In recent times, there have been less and less people writing their own save-the-date cards. It has largely been replaced by highly gifted Etsy sellers who create beautiful templates which can be customised for your wedding at a very reasonable price. The low cost of customisation has sky-rocketed the popularity of these sellers due to the high-quality results and the time-saving they provide.
But not everybody wants to take this route. Many people prefer to make their own or at least do their own wording. If you are in this category and you want to know how to write save the date cards, this hack is for you.
There are many different approaches to this and there are really no set rules to which you must follow. Ideally, you want to get your save-the-dates sent out soon after you get engaged to allow your guests to pencil the date into their diary. The save-the-date should have less detail than the actual invitation (otherwise there is no point in sending both) and should only contain the essential details as you probably haven’t confirmed many bookings yet. You can say whatever you want! To make sure you’re covering all the important info, we have outlined below the key information which you should make sure you don’t miss.
So, here are the things you MUST include:
Bride and groom’s names(yeah…..thanks for stating the obvious!)
Wedding date(It’s kinda in the name)
And here are the things you should include:
The wedding location(city – not the venue)
Wedding website(if you have one)
A little bit of text saying “Formal invitation to follow” or similar(just to make clear it’s not the actual invitation)
And here are the things you probably shouldn’t include
Venue(you probably haven’t booked one yet)
Gift list details(you’re just casually inviting them to the wedding. Don’t start asking for presents yet!)
RSVP card(too early for finalising your guest list)
And here are the things you definitely shouldn’t include:
A list of your top 10 favourite Robert de Niro movies(but why would you?)
Kidding aside, that’s all you need to know. The save-the-date requires less detail than your actual invitation so can be a little lighter and playful in tone. Have some fun with it and be creative.
We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce the Winners and Highly Commended suppliers of the Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2017!
With so many incredible and talented suppliers across our Bridebook family, picking the final winners was difficult to say the least. So we’d like to extend our sincerest warm wishes and thanks for all of those who participated – the wedding industry wouldn’t be where it is today without you!
Now, without further ado – the 2017 winners! Huge congratulations to all! (And if you’re an engaged couple, there’s no better place to start your wedding supplier search than with this fabulous list of award winners!)
Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended! If you’re an engaged couple, there truly is no better place to start than with this fabulous list of Bridebook suppliers. Be sure to check out their profiles to book these award winners for your own wedding!
Wedding insurance is an area that many brides+grooms-to-be don’t consider. A lot of people aren’t even really sure they know what it is. If you’re one of those people, we’re about to sum it up real quick. In the next 2 minutes, you will know exactly what wedding insurance is, what it covers and whether it is something that you feel is worth investing in.
What it covers – Cancelling the wedding
Wedding insurance covers many aspects of the wedding. The most important thing it covers is the possibility of having to cancel the wedding due to uncontrollable circumstances. This would include injury to bride, groom or important member of the wedding party. Also normally included would be sudden closure of the venue that is out of your control.
In the circumstance that you had to cancel the wedding due to any of these circumstances, most insurers would pay the amount that you have spent on deposits in booking vendors and venues up to an agreed cap. Make sure to check the amount they cap at before taking out the policy.
Oh, and just to be clear….wedding insurance doesn’t cover cold feet.
What else it covers
Apart from having to cancel the wedding, there are other (smaller) things that could potentially go wrong on your wedding day that would be covered by wedding insurance. This would include:
Vendors cancelling at last minute. If any of your vendors cancel at the last minute and you need to rebook somebody else(potentially at a much higher price), your insurance will cover any additional costs incurred.
Transport company cancelling at last minute. Same as above.
Loss or damage to items(e.g. dress, cake, flowers etc). Cost of relevant items would be paid by the insurer.
If any gifts are lost or damaged, you will be paid the relevant value of the gift. If any gifts are stolen, the same applies but you will need to report this to the police in order to be eligible for any claim.
What it doesn’t cover
Cold feet
Cancellation for a minor reason
Cancellation due to pre-existing conditions
Cancellation due to financial difficulties
How much does it cost?
Wedding insurance starts at about £100 and can go up to around £500 depending on what you want covered. You can find out more about available wedding insurance policies here.
When should I take insurance out?
As soon as possible. The earlier the better as the cost doesn’t change based on when you arrange it.
During your ceremony, it is quite probable that you are having some form of reading(s) from friends and family. This can be a bible reading, a poem, an excerpt from a book…..the list goes on. This would normally be read by a member of your family or one of your friends. But who do you choose as your wedding readers? Here are some top tips:
Wedding party or somebody else?
You may want to choose members of your wedding party e.g. best man and bridesmaid as they are probably the people who are most important to you. On the other hand, you can use this opportunity to include other people in the wedding who may have just missed out on being included in the wedding party. A close family member(such as an uncle) would also be a good choice if you want to involve more people in the wedding without dipping into the top table.
Choose a good speaker
This may be obvious, but are they a good speaker? Do they have a clear(loud) voice? If there are no microphones at the ceremony venue, they may need to project.
Choose somebody with Confidence
Don’t choose somebody who is going to find it very nerve-racking. You don’t want a shakey-voiced reading during your ceremony. Plus, you don’t want the reader to be stressed. Choose somebody who considers it a great privilege to do the reading and will feel comfortable in front of all your guests.
Readings can be emotional
Depending on the emotional depth of your reading choices, it can be a very special part of your ceremony. Make sure you choose the person who you want. If you have a videographer, you will have this record forever, so make sure you are happy with the choice. Also, consider if they are the correct person to present the depth of the words. Will they just read it off the page or will they speak the words with the emotion they carry?
We won’t lie to you – choosing your wedding party can be a daunting task. How do you pick the right people – the people you actually want to pick – without offending others who thought they’d make the cut? You don’t want to end up with twenty bridesmaids, half of whom you don’t even know or like… But you also don’t want to insult your guests. We’re in tricky terrain – and navigating it requires the utmost tact and consideration. So let’s make it a little simpler for you. Here’s our guide to how to choose your wedding party – and how to let others down gently.
Put Yourself First!
The first thing to do is remember that your wedding day is about you and your fiancé – not your wedding party! Of course, you should want to keep your guests happy – but ultimately, who’s in your wedding party is up to you. Your wedding day only happens once, so you don’t want to regret having not chosen the people you really wanted. Make sure you and your partner are both happy with your choices as your wedding day is a memory you’ll cherish forever.
So our first piece of advice is to never choose someone for your wedding party purely out of obligation. At the same time, don’t be too harsh. Ruthlessly cutting people out is a sure way to lose friends, so give your decision the care and attention they deserve.
Family or Friends?
