Hamish Shephard is the founder and CEO of Bridebook, the UK’s leading wedding planning app. He is now considered an expert in the wedding industry, having appeared on BBC news multiple times to provide his expertise and having his own Evening Standard column, Groom With a View, where he shares his insights as one of the UK’s most prominent wedding experts.
As the head of one of the UK’s most revered and popular floral decorating teams, Simon J Lycett‘s Q&A has everything a bride could possibly want – from ingenious inspiration to no-nonsense wedding budget guidance this is one piece you definitely won’t want to miss.
The legend, Simon Lycett himself
How should a bride begin identifying her style?
The diverse range of tastes and styles of our clients and their chosen wedding settings provide a real “kick start” to ideas for décor and design for the individual event. It’s all in the detail and and I adore getting carried away so that the thoughts and dreams of the bride and groom are manifested in their special day with little touches in the decorations to reflect their lives which are now entwined.
Simple or grand is not important, quality is my motivating force in all things. And whatever your style, presentation is EVERYTHING! From the simplest stem of garden rose within an antique French confiture jar to a vast stone urn of orchids, keep the finish and the execution immaculate – although it may look casual and spontaneous, to achieve perfection, everything needs to be planned, practised and polished!
What are your recommendations for a bride choosing her colour scheme?
When choosing your colour palette discount NOTHING and enjoy everything, surprising combinations work really well. Never be shy of mixing colour and if someone tells you that certain colours do not work together, tell them to look to nature for inspiration, the wings of a butterfly or the plumage of a humming bird and then see what does or doesn’t work together!
Where do you think is the best place for a bride to find inspiration?
The incredible seasonal raw materials that we work with – namely the foliage, flowers, plants and fruits available to us provide endless inspiration and food for thought.
What’s your top tip for making a flower budget go further?
Celebrate with seasonal flowers which are more reasonably priced and always resonate within a setting so well. Sometimes less is more, but often masses is best! I like the flowers at a wedding to always give you a “floral cuddle” and minimal just never manages to do so! Broad brush-strokes are what make impact so go with one large decoration rather than three small ones and you’ll still achieve the Wow! factor!
Enjoy exploring the textures and tones of fruits and vegetables. A few architectural artichokes arranged within a bowl of roses give masses of style and substance and makes a clever statement without adding fortunes to the budget! Buttermilk and yellow spray roses, vibrant green alchemilla mollis and blousy cream peonies, when arranged within glass vases filled with fresh Amalfi lemons suddenly become a cool and contemporary statement, giving a fresh citrusy “pop” of colour.
Whatever your budget, plant material must be the best available in perfect condition. Damaged flowers look sad to the naked eye but within a photographer’s lens each imperfection will shout!
Courtesy of Simon Lycett
What should brides consider when selecting their bouquet?
Be aware that many images within Bridal magazines have had colours tweaked in photoshop! So trust your florist when they say that certain coloured flowers are or are not available! And bear in mind that many photoshoot bridal flowers are a whimsical bit of fun which while looking good for a 10 minute photo-shoot, will not really last as a bouquet for an actual wedding because they will wilt and deteriorate quickly.
Bear in mind that a traditional, wired bouquet will take much longer to create than a tied bouquet, so will be considerably more expensive, however with no natural stems, there is no fear of marking a pale coloured dress!
As I hand over their bouquet on the morning of the wedding I always tell brides to carry their bouquet low, with relaxed arms, as it makes Brides look taller. And to walk slowly!
How important is scent when considering your wedding flowers?
The scent of herbs should never be overlooked when planning a wedding, especially in the bouquets and buttonholes. Few commercially grown flowers have a great deal of fragrance these days so add in some subtle scent with sprigs of rosemary and lavender, leaves of bay and sprigs of thyme. Or conjure some romance with charming scented narcissi and hyacinths, tulips, hellebores and muscari.
Courtesy of Simon Lycett
Happy Planning!
Love Simon’s tips? Check out his amazing work and book him for your own wedding through his Bridebook profile!
Here at Bridebook we were oh so lucky to have a chance to pick the brains of one of the most impressive and renowned wedding hairstylists in the UK. As the man behind Kate Middleton’s wedding hair, he is most definitely very deserving of the title! You can’t miss Richard Ward‘s top tips for pre-wedding hair care and especially his day-of hair tips – you’ll be thanking us later.
Richard Ward
How can a bride begin to choose the best hairstyle for her dress?
Wedding hair is notoriously hard to decide on – it has to work with your dress, accessories, face shape and make you feel totally comfortable at the same time! Take into account the dress neckline and go for a hairstyle that complements it; for example if you have a detailed, high neckline, an updo or keeping hair behind the shoulders will ensure it’s visible. Try out as many different styles as possible with your hairdresser until you find your perfect look.
How should a bride decide on which hair accessories to wear on her wedding day?
Whether you choose accessories or a veil depends on the neckline of your dress and what hairstyle you have chosen. A beautiful, intricate updo can be hidden or weighed down by a veil, and is better shown off with delicate accessories; wearing the hair in a more loose, flowing style can be complemented by a beautiful veil. Bring your veil or accessories to your hair trial and make sure they work perfectly with the look you have chosen for maximum impact on the day.
Hair by Richard Ward
Richard’s Pre-Wedding Top Tips:
Start prepping your hair with deep conditioning treatments – both in-salon and at home – at least 6 months before the wedding so it’s in tip-top condition for the big day.
Take inspiration from everywhere – magazines, Pinterest, catwalks – and make a collage of your favourite looks so you have a variety to choose from.
Try out lots of different styles at your hair trial and take photos so you can look back and choose your favourites.
If you want to create the illusion of longer, thicker hair, use clip-in hair pieces – they’re really versatile and easy to use, and you don’t have to wait months for your hair to grow!
Remember your hair has to work with your dress neckline – bring a photo of your dress to your hair trial so your hairdresser knows what type of style they are working with.
Complement an intricate up-do with beautiful delicate accessories or a tiara rather than a veil, as this could hide or weigh it down.
Bring any hair pieces, veils or accessories to your hair trial to make sure they work perfectly with the look you have chosen for maximum impact on the day.
Don’t have any major colour appointments too close to the wedding – have your last full appointment about 4 weeks in advance, and touch up with a semi-permanent gloss or vegetable colour in-salon just before the big day to really refresh your look.
Hair by Richard Ward
Richard’s On The Day Tips:
If you’ve chosen an updo or structured curls, wash your hair the day before to give it more grip – freshly washed locks can be harder to style and keep in place, and can drop more easily.
After a long day of dancing and photos, hair can go a bit flat – spritz a little dry shampoo into the roots halfway through the day or during the reception for extra volume and texture.
L’Oreal Professionnel Tecni. Art Super Dust is also a great product for volume – it’s a tiny bottle so is the perfect size to pop in a bag and whip out when your hair needs a quick boost.
If your hairdresser isn’t there all day, keep a small bottle of hairspray and a comb on hand with your chief bridesmaid in case of any last minute touch-ups to ensure your hair stays looking perfect for photos all day and night.
Hair by Richard Ward
Richard’s top product recommendations:
The Chelsea Collection Argan Hairspray, £5.99
The Chelsea Collection Argan Elixir, £5.99
L’Oreal Professionnel tecni.art Super Dust, £13
The Chelsea Collection Argan 10-in-1 Styling Spritz, £5.99
Stephen Jones OBE is one of the most iconic and influential milliners of all time. Based in London designing hats for A listers, Stephen’s achievements are endless, including curating the world famous ‘Hats’ exhibition at the V&A in 2009. Bridebook was fortunate enough to speak to Stephen Jones about two things we love: hats and weddings (of course!)
