Honeymoon time! What can be more fun than planning the most special holiday of your life? Whether you’re an adventurous couple who are looking for fresh mountain air and snowy slopes to throw yourself down; or if you’re keen to lie in the sun sipping on cocktails and staring into each others eyes, your honeymoon should be your ultimate and ideal vacation. Here is our list of recommended honeymoon locations by month, including both hot and cold destinations and some all-important advice for places to avoid. Can we come too?
Hot: Mexico, Costa Rica, Caribbean, South Africa, Oman, Maldives, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South America, Morocco.
Cold: Canada, USA, Antarctica, Russia, Japan, China.
Avoid: Australia (too hot to visit the North of the country and it is also the school summer holiday then, so it will be busy AND expensive!)
February
Hot: Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Caribbean, South Africa, Egypt, Oman, Maldives, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Ecuador, Bahamas, South America.
Cold: Canada, USA, Switzerland, Russia, Antarctica.
Avoid: China (Chinese New Year runs for 40 days throughout February and is the busiest time of the year)
If you’re thinking about your honeymoon, your wedding must be getting close… How exciting! So, cast your mind forwards. You’ve just tied the knot with your best friend and celebrated by hosting the party of your lives. Where do you want to be?
Now, you might still read online that it’s the groom’s job to plan the honeymoon – but not every couple has a groom and some have two. So scratch that! Put your heads together and dream big. Here’s how to get started.
Do your research. What’s out there – and, more importantly, what do you want? Do you see yourselves on safari or are you more of a city break couple? Maybe you can’t imagine anything worse than lying on a beach and top of your list is skiing and snow. Whatever you decide, we’d always advise making sure the first few days are as relaxing as possible if you plan on taking your honeymoon straight after your wedding. Trust us, you’ll need the downtime!
One of the first things you need to decide is how much time you both take off for your honeymoon. You might keep it short and sweet with just a week or kick off a year-long round-the-world trip. As soon as you’ve decided, book the time off work and make any other arrangements (who’s going to walk the dog, water the plants, feed the fish…). And be realistic about the time you have – don’t try to pack a month’s worth of travel into two weeks. You’ll just end up rushing from one place to the next and come back more frazzled than you started!
Always let airlines and hotels know that you’re newlyweds – it might get you a free upgrade or some special treatment! We do always advise that you make sure you have some form of documentation to prove you’re married though as not everywhere will take you at face value. Try to pay for everything with a credit card that lets you save up air miles too – first class, here you come!
4. Sort The Paperwork
We know – not exactly the most exciting part of planning your honeymoon. But make sure all your documents are up to date – especially if you’re planning on changing your name. You don’t want your big break ruined by an expired passport…
This is the holiday of a lifetime – so go the extra mile. Have a think about what you can do to make this holiday extra special and do a little work on the DL to plan a few sneaky surprises for your partner.
Instead of jetting off straight away, why not start off with a few days away somewhere a little closer to home? Then you can focus on planning your wedding without the stress of thinking about a big trip at the same time – and you’ve got time to save up again too!
Your wedding makeup has to look flawless, gorgeous and most importantly, like you! Don’t worry, we know exactly how to find the right makeup artist for you, so sit back and enjoy the trial runs – here are some questions to ask!
1) Do you specialise in wedding makeup?
Wedding makeup artists have different skills to fashion and editorial artists and will know how to make you look spectacular and natural in your wedding photos, no matter the lighting. Some makeup artists specialise in wedding makeup, and they will know what the bride usually wants, and how to make you look stunning on your wedding day.
2) Can I see photographs of brides whose makeup you did?
You will want to know if the artist’s style works well with yours and if you can imagine yourself wearing one of their looks on your wedding day. Its always a good idea to do your research before picking the makeup artists that will take care of you, seeing pictures of other brides is a good way to get your doubts out of the way.
A wedding makeup artist will be with you on the most exciting morning of your life and you want a professional who will keep you calm and relaxed. The only way to find out if the artist is a calming presence is by asking previous brides.
Once again, you can take care of this step yourself by checking out the reviews on your favourite makeup artists’ Bridebook profiles!
4) What does your price include?
Find out if the overall price includes a makeup trial. Getting a makeup trial is really important since it will help you find your dream wedding look with your makeup artist and relieve some of the “will I look perfect for my wedding” jitters! You can also ask about the prices for Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaid makeup – arranging their makeup is a great gift idea for your team!
Don’t know how much you should spend on your wedding hair and makeup? Go to your budget tool and we will figure it out for you!
5) Are you able to travel to my location?
The majority of artists will charge you more if they have to travel to your destination, so make sure you know how much you will be required to pay.
Essential information for you to know exactly what your timings will be on the day, at what time the makeup artist needs to be there etc.
Pro tip: Put together a schedule of the day, with contacts to your suppliers. and ask your Maid of Honour to make sure it’s followed by everyone involved on the day! Definitely something to add to your wedding checklist.
7) How long will you be staying for on the day?
This is a good question to ask because you are almost guaranteed to get teary during your ceremony and it is handy to have someone there to touch up your makeup for the photos or to leave a touch-up kit. Not only that but if your makeup artist is staying for a good portion of the day, plan to have a meal or a snack made for them!
8) How long will the makeup trial take? Do I need to prepare for the trial and how do I prepare?
The more looks you want to try, the more time the trial will require, but some artists will only have certain time slots available. We also advise you wear a white top for the trial, to give you an idea of how your skin will look next to your dress on W-Day, but your makeup artist will also let you know what to wear!
9) Will a fake tan affect my makeup?
You need to communicate if you are planning on bronzing yourself in the run-up to your wedding day, so that the artist is prepared with the correct colours and shades! You can also ask them for advice on what fake tan to get and how to make sure it’s the right one for you and for your makeup!
10) What brands of makeup do you use?
The products your artist uses should be allergy tested and of the highest standard for your wedding day. It’s always good to know what kind of products they use, and if you need to bring your own concealer (more on that below).
For some brides it is paramount that they use their own make-up, especially if they have sensitive skin. It is also a great idea to ask the artist if he/she has used these products before. Bring them to the trial and decide exactly what you will be using from her and from you, and make sure you don’t forget your makeup (if you have to bring it) on the day!
12) Do you have the right makeup/makeup skills for my skin tone?
Your potential artist should have extensive knowledge of skin types and the products that they use, so they should advise you which products would work best with your skin. It’s important that you know this now: some makeup artists have more experience working on all skin tones than others, so this question is absolutely vital!
It’s great when you can find a makeup artist that also does hair (or a team of hair and makeup that work together). If not, find out if they would be happy working alongside your hair stylist, or if you haven’t found a stylist yet, ask for some recommendations!
14) If you are happy to travel to my home, do you have any specific space requirements for the trial and for the wedding day?
The majority of makeup artists will need an open space and natural light to do the makeup in. Make sure you can provide that during the trial and on the day of the wedding (if the artist is travelling to you). This is also something which you should communicate with your wedding venue, in case they need to provide a space for this on the day.
15) What will happen if you can’t make it on my wedding day?
Reputable artists will always have a professional at the ready to make sure you look flawless on your wedding day. Make sure you have a contingency plan, accidents happen!
On your wedding day, all eyes are on you and you’ll want to feel as beautiful and confident as you can be as your friends and family watch you say, ‘I do!’
Achieving that perfect look can take time, dedication and – unfortunately – money. But, it’s worth it when you look back on your photographs and admire just how great the two of you looked on your big day.