The next big decision is choosing between your family and your friends. It’s entirely possible that you’re closer to many of your friends than to your siblings – so you might find yourself wanting to fill your wedding party with friends rather than family. That’s absolutely fine! There’s no “right answer” to this question and the choice is completely up to you.
Our advice would be to do what feels right. It’s totally acceptable to only ask your friends – and many people do! But even if you’re not super close to your family, involving them can make your wedding day even more special. It also prevents you regretting not having asked them later down the line – especially if you’re not asking your sister right now because you had a minor tiff last Tuesday! For many people, their wedding is a celebration of two families coming together and of a new family being formed, so keeping the focus on family may well feel very natural.
Who Has Your Best Interests at Heart?
It’s super important to choose people who will truly be sharing your happiness on your wedding day. They should be happy you’re getting married, with no objections to your choice of fiancé. They also shouldn’t be jealous of you or have any negativity towards your big day in any way.
Now, it’s unfortunate but true that there are some people out there who might have these negative thoughts about your wedding. In some cases, you might still feel it’s important to have them in your wedding party. That’s okay! Just ask them with your best intentions and be led by what feels right to you throughout. Our advice here is just that – advice, not hard-and-fast instructions! When it comes to choosing your wedding party, the most important thing of all is this: follow your heart.
Even if you’re unable to choose the “perfect” wedding party, don’t worry about it too much or let it stress you out. We promise your wedding party isn’t what makes your wedding day the best day of your life – it’s just another ingredient in the recipe! Remember, no one bakes because they love the ingredients… They bake because they love the cake! You’re getting married to the love of your life – that’s what’s really important.
How to Let People Down Gently
Inevitably, there will be some people who expected to be part of your wedding party that won’t make the cut – and that means some potentially awkward conversations. Telling someone they didn’t make it into the final line up is never fun. If you do need to have those conversations, here’s a few tips on how to let them down gently:
Remind them that you could only choose a small number of people. That meant making difficult decisions.
Have your reasons ready for why you chose somebody else before them. You might have known them longer, gone through something important together, and so on. That said, while this can be appropriate or even necessary, our advice is to avoid giving reasons if at all possible.
The easiest way to soften the blow is to invite them to be involved in your wedding in another way. They might not be at the top table with you and your new spouse but you can still make them feel appreciated. Consider seating them at table one or inviting them to your dress fitting with you.
Be nice! This a situation that demands care and consideration – and a little kindness goes a long way.
At the end of the day, the number one thing to remember is that your wedding day is about you. At the same time, your wedding party isn’t the be-all and end-all of the day so the people in it don’t necessarily need to be your first choices. It’s about finding a balance between making yourself happy and not offending your friends and family. So the best advice we can give? Go with your heart.
Find your zen and take a few moments at the end of your day to leave your busy mind behind. Sit comfortably with a straight spine and your eyes closed to allow your body to relax. Practise breathing in for 5 and out for 5 while you imagine a calming scene, perhaps a beach or a sunny field. You’ll be amazed how deep breathing and visualisation can work wonders for your mind and body.
Switch Off Your Tech
By turning off your phone or laptop a good amount of time before bed, you’re letting your brain switch off too. Your device’s screen produces a certain type of blue light that keeps you awake and throws your body clock out of sync. Unplug extra early to get a good night’s sleep (or if you just can’t keep away, you can download an app that filters the blue light from your screen!)
Speaking Of Body Clock…
…you will find it helpful to balance your circadian rhythms. To do this, get yourself into a routine by waking up and going to bed at the same time every day – without fail! You will soon build up enough momentum to settle into your own internal timezone without feeling overly tired.
Cut The Caffeine
Avoid drinking coffee, strong teas and other products containing caffeine. It is a stimulant and will do you no favours when trying to get to sleep, so switch to decaf from mid-afternoon onwards. Also, remember be sensible with the amount of alcoholic drinks you consume too – if anything will make you feel lousy throughout the night and into the morning, it will be that!
Write Down Your Troubles
If you’ve got hundreds of to-do’s racing around your head, note them down before bed. You’ll be surprised how effective this can be – by transferring your worries onto paper, you’ll still remember them tomorrow but will allow you to regain some peace in your head once again.
Get Physical
Exercising in the evening is a very effective way of getting your body ready for rest. Try doing some stretching or light yoga poses before you go to bed, perhaps with some soothing music to calm your state of mind. You’ll be snoozing before you know it! (Plus, you could get your partner involved – the rest is up to you!)
Trying to decide whether to book a wedding band or DJ? This hack is for you. We have 3 points for you to consider:
Music catalogue
Are you willing to sacrifice your “perfect playlist” in exchange for the atmosphere that only live music can create?
With a DJ, you can usually choose ANY music you want(as long as there is a digital version of the song available somewhere). This allows you to craft your perfect playlist
With a band, your choice is more limited. You’re pretty much restricted to the band’s playlist. They may be able to learn a song or 2 especially for your wedding, just don’t expect them to learn an entire playlist
Atmosphere
The key thing to consider when making the decision is the fact that bands and DJ’s create VERY different atmospheres. Live music and recorded music are totally different in the way they make people feel. Both have their place.
A DJ seems to create a more passive atmosphere where your guests can casually flow between dancing and socialising.
A band on the other hand, creates a more engaging atmosphere, the live music adds a sense of urgency which can lead to either more guests dancing or less guests dancing, depending on the willingness of your guests. This part is a judgement call as it is down to your knowledge of your guests and which option you think would be more appealing to them.
If your goal is get as many people dancing as possible, a Scottish ceilidh band is a great way to go. It fills the floor and is a lot of fun.
Which one best fits the theme?
Sometimes, there is an obvious match between your theme and the music. For example, a live band would probably work really great at a festival wedding or barn wedding. If you are having a retro theme on the other hand, a DJ may be the perfect fit.
Tip for band bookers: A band will often take a break during their set. To allow your guests the option to continue dancing, ask the band in advance if you can plug your phone into their sound system. Have your phone ready with a pre-built playlist on Spotify. This way you benefit from both the live band and your perfect playlist.
As the whole world eagerly awaits the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Bridebook.co.uk, the number one wedding planning app in the UK, has compiled the Royal Wedding by numbers. With millennials already reinventing the way they plan their wedding, millennial royal couple Meghan and Harry will be throwing a celebration unlike any other.
The party of over 4,000 guests will be treated to 28,000 canapés and billions of champagne bubbles, but they won’t be the only ones celebrating the wedding. Thousands of tourists will be travelling to London to see the newlyweds, and thousands more will be partying in their honour. The celebration of the century will require millions of flower petals, miles and miles of bunting, and enough cucumber sandwiches to feed the entire British population.
With 3 billion global viewers and an expected £280 million boost to the British economy, this is the Royal Wedding by the numbers!
