Tag Archives: preparation

The final countdown

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Planning a wedding is not easy but we thought that this 12-month handy planner maybe just the job to ensure you are organised for the big day;

12 months to go…

Have the budget conversation with your fiancé and your parents?

  • Fix a date and time

  • Decide on guest numbers

  • Visit reception venues and book one as soon as possible

  • Buy wedding insurance

11 months to go…

Send save-the-dates

  • Book your wedding photographer and videographer (Make sure the church or wedding venue allows photos and videos to be shot!)

  • Book the caterer, DJ and/or band

  • Make appointments to try on wedding dresses

 

10 months to go…

  • Choose your guests – bridesmaids, ushers and best man etc.

  • Decide on your wedding dress (allow at least six months for a made-to-measure dress to be delivered)

  • Choose and order your bridesmaid’s dress.

  • Start thinking about a honeymoon, including the costs, season and flights

 

9 months to go…

  • Find a wedding florist and discuss your flowers, including buttonholes, bouquets and arrangements for the church and reception venue

  • Taste and confirm your menu and drinks with your caterer

  • Choose and order your bridesmaid outfits

 

8 months to go…

  • If you’re getting married in a church, discuss readings with the minister or priest and music with the musicians

  • If it’s a civil ceremony, enquire about what readings and music are permitted

  • Order invitations and envelopes (allow one invitation per married couple or family), plus place cards, menus and a seating plan

 

7 months to go…

Book transport to the wedding venue and on to the reception for you and your bridal party (as well as a car to take you to your first-night hotel or the airport)

Order your wedding cake

Choose and order wedding favours

6 months to go…

  • Remind your fiancé to get his and the usher’s outfits

  • Choose gifts for the wedding party

  • Pick your wedding rings

  • Confirm the order of service with your priest or registrar, and then have guest booklets printed. If you have a choir, they need copies, too

5 months to go…

  • Go honeymoon shopping (Remember summer clothes aren’t easy to find in the winter and vice versa!)

  • Book a hairdresser and style consultation (do this earlier if you’re planning to grow your hair)

  • Book your make-up artist and trial appointments

4 months to go…

  • If you’re changing your name, renew your passport now or do it after you have your honeymoon. The officiating minister or registrar will sign the form

  • Find out if you need visas or inoculations for your honeymoon.

  • Discuss hen and stag night plans with your friends.

3 months to go…

  • Pick a company and start gift-list window shopping!

  • Book for a colour (if you get your hair coloured) and a trim

  • Organise a rehearsal and inform those who will need to be there

  • Attend a reading of the banns, if you’ll marry in a church

2 months to go…

  • Send out invitations six weeks before the day and keep a list of acceptances

  • Check that your fiancé has organised the rings, his wedding clothes, and your first-night hotel

  • Try on your whole wedding outfit, including headdress, shoes and underwear. Forgotten anything? Get it!

  • Book any other beauty treatments (nails, fake tans, etc.)

 

1 month to go…

  • Confirm numbers with caterers and do the seating plan

  • Discuss special requests with your band or DJ

  • Order honeymoon currency and traveller’s cheques

  • Visit the hairdresser to try out hairstyles with your veil and tiara, and have your final cut and colour

  • Have your hen and stag nights – after all that running around, it’s time to party!

 

Same sex wedding ideas

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With same sex Weddings now legalised, this is a cause for a double celebration, make it loud and be proud. Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate such a wonderful Wedding such as this!!

When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s all about representing the couple’s style and personality — and same-sex weddings are no different. With the law changing in favour of marriage and equality, we’re feeling especially inspired to share some gorgeous wedding-planning ideas for gay and lesbian couples.

We’ve rounded up a few décor ideas that provide a unique twist on traditional wedding details:

  • Kick off the festivities with a personalized billboard sign, a fun way to welcome your guests — and get them excited for the nuptials ahead!

  • Add a twist to traditional ceremony seating with a tongue-in-cheek sign pointing guests to choose a seat and not a side (either way it’s for a bride!).

  • Want to show off your newlywed status in style? Opt for matching ‘Groom and Groom chair designs adorned with greenery or display whimsical “Bride” and “Bride” laser-cut letters in front of your handcrafted sweets.

  • You can also add a humorous — and elegant! — upgrade to the groom’s’ cake with tiered chocolate cupcakes adorned with mini bowties and top hats.

  • For brides, go for simple “Hers” and “Hers” calligraphed signs in front of delicious, non-traditional wedding cakes. And as the night’s celebration comes to a close, send off your guests with personalized canvas totes that read “Love is Love” — a perfect closing to an unforgettable night!