But how much does wedding beauty cost and what should your regime be during the build-up to your wedding? In this post, we’re going to take a look at how much wedding hair and makeup costs, and the money you might spend on beauty ahead of your wedding.
In the UK, the average amount of money couples spend on hair and makeup for their wedding is £690 (the breakdown is £330 for makeup, and £360 for hair).
A big chunk of this cost goes towards the bride’s hair and makeup on the morning of the wedding, but other parts of the pre-wedding beauty regime contribute towards this cost, such as nails, tanning and teeth whitening.
If you’re on a strict budget, there are things you can do to save money on wedding makeup. You can also get an overall idea of what your wedding might cost with our ultimate wedding budget breakdown. Below is a rough guide on what you might expect to pay when it comes to your beauty regime.
Hair
While you’ve been doing your hair yourself for years, there’s nothing quite like how it looks when a professional does it. A hairstylist knows exactly what to do to get your hair looking perfect for the moment you walk down the aisle. Costs for the bride’s hair start from £100, but highly skilled and experienced hairstylists can charge as much as £300 or more.
Makeup
Along with hair, makeup is possibly the second most important aspect of a bride’s beauty routine. Costs start from around £100.
Lashes
Eyelash extensions are a great way to give yourself fuller, thicker lashes. Costs start from around £30.
Nails
There’s a variety of different nail extensions to choose from, including acrylics, hard gel, dip powder and more. Even if you’re not interested in extensions, having a manicure (and even a pedicure – why not?) will help you feel gorgeous. The cost of a basic manicure starts at £20 and the cost of extensions can start from £35.
Getting your nails done is also something you likely won’t want to leave until the morning of the wedding, and is something you should do a day or two beforehand.
Male grooming
A pre-wedding beauty regime isn’t something exclusive to the bride – the groom should look great and feel confident too. A pre-wedding haircut and shave (or beard trim) by a professional barber will do just that. Costs start from around £25.
It’s also possible to hire a stylist to do the hair and makeup of other members of the bridal party, including parents, bridesmaids and flower girls. While there will be a cost for each extra person, it will usually be less than the cost of the bride’s beauty.
While your stylist will take great care with your hair and makeup on the morning of your wedding, that’s not always where it starts. There’s plenty you can do ahead of the big day to prepare. However, each of these will add to your budget and aren’t necessarily a vital part of your routine.
Nail colour – Why not test out some colours, which you can apply yourself to save money?
Hair colour – If you’re colouring your hair for your wedding, try out some possible colours during the months before your wedding.
Teeth whitening – You can arrange for professional teeth whitening, such as through your dentist, or buy at-home kits.
Exfoliate – Look after your skin as well as you can during the months – and especially the weeks – before your wedding.
Botox – If you’re having Botox for your wedding, this can take a couple of weeks to take effect and can last several months.
Eyebrows – Wax or thread your brows around two weeks before your wedding to avoid spots or red skin.
Tan – A spray tan can be done a few days before your wedding, but if you’re hitting the sun beds make sure to do it over a few weeks and no more than two or three sessions a week.
What factors can affect the cost of wedding beauty?
Several factors play a part in the cost of wedding beauty, which means you may pay considerably less – or more – than the average. It also depends on what you’re looking for – many couples are happy with basic hair and makeup and still look absolutely stunning on their big day.
Expertise
Much like any other wedding vendor, makeup artists and hairstylists will base their prices on their own experience. For example, a recently qualified or inexperienced artist might charge as little as £50 to do your wedding makeup. An experienced artist with an established reputation, on the other hand, could charge upwards of £180 for bridal makeup.
Location
You can have your hair and makeup done at a salon or you can ask the stylists to come to you. If your stylists are travelling to you, they’ll add travel fees to their wedding makeup prices. That means that travelling to your stylist’s salon can save you as much as £60 since it doesn’t require any petrol, toll charges or extra time from the artist.
Where you are in the UK can also affect how much you’ll pay. For example, stylists in London often charge a lot more than those outside the capital.
Trials
If you’re planning to have a make-up trial (and we recommend that you do if it fits your budget) before hiring your artist, many will charge you because trials still use up both products and time. An experienced artist could charge you as much as £90 – £150 for a trial. To save some cash, look out for a package deal which will include both the trial and the makeup for the day.
In addition to having their own makeup done, many brides like to treat their bridesmaids or mum to professionally done hair and/or makeup. Since this doesn’t require as much time as bridal makeup, almost all stylists will charge a little less for this service. A trial and day of make-up for a bridesmaid or mother-of-the-bride tend to come in at £85.
Many brides, including Kate Middleton herself, choose to do their own makeup for their wedding day. However, we would strongly advise that you book a lesson beforehand. It’s the best way to learn some new techniques and find the best products for a long-lasting look. Head to your favourite makeup counter (our favourites are Bobbi Brown and MAC), where you’ll be able to get some free tips and stock up on beauty products. For more information, check out our article on wedding makeup by Bobbi Brown.
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This is your first step to amazing wedding hair. If you have a great hairdresser and they do wedding hair, then stick with them! If they don’t, ask them for some great recommendations. Visit suggested stylists and get a blow-dry – that way you can decide if you like them and their style. Another option: ask for recommendations from friends who have beautifully styled hair. Your venue might also have some suggestions.
By Weddings Vintage
Maintenance
Once you’ve found a stylist you like, ask their advice on hair treatments and consider a new hair routine. Your hair will look even better if it’s strong and healthy, so start this as soon as possible! Steer clear of split ends and dead hair by investing in regular trims (even if you are growing out your hair). You want some va va voom in there so we recommend a trim every six weeks.
If you want to dye your hair for your wedding day we would advise you not to experiment with colours close to the wedding. Ask a professional for help and advice. We would also suggest that if you’ve never dyed your hair before, do so at least three months before the wedding, so that you can get used to it. You don’t want to give your partner a shock as you walk down the aisle.
By Chris Giles Photography
Wedding Style
Surround yourself in inspiration but before you set your heart on a hairstyle, tell your stylist as much information as you can about the neckline, colour and style of your wedding dress. Be open to your hairdressers’ suggestions, as they might have some pretty awesome ideas.
It’s a good idea to decide on your hairstyle before purchasing any hair accessories to make sure they fit your look perfectly. A little reminder: if you want to incorporate flowers, make sure your florist knows exactly what you need for your hairstyle and brings it all on the day. It’s all about delegating people!
By Allister Freeman
Finalities
Want your harem of bridesmaids to have their hair done? Make sure you keep your stylist in the loop. Confirm numbers (note: with the various hair lengths) before the big day, so that your stylist allocates enough time for everyone.
Finally, make sure you ask about prices – whether the trials are included and how much it would cost to style the rest of your wedding party. Now it’s time to get inspired and get booking!
You have bought the perfect wedding dress, booked the ideal venue and coordinated the best seating plan. You’re planning the party of the century but don’t forget about yourself. Your wedding day is probably the only time you will have a professional make-up artist pampering you and making you feel incredible. If you are still undecided, here are our top reasons for booking a make-up artist for your wedding day:
By Raw Silk Photography
1) Look after your skin
A make-up artist will work out your skin type in seconds and advise you on steps you should take to avoid dry skin, oily skin or an unexpected breakout on your wedding day. Following their expert advice will give you one less thing to worry about! But there’s always a thing called ‘cover-up’ so don’t worry too much.
