Tag Archives: preparation

Don’t make these mistakes!

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Mistake 1: Not dealing with debt

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

Mistake 2: Alienating your friends

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

Mistake 3: Neglecting the bedroom

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

Mistake 4: Outlawing the in-laws

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

Mistake 5: Letting yourself go

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

Mistake 6: Becoming baby-obsessed

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

The ‘after the wedding’ to-do list

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

Leave helpful reviews about your various wedding suppliers.

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

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

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

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

Discuss finances: should you have a joint bank account?

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

What to do if it rains at your Wedding?

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If your wedding is just around the corner you’ve probably been refreshing the 10-day forecast every other hour. The last thing you want is bad weather on your wedding day, but sometimes it’s simply unavoidable and it’s important you have a Plan B.

This means if that dreaded rain cloud does appear on the weather forecast, you can still relax and enjoy your wedding day as you’ve already got a back-up plan in place. Note – this is much better than having a breakdown on the morning of your wedding because your ceremony is based outside and it’s pouring with rain.

Prepare your photographer

A good wedding photographer will have a back-up plan for bad weather. However, it’s always worthwhile showing them around the venue before the big day so they can see possible areas to shoot if photographing outside is impossible. This will save a whole ton of time on the day! Photographers can also take some seriously romantic shots in the rain if you’re brave enough.

Always accessorise

Stock up on some pretty umbrellas and colourful wellies! Supply your guests with a box of brollies (they might not be as prepared as you) and match the colours to the theme of your wedding day. This will also look fab in your wedding photographs.

Choose a summer wedding

If you know this is something you are really going to stress about, to the point where it takes over and you end up dreading your big day, choose to have a summer wedding as it’s way less likely to rain.

Have a back-up plan

If you’re planning on having an outdoor ceremony, always book a venue that has a back-up option if it rains. It’s extra helpful if you have the option to switching to an indoor ceremony at the last minute, if not, ensure there is cover if it does rain!

Avoid any make-up disasters

If you want to keep your make-up looking perfect for the whole day, including if it rains, set your foundation with a primer. Wear waterproof mascara and water-resistant foundation, just to be extra safe!

Embrace it

If it rains on your wedding day, there’s not much you can do about it so simply embrace it! Do not let it stop you and your hubby enjoying your special day. It also makes for some seriously romantic photographs in the rain…

10 rules if you’re considering a marriage proposal

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If you’re thinking about a marriage proposal, there are many pit holes you should try to avoid when planning to utter those 4 special words. Here are 10 golden rules that you should follow if you’re considering a marriage proposal.

If she ever points a ring out in a shop window, go back and buy it. Otherwise a temporary ring will be just fine – a girl needs to choose her own ring. Haribos make some fun, colourful ones.

Ask her Dad for his daughter’s hand in marriage. You’ll be amazed what this will achieve. He might even say yes, thump you on the back and take you down to the pub for a beer.

If you whisk her away somewhere to do it, do it early on – don’t leave it till the last minute or when you’re packing up to go home. You’ll want the time to make plans, feel all coupley and get used to the idea that you’re in it for keeps.

Don’t do it in the heat of emotion or passion. People have different opinions on things when their senses are highly stimulated and you don’t want her changing her mind. Similarly, you don’t want to wake up the next morning regretting it.

Don’t bring too much alcohol into the mix either. A drunken proposal is a bad idea, not least because you won’t be able to re-live each moment when you’re telling the tale. And you’ll want to enjoy the ensuing Champagne. A beer or couple of shots for Dutch Courage is fine, but stop right there.

If she’s the sort of person who hates being surprised, or can’t bear being the centre of attention, don’t be dragging her up onto the stage at a Take That concert. She’ll probably say yes but mean no, and will find the whole thing humiliating and embarrassing, ruining the moment for her.

Conversely, if she likes spontaneity, it’s worth writing to her favourite band, nightclub or football team to ask for their help. It’s a great spectator sport this proposal lark.

State from the start how much you want to be involved in the planning. Talk to her. You don’t want to wake up the next day with no clue where to start or how to help. She might produce a list she’s been compiling for years of what she wants, so get in there quickly.

Don’t propose unless you are fully committed to setting a date. Getting engaged isn’t a mere gesture, or to be used to pacify your girlfriend, it’s a commitment to marry, to spend the rest of your life together.

Make it fun – if you’re not one for PDAs, be a bit creative at home. You could spend the day planning and preparing the house for her return to work – lay a trail of petals to the ring, make a treasure hunt, be waiting at her favourite restaurant, in a quiet corner (send a text saying: “You’re late, I’m at the restaurant”) or be waiting under a tree on your favourite country walk. You could even tie it on a ribbon round her kitten’s neck – just do it! Good luck!!