16,000 glasses of champagne
With 4,040 guests, each expected to have at least 4 glasses of champagne throughout the day and evening, that will be at least 16,000 glasses filled with 250 billion bubbles!
8 million flower petals to make 1 million handfuls of confetti
There will be 1 million handfuls of confetti in Windsor on the big day, eagerly awaiting to throw 8 million flower petals in the air to celebrate the newlyweds.
3 million kettles boiling after the service
The National Grid will see a staggeringly high demand for power following the wedding service, as the Brits go straight for the kettle for a relaxing cup of tea. 3 million kettles are expected to be boiled to celebrate the newlywed couple!
Meghan is getting 42% more search traffic than Brexit
Meghan Markle is currently getting 12 times more search traffic than British Prime Minister Theresa May, and on peak days has received 42% more searches than “Brexit”… and 32% more than “Jesus”.
£90,000 for trumpets
20 silver-plated fanfare trumpets stamped with the Royal Coat of Arms have already been requested, and they each come between £3,000 and £6,000 a piece/toot! That will be £90,000 for trumpets!
500,000 people at Windsor
500,000 people are expected to visit Windsor for the Royal Wedding. They will get to witness the most Disney moment of the day: the Royal Carriage procession!
£26,000 for sausage rolls
With 2,600 members of the public attending the wedding, we are hoping they each get a cup of tea and a sausage roll while they cheer on the happy couple.
200,000 flowers and 60 florists
With a budget of £110,000 on flowers, from larger stems to buttonholes and delicate bouquets, more than 200,000 flowers will be styled by around 60 florists across all three venues for the big day.
A banquet hall 10 times the size of the average British home
At 5381 square feet, the size of St George’s Hall will ensure no guests are stepping on each other’s toes during the reception. The hall is 10 times the size of the average British home!
28,000 canapés
28,000 canapés will be needed to keep the Royal Wedding guests happy throughout the day and evening events.
£35,000 for luxury toilets
If this wedding lives up to Pippa Middleton’s, there will be luxury mobile toilets for the guests at the 3 different events. With a guest list this big, it comes down to at least 40 super luxury mobile units with a likely price tag of £35,000.
1,000 waiters and staff for the day
Alongside the 500 people team who work at Windsor Castle on a daily basis, another additional 500 are likely to be on duty on the day. From waiters to chefs to porters to florists, a Royal army will be ensuring the day runs like clockwork. Plus the 5,000 police which will be on duty.
28,000 wedding photos
Although most won’t be revealed, Meghan and Harry’s wedding photographer, and the team to support him will make their flashes go off at least 28,000 times throughout the day and evening!
16,000 engaged couples signing up to British wedding planning app Bridebook
Since US media claimed Harry and Meghan have been using UK wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk under a secret account, more than 16,000 couples have signed up to plan their wedding on the app!
3 Royal stag do’s
Harry has been rumoured to have enjoyed 3 stag do’s (bachelor parties) with different groups of friends. Including a skiing trip, a classic Scotland stag-do with his closest mates, and to celebrity hotspot Hedsor House, near Windsor.
52,750 British pubs with extended opening hours
Pubs all over the UK will extend their curfew to 1 AM for the Royal Wedding celebrations! That’s two more hours of toasting to Harry and Meghan, and an extra 10.5 million each drink served!
8,000 street parties in the UK
After 5,500 street parties were thrown for William and Kate on a Thursday in April, there are expected to be a lot more for Harry and Meghan. Councils will be busy managing the requests to allow over 8,000 street parties all over the UK.
London is where the most street parties will be planned
London is the council with the most street party requests, with over 900 submissions.
More than 100 million drinks in celebration in the UK
With at least 24 million people expected to watch the Royal Wedding in the UK, plus the FA Cup Final and extended pub opening hours, the whole of the UK is going to be toasting Harry and Meghan!
1.4 million cucumber sandwiches (and other fillings) at UK street parties
Start cutting off those crusts, as the UK public will likely munch through over 1.4 million sandwiches at their street parties alone! M&S are already stocking up.
330 miles of bunting
With 8,000 street parties along with endless garden parties, there will be a British bunting bonanza, stretching 330 miles of bunting across the UK. (In 2011, Tesco alone sold 120 miles of bunting for William and Kate’s wedding).
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons, are expected as a result of royal wedding street parties and family get-togethers which will happen all over the UK.
8,500 journalists
8,500 journalists were in London alone to cover William and Kate’s big day, and the same number will be back to cover the momentous occasion of Harry and Meghan.
5,000 police on duty
From grenadier guards to armed police to snipers and undercover officers, 5,000 officers are expected to be on duty on the day to keep everyone safe.
£100,000 to rent a view
American tourists are hiring out homes that overlook the Royal Wedding route for six-figure values so that they can get the perfect view.
£268 million boost to the British economy
After 350,000 tourists came to the UK for William and Kate’s wedding, we are now expecting 450,000 flying over to see the beloved Meghan get married to Prince Harry. The average national spend of a tourist in the UK is £596 per visit, that is a tidy quarter of a billion boost to the British economy.
From lifestyle blogs about Meghan’s wedding dress to online betting sites predicting the odds of rain on May 19th – there are already over 3.3 million pages online about the Royal Wedding!
The hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times
Since their engagement was announced, the hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Twitter takes the cake with the most discussions, with an average of 1,200 tweets using the hashtag every day.
460 Royal Wedding dedicated Instagram hashtags
Instagram has over 460 Royal Wedding hashtags. However, not everyone has the #RoyalWeddingFever, with some couples tagging their photos as #HarryandMeghanStoleMyDate.
3 billion global viewers
After more than 2 billion people watched William and Kate’s wedding, and the global rise of the smartphone and social media since then, more than 3 billion people are expected to watch this Royal Wedding, which is expected to be the most viewed event in history.
1.5 billion tissues to mop up global teary eyes
With a total audience of 3 billion viewers, and half expected to shed a tear, that is a distance of tissue almost enough to get you to the moon! 300,000 kilometres of tissue to be precise, or a mere 7.5 times around the Earth.
Half a million bets on the wedding
The Royal Wedding is going to be one of the most significant non-sporting events of 2018 for betting sites. With over half a million bets expected on the Royal Wedding.
17 leading dress designers
More than 17 dress designers are in the running for designing Meghan’s dress, with leading odds on Ralph and Russo, Erdem, and British bridal-designer Philippa Lepley!
More than 5,000 baby Meghans to be born next year
If the name Meghan is as predicted expected to become the top baby name of 2018, we can expect more than five thousand baby Meghan’s to be born in the next year in the UK, knocking “Olivia” off the top spot.
£1 million in donations
Continuing the tradition started by Kate and William, Meghan and Harry have asked guests to donate to their chosen charities. If they are as successful at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the newlyweds should get at least £1 million in donations.
