Category Archives: Ideas

Relax at your Wedding

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When planning a wedding you’ve spent hours, crafting and revelling, and the fact that you get to marry the person of your dreams. But guess what? When your wedding day finally arrives, all of your plans are going to be set in motion, and it is time for you to sit back and enjoy! Sadly, not everyone gets to do this for one reason or another… but if you adhere to the following things, you WILL get to fully enjoy the entire experience of your wedding day:

  1. Turn off your phone.

Or at least only answer your planner’s calls. Live in the moment. Your wedding day will pass by so fast- you don’t want to regret spending it on your phone. Plus, if you’ve hired someone to help manage your day, there is no reason you need to be directing people or making calls on what needs to get done. Direct everyone to your planner, but also friends and family- so you can enjoy your wedding day!

  1. Limit your activities on the morning of your wedding.

Want to get a morning session of yoga in? Get in your workout? Great. But don’t plan an activity that doesn’t fall within your normal routine. You don’t want to end up sore from a 7-mile bike ride that you wouldn’t normally do on any other day. Or you don’t want be late for the rest of your day because you decided to go get pedicures on your wedding day. Getting ready on your wedding day will take time, so enjoy it. There is also no need to add any stress of completing tasks before the wedding, so make sure you have all your projects done! Be smart and be reasonable with yourself and make sure you’re not overdoing anything.

  1. Eat and stay hydrated.

Seems like a no brainer but not eating and drinking water can ruin your wedding day. Staying hydrated will help your skin glow in your pictures. And in case you need US to mention the obvious… staying hydrated will also hopefully prevent you from over-drinking and getting sloppy from too much Champagne in the morning!

  1. Trust your vendors.

When organising a Wedding you spend tireless time researching, vetting, studying, interviewing, and choosing your vendors. So, you should definitely feel confident in them by now. You have been working with them side-by-side to plan this big day, so why stop trusting that they will do the best job for you on your wedding day? Give them space and have confidence they’ll handle everything for you.

So with all of this said… RELAX! Your wedding day will go smoothly with your team of highly experienced professionals. No need to worry about the tablecloth colour or whether it will rain.

 

The evening reception

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The evening wedding reception can be so important as this is when everybody comes together to really celebrate your big day. This is the moment where you can bring in your wider group of friends who maybe haven’t been part of the day as a whole, work colleagues, family members who are maybe more on the periphery, and really throw a party to remember!

Now there are many reasons why you would want to do this at your wedding. Of course it’s going to be a lot of fun for you and your guests and is a great way to end the night. However, one of the overlooked aspects of this is the importance of really making your mark and having that incredible defining moment for everyone to witness!

Live Music

Having a big party at the end of the night is a great statement and will really imprint a memory for your guests so they will never forget you or your celebration. To get the party started there are many styles of wedding entertainment you can look at depending on what atmosphere you want to create. At the very least there has to be music of some kind! Whether that’s via a professional DJ, a jazz band, a party band… there needs to be something there that people can enjoy listening to and dancing to.

Children’s Entertainment

Further to this, if you know that there will be plenty of children at the evening reception it can be a good idea to have something in the early part of the night to keep them entertained. Whether this is a face painter, a balloon modeller or something along those lines, it can be really helpful to have some children’s entertainment so your guests can mingle and chat amongst themselves. After all, there may be a few who haven’t seen each other in a while and could do with a good catch up!

Break The Ice

On the other hand, there may be guests who have never met each other before and it can be really helpful to hire some kind of wedding entertainment that will help break the ice and set the tone for a great party as the night goes on. Entertainers such as magicians and caricaturists can be really useful for this as they create a buzz. They get a small crowd involved and watching that gets people laughing together and helps them get acquainted.

Get Unique

There are also more unique ideas available that work really well such as fire performers, dancers, paparazzi photographers, LED musicians, celebrity lookalikes… anything really that fits your theme or that you feel will give everyone a party to remember. This is your chance to push the boat out and really end your wedding in style! Don’t be afraid to go for something a little different that people may not have seen before, a little bravery when booking and thinking outside the box can go an awful long way.

