Category Archives: Ideas

Perfect pictures to capture

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You won’t want to forget moments of your Wedding (only of course Uncle Jimmy passing out from one too many!!) So here is a list of photographic ‘must haves’ throughout the day.

  • Before the ceremony

  • Shots of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready

  • The bride and father in the car

  • The groom preparing

  • Wedding dress hanging on a beautiful hanger

  • Wedding Shoes

  • Groom waiting (nervously!) outside venue

  • Shot of the bridesmaids

  • During the ceremony

  • The bride’s grand entrance

  • The guests’ faces on seeing the bride

  • The groom waiting at the altar

  • The ring exchange

  • The kiss

  • Register signing

  • Bride and groom leaving

  • A confetti shot

  • It’s traditional to have photographs of:

  • Bride, groom, best man and ushers

  • Bride, groom, and both sets of parents

  • Bride and groom as new couple

  • Bride and groom with bridesmaids

  • Bride and groom with brothers and sisters

  • Bride and groom with grandparents

  • Bride and her mother

  • Groom and his father

  • Bride and groom with friends

  • Whole bridal party and guests

Reception

  • The decorated room and table plan before the guests arrive

  • Bride and groom entering

  • Speeches

  • Cake cutting

  • First dance of the bride and groom

Of course, you can add to and amend this wedding photography checklist however you want. But these are the classic images to build around. Enjoy your big day!

Things don’t always go as planned

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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, but that doesn’t mean that things always go smoothly and as planned…

Enjoy the wedding morning

Getting ready on the morning of the wedding is bound to be stressful, but make sure you take time to relax and enjoy it with a glass of champers! It’s the one time you’ll be pampered within an inch of your life so sit back and look forward to what is to come…

Don’t go hungry

Couples actually forget to eat during their wedding day! You’ll be super busy greeting and thanking guests, that you might not have time to eat the delicious wedding breakfast you spent all that money on. Make sure you allow you and your hubby time to sit down and enjoy the meal.

Beauty trials

Always make sure you have a hair and makeup trial before your wedding morning. There would be nothing more stressful than hating your hair and makeup whilst knowing it’s too late to change it. We recommend having at least 2 trials before your big day to make sure it’s perfect!

Book a DJ

A lot of couples try to save money on wedding entertainment, and rather than booking a decent DJ they create a playlist on their iPod. Yes, this does save a ton of money but a good DJ will make sure all of your guests get up on the dance floor for a groove!

Comfort over style

Even though those glitzy stilettos may look gorgeous, will you last in them all day? If you’re opting for high heels for the ceremony, make sure you bring flats along too! Many brides end up in pain towards the end of the day due to their heels. We all know the feeling, so if you want to enjoy every second of your special day, sometimes being comfy is best!

Alternatives to the traditional guest book

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Puzzle pieces

We love this fun puzzle idea. Your guests write a message on the back of the wooden jigsaw pieces and then you fit them together after the big day and create a wonderful, original work of art to display long after the big day. Just make sure you ask guests to write their messages before the drinks start flowing!

Celebration Tree

Let your guests design an original work of art for you to treasure and admire in your home for years to come with the Celebration Tree! Your friends and family simply ‘leaf’ their fingerprint onto a chosen branch. They can sign the leaf if you wish but celebration tree also offer a self-adhesive signature plate that you can stick to the back of the frame picture if you wish.

Vintage typewriter

Your guests type a message on the long scroll of paper set up on the old vintage typewriter. Hear the clunking of the keys and again another fun interactive way to engage with your guests. Great nostalgic idea and will make a wonderful table piece. If you can’t borrow – or you don’t want to buy – a vintage typewriter just for one day, how about hiring one?

Wishing well cards

Wishing well cards are a fun alternative to traditional wedding guest books. The pretty bird designs work especially well if you’re planning an outdoor or nature-inspired celebration. Your guests simply write their good luck messages, or their advice for the future, and then mail them into a beautiful birdcage. There are lots of colour options available, too, so you can easily find the one that works well with your theme.

Wooden hearts

This idea is so romantic! Ask your guests to sign their love on a wooden heart keepsake that you can keep in your treasure chest to look over on your anniversary. You could even make these wooden hearts your inspiration for your whole wedding theme, and offer heart favours and incorporate a heart onto your thank you cards.

Garden party wedding

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One of the biggest wedding theme trends last year was ‘garden party’, but this year’s brides are set to combine this elegant theme with rustic country details. With these top tips, you can make this ever-evolving theme personal to you.