Do’s and don’ts of proposing

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Did you know one in 20 married couples are currently making plans to make the big proposal at Christmas or New Year – that’s an estimated 789,775 people nationwide! Receiving the ring as a present when it’s just the two of you was voted the preferred method.

The figure was revealed following a survey asking 2,000 Brits the dos and don’ts when popping the question over the festive period. Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year and, and it couldn’t be a more romantic time to take the next step in your relationship. Novelty moves such as tying a beautiful ring to the collar of a pet, hanging it on the tree or dropping it in a champagne flute can all be fun yet stand-out ways of popping the question. But as the results show, presenting a ring when it’s just the two of you will always be the ultimate truly romantic memory.

The most desired festive proposal would be when the couple are alone rather than in public, with three in ten who said opening a present to find an engagement ring would be the ideal scenario. One in four wanted their other half to get down on one knee in the snow, with 27 per cent who envision hearing the big question in front of a romantic log fire. Hiding a ring in a cracker, spelling out ‘Will You Marry Me’ in fairy lights, and giving a ‘For my Fiancé’ Christmas card with a ring taped inside were also listed as perfect proposal moments. 

DO

1. Get their parent’s permission
2. Find out whether they’d like a private or public proposal
3. Gauge what their ring style is before buying
4. Have them open the ring as a Christmas present
5. Keep the ring in a different hiding place to the presents
6. Consider whether they’d want a Christmas Day proposal
7. Make sure the receipt for the ring is well hidden
8. If you’re going to propose over the family dinner, let their parents know first
9. Wait for the perfect moment
10. Use a romantic setting such as a log fire, out in the snow or over a romantic dinner

DON’T

1. Blurt a proposal after too many drinks
2. Give the engagement ring as their only present
3. Propose during EastEnders, Dr.Who or the Queen’s speech
4. Pop the question during turkey preparation
5. Accidentally hide the ring in a plate served up to Gran
6. Arrange an elaborate stunt, such as a Christmas elf flash mob, unless you know they’d like it
7. Don’t tell everybody and let them be the last to know

4 Special moments of wedding planning

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Wedding planning has its moments where you want someone else to take charge and do it for you, but it’s full of special moments and feelings you’ll never, ever forget. Here are just a few we’re sure every bride-to-be will agree with…

Telling everyone you’re engaged

It genuinely won’t get old, not even if you have a huge gap between the question being popped and the big day actually happening. You don’t want to miss any chance at showing off your ring, telling the proposal story, and just genuinely beaming about your husband-to-be – even if you’ve told the same people four times…

Starting up Pinterest

Say ‘hello’ to every bride-to-be’s best friend for amazing wedding inspiration – starting up a Pininterest board named ‘Wedding’, or finally being able to stop being secretive about that wedding board you started within months (or weeks) of your relationship, equals one very excited bride-to-be. From inspiration to DIY ideas, you’ll find it!

Finding the perfect dress

Some brides-to-be find the whole of the Wedding dress shopping experience lots of fun, but we’re well aware some don’t – whether it’s because you hate shopping or your search seems to be going nowhere. BUT, we know for a fact that finding that perfect dress is a magical moment. Smiles, tears, and lots of looking at yourself in the mirror are guaranteed.

Walking down the aisle

This is it, this is the moment every bride-to-be waits for! Seeing her future hubby at the end of the aisle – most likely in awe of how beautiful you look – waiting to say ‘I do’. It would be impossible for anyone not to feel like a princess in a moment like this.

And that’s it, you’re not a bride-to-be anymore. But don’t worry, there are plenty more special moments to come; from the first introduction as Mr and Mrs, to the rest of your lives together.

Mr & Mrs

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Welcome to the all-new Mr & Mrs Quiz for 2016! Back in the 1970s there was a TV game show called Mr and Mrs, where the contestants were asked to answer questions about their partner. If the answers matched, they won! And this got us thinking – how well do you know your own husband or wife-to-be?

So just for fun, we’ve made a Mr & Mrs Quiz especially for you! Do the quiz with your husband to be on a cosy night in or get the answers from the groom-to-be and then take it to your Hen night!

Here are a few suggestions:

What’s the one thing, apart from you that he’d save in a fire?
His job, his friends, his hobbies and you – put them in order of priority!
What would he say is most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
What’s the name of his favourite celebrity crush?
What’s the most unusual place you’ve had sex?
What would he say is your most annoying habit?
What would you say is his most annoying habit?
What’s his favourite sexual position?
Who’s got a higher libido, you or him?
Who would play him in a movie of his life?
What’s his favourite part of your body?
What’s your favourite part of his body?
Where does your h2b want to go on honeymoon?
How many children does he want?
What year did you get together?
After how many dates did you sleep together?
How do you like to fall asleep? Cuddling or apart?
Would you trust him to choose your wedding dress?
How many times did he take his driving test?
What’s his favourite meal?
What’s his special name for you? And yours for him?
Would you rather spend an evening out with his parents or your parents?
What’s his favourite song? And what would he say your favourite song is?
What’s the first movie you ever saw together?
What’s his favourite time of year?
What were his exact words when he proposed?