Dance floor tips

One of the biggest worries that couples have at this part of the day is if the dance floor is going to be full or not! But fear not, here are some tips and things to consider that will ensure your dance floor will be packed.

 

  • Book the right size band for the venue. You don’t want an acoustic duo on a massive stage, and in the same way a 12 piece band on a tiny stage!
  • Make sure you have designated dance floor. This sounds super obvious but you need to make it clear to guests where the dancing will occur! Also the size of the dance floor is important. Nothing too big to scare guests away!
  • If possible, have the bar in the same room. This goes a really long way as people will be back and forth grabbing drinks and can easily find their way back to the dancefloor!
  • Keep the lights low and watch the mayhem unfold. The brighter the lights on the dance floor, the more guests tend to stay away out of fear of being seen throwing crazy shapes!
  • Check your band’s setlist and see if the song choices are a good mix for everyone to sing along and get involved.
  • Lastly you need to lead by example! If you really want a full dance floor then round a couple of your best friends and drag them up there. Even recruit your own dancing posse of friends to help coerce people up! It’s guaranteed that once you get the ball rolling, there will have been plenty of others chomping at the bit ready to get up and cut some rug themselves! They just need that little nudge to not be the first…

We hope you manage to celebrate in style in with bags of fun, and booking the right wedding entertainment will really help to end your wedding with a bang!

 

A stress free affair

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As far as big life events go, marriage is often touted as one of the most stressful.  When planning a wedding it take alot of time and patience. It’s a once in a lifetime thing so it’s only natural to feel some weight on your shoulders during this time.

Whether it’s during the arduous planning stages or the task of keeping up appearances on the day, there’s a lot to think about.

When it comes to initially booking your wedding entertainment or live band it can seem a little overwhelming with so much choice and information to take in.

In a stressful time you need helpful and stress free people – which is exactly what the entertainment experts at Red Masque can recommend. With all the other stresses that go hand in hand when planning a wedding, why worry about your entertainment when someone else can take the pressure off you?

Hire a wedding organiser.

Wedding planning is an easy process is. Not only that, you’ll feel safe in the knowledge that you have booked a professional and an experienced act that you can trust. This is huge in controlling your stress levels on your wedding day! An act or band of this calibre are well versed in performing at weddings just like yours and are prepared for any eventuality.

Guest Babysitting

Consider the general mood and atmosphere on your day and how you can manipulate this at key times. Bored guests get fidgety and frustrated easily. This happens most often during the drinks reception which is a common lull. Why not get your entertainment to ‘babysit’ your guests whilst you’re away taking photos? Doing this means you don’t have to worry about your guests well-being in your absence. Acts like magicians and caricaturists are perfect for this and are sociable enough to be able to keep everyone happy!

When Things Don’t Go To Plan…

Anyone who has been involved in the planning of any wedding will know that for a wedding to go 100% to plan is unheard of. Entertainment is perfect for covering up any cracks or mishaps throughout the day that you might not expect. Minor hiccups that could have initially been a big deal are all of a sudden completely brushed off and forgotten about once everyone is smiling and having fun.

Toastmasters

Now if we’re talking about displacing stress on your wedding day, it’s about time that we mentioned the hero that we all need and deserve. Toastmasters. They will ensure a smooth and efficient running of your day, co-ordinating all elements of the day. This way you can relax entirely, knowing that your big day is in the safest of hands.

So it seems after all that it is possible to have a stress-free wedding. We wish you all the best of luck and remember to relax and take some time to enjoy your big day.

 

Reasons to hire a photo booth

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The Wedding Photographer Can’t Photo Everyone

A great reason to hire a photo booth for an evening and one of the main points as to why it’s a must have at your wedding is because wedding photographers simply can’t photograph everybody in attendance. Some don’t like to be photographed for whatever reason whilst others might just keep missing the photographer as they come round. With a photo booth though, you can rest assured that you’ll have at least one snap of your guests to enjoy. Sure, they’ll probably be sporting ridiculous fluorescent glasses or have a random bowling pin in their hand, but at least you’ll have a photo!

Memories forever.