Outdoor venue

To hold an authentic country garden wedding theme you usually need one of three types of wedding venues – a country barn with fairy lights wrapped around the beams, a marquee reception with hay bales for seating, or a quintessentially English manor house with beautiful gardens filled with blooms where you could set up garden games for your guests to enjoy.

Tea and cake

What’s a country garden party without high tea? Instead of a traditional dessert, put a tiered cake stand on each table filled with scones, muffins and cupcake so guests can help themselves, with a pot of tea and coffee on hand to wash it down. Why not stir up a little competitive spirit among your guests and have a Great Wedding Bake-Off?

Set up a table in the marquee and ask guests to bring their homemade goodies. The bride and groom can then present first, second and third prize before cutting their own wedding cake.

Pastel perfection

From the details through to the bridesmaid dresses floral prints and pastel shades are best suited to a country garden theme.

The best floral prints for this theme are pansies, daisies and roses. Think pink, lavender, turquoise and lemon for perfectly pretty girls. Keep shoes nude and hair accessories minimal – flower headbands, perhaps?

The little details

It’s the little details your guests will notice, so consider some of these country inspired ideas… Handpicked flowers for the wedding bouquets and centrepieces, raffia-tied jam jar favours filled with mini eggs and handmade bunting with Cath Kidston-style material spread all around the venue.

Searching for cheap and cheerful favour ideas? How about attaching a place card to a shiny green apple, or laying a sprig of lavender on your napkins?

Boho bride

For a country look, consider a short or tea-length wedding dress, and for a bit of fun, add a coloured underskirt with matching shoes! Put real flowers in your hair and accessorise with pearls – the chunkier the pearls, the more modern the look.

Make sure you have some wedding wellies on hand for your outdoor reception, as well as some white umbrellas should you need to shelter guests at any point.

Country stationery

Textured stationery with a DIY feel will work really well with this theme. Raffia, cotton or button embellishments are great.

Arrive in style

Instead of a traditional vintage car, consider something a little more authentic, like a tractor! Just make sure you give it a good clean beforehand or you could end up with a muddy dress!

Country garden brides may want to take advantage of the (hopefully) good summer weather and walk to their ceremony – the ultimate eco-friendly way to arrive at your ceremony or reception.

Country entertainment

The obvious answer here is country music, maybe a live folk band for the evening? This type of fun upbeat entertainment will appeal to all ages and will certainly get everyone on their feet.

Winter Weddings

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for a wedding! If everyone comes together at this time of year, so why not make the most of it and celebrate your nuptials, too?

First off, let’s think about winter colours – if you want to avoid the traditional greens and reds associated with the season, then there are loads of modern winter options for you to consider. Purple calla lilies are a sophisticated choice, and you won’t need many of them to create an impact. Talk to your florist about what will work for you.

If you’re having a late afternoon wedding then it’s going to get dark early, so why not dress your bridesmaids in deep jewel tones that will look great in the evening? Plums and aubergines are a beautiful option in cosy, low lighting. For bridesmaids gifts you could gift them a contrasting pashmina to snuggle into. Remember that shoes don’t have to match– in fact it’s better and more on trend if they offer a pop of colour. If you feel like being minimal, then just having white and silver for your colour scheme makes a perfect winter theme. You could dress your maids in winter white and accessorise with silver and diamante earrings, bracelets or belts.

We think a beautifully decor is an absolute must at both your ceremony and your wedding venue. Use the wedding colours you’ve chosen for your decorations. Whites, silvers, golds and berry shades are classic and chic, while bright jewel shades of turquoise, emerald, ruby and amethyst will also look wonderful.

In the winter season it’s the best time of year to splash out on great food and drink, so serve your guests a winter feast! You could offer your guests mulled wine and hot spiced apple juice as they arrive at your reception, with mini sausages to nibble on.

Most people love a roast – and it doesn’t have to be turkey. If you’re having a buffet you could serve up the main course carvery style, so as well as the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, you could offer a large ham and a vegetarian option. For dessert, the options are endless.

Have a chill-out room to keep the kids entertained and play winter-themed DVDs – we’re thinking Polar Express, The Snowman, and The Grinch. This will leave you and your grown-up guests free to enjoy your amazing wedding day.

Save money on your big day

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It’s easier than you think to save money on your big day. Here’s the first part with those easy peasy ways to keep to your budget during the wedding planning process…

Set yourself a budget

It’s essential to have a clear idea of what you can and can’t afford before you even begin any planning. With a strict, set budget you’ll be able to keep track of where your money’s going and you won’t end up overspending!

