, invitations, and the wedding cake. The more unusual answers included the wedding dress (9%), the music or entertainment (6%), and even conducting the service or ceremony (2%)!

Here are the top 10 DIY details at weddings:

Favours – 41%

Invitations – 38%

Wedding cake – 24%

Venue decorations/styling – 21%

Wedding Photography – 19%

Wedding Flowers – 18%

Catering – 15%

Order of service prints – 14%

Guest book – 13%

Beverages – 11%

 

It’s great to see that so many brides and grooms-to-be are drawing on their own talents, and no doubt those around them, to make their big day their own. It is lovely to be able to make your wedding special and unique to you by having real input into it.

DIY is not for everyone, though, and if you’re starting to feel a little overloaded or panicked, you need to make sure you have time to put your feet up too! It’s okay to get some outside help, but be sure you can trust the suppliers and that they can help you make your dreams a reality.

Wedding design on a budget

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Perfect as favours or place names, why not showcase your talents as we show you how to make these fun felt decorations…

What you need

  • Coloured felt

  • Stuffing (cotton wool balls)

  • Contrasting thread or wool

  • Needle

  • Scissors

  • Pins

  • Card template

Instructions

Pin your heart template to your felt (you can print a paper one from the computer) then cut around the template. Be sure to keep the template tight to the felt for a professional-looking finish.

Put the two felt hearts together and pin in the centre. It’s now time to start stitching, using a blanket stitch. If you are unsure of this stitch, you are sure to find it on You Tube.

For the stuffing we used unravelled cotton wall balls. Stuff as much or little as you like, the more shape the better the finish.

Continue to sew the heart, once at the end, tie a knot with the needle and thread. Snip the ends and you have a beautiful felt heart.

Top Tip

If you wish to use the heart for hanging, pull a piece of thread through one of the stitches, or put wire or a small stick in the bottom of the heart and use as a cake topper or in your wedding flowers,

alternatively scatter loosely on your wedding table for a pretty look.

Mad Hatter Wedding ideas

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Invitations

The maddest guests needn’t be invited, they will simply fall through the rabbit hole and stumble across your party by chance.

 

Dress code

Colourful, bold and avant-garde.

 

Hair code

No one is allowed to have similarities in wedding hair colour or style, other than that, anything goes.

 

Wedding Décor

Matching furniture is forbidden; the more quintessentially Wonderland, the better.

 

Guests

Be specific when choosing your guests based on personality, if they aren’t at least slightly crazy, they won’t fit in.

 

Tea

Earl Grey is the only tea to be served. It needn’t be high quality and can be of any origin, just make sure it’s Early Grey.

 

Sandwiches

There are three sandwiches which are appropriate for a Mad Hatters Tea Party; minted cucumber, egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, and smoked salmon and cream cheese. Cutting your sandwiches into heart shapes is cute, but would Alice approve of your allegiance to the Queen of Hearts?

 

The Chelsea Bun

The Chelsea bun is known predominantly for throwing, so get involved, it’s what Tea Parties are made for.

 

Shortbread

Height should not be discriminated against; therefore, shortbread is totally acceptable at the tea table.

 

Floristry

Wedding flowers perfection should be avoided at all costs. If you have a budget for plants, stick to twigs, decaying leaves and fungi.

 

Hospitality

Being hospitable is essential. This can be achieved through planning a range of unrecognisable party games.

 

Weather

If you’re worried about being outside and it raining, it doesn’t matter too much as the best Mad Hatters Tea Parties are set in very little sunlight. For big budget tea parties, rain and mist machines are encouraged.

 

Seating

If you can’t get bums on seats, bums on anything is fine. Stools, shelves, giant mushrooms; anything goes.

 

Cheshire cat

One ginger cat is required as ‘purr’ its Cheshire heritage.

 

Timekeeping

This is banned as there is no time in wonderland. However, we would only suggest this tip as optional as if adhered to it can cause havoc, after all, you don’t want your guests to be late for this very important date.

When a loved one can’t make it

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Of course it’ll be the happiest day of your life, with the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, surrounded by the people you love the most. But during this special day you’re allowed to feel a little bit sad, as you remember your nearest and dearest who can’t share the celebrations with you.

