Tag Archives: weddings

Let Mum get involved

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Traditionally the mother of the bride is the host of your wedding party – the reception. It is her job to make sure that everything goes according to plan. When planning your wedding check out what other jobs are ideal to assign to your lovely mum.

First things first…

Remember…

  • DO Look after her – she is going to be working hard for you behind the scenes

  • DO Give her a bouquet at the reception, during the speeches

  • DO Encourage her to wear a complementary outfit to the colour scheme

  • DO Invite her to be involved with choosing your wedding dress. It’s the most special bit for her

  • DO Encourage her to meet up with your fiancé’s mum regularly so that they know each other before the day (and don’t wear clashing outfits)

  • DON’T forget to thank her

  • DON’T exclude her from anything

  • DON’T forget her on the day – she’ll be longing to be useful

  • DON’T leave her to do everything. By tradition, she would be the last to leave the reception, but don’t ask her to stay until the last drink is drunk

  • DON’T forget to book her in with the wedding hairdresser and nail technician in the run-up to your big day

  • DON’T let her interfere. It’s your day really…

 

Then the fun bits she can do…

 

  1. Announcing the engagement to the press, locally and nationally

  2. Working with the bride and groom to draw up the guest list

  3. Ordering the stationery and chasing it up

  4. Sending out the invites and keeping an eye on acceptances and regrets

  5. Supplying the wedding gift details to anyone who asks for them

  6. Helping to organise the seating plan

  7. Help you to choose your dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses

  8. Planning the flowers for the ceremony and reception

  9. Ordering the wedding cake

  10. Arranging table decorations

  11. Making sure all of the guests have got somewhere to stay that night

  12. Help you to get dressed and ready on the morning of the wedding

  13. Give the order of service sheets to the ushers

  14. Organising the buttonholes for key members of the wedding party, including the ushers, best man, bridegroom, and the two dads

  15. Look after the gifts during and after the wedding. This includes finding a safe place to store them during the day

  16. Collect the photo proofs from the photographer while you are on honeymoon

  17. Organise the wedding photo list – send out the right ones to the right people. You may want her to chase up your photos while you are away on your honeymoon, too. It’s great if the contact sheets are already waiting for you to look through when you get back home.

 

Choose The Right Photographer For You

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1. Remember that practise makes perfect

While you can get good deals with a photographer who’s new to the industry and building their portfolio, you do need to find someone you trust to get it right, and experience can play a big part in that. A professional wedding photographer distinguishes all the subtleties of shooting a wedding – they’ll know exactly when to photograph your groom as he first sees you walking down the aisle, how to achieve the perfect confetti shot, and what to do in the event of rain. A creative and flexible approach often results in the most breathtaking and brilliant wedding photographs.

2. Browse your photographer’s portfolio

Look through the portfolio of any photographer you’re considering. You won’t just be looking for examples of the weddings they’ve captured. You’ll also be looking at their different styles and approaches. When you find the photos that resonate with you, you’ve found your style and photographer.

3. Make sure you budget for your photographer

Brilliant pictures cost a lot, but they last a lifetime, so it’s an investment worth making for your wedding. Your budget will inevitably determine which photographers are in the running, but don’t make it an element you scrimp on. Memories are priceless and high quality photographs make all the difference.

4. Create a detailed action plan

Everything from your chosen wedding venue to the time of year will effect your wedding photographs. If you’ve got your heart set on certain shots, like couple’s portraits at sunset or a sparkler send-off photo, then you need to talk it through with your photographer. If they know what you want, together you can work out when and where to fit those photos in.

5. Make sure you’ve both done your homework

You can trust your photographer’s experience and ability to come up with great ideas for photographs. But, it is also worth finding your own fun ideas too. Ideas for unusual group shots, any props you might want to include, or parts of your venue that offer a particularly interesting backdrop will all help to create fantastic photographs.

Planning a wedding is a busy time with a lot of pressure to get it right. But, with these five steps to choosing the right wedding photographer, you’re now ready to make at least one decision. Then all that’s left, as far as your photographs are concerned, is to relax, have fun and smile for the camera on the best day of your lives.

