Tag Archives: find

Should you invite work colleagues?

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When planning a wedding, the age old question of what to do about inviting work colleagues to your wedding is one that troubles many engaged couples time and time again. For most of us, we spend a lot of time around our work colleagues and have grown a close relationship with a number of them, but there is often others you may not be as close to for one reason or another. So how do you strike the balance between inviting who you want to without inadvertently offending the others?

So when it comes to your wedding day, is there a particular party you agree with or are you still a little confused on the right way to do things?  The first thing you need to think about is that there are no rules, just common sense in relation to the work situation you personally have. Only you will really know what is acceptable in your workplace but here are a few things to consider…

Think about the size of your office

Do you work for a large corporate or a smaller regional office, shop or start up? Have a think about the dynamics in your workplace and how closely you work alongside your colleagues. If the whole company works in real proximity to one another, it makes sense to not just exclude one or two people from proceedings but if you work solely in a team that is one of many, then perhaps consider just inviting your team and your boss. As we say, it’s common sense so just assess the situation appropriately.

Remember, they don’t need to come for the whole wedding

If you’re worried from a budget and space point of view, then there is absolutely no harm in just inviting them to the wedding entertainment evening do. Again, if there are some colleagues you are closer to than others, then invite them to the ceremony and reception and then make it a more open invite to the others for the evening after dinner and speeches.

Consider whether your office is formal and traditional

Traditionally in larger and more corporate companies it is generally expected that you will invite your boss or bosses, especially if you are inviting your co-workers. If you know your office is a lot more relaxed, then again assess the situation and think about how close work in relation to your boss on a day to day basis.

Ask around to see what others did

Hopefully for you, there will be people who have got married before you in the office who you can quiz on what they did. If there is a recurring theme of whether they invited everyone or just a very selective few, then consider following suit.

They’ll probably need a plus one

If your work colleague is married, engaged or in a long term relationship, then it’s likely they’ll need to have a plus one. Again this is entirely up to you but if you are offering plus ones to the rest of your guests, it makes sense that they should have one too.

If you choose to be selective, don’t shout about it

It is totally okay to choose just a few colleagues and many people do, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. But if you’re going to do so – don’t make your wedding a common topic of conversation in the office, especially if there’s just one or two people you’re not inviting. You want to be as subtle as possible to avoid getting people’s feelings hurt.

Research your Photographers

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Have you been looking for wedding photographers but feel overwhelmed because there are so many options and so many styles?

Or, maybe you’ve dreamed about being a wedding photographer but aren’t sure how to push fear to the sidelines, take that leap of faith and turn your hobby into a full-time career.

What To Ask A Wedding Photographer

 

  1. Cost is almost always a concern, but it’s not the most important element to your decision. Find out how much the photographer charges for different packages and prints.

  2. Find out how long the photographer has been in business.

  3. Do you actually like the photographer and can you spend the day with the photographer you’re considering hire?

  4. What kind of experience do they have – the longer they’re in business doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best choice for you.

  5. What contingency plan does your wedding photographer have in place in case something goes wrong?

  6. Ask to look at group photos to ensure all the guests are smiling and laughing, because it’s usually the photographer that makes them smile so you want to know what kind of rapport they will build with you AND your guests.

If you spend a little more time finding the right wedding photographer, it will be well worth it in the end.

Make your wedding personal to you

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1. 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.

2. Walk Down Memory Lane

Make the guest feel like integral parts of the day by incorporating them into the wedding design — 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.

3. 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.

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. Love Poems.

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.”

Organise your seating plan

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If you’re having 50 guests at a buffet, you may or may not want to give people specific seating assignments. But if you’re having 100 guests or more and serving a seated meal at your Wedding venue, you’ll want to make sure everyone’s got a specific place to sit. Why? For one, people like to know where they’re sitting — and that you took the time to choose where and whom they should sit with. It’s also helpful if you’re serving several different entree choices, because the caterer and wait staff can figure out beforehand how many chicken, filet and veggie dishes a given table gets, because they (you) know who’s sitting there.

