Wonderful advice for your wedding day
I have been speaking to some of my colleagues in the weddings and events industry, asking them what advice they would give to their couples when planning their wedding. Some are business related but some are just wonderful snippets of advice. This is a blog definitely worth reading.
I have had such a wonderful response that I am going to publish the results over a few weeks. Happy reading. Please, if you have a minute, let me know what you think.
I meet couples all the time that have huge guest lists and zero budget. If you are looking to save money on your wedding day, cut the guest list. This is where the majority of your wedding budget will go. To feed that one guest could be the equivalent of your bridal bouquet. So before you send out the invites just ask yourself the question, do you REALLY want them to share your day. Honestly, and trust me, I have been in this business a long time, the most efficient way to save money is to cut the guest list.
The wonderful Jo from wedding stationery company ByJo gave this piece of advice. “You only need one invitation per couple/family/household - so many get this wrong in their initial planning/budgeting. You don’t need to go overboard with info in invitations but give your guests enough detail regarding the venue, accommodation, gifts etc as they need in order to be fully prepared for the day. Resist temptation to include things like 'contact us for further info' as you'll have enough to do in the run up. Also - don’t do the table plan too early - about 80% of the ones I do have changes in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the wedding, it's unavoidable so don't stress about it.”
Image by Sophie Collins Photography. Table card by ByJo.
Flowers by me.
I always tell my couples to ensure they have some time alone during the day; just to relax and savour the moment. After all you have just got married. Owen Mathias has a great piece of advice for when to share this moment. “It usually takes 15 minutes for your guests to be seated before you will be announced into the reception room - this is just enough time to grab a few moments alone.” Honestly, the day will just fly by, try and take a moment to be just together.
Rememeber that Pinterest is someone else's wedding. I have covered my feelings on Pinterest in another blog (you can read it here) but it is definitely worth mentioning again. Vendors like to see what you love on Pinterest but just use this as a reference. Let your suppliers make YOUR wedding. Not a copycat version of another.
Cake by thesweetcakekitchen.co.uk. Image by Naomi Llewelyn Photography
Flowers by me.
The wonderful Claire from The Sweet Cake Kitchen gave this advice. “Picking your cake style should be one of the last things that you do. You may love a rustic semi-naked cake, but if you're hosting a black-tie ballroom wedding, that style may not suit you. Deal with the cake after all the decisions about dress style and reception décor have been made. These elements can serve as a blueprint for the design and structure of your wedding cake.”
Recently married make up artist Kirsty Rowlands had this to say. “My advice would be to get to know your suppliers a little more. Particularly the people who you will spend a large part of your day with. Photographer, videographer, make-up artist, hairdresser. They will work closely with you on the day. It’s important that you have a great rapport with them and you feel comfortable with those you are working with. Skills are important but so are the relationships you form.”
Image by Lloyd Jones Photography.
Flowers by me.
Lovely Rich from Lloyd Jones Photography had this to say. “I love a good wedding, one day so full of belly laughs and celebrations. However I am definitely not a fan of how stressed a wedding day can make a couple feel, trying to please everyone due to long standing traditions.
Here’s the thing. You don’t have to do things the same way as everyone else. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with traditions but make them about you, not something you saw on a Pinterest board. If you’re not a fan of high heels wear your Doc Martin’s. If you don’t like cake have a pork pie cake (yes that’s a thing and yes, it’s bloody delicious) Make your day really you, really YOUR day.”
Thank you to everyone that has contributed to this blog. More to come next week.
Wedding stationery ByJo
The Sweet Cake Kitchen
Kirtsy Rowlands Make Up Artist
Amy-Louise from Hair by Ami-Lou