Prioritise

Before you start planning a wedding, think about what’s most important to your on the day. Plan to splurge only on the things that are really meaningful to you and your h2b, and save on everything else.

Simplify

It’s important that your day reflects you. Don’t try to plan an extravagant wedding if you don’t have the funds! Simple, elegant weddings can still be perfect and you won’t blow the budget. Remember – your wedding day is about sharing and showing your love for your partner, not showing off.

Shop around

Don’t rush into buying anything as soon as you’re engaged. Dress shopping is definitely a planning highlight, and it’s so easy to get carried away and end up buying the first dress you fall in love with. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the best offers and get an idea of different styles that are available. Likewise, get several quotes to make sure you’re getting the best price and research carefully so you don’t end up being overcharged.

Hunt for bargains

You don’t have to splash out on a designer gown if you don’t have the money. The high street has a great selection of wedding gowns and if you search vintage shops you may discover quirky and original finds for a fraction of the price.

Let your bridesmaids wear their own dresses

It can be a nightmare finding bridesmaid dresses that your girls all agree on. If you let your maids choose their own, not only will you cut out any dress shopping drama, but they’re also more likely to foot the bill at the end!

Create a salon at home!

You can still look and feel fab if you do your own hair and make-up. While getting styled by the professionals is a definite luxury on the day, if you’re used to doing your own make up, you’ll still be able to create a natural, beautiful look as well as saving money.

Just remember that it’s important to practise a few different styles before the big day to avoid any beauty mishaps! Why not book an appointment with a beauty consultant in a department store or go to a masterclass as part of your hen do?

Wedding doesn’t have to be conventional

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If you are not a conventional couple and you don’t want to go by the book of how a Wedding should pan out for the day, why not incorporate your personality into planning your wedding day and have fun!!

1. Walk Down Memory Lane

Make the guest feel like integral parts of the day by incorporating them into the décor — in a gallery of meaningful photos. Why not hang pictures of the bride and groom with friends and family along the walk from the ceremony to the reception. It’s a fun cocktail party conversation starter. As guests take a leisurely stroll and find pictures of themselves with you, they can reminisce and socialize.

2. Break the Ice Creatively

When you enter your reception for the first time as husband and wife, don’t just take a conventional arm-in-arm stroll. Run. Skip. Dance. Swoop in on a rope swing! Brainstorm with your groom about the most creative, appropriate way to make a big impression. This is a great way to break the ice and set up for a fun vibe for the rest of the event.

3. Play Party Games

How about the menus being puzzles, so each person got one piece of the puzzle at their place setting, then everyone had to put the pieces together to get the full menu description. Crossword puzzles are fun for the back of a program or if you have guests going on a long bus ride to get to the reception venue.

4. Be Entertaining

Guests always love the energy of a live band but tend to want to hear the original artist sing their favourite tunes. As a compromise, a bride may hire a dance band but also play DJ music during the breaks, or she’ll arrange to have live music during some parts of the event and recorded music during others.

5. Surprise them!

Love poems from a book makes a wonderful, lasting guest favour that’s much more meaningful that a bag of sugared almonds! If you buy in bulk, you might get a discount — contact your bookseller directly. And don’t forget to add a personalized bookmark thanking your friends and family for sharing your big day with you.

How to get great photo’s at your Wedding

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While there is a place for staged shots that look exactly that and the obligatory group photograph, there is also plenty of opportunity to make your group photographs more natural and fun!

As couples continue to break from tradition in almost every element of their wedding days, here are five ways to do it with your group photographs…

GET MOVING

Whether you walk, run or jump, moving while your photograph is being taken will help you to feel more natural and relaxed. Rather than holding a rigid smile and pose, you’ll have something else to distract you with, so, even if you’re jumping on cue, your expression will be more natural. Let’s not forget the greatest moving group photo of all – the confetti shot!

PROPS TO YOU

Don’t be afraid of introducing props into your group wedding photographs. While this again involves a staged element (would you be holding a heart shaped umbrella like that normally?), it gives you something else to interact with. Have your wedding photographer keep snapping while you arrange yourselves, and just have some fun! Let the shots capture your high spirits as newlyweds

TURN YOUR BACK

Group photographs might traditionally mean a carefully lined up arrangement of the bride, groom, bridal party and family members, front on, but that’s not the only way to do it. And, while this may be a useful photo to look back on to recall each of your guests, but it can also appear overly formal.