—
We calculated the above numbers following an analysis of over 170,000 weddings via Bridebook.co.uk‘s wedding planning tools and budget calculator, and a review of more than 70,000 wedding industry suppliers listed on Bridebook.co.uk’s wedding venue and supplier directory. Over 100,000 UK couples are using Bridebook.co.uk to plan their wedding, and therefore we have an unparalleled understanding of the wedding planning process, as well as relationships with brides and grooms and wedding industry suppliers across the country.
For further information, please contact Harriet Hunt Communications: harriet@harriethunt.com T: 0208 871 2246 M: 07886 96908
Hamish Shephard, the founder of Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, says:
“Meghan’s dress will undoubtedly be the most well-kept secret leading up the Royal Wedding. Once Meghan’s dress is revealed it will inspire brides for generations to come!”
“People from the UK and all over the world are eager to witness what will be the most iconic Royal Wedding of the century. Half a million members of the public will be in the streets of Windsor to celebrate and greet the newlyweds.”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding is expected to be the largest social media event of all time. With “Meghan Markle” already getting more search traffic in the UK than “Brexit”, global interest is going to be stratospheric.”
“It’s no secret that British people love to party, and this is the Royal Wedding is the perfect occasion to bring out the barbeques and throw roaring neighbourhood parties!”
“With 8,000 street parties planned all over the UK, the amount of bunting alone will be enough to cover 330 miles!”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding will be more spectacular and iconic than any Royal Wedding we have ever seen. The millennial couple are already defying and giving way to new Royal Family traditions!”
Notes To Editor:
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, currently being used by 1 in 3 UK couples to help plan their wedding.
Launched in 2016, Bridebook.co.uk‘s leading wedding planning toolkit, with fully personalised Wedding Checklist, Wedding Budgeter and Wedding Guestlist Manager, gives engaged couples the power to plan their entire wedding from any device, anywhere, anytime, all in one place, for free. With over 70,000 wedding venues and suppliers in its directory, Bridebook.co.uk stretches the digital presence of wedding industry professionals and connects them directly with engaged couples. Bridebook.co.uk has also partnered with leading industry experts such as Bobbi Brown, Marry Berry and Jimmy Choo, to provide reliable expert advice and inspiration to couples.
Bridebook.co.uk was founded by Hamish Shephard, an industry professional and recently married groom who used Bridebook.co.uk to plan his own wedding back in 2016. Visit Bridebook.co.uk online and the Bridebook.co.uk App on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s number one free wedding planning app, with over 16,000 registered wedding businesses and more than 100K couples planning their wedding with us.
Are you are an engaged couple looking for your wedding team?
Booking a wedding videographer is in many ways similar to the process of booking a photographer. In other ways however, it is very different. You may have not decided yet whether you need(or want) a videographer, but if you do, follow these 3 simple steps in our wedding videographer checklist to follow to ensure you make the right choice.
The first thing to note is that there are far fewer wedding videographers than photographers. So the choice is slimmer.
There are many styles of wedding film going around nowadays. This has shifted in recent years from the more traditional reportage style to short stylish videos built for the Youtube generation. Instagram-like filters, quirky backing music and fast-cuts are all the rage at the moment, spawning a new generation of wedding video. A far-cry from the hour long, ultra-boring wedding videos from back in the day, that hollywood so often jokes about.
1. What style do you want?
As with any vendor booking, choosing your style is a great place to start. This helps you refine your search which saves a lot of time in the long run. If you are set on a particular style, you may not be guaranteed to find a videographer within your local area who meets this style. In general, a videographer will have their own unique style, they wouldn’t offer a range of styles. Many top wedding videographers are often willing to travel a long distance(possibly even worldwide) to work with you if you are looking for their particular style of work, but this doesn’t come cheap. If you hire a videographer from another city, state or country, they will probably ask you to arrange accommodation(or at least pay for it) and you may be eligible to pay the travel costs to. If you love their work however, it may be worth the price.
2. Book the date ASAP!
Top wedding videographers are in high demand. Book them as early as you can! Seriously! I would suggest making them one of your very first bookings as they can easily be booked a year in advance and you can end up going through several videographers until you settle on somebody who wasn’t your first choice. Once you have your list of potential videographers, email them straight away!
3. Speak on the phone
Once you have found somebody you are happy with and they have confirmed they are available(make sure you pay a small deposit to secure the booking), it is a good idea to contact the videographer over the phone for a brief chat. This helps you both establish what you are looking for on the day. Send them links to their other videos that you enjoyed and describe which parts inparticular you liked. If there are any specific moments you want to make sure they capture on the day, this is a good time to let them know, although you will probably have an opportunity to talk this through with them on the day of the wedding too.
Follow these 3 simple steps to help book your wedding videographer in the most efficient way possible. Ok, I admit, wedding planning is not all about efficiency, you wan’t to enjoy it as much as possible, but with the number of vendors that you are probably looking at booking at the current time, I imagine efficiency is a welcome friend.
There is a lot to organise at your wedding. Guests, decor, food……the list goes on. You may just overlook one of the most important details. Arranging the person who is actually going to marry you!
So how do you go about us. Here are our 3 steps to booking your wedding officiant.
1. Decide on your ceremony type
You probably already know the type of wedding ceremony you want, but you may not have considered the structure and style of the ceremony. Consider the following:
Music or no music?
If music, what kind?
Traditional vows or writing your own?
Readings? Bible verses? Quotes? Poems?
These are all things that you are best to think about right at the beginning. That way you can run these past any potential officiants to see whether they can accommodate your choices.
2. Choosing the right person. Speak to them on the phone(or even better, in person)
It is important that you actually speak to the person before the wedding, rather than just emailing them. A verbal conversation tells you a lot about a person and you will probably know right away if you have natural chemistry with the person. Ok, so you may never see this person ever again so does it really matter? That’s up to you and you may not be too concerned about this. If you do have natural chemistry with the officiant however, this can be pivotal in transforming the ceremony from good to great!
If you already know somebody that you would love to perform the ceremony, this is even better and makes your job a lot easier. Contact them immediately so they can reserve the date if they are still available.
3. Get advice from others on who to choose
If you don’t know anybody who could perform the ceremony, the next best option would be to ask your friends and family if they know anybody. Maybe you were at a wedding and you liked the officiant who conducted the ceremony? You may feel more comfortable to go with somebody who conducted the ceremony for some of your friends or family? Especially, if they have been recommended to you.
If you get no suggestions from family and friends, the next option would be to browse some wedding directories and look at reviews. This is less personal so make sure you call any potentials and speak to them over the phone before agreeing to anything.
Oh….and I almost forgot! Make sure they can legally marry you! You don’t want to miss that! Check the rules of wherever you live and ensure they have the required certifications to perform the ceremony.