The legendary milliner Stephen Jones and some of his creations
Do you think hats are a must-do for all wedding guests?
No it shouldn’t be compulsory to wear a hat, people have freedom of expression, but maybe those who are not really hat wearers should have a go because they’ll realise they’ll have so much fun wearing one, especially on such a special occasion.
Are there any rules when choosing a hat as a wedding guest? (Etiquette, style, occasion type etc.)
Ideally it should not be white as white is the colour of the bride. It should not be too big because if you’re in a Church or a Synagogue you don’t want to obscure the view of the person behind. On the other hand, however, if you’re known as an eccentric dresser you don’t want to let down your audience.
Do you have any tips for choosing the best hat shape for you?
A hat needs to suit your face more than it has to suit your fashion. So if you have a long face don’t wear a tall crowned hat. If you wear glasses, wear a hat with a turned up brim at the front so as not to crowd your face. If you have a broad face, wear a broader brimmed hat or a hat with statement pieces such as flowers. If you have a square face, wear something asymmetric to soften it. You can do all that, but I also think matching is a nice touch. It’s a big enough statement that you’re wearing a hat so you don’t need it to contrast your colours, or have it in any unusual colour. Also keep in mind that whatever colour your hat is gets cast across your face, so beware lime green hats! Sunshine cast through a blue hat tends to add a nice, gentle hue to your skin.
Where did you get married and what was your favourite part of your wedding?
The Chelsea Town Hall in London, a truly lovely venue. My favourite part was seeing a whole line of my guests walking two by two down the road at 9am on Monday morning, on the first day of London Fashion Week, dressed to the nines going to our wedding breakfast.
Globally renowned Daniel Galvin OBE, famous for giving Twiggy the blonde hair that she is known and loved for (as well as styling and colouring the hair of an endless list of celebrities), speaks to Bridebook about wedding hair and how to make sure your hair looks its absolute best on your big day.
Daniel Galvin
How far in advance of your wedding should you be thinking about a regime?
I always recommend that you should have your highlights / colour done 1-2 weeks before your wedding day to give the colour plenty of chance to settle.
What can you do to ensure your hair is at its best the day of the wedding?
The best thing to do is keep hair in amazing condition by using good treatments a few times a week, at least 3-6 months before your wedding. This will ensure your hair is shiny, healthy and beautiful looking on the day.
What else other than products can effect the health of your hair?
Blow-drying, tongs, straighteners, swimming and everyday wear and tear will affect the condition of the hair and should be avoided as much as possible in the run up to your wedding.
Is there anything else that is important to keep in mind?
Maintaining the colour of your hair, using Daniel Galvin detox to clean the colour and get rid of impurities, and Daniel Galvin clear gloss to make it shine for at least a year before the wedding is important so that it looks amazing on the day.
Where did you get married and what was your favourite part of your wedding?
In Muswell Hill, London. My favourite moment was undoubtedly seeing my beautiful fiancée coming down the aisle looking ever more radiant, but the whole ceremony and reception were equally as special. Finally driving to Fronton On Sea for our honeymoon also makes the top of this list.
This rustic barn wedding has so many handmade and personal touches from the bunting sewn together by the bride’s grandmother, to the flowers arranged by the bride’s mother, to the table chutneys and sides prepared by both of the couple’s fathers! Steph and Greg had family and fun in mind with their outdoor lawn games as well. Enjoy perusing this relaxed, lovely barn wedding at the Corn Barn in Cullompton.
Devon | South West | Cullompton | Summer | DIY | Rustic | Pink | Barn
The Corn Barn was bursting with local flowers arranged by Steph’s Mum and friends, and looked wonderful with a twinkling fairy light canopy overhead. A huge amount of work had gone into this wedding, mostly carried out by family and friends, and Steph and Greg themselves. They had a range of village fete style games outside for everyone to play, keeping adults and children equally happily entertained! The wedding breakfast was a grand ploughman’s lunch, with picnic hampers on all the tables filled with ham, cheese and homemade chutneys. Even the bunting was a compilation of pieces made by all the guests, and patiently sewn together by Steph’s grandmother.
The whole day was really wonderful to be part of and just bursting with emotion. Greg and Steph were glowing with happiness all day long, and Greg’s emotional speech pretty much had the entire room in tears.
Congratulations Steph & Greg and thank you Helen Lisk Photography for letting us share these beautiful photographs to help remember a very special day!
Well, here’s something you don’t see every day! Newlyweds Alex and Stef organised a personalised red double-decker bus to take their guests to Kirtlington Park, a gorgeous country house in Oxfordshire – and we absolutely love it.
The stylish Saloon was the perfect location to celebrate with a champagne toast, while at their outdoor cocktail reception, Alex, Stef and their guests enjoyed views of the beautiful Chiltern Hills – and had some fun playing lawn games too!
Congratulations, Alex and Stef! And thank you, Guy Hearn Photography, for letting us share these beautiful photographs.
Every single one of Kendall and John’s photographs is absolutely breathtaking! The natural scenery of Glasgow created a stunning backdrop as the couple meandered along the coastline and through the town for their wedding photos. Kendall’s red lips and heels and John’s burgundy velvet jacket and socks added a touch of personality and colour to the day contrasting beautifully with the natural landscape. Don’t be surprised if Glasgow’s tourism increases as a result of these photos!
Season: Autumn | Styles: Coastal, Outdoor | Colours: Purple, Red
Words from the photographer:
“I was fortunate enough to meet John and Kendall at their friends wedding (that I was photographing) in France. They mentioned that they had just got married in Australia, however with John being from Scotland they were headed to celebrate round two with his close friends and family there. They kindly invited me to join them for this adventure. We had such a special afternoon together of spectacular sight seeing all over Glasgow, wandering through historic castles, along old paths and piers and admiring the breathtakingly beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains and of course the loch…I must say my favourite view of all was just these guys though!”
Congratulations Kendall & John and thank you Hajley Photography for letting us share these beautiful photographs.
The creative personal touches were everywhere at Katy and Steven’s wedding from the cross-stitched table names (of bands they’d seen together) to the nautical heart symbol, and K&S heart décor strewn across the tables. Take note of the delicious looking cheese cake (not cheesecake) made of stacked wheels of savoury cheese. Yum!
“Steven and Katy were the second couple to get married in the newly renovated Tithe Barn, at Symondsbury in Dorset. The barn looked wonderful – I absolutely loved the flowers, from The Real Cut Flower Garden, all in beautiful shades of blue and white. Katy had spent a lot of hours carefully cross-stitching the table names (bands they had watched together) – there could not have been a more perfect way to display these, I loved it! It was a fabulous day to be a part of, especially as the expected rain held off and never quite reached us. Katy and Steven are such a great couple and I really enjoyed photographing their wedding day”
Congratulations Katy & Steven and thank you Helen Lisk Photography for letting us share these gorgeous photographs.
We want you to grow your business. Honestly, we do. We’ve realised that trying to promote your business in the widespread wedding industry can be a daunting and potentially expensive task, so we’re trying to help.
Bridebook has designed an educational series, Wedding Supplier Marketing Bootcamp, specifically to help wedding suppliers grow their business without spending anything on advertising.