Head Up the Head Table

A traditional head table is not round but long and straight,when planning a wedding it’s generally set up along a wall, facing all the other reception tables. It may even have two tiers if your wedding party is large. Usually the bride and groom sit in the middle (where everyone can see them), with the maid of honour next to the groom, the best man next to the bride, and then boy/girl out from there. Flower girls or ring bearers usually sit at the tables where their parents are sitting, much to the relief of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Decide to sit this way, or plan a sweetheart table for a little one-on-one time

Create a Paper Trail

If you’re feeling more low-tech, draw circles (for tables) on a big sheet of paper and write names inside them (make sure you know how many people can comfortably be seated at each one). Or you could write every guest’s name on a sticky note and place it accordingly.

Switch Things Up

But you don’t have to do it that way. All the bridesmaids can sit on the bride’s side, and all the groomsmen on the groom’s. Or maybe you’re not into being on display, or you don’t want your wedding party to feel isolated from other guests. Let your wedding party sit at a round reception table or two with each other and/or with their dates/significant others, and have the head table be a sweetheart table for the two of you.Another option: You two sit with your parents and let that be the head table, with the wedding party at their own tables.

Place Your Parents

Traditionally, your parents and your parents to be sit at the same table, along with grandparents, siblings not in the wedding party, but for one reason or another you might want to let each set of parents host their own table of close family and/or friends. This could mean up to four parents’ tables, depending on your situation — or have the divorced parent who raised you (or your partner) and his/her spouse/date sit at the table with still-married parents.

Remember, the parent-seating question is a flexible one. Set it up in whatever way best suits everybody. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to talk to the parents in question about it before you make your final decision.

Play Matchmaker

Again, all your University or school friends will be so pleased to sit at a table together. This especially works out well if you and your beloved went to the same school and have the same friends. It also gives them all an opportunity to catch up with each other, because they may not have seen each other for a while. But again — reception tables offer a great opportunity to mix and match your friends and your partners — who knows who’ll hit it off? Consider seating friends who don’t know each other (yet), but who you think will get along exceptionally well, at the same table — and the rest is history. It can’t hurt!

Tame Tensions

There may also be situations in which certain family members just do not get along. Maybe they haven’t spoken in years. Maybe the last time they saw each other there was a drunken catfight. Understandably, you want to keep them as far apart as possible. Think about these kinds of relationships (or lack thereof) before you even start making your chart, so you can take them into consideration in the first place and begin by seating Auntie Sue at table three and Aunt Vera across the room at table 15. Trust us — they’ll appreciate it.

Why you should have a photo booth

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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.

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.

 

How to avoid any in-law trouble

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The date has been confirmed, and almost instantaneously, your neatly arrange personal wedding planner is bunged with dress appointments, wedding fair flyers and Wedding cakes sampling sessions. Yet in the midst of all this creative carnage, there may be a few VIPs left feeling a tad isolated… the in-laws.
It’s so easy to forget that there’s an entire family unit (equally important as your own) that may be completely oblivious to the upcoming wedding plans; and although many in-laws are perfectly happy with this scenario for others, it can lead to feelings of rejection and sometimes even resentment if they don’t feel the same level of involvement.

Out of nowhere tensions rise and emotions flare as you’re left wondering why you’ve been lumbered with such a treacherous display of family feuding. Is this a tiny glimpse of what to expect during married life? A moody mother-in-law offloading her dismay to anyone who’ll listen? Or worse still, comparing you to her other daughter-in-law who is seen as the definition of perfection.

Family planning

As we all know, a wedding day isn’t just about the Wedding Dress and elaborate selfies. It’s a time when two families become one, so make them feel that way before the big day. Organising fun family get-togethers can be a great way of helping everyone bond, relax and feel included. It’s always a good idea to start off with a neutral environment such as trying out a new restaurant together. If all goes well, keep up the momentum with joint barbeques, birthdays and regular catch-ups.

Dress it up

Inviting both mums along to help you pick a dress is a great way of making everyone feel extra special, particularly if your mother-in-law has no little girls of her own to coo over. However, if this seems a little too invasive then why not ask for her help with choosing the bridesmaids dress or accessories? It will really help in making her feel a big part of the leading ladies.

Don’t forget Daddy

Seeing as many grooms enjoy mulling over the manly aspects of wedding planning such as choosing wedding cars, then why not encourage your future hubby to invite his dad along for the day? The two men can spend an entire afternoon bonding over some vintage vehicles, maybe grab some grub and have a good old father-son catch up.