Once you have booked your wedding officiant, here are the questions you should ask at your first meeting
Here at Bridebook we were lucky enough to meet with travel experts, ‘The Luxury Travel Book‘, who gave us an insight in to their top 10 favourite places in the world to get hitched.
Exclusive Bridebook Offer: The Luxury Travel Book are offering a special 10% discount for Bridebook users. Mention Bridebook to claim.
Hidden away in a stunning scenic position on the Caldera at Megalochori, this wonderful villa combines spectacular views with a very special ambience and high level of service. There is an outdoor dining area with barbecue facilities for sumptuous barbecues, prepared by the estate’s executive chef, making this a perfect venue for a wedding venue.
Situated in the south of Mykonos, with sea views stretching to the islands of Paros and Naxos, and between the beaches of Paradise and Paraga, this luxury property to rent comprises two superb attached villas and two swimming pools. The vast outdoor spaces, and the close proximity of a church, also make this property very suitable for weddings.
This stunning luxury villa is a gorgeous historic residence built in 1741, and overlooks the beautiful Positano Bay. Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, is one of Italy’s most romantic destinations. The picturesque town is built vertically on the face of a cliff, making for stunning views of the sea. The town is filled with romantic restaurants offering fantastic seafood and sea views.
The impressive Villa Borgo Bernardini, dates back to before the 1700s, and was originally the hunting lodge retreat of Count Cosimo Bernardini of Lucca. It is situated on a family run estate, ten kilometres south of Lucca, with magnificent views over hill terraced olive groves. Within the Italian gardens (2000m2) with gazebo, there is a large salt water swimming pool (16 x 8m) which is floodlit at night. Indoors, there is a Banquet hall, card and billiard room, and wine tasting room with a private selection of Tuscan wines.
This absolutely stunning villa, sits within its own parkland on the western shore of Lake Como in Italy, directly across from the famous town of Bellagio. One of the legendary properties on Lake Como, it offers excellence at all levels. The infinity overflow pool overlooks the lake and there is a spa and a gym in separate buildings. The spectacular lakeside terrace is perfect for parties.
This exceptional beachside villa, is situated on the Bassin d’Arcachon, just 45 minutes from Bordeaux. Its prestigious location, luxurious accommodation and level of service, together with its beautiful surroundings including expansive gardens and a lap pool, make it ideal for a wedding or other special event.
This new luxury villa, offers not only a stunning location and exceptional accommodation, but also the bespoke services of a 5* hotel! It is situated on a 250-acre estate in the countryside just outside Sant Climent, with breath-taking 180° sea views. Outdoor amenities include a 26-metre outdoor heated pool set in the exquisitely landscaped gardens, as well as a beautiful event space, catering for up to 200 guests.
Puglia is famous for its olive groves, castles and Romanesque cathedrals, Alberobello’s trulli, Lecce’s Baroque churches, Castel del Monte’s eight superb towers and miles of coastline and beaches. In the midst of all this is Masseria Pettolecchia, the jewel of the region’s fortified masserias. With its large outdoor spaces, large pool and high level of service, it is eminently suitable for weddings and other events.
This exceptional villa, over 300 years old, is located in the best area of Ibiza, in the countryside of Cala Jondal. It is just 5 minutes drive from both the famous Blue Marlin Beach and the village of San Josep. Within the beautiful grounds, there is a swimming pool with large furnished terrace, a tennis court, a well equipped gym, sauna and hydromassage Jacuzzi, a massage and yoga space.
Situated near the three main golf courses in the Marrakech area, and just a few minutes away from the city, this wonderful l villa sits in the middle of a splendid Andalusian garden with heated swimming pool. There are wonderful views to the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas Mountains. The property is also highly recommended for special events for 100 – 200 people in total.
Have you fallen in love with the idea of a destination wedding? We don’t blame you! Mention ‘Bridebook’ to receive 10% off when booking through The Luxury Travel Book.
When you picture an “intimate wedding”, you might think of celebrations with under thirty guests or so. And, of course, the shorter the guest list, the easier it is for a wedding to feel intimate – but that doesn’t mean big weddings can’t too! With a bit of forward planning, any wedding can. Read on to find out our top tips for making a big wedding feel intimate and personal.
1. Host A Pre-Wedding Dinner
If you’ve got a long guest list, it’s likely that there are discrete groups within it. So why not host a “get to know you dinner” a few days or weeks before your wedding? It’ll give your guests a chance to mingle and get to know each other in advance.
2. Create Small Spaces
Divide your venue into smaller spaces so your guests never feel lost in the crowd. Floral installations, drapes and decorations can all be used to create alcoves and hideaways where smaller groups can mingle and chat.
3. Let’s Talk Tables
It might sound counterintuitive but consider opting for fewer, long, rectangular tables instead of lots of smaller round ones. It creates a more relaxed atmosphere and people will be able to chat more easily with a wider range of people.
4. Get The Light Right
Soft, subtle lighting creates a cosy atmosphere that instantly makes any location feel more intimate. Think flickering candles and romantic fairylights.
5. Consider Colour
Choosing a wedding theme based around darker colours is an easy way to make a large space feel cosy and intimate.
6. Circle Around
Even if you have a truly astronomical number of guests, arranging them in a circle will make the back row feel much less far back.
7. Make An Effort
Great all your guests personally and make it a priority to speak with as many people as possible over the course of the day. Even if it’s only a few minutes, they’ll appreciate you taking the time to make them feel welcome.
8. Get Personal
If you have a particularly extensive guest list, talking to everyone might not be possible – and that’s when adding personal touches really comes into its own. Consider writing each guest a handwritten note or gifting them a handmade wedding favour. That way, even if you haven’t managed to speak to them, they’ll still know you cared they came.
9. Consider Staffing
If you have plenty of guests, make sure you have plenty of staff to match! If you can’t make it round everybody, you can at least know they’re being attended to and feeling well looked after.
So there you have it: nine ways to make a big wedding feel intimate. Now, with all those guests to look after, why not add them to your Bridebook’s Guest List? Or if you’re still on the hunt for your dream venue, check out our Venue Search Tool to browse the UK’s biggest (and best!) wedding venue directory.
Booking a wedding photographer is probably one of the most important vendor bookings in any wedding planning checklist. The reason for this is the value that is held in a photograph. Unlike most other vendors that provide a service which you benefit from for pretty much just one day, a photographer provides you with a memory of your day that will last forever. The seemingly eternal value of a photograph is what makes finding the perfect photographer such a difficult choice that so many couples spend weeks chewing over. To make things even harder, there are literally thousands of photographers to choose from with different styles and varying prices. So how can you find the photographer that is right for you? Follow the steps below in our wedding photographer checklist and you are unlikely to be disappointed with your choice.