Wedding must-haves

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Your wedding dress

We’ve all heard horror stories from brides who chose to risk buying their wedding dress from an online seller. We have so many calls from brides who have been let down by an internet supplier, receiving a dress in a condition not at all as described or how they’d pictured.

Every bride deserves the one-on-one attention they will receive visiting a bridal store. It’s the most important item of clothing you’ll ever buy: make a day of it – make a week of it! It’s an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Your perfect venue

Finding the perfect venue is like finding the perfect pair of shoes: they should fit beautifully straight away!

Just as influential as the dress, your wedding venue will say a lot about the type of wedding you are having. Not only is it the backdrop for your photos – the pictures you’ll cherish for a whole lifetime – but the venue also acts as a prompt for your guests: it sets the scene and will give them a hint of the day to come.

When searching for venues, couples often comment that ‘the one’ hit them like a thunderbolt. It fitted their theme perfectly; it accommodated all of their guests; the grounds were stunning and it ticked all the right boxes. Don’t be tempted to compromise on the venue. It will add to that sense of ‘specialness’ by marking your big day out as something unique and memorable. It’s the venue that helps to set apart a wedding from a run-of-the-mill party.

Gastronomical delights

If Jamie, Marco and Gordon are all unexpectedly unavailable, never fear – there are some delicious taste-bud treats out there!

Hugely important, the food for your big day will play a big part of your guest’s opinions about your wedding. Hungry or dissatisfied guests are a big no-no. Treat your guests to a gastronomical delight. And it doesn’t have to be super fancy, either – bangers and mash is always a winner – just make sure that there will be enough for everyone.

The Grooms to-do list

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Men aren’t usually as good at multi-tasking as women and many have a habit of leaving things until the last moment.

So, to stop the stress factor rocketing, we’ve created a last-minute checklist for your new hubby-to-be so he can see at a glance what he has to do and when – and you get the peace of mind of knowing that he’s on the case, hopefully.

A ring is an everlasting symbol of your love and commitment for one another and it’s the groom’s job to get the rings organised. No pressure there then!

Your husband to-be needs to buy wedding rings for both of you and check that they are the correct sizes. If you’re having something bespoke created then you need to be sure that the rings are going to be ready in time, and the pair will need to be cleaned and tucked away somewhere safe until the big day. Your rings are a main event when you tie the knot so it’s essential that they fit correctly and that he has them ready.

Losing the rings may be something that happens in sit-coms but it has been known to happen in real life, too! It’s traditionally the best man’s job to take care of them in the church and hand them over to the groom in time for the ceremony.

Most grooms rise to the occasion of their wedding and dress smartly, even if they don’t go the traditional morning coat and tails look.

Whatever type of wedding suit your fiancé wears, it needs to fit him perfectly and should be cleaned and brushed. He needs to have every aspect of his outfit in place and organised well in advance and absolutely not go shopping the day before.

Take his suit out of its bag and hang it up the night before to air and allow any creases time to fall out. It’s also a good idea for him to have a spare shirt handy, just in case something gets spilled down his front at the last minute.

Wedding accessories are also key to a groom’s look. Firstly, he needs to have some new socks on. They don’t have to be black, if he wants to rock a colour or stripes then let him. Just make sure his socks don’t have holes! Other accessories he’ll need to have are cufflinks for his shirt, his tie or cravat and any other option extra’s that he wants to wear with his outfit.

His shoes should be shiny and polished and if they’re new he needs to wear them in a bit before the big day – just as you have been wearing in your wedding shoes. He might want to wear a tie pin as a piece of jewellery and if you want to give him a gift of jewellery for your day, then this is something to consider.

Just like you, your groom needs to be thinking about his hair on your big day (just think of the photographs you’re going to have taken). He should have it cut no more than a week before the big day. If he wears it longer it needs to be shaped and if it’s short, then it needs to look sharp.

If you want to treat him, you could organise for him to have a cut and shave at a high end hair salon so he feels really special.

Unwritten wedding rules

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Falling foul of the unwritten rules of wedding day etiquette may be easier than most of us realise – don’t be one of these wedding guests!

Over half of guests (52%) say they have attended a ceremony where they have cringed at the antics of a fellow family member or friend of the happy couple, according to a new survey.