Perhaps the number one reason for having a photo booth at your wedding (and in fact, the number one reason for doing anything at all in life) is the happy memories that it creates. Not only do wedding guests create photos for your guest book but they receive a strip of their photos as well. They could even send a digital copy to their email address if they so desire. So many people will see these photos over the next few years and so many people will ask questions as to where it was taken. Your wedding will live long in the memory thanks to just a few photos taken at a photo booth. They really are a wonderful addition to your wedding day.

They’re Great Fun

It seems like an obvious thing to state when hiring wedding entertainment – all of it is fun! – but a photo booth will give you more fun than many other forms of entertainment through the sheer amount of silliness and laughter you’ll hear coming from the booth over the course of your wedding evening. It’s not a singular activity and people tend to visit the booth in large groups for a photo. Upon seeing the props available for their snap, even the most camera shy love to get involved as you take your four photos. And that fun and laughter we mentioned? It keeps other people at your wedding interested in the booth as well.

The Guest Book

Perhaps the main reason to have a photo booth at your wedding is for the guest book that comes with it. Once your wedding is over and upon return from your honeymoon, you’ll finally be able to have a look through your photo booth guest book and take in the photos. If pressed to write a message, many guests might struggle to know what to say but when delivered in the form of a photo that can be captioned, you’ll find some truly lovely thoughts from your nearest and dearest. Friends and family alike will have contribute to a unique wedding gift that you can treasure for the rest of your lives.

That special dance

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There are a number of traditional moments on a wedding day. There’s walking down the aisle, the speeches, kissing the bride and many, many more. It’s fair to say that there is a lot to remember and that is never more true than with the first dance. Since all eyes are on you, here are our top tips to ensure your wedding dance goes without a hitch.

Take some dance lessons

You might not be the one to rush to the dance floor in a nightclub and you may not own a pair of dancing shoes, but at least attend a couple of sessions to get the basics. You might not become Michael Flatley overnight but you we think you’ll definitely pick up enough knowledge to not only scrape through the first round of Strictly, but also wow your guests!

Practice, practice, practice..

When doing the dishes, run through your steps. When out for a walk, practice your steps. When on the way to work, ponder through the movements in your mind. There’s nothing better than practicing your dance to ensure that it will be perfect on the day and if you’re lucky, the wedding venue might even allow you both in to see how much space you’ll have!

Pick something that’s danceable

It goes without saying that you should be sure to pick a song that is special to the two of you. Not only that but you also need to ensure that the lyrics are okay. Most important however, is making sure the song you pick is danceable. You might love heavy metal, but it doesn’t make for a good first dance wedding song. Here are the most popular ones and most come under three minutes and have a melodic tune. Take note and you should be fine!

Tell the wedding entertainment

If you have a live band rather than a DJ, it’s fair to assume the wedding band will be the ones playing your song on the day. You might not get a chance to rehearse with them, so do make sure that the song they’re learning is the version that you’re hoping to hear on the day. Many songs have numerous covers and it’d be terrible if they’ve learned the wrong one!

…And practice on the day

It’s all very well practicing from the comfort of your own home but we all know about nerves! Considering you might be performing your first dance in front of well over fifty people (and that would be on the small side), you might wish to run through it with your partner on the actual day. Can’t think of time when you’ll be alone? A wedding photographer is sure to allow you a couple of minutes to practice whilst waiting for the perfect shot.

Wear the right shoes

There’s no point practicing the dance in your slippers if you’re not going to be wearing them on the day. Unless you’re planning a sleepover themed wedding, we suspect you’ll be wearing some nice high heels or a smooth pair of black brogues. The thing about both these forms of footwear is they don’t tend to have a lot of grip… So make sure you’ve worn them during some of your rehearsals; nobody wants to fall over during their first dance!

 

Should I buy a hat?

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When planning a wedding outfit, stylish, dramatic and beautiful, fascinators are becoming a must-have addition to any look, and, for the modern wedding guest they are a stunning addition to this season’s trends. So what are your options? Here are some top tips to help you find the perfect fascinator.

Large, colourful hats have traditionally always been the desired choice for a mother of the bride or groom. A trend resulting in nothing less than a huge hat-off between wedding guests determined to impress with stunning headwear. Thank goodness then that the current trends have seen the fascinator come into its own.