We’ve put together detailed overviews and actionable tips that you can start implementing today. We’ll walk you through a variety of types of social media, what they mean for you, and how you can utilise these tools to grow your business.
By the end of the series, you’ll have better copy written on your website, and you’ll be updating your Facebook and Instagram profiles regularly – continually getting your name and brand out there…which will lead to customers getting in touch with you.
Go ahead, and start your Wedding Supplier Marketing Bootcamp now. Click through each topic and take notes as you read through. Try to implement at least one suggestion per day. By the end of the 8th module, you’ll be well-versed in wedding industry marketing – and you won’t have spent a thing!
Word-of-mouth is very important for those working in the wedding industry. Be it positive reviews on a Bridebook profile page or a chat with someone who recently got married, any recommendations can prove extremely valuable. Brides-to-be trust those who have had experience working with a particular supplier and are likely to value their thoughts highly. This is a source of advertising that can easily be harnessed for free (just like Bridebook!). To profit from it, ensure that you nurture your relationship with the happy couples who recently got married.
Why use it?
Various sources indicate recommendations from friends and family are a factor in more than 40% of wedding bookings. This makes them more important than wedding magazines, wedding blogs and even social media. Those who recommend your company must have previously enjoyed their experience and were presumably were good customers. Their friends are likely to be similar- just the type of clients you want to attract!
How to use word of mouth advertising?
Anyone looking to exploit word of mouth advertising needs to get their previous brides to speak about them. Couples who recently got married can be some of your best brand ambassadors. Keeping in touch with them after the big day is absolutely crucial. Do not rely on chance to get couples to talk about you. Encourage them to do so by giving them reasons and incentives to look back on their wedding day with nostalgia. The ideas below will help you to maintain a good relationship with happy couples:
1) Send thank you notes
Send couples a thank you note when they get back from their honeymoon. Try to personalise it with photos or key memories from their big day.
2) Give brides a gift after the wedding
If you can afford to, send your brides a thank you gift after the wedding. It can be small such as a photo of them in a frame or a “Just Married” keyring. It will give them something to remember you by and fill them with happy thoughts about their special day. It might also make them more inclined to help you at a future date.
3) Run a Real Wedding feature on your website
Post a featured real wedding on your website a few weeks after a couple’s wedding. This will make the couple feel special, it may encourage them to share it with their friends and family, and it will also provide good publicity when other brides-to-be use your website.
4) Get in contact with couples on their anniversaries
Use anniversaries and special occasions as an excuse to get back into contact with couples. Send them personalised emails including photos which will bring back the emotions of their wedding day.
5) Give brides incentives to refer friends to you
An incentive, such as “a free bottle of champagne” or a “free framed photo” for referring a customer will be an attractive offer. Brides like free things and competitions just as much as Bridebook does!
6) Ask for reviews on your website
Ask couples politely to leave reviews on your website and Bridebook profile. As a bonus, enter them into a prize draw for a bottle of champagne if they do.
7) And on social media too
If any client leaves a review on a social media, be sure to respond. If they had a fantastic day, say how delighted you are that they had such a good time.
8) Negative reviews are not a cause for panic
Do not panic if you receive a negative review on social media. These can be turned round. Apologise and explain how you are remedying the issues that they mention. Offer them a free gift or some form of compensation. Brides who see this will be impressed that you are so proactive and may pay less attention to the negative review.
9) Write a newsletter
If you have the time and the resources, write a quarterly newsletter to keep your previous happy couples aware of developments in your business. This will make their wedding day seem fresh in their minds…and hopefully make them tell all their newly engaged friends about their experiences.
10) Use memorable anecdotes to your advantage
Be sure to tell interesting facts and memorable anecdotes to couples. They are likely to pass this information onto friends; in the long-run, this may well lead to more business leads.
We know you already have a description of your business written somewhere. Is it on your website? Is it on your brochures? Take a quick look at it and decide for yourself if it’s truly the best description it can be. That is your copy- and this article will help you enhance it!
Why use it?
In the back of your mind you need to remember why you are writing this content. Does it help potential clients imagine booking their wedding with you? Does it vividly highlight your selling points? Will they read it and immediately pick up the phone to book? Does reading it make YOU want to pick up the phone? If not, then you’ve got some writing work to do.
What to use it for?
All writing is marketing your business. From your website’s “About Us” section to your email signature, anything that potential clients are reading about you or from you – IS marketing.
This might include:
– Brief Description on Bridebook
– Long Description on Bridebook
– Social Media “About Us”
– Website “About Us”
– Advertisement or Flyer Copy
-Interview answers
Etc …
To make the most out of the content you use, follow the 3 steps below:
1) Think about your style
Do your key phrases do a good job of explaining what you’re trying to say? Are they boring? Will the reader understand the terminology? Are you using correct grammar?
Try to remember the following tips with your writing: – Be specific
– Use examples
– Show personality
– Use interesting words
-Use action verbs
-Have a consistent theme
The more interesting and like-minded you sound, the more compelled the reader will be to (1) keep reading, and (2) contact you…which can lead directly to a booking. It’s that simple.
2) Exercise: Which writing sample is more compelling?
Let’s think about an imaginary florist called Gemma’s Flowers. She’s written the following two descriptions. Which one do you think she should use on her website or her Bridebook profile?
Gemma’s Flowers – version 1
We provide a range of floral services for your wedding or special occasion. Established in 2005, we have been offering flowers to the trade and consumers. We can accommodate all your flower needs from bouquets to table arrangements. Contact us to arrange a consultation!
Gemma’s Flowers – version 2
Your bridal bouquet will be in every wedding photo for years to come, so let’s make sure it’s looking its best! Hi, we’re Gemma and Elizabeth, a mother-daughter team who have been creating beautiful floral arrangements for weddings across the South West for over 10 years! Whether you’re having an intimate garden ceremony or a grand-scale ballroom wedding floral arches, we’d love to help you find those flowers and colours that look beautiful on your wedding…and in your photo albums!
Which of the above two descriptions did you connect with more? In version 2, did you feel their passion and energy for weddings through the enthusiasm in the writing? Did you get a sense that they might do a good job at your hypothetical wedding? It was fun to read, and definitely more compelling than version 1.
3) Your homework: Edit your words!
Your homework now is to go back and jazz up your “About Us” section of your website, as well as your Bridebook profile description! Give it a go and then ask a friend to read it. You’ll be surprised how much better it can get by just rewriting a few sentences!
As you continue to market your business whether it’s through your website, flyers, online advertisements or social media, always think about writing copy that will appeal to your clients so they immediately like you and hopefully book you.
Pinterest- a social network which allows users to pin photos they want to remember on to virtual pinboards – has proved amazingly successful. It was the fastest growing social network in 2014 and the second largest driver of web traffic after Facebook. 88% of those who pin have purchased a product that they have pinned. These are impressive statistics, but the social media platform is even more exciting when it is considered in relation to the wedding industry.
Why use it?
Most Pinterest users fit into the wedding industry’s prime target audience: over 80% of users are female and the most well represented age group is 25-34 year olds. Moreover, two fifths of brides use Pinterest in the wedding planning process and many young women start pinning pictures onto wedding related boards before they are even engaged.