1. Think About Style
Before you start emailing photographers, it’s a good idea to think about what style of photographs you want. Your wedding theme may help determine this, but if not, try creating Pinterest boards. Add any pins you like the look of, then start refining until you come up with a unified style. Read our Pinterest guide on how to do this. Once you have a style it will be easier to find photographers that match the style you are going for.
2. Begin the Search
Now it’s time to start looking for photographers. The difficult part of this is finding photographers who are willing to travel to the location of your wedding. Some photographers are willing to travel worldwide whereas others will only work within their own city. Trying to work out who caters to your area can be a tricky business. Good quality wedding directories can be useful in working this out as they show who is available to book within you area. You can also filter by style to refine the number of photographers to choose from.
3. Initial Enquiry
Now that you have a list of potential photographers(hopefully 10+), you can begin to email them to ask whether they are available on your wedding date? This email is purely to check their availability. Don’t feel obliged to book them straight away.
Once you have the responses of which photographers are available, you now need to consider which one is your favourite. The most important thing is to go with the photographer that “feels” like the right fit. You will get an impression of what they are like by their email communication. It’s worth noting that a photographer who responds promptly to emails is very useful as you will need to do a lot of going back-and-forth once you have booked them. A fast response helps a lot! If you can, call the photographer to chat about the wedding with them. A photographer has a very active role within your wedding day and you will be spending quite a bit of time with them so it’s important to find somebody you click with. Going to wedding fairs is a great way to meet potential photographers too as you can chat with them face-to-face and get an impression of their personality, their work and their availability. You may find somebody you love and book them right there! Saves a lot of research and emailing.
4. Meet up
Your photographer is now booked and it’s time to go over some of the finer details of what you expect from them on the day. They may suggest meeting at the venue to look at some potential spots for good wedding shots(this would include couple shots, group shots etc.) They will also discuss any specific moments you would like them to capture(e.g. specific family members during the ceremony) and any speciality shots you would like taken(e.g. aerial drone shot). Not only is this very useful in helping the photographer(and you) in determining what you are looking for, it is a great opportunity to get to know the photographer better so you don’t have to go through introductions etc. on the day of your wedding. We have a hack on what to ask your photographer.
If you created a photography board on Pinterest, show this to the photographer to allow them to get a better of idea of the images that you are expecting them to produce. This makes their job easier and will ultimately give you a better result.
If you follow these steps, you are sure to have a photographer at your wedding who feels like a completely natural fit and creates photographs that are wall-worthy for many years in your home.
If you found this hack useful, you may also enjoy our videographer checklist
Why not let the groom have his special moment too? Change it up and let your man walk down the aisle first, followed by the bridal party. This will work particularly well with same-sex couples as you can both have your limelight without the other feeling left out.
Meet In The Middle
Get rid of the traditional aisle walk idea and have you and your partner walk from separate sides during the ceremony and meet together at the altar. It will surprise your guests, and what a unique way it will be to start the rest of your life together!
Have Two Aisles
Why only have one aisle in your ceremony? This is the most important day of your life! Be spectacular by creating a bride aisle and a groom aisle. You could also mix up where your guests sit so that the two families can be united as one.
Go Solo
If your family is complicated and you can’t decide on who to walk you down the aisle…do it alone! Not only will it be a statement move to start your wedding, but it will be something everyone talks about for weeks to come!
Take The Trip Together
Why not let your spouse be the one who gets to walk you down the aisle? It will be one of the most precious moments of your lives and something to talk about when the wedding photos come out on your anniversary!
360° Ceremony
Eradicate the tradition altogether and sit your guests in a circular fashion around the action. You and your husband-to-be can walk through the crowd from different sides and meet in the centre, ready for your vows. Not only will it be a memorable experience for all involved, but your guests won’t have to peer above 10 rows of heads to see the newlyweds!
In recent years, Pinterest has become a central part of any Bride’s wedding planning tools. This modern day scrapbook is loved by millions of people across the globe for its ability to curate your inspiration in a matter of minutes. There are many uses for Pinterest, but today we are just looking at the main ways you can use it to help you plan your wedding. So let’s start planning your Pinterest Wedding.
1. Start with a “theme board” and pin like crazy!
This is a great place to start. Create 1 board. Yep, just 1. Then start pinning like crazy! Do some searches for any ideas you already have(if you don’t have any ideas, don’t worry. Just do a generic “wedding” search) and pin anything you like the look of. If you have already chosen your wedding theme, it’s still a good idea to create a theme board. Do a search for your wedding theme e.g. “rustic wedding” and see what comes up. Then get to pinning.
2. Refine your pins
Now that you’ve been pinning like crazy, you should have a decent number of pins. It’s time to go through your pins and start removing the ones you’re not sure of. Our rule is “if you don’t love it, don’t have it”. Delete that pin! The idea with this is that you should end up with a list of pins that you absolutely love…..every single one of them! This will help you to clarify your style ideas.
3. Confirm your theme
Take a look through your pins in your theme board and see if there are any running “themes”. There may be an obvious theme that jumps out at you, but it may not be that clear. If it’s not, think about the “feel” you want to create at your wedding(e.g. relaxed or formal) and see what pins would best match this. You should then be able to pick a theme based on the pins you have. Remember, the theme could be based on anything! Season, colour, style etc. Think outside the box.
4. Create “Category boards”
We’re not finished with the theme board yet! It’s going to be extremely helpful with this next step in your Pinterest wedding planning. Now that you have chosen a theme, it’s time to look at that list of pins again and start categorizing them. Let’s say that you have lots of pins with flower ideas, create a board called “Flowers” and pin your existing flower pins to that board. You may not have that many pins for this category, in which case you can go a little crazy with the pinning again for this category only. When you have a good number of pins, we need to refine them again. Choose your favourite pins from the “Flowers” board and work around them, removing pins that clash with them. Try to make the board a consistent style.
Congratulations! You have just chosen your flower style. When you book your florist, you can just send them the link to your “Flowers” board(much easier than going back and forth with emails and phone calls!). They will instantly get an idea of what you want and you will probably achieve a better result than if you had to explain everything to them. A picture speaks 1000 words. You can take this a step further and make it a “shared board” and brainstorm together(more on this below).
Do this for every category, pinning out of your “theme” board into newly created category boards. Create a board for every category. It’s up to you how specific you get.
By the end of this process you should have made all your style choices in multiple boards. These can be shared with whoever you want(venue, vendors, fiance, bridesmaids, rest of wedding party etc.) whenever necessary.
Your Pinterest account has just become your portfolio for your wedding planning. Incredibly useful!
Pro tip: Get the Pinterest app on your phone. That way, you have always got your portfolio with you if you ever need to check it.