By Ross Harvey
2) Highlight your best bits
A properly trained artist will know how to highlight your best features, whether it’s your flawless skin, high cheekbones, kissable lips or sparkling eyes. They will also know how to hide any features that you aren’t as keen on. Whatever happens, you’re going to look hot to trot so just let the make-up artist work their magic.
Professionally done wedding make-up will guarantee you looking beautiful under any light, whether it’s outdoor sunshine, evening candlelight or flashing photography. So you can smile knowing that there is no risk of the dreaded ghost face or sweaty-looking skin.
While you may be great at applying your everyday make-up, you are going to want something special for your wedding day. A makeup artist also knows how make-up will look in black and white photography, and can adjust accordingly. As adorable as the panda look is, it isn’t one you want to be sporting on your wedding day – unless you’re a panda.
By Raw Silk Photography
5) No bronzer lines here
On your wedding day all eyes will be on you, so you want to make sure that you are not washed out by your white dress and that your shoulders, face and décolletage are all the same colour! A make-up artist will blend the colours seamlessly and make sure that your gorgeousness can withstand tears, hugs, sweat and anything else your wedding day throws at you.
With a hired make-up artist, you will not be at risk of getting an unexpected allergy on your wedding day. They will know which ingredients could irritate the skin – phew.
By Cinzia Bruschini
7) Relax
They will be exactly what you need on the morning of your wedding day – so just sit back and relax while they pamper you. This will be a moment to yourself before getting married! And if you are feeling a tad nervous, then it’s a good thing you won’t have that liquid eyeliner in your hand.
As well as pampering you, an artist can create a unique, yet universal look for your bridesmaids, so that you won’t have anyone battling for black lipstick or electric-blue eye shadow.
By John Lennie
9) Take the hit
Think about your budget! Hiring a make-up artist may seem like an “extra” expense, however, if you pay for a lesson and then buy all the make-up on top of that (that you probably won’t use again), in an attempt to do DIY make-up, then it may well be cheaper to hire an artist. And on the morning of your wedding, you are going to be glad you listened to us.
By Weddings Vintage
We hope this advice has been helpful and know you will look flawless (whether you hire a make-up artist or do it yourself) on your wedding day and in your photographs for years to come.
Hurray, you’ve reached the point of wedding invitations. Once you send these out, the excitement will really start to build – they make it more real! But before you dunk your pen in the inkpot, take a second, because once you start addressing your invitations, you may find that there are quite a few unclear areas. Who should the invitations be coming from? What is the correct way to address them? Here are some templates to help you along the way – happy inviting!
*at the marriage of his daughter if the hosts are Father and stepmother
By Anna Clarke Photography
Where a stepfather is the host:
Mr Stephen Jones
requests the pleasure of
your company at the marriage
of his stepdaughter
Katie Smith
to Mr James John Knight*
If the bride and groom are hosting:
Mr James Knight and Miss Katie Smith
request the pleasure of
your company at their marriage
By Especially Amy
If the father or mother of the bride is hosting:
Mrs John Smith
requests the pleasure of
your company at the marriage
of her daughter
Katie Smith
to Mr James John Knight
The ceremony venue, the date, the time and the reception venue should follow these. If the ceremony and reception are held at the same place, just omit the reception venue at the end.
Your wedding may be the biggest party you’ve ever thrown and the first time you’ve sent out formal invitations (it’s super exciting, we know). Before deciding on a stationer, consider meeting with a few and ask them a bunch of questions. We know there’s so much choice and so many beautiful things out there making it hard to decide – so we’ve put together a list of questions to ask, to work out what you should be looking for.
1) Can I see some recent real wedding examples from other couples?
Seeing the full suite of stationery from other weddings will give you a clearer idea about the designs and quality of the invitations, which isn’t always apparent when looking at an online gallery.
2) What types of printing do you offer and which would best suit my budget?
There are different types of printing, all of which vary in price, with the cheapest being digital print and the most expensive being engraved printing. Read more about the differences here.
3) Do you do your printing in-house or do you outsource?
In-house printing can be helpful in case an error is made and a fast re-print is necessary.
4) Can you do custom invitations?
As you will require an example of the custom design, find out if you will be charged for it or not.
5) Is there a word limit that I need to stick to?
Very important if you are not following the traditional wedding invitation wording!
6) Can I order all my other stationery from you, as well as the invitations?
The full suite will typically include Save The Dates, RSVP cards, information sheets, table settings, menus and Thank You notes.
7) Can you incorporate an image of my choosing into the design? How much would that cost?
The prices will depend on the complexity of the image and how you want it incorporated into the overall design with gold embossing and hand-drawn images costing more.
8) Do you offer recycled paper or any other eco-friendly materials?
For any eco-warriors out there, you may want to print your wedding stationery on recycled paper. Make sure you enquire with your chosen stationer whether or not they offer this service and beware, often this can cost a few extra pennies!
9) Will I be able to approve my invitation before sign off?
Make sure that you are allowed to do this, to make sure that you love the design and that there aren’t any spelling mistakes!
10) If revisions need to be made, will there be an extra fee for them?
If for some reason you have to change the time of your ceremony or reception, you will want to know how much to budget for any revision emergencies!
11) How long will it take for me to receive the finished product?
This is especially important if you are doing an A list and a waitlist, so that you know when to schedule the first wave of RSVPs!
12) I assume envelopes are included? Can we add some extra details on them – how much would that cost?
It is becoming more and more popular to do flower envelopes or envelopes with a decorated inside, so find out how much you will need to pay for these envelopes vs the traditional ones!
13) How much will it cost me to mail each invitation (including the RSVP card and information pack)?
You don’t want your invitations being held hostage in the Post Office because you didn’t price them accurately! We also suggest you check international postage fees for any abroad chums.
Once you’ve secured some of the biggest aspects of your wedding, such as your venue and catering, you can start thinking about inviting your friends and family to be there on your special day. Of course, that means you need to send out dozens of wedding invitations letting everyone know about the date, time, place, food, gift registry and more.
It’s a super exciting part of your wedding planning journey. However, just like with every other step of planning your wedding, it comes at a cost.
In the UK, couples spend an average of £400 on wedding stationery, which includes your save-the-date cards, invitations, name cards, seating plans, signage, menus and more. Basically, it includes anything that requires printing or writing onto card or paper. Your stationery certainly isn’t the biggest cost associated with your wedding, but when the average UK wedding costs £20,775, even the smaller costs can make a difference to your overall wedding budget.
But, that’s not to say that you need to spend even close to this amount on your own wedding stationery if you can’t afford it. There are plenty of tips and tricks you can utilise to spend less but still get wonderful, on-theme invitations and more. In this post, we’re going to explore how to save money on wedding stationery to help you stick well within your budget.
Just because you don’t want to spend anything close to the average doesn’t mean you’ll have sub-par stationery. With a touch of creativity and thriftiness, cheap wedding stationery can still be effective and make an impact.
Consider sending paperless post, especially for your save the dates. Save the dates don’t need to be as formal as invitations, so have fun with them and get creative – though you’ll probably want to do a little more than a text. Sending electronic save the dates is great, as they’re cheaper than paper and you can track who opens them too (fantastic if you want to make sure that everyone received and read your important news). Also, websites like Paperless Post have some stunning designs, with designers like Oscar de la Renta and Kate Spade bringing a touch of chic to your online post.
Alternatively, you could create a video save the date, which you can upload to YouTube as unlisted and share with everyone you want to come. Something like this is unique and fun, and will help your guests to remember to keep their calendars free.