If you are not a regular pinner, you might not understand why Pinterest is so popular in the wedding industry. As the flurry of wedding magazines, photos and images on Bridebook’s website demonstrate, the industry is highly visual. The Pinterest’s virtual pinboards allow brides to capture their dream wedding in pictures by collecting photos from a wide range of websites. If they click on any photo, they will be taken back to the original website, so they can easily go on to find out more information about the supplier.
What to use it for?
By putting your most attractive images up onto your Pinterest board, you should be able to get more attention from brides and attract more traffic to the website. You could pay to get more pins, ‘likes’ and followers, but we believe that the best things in life come for free (love, friends, Bridebook….) and these tips below should allow your enterprise to make the most of Pinterest at no cost:
1) Set up your profile with care
Ensure that your business page is set up properly. Choose the same photo as your profile picture across all your social media accounts so that your brand is easily recognisable. Be sure to fill in the About You and Website sections so that couples can easily access your information and go to your site. Link your profile with as many of your other social media accounts as possible (Twitter, Instagram, Google+) so you can advertise all your credentials.
2) Create pinboard titles with Search Engine Optimisation in mind
Set up your pinboards carefully. Think about the search terms brides are likely to use (e.g. wedding dresses, vintage weddings…) and use these as titles. Seasonal titles (Inspiration for Christmas Weddings) can also help to keep your page fresh.
3) Upload your best photos
Upload the best and most interesting photos that you have to Pinterest. Remember that anyone who clicks on a photo will get redirected to your website.
4) Give your photos personality with comments and hashtags
Adding comments and hashtags at the bottom of your picture can really help to boost their views. Given the plethora of wedding photos available, think about what you could say to differentiate your photos.
5) Upload photos to all your social media accounts at once
Fill two needs with one deed. Whenever you add a photo to Pinterest, remember to send it out on your other social media outlets too (and upload it to your Bridebook profile while you are at it- profiles with over 5 photos get 50% more views).
6) Pin little, but often
Don’t pin 500 photos one day, but then ignore your Pinterest account for 1 month. Instead try to put 10 minutes aside each day for pinning any photos which you like. This will keep your followers intrigued and make them want to see what is coming next.
7) Socialise on social media
Pinterest is a social medium. Interact with those who repin your photos- say that you are really pleased to see that they like your photos. Write messages on photos you pin on your board explaining why you like them.
8) Get Pinterest buttons on your website
Ensure that a Pin It and a Follow Me button are included on your website so that anyone who visits it can pin photos onto their own wedding boards.
9) Set up group pinboards
Collaborate with other suppliers you frequently work with by setting up a group pinboard. This way you can support each other’s efforts and you both get twice the publicity.
10) Monitor your efforts
Monitoring what is successful is key to designing your marketing plan. As a first, very simple step, check to see who is following you, what boards interest them most and which photos they tend to repin or ‘like’. Monitor traffic on your website, check to see how much traffic is being redirected from Pinterest.
Happy Pinning!
Have a look at how to maximise email marketing here!
Email marketing is simply the use of emails to build your brand and spread the word about your business. You probably send an email every day, but are you using the communication to its fullest? From initial contact from potential brides to newsletters to thank you notes to past clients, there are many opportunity within each and every email to market and help boost your business.
Sending the right email can be a crucial factor in the success of your business. It may bring a lead to your front door…or, if poorly executed, send them knocking elsewhere.
Why use it?
The first contact that you have with couples is likely to be through email. At Bridebook, we let you know instantly if a bride has sent you an enquiry. How you react is crucial. Over 90% of brides said that the speed of email responses was important when choosing a supplier. An accidental typo can be off-putting, while a friendly and welcoming message gets the brides on board instantly.
Email also gives you the chance to contact leads from wedding fairs or other industry events. Those who attend such events are likely to have been inundated with information at the fair, so it is important to follow up with couples so they remember exactly who you are.
And even after a wedding, email has its place. Brides-to-be find word of mouth one of the best sources of information. If you can stay in email contact with couples who have previously used your services, you enhance your chance of getting word of mouth recommendations from them. You can also keep in touch with fellow suppliers via email who may also provide word of mouth recommendations.
What to use it for?
As well as responding to potential leads and following up on meetings after fairs, those in the wedding business should take any opportunity you can to keep in touch with previous brides and suppliers. After all, it is a good way of enhancing your sales, for free! The tips below should help you to do so:
1) See if your email has been received
The first, and most important, step is to make sure that your recipient is actually receiving your email. A tool like Mailtrack (https://mailtrack.io/) (which is, of course, free, but currently only available for Gmail) gives you What’s App style notifications which show if your email has been delivered and read. If they are not, take action immediately!
2) Check your junk mail
Don’t just check to see if your emails are going through to customers. Check that you are receiving all your emails too. Remember to look at the spam filter once a day. There is nothing worse than missing a lead because it ended up in your junk mail box. If the email is not spam, remark it as “Not Spam” so that your mail service learns what to look for.
3) Try different email titles
If your emails are not being read, try out different titles to see what works best and optimise your emails accordingly.
4) Use personal email addresses
Sending from a personal email address, rather than a generic info@… or hello@… can also help to ensure that your mail does indeed get read.
5) Timing matters
Timing your emails correctly is crucial. Sending emails at around the time when people leave work increases the chance that they will get read.
6) Respond to emails promptly
Be quick and efficient in responding to emails. Brides are likely to lose interest in working with you as a supplier if you take more than 24 hours to reply to their emails.
7) Personalise the email
Personalise the body of the email: make sure it is addressed to Laura and Mark, not Sir and Madam or To whom it may concern.
8) Be approachable and friendly
Make sure your email has a friendly and approachable tone. Start emails to couples with “Congratulations on your engagement!”
9) Add links to your bridal brochure
If you have not had any previous contact with a couple, be sure to add a link to your business brochure. This will make your email look more professional and enable couples to see your wares more easily. If you have any wedding advice packs, include these too.
10) Include reviews, testimonials or quotes in your email signature
Including links or snippets from reviews and testimonials in your emails can also be a good way of showing couples what you have to offer. Upload these reviews on to your Bridebook profile at the same time- couples are more likely to enquire about suppliers who have several positive reviews!
Make sure your email is well-written and free from spelling and grammar mistakes. Couples will be concerned about the level of care and attention that will go into their wedding if there are basic errors in emails.
13) Set up a typo alert!
Typos seem to be particularly common on iPads and iPhones so be extra careful when using them for business purposes. Although this is not a perfect solution, consider changing the message at the bottom of your emails from “Sent from my iPhone” to “Sent from my iPhone; apologies for unintended typos!”
14) Use your signature to the full
Email signatures are a key way to showcase your online profile. Ensure that you design a signature that includes links to your social media profiles, your website and your Bridebook profile.
15) Use any opportunity to keep in contact with clients and suppliers
Remember that you should take any opportunity to engage with contacts over email that you have. Anniversaries, holidays and special occasions could all prove to be good opportunities to catch up with suppliers and couples who used your services recently.
16) Send newsletters
Sending out newsletters is another good way of ensuring you stay in email contact with suppliers and brides with whom you have previously worked. Stay top-of-mind by writing interesting and inspirational messages and keep readers up-to-date on your latest weddings and any features or awards that your business has earned.
LinkedIn is one of the largest social networks in the world with other 380 million users. In terms of monthly unique visitors, it is only just behind Twitter and Facebook.
However, it is not the size of the audience that makes LinkedIn attractive to wedding industry professionals. It is the scope of it. On LinkedIn, you can research your industry, showcase your thought leadership, connect with other suppliers, recruit new employees…
Why use it?