Mix things up a little in your group photographs with smaller numbers by turning your back or turning towards each other rather than facing the camera directly. Not only does this add another dimension to your photograph, it will also give you the chance to show off the gorgeous details on the back of your and your bridesmaids’ dresses! And remember, you don’t all need to do the same thing here, in fact, it’s better if you don’t!

LAID-BACK POSING

You might have noticed a bit of a running theme here – subtle staging in a more relaxed, natural style can really help to give the more boring staged shots the boot while still getting everyone in that needs to be. It can be as simple as arranging your group members in a variety of more casual poses, some sitting, some standing, and with a mixture of people looking and laughing with each other and others making eye contact with the camera.

And if we’re talking bridesmaids-only photos, these are the ones you just have to get with your best girls.

Extra Special Day

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1. To make your special day extra special

If you want your special day to be extra special, live music is the perfect accompaniment to every magical moment of your wedding. The secret is to decide what kind of mood you’d like at each stage of your wedding day, and matching music and musicians with that mood

2. To welcome your guests with a romantic atmosphere and set the mood for the day

Your wedding ceremony is the first event of the day for your guests, and most will be arriving at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Rather than letting them sit in silence in the church or wedding venue, you can welcome them with gentle background music such as a string quartet, a pianist or a harpist playing live. This creates a lovely, relaxed and romantic atmosphere in which your guests can chat to each other if they wish, or just listen to the music and get their handkerchiefs ready!

Most musicians enjoy weddings, and would far rather perform for more than just a few minutes, so why not ask them to play during the ceremony too.

3. To personalise your ceremony

An ideal moment is the five to ten minutes ‘slot’ where you need to sign the register and have your photos taken! For a church wedding, add some vocal excitement with a gospel choir or professional opera singers to lead the hymns and sing a solo psalm or similar.

4. To kickstart the party atmosphere

While you and your new spouse are having your photos taken, your guests may move onto the venue, and a drinks reception. These can be a little quiet at the start, so why not book a Rat Pack singer or jazz band to kick-start the party atmosphere before you both arrive, and your wedding breakfast starts.

5. To entertain and relax your guests during the meal

Wedding meals can seem very long for young guests, so why not entertain them with comedy singing waiters, who suddenly burst into song, or roaming magicians who amaze with clever tabletop tricks.

6. To add wow-factor to your evening party

The key to a really memorable evening wedding party is to choose live entertainment that involves all your guests, regardless of age! At Red Masque, our most popular wedding entertainment is a wedding function band, who play a wide range of pop, soul and contemporary hits to get the party going with energy and enjoyment. If yours is a big family wedding with everyone there from toddlers to grannies, a great way to get your guests up and dancing is to book a ceilidh band or Irish band.

Involve your guests in your big day

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Wedding ceremonies are all about sharing. While the big day ultimately belongs to you, the couple getting hitched, it’s also a special and significant moment for the people who know and love you best. So, how can you involve your guests to make your wedding day into a truly shared experience for everyone?

Ceremonial rituals

For centuries, people have used rituals to help cement their unions. One relatively new wedding ritual is the lighting of the unity candle, where close family members of the betrothed couple light a separate candle each before the ceremony. The newlyweds then take their respective candles and bring them together to light one single flame.

In a twist to include everyone in your new union, you could hold a version of this ceremony in reverse, letting each guest light a candle of their own from your united flame.

Confetti throwing

Showering confetti over the happy couple is another time-honoured wedding ritual. Make sure everyone is prepared for the big moment by handing out confetti dispensers like wands or cannons to all your guests. (This is a job that you can delegate to a trustworthy member of the wedding party)! Alternatively, why not set up a ‘confetti bar’ beforehand, so that everyone can mix and match their own unique concoction?

Music mixtape

Once you’re on the dancefloor, you’ll want everyone to come and join the party. Why not make everyone feel included by playing one song for each guest? (You can ask them to nominate their chosen track when they RSVP to your invitation). The DJ can announce any special dedications or significant songs with comments from the nominator. The mixtape approach will make your reception into a truly communal experience that everyone will appreciate… and they’ll have no excuse not to get up on their feet and boogie!

Photo opportunities

Posing for wedding photos is the perfect opportunity to get everyone involved while creating some stunning shots! You could set up an aerial shot and get everyone to stand in formation to make a heart shape or a word. Or if you have suitable space, why not lead everyone in a procession around the grounds of your wedding venue? It’ll be a special, shared experience to cherish, and you’ll be able to treasure some ‘action shots’ of all your guests together.