Category Archives: Setting

Top tips on getting the perfect tunes

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Ceremony music tips

You are not permitted to have any music during a Civil Ceremony that is overtly religious. Though rules are somewhat more relaxed than in the past, your Registrar will advise and vet your choices.

There are literally millions of pieces of modern wedding music that don’t have any religious association. Choose classical music for your ceremony and have lighter pop music during your drinks reception.

Consider choosing two contrasting pieces of music that are moderate length. The first should be contemplative while the guests enter and the second could hint at the celebrations to follow the ceremony.

Choose something celebratory, when your guests leave, that can be heard alongside the happy throng.

If you have the budget, then live wedding music will feel much more personal and special. Harps, string quartets and pianists are the most popular choices. They can also stay at your reception afterwards during your wedding photographs, drinks and canapés.

If you find a title you like on a modern wedding music CD or a website, then make sure you check the title and composer with another couple of similar sources to make sure it is correct.

Modern wedding music for your ceremony

Bridal March from ‘Lohengrin’ (Here comes the Bride) – Wagner
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Trumpet Voluntary – Jeremiah Clarke
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – G F Handel
Ave Maria – J S Bach/C Gounod
Adagio – Albinoni arr. Giazotto
Panis Angelicus – C Franck
Wedding March – ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – Mendelssohn
Toccata from Organ Symphony no 5- C M Widor
Alla Danza / Hornpipe from ‘Water Music’ – G F Handel

DIY Decorations

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You don’t have to spend a fortune on wedding decorations. Have a go at a project today and give your day a personal touch with handmade creations…

Fabulous fans

How about making some brightly coloured pinwheels for your marquee reception. They add a real pop of colour to the venue, but if you want a softer, more subtle look, try pastel shaded pom poms.

Vintage bunting

You could use pastel coloured cloths and vintage style bunting to pretty up your vintage tea party reception. You can pick up table cloths pretty cheaply on eBay to get a similar look.

3D table numbers

Make cardboard 3D table numbers and then cover them in pretty, shabby chic style fabric. A simple and effective idea that you can easily make at home with old off-cuts of fabric. Mix up the patterns and colours for an eclectic look.

Hanging old pictures around your reception venue is a sure-fire way to get guests talking. Personalise the room with photographs of all your loved ones, then let guests find their faces. You could adapt this for use in your table plan, too.

Pretty pom poms

Draw your guests’ eyes upwards with a ceiling full of paper pom poms and lanterns dangling from the rafters. This year’s hottest wedding designs and decorations are to be found on the ceiling. 

Rustic jars

Ask your friends and family to keep all of their old jam jars as they make cute arrangements for a rustic theme. Mix and match different shapes and sizes and fill them with cheap wedding flowers like gypsophilia for a feminine, just-picked-from-the-garden look.

Trend alert!

This potted plant table plan is such a lovely wedding decoration idea, perfect for a country themed wedding. You can pot them up yourself, use them as a table plan, and then hand them out as thank you gifts at the end of the night. Double DIY delight

Top table runners

Long trestle-style tables work brilliantly with table runners down the middle – go for gingham if you’re planning a country-style celebration like this couple or hessian if you want a more rustic look. A striking runner will mean you won’t have to go overboard with your flowers, either.

Wedding breaks

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Wedding breaks are fast becoming a must for newlyweds. They’re not a minimoon for a few days or a honeymoon for a week abroad. Wedding breaks are a post-wedding, pre-honeymoon getaway for a night or two, somewhere nice, near home.

Here are some places to take wedding breaks.

Radisson Edwardian Heathrow

Just two miles from Heathrow airport, the Radisson Edwardian Hotel is the perfect stop-over for early-morning honeymoon flights and wedding breaks. This slick West End-style venue has a lively atmosphere that’s buzzing until the early hours. The Pegasus Health Spa and Gymnasium is the perfect place to begin unwinding after your big day. Expect to be pampered with a huge variety of treatments on offer, ranging from herbal saunas to massages and facials.