Talent spotting

If your groom’s dad is a whizz in the kitchen or his mum’s an expert in arts and crafts, you have the perfect opportunity to include their input for the important finishing touches such as making little edible favours or creating artistic centre pieces for the guest tables. You’ll be amazing at how thrilled they’ll be to show off their creative skills!

Keep in touch

Why not start out with a chirpy text message or email? At least they’ll know you’re thinking about them and aren’t as likely to feel completely left out of the loop.

Being able to build and maintain healthy relationships is something we all struggle with at the best of times, however regular communication can help avoid many unwanted feelings of exclusion. As they say, prevention is better than a cure.

Shop smart for your dream wedding

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Whether your dream wedding is a quiet country get-together with close friends and family or an all-out, gold-plated party with costume changes and fancy wedding cars, it all costs money. So how do you save on your big day without sacrificing the fairytale? Here are a few tips to set you on the right path…

Set realistic financial goals

There’s no point setting a goal you can’t achieve – work out what you can afford to spend on your wedding before you think about what you actually want, and set out the budget and any big purchases when you first decide on the date. Opening a savings account or using online budgeting tools can help to get you started.

Plan ahead

If there are expensive additions you absolutely can’t do without, then make sure you have enough time to save for them. Spreading the cost over a longer time period will ease the pressure – the more time you have, the more options you will be presented with. This is one of the best wedding saving tips we can give you – plan ahead! You’ll also be able to take advantage of those seasonal sales that could offer up some bargains.

Prioritise

Don’t get caught up in wanting to have it all. Everyone dreams of the perfect wedding, but there has to be a limit. Stop and think – can you really do without that designer dress? If the answer is no then make cutbacks elsewhere.

Get wed off-peak

Saturdays are the most sought-after day of the week to get married and will set you back the most, so switching to a mid-week wedding could save you a substantial amount – just be sure to give your guests enough warning so they can make arrangements to attend. If you really can’t control the day, you can still control the time – earlier morning or later afternoon weddings usually cost less as you slash your wedding food bill considerably.

Make use of friends and family

Got a friend who’s a brilliant baker? Ask him or her to make the wedding cake. Musician in your midst? That’s the wedding music sorted. Don’t be shy about asking your friends and family to get involved in your big day – chances are they’ll want to help out, and it’ll make for a really personal gift that will be far more meaningful than anything on your wedding list.

Shop around

Keep an open mind about what you want. Once you get your heart set on something – whether that’s a DJ, wedding venue or wedding dress – then it’ll be difficult to walk away if the cost is too high. Weddings can be stressful, so even the smallest set-back can feel like the end of the world. Viewing several options will give you a back-up plan.

Do what you can yourself

Making your own wedding favours and table decorations could lead to significant savings. Plan well enough in advance and DIY your details early. That way, it’ll be a nice way for you and your family to get excited about the wedding, rather than a stressful, last-minute headache.

Try something different

Don’t feel you have to stick with tradition – it’s your day, and you should have the wedding you want. Unless that involves a private jet or a solo performance by Beyoncé, it could work out a lot cheaper. Look at the parts that cost a lot of money (for example, a sit-down wedding breakfast) and see where you can save. Would a buffet, barbecue or a potluck feast be a better option? Stick to your own plans, and you could end up with the wedding of your dreams at a fraction of the cost.

Get your dream day for less

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A is for Asking for help

Clever couples know that accepting the help of loved ones will save them a heap of cash. From making your wedding cake to helping put together the favours, use your friends’ and family’s skills.

B is for Bartering

If you don’t ask, you won’t get! When it comes to buying your wedding flowers, details and even booking your venue, there are always negotiations to be made. Can your venue throw in free corkage? Or perhaps your tailor made suits can get a discount for buying in bulk? Don’t be shy – it’s always worth an ask.

C is for Cocktails

For a cheap-but-chic drinks reception, ditch traditional bubbly and serve pitchers of your own bespoke cocktail. Give them a romantic name, too, like ‘Marital Bliss’ or ‘Love Struck’. Adding fruit juice makes pricier alcohol go a long way.

D is for DIY

Crafty brides will not only make their day personal and unique but also save a bundle, too. Make your own stationery, cake, wedding bouquets, hanging decorations and even set up a photobooth – it can be a really fun party of the planning process and the cost of materials will be less than ordering from a professional. Just make sure you don’t take on too much at once, or you could run out of time!