When picking your invitation design, have a look at our enormous directory of fabulous stationery suppliers. There’s a huge selection of styles, as well as opportunities for bespoke design if you’re feeling creative. The best part is, with so many options available, you’ll be practically guaranteed to find a supplier that suits your budget. Many will be able to create unique, handmade invitations that match the style of your wedding.
It’s also worth checking out sites like Vista Print, which will usually be able to print your invitations for a lower rate. The downside is that unless you also hire a professional designer, you’ll have to pick from a selection of templates. If you do this, your invitations won’t be unique to you, but they will save you plenty of budget. So consider what priorities are most important to you.
You know that beautiful colour you’ve chosen that ties your entire style and motif together? You should definitely use it on your stationery. Choosing one colour for your invitations saves on printing and gives them a modern and elegant look. It also helps to keep everything cohesive.
This may be risky – especially if you only have a cheap printer – but if you have a decent home-office setup it’s worth considering. Ask for your invitations to be sent to you in PDF format and print them at home yourself. This is especially useful if you have to do some last-minute re-prints or additions. Alternatively, if you have an understanding employer, why not save more money and print a few things from the office? Just make sure you don’t print hundreds of sheets in one go and annoy your colleagues by hogging the printer all afternoon.
Be aware that the DIY printing route may save you money initially, but it isn’t without its drawbacks, and is unlikely to give you the clean, polished look of professionally-printed wedding stationery. And if you mess up, it may cost you more in the long-run, as you’ll have wasted lots of paper and ink.
Once you’ve sent your invitations, save some money on return postage and ask your guests to RSVP online. This will be brilliant when you start chasing people up or start on your seating plan. You can even do this for free by setting up a brand new email address: something like [email protected] will more than do the trick. That way, you won’t have to use your own email address and risk emails getting lost among your day-to-day emails.
While a professional service will produce fantastic state-of-the-art wedding invitations, they’re not necessarily cheap (after all, you get what you pay for). If you have either experience using design software or crafting with paper, you can generally save a lot of money by simply designing your invitations yourself. Then, you’ll have all the designs at your disposal, so you can make any changes you need to later on and not pay a penny.
Alternatively, you could always take a few calligraphy lessons and have a go at hand-writing your invitations for the extra level of class and elegance. Calligraphy is a tricky skill, but there are plenty of tutorial videos available on sites like Calligrascape. Just keep at it and make sure you have plenty of practice before sitting down to write your final invitations.
Do note that while the DIY approach can of course be cost-effective, there are some risks to be aware of. Designing your invites, sourcing the paper, having them printed, assembling your invites, addressing your invites… it all takes a lot of time, especially when you’re also juggling plenty of other pre-wedding tasks.
Designing, finding the paper, buying the paper, printing the invites or finding someone to print for you, assembling the invites, addressing envelopes… the time all adds up when creating wedding stationery at a moment in your life when you’re juggling lots of pre-wedding tasks. Mulling over the right font and design might be stressful as well, not to mention it might not be as cheap as you think! Beautiful wedding stationery can require expensive kit and materials which isn’t readily available to you in the way that it is for a professional stationer. Plus, many wedding stationers buy their card and embellishments in bulk, and have a well-researched list of wedding suppliers to help them keep costs low. Buying in the smaller quantities or from mainstream retailers used for DIY comes with a premium, so make sure you factor this in, and weigh up both options carefully.
Instead of printing 80+ personalised invitations, why not reduce time and costs by not including the name of your invited guests? If you do want to include the recipient’s name, you could leave a blank space for you to write it out once the invitations are back from the printers.
It can be tempting to create fancy stationery, but every additional ribbon, foil trim or magnet you include will add to the price. If you want something a little more than a rectangular piece of card, consider a little low-cost creativity, such as a uniquely shaped invitation or by including some confetti inside the envelope.
Remember when you could get a book of stamps for about £1? Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and if you’re sending invitations to friends and family across the country (and beyond) you could end up spending close to £100 on postage alone. There’s nothing wrong with hand-delivering your save the dates and invitations, especially if it saves you a bunch of money.
To keep your invitations small (and costs down) only include information that’s relevant and important. For example, if you’re not offering your guests a choice of food, don’t worry about including a menu. And unless your venue is difficult to find, the name of the venue, the town or city, and the postcode should be more than enough.
One way to save a heap of space on your invitations is by directing people to your wedding website. If you’re confident in building websites you could do this yourself, or use a tool that offers you templates, like Wix.
Or, you could hire professionals to do it for you, like Simple Wedding Websites. A wedding website can be used for everything from sharing menus, a gift registry, detailed directions to the venue, and a form so your guests can RSVP.
Before you skip to the next tip, stick with us. When deciding how many invitations to order, just bear in mind that the more you order, the cheaper the cost will be per invitation. Plus, you’ll probably want to keep a few for yourself to stick on the fridge or frame later on.
For example, if you need 50 invitations, then by ordering 60 you might pay £2 for each, which will cost you £120. But, if you order 75 at £1.50 each, it’ll cost you £112.50. Not only is it cheaper, but you’ll also have some left over to keep or replace if one or two get lost in the post.
Using premium card or paper for your stationery is the way to go if you want that extra touch of luxury, but it could mean that you pay a lot more. Of course, you might not want to choose the cheapest option, but something middle-of-the-road will still be of a reasonable quality without eating into your budget.
Before you even consider sending your design to the printers, make sure you proofread your stationery several times. The last thing you want is to open your order and find that ‘Birmingham’ is spelt ‘Birnimgham’, and then have to correct it and have it printed all over again.
If you can, ask several people to proofread it for you. The more eyes the better. If you don’t want to do that, make sure you proofread it yourself at least a day after writing it so you approach it with a fresh pair of eyes. Another handy tip is to print it out so you can read it on paper, and read it aloud. Trust us, doing it this way will help you to catch mistakes that you otherwise might miss.
Before placing any orders, search on popular discount sites for codes that will save you money. Printers regularly have offers, like free shipping or 20% off, so don’t hit that final ‘submit’ button until you’ve had a thorough look for a valid code.
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Your wedding stationery plays a vital role in your big day – after all, without it, you wouldn’t have any guests! Before your guests have even stepped foot inside the venue, your stationery tells them everything they need to know: not just the date, time and location of your wedding, but other information such as the theme and (importantly) the food. It also continues to play a part once your guests have arrived and even after they’ve left, from letting them know where to sit, to a thank you card a week or two later.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at everything to do with the cost of wedding stationery, including the average cost, the cost of individual items, and what factors can affect the price you’ll pay.
Wedding stationery is the name given to any materials, either printed or written, that are used to provide your guests with information. Examples of wedding stationery include:
Save-the-date cards
Invitations
RSVP cards
Welcome signs
Order of service
Menus
Seating plans
Signage
Table numbers
Name cards
Thank you cards
Maps and directions
Accommodation information
Wedding stationery even includes any stag and hen party invites or rehearsal invitations if you’re taking the formal route.
The beautiful thing about wedding stationery is that the only limitations are your imagination. Even on a smaller budget, you can use your creativity to come up with unique designs, formats and styles to suit your taste and the theme of your wedding. If your wedding has a cinematic theme, your invites could be designed to resemble an invite to a movie premiere. If you’re going for a countryside theme, your name cards could be printed on little cardboard trees – the possibilities are only as endless as your creativity.