For the rooms, try The Presidential Suite – it’s perfect for wedding breaks for newlyweds. The other 458 rooms and suites boast all mod cons plus rich fabrics and marble bathrooms. This looks more like a chic central London hotel than an airport stopover. Prices start from £125 for a double room excluding VAT.

The Scarlet

Perched on a clifftop overlooking the stunning beach at Mawgan Porth, The Scarlet is a luxurious hotel perfectly positioned on the Cornish coast. Cornwall is filled with pretty villages to visit and views to swoon over, but if you fancy something more active, it’s the perfect place to learn to surf. The hotel can arrange private lessons or why not join the surf school?

Not to be missed during your stay is The Scarlet Spa, where total indulgence awaits. The Spa focuses on wellbeing as well as beauty, offering a fab range of eco-friendly treatments. With chic interior design and furniture, plus the comfiest beds around, you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep here. They have 37 stunning bedrooms in the hotel spread out over five floors. Each room boasts its own outside space, from private terraces to balconies – perfect for watching the sun go down together. Prices start from £180 B&B in low season – worth every penny!

Peak Edge Hotel

The Peak Edge Hotel is the gateway to the Peak District in Derbyshire. Aside from the panoramas of rolling dales from every window, there is great local food cooked to perfection in the adjoining 17th-century inn, beautifully designed décor and an extensive activities package to keep you busy here. There are 27 brand new boutique bedrooms with picturesque views and sumptuous finishes. Bathrooms boast double-ended baths, rain showers and under-floor heating. You’ll also find LED flat screen TVs, decadent bedding and Wi-Fi internet to enjoy inside.

Blakes Hotel

Blakes in London is the sort of hotel that makes you want to stay in your room, sipping Champagne, indulging in room service! Locally you’ll find shops galore on Kensington Church Street, and Harrods is a short taxi ride away, as are the V&A and Natural History Museums. Each of the 47 rooms is designed by internationally acclaimed designer Anouska Hempel, and each is daringly different. We recommend the Corfu Suite, which boasts a huge four-poster bed, a separate dressing room, huge bathroom, wooden floors and distressed white mother of pearl embossed furniture.

 

The Royal Scots Club

The Royal Scots club is a members’ club situated in one of Edinburgh’s finest Georgian streets. It’s about a two-minute walk from the main shopping areas of Edinburgh, and it takes about 25 minutes to get to the hotel from the airport by car.

It’s quite a formal place to stay, oozing sophistication and class. It’s perfect for couples looking for privacy. There is no place for jeans and t-shirts here, especially at dinner time. The restaurant serves indulgent dishes, which are an absolute must try. The decadent decor, beautiful furnishings and the luxurious rooms create a cosy country manor house feel, despite their size. Accommodation prices start from £140 per room for bed and breakfast based on two sharing.

Cringe-worthy moments

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While most aspects of planning a wedding are really fun and exciting, there are a few moments, which may leave you feeling uncomfortable. There are also aspects of the day that may make you feel a bit anxious. 

Telling your friend, she’s not your bridesmaid

Having to tell one of your friends that she isn’t your bridesmaid is probably one of the biggest hurdles in the planning stage of the wedding. The best way to let her know that you still care about her is to tell her quietly and ask her to do something else at the wedding, for example make a speech.

Inviting work colleagues to the wedding

If you don’t want to invite everyone in the office to your wedding day, that’s absolutely fine! It’s your day, just invite your closest work friends and be discreet. Ask them to keep quiet about it too and if you decide to invite everyone, try not to leave one or two people out.

Inviting your mum or mother in-law to the hen do

Inviting your mum to your hen do can be a hard decision. If you feel like you won’t be able to let your hair down, relax and have fun then don’t invite her. An alternative can be to do something a bit more formal to celebrate with your mum rather than taking her out with your friends. It’s important to make sure she doesn’t feel left out though.