Whether you’re sticking to tradition or going all-out with personalised details celebrate love with

these creative ideas that make for a truly unique same-sex wedding!!

Welcome your wedding guests with a sign with big personality — like a billboard with your wedding-day phrase!

 

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.

Late License Venues

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When it comes to celebrating one of the best days of your life with all your favourite people around you, the very last thing you want is for it to end early! This is why couples and their family and friends (who are fully prepared to party all night) feel it’s a real priority to choose a wedding venue that has a late license.

1. Roman Baths and Pump Room

Oh beautiful, beautiful Bath – not only are you one of THE most gorgeous places in Britain but you also know how to party. This lovely Wedding venue situated at the heart of the World Heritage Site can be enjoyed by you and all your guests until 1am.

2. New Craven Hall

If you’re after a more industrial feel to your wedding, New Craven Hall in Leeds is the one for you. With gorgeous interiors of exposed brick, large metal beams teamed with warm lighting and luxurious soft furnishings – it does a lot of the decorating legwork for you. Not only that, but you can enjoy the venue and it’s lovely bar until 2am Sunday to Thursday and 3am Friday to Saturday.

3. Searcy’s St Pancras

If you fancy something really alternative but still quintessentially British, why not get married in the spellbinding St Pancras station? Searcy’s enables you to hold both your ceremony and reception all in one place in one of London’s most iconic buildings with a late bar until 1am. If that isn’t late enough, you can always apply for a later license.

4. The Rosendale

For an elegant but understated wedding, The Rosendale in leafy West Dulwich is a great venue for cosy, British charm. With a late license until 1am this local makes for a wonderfully warm place to gather all your family and friends on your big day.

5. The Singer Tavern

Set in the heart of the city of London, this stylish pub and cocktail bar has a light and airy feel. With an industrial, American diner look, this venue makes for a great backdrop to your wedding reception. The basement cocktail bar gives you enough room for dancing and drinking, which is made even better by the fact this venue has a late license until 4AM! If everyone manages to last until that time, we will be very impressed.

Wedding Pets

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You’re planning your wedding and have all your family and friends on the guest list but a little something feels missing, a particularly furry little thing for that matter. When it comes to your wedding day, many couples are increasingly deciding to include their dogs in the wedding. With them being part of your little family so far, it would feel a shame to leave them behind (and just think of the cute factor they will bring to proceedings!) But before issuing your dog with their very own gold embossed invite, there are a few things you need to consider about whether it will realistically work for you. So here are our best advice on how to master including your dog in your wedding day and ensure everything runs smoothly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

So now you know the facts and things to consider.

Same sex wedding guide

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Planning a Wedding is stressful enough. It gets even more confusing when most of the advice out there revolves around a bride and groom—and you’re both one of the above.

1. Get creative with your wedding party

Who says a woman has to have maids of honour and only guys get to nominate best men? Choose the guests you want up at the altar with you—whatever sex they are—and name them accordingly. You could have bride’s men, groom’s maids, a man of honour or a best woman, for instance, or give the whole gang a fun name like the “I Do Crew” or “Bridal Brigade.” Or skip the guests altogether and keep all eyes on you and your partner.

2. Don’t worry about what you “should” do

Instead of worrying about how to make your ceremony line up with (straight) tradition, view it as a chance to throw an event exactly your way, without any of the old-school “must-haves” that don’t mean anything to you personally. “Because many same-sex couples don’t have gendered roles in their relationship, they really have the freedom to reinvent the wedding.

3. Social media is your friend

Can’t visualize what your invitations, vows or any other part of your wedding should look like? That’s what Pinterest is for.

4. Put your own stamp on the ceremony

Many traditional wedding ceremonies feature a groom waiting at the altar for his bride to walk toward him down the aisle. So what happens if you’ve got two grooms or two brides? It totally depends on what you and your partner feel comfortable with. Some ideas:

  • Walk down the aisle one right after the other.

  • Walk each other down the aisle, perhaps arm in arm or holding hands.

  • Walk in unison down separate aisles leading to the altar.

  • Flip a coin before the ceremony to decide who proceeds down the aisle first.

5. A planner may be worth the money

Though a wedding planner isn’t in everyone’s budget, a coordinator can help you save time by steering you toward venues and officiants that he knows to be inclusive of same-sex weddings.

6. You can still have your own pre-parties

There’s no reason you have to forego a party with your best mates just because you’re both stags or hens. So go ahead and plan your own celebration, whether it’s a weekend in Amsterdam or a trip to the seaside. One thing that’s really common is two partners having separate parties on the same night and then meeting up at the end.