Making use of shared boards
Pinterest allows you to create “shared boards” which are collaborative boards where 2 or more users can contribute to the same board. If your fiance is on Pinterest, create a shared board with them and bounce ideas around. If you like, you can do the same with your wedding party to get ideas flowing. This can be a great way to get people involved in the wedding planning.
One of the best ways to use shared boards is sharing them with your wedding vendors. As noted above, you can share your category boards or even your theme board with each vendor respectively, giving them an idea of what you are looking for. This makes their job easier and reduces the email communication needed to confirm details(let’s face it, you’ve got enough emails to be dealing with!). The biggest bonus of this is that you will probably end up being happier with the results as they will more closely resemble your Pinterest board!
Pinning from other websites
Don’t forget that you can pin from other websites into your Pinterest boards. Install the Pinterest browser button to allow you to pin as you browse. You could even create a “Potential vendors” board and pin vendors into it direct from their website. This is a great way to gather inspiration as you go.
And that’s it! This simple 4 step process is guaranteed to make your wedding planning a lot simpler and reduce the brain-strain when making your style choices.
Planning a wedding is guaranteed to stretch the length of your existing to-do list. Don’t underestimate this! Many people will try to keep all their to-do’s, costs and vendor information in their head(this is guaranteed to lead to massive wedding planning stress!). There are many tools out there which are designed to help you manage the planning process and most of them can be quite useful. In our eyes however, nothing beats a good old-fashioned spreadsheet. It’s completely customisable so it works around the way you work. Not the other way round. Download the spreadsheet to help get you started.
Don’t be scared to move things around, delete columns, add columns, rename columns….whatever you want. Make it work for you. This is just a starting point. How you customise it is up to you.
Within the spreadsheet, there are several sheets for different aspects of your wedding planning. We have included 2 versions of the wedding guest list. You can use both or just 1 depending on the way you work. We suggest starting in Guest list 1 then copy/pasting over to Guest list 2 once you have refined your list.
Pro tip: save the spreadsheet in the cloud and share it with your fiance. That way, you have the spreadsheet with you wherever you go(venue visits etc, decor shopping) and you and your fiance can stay up to date when you are not together.
So you’re getting married and it’s time to start thinking about the planning. How will you handle the bucket-load of information that is about to be shovelled on top of you? With all the apps and fancy websites flying around with a host of planning tools to choose from, many people still opt for the good old fashioned wedding binder.
If you are thinking about going down the wedding binder route. Here is our guide to the best way to set it up.
Building your wedding binder
So the first thing you will need to do is get your supplies.
Select your folder. The choice of folder is down to your own personal taste. If you’re having a simple wedding, you probably don’t need a gargantuan folder. Don’t spend too much time thinking about it. Find one of a suitable size that you will enjoy using
Purchase dividers – You will be using these to categorise the folder later
Document pockets – For small bits of paper
Business card holder – this one doesn’t need explanation. For vendor business cards. We will look at this later
Zip pocket – use one of these if you want more security for certain documents such as receipts
Organising your wedding binder
Now it’s time to start setting up your binder in the most practical way possible for you. There is no “right” way to do this as everybody works differently. Below, we are outlining 2 different approaches(we call them “Standard” and “Alternative”) which we suggest are a good way to structure your binder.
The Standard wedding binder
Start with 15 sheets of paper with the following titles.
Tasks
Theme and style info
Calendar
General info(This is a boring sheet for things like Wedding insurance)
Contact info – Add the following info to this sheet:
Wedding planner contact info
Wedding officiant contact info
Wedding party contact info
Venue contact info
Vendors contact info
Budget
Guest List
Venue Info
Wedding Party and duties
Day-of timeline
Table plan
Vendor info(you may need more than 1 page for this)
List of music
Accommodation info(for both you and your guests)
Transport info(for both you and your guests)
Now that you have your sheets, ready to be scribbled on. It’s now time to set up your dividers. You will need 11 dividers in total. Add the following information to each section:
Inspiration folder
Use a document pocket to capture any magazine snippets, sketches etc. which will help you define your theme during the entire planning process
Attire
Wedding Dress
Wedding shoes
Bridesmaid Dresses
Accessories
Jewellery
Groom outfit
Groomsmen outfits
Beauty
Hair
Makeup
Perfume
Stationery
Save-the-dates
Invitations
Name cards
Table seating plan
Menus
Other stationery
Decor
Flowers
Centerpieces
Stationery + Printables
Guest Book
Other decor
Favours
Bridal Shower
Planning Info
Rehearsal
Timeline
Other info
Ceremony
Ceremony Script
Readings
Music
Seating Arrangement
Reception
Timeline
Seating Plan
Menu
Cake
Drinks
Toasts
Music
Entertainment
Equipment hire
Large equipment
Small things(e.g. champagne flutes)
Honeymoon
Planning Details/To Do List
Travel Arrangements
Packing List
The Alternative wedding binder
Take 4 sheets of paper and add these to the front of your binder. Give the pages the following titles.
Tasks
Ideas
Problems
Vendors
Take 4 dividers and give them the same 4 titles as above. Add them after the 4 pages and put 1 document pocket after each divider. You should now have 4 sections with a document pocket in each. If you prefer, you can add the 4 sheets of paper after the dividers instead of at the front of the binder. Whatever you find easier.
Use the “Tasks” page as your to-do list. Add any new tasks to this page and score them off as you go. If there is any documentation or magazine snippets etc that are needed for the task, add them to the tasks section.
The “Ideas” sheet is to jot down any ideas that come to mind. This is your quick capture page. Add the ideas and review them with your fiancé when you have more time. Like the “tasks” section, add any docs to the task section which will help with your planning E.g. magazine pages, brochures, stationery samples and fabric swatches.
The “Problems” sheet as you can probably guess is for making a note of any problems that arise that need to be dealt with. Add any docs that relate to the problems to the “problems” section.
And yep, you got it, the “Vendors” sheet is for……making a list of vendors(i’m sorry if this is stating the obvious). You can add potential vendors and then take a new sheet once you have finalised them. Add their contact information and any notes about meetings you have to give you everything you need in a single view.
This approach is not often used, but some people like it as it is structured in a logical way. This is probably one for the minimalist type.
So, there you have it. 2 very different approaches. Which do you prefer?
There’s a fine line between looking pasty against your white dress and sporting the fake-baked look on your wedding day. Always try out a tanning salon well in advance of your wedding and know what shade of tan you like. That way, you won’t be looking overly bronze unexpectedly on the eve of your big day!
Skin
See a dermatologist several months before your wedding to find a recommended skincare routine suited to you. If acne is a problem, see your doctor to get your skin on track well in advance and get you glowing again. For a pre-wedding treat, you could also have a soothing facial on the week leading up to your special day to make you look and feel vibrant!