Although the other social networks are primarily useful for building business with brides, LinkedIn is best for nurturing relationships with fellow suppliers. These relationships are extremely useful. While couples will only get married once, suppliers are in the industry for the long haul. If you build relationships with fellow suppliers, they may recommend you for weddings they cannot cover or ask you to work with them on a regular basis. They may also prove to be a source of valuable ideas, support and even mentoring.
What to use it for?
The focus of your efforts on LinkedIn should be very different from the content posted on your other social media accounts. Provide thought leadership pieces related to the wedding industry rather than photos and real weddings. Use your LinkedIn business profile as the chance to showcase your business philosophy and ideas. Do not completely disregard brides, they may come and look at the site to verify your credentials, but they are not the primary focus of your LinkedIn page. With this in mind, these tips should help you to enhance your networking on LinkedIn:
1) Personalise your LinkedIn URL
Change your LinkedIn URL (on both your personal profile and your business site). This will make your profile easier to find, make your business look more professional and help your Google ranking all in one go. To do so select Edit Profile from the Profile header and then click Customise Your Public Profile URL, change the characters at the end of the URL to your business name and then click Set Custom URL.
2) Use your profile to showcase your business
Enhance your business profile page. Be sure to add photos to showcase your work and include a detailed description filled with relevant information and up-to-date contact details. Remember your target audience on LinkedIn is suppliers so focus the content of your profile accordingly.
3) Post updates on your profile page
Post recent, relevant updates about your business on your profile page so there is something up-to-date and fresh to catch the attention of anyone who visits your page. Adding industry research posts can also help to attract the attention of wedding suppliers.
4) Socialise on LinkedIn
Be interactive, ‘like’ posts from other suppliers and share them too. When you take an interest in their posts, they are more likely to remember you and view you as a valued part of their network. Sharing posts has the added benefit of filling your profile updates section with minimum effort.
5) Use business photos to your advantage
Ask your staff to use a photo of your business as the background photo on their profiles. This will make your team look very professional and united.
6) Put a LinkedIn badge on your website
Add a LinkedIn badge to your company website so that viewers can readily access your LinkedIn profile.
7) Build up your connections
Build up your connections. Every time you go to a wedding fair, be sure to add the suppliers you meet on LinkedIn. Include a nice personalised message when you send the LinkedIn invites, rather than allowing LinkedIn to send out its default message.
8) Download a list of your LinkedIn connections
All the details from your LinkedIn connections can be downloaded. Simply click on the Connections tab, then click on Settings in the top right corner. From there select Export LinkedIn Connections, select CSV and then click Export. This will provide you with an Excel list which is much more manageable than LinkedIn’s directory.
9) Keep in touch with contacts
Stay in touch with your contacts. Using your export from LinkedIn, send all your suppliers Christmas cards or be quirky and send out business Valentine’s Day cards (it is the wedding industry after all).
10) Join relevant industry groups
There are several groups open for UK wedding professionals, such as UK Wedding Suppliers (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3731919/profile) By joining these groups you will be able to participate in pertinent industry discussion which can provide you with a lot of useful tips. If you actively participate in group discussions, you will get noticed by other industry suppliers who may go on to recommend you to their clients.
11) Use groups to your advantage
Groups have other advantages. Normally you need to have a first degree connection with someone in order to message them, but you can send up to 15 messages to other group members for free.
12) Start your own groups
As the group manager you are allowed to message everyone within the group once a week for free. This is a great way of drawing attention to your work as a supplier and building up more useful contacts. Group managers also have more of a driving force in the group and can decide what content to share.
13) Circulate your research on LinkedIn Pulse
If you do produce interesting blogposts or research, try publishing them on LinkedIn pulse. This will help get your advice circulated to a wider audience.
Instagram is an online photo and video sharing social network. It enables you to share photos with your friends and followers. In turn, you can comment on and share their images. The site is differentiated from other social media networks in that it was designed for mobile phones.
Instagram’s sheer scale makes it a very powerful tool. There are over 300 million monthly active users on the site and they post 40 million images per day. Nowadays over 20% of the world’s internet users have an Instagram account! And of those who have it, over 50% use it on a daily basis.
Why use it?
Despite its phenomenal growth, Instagram is not as inundated with paid adverts and promotions as Facebook and Twitter. This means that businesses looking to use it can find it easier to build up a trusted rapport with their clients. It is often described as feeling more ‘intimate’ than other social networks.
The lack of targeted advertising presents another advantage for businesses looking to take advantage of Instagram. Posts are more likely to be seen by followers; whereas your post might reach just 1% of your followers on Facebook, it might be seen by every one of your followers on Instagram.
The fact that Instagram is mobile-based makes it great for those attending weddings and wanting to catch the emotions of each minute of the day. It is little wonder that wedding photos are so widely circulated and are some of the most-liked posts on Instagram. Kimye’s wedding kiss was the most liked Instagram photo of all time!
Instagram also appeals to the visual nature of the wedding industry. A wedding day is filled with emotions, the bride being walked up the aisle by her father, the first dance, the magical moment when the bouquet is thrown to the bride’s friends. It is a common cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words, but actually photos are very well placed to capture the excitement of these moments. This is why we ask suppliers to put as many of their best photos on their Bridebook profile pages as possible.
Instagram’s users also fit into the wedding industry’s core demographic. 64% of UK Instagramers are female and the millennial generation is extremely well-represented with over 90% of users aged under 35.
What to use it for?
Given Instagram’s demographics, the best way to use the site is to choose and upload photos that could prove inspirational for brides. If a photo catches a bride’s eye, there is a good chance that she might save it. These tips below will help you to create an eye-catching profile and in the long run bring you leads.
1) Build your profile
Before you start actively looking for followers, build your profile up. Make sure you have at least 20 photos loaded- no one will want to follow a blank page.
2) Fill in your contact details
Make sure your details are filled in. Given that you cannot link your website to the photos that you post, the best way of making sure brides come and view your webpage is to have your details written clearly in your profile.
3) Use the 150-character bio field wisely
Use the bio field in your profile page wisely – you only have 150 characters so do not waste a single word. Clearly state what you are e.g. a luxury caterer, a boutique hotel and what you can offer wedding couples.
4) Post little, but often
When you want to start getting a following, be sure to send photos out little but often. Do not bombard prospective brides with photos, simply whet their interest with one or two photos every couple of days.
5) Timing matters
Time your posts carefully. They are most likely to be seen if you put them up at around 5pm when people are just leaving work (or procrastinating at work)!
6) Wednesday’s are the best day
On the same note, it is little wonder that #WeddingWednesday has been such a success. People are most likely to like photos on Wednesday and least likely to engage with Instagram on Monday.
7) Join the festive spirit
Use special occasions as a chance to send out themed images. These should attract plenty of attention e.g. consider uploading a romantic photo for Valentine’s day or a photo of a couple kissing under mistletoe as Christmas approaches.
8) Use your best photos
Upload your best quality photos to Instagram. Remember that Instagram photos are square shaped giving you a good chance to play with symmetry effects. Photos can be cropped or you can use the square setting on your camera to have photos which are instantly ready for sharing.
9) Differentiate your photos with free apps
If you want to differentiate your photos from the other wedding suppliers, try adding quotes in free apps like PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com)or Canva (http://www.canva.com).