7. Vet your honeymoon destination before you book

Once you’ve come up with a list of dream destinations—particularly international ones—do a little research first and cross off any that don’t afford the same legal protections and cultural acceptance that same-sex couples have here. That way, your honeymoon can be just as blissful as the wedding itself.

Keep children entertained at your wedding

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Paper Chase

Download colouring pages, word searches, crosswords, spot the difference from the internet, make sure you give out with crayons or coloured pencils to avoid mess to clothes and tableware.

Silent Scavenger Hunt

Create a tick sheet of things to listen out for or observe during the wedding – what colour are the bridesmaids’ dresses, wedding flowers, what songs were sung, did the best man remember the rings, how many were wearing hats.

Book Corner

Have a range of books to cover differing ages of children at weddings. Put on tables or set up in a corner with bean bags – great for sleepy ones later in the evening too.

Box of Tricks

Create boxes of simple toys such as bubbles, board games (travel ones are cheaper and smaller), jigsaws, and play dough – hassle free distractions for children without the need for too much adult help.

Children Only Room

Create a child-only space with TVs/DVD players, games consoles, books and board games. Children at weddings also love dressing up, craft activities/painting, sand trays and play dough.

VIP

Create tasks for children involved in the wedding to earn VIP badges – roles can range from marshalling guests to the right place to holding their wedding bouquet up the right way for younger bridesmaids.

Outdoor Games

Organise walks around the grounds or do nature searches using small bags to collect what is found. Also provide simple sports equipment such as balls, Frisbees, or cricket sets.

Entertainer

Wedding entertainers for children are a more expensive option when planning your wedding to go smoothly. Although they’ll keep little ones busy, you will need to provide another room for the performance. Be aware, though, that unlike a crèche, parents will still be responsible for supervision of their children.

Babysitters

Babysitters work well if the wedding venue is being held in a hotel. The babysitters can look after individual children or families in their hotel rooms bringing some basic equipment and also putting the children to bed.

Mobile Crèche

The most expensive option but it really is the ultimate answer, and many opt to share the costs with parents. A team will bring all equipment; will be responsible for your children and their entertainment for the whole wedding and even into the night with a sleepover.

 

Get Wedding Party ready

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When you’re preparing for the biggest event of the year, managing your time and planning your look is really important. With all the organising that goes into making the day perfect, you might actually forget that this is a time of celebration! Whether you’re the bride-to-be or an honoured guest, here are a few tips to help you to adopt a positive attitude on your way to getting wedding party ready!

Be honest about your budget

Even if you’re not the bride, being part of a wedding can be expensive. A new wedding dress, wedding accessories, gifts, travel expenses – it all adds up. Before you buy your out t or even RSVP, it’s a good idea to be honest about your budget and what you can afford. Don’t go dress shopping “just for fun” and end up falling in love with the designer gown – this goes for brides, too!

Write down all your to-dos

This one goes without saying for the bride-to-be, but don’t think as a wedding guest that you don’t have a lot to get sorted! From hair and nail appointments, to finding the perfect gift, wedding dress and accessories to match, it’s a great idea to make a compact to-do list so that you’re not panicked at the last minute.

Practice those wedding picture poses

Hate how you look in photos? Many people become self-conscious and slouch over as soon as a camera appears. It might sound silly, but spending some time in front of the mirror practicing picture-perfect poses will give you extra confidence on the day. Holding a smile for endless pictures can actually cause you to frown, so remember to try and keep your smile natural.

Have your nails professionally done

Naturally, everyone will want to see your hands on your wedding day! Showing off your beautiful new wedding ring means that people will notice if your nails aren’t up to scratch – the same goes for bridesmaids who are holding bouquets. Take time to moisturise your hands in the week running up to the main event and get a chic matching manicure to your dress or accessories.

Avoid crash diets

Adding ‘clean’ foods to your diet, like fresh veggies, as well as cutting out or limiting your consumption of processed foods, is a great way to look and feel healthier. Avoid crash dieting – it can put a stress on your body and cause your metabolism to go into starvation mode, while also adding unnecessary feelings of guilt during an already stressful time.

Avoid last-minute treatments (facials, Peels, etc.)

Waxing, facial peels and other intensive skincare treatments can cause short-term in inflammation and irritation, so doing these one or two nights before the wedding is a bad call. To give your skin some time to recover, make sure you have all your treatments done at least a week before the event. This will ensure your skin is radiant and ready in time.

Experiment with hairstyles

Everyone’s hair is different and what suits one bride or bridesmaid might look disastrous on another. Check out some simple hairstyles in a magazine or online and try them out to see what suits. Don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit – if you usually go straight, try some loose curls for an elegant look.