What is a fascinator?

A dramatic headpiece often made from feathers, fabric, beads or flowers, attached to a headband or comb. They come in a huge range of shades and colours and tend to cost less than more traditional forms of headwear. You’ll find styles and shapes to suit every face shape or hair style.

Where to start?

A bigger shop is more likely to have a wide range of styles to choose from and it’s a good idea to take a swatch of your outfit along to match colours as well as possible.

Debenhams and Selfridges.

Online stores are a fantastic starting point and if you are willing to take a risk you may even pick up a bargain on e-bay. However, it’s always nicer and less risky to try before you buy.

Go with a trusted friend and a digital camera so that you can try on lots of different styles and then have some thinking time before deciding what looks best.

Think about your hairstyle and how your chosen fascinator will complement your hairstyle and colour.

Bespoke or budget?

If you have the budget then go for a bespoke fascinator, a made-to-order piece in your chosen style and colour. Alternatively search for one-off creations in smaller boutiques and shops.

Happy headwear hunting!

 

Bridal shower planning

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The big day is almost here and things can get a little stressful and hectic. Planning a wedding can take up months of a bride’s life and can leave her feeling more relief to get the day over with than excitement for the day to come. Because of this, it is important for the bride to take a day off. A day to relax, eat cake, spend time with friends and family, play games and receive some gifts. Throwing a great bridal shower will be just what the bride needs to regain some of her sanity after months of wedding planning.

Plan Ahead

Usually the maid of honour, bridesmaid, mother or sister will be responsible for throwing the bride her bridal shower. It does not all have to fall on one person though. It is actually a good idea to have two or three people assist in the planning and covering costs. You should allow yourself about 6-8 weeks to plan the shower. Some of the first things you need to work out: What kind of party will this be? Formal or casual? Where will it be hosted? Your home, someone else’s home, a restaurant, a park, etc.? Will there be a theme? Sometimes it can be fun to have a wedding gift theme; such as, lingerie, travel items or kitchen ware. Once you have these basics nailed down, send out the invitations as quickly as possible. Purchase generic ones and fill them out or have specialty invitations printed that match the theme or colours you have chosen. This is a special day to be shared with people that are special to the bride, so have her help with the guest list.

Primarily, bridal showers are about both relaxing and getting gifts that are both fun and useful for the bride and groom. However, it is also important that everyone, both the bride and the guests, have a lot of fun. The most popular form of wedding entertainment for a bridal shower are games.

There are lots of resources online with lists and lists of different games to play. It’s important to choose games that match your bride’s personality. If she’s a shy person by nature, don’t pick the games that will embarrass her and make her uncomfortable. If the bride does not want games at all and wants the shower to be more of a party, then book entertainment. For a larger party, you might want to hire a jazz band classical ensemble or strolling violinist to provide background music as your guests mingle. It would also be interesting to hire an impersonator of one of the bride’s favourite celebrities for a meet and greet and to take photos with the guests. If the location for the shower is appropriate for it, perhaps you could hire a comedian or hypnotist to put on a short show for the guests.

 

Late night venue ideas

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Chilston Park Hotel

Dating back to the 17th Century, Chilston park is the ultimate in countryside luxury. Surrounded by 23 acres of private grounds and lakes and with luxurious furnishings, open-fires and candlelight, it makes for a truly romantic backdrop to your day. Their late license is until 1am.

The Refinery

Tucked away from the bustling Euston Road, this urban-luxe venue overlooks the peaceful Regent’s Place. With no venue fees and purely a minimum spend, the fact this venue has a late license until 1.30am is the cherry on top.

Cripps Barn

This rustic old barn made of the gorgeous old Cotswold stone is a real feast for the eyes, perfect for a laid-back wedding venue. Set in the countryside near Bidbury, it has flag stone floors, an open fireplace and a large South-facing terrace with fire pits and a bonfire in the garden. Their late license means the bar stays open until 1am.