10) Geo-tag your photos
Add geo-tags when you post your photos (this option is available whenever you post photos). This will enable potential brides to see where you are based and what locations you have worked at recently.
11) Try posting videos
Instagram also allows you to post videos which are up to 15 seconds long. Try posting one as it may be a more efficient way to showcase your brand. You can learn more about video marketing in this article.
12) Use hashtags
Write hashtags under your photos to ensure that they get the attention they deserve. #weddingwednesday, #shesaidyes and #weddinginspiration are not a bad place to start and should help you to build a good, well-targeted following. Have a look at Bridebook’s Instagram page to build up further ideas on what hashtags to try out.
13) Enable notifications
Enable notifications so you can monitor which photos get the most attention and at what times. Modify your Instagram strategy accordingly.
14) Share photos across your social networks
By changing the account settings, images can be shared across Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and even Weibo accounts in one go. To do this, click on the rosette in the corner of your profile page, go to settings, then linked accounts and link through to any accounts you choose.
15) Try running a competition
If you are in a hurry and want to boost your following quickly, it might be worth trying a competition- offer a free photo shoot, tour or makeover for the bride. Try following Bridebook to see what exciting competitions we are currently running!
16) Offer special discounts for followers
On a similar note, try offering special discounts to those who follow you on Instagram. It is an amazingly quick way of building up an audience.
17) Socialise!
Social media is meant to be social- follow businesses with similar interests, brides and suppliers with whom you commonly work. Like their photos. Comment on new ideas they are trying out.
18) Follow Instagram’s blog
Instagram regularly tries out new features. To keep up to date with their latest ideas and really differentiate your photos by following their blog.
19) Add Instagram to your Bridebook profile
Showcase all your hard work by adding your Instagram account to your Bridebook profile page.
20) Follow Bridebook on Instagram!
We’d to have you in our wedding community on Instagram! Come follow us!
You must have watched a video on YouTube. Nearly everyone in the developed world has. Around one sixth of the world’s population uses the service. It is more popular than Netflix…More popular than Cable…and some say it is more popular than Live TV.
But what you might not have appreciated is that YouTube is also the world’s second largest search engine with over 3 billion searches a month. It is bigger than Bing, Yahoo, Ask and AOL- combined!
YouTube marketing is not just a question of having exceptional content, users also need a basic understanding of Search Engine Optimisation (which words and content to use to ensure that your videos are some of the first that appear in searches). This should not worry you – there are plenty of places where you can learn more about SEO.
Why use it?
Video, as a medium, is helpful to anyone wanting to market their goods. It is a common cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words. If this is the case, just imagine what a video must be worth! Uploading videos really does provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your services and we have certainly noticed this at Bridebook. Profiles with videos attached get substantially more enquiries than those without.
Those working in weddings should be particularly aware of the power of videos. Videos are the perfect way for couples to get a feel for your business, without you having to take the time to explain the business to them personally. They can save you considerable time and effort, and allow you to focus on the most promising clients.
What to use it for?
Videos allow businesses to create a buzz around their brand. Aim for topics that would attract a bride-to-be’s attention. Educational videos such as how to cut a wedding cake with panache, how to fling your wedding bouquet so it lands on target and how to find your perfect wedding dress might make a good start, depending on the services you provide.
The tips below should help:
1) Produce videos for free!
Producing video content does not have to be an expensive and complex process. Simply film yourself using your Ipad and Iphone. Then use free software like iMovie to edit it. You might be surprised to know that even FTSE100 firms do this!
2) Watch popular videos in your space
Watch clips from popular vloggers (video bloggers) or members of your industry to get a clear idea of the type of content that brides are watching. This will help you get some ideas on what types of videos you can create that are likely to be watched and shared.
3) Be consistent with your video format
When you have found a format for videos that works for you, continue to use it. Being consistent will encourage viewers to come back and see if you have any more similar videos. This will help you to create more of a buzz around your business. Consider a range of ‘how to’ videos, or a series of ‘a year in the… industry’.
4) Personalise your channel
When you begin to upload videos on YouTube, you will need to create a channel. This is a very simple process- all you need to do is add your name and your business name. Your videos will be uploaded within this channel. The channel might initially look a bit bland, so upload photos and add contact information to personalise it.
5) Use keywords to boost your search ranking
Make sure you write a business description on your channel that is filled with keywords. This will boost your rankings in Youtube searches.
6) Link your YouTube channel to your website
This will boost your website’s Google ranking and allow prospective clients to get a good feel for your business.
7) Ask brides for videos of their wedding
If a bride had a videographer at their wedding, ask if you can add their videos to your channel (make sure you get the videographers permission too). This will enable you to fill your channel with minimum effort!
8) Choose video titles carefully
Make sure your video titles are likely to appeal to your target audience. Remember that YouTube is not just a social network, it is also a search engine, so all SEO rules apply here too.
9) Tag your videos
The more tags you use the better, but make sure they are all relevant. As a start, remember to tag your brand or your business and then choose wedding related key words.
11) Write a transcription
Adding a transcription to videos can help with SEO and boost viewer numbers.
12) Monitor feedback
Monitor all the feedback that you receive on all your videos. Replying to compliments might just be a way of getting a new lead! If there is negative feedback, work out what to do to address it in your next video and keep developing your content accordingly.
13) Use playlists
To get more views try including your videos on playlists – a groups of videos which play sequentially. Since the playlist continues without a user’s prompting, videos in playlists tend to get more views. Including videos in playlists also doubles their probability of appearing in searches.
14) Post links to your videos
Along with a relevant comment, post links to your videos in the comments section below other popular wedding related YouTube videos. This should boost visits to your channel.
15) Share your videos
Showcase all your hard work by using Twitter and Facebook to share your videos. Be interactive and ‘like’ and comment on other suppliers’ videos in the hope that they will do the same for you.
16) Add videos to your Bridebook profile
Add your videos to the Bridebook site. We have found that pages with videos get 50% more views!
Happy Video-making!
Have a look at how to self promote your business here!
Self-promotion is a completely necessary way of making sure that your business gets the attention that it deserves. There are plenty of ways to promote your business, awards, reviews, blogs, Bridebook profiles, to name but a few.
Why use it?
Couples like to know that the suppliers they’re considering are reliable and good. In the absence of a personal recommendation by friends, family or a venue, couples seek validation that OTHERS thought the work was good.
Who are these OTHERS? They can be blogs, magazines, awards, colleagues, venues, and past clients…essentially anyone else that can say “I’ve seen so-and-so’s work – it’s good and I’d recommend them!”
This external validation can come in many form for wedding suppliers, and couples like it all! Here are some strategies for building your collection of others who can vouch for you.
Tell the world about your accolades by adding them to your Bridebook profile, posting them on Facebook, and adding them to your website.
1) Get featured in blogs
To get selected, be featured on a blog or in a magazine. Brides love “As seen in…” anything!
How? Submit your past weddings to the “Real Weddings” section editors of wedding blogs. Make sure you have permission from the photographer and can list all of the suppliers involved in the wedding. Take your time to follow various wedding blogs and get a sense of the types of weddings they publish so you can tailor your submission accordingly. Also remember to follow their submission guidelines and honour their exclusivity requests.
2) Nominate yourself for awards
There are many wedding industry awards within the UK and beyond. Typically, suppliers will put themselves forward then request votes from their past clients. Their momentum grows that way and then the judges make the final decision.
Once you’ve been shortlisted (or better yet won!) any awards, be sure to let people know!