Messing up the first dance

Every bride fears messing up the first dance, whether that means stepping on the groom’s toes or falling to the floor. It is definitely something that should be practiced a few times, it doesn’t have to be choreographed but take some time with it. If you really can’t dance, then just simply sway with each other and invite everyone to join the dance floor as soon as possible.

Going to the ladies’ room in your dress

This may be something that’s overlooked when choosing your perfect wedding dress, but essential on the wedding night. This is one of the main reasons you should be really close with your bridesmaids, it’s essentially their job to help you with potential problems like this on the night.

Photo angles

It’s a given that on your wedding day there will be hundreds of photos taken of you and you may be worried about not looking good. Try not to worry too much about this, you’ve paid a wedding photographer to take photos of you and they’ll know what angles look the most flattering on you. You can always have a chat with the photographer to ask for the photo you’ve always been dreaming about for the mantelpiece though.

Deciding between lingerie or supportive underwear

This can be a tricky decision because you want to feel the best on your wedding day but wearing tummy-tucking underwear with a non-VPL will be really forgiving when you’re wearing your dress. It’s definitely something to keep in mind; you’ll always have the chance to change quickly after the wedding reception.

Dealing with family feuds

Most of the time, relatives will be civil with each other at a wedding even if they don’t get on with each other. They love you and are there for you on your big day, they won’t be focusing on each other. If you are worried however, then make sure they aren’t sat on the same table or sat near each other at the ceremony. The more distance that can be created between them, the better.

Some easy choices for your Wedding venue

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Choosing your wedding venue will undoubtedly be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as an engaged couple, so it’s good to start considering your options right away. If you’re not sure where to hold your wedding, we’ve got some top tips to help you decide…

The venue you pick will determine the amount of guests you can invite, the location of your Wedding and, of course, the theme and styling, too. You need to allocate a good proportion of your wedding planning time and budget to finding your dream venue because there are so many different options to consider and look at. From manor houses to stand-alone tipis, there really is something out there to suit every kind of couple, it’s just a matter of making your own decision.

Your day, your way

First and foremost, decide on the type of wedding you want. Next, set a budget with careful consideration as to how much you can afford for your dream wedding venue. You should also discuss with your partner whether exclusivity is important to you – if it is, this might make it costlier.

Have you dreamed about this day your whole life, and can’t imagine getting married without everyone you know to watch it? If so, then start looking at country house wedding venues with large capacities. If you’d prefer a wedding more intimate and low-key, just surrounded by close friends and family, then perhaps a garden marquee is more your thing? Once you know what best suits you as a couple, you can then start writing your guest list and begin searching for places to suit your requirements.

When to book

It’s perfectly normal for couples to book their chosen wedding venue 12-18 months before their wedding date, giving them plenty of time to plan their perfect day. The big popular wedding venues up and down the country get booked up a long time in advance during the peak, summer wedding venue, so we advise that you book as soon as you’ve found ‘the one’.

That said, if you are planning a wedding in just a few months, there’s plenty of last-minute bargains to be had! If you’re planning a wedding in just a few months, you might get lucky and be able to book a date at the last minute due to a cancellation or last-minute availability. Once your wedding date is secured and you’ve paid the deposit you can then move on to considering how you’ll style it.

Pick a theme

The theme of your wedding will be directly influenced by the wedding venue you’ve chosen. For example – you’re not going to have a rustic, country-garden style interior if your venue is by the seaside. Think of your wedding and venue as part of the bigger picture, and go with a venue that’s in-keeping with the theme that you want.

For glamorous, glittering modern big days, we recommend boutique hotels. If it’s a country, rustic, cider-filled wedding you’re dreaming of, then we suggest you check out your nearest barn venues. Whereas if you fancy yourself as a bit of an Elizabeth Bennett marrying her Mr Darcy then a country house will be more your thing. And if you want a little bit of everything we’ve just mentioned, pop a marquee up in the grounds of a country house, and you’ve got a little bit of them all!

A Hot Pink Wedding!!!