You want them to be a part of your day, not to detract from the spirit of it. Some brides have photos tied with a ribbon to their wedding bouquet, or hear stories about emotional speeches made by the bride. You don’t have to make a big statement if it’s going to turn you into a blubbering wreck, there are lots of more subtle but equally poignant ways to remember loved ones who have passed away…

Dedicate a reading

Why not have a close family member dedicate a special reading to lost loved ones? Personally, we like this poem by an unknown author…

If Roses Grow in Heaven

If Roses grow in Heaven,

Lord please pick a bunch for me,

Place them in my Mother’s arms

And tell her they’re from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her,

And when she turns to smile,

Place a kiss upon her cheek

And hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her is easy,

I do it every day,

But there’s an ache within my heart

Because I am missing her today.

This poem is good for anyone else who you want to remember on your big day…

Someone is missing

Let this candle be a loving reminder

that someone is missing today,

Someone our hearts still hold on to,

As we travel along life’s way.

Someone who made life so special,

for all those who gather here,

Someone who won’t be forgotten,

But cherished from year to year.

And now as we pause to remember,

Let us all fondly recall,

how dearly each of us loved him,

and oh… how he loved us all!

 

The final countdown

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Planning a wedding is not easy but we thought that this 12-month handy planner maybe just the job to ensure you are organised for the big day;

12 months to go…

Have the budget conversation with your fiancé and your parents?

  • Fix a date and time

  • Decide on guest numbers

  • Visit reception venues and book one as soon as possible

  • Buy wedding insurance

11 months to go…

Send save-the-dates

  • Book your wedding photographer and videographer (Make sure the church or wedding venue allows photos and videos to be shot!)

  • Book the caterer, DJ and/or band

  • Make appointments to try on wedding dresses

 

10 months to go…

  • Choose your guests – bridesmaids, ushers and best man etc.

  • Decide on your wedding dress (allow at least six months for a made-to-measure dress to be delivered)

  • Choose and order your bridesmaid’s dress.

  • Start thinking about a honeymoon, including the costs, season and flights

 

9 months to go…

  • Find a wedding florist and discuss your flowers, including buttonholes, bouquets and arrangements for the church and reception venue

  • Taste and confirm your menu and drinks with your caterer

  • Choose and order your bridesmaid outfits

 

8 months to go…

  • If you’re getting married in a church, discuss readings with the minister or priest and music with the musicians

  • If it’s a civil ceremony, enquire about what readings and music are permitted

  • Order invitations and envelopes (allow one invitation per married couple or family), plus place cards, menus and a seating plan

 

7 months to go…

Book transport to the wedding venue and on to the reception for you and your bridal party (as well as a car to take you to your first-night hotel or the airport)

Order your wedding cake

Choose and order wedding favours

6 months to go…

  • Remind your fiancé to get his and the usher’s outfits

  • Choose gifts for the wedding party

  • Pick your wedding rings

  • Confirm the order of service with your priest or registrar, and then have guest booklets printed. If you have a choir, they need copies, too

5 months to go…

  • Go honeymoon shopping (Remember summer clothes aren’t easy to find in the winter and vice versa!)

  • Book a hairdresser and style consultation (do this earlier if you’re planning to grow your hair)

  • Book your make-up artist and trial appointments

4 months to go…

  • If you’re changing your name, renew your passport now or do it after you have your honeymoon. The officiating minister or registrar will sign the form

  • Find out if you need visas or inoculations for your honeymoon.

  • Discuss hen and stag night plans with your friends.

3 months to go…

  • Pick a company and start gift-list window shopping!

  • Book for a colour (if you get your hair coloured) and a trim

  • Organise a rehearsal and inform those who will need to be there

  • Attend a reading of the banns, if you’ll marry in a church

2 months to go…

  • Send out invitations six weeks before the day and keep a list of acceptances

  • Check that your fiancé has organised the rings, his wedding clothes, and your first-night hotel

  • Try on your whole wedding outfit, including headdress, shoes and underwear. Forgotten anything? Get it!

  • Book any other beauty treatments (nails, fake tans, etc.)

 

1 month to go…

  • Confirm numbers with caterers and do the seating plan

  • Discuss special requests with your band or DJ

  • Order honeymoon currency and traveller’s cheques

  • Visit the hairdresser to try out hairstyles with your veil and tiara, and have your final cut and colour

  • Have your hen and stag nights – after all that running around, it’s time to party!