In the UK, the average amount spent by couples on professionally designed and printed wedding stationery is £384. This cost includes everything from save-the-date cards sent around a year before the wedding to the thank-you cards sent once you’re settling into married life.
Of course, this figure is an average (as explored in our ultimate wedding budget breakdown), so you can spend as much – or as little – on wedding stationery as your budget allows. You could take the DIY route and cut your spending right back, or have bespoke stationery handmade by a skilled professional.
The cost for professionally designed and printed wedding invitations starts from around £1.50 each. However, that cost can rise sharply depending on the skill and experience of the designer, as well as the level of detail and complexity you’re looking for.
For many couples, the single most important piece of wedding stationery is the invitations. So, even if you plan on saving money elsewhere, chances are you’ll be keen to send out perfect invites. That means, spending a little extra on the invitations can be worth it.
What factors can affect the cost of wedding stationery?
Because there are so many possibilities when it comes to wedding stationery, the cost can vary wildly. Some of the factors that can affect the cost include:
Quantity – This may be obvious, but the more guests you invite, the more stationery you’ll have to produce, and therefore the higher the cost will be. However, the more you order the cheaper they’ll often be per piece. For example, 40 invitations could come out at £3.35 each, whereas 50 or more could cost £2.15 each, so if you’re thinking about framing a few invitations, go for it, as it can bring your overall price down.
Vendor – A small company with limited staff and resources may charge more than a large company. Similarly, designers with more experience will have higher rates than those new to the industry.
Type of paper – there’s a big difference between premium card or paper and the paper you might pinch from the printer in the office. For example, smooth matte will cost around £1.33, whereas luxury pearl will cost closer to £1.60.
Printing method – More complex printing methods, such as stamping, engraving, and digital printing can be pricey and will affect the cost.
Handmade aspects – Bespoke, handmade pieces take a lot of time and care, so will cost a lot more than printing.
Complexity – A simple design will be more affordable than a complex design or a design with more illustrations.
Add-ons and decorations – Unique touches such as belly bands, twine wraps, ribbon or wax seals can enhance your stationery, but will also increase the price.
Time – Last-minute orders will often cost more than orders placed without a strict delivery date.
Stationery Suites
The price of your wedding stationery can also depend on how extensive you want your suite to be. The more items you have, the higher the overall price. A rough guide to this would be:
£85
£139.25
£300
25 wedding invitations and RSVP cards
25 wedding invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards and save-the-dates.
25 wedding invitations, enclosure cards, RSVP cards, thank you cards, orders of service, menus, favour tags and table numbers.
We’ve already gone into detail about the overall cost couples pay for wedding stationery, but if you’re only looking for specific items of wedding stationery, below is a rough idea as to what you might pay for a professional service:
Save the dates
Cards – from £1.10 each
Magnets – from £1.50 each
Invitations
Single-sided – from £1.50 each
Double-sided – from £2 each
Wallets – from £2.50 each
RSVPs – from £1 each
Information cards – from £1.50 each
Map design – from £15
Ceremony stationery
Order of service – from £2.50 each
Welcome sign – from £10
Signs – from £5
Reception stationery
Seating plan – from £10
Name cards – from £0.50 each
Table numbers – from £2 each
Menus – from £1.50 each
After the wedding
Generic thank you cards – from £1 each
Personalised/photo thank you cards – from £2 each
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Here at Bridebook, we have a wide range of wedding stationery vendors that can help you design and print your perfect wedding invitations and other stationery. Sign up and start planning your big day today.
“Oh wow – Who’s it from? Look at my name written in beautiful calligraphy! Look at the handcrafted card! Where is the wedding? What is the theme? Oh my goodness, it’s so stunning. I’m going to pop it on my mantelpiece for years to come!” That is the kind of reaction you want when your wedding invitations finally reach people. Your wedding is actually happening and this is the first time people get a proper hint of what to expect, what to wear, what to give you! And not only that, it’s a lifetime souvenir of your big day. At Bridebook, we love a heavy papered, beautifully written wedding invitation, especially when it is landing on our doorstep! But you might be a savvy millennial toying with the idea of going online and saving lots of lovely trees? Let’s work out what you want so you can create the best bit of post (or email) your guests will EVER receive.
Advantages of traditional invitations:
The biggest advantage of a traditional wedding invitations is that it makes an awesome keepsake. It is a physical representation of your upcoming marriage and something that your friends and family can keep forever!
Once you have collected all the addresses and postcodes, you will be able to use them when sending your thank you notes – bonus!
Another advantage of a paper invite is that, well, they are traditional! They follow wedding etiquette to a T and will please everyone, especially the older generation coming to your wedding.
Even if you print your e-vite, it won’t have the same high-end quality as a traditional paper invitation. Not quite the same keepsake.
You know the conundrum of not inviting children to your wedding? Or including/excluding plus ones? And all the other secrets of wording? All of these can be lost on an online wedding invitation, whereas paper will allow you to be crystal clear about your preferences.
The best thing about a paper invitation is the huge variety of choice when it comes to designs. You can pick the style that perfectly complements your wedding: heavy cream paper for a traditional affair, whimsical and fun designs for something more casual. And while the world of weddings is becoming more open to doing online invitations, some guests might still associate them with a casual affair, no matter the design.
Advantages of going online:
Online wedding invitations can save you some big pennies! Even if you have to pay a fee for creating a bespoke design, or for sending out the invites, it will cost you less than a paper invitation which also needs postage.
Online invitations are guaranteed to save some time between sending and receiving the RSVP’s. This is very useful if you are planning your wedding in a short period of time.
Tracking RSVP’s will be much easier if online invites are sent, as you will be able to see who has opened and read the invitations, even if they haven’t accepted or declined your invitation yet – playing it cool!
Providing your guests with printed maps and other instructions won’t be necessary, as your online wedding invitations can have links to everything that the guests might need.
If you are an eco-friendly couple, sending emails to your guests instead of paper invitations is a great way to save a few precious trees.
Overall, we still recommend (and love) paper invitations – they are beautiful and you can keep them forever! So if you can afford to go all print, then do it! If not, how about printed invites with a little card (even a business card) directing them to your very own basic website. This is where you can collect RSVPs, share the nitty-gritty details, and bonus – it’s easy to make edits. Quirky tip: buy a .wed domain for around £50 to add a personal touch and voila – SarahandTom.wed
Your wedding stationery is the first glimpse most of your guests will have of your wedding – and no pressure, but you want them to be blown away! This is when you start to reveal who you are as a couple and what your wedding is going to look like (as well as, you know, actually letting everyone know the wheres and whens of it all…) But there’s a whole world of wedding stationery out there – so let’s break down what you need and how to get started choosing it.
This is about what wedding stationery you need, not what wedding stationery you want! At a minimum, we tend to expect most couples to send a save the date, followed by a wedding invitation suite – which is just a fancy way of saying your wedding invitation plus some added extras: an RSVP card and your wedding information sheet. On top of this, you’ll also likely be ordering wedding programmes and place cards for the day.
What Information Should You Include On Your Wedding Invitations?
Keep your wedding invitations short and sweet – that’s why you send an information sheet too! Your wedding invitation should include the following key information:
Who’s invited
Your names
The date and time of your ceremony and/or reception
The venue and location of your ceremony and/or reception
Dress code
Number of +1s (if any)
RSVP details
By This and That Photography
What Information Should You Include On Your RSVP Cards?