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Stand out from the crowds with a hot pink wedding theme! This colour looks lovely with ivories and creams so will compliment your dress perfectly, and is an easy theme to stick too!

Beautiful bridesmaids

Your bridesmaids will stand out from your guests in hot pink bridesmaid dresses! Team them with simple pink and cream bouquets and let the dresses do the talking

Stunning stationery

Your stationery is the first glimpse of your wedding day that your guests will get; impress them with a bright design that will give the wow factor!

Fancy footwear

To add a pop of colour to your wedding outfit with amazing pink shoes which will be the perfect finishing touch!

Pretty petals

Lovely petals make the perfect biodegradable confetti to hand round to your guests. We love the two toned pink and cream colour!

Decorative details

Personalise candleholders with bespoke vinyl stickers from with decals. You can also have vinyl stickers designed for on the dance floor, walls, table centres, favours or anything you want! Add a hot pink candle to fit in with your theme.

Cabaret ideas for your wedding

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When booking entertainment for your wedding day, it’s often difficult to know what works. Do you want to book the same function band that you saw at a friend’s wedding? Perhaps, but you want your special day to be unique! So how can you make your wedding day extra special? What sort of wedding entertainment should you hire for your big day? We’ve come up with a few unique cabaret ideas to help get you thinking!

Drag Queen

A Drag Queen isn’t a typical addition you might expect to see at a wedding but they can be a wonderful Master of ceremonies and deliver a stunning and outrageous show at the reception. From stand up to singing, a drag queen diva will wow your wedding guests. The ultimate in unique wedding entertainment.

Aerial Silk Artist

One for the larger wedding venues, there is no piece of unique wedding entertainment more beautiful than an aerial silk artist. Suspended from the ceiling by flowing silk drapes, a talented performer can twist and turn to music to create an ambient acrobatic display or even improvise a hanging routine. A majestic and graceful act, it’s best to let the photos speak for themselves! No performance is ever the same.

Classical music artists

One for the classical music lovers how about a little background music on your wedding day? Classically trained singers from the Royal Academy of Music will captivate your audience. A fabulous addition to any wedding, enjoy a flawless rendition of your favourite classical piece to make your wedding day truly magical. 

Related Dancers

When it comes to unique wedding entertainment ideas, it’s often easy to forget that your guests are as part of the big day as yourselves. A function band is great to get the room going but many attendees are often too shy to hit the dance floor. By booking a dance group who relate to the style of music that your function band play, the evening can incorporate the fun nature of your event and music that suits your particular musical tastes.

Five great moments for your Wedding

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Morning

The pre-wedding jitters can easily be set to bed by a little entertainment in the morning! When family are gathered together in the hotel just waiting for a few hours to pass by, there’s nothing better than a bit of entertainment from a strolling act to enliven proceedings. A great time for a magician to diffuse some nerves and ensure that talking to your Great Uncle isn’t as difficult as you’d feared. A brilliant ice breaker, we highly recommend this whilst the bride and groom are busily getting ready.

Ceremony

During the ceremony itself! You’re probably wondering if you want a traditional wedding march to accompany you as you walk down the aisle, but why have that when you can have a small jazz band playing off to the side? It makes for a far more unique proposition than an organist playing that same tune you’ve heard at hundreds of weddings before and can even form part of the ceremony itself should you decide to put your own spin on things.

Drinks Reception

Whilst the bride and groom are off having their photos taken with their various in-laws, cousins and old University friends, it leaves the rest of the wedding party to stand about somewhat aimlessly drinking some Champagne or non-alcoholic equivalent. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Hiring a wedding pianist for an hour, or perhaps a solo singer is a perfect example – always goes down a treat.

Wedding Breakfast

Although technically speaking it’s nowadays more of a wedding dinner than a wedding breakfast, this is another part of your wedding day where a little bit of something is a nice idea. Naturally it all depends on your budget but after the food and speeches the bride and groom tend to walk between tables, happily greeting those they haven’t seen in a while. For those who aren’t on a table with anyone they know very well, the small talk ran out somewhere between the main course and dessert. As such, some light entertainment in the form of a quiz – perhaps about the couple? – or caricaturist can go a long way!