Wear natural-looking wedding make-up

Painting on too much bold makeup will make you stand out in wedding photos – and not for the right reasons. If you love a bold lip colour, balance it out with light foundation and simple eye makeup. A natural-looking glow can be achieved with a good exfoliator, primer and highlighter.

Get to know the rest of the wedding Party

Especially if you’re part of the main event, spend a little time getting to know the rest of the party before the wedding. This is a great way to break the ice and you’ll all feel much more comfortable dealing with any last-minute stresses together on the big day!

Break in new shoes

Wearing new shoes that haven’t been broken in can mean taking them off before the night is through. If you find some new shoes that are perfect for your wedding, make sure you spend a few days walking in them around the house so that they’re nice and comfortable in time for the celebrations.

 

Get a good night’s sleep

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Every bride wants to look radiant and healthy on her wedding day, and getting regular, good sleep is a major contributor to getting this! When planning a wedding it’s vital to get some good sleep and here’s how…

Say no to champers

Although lots of people claim that alcohol helps them fall asleep more quickly, it actually reduces REM sleep – the stage of sleep associated with deep dreaming. Losing out on REM sleep can cause drowsiness when awake, so it’s best to avoid it altogether during the run-up to the wedding. Swap alcohol for herbal teas and non-caffeinated soft drinks, which also help with hydration.

Avoid coffee and other stimulants

Caffeine is obviously well known for keeping people awake, but many other snacks and drinks also contain caffeine, such a chocolate, tea and cola drinks. It is best to steer clear of food and drinks containing stimulants, or make sure they are consumed early in the day, as even in moderate doses, they can block sleep neurotransmitters, causing insomnia.

Light exercise

Although time is always tight in the weeks building up to the wedding, you should allow herself some light exercise every day. Avoid too much strenuous activity later in the day though, because this is more likely to cause you to wake up in the night!

Eat foods that contain tryptophan

If you feel you need an energy boost, it’s best to snack on foods that contain tryptophan. This is an amino acid, which is required for the production of serotonin in the body, which in turn produces melatonin – a hormone that helps with sleep. Yoghurt, bananas, milk and eggs are all high in tryptophan.

Put that phone away

Although the days before a wedding can be frantic with so much to do and so many people to contact, brides should try to avoid using their phone, tablet or laptop late at night. Gadgets like this emit blue light, which is said to delay the production of melatonin, so keeping the body awake.

Turn off the TV

38% of people watch television to wind down before they sleep. However, this can actually harm the sleep cycle because watching TV before bedtime encourages you to stay up later than you would naturally.

Listen to sounds that aid sleep

If you’re anxious and finding it particularly difficult to get to sleep at night,try one of several devices or apps available that generate white noise. White noise devices work two ways: by blocking distracting noises, and by producing soothing sounds that are relaxing and help to induce sleep.

Sleep naked

It’s always tempting to wrap up in cosy pyjamas on cooler nights, but going to bed naked can have several benefits when it comes to getting our beauty sleep. Studies have shown that having the wrong body temperature at night can stop the dozing off process, while not allowing the body to regulate its temperature – by wearing clothes, for example – can prevent people from reaching the deeper stages of sleep.

Turn the bed into a sleep haven

Don’t compromise on comfort – make sure your bed is as comfortable as possible, even if it is just to change the bed linen for something luxurious, or swap a thick duvet for clean, cotton sheets to ensure she has a cool and calm night’s sleep before the wedding.

 

Wedding fair tips

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For anyone thinking of attending a wedding fair in the future, here are a few tips

Take Your Time

This is thee number 1 rule! Take your time visiting each and every stall. Don’t just rush in and think that chatting to a wedding supplier means you have an obligation to buy! Every supplier in attendance knows that weddings are expensive and is simply on hand to make the process easier for you. We might hear from you later and we might not, that’s absolutely fine! The reasons suppliers attend these events is not just to meet potential clients, but also to help educate prospective brides and grooms and help them understand their small part of the wedding planning process. So take your time and enjoy the occasion.

‘Entertainment’ Shouldn’t Make you Nervous!

Do not fear the word ‘entertainment’. There are always a few couples who see the word and aren’t entirely sure what it means; they have the music planned but… What else should there be? In short, nothing! You don’t have to have anything at your wedding. The most important part of your wedding is the vows; anything else is secondary. Wedding Entertainment refers to anything that will entertain on your big day from the band to the DJ to harp and so on and so forth.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these few tips for those attending their first wedding fair. We also highly recommend taking a business card and brochure from every supplier you meet so that you can refresh your mind after the fair from the comforts of your own home. There’s a lot to take in and remember, there’s nothing preventing you from attending another down the line.