Nails
Get a manicure 1-2 days before your wedding so your nails look perfect in your ring shots! Don’t leave it too late though, otherwise there’ll be no time to rectify mistakes if there’s a problem. Remember that all important pedicure too!
Cut & Colour
Start early with hair appointments as you will want to maintain strength throughout your length! Get your tresses trimmed regularly to stop split-ends and weakened locks, and make sure you share your vision of hair colour with your colourist.
Hair Stylist
The important question – up or down? Again, make an appointment with your stylist well in advance so you can try out a few different options and choose your favourite. Make sure you bring along any accessories that you’re planning to wear in your hair, like a tiara or veil, so your stylist can incorporate it into your finished look.
Teeth
Booking an appointment with your dentist is an essential one. Getting your teeth deep-cleaned will ensure you have a sparkling smile to show-off on your big day. Also consider teeth-whitening, and also Invisalign (an invisible alternative to braces) if you want to correct any wonky teeth.
Make-up
Be open to ideas and try out lots of different looks in your make-up trials, as you may really like a style that you hadn’t previously thought would suit you! Really listen to your make-up artist as they will know what colours go with your skin to compliment your complete look. It will take time to get this right, so don’t leave it until the last few weeks!
Laser Hair Removal
If you think you’ve had enough of shaving, laser hair removal will do the trick for long-lasting smooth skin. However, you will have to prepare for it in advance as it can take up to 6 treatments to take full effect. In the end though, you’ll feel great knowing you won’t have to worry about stray hairs on your honeymoon!
Perhaps you don’t like the idea of an uber-formal wedding, but instead, prefer the idea of your guests feeling relaxed by creating a more rustic feel. Well, you’re not alone! The dramatic rise of barn weddings in recent years, shows this trend is here to stay. So how do you pull it off? Here’s our quick guide on how to plan a barn wedding and the pitfalls to avoid.
1. Location – is it in the middle of nowhere?
There aren’t many barns in the middle of cities so location is definitely a big consideration. Think about the following points:
How easy is it for guests to get there?
Is there public transport?
How much would a bus for guests cost?
Can the bus access the venue with ease?
Are there wedding car companies that travel there?
Is there local accommodation available nearby where guests can stay?
Add these questions to your wedding venue checklist
2. Barn amenities tend to be…erm…more sparse
It’s worth noting that a barn venue may not have the same facilities as a hotel or city-centre venue and may not come bundled with the perks normally offered. This means, you may need to organise more of the “other stuff” yourself. This could include catering, drinks, MC, sound system, heating etc. When looking at barn venues, check if these things are included in the price. Otherwise, costs could end up spiralling. If the venue does not provide these services, it could end up giving you a lot more work if you need to arrange these things yourself.
3. Creating a relaxed feel
I’m going to assume you are wanting a relaxed atmosphere at your wedding(a barn doesn’t scream regal-formality). So how can you achieve this? Start by looking at wedding themes and pick one as early as you can as this will guide your style choices. Next, have a think about the different parts of your day and how you can inject informality into the timeline. Consider this:
Guests arriving – what is their first impression? Use decoration and signage to create a relaxed feel
Drinks reception – what canapés are you having? What is the setting?
Speeches and meal – Table decoration is a great way to build the “feel” you are going for
Interactive elements – photobooths and “alternative-guestbooks” have become popular as they encourage your guests to participate in your celebration. This is great for non-dancers who would otherwise be sitting chatting all night.
4. Adding your personal touch. Barn decoration.
One of the best ways to make the day feel informal is to do something unique. Look at unusual flower arrangements, guestbooks, invitations etc. This is a quick and easy way to add something remark-able to your day(i.e. something that people will remember and talk about). Etsy and Notonthehighstreet are a great place to start. This can be a cheap way to make your day unique.
5. Food
Food tells a story. There is a big difference between salmon en croute and bangers & mash. Many barn venues will work with caterers who can provide more rustic options. A roast with winter veg is always a good option. Go for roast chicken if you want to keep everybody happy. Or if you want the wow-factor….. spit-roast hog.
Likewise with the cake. Instead of going for a traditional iced-cake. Think about a Victoria-sponge stack.
6. Favours
For your favours, take a look at Etsy or Notonthehighstreet again. There are so many great little things you can pick up for not-a-lot-of-pennies.
7. Entertainment
Finally, it’s entertainment time. Music is the most obvious thing to consider. Our top suggestions would be a Scottish or Irish Ceilidh(as it gets lots of guests dancing) or go for a Barn Disco, Rave or…..Salsa
Get more tips on how to plan a barn wedding on our pinterest boards – we add loads of ideas every day
Wedding Venue Checklist – surviving your first venue visit
If you are currently searching for wedding venues, your first venue visit may be a bit daunting. Rocketing costs and an avalanche of information are piled on you like a Jenga tower, leaving you ready to mentally topple. But do not panic. Here is our Wedding Venue Checklist, guaranteed to ease your stresses. Less like a high-intensity game of Jenga, more like a toddlers 12-piece jigsaw puzzle. Easy
Step 1: Before the visit – Building the wedding venue checklist
Write a list of your requirements prior to the visit. We suggest answering the following questions?
How many guests do you plan to have?
How many of those guests require accommodation?
Do YOU require accommodation?
How do you plan to get your guests to and from the venue?
How would you like your day to flow? E.g. arrival at the venue, drinks & canapés, photos, move to dining area, speeches, meal…..etc(Having a rough idea in advance helps you visualise the day when you are looking around the venue)
Step 2: At the venue
Ask questions based on your requirements from the wedding venue checklist. Make sure your requirements are met. Check off the boxes as you go
Step 3: What is included in the cost?
Many venues create a package that provides all the necessary services you require. Other venues don’t provide a package but instead have “suggested suppliers” who provide catering etc. The venue may not allow you to use suppliers that are not on this list. Every venue differs in the way they charge you, so make sure you ask them how they work. Here are some key amenities that may or may not be included in the price:
Accommodation for the wedding night?
Catering?
Drinks? (What are the additional costs)
Sound system?
It’s also worth asking if they have any additional add-on costs. E.g. some venues may offer additional decoration or fancier chairs for a higher price.
Step 4: Key questions to ask
It’s hard to know what questions you should be asking on your first visit. Here are some of the most popular questions. Add these to your wedding venue checklist.
Do they have appropriate facilities for your entertainment arrangements?
Do they have suggested transport companies?
Do they have suggested suppliers?(This can make your planning easier as you have the comfort knowing that the venue and supplier have worked together in the past successfully)
What are their table options?
What do other couples do? This gives you an idea of the way your day could flow?
Above all else, try to avoid “wedding planning stress”. Creating a wedding venue checklist and use it as a template for all your wedding venue visits.