Your RSVP cards are for your guests to fill out to let you know whether or not they’re attending and any additional details – so they’ll be providing you with the information! Leave them space to:
Your invitations should reflect your wedding so start off by thinking about the overall vibe you want for your wedding. If you’re thinking about your stationery, you’ve probably gotten somewhere with finding your venue – so where’s it going to be? Invitations for a rustic countryside affair will likely look pretty different to ones for a chic soirée in the city centre.
If you’re not sure yet, keep it simple. Consider going for traditional cream, white or ivory invitations with gold or black ink, then add any pops of any colours you’re keen to include on your big day.
Next, you’ll want to think about printing. Now, there are a few different ways of getting your invitations printed – and this can have a huge impact on cost as well as aesthetics, so don’t take this decision lightly! The best way to choose what sort of printing you want is to get samples and see what you like when you’re holding it in your hands.
The most high-end option is engraved printing, which creates raised letters on thick paper. This will give your stationary the most luxurious look and feel. Thermographic printing is a good alternative if you’re on a tighter budget, as this gives a similar look at a lower cost. However, bear in mind that the letters will look slightly shiny if you decide on using this method.
Letterpress printing, on the other hand, might be thought of as the opposite of engraved printing as it results in indented, rather than raised, letters. This is slightly different to embossed printing which doesn’t use any ink and tends to be best for details like monograms.
Your two cheapest options are likely to be digital printing and offset printing. Digital printing is incredibly versatile – think of it as a professional version of the printing you might do at home. Offset printing, on the other hand, uses plates to transfer letters and images and can result in a slightly higher quality product.
By Weddings Vintage
How Should You Send Your Wedding Stationery?
When you design your wedding stationery, remember you’ll be posting them! Traditionally, wedding invitations are a 4’5 x 6’25 inch rectangle. Today, however, many couples choose to send round, square or custom-shaped invitations – and these unconventional shapes can cost more to send.
If you’re asking your guests to mail their RSVPs back to you, budgeting for and including pre-addressed return envelopes and stamps can be a nice touch.
On a similar note, don’t forget to budget for envelopes! Get these as soon as possible. And if you’ll be addressing your envelopes yourself, do it in stages. This will help avoid making careless mistakes.
Proofread, proofread and proofread again! If you can, ask at least two other people to give your invitations a once over as well. Our top tip is to read the text from right to left or end to beginning as this will help you catch any small errors.
Always order a few extra invitations! It’s always good to have a backup in case of any mistakes – and you or your parents might want one as a keepsake too.
If you can, try to order all your wedding stationery in one go. This includes your save the dates, wedding invitation suite and thank you cards, as well as any extras like programmes and place cards.
Modern weddings tend to break with tradition. One thing has not changed, having a WEDDING CAKE. Choosing the cake maker is one of our favourite parts – stretchy trousers at the ready – so while you focus on eating everything in sight, we’ve put together some questions to ask before hiring your cake maker.
1) Do you specialise in a particular style of cake?
Some cake-makers will specialise in layered, tiered or structured cakes and you will want to know if first of all, you like their style and secondly if they can create a bespoke cake for you and your requirements.
2) How do you price your cakes? What is the cost of the cake per person/ per slice?
The first thing you want to find out is whether the cake-maker charges for the consultation and tasting session and whether that is included in the overall price. The second thing you want to know is how large the cake slices would be and how much extra you would be charged if you wanted larger slices.
3) What flavours of cake do you offer?
The most popular flavours include vanilla, chocolate, fruit and cheese.
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
4) Can you do different flavours for different tiers? (sugar/gluten/lactose free/vanilla/chocolate/fruit).
Don’t worry about having to taste all of these together. Because they are coming from different layers, no one will get a slice of each of the flavours at once! However, if you are going for mixed flavour layers like strawberry buttercream and vanilla cream cheese, we definitely suggest you try it to make sure you love it!
5) Can you make a cake to meet specific dietary requirements?
This is especially important if you have guests who are lactose or gluten intolerant, or have diabetes. You should also ask your cake-maker how to serve these layers so that they don’t come into contact with other flavours.
6) Will you deliver to the venue and set up the cake on the day – how much time do you need?
Many weddings cakes, especially the larger ones will have to be assembled at your venue, as transporting an assembled cake could damage the final product.
By Weddings Vintage
7) Do I need to pay for your travel expenses?
The majority of wedding cake-makers will charge you for delivery. They can have a certain price set for their immediate catchment area and additional charges if they need to travel further, so it is always worth asking and adding the price to your budget.
8) Do you provide the cake stand and pillars?
If your cake-maker does offer the above, you should ask to look at the different options and think about how they will look with your wedding cake. If your cake-maker charges for the stand and pillars, you can always ask to see any non-chargeable options.
9) Should I bring my own toppers, flowers, ribbons? Or can we work out some ideas together? Would you be willing to work with my florist when decorating the cake?
If you want to use your own cake topper, make sure you show your cake designer what you would like to use, so that they can incorporate it into the design.
10) Do you provide the cake knife?
You might want to ask to see the cake knife ahead of time and ask your cake-maker if they provide you with something more suited to your overall wedding style or table settings.
11) Can I see previous customers’ references and cake photos?
Happy customers will be more than willing to tell you how great their wedding cake was, so ask to see a list of their references so that you get a better idea of what to expect!
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to make people happy, it’s cake. We have cake during so many of life’s special times, like birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. We don’t even really need an excuse – we Brits love afternoon tea, which is just one big excuse to eat cake in the sun. So, we really don’t need a reason to enjoy a nice cake.
In the UK, the average amount spent by couples on a wedding cake is between £400 – £500. This may seem at first look a lot out of the average overall amount spent on a wedding, which is £20,775. But your cake is more than just that. It can play an incredibly central role in your wedding. It will be a centrepiece and focal point. Of all the decorations and touches you add to your wedding, the most memorable for many will be your cake. Your guests will be on the lookout for your cake and will crowd around you just to watch you make that inaugural cut. They’ll also love helping themselves to a slice.
However, the good news is that there are ways to save money on your wedding cake. In this post, we’re going to dive into the many ways you can stay within budget while making sure your guests can have their cake and eat it too.
Cakes may be mainly sugar, eggs and flour, but so much skill, time and effort goes into making a wedding cake. They’re often far more extravagant and luxurious than the types of cake you might expect at other celebrations and can take several days to plan, design and bake. Not to mention a lot of wedding cakes are absolutely huge, with three being the traditional number of tiers.
So, while the price of a wedding cake may seem high, bear in mind that a lot goes into one to ensure it looks so magical and inviting for your big day:, bear in mind that a lot goes into one to ensure it looks so magical and inviting for your big day:
Customisation and design
Quality ingredients
Skill and expertise
Baking and decorating time
Delivery and setup time
Tools and equipment
The reputation of the cake maker is also likely to determine how much they charge, with professionals with long and respected careers typically able to charge more than those new to the industry.
A professional cake maker really understands the responsibility they have. The cake has to meet the brief in how it looks. It has to last being on display in a heated space, often for many hours, and still needs to taste perfect. They have one chance to get the cake right, knowing that all eyes will be upon it. There are no hiding places, and all this requires so much skill, expertise and preparation.
We may have already pointed out that many of your guests will be on the lookout for cake, but it’s important to consider what you want on your wedding day. What are your priorities? Try to please all your guests, and you’ll likely please no one. So, if forking out for a wedding cake isn’t high on your list, and you have a tight budget, you can choose to go without.