 

Keep calm, it’s your wedding

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You’ve spent tireless hours planning your wedding, crafting, revelling, and swooning over your wedding dress and the fact that you get to marry the person of your dreams. But guess what? When your wedding day finally arrives, all of your plans are going to be set in motion, and it is time for you to sit back and enjoy! Sadly, not everyone gets to do this for one reason or another… but if you adhere to the following things, you will get to fully enjoy the entire experience of your wedding day:

1. Limit your activities on the morning of your wedding.

Don’t plan an activity that doesn’t fall within your normal routine. You don’t want to end up sore from a 7-mile bike ride that you wouldn’t normally do on any other day. Or you don’t want be late for the rest of your day because you decided to go get pedicures on your wedding day. Getting ready on your wedding day will take time, so enjoy it. There is also no need to add any stress of completing tasks before the wedding, so make sure you have all your projects done! Be smart and be reasonable with yourself and make sure you’re not overdoing anything.

2. Eat and stay hydrated.

Seems like a no brainer but not eating and drinking water can ruin your wedding day. Staying hydrated will help your skin glow in your pictures. And in case you need us to mention the obvious… staying hydrated will also hopefully prevent you from over-drinking and getting sloppy from too much Champagne in the morning!

3. Turn off your phone.

Or at least only answer your planner’s calls. Live in the moment. Your wedding day will pass by so fast- you don’t want to regret spending it on your phone. Plus, if you’ve hired someone to help manage your day, there is no reason you need to be directing people or making calls on what needs to get done. Direct everyone to your planner, but also friends and family- so you can enjoy your wedding day!

4. Trust your vendors.

Give them space and have confidence they’ll handle everything for you. Especially your wedding planner. She is there to represent you and will do just that, but you have to trust she’s got it covered! Intervening and not allowing her to do her job creates confusion, chaos, and wastes precious time! You hired your planner for a reason – remember that. Also, if there is a vendor who you feel like isn’t on par, discuss it with your planner and she can handle it for you. The whole goal is to not have to worry about anything, right?

 

Excuse for the brides-to-be

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Here are those times when it’s alright to use that age-old excuse of brides-to-be…

To get out of something

  • Sometimes you might find yourself in a situation you don’t want to be in, whether that’s an uncomfortable conversation with a good friend asking if you fancy going to that book club she’s started or just a plain awkward conversation.

  • So know you have a great excuse to get out of anything, you are planning a wedding!!

To show off your ring whenever you want

  • Talking of wedding chat, showing off the ring is another conversation starter and will inevitably grab the attention of anyone around. That well-practiced hand flick of yours to make your ring dazzle and catch people’s eyes will never go to waste, even if you’ve spread the news of your engagement.

To blag some freebies

  • There are lots of bits and bobs involved with weddings, and people know that perfectly well. Because of this, walking around town talking about how you’re getting married may just get you a few freebies. People will want you to buy from them, and what better way to tempt a bride with the loving kindness of a freebie?

  • And then there’s the wedding gift list! Putting together a list of things you want so that people can buy them for you is the absolute dream. That fancy toaster you’ve been eyeing up every time you visit John Lewis? On the list! That activity on your honeymoon that would send you just a bit over budget? On the list!

  • But don’t think it’s all over for you when the wedding has been and gone. If you’ve got a honeymoon planned – whether it’s straight after the big day or a little bit later – it’s a good idea to let them know it’s your honeymoon that you’re celebrating, you lovebirds may just get some special treatment…

To drink in the morning

  • The morning of the big day: the time when the words ‘I’m getting married’ will probably be said again and again in a matter of minutes. It’s a big day and you’ll be feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement, and that glass or bottle of fizz staring at you from your fridge is the perfect way to calm you down. Even if the clock has only just hit 10am, it’s okay because you’re getting married!

 

Wedding design on a budget

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Perfect as favours or place names, why not showcase your talents as we show you how to make these fun felt decorations…

What you need

  • Coloured felt

  • Stuffing (cotton wool balls)

  • Contrasting thread or wool

  • Needle

  • Scissors

  • Pins

  • Card template

Instructions

Pin your heart template to your felt (you can print a paper one from the computer) then cut around the template. Be sure to keep the template tight to the felt for a professional-looking finish.

Put the two felt hearts together and pin in the centre. It’s now time to start stitching, using a blanket stitch. If you are unsure of this stitch, you are sure to find it on You Tube.

For the stuffing we used unravelled cotton wall balls. Stuff as much or little as you like, the more shape the better the finish.

Continue to sew the heart, once at the end, tie a knot with the needle and thread. Snip the ends and you have a beautiful felt heart.

Top Tip

If you wish to use the heart for hanging, pull a piece of thread through one of the stitches, or put wire or a small stick in the bottom of the heart and use as a cake topper or in your wedding flowers,

alternatively scatter loosely on your wedding table for a pretty look.

