Tag Archives: marry

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.

Be money savvy

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Between the wedding food, the event space, the wedding photographers and the band — you may have spent a large part of your savings on your wedding. If you were lucky enough to receive wedding gift money from friends and family, you can really make this money work for you. Instead of using your cash for a trip to the Caribbean or on a new car, consider the following suggestions:

Start an emergency fund. We know it doesn’t sound as glamorous as a spa package, but starting an emergency fund and help to combat stress when something unexpected comes up. Whether it’s a sudden boiler breakdown or car repair, this saved cash will help if times get tough. It’ll also make you feel better to know there’s a bit of a cushion. We recommend opening an account that offers quick access and storing away £1,000 — you can always add to it.

Pay some bills. You’ve just planned a huge event and you’ve paid your fair share for it, so don’t feel guilty about using some of your gift money for your monthly bills, or even prepaying your mortgage if you have one. If you’ve been carrying around some unwanted debt — credit card, or car loan — consider paying off some of it. Having trouble deciding which to pay off first? Start by paying off the loan with the highest interest rate.

Watch it grow. It’s a smart idea to save and invest a big chunk of your gift money — this way it can gain interest and over time make money for you. It could be your deposit on a home or a nest egg for retirement. A financial adviser can help make sure you’re putting your cash in the best account for you, whether that be a tax advantaged plan, like a traditional ISA.

Invest in your home. If you’ve been looking for a place to call your own, your wedding money may make a nice deposit payment. As you probably know, the larger your deposit, the less interest you’ll typically end up paying on the loan.

Already have a nest? You could make updates and improvements to your current place, which can potentially increase its property value.

Look into life insurance. Now’s the perfect time to take out life for you and your new spouse. Pushing a plan to the side any further will make it more difficult to attain. Thankfully, this isn’t a huge investment, just a smart one.

Things not to do when proposing

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We love to hear a good proposal story, and we’re sure you do too. But there are some things that just make us cringe at the thought of. If you’re thinking of proposing soon, here are the things NOT to do…

Get ahead of yourself

Popping the question is a big moment in any man’s life. No matter how confident you are, you’ll want to know the answer you’re going to get, not just assume it. It’s sensible to test the water before going ahead and proposing – talking about the possibility of marriage isn’t ruining the surprise!

Lose the box

No matter what kind of proposal you have prepared, whether it’s tying the ring to a puppy’s collar or hiding it in your fiancé-to-be’s ice cream in a restaurant, make sure you keep the box. Without it, it’s kind of like a cup of tea without milk, a burger without a bap, or, just an engagement ring without the fancy box.

Forget to practice

Even though the words ‘Will you marry me?’ seem simple enough, the moment you’re actually asking the question will make you aware that it’s a little more difficult than that. Getting the proposal right is all about good timing, wording, and minimal hiccups – so practice, practice, practice!

Tell too many

The thoughts of you marrying this girl might have started up from the first date you had, and your friends probably started getting sick of it. But do you know what? That’s okay. What’s not okay is going on and on about your proposal plans, so much that you don’t know who you’ve told and who they will tell. Keep it a surprise from your friends as well as your girlfriend.

Go public

The whole flash mob idea may be great to watch on YouTube, but it’s a different story when it’s actually happening to you. Most brides that we know certainly wouldn’t enjoy this public display of affection. Keep the proposal to yourselves, and shout about it after!

Get impatient

If you’re on a romantic holiday with the intention to propose on the last night when you’ve planned to go watch the sunset (just an idea for you all!), don’t be tempted to blow this plan just because every time you go for a change of t-shirt, you see the engagement ring hiding away in the suitcase. Wait for the right moment, and keep patient. It will all come together in the end.

Be empty-handed

… or, perhaps, you don’t have a ring. This isn’t a good idea for a proposal because it makes it seem unprepared and a spur of the moment thing. (If it was a spur of the moment thing, we hope it was a previously-thought-about-spur-of-the-moment thing.) We know it shouldn’t be down to a piece of jewellery, but…

So hopefully your proposal story will run, or did run smoothly! Hopefully you’ll be planning a wedding very soon!!

 

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.

 

The first dance

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There are a number of traditional moments when planning 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.

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!
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!
…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!
Back straight and keep smiling!
Although you want to make sure your wedding shoes aren’t slippery and that you’ve worn them before the wedding music begins, remember that nobody will be watching your feet (well, unless your dance instructor is in attendance). All the focus will be on your upper body so if all else fails, keep your back straight and smile!

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.