Weddings are usually jam-packed with traditions, so even though you won’t get to cut a cake, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to enjoy other traditions, like the toasts, the first dance and throwing the bouquet. That said, if you and your partner are big on traditions, and can’t bear the thought of not having that fabulous photo opportunity that doubles up as the most incredible dessert, there are still plenty of ways to do so on a budget.
Just be aware that if you’re aiming for a particularly big or show-stopping wedding cake, you can’t expect a professional to make it for next to nothing. Professionally-made wedding cakes aren’t just cakes – they’re unique, edible works of art, which naturally come with a higher price tag.
If a wedding cake is a must-have on your big day, but you’re struggling to stay within budget, don’t worry. Below are 13 ways (a bakers’ dozen) you can find an alternative or compromise to save money and keep your budget on track.
Let them eat cake! Or cupcakes. Or doughnuts. Or brownies. Or maybe even sweets? Instead of having a big central cake, which can be expensive, you could always treat yourself (and your guests) to a dessert table full of your favourite sweet treats. Stack your delicacy of choice in a scrumptious and artistic display and encourage your guests to help themselves. Not only will your guests get cake, but they’ll have a wider variety of choices, too. Plus, you’ll save money at the same time.
Do remember that unlike a professionally made show-stopper, a dessert table is unlikely to be able to be out on display all day. Consider whether you really want a doughnut that has been out in a heated room for 7 hours! Many professional bakers offer brownie towers, which means that whilst saving a little bit on the budget, you can still get all the benefits a professional brings. The tower of smaller cakes may also mean you don’t have a cake to cut. A small store-bought cake in addition is a good way of still having that iconic cake-cutting moment.
There will be plenty of guests at your wedding who are hungry for a slice of cake, but remember, after a three- or four-course breakfast and a pile of buffet food, will they even be that hungry when the time comes for a slice of cake? Ask your caterers to not be too generous when it comes to slicing your cake. This will help a smaller cake go a lot further. And if the odd guest wants seconds, they can just help themselves.
A cake with loads of intricate details and delicate sugar work is going to be expensive. So, if you keep your design simple, most of the baker’s efforts can go into simply making a moist and delicious cake rather than into turning it into a show-stopping edible masterpiece.
Depending on the style of the cake, you may even be able to do some decorations yourself. This is, of course, unlikely to rival a professional baker’s expert creation. You may not have the skill, knowledge or experience to pull off intricate latticework. But there’s nothing etched in stone to say a wedding cake has to be complex. Instead of sugar work petals, go for real flowers artfully placed around the edge. Instead of painstakingly cut iced ribbons, go for real ones. Artistic vision is a must-have, but it requires you to be brave. The DIY look can be great – just be aware that it most likely won’t be able to match the intricacy of a professionally-made wedding cake.
Realistically, not everyone at your wedding will likely want a slice of cake, which breaks our hearts… but it also breaks out hearts to see any cake go to waste. If you still want a tall, multi-tier cake, substitute some of the layers with dummy layers, which are usually lumps of carved polystyrene. These can be decorated in the exact same style as the real layers, but you save on the cost of the cake ingredients and the time spent baking it. It will look just as majestic and yummy, but none of it will go to waste and you’ll save some dough.
That said, be aware that the overall price difference may be quite small. Cake makers usually won’t charge the full amount if some layers are fake, but can still charge close to it. Though you’re saving some ingredient costs and labour, the cake artist will still have to stack and decorate those extra tiers, and as we’ve highlighted above, the decorating is what you’re really paying for in most cases. Ingredient costs can be sometimes be cheaper than the polystyrene purchased to create that fake tier, so it’s best to chat with your cake maker about the most cost-effective option for your specific vision.
It may seem obvious, but that doesn’t make it any less useful – if you have a future Great British Bake Off contestant in the family who’d love to contribute to your big day, ask them if they’d be happy to make your cake. Or, if you have a collection of relatives and friends who all have a signature sweet treat, why not ask everyone to bake their favourite and bring them in on a nice dish, which you can then collate to make a super tasty dessert table out of?
The DIY route can be a great budget-friendly move, but there are some really important considerations which you’ll need to weigh up:
It’s never going to be quite the same as a wedding cake made by a skilled professional with years of experience under their belt. If you opt for a cake made by an amateur baker, be prepared to compromise.
Tiered cakes aren’t just works of art, but also structural masterpieces. Ask any venue about DIY cakes and they’ll talk about the cakes that slowly leaned more and more or fell due to mispositioned or insufficient dowels. The bake itself also has to match the strength it needs and professionals understand the challenges this throws up. Not many amateurs normally make a three-tiered cake that has to stand for a number of hours. So if you are going DIY, keep it simple.
Your family star baker is unlikely to say no to such a request, but they’re probably going to feel a tremendous amount of pressure. Chances are they won’t relax if they’re a guest until the cake is actually cut into. Again, venues will share stories of seemingly wonderful looking DIY cakes which, when cut into, turned out to be raw, and then the challenge of trying to serve enough not to cause embarrassment for the family member who made it.
Dietaries are such an important part of your catering, and the importance of avoiding trace elements from nuts to gluten can be a matter of life or death. A professional cake maker will always leave a full set of ingredients, and highlight any cross-contamination risks and cutting requirements if there are dietaries. With a DIY cake, assumptions can be made that a family member knows of a relative’s allergies, or a guest may assume ingredients will be strictly as listed and fine. So, if you are having a DIY cake, put a sign up thanking whoever made it but letting guests know ALL the ingredients, and that it wasn’t made in a professional kitchen. This may sound overcautious (and is easily forgotten), but equally, don’t assume guests with allergies will know or remember it’s a DIY cake, and that their dietaries shared with the caterers haven’t been passed on.
It might not seem like the most obvious choice for a wedding, and it isn’t traditional, but a shop-bought cake from your favourite supermarket can be affordable and delicious. There’s a wide range of shapes, sizes and flavours to choose from, and if you pick up some pillars you can even create a multi-tiered cake yourself. All you have to do is get a little creative with the decorations and be more flexible with your cake vision than if you were to commission something custom-made. Or, you can have a small simple cake for your ceremonial cutting, and a number of shop bought cakes put out for guests to eat afterwards.
For something trendy yet traditional, M&S sells a two-tiered naked cake that looks the part and costs just £45. Or, for something a little more unique that will be tasty and get your guests laughing, M&S also offer a personalised Colin the Caterpillar cake, which you can pair with a personalised Connie the Caterpillar cake to have matching couple cakes. Each cake serves 40, and is priced at just £50, so even if you buy both, that’s cake for 80 guests for just £100, making them a fraction of the typical cost of a traditional bespoke tiered design.
If you choose to hire a professional cake maker to design your wedding cake, why not ask them for a naked cake? Not only will you still get a premium cake by a professional, but naked cakes are really in fashion right now with a rustic but elegant look. Plus, they tend to be a lot cheaper because they generally use fewer ingredients and take less time to decorate.
A word of warning though – the icing on wedding cakes can play a big part in the structural strength. Naked cakes may seem an easier option for a DIY cake (after all, the icing looks like the hard part), but they need more dowels, internal supports and the right baking consistency if stacked on top of one another. This is where professionals are even more invaluable.
Looking for a complex and intricate design but don’t have a huge budget? One option is to work with your cake maker to design a cake that is only decorated down one side. By having a sugar work design cascading down one half of your cake you still get the wow factor but will generally only have to pay half the decorating costs. A sugar work cascade is still incredibly striking, and can make for a gorgeous focal point and centrepiece even with less decoration.