Call the fashion police

Wearing the wrong outfit is classed as the most common mistake, with 36% of people saying they have witnessed guests dressed inappropriately. One in five (21%) say they have been embarrassed by attendees in very revealing clothing, while 15% know someone who has worn white or come dressed all in black, to a couple’s big day.

Men are not immune to getting their outfits wrong either, with 4% being seen in jeans and another 2% left feeling foolish by mistakenly believing black tie and dinner jacket is the same as a morning suit.

Too wide a hat was mentioned by 14% who thought it rude as it blocked the view at the ceremony, and wearing a similar dress to the bridesmaids was regarded by 11% as thoughtless. Keeping sunglasses on in church was found to be pretentious by 9%, while fake tan that was too dark or streaky, and heavily applied make-up was seen as a faux pas by 6%.

Not the right time

Nine out of ten thought getting drunk and causing a scene was the worst offence, but only 8% said they had witnessed such an event at a wedding. Taking flash photos during the ceremony was loathed by over eight out of ten, though just 12% had experienced this happening. A further 7% said they had been to weddings where a mobile phone ringing had ruined the atmosphere, either during the service or in the middle of speeches at the reception.

Inconsiderate guests causing problems for the organisers had been witnessed by 13% of those asked, either by not replying to an invitation and turning up with a friend who wasn’t invited, or changing the place cards to sit on a different table. People turning up late were another bug-bear for 10% of respondents.

Speech time

Best men are known for walking a tightrope between good and bad taste when giving their speech, and 37% said they had attended weddings where previous girlfriends and past exploits – best left unsaid – had been mentioned.

Leaving before the reception speeches are finished was regarded as unacceptable by one in four, while 5% claimed to have watched unseemly tussles as women tried to catch the bride’s bouquet.

Top wedding guest faux pas:

  • Bad taste best man’s speech
  • Leaving before the reception speeches are finished
  • Guests wearing outfits that are far too revealing
  • Wearing all white or all black
  • Blocking out the view of others in church with very large brimmed hats
  • Bringing someone who was not invited/failing to RSVP but turning up
  • Taking flash photography during the ceremony
  • Wearing a dress similar to the bridesmaids
  • Wearing sunglasses in church
  • Getting drunk/rowing and causing a scene
  • Forgetting to turn the ringer off your mobile phone for the ceremony or speeches
  • Turning up in jeans
  • Aggressively trying to catch the bride’s bouquet
  • Mistaking morning suit for black tie and dinner jacket

Planning the fun for your wedding

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Hiring entertainment for your wedding can seem like a struggle but it doesn’t have to be. It’s natural to stress over all aspects of an event but if you follow these five basic event planning rules, you’ll be a brilliant event planner in no time! So whether it’s your first time booking entertainment for an event or you’re an old hand, here are a few tips that it’s always worth remembering.

Make a List of Entertainment Ideas

 There are a lot of superb entertainment acts out there but not all of them will be suitable for your special event. As such, it’s best for event planners make a list of the sort of thing you’re looking for even if you have quite a broad spectrum of what it is you’re after.

Know the Trends

One of the most important things about being an event planner is that you need to know what is available on the market. After making your list of wedding entertainment ideas, it’s now time to look out for any other acts the people seem to be excited about and consider the date as well.! Like any industry, events go through trends and it’s important to be on the ball to ensure that you’re getting what you pay for in terms of the latest exciting entertainment act.

Budget Wisely

Decide on a budget far in advance of when you sit down to allocate the funds to each part of your event or wedding. Entertainment can be pricey, as can each part of wedding event planning, but shrewd event planners are the ones who do not waver from their initial costings and ensure that they are getting a good deal. Musicians in particular vary widely in price.

Give Yourself Some Time

People like to plan early so don’t leave it until the last minute before booking the entertainment for your event. Some popular acts are being requested by event planners for weddings late in 2017, so don’t delay if there’s a piece of entertainment you just have to have! It’s better to book sooner rather than later as this also gives time to deal with any possible song requests or dealing with venue difficulties like sound limiters.

Think About Everything Else

Well, once you’ve booked the entertainment for your wedding, it’s time to focus on other things. Event planning is all about juggling tasks and assigning time to each of them. Once your entertainment is booked, start thinking about how to improve your venue by picking a nice theme. Then onto the catering and flowers. It feels like it’s never ending but it doesn’t have to be. So book your entertainment early and then allow yourself some time to think about everything else. Booking through an entertainment supplier certainly gives yourself some piece of mind too as we may well be able to aid in the other areas and should an unforeseen problem occur with your choice act, we will always provide a replacement at no extra cost.