Winter Wedding

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So you’ve decided to tie the knot in winter, congratulations! Whether you’ve chosen it because it’s a fantastically festive time or so you can spend sensibly on wedding suppliers, you likely still have a few concerns.

Snow, chilly temperatures and red noses are all possible, so here’s your three-step winter wedding survival guide for an effortless and beautiful big day.

For you

  • Remember to purchase faux-fur wraps for you (and don’t forget your bridesmaids!) to keep the chill off. You’ll probably be outdoors at least for the photographs, and these fashionable wraps will make sure you’re cosy enough to enjoy them!

  • Tissues and makeup top ups will be your handbag essentials. Red noses and rosy cheeks might be commonplace in the colder weather, but you don’t want them colouring all your wedding photos. Reapply makeup regularly over any redder spots to keep your complexion picture perfect. These winter hair and beauty tips will be your best friend.

  • The colder weather, more muted colours and darker days will all benefit from a bit of brightening up. Choose sparkly embellishments on your dress and accessories to reflect the light and add some wintery charm.

  • On a more practical note, make sure you’ve got colour co-ordinated brollies and wellies on hand. If it’s wet or it snows, you’ll be perfectly prepared to stun in your photos still without getting soggy feet!

    For your guests

  • We all know and love the flip flop basket at weddings for comfy feet, but for winter weddings we recommend adding a blanket basket, too. Add a chalkboard sign encouraging guests to help themselves to make sure everyone stays suitably toasty.

  • Your wedding food can also help by offering winter warmer canapés and drinks. Think hot canapés like miniature fish and chips or steak and chip skewers as well as hot chocolate, mulled wine and s’mores galore.

    For your reception decor

  • Red, white and green, ice cool blues, glittering golds and ivory – whatever winter wedding styling you choose, decide whether you want warming tones or to celebrate the season’s iciness. Stick to one idea throughout for a cohesive reception style.

  • The days draw in quickly in the winter, so you’ll have more hours of darkness than a summertime wedding. This makes lighting an essential part of the winter wedding survival guide. Even if you’ll be embracing the atmospheric glow, ensure there are plenty of candles, fairy lights or alternative lighting available. This is also a great time of year to include fireworks or sparklers at your wedding because you won’t have to wait so long into the evening to do so.

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.

How to pay for your wedding

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With the average cost of a wedding now reaching the dizzying heights of £21,000, big days are demanding big budgets to match, and many couples are left wondering how on earth they will finance their fairytale day…

Times change

Traditionally the task fell to fathers of the bride who would foot the bill for their daughter’s wedding, a spinoff custom from dowries of the past. While news that this tradition has had its day will garner a sigh of relief from your father, it does mean that there’s more to manage for you as a couple instead. Brace yourselves!

Budget first

Gather quotes from key wedding suppliers like wedding venues, wedding flowers and wedding photographers, as well as a ballpark figure for your dress (don’t forget the alterations!), and you can begin to work out a wedding budget.

 

Factor in breathing space for unexpected extras, then divide the total cost by the amount you can afford to save each month. This will give you the number of months it’ll take to save up enough to pay for your wedding, so you’ll know when you can afford to set the date for.

 

A lot of brides will tell you that doing the sums and making the spreadsheet is the easy part – sticking to it is much harder, but stick to it you must! It is possible, though, as these five couples prove with their own tips to avoid blowing your budget.

 

Family matters

 

By starting out with a wedding budget that you can afford yourselves, you needn’t stress so much about how much others might be able to help you, if at all. While fathers no longer have to fork out for everything, many parents still like to contribute in some way. Be aware that this won’t always come as a direct offer of money – your mother might offer to buy your dress; your in-laws might give you a free bar for the evening, or your aunt might make your wedding cake.

 

Just because one set of parents paid one amount doesn’t mean the others should do too – indeed, there is no requirement for families to contribute at all. Be grateful for whatever you may receive and treat it as a bonus rather than an expectation. Everyone’s circumstances, timings and wishes will likely be different.

Something borrowed

If you’ve drawn up a budget but are unable to finance it yourselves, try reining in your spending in the areas less essential to you. You can also use these tips to have your dream day for less.

Failing that, there is the option to borrow money to fund your wedding. Do so with caution: will you really want to be paying for your big day months, possibly even years, later? Remember that the interest will only make your costs climb further.

 

It’s a personal decision that should be made only after careful consideration, so take the time to mull your options over. An alternative you could try is to set up your gift list as a wedding fund and have guests contribute in place of giving presents on the day.