Mad Hatter Wedding ideas

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Invitations

The maddest guests needn’t be invited, they will simply fall through the rabbit hole and stumble across your party by chance.

 

Dress code

Colourful, bold and avant-garde.

 

Hair code

No one is allowed to have similarities in wedding hair colour or style, other than that, anything goes.

 

Wedding Décor

Matching furniture is forbidden; the more quintessentially Wonderland, the better.

 

Guests

Be specific when choosing your guests based on personality, if they aren’t at least slightly crazy, they won’t fit in.

 

Tea

Earl Grey is the only tea to be served. It needn’t be high quality and can be of any origin, just make sure it’s Early Grey.

 

Sandwiches

There are three sandwiches which are appropriate for a Mad Hatters Tea Party; minted cucumber, egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, and smoked salmon and cream cheese. Cutting your sandwiches into heart shapes is cute, but would Alice approve of your allegiance to the Queen of Hearts?

 

The Chelsea Bun

The Chelsea bun is known predominantly for throwing, so get involved, it’s what Tea Parties are made for.

 

Shortbread

Height should not be discriminated against; therefore, shortbread is totally acceptable at the tea table.

 

Floristry

Wedding flowers perfection should be avoided at all costs. If you have a budget for plants, stick to twigs, decaying leaves and fungi.

 

Hospitality

Being hospitable is essential. This can be achieved through planning a range of unrecognisable party games.

 

Weather

If you’re worried about being outside and it raining, it doesn’t matter too much as the best Mad Hatters Tea Parties are set in very little sunlight. For big budget tea parties, rain and mist machines are encouraged.

 

Seating

If you can’t get bums on seats, bums on anything is fine. Stools, shelves, giant mushrooms; anything goes.

 

Cheshire cat

One ginger cat is required as ‘purr’ its Cheshire heritage.

 

Timekeeping

This is banned as there is no time in wonderland. However, we would only suggest this tip as optional as if adhered to it can cause havoc, after all, you don’t want your guests to be late for this very important date.

When a loved one can’t make it

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Of course it’ll be the happiest day of your life, with the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, surrounded by the people you love the most. But during this special day you’re allowed to feel a little bit sad, as you remember your nearest and dearest who can’t share the celebrations with you.

You want them to be a part of your day, not to detract from the spirit of it. Some brides have photos tied with a ribbon to their wedding bouquet, or hear stories about emotional speeches made by the bride. You don’t have to make a big statement if it’s going to turn you into a blubbering wreck, there are lots of more subtle but equally poignant ways to remember loved ones who have passed away…

Dedicate a reading

Why not have a close family member dedicate a special reading to lost loved ones? Personally, we like this poem by an unknown author…

If Roses Grow in Heaven

If Roses grow in Heaven,

Lord please pick a bunch for me,

Place them in my Mother’s arms

And tell her they’re from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her,

And when she turns to smile,

Place a kiss upon her cheek

And hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her is easy,

I do it every day,

But there’s an ache within my heart

Because I am missing her today.

This poem is good for anyone else who you want to remember on your big day…

Someone is missing

Let this candle be a loving reminder

that someone is missing today,

Someone our hearts still hold on to,

As we travel along life’s way.

Someone who made life so special,

for all those who gather here,

Someone who won’t be forgotten,

But cherished from year to year.

And now as we pause to remember,

Let us all fondly recall,

how dearly each of us loved him,

and oh… how he loved us all!

 

Alternative wedding entertainment

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Some wedding guests like to get down and boogie all night long, while others prefer to prop up the bar. Get your guests mingling and having fun with these top ideas for entertaining guests who don’t like dancing.

Fantastic fete ideas

Are you having an English country garden themed wedding? If the weather is nice then how about an outdoor fairground with old-fashioned stalls like a coconut shy, hoopla and swings?

Play ball!

How about a massive volleyball contest with a big soft ball. You could have the bride’s party on one side, the groom’s on the other. Be warned – this could get a little competitive!

Drum roll please

A drum tutorial. Everyone is able to beat the drums in some sort of unison, even if they don’t have any rhythm. This would be especially fun for any children attending your big day.

Line dancing fun

Although some guests are not keen on dancing, it may just be that they lack confidence in their skills on the dance floor or feel that their moves are a little out-dated. In that case, why not get everybody line dancing? It’s not enormously energetic (so good for the oldies), it’s great fun, you don’t need a partner and everybody will feel they are doing it as a group.

Picture perfect

How about a caricature artist? You know, the type of artist you see working on pavement stalls near city tourist attractions. People enjoy watching a caricature coming together; the person being drawn will wonder what it’s eventually going to look like and at the end of the evening they have something to take home with them. Maybe you could offer caricatures instead of wedding favours?