Reception

We needn’t go into too much detail about whether a band of DJ is the way to go… Just know that entertainment is pretty much a must have for this portion of your wedding day and can make the occasion even more special to those who have travelled a long way! There are a whole host of acts that come under the ‘wedding entertainment for hire’ banner, so you don’t need to stick to just one! 

From a wedding photo booth to a wandering band, simply click around the website and see what takes your fancy.

Take your time to pick your music

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Music is a very personal to each individual and it will play a very important part in your wedding.  You don’t have to be from a particular faith to enjoy a piece of music, just go what feels best for you. The Wedding ceremony music has to be right for both of you, and to have the right piece played, you will remember your wedding day for years to come.  

To help you choose, this is a list of some wedding music that you might want to consider including in your repertoire:

Wedding Ceremony Music– The Common Requests
1. “Air in G” from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D (J.S. Bach)
2. “Ode to Joy” from Symphony No. 9(Beethoven)
3. “Trumpet Voluntary” or “Prince of Denmark’s March” (J. Clarke)
4. “Clair de Lune” (C. Debussy)
5. “Hornpipe” from Water Music Suite (G.F. Handel)
6. “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (F. Mendelssohn)
7. “Canon in D” (J. Pachelbel)
9. “Allegro from Spring”, first movement theme from The Four Seasons (A. Vivaldi)
10. “Bridal March” from the opera Lohengrin or “Here Comes the Bride” (R. Wagner)

 

Wedding Ceremony Music Alternatives 

Favourite choices for Christian weddings:

1. “Amazing Grace” (American Folk Melody)
2. “Ave Maria” (F. Schubert)
3. “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (J. S. Bach)
4. “The Lord’s Prayer” (A.H. Malotte)
5. “Simple Gifts” (Elder Joseph)

Favourite choices for Jewish weddings:

1. “Dodi Li” (N. Chen)
2. “Erev Ba” (O. Avissar & A. Levanon)
3. “Siman Tov” (traditional Israeli song)
4. “Sunrise Sunset” from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”

Favourite choices for Celtic weddings:

1. “Mairia’s Wedding”
2. “Star of the County Down”
3. “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”
4. “Skye Boat Song”
5. “My Wild Irish Rose”

Don’t make these mistakes!

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Mistake 1: Not dealing with debt

Money is the number one thing couples fight about. Set up a financial plan to conquer any debt.

Mistake 2: Alienating your friends

Having separate interests is key to a successful marriage, so tag along on your friend’s nights out.

Mistake 3: Neglecting the bedroom

Did you know that over 60% of newlyweds are in a sex rut! Initiate sex, even if you don’t feel like it. If you get in the habit of having it, you’ll start wanting it (and liking it) more.

Mistake 4: Outlawing the in-laws

Did you know that 50% of couples have a problematic relationship with their in-laws? Even if your spouse is moaning about his family, resist the urge to join in. Stay neutral at all times!

Mistake 5: Letting yourself go

Take pride in your appearance and weight even if you’re ‘off the market’ now – you and your partner will feel better for it, trust us!

Mistake 6: Becoming baby-obsessed

The average couple has a child within three years of marriage. Savour the moments and the travel you can do now!

The ‘after the wedding’ to-do list

Get your dress professionally cleaned and store in a cool, dry place.

Leave helpful reviews about your various wedding suppliers.

If you wish to change to your married name, do them all simultaneously to avoid confusion.

Check your tax situation as a married couple – you may be entitled to tax relief in some situations.

Send thank you notes for wedding gifts – aim for 10 a night!

Finalise your wedding album and video – if you leave it too long, you may forgo it!

Discuss finances: should you have a joint bank account?

Figure out things like joint health insurance plans and discuss changes to life insurance details