Lains Barn

Lains barn is the perfect location for a rural Oxfordshire wedding, with enough space for you to hold both your ceremony and reception in one place. The best thing about this self-contained wedding venue is that the bar is open until 2am so you can really make the most of the wonderful setting.

Fulham Palace

Set in the heart of acres of botanical gardens, Fulham Palace is an enchanting historical venue. It is an all encompassing venue, providing you as a couple with both a stunning private chapel, rooms for civil services and plenty of space for your reception too. This lovely venue has a late license of 2am.

 

Dogs at weddings

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Before issuing your dog with their very own gold embossed invite, there are a few things you need to consider about whether it will realistically work for you. So here are our best advice on how to master including your dog in your wedding day and ensure everything runs smoothly.

  • Get authorisation from the wedding venue – A lot of wedding venues can be quite anti pets, so it is crucial you check that they are actually allowed at your venue. If you need to put in a special request to have your furry friend there on the day, then you will need to give them enough prior warning to make the decision. They may wish to see the temperament of your dog so be prepared to visit the venue with your pet in tow.

 

  • Practice makes perfect – Whilst you may well be practicing your own walk down the aisle prior to the wedding, get your dog involved and ensure you’ve trained them up to know what they will be doing on the day. Whether than be a starring role down the aisle or just getting their general obedience around other people tip top, make sure you squeeze in a bit of training where you can.

 

  • Let your wedding photographer know – Your photographer will be wanting to capture lots of lovely moments of you with your dog at the wedding, so the more notice you are able to give them the better. Additionally, if your pet is acting as your ring bearer ,you will need to notify the photographer of this so they can ensure they’re primed and ready to capture it.

 

  • Think about your dog’s natural character – Is your dog quiet and obedient or loud and excitable? How do they react to large crowds and new people? Really have a good think about the various circumstances that may arise at your wedding day and how your  furry friend will deal with them based on past experiences.

 

  • Hire a Petsitter – If you have a pet sitter to hand, it’ll take a real weight off your mind about who will be looking after the dog on the day. Not only will you and your family be able to relax, but it will also mean your pet is getting the attention it needs throughout the day.

 

  • Safety first – As cute as your dog may look in his little bow tie and tux combo, make sure they are happy and not at a safety risk. If possible, allow your pet to wear the outfit around the house prior to the wedding to ensure they are happy wearing it for an extended period of time.

 

  • Give advance warning – Make it known to your guests that your pup will be in attendance in case anyone needs to flag up that they have allergies. If this does happen to be the case, then make the necessary amendments to ensure you keep everyone happy.

 

Being a Bride isn’t always easy

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So you’ve bagged a hunk and a sparkly ring, and being a bride is the best thing ever but it doesn’t mean it’s not hard work. There’s a whole ton of stress, drama and tears that come with it!

Married friend syndrome

When your recently-married friend is a self-proclaimed wedding expert and knows EVERYTHING there is to know. “You need this… You need that” – just because she’s planned her own wedding! Believe it or not, you want a unique wedding day not a replica of theirs. Try to keep others opinions to a minimum by not opening the elements of your day up for discussion.

Your mum is TOO helpful

Your mum just wants to help, and of course you appreciate that. But whether it’s writing the guest list, finding a wedding venue or what type of wedding flowers you choose, she just can’t stop offering advice on what ‘she would do’. For the super enthusiastic Mother of the bride, you may appreciate OUR guide to managing the endless opinions and without falling out with your mum!

The dreaded monster-in-law

Why does she need to wear an expensive white dress on the most important day of your life? Is she trying to upstage you?! Just make sure expectations or outfit preferences on YOUR big day are expressed early on in wedding planning to avoid any disappointment on both parts! Keep calm and discuss with them your plans in advance and everyone is happy! Just try not to say these things out of frustration…

The insignificant details

By this point you’re so exhausted from the wedding planning process that you’re no longer bothered about what colour the napkins are, or if your second cousin can bring a plus one. When it gets to this point – time to have a weekend off. Make sure you switch off from planning a wedding mode for a couple of days every so often.

It’s an emotional roller-coaster and you probably deserve an award. But don’t worry – it’ll be totally worth it and you’re going to marry the love of your life!