3) Show off your credentials
List any credentials and accreditations, as you might include them on a CV. Some professionals forget to include their credentials, but they can really boost your profile and help reinforce your level of quality and experience. Include your school, university, and past employers to add credibility to your profession.
For example: Certified Wedding Planner or Former Photographer for Vogue Magazine
4) Ask for recommendations from other suppliers
Mention if you are on a venue’s preferred supplier list, or if you regularly work with another supplier. In the absence of a recommendation from friends or family, a personal recommendation from a trusted supplier is the next best thing. It helps reassure the bride that things will go smoothly because you’ve worked together before.
For example: Sharing that you’re one of the preferred Florists for the Ritz hotel will certainly give an indication of your level of professionalism and quality. You can include these recommendations on your Bridebook profile.
5) Build a list of testimonials from past clients
Build your set of testimonials on your website and comments on social media.
Copy and paste the best testimonials and put them up on your website. Don’t have any testimonials? Just ask your past clients for them!
Once you find something to share, be sure to self-promote on your website, social media and of course… your Bridebook profile!
6) Promote your business activity on Facebook (and other Social Media)
Share posts on Facebook that show how busy and great your business is. If you’re happy about it, tell someone about it!
For example: “We’re so excited to be nominated for XYZ Awards! Vote here!”
“Last weekend we worked with the beautiful couple, the Smiths, in Dorset. The sunset made for some lovely photos, see them here!”
“We’ve just updated our listing on Bridebook.co.uk! Have a look at the link!”
“Thanks to Jenny for writing a review for us on Bridebook.co.uk. Read it here!”
Happy Marketing!
Have a look at how to maximise word of mouth advertising here!
You can practically smell the lavender coming through the computer screen in this beautifully coordinated country-style Welsh wedding! The couple even found a perfectly-painted deep purple Volkswagen van to coordinate with their chosen wedding colour – how’s that for matching?
Venue: Glangrwyney Court, a country house in Powys, Wales
“From the moment we met Steve we knew we had made the right choice in wedding photographer. Steve makes you feel relaxed and takes amazing natural photos. The comments we have received about our photos have been amazing and we absolutely love them. One of our photos even won wedding photo of the week on yourperfectweddingphotographer.co.uk!”
Love was the in the air and on the dance floor at this beautiful wedding! We loved the vibrant blue and orange running throughout from the groom’s suits to the table decorations. Such a creative couple!
Season: Spring | Styles: Classic, DIY | Colours: Blue, Orange
Words from the couple:
“Our wedding day was on the 18th April at Holdsworth House, a beautiful Jacobean Manor House in Halifax. We chose the venue because it had a great reputation for food and the setting and the grounds were really pretty. We had everything crossed in the run up to the big day for sunshine, luckily it turned out to be one of the warmest days of the year so we were able to have our drinks reception outside and our guests played croquet on the lawn whilst we had out photos taken.
We knew that photography and our choice of photographer would be one of the most important decisions we had to make, Andy and I both work in the the creative industry and had a very strong idea of the photography style we wanted, James and Lianne’s relaxed style matched what we were looking for perfectly and the photos were more amazing than we could have asked for.
After trying on what felt like 1000 dresses-but was actually more like 30-I finally found ‘the one’-Francesca by Maggie Sottero. The lovely ladies at Angel Brides persuaded me to try it on. Initially I wasn’t sure about it because it wasn’t what I pictured in my head, how wrong I was! Before the dress was fastened properly I knew that I couldn’t get married in any other dress it was so beautiful! I accessorised with a Richard Designs headdress and wrist cuff, Kurt Geiger heels for the day and in the evening I changed into my customised Converse trainers. My hair and makeup on the day was done by Kathyrn Hurl. I knew that I wanted a relaxed loose bun so that I could have my hair up off my back to show off my dress but without feeling too ‘done’-Kathryn knew exactly what I wanted and also managed to hide the fact that I had about 3 hours sleep the night before!
Andy tends to wear jeans and trainers to work so he really wanted a tailored suit with some unique design touches, but something he could still wear again. We went to Michelsberg Tailoring in the Leeds Victoria Quarter and James truly delivered on Andy’s brief, the suit was beautifully made and fitted with all the individual touches that Andy wanted. He wore it with Oliver Sweeney shoes and a Paul Smith pocket square.
Our adult bridesmaids wore coral gowns from the Dessy collection and the men wore suits from Next in a matching colour material to Andy’s suit. Our flowergirl wore a dress from BHS and out page boy had a suite from Matalan and a Ted Baker tie- they absolutely stole the show!
A lot of our decorations were home-made. Andy is a graphic designer so he designed all of our stationery and organised the printing. We made our table plan and photoboards from old picture frames, a friend made the bunting and I spent weeks decorating jam jars and luggage tags for our tables, it was a lot of hard work but it was totally worth it to have a day that really felt like our own. Lynne from Stem Designs filled my jam jars with beautiful white blooms and created relaxed hand-tied bouquets for me and the bridesmaids. We say Typical Type’s Big Love at a wedding fayre very early in the planning stages and I fell in love with it and decided there and then that whatever our wedding looked like, that would be a big part of it. In the end we built our wedding around it and it looked great both during the ceremony and at the evening reception!
The whole day was everything that we’d wanted it to be and more-planning it together meant that we had a day that reflected both of our personalities- I still look at the photos at least once a week and wish we could go back and do it all again!”
Congratulations Gemma & Andy and thank you James & Lianne Photography for letting us share these beautiful photographs to help remember their wedding l day!
You’re engaged, congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most amazing journeys of your life – and you’ve got your soulmate by your side. You’re on this rollercoaster together, and we promise it’s going to be full of love, surprises and celebration. So enjoy the ride!
As the realisation of what’s to come sets in, you might be wondering what happens next. Where do you start? Who do you tell first? How do you tell them? When should you start planning your wedding? How do you start?
Because there are so many things to do, things can get overwhelming quite quickly. But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you in the right direction and help make the next couple of weeks a lot easier, with a checklist for making sure you have everything covered.
So, in this post, we’re going to outline a step-by-step guide for everything you should do after you get engaged, from the order you should tell your family and friends to when the right time is to start making those bookings.
Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start planning your dream wedding, but where to start? In this video, Bridebook founder (and qualified wedding planner!) Hamish Shephard breaks down your wedding organisation into 5 easy steps so you can plan stress-free and kickstart your wedding to-do list.
Our 20-step guide for what you should do after getting engaged
When you get engaged, everything is so exciting and feels like it goes so fast that it can be easy to get carried away. Did you do this? Did you do that? Before you know it, you’re not sure what you’ve done and what’s left to do. That’s where we come in. Below are 20 steps you can follow to make sure you remember everything after getting engaged.
It can be tempting to run to see your parents or pick up the phone and start yelling about your brand-new engagement. But before you do that, think about if you want to do something a little more creative, or figure out a way to get both of your families together in one room and blow them all away with the news.
Once you’ve figured out how you’re going to do it, you can get to the exciting part. You’re engaged to the love of your life – and it’s time to let your family and besties know! Just be prepared for lots of squeals, some hugs and maybe even a few tears – happy ones, of course.
Have you ever worn anything so precious… or expensive? So thoughtful, so sentimental, so valuable… Get your ring insured. ASAP. The average cost of an engagement ring is £1,978, which is an amount that very few can afford to lose. It’s unlikely that anything will happen to it, but you never know. Then you can stop worrying and start showing it off. And trust us, you’re going to want to show off that amazing new ring a lot.