E is for Excel

Budget spreadsheets are an absolute must when planning your wedding. You must keep on top of your finances, and ensure you are going to meet all the payment deadlines.

F is for Flog it!

Increase your bank balance and wedding fund by having a mass clear out. Take all your things to a car boot sale or jumble sale and put every penny you make into the wedding piggy bank.

G is for Games

For great wedding entertainment or a small budget, hire lawn games such as giant Jenga, croquet or even a bouncy castle! It will go down well with all your guests… especially after a few cocktails!

H is for Honeymoon research

Do your research before you book your honeymoon. There are plenty of websites out there that showcase the very best packages, deals and last-minute offers. The later you leave booking the better price you’ll get on your trip.

I is for Imagination

Think outside the box. No cash for table centres? Display your favours on retro cake stands. Ghastly entrance? Use white drapes to cover any eyesores.

J is for Join our forum

You’ll find top saving tips and advice from other brides-to-be on a Wedding ideas forum, as well as get the opportunity to buy their wedding dress second hand.

K is for Keep to the plan

When you’ve set your budget, it’s very easy to be tempted to buy the odd little extra here and there, but these details soon add up. Make sure you stick to the plan and get only what you need.

L is for lists

To-do lists are an absolute must. With so many suppliers to deal with and details to buy, don’t leave it to chance that you’ll remember everything. There’s something quite satisfying about ticking things off as you go.

M is for Music

Every wedding needs good wedding  music to get the party going – but if a DJ is out of your price range, ask a budding rockstar friend to do a live set as their wedding gift to you.

N is for Nature

What better inspiration for your big day than the great outdoors? Hand pick flowers from your garden for your table centres, use pine cones as place card holders or fruit as favours.

O is for Old treasures

Rummage around in your cupboards and attic for old toys and treats that could be used at your wedding. Maybe an old birdcage could be painted and used for decoration, an old suitcase could be scrubbed up and used to hold the gift cards, or an old camera could be used to take old-fashioned photobooth snaps.

P is for Pom Poms

Easily made using sheets of tissue paper (the internet is packed with ‘how to’ guides), pom poms look fantastic hanging above your tables, outdoors or from the beams of your marquee, so rustle up style for pence rather than pounds.

Q is for Quality not Quantity not quantity

Don’t feel that you have to buy everything that has the word ‘wedding’ next to it. Be selective about what you buy and your wedding will look spectacular.

R is for Recommendations

If you’re at the age where all your friends and family seem to be getting engaged or married, take their advice! Ask them about the best value-for-money suppliers they’ve dealt with.

S is for Savvy shopping

Is there a Blue Cross sale on next weekend? What about the January sales? Can you get a discount at the National Wedding Show? Hold fire on buying finishing touches until the end of season sales.

T is for Tough love

One of the biggest costs per head is the guest list. Don’t be afraid to cut distant family members and friends that come in and out of your life. It’s the toughest job, but it will save you the most money in the long run.

U is for Unpopular dates

From a Monday or Tuesday through to Friday 13th, if it isn’t on a regular weekend, it will inevitably be cheaper. Don’t be afraid to negotiate when booking your venue – they’ll probably bite your hand off!

V is for VAT

You may think you’re getting a bargain, but often the price you see in front of you is minus tax. When this gets added in, it can all seem a lot more expensive. Make sure you check what’s included in the price before you set your heart on anything.

W is for Win

There are literally thousands of wedding-related competitions out there, so enter them all! You never know, you may land your dream honeymoon, decorations or accessories without spending a penny!

X is for X marks the spot

Entertaining children at a wedding is an added expense you could do without. Why not set up treasure hunt for them? It’ll keep them occupied for hours!

Y is for Your day, your way

There’s no point in buying those shoes just because your mum thinks they’re perfect for you. Spend your budget how you see fit, and don’t waste it!

Z is for Zero percent

You should always protect yourself when buying things for your wedding. Use a credit card with 0% APR or maybe choose a bank that gives you cash back the more you spend.