Crazy karaoke!

Although your guests may not like dancing, they may be karaoke fiends! You could set up a separate room with karaoke and watch the fun unfold. Sometimes even the most shy and retiring individual really comes to life behind a karaoke mike!

Spin the wheel

Set up a casino with a roulette wheel and a blackjack table. You can hire casino equipment and it’s a good idea to have somebody in charge of proceedings. Your male guests will enjoy channelling their inner James Bond fantasies and the women can pretend they are Bond girls!

Quiet chit-chat

Don’t forget that many of the guests at your wedding will probably just want to talk. Some people may have not seen each other for ages, particularly if they have flown in from abroad. So to keep them happy you’ll just need to provide a quiet area away from the music (like a chill-out room) where they can gossip to their heart’s content.

Magic moments

Magicians are great for multitasking at weddings. They can mingle with guests at the wedding reception and then entertain the non-dancers when everybody else has hit the floor.

Forget dancing

If you know that the majority of your guests aren’t interested in dancing and you’re not that keen yourself, then why don’t you rethink the time of your wedding? Instead of doing the standard afternoon/evening ceremony reception thing, you could get married in the morning and have a lunch instead. Then dancing won’t even come into the equation.

Anyone for croquet?

If you’re getting married in a country house wedding venue, then check if there is a croquet lawn. A croquet tournament is the perfect way of keeping all ages happy – it’s not particularly energetic but a match will absorb both the participants and spectators.

Snap happy!

Wedding photo booths will appeal to all ages and have the added attraction that they are a good source of wedding photos for you. Grandparents can be snapped with grandchildren, everybody can dress up in silly hats, moustaches and glasses… a photobooth is almost certainly going to be a winner.

 

Indoors or outdoors weddings?

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With summer here – the preview was obviously the weather last week – many start to ponder whether they should have their wedding indoors or outside at their wedding venue. Of course, if you decide to go with the latter option, you might also decide to theme your big day and with that in mind, we’ve put together a few acts that are perfect for a festival themed wedding.

A capella

A capella is classic with songs ranging from classics through to modern hits. Giving off a summer vibe, you’ll will find all your wedding guests fall in love to the dulcet tones of an A Capella group long after the sun sets.

Face Painting

A superb choice if you have children attending your wedding, this is also a fun idea if you have adults who enjoy letting their hair down every once in awhile! From butterflies to tigers and many other designs, our incredible face painters will be able to paint your face in a matter of minutes. Calling to mind summer days in long grass, we love this idea and it’ll certainly liven up your wedding photos!

Circus wedding entertainment.

If you decide to hire some circus entertainment for your festival wedding then it’s probably best to go with a strolling act because it’s a lot more likely that the majority of your guests will be able to see their show. A circus act like Acro-Jugglers are great fun and will certainly enhance the enjoyment of the day, whilst also providing some spectacular moments for Instagram and Facebook. Other circus options include unicyclists and balloon artists (to name just a few).

Photobooth

If you can give us one good reason why you wouldn’t want to have a photobooth at your wedding then we’d like to hear it! They are easily one of the most popular forms of wedding entertainment that are booked for weddings and the best bit is that they can often be customised to suit you! There are so many different types that there is bound to be a booth that best represents the personality of the bride and groom from Tuk Tuk to Camper Van and many more besides!

 

All-round wedding entertainment

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As summer rolls in, many of the weddings for June, July and August are already arranged. With this in mind, we tend to turn our minds to Autumn around this time of year and have noticed a few trends when it comes to wedding entertainment requests!

The first thing to note is that many brides and grooms appear to be requesting a lot more strolling entertainment than in previous years. In truth, this has been rising year on year for at least the past four years, with numerous bookings for acoustic music acts that can roam from place to place – both inside and out – as well as a few more ‘interesting’ acts that many might not immediately think about when planning a wedding.

When it comes to booking roaming music acts, there are a number of possible options. It’s a wonderfully interactive slice of entertainment for any occasion and the sheer joy that the music generates makes it tremendously popular at weddings throughout the year…

Ultimately any wedding entertainment decisions are the choice of the couple and any stats that we assess are purely for interest value only. Let’s be honest, we’d all like a wedding that plays to our own individual tastes so don’t focus too heavily on the trends we’ve laid out above. Although we love strolling entertainment, there are many more possibilities available when it comes to celebrating your wedding day so let your imagination run wild and dare to be different…