4. Tell wider friends and family, starting with the A team
After telling your immediate family, it’s time to start sharing the news with your mates and colleagues. We bet some of the first people you tell will end up being key players in your wedding party. They might be your maid of honour or your best man, if you have one. Make an event of it and ask them to be by your side at your wedding over a drink or a meal out. Then start thinking about who else you want involved. Our number one piece of advice is to choose the people you love – not the people you feel obligated to have. Don’t worry about upsetting anyone – it’s your special day. You should be surrounded by your favourite people in the world.
With such a beautiful new ring to show off, you may want to do this sooner, but it’s especially important to make sure your nails are on point before you have your engagement photos done or you share the news on social media. There are going to be lots of close-ups of your ring finger, so having clean, shaped and polished nails will help those photos pop. Trust us.
It’s not for everyone, and it’s a little old-fashioned by today’s standards, but you might want to follow tradition by announcing your engagement in the local (or even national) newspaper. It’ll make your parents’ and grandparents’ days, as historically, engagement announcements included lots of details about the couple’s backgrounds, families and so on. Nowadays, though, it’s up to you what you include. If nothing else, it’ll make for a brilliant keepsake.
Now comes the time to scream your news from the 21st-century equivalent of the rooftops. If there was ever a time to share something on social media, it’s now. Whether you post a cute engagement selfie with your partner to your Instagram, update your Facebook relationship status or even make a cheeky TikTok, savour this moment and watch the likes roll in.
From the moment you got engaged, you no doubt mentally went into planning mode, thinking about venues, catering, wedding rings, the song you’ll have your first dance to… but, as hard as it might be, don’t feel the need to rush straight into it. Take a step back, breathe and enjoy the moment. Why not take a little trip away, just the two of you, and enjoy some time as an engaged couple? You’re about to embark on a busy year or more of hectic wedding planning, and taking time to enjoy your engagement is definitely worth it.
It’s party time! Get a date in the diary to celebrate with everyone that matters. Just remember that anyone who’s invited to your engagement party is likely to expect an invitation to the wedding too… But that’s only according to tradition, which of course can be ignored. So, if you want a blow-out bash, go for it. Plus, if you anticipate having to fill your guest list with second cousins at your parents’ request, now’s the time to leave them off the list and party on down with your nearest and dearest.
We’re sure you’ll want to remember this period in your lives forever so make sure to document it with an engagement photoshoot. It’s a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and get used to being in front of the camera. Think of it as a test run before your wedding – so get your smiles ready and be prepared for the jaw ache.
Unless your partner got your ring size spot on, you may need to get your engagement ring resized so it fits nice and snug. You may choose to get it done much sooner if it’s particularly loose, but it’s a balancing act between wanting to wear it to show it off, having it for the engagement photos and announcements, and making sure it doesn’t slip off and get lost forever.
Depending on the jewellers you go to, it might take up to four weeks to get your ring resized. But, if you’re willing to pay a little more, you could get it done in as little as a couple of days.
By now you’ve probably had plenty of thoughts about what you want from your wedding. So, start researching and making notes about what the perfect wedding is for you.
Here at Bridebook, we have a wide selection of tools and resources to help you plan your big day. From our budget planning tool to our easy-to-use app, we have everything you might need throughout your entire planning journey. Plus, we have loads of exclusive discounts from thousands of popular vendors that you won’t find anywhere else.
One of the best ways to get excited is by visiting wedding shows and fairs around the country. It offers you the opportunity to meet vendors, get some ideas and see what’s out there so you can get inspired and start making some decisions. One of our favourite shows is The National Wedding Show, but there are dozens throughout the year up and down the UK. Make sure you also check out local shows, which are a great way to meet vendors close to you.
You’ll likely have a ton of ideas bouncing around inside your head, which will all come together to form your ideal wedding. Don’t forget, your partner will also be doing the same. Remember to communicate all the time, so share your ideas, worries, thoughts, concerns, excitements and everything else. If you’re always open and honest with each other you’ll nail every step of your busy planning process.
This step and the step afterwards may be interchangeable, so it’s whatever works for you. Think about whether you want a big wedding where you might invite more than 100 guests, or would be happier with an intimate ceremony that’s not quite as grandiose. You may want to put together a rough guest list (which you can do right here on Bridebook) and then think about your budget, or it might be easier to do it the other way around. Whatever works for you. But, now’s the time to think about whether you really want your second cousin once removed to be there, or if you’d rather keep things a little smaller and more affordable.
In the UK, the average cost of a wedding is £19,184, which is enough for you to put on one heck of a party. But, that doesn’t mean your wedding will cost that much – depending on your guest list, venue, catering, attire and more, it could be much lower. Or even much higher.
The best way to work out how much your perfect wedding might cost is by using a budget calculator, which allows you to input all of your wedding-related costs to show you how much they’re likely to set you back. If it’s below what you were hoping for, great! If it’s higher, you can start thinking of some alternate choices or where you can make a few savings.
Once you’ve worked out your budget you’re in a position to see how it aligns with your finances. But what if it doesn’t, does that mean the wedding’s off? Absolutely not! One option is to make changes to your plans – for example, a registry office wedding is the cheapest you can have. Another option is to save money across the entire wedding – read our ultimate guide to saving money on your wedding for more information.
Another option is to ask your family for a little extra support. Only one-third of couples pay for their wedding themselves, which means two-thirds get help from family. There are unofficial rules about who traditionally pays for what, but you’ll no doubt be grateful for help in whatever way your family can.
Before you make any proper decisions about your wedding date, start by figuring out what’s going to work for your nearest and dearest. Are there any other weddings happening that year? Does anyone have a big holiday booked? You don’t want to commit to a date, only to find out your best friend can’t make it. If you already know where you want to get married, think about when it’ll look its best. Will it really shine in summer or is it the perfect location for a winter wedding?
Choosing the right date for your wedding can also be a huge money-saver. If you want to get married on a Saturday, like half of all couples did last year, it’ll cost you way more than if you were to get married midweek.
There are more than likely a fair few people in your life who have planned a wedding, so ask them for advice on how they went about it. Ask them for recommended vendors, what they loved, what they wished they’d done differently… use them, their experience and their knowledge and make some notes. Also, getting referred to a specific vendor, like a DJ or wedding car hire company, is a great way to secure a cheeky discount.
Here at Bridebook, we also have plenty of expert guides, tips, tricks and real-life stories to help answer your questions, calm your concerns and help you throughout your planning journey.
Before you make any bookings or get a quote from a single vendor, think about whether or not it would be beneficial for you to hire a wedding planner. Generally, a wedding planner will cost about 10% of your overall budget, but they can save you a lot of time, money and stress by doing a lot of the negotiating and legwork for you. But, to get the best value for money, you should hire a planner at the very start of your planning process. Decide if this is something you’d like to do early on, as tempting as it might be to dive right in and start securing bookings.
So… what comes next?
So, these are the first 20 steps you should take after getting engaged. After that, you might want to take another step back and enjoy a few weeks as an engaged couple. Or, more likely, the excitement of your future wedding will be too much to resist, and you’ll want to get stuck right in with the planning.
Enjoy what comes next – it’s going to be long, exciting and rewarding, and most likely a little expensive as well. But, you’ll have a wonderful wedding day at the end of it.
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