Embrace a 20’s Wedding theme

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The Roaring 20s are a big one. This decade is full of Big Band Jazz, Art Deco visuals, and intricately adorned ensembles. Here are some ideas for your 1920’s Wedding theme:

  • For a 1920s theme, a classic palette of black, white and gold is easy to achieve and truly timeless and elegant. For the bride, we love the look of a trumpet-style gown.

  • Bridesmaids can be styled in simple LBDs with the addition of headpieces or fascinators, and the groomsmen will look dashing in classic black tuxedos.

  • Champagne towers are making a comeback, especially in Roaring 20s-inspired celebrations. We adore the look of sophisticated black and white striped linens.

  • For brides preferring something a little more colourful, jewel tones are the way to go! Think of the rich shades of a peacock feather for inspiration.

  • ​With vintage ​wedding cars you can show up in style and use this classic as a prop in your wedding photos.

  • ​For wedding entertainment, try a unique performer like a Charlie Chaplin impersonator. With a comedic 20s era presence, Charlie can make your guests feel like they’ve travelled to a time of satire and silent films.

  • ​For your wedding photos, ask your wedding photographer about vintage overlay options for development. Your big day will be captured with a nostalgic 1920s look.

We wish you a happy marriage and roaring celebration!

Royal venues

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Located in the heart of Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace is still home to British royalty and offers a timeless elegance and charm that delights all who visit. With beautiful gardens of its own, the wedding venue offers an opportunity to get married in a building that has been home to British history for more than 300 years. Kensington Palace’s Orangery is a sight to behold and is licensed for ceremonies as well as being suitable for dinner and dancing. With exceptionally easy access, we also don’t mind saying that the venue is perfect for ensuring that your entertainment all gets in safely as well! Although you might be taken in by the Orangery, we also recommend considering a floral

backdrop, with the Sunken Garden being a particularly beautiful and secluded choice for your family and friends to enjoy.

A small but perfectly formed royal palace, Kew Palace is a Grade I listed property was once the home of Georgian royalty and can host up to 40 people for your wedding day. The palace is wonderfully picturesque and comes complete with the Queen’s Garden, an area laid out in a 17th century style, where only plants and herbs known in that time period are grown. Adjacent to the palace are the Royal Kitchens, which are suitable for dinner and a drinks reception. The former is particularly enticing for couples who adore history; your guests will dine whilst admiring the original scullery, bakery, silver room and cold store.

Cambridge Cottage

The former royal residence of the Duke of Cambridge (no, not that one), Cambridge Cottage became a part of Kew Gardens in 1904. The building is suitable for civil ceremonies and dining, with a stunning drawing room and gallery spaces, where botanical artwork adorns the walls. Both of these rooms open out onto the Duke’s Garden a brilliant choice for wedding photographs or outdoor drinks.

Nash Conservatory

The Nash Conservatory is the oldest of the 19th century glasshouses at Kew and is of major historical and architectural importance. It didn’t actually begin life at Kew; the building was originally built in the grounds of Buckingham Palace before being move brick by brick to Kew Gardens in 1836! Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the building is served by an abundance of natural light and can hold up to 200 guests, depending on your requirements.

Princess of Wales Conservatory

A unique drinks reception venue for your wedding, the Princess of Wales Conservatory is the most complex glasshouse at Kew Gardens. Containing ten computer-controlled climatic zones, up to 200 guests are able to enjoy drinks and canapés whilst admiring the botanical wonders nearby. Will they be able to find the rare orchids or Chinese Water Dragons? A short stroll from the other Kew Venues, this is a fabulous celebration space for those who love nature!

Orangery

Perhaps the most popular venue at Kew from our perspective, the Orangery is a hugely popular building filled with citrus trees, that is just perfect for your wedding dinner and the dance that follows! We’ve provided a whole host of brilliant bands to play in this venue over the years, with the large, open plan design allowing a happy couple to customise the area to their delectation. High ceilings and arched windows help to add natural light to the space with spectacular views of Kew able to be enjoyed from the terrace in the summer months.

Sir Joseph Banks Building

Named after the famed botanist, the Sir Joseph Banks Building is a gorgeous modern wedding venue that can hold a maximum of 230 people and is also home to Kew’s Economic Botany Collection. Often hired in conjunction with the Orangery, the building is licensed for religious ceremonies and sports impressive large windows that provide vast swathes of natural light. Entrance to the venue is provided through the Atrium, which can be used to welcome wedding guests upon their arrival.