When searching for a wedding cake designer or bakery, try to keep your search as local as possible. Wedding cake delivery can be pricey and the further a cake has to travel the riskier it is – so, if you choose a local professional, it’ll keep delivery and setup costs down. Or, you could even consider collecting your cake a day or so before the big day, which is easier to do if you choose a simple design.
The more experience a baker has, the more likely they are to have a solid portfolio and reputation. As a result, they’re also more likely to charge higher prices. Instead, consider hiring a cake maker who is relatively new to the industry. They’ll still be able to make a fabulous and delicious cake, but charge less than the average. Just remember to see examples of a few other cakes they’ve designed before you hire them – you don’t want a complete novice taking charge of your wedding cake.
If you’re a keen baker and don’t mind adding an extra responsibility to your ever-growing list, you could just bake your wedding cake yourself. You could even bake the cake a couple of months in advance, then thaw it a few days before your wedding so it’s ready for some homemade decorations. This will naturally save you money, but will be a fair bit of work, so be prepared.
Part of the joy of hiring a professional cake maker is that it’s stress-free and convenient, so you can enjoy your big day without worrying about dodgy ovens and equipment or glazes and ganaches that refuse to set. It’s important to weigh up what matters most to you. The DIY route may save you some money, but it most likely won’t save you time or stress. All of the considerations we listed for asking a friend or family to bake your cake apply here as well.
Vanilla and chocolate are usually safe, crowd-pleasing flavours that don’t cost too much. If you’ve chosen a multi-tiered cake, you may still want one tier to be a traditional fruit cake, but be prepared to pay a little extra if that’s the case.
Most of your guests won’t be too fussed if you don’t have fruit cake, and a simple vanilla sponge is affordable and tasty.
Have you worked out the menu you plan to serve your guests at the wedding breakfast? We bet part of that meal will include a delicious dessert. Well, instead of doubling up on desserts, why not simply serve your guests a slice of wedding cake?
If this doesn’t suit your timings and you want your dessert before the cake-cutting commences, why not have a smaller, decorated one-tier cake as your main cake for the ceremonial cutting, and a plain, un-decorated version pre-cut and served as dessert for the beforehand?
To make your cake a little more dessert-like and wedding breakfast worthy, why not pair it with a scoop of ice cream or a quenelle of cream for that extra touch of luxury and finesse?
Or, if you want to serve your cake in the evening, consider whether you also need extra evening food. This way, you can make the cake the star of the show in more ways than one . This is a great way to save on your catering budget elsewhere without losing the cake.
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It’s cake time! Put on those stretchy trousers and let’s get tasting. Oh the joys of wedding planning – when else do you get to sit and eat cake all day? Well today is that day. Hooray.
A wedding cake is a staple sight at any wedding, symbolising the first meal eaten as a married couple (awwwww). From wheat cakes traditionally consumed by the Romans, into the endless variety of cakes, cupcakes, doughnuts and other delicacies available, we are going to help you whizz through that sugary sea.
By Gigi Cakes
1. It’s all about recommendations!
As with anything, start with recommendations! Ask your recently married pals, or even your venue for advice. A delicious cake can be made by your venue, by a patissier, a caterer, a supermarket, a novice or a cake designer, so your choices are ample! And that means there is so much more to taste and try!
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
2. What flavour?
Can’t decide on flavours? Well you’ve got the traditional fruitcake with marzipan, or anything else your heart desires – vanilla, red velvet, chocolate, the list goes on… In fact, if you can’t decide on just one flavour, why not opt for layers with different flavours? (Just make sure you try all of them first (don’t mind if we do!) and put the heaviest layer on the bottom).
By Cinzia Bruschini
3. What about the budget?
On average, a cake will cost £500, but the more decorative and elaborate your cake (think multiple tiers, ingenious designs and sugar flowers) the more it will cost you. Be upfront about your budget when you’re meeting your cake maker, so that you’re both on the same page.
When choosing a flavour with cream, remember that cream-based cakes do not keep unless refrigerated! So if you are having an outdoor or summer wedding, try something else. Also, when considering fresh fruit and flowers think: chocolate and fruit, icing and flowers. (Icing absorbs the juice from the fruit, resulting in a colour mess – just a little trick from us!)
Allow yourself between 9 and 6 months to select your wedding cake. Decorations, stacking or layering can take time to make and order. But that does mean more months of tasting – bonus!
Cinzia Bruschini
6. Size matters
Think about how many guests your cake needs to serve. This will affect price and size, – you don’t want an endless cake for a thirty guest wedding. Similarly, if you want to serve your cake as desert, it will need to be big enough to feed all your guests. Alternatively, you can provide them with yummy treats like cupcakes and then your cake doesn’t need to be as large. Want a sneaky trick? Use Styrofoam layers instead of real ones and serve sheet cake instead – behind the scenes of course. Regardless of what you decide, be honest about your budget.
By Cinzia Bruschini
7. How tall are you?
Ever thought about your height when picking out a cake? No us neither BUT if you are tall, you could dwarf a small cake and a massive cake can drown you if you are smaller. Also, remember when you are cutting the cake and how it makes an awesome photo? Make sure to angle yourself so that the photographer can actually see you! Aren’t you glad we are here!?
By Ten Twenty One
8. Who has the table?
Don’t forget the cake table! Couples seem to overlook this one until the last minute, but decorating the table and making sure its shape works with the cake is important! The cake will receive a lot of attention, after all.
If you want to send cakes out to guests who couldn’t attend, ask advice on storage from your cake maker. Do this and you will get brownie points for being the nicest married couple ever.
Now for the best bit! Book a tasting. Even if you love the designs available, you can’t buy a cake based on design! So before you buy, have a relaxing afternoon with your beloved (or another trusted advisor) and enjoy all that cake! Here’s where the stretchy trousers come in.
Lastly, the tradition of eating your cake for your anniversary/ the birth of your first child is sweet in theory, but beware of brain freeze! Try to vacuum seal the cake if you do want to freeze it to prevent some of the potential freezer burn. Then you can enjoy it all over again!
Favourite bit of a wedding? The music and dancing has to be up there – think Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. Well-chosen music will set the ultimate mood for your wedding day, so selecting awesome entertainment is essential! With our carefully handpicked questions, we guarantee your band or DJ will give you the party of a lifetime and music that everyone can boogie to.
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
1) How would you describe your style?
Make sure that your style goes well with theirs, you don’t want a hard-core rock band playing at a whimsical wedding!
2) How many weddings are you planning to do on my wedding day?
You may want a bad/DJ to focus on your wedding alone so they can give it all their attention on your big day!
3) Is there any way to see you perform live?
We wouldn’t advise you to gate-crash another wedding, but seeing a live recording and talking to other couples is a great place to start!
By Ross Harvey
4) Will you inspect the acoustics of our wedding venue beforehand?
The band/DJ will need to know the allowed sound levels too. It will be helpful for them to check out the venue in advance.
5) Will you take our song selections into account?
Whilst this is easy for a DJ, learning a new song is more complicated for a band, but they should accommodate your tastes. Similarly with a Do Not Play List!
6) How many of you are going to be there on the day?
Always clarify the number of band members and potential DJ assistants – you will probably provide them with food, so get the numbers right!
It’s unlikely that a notable accident will happen on your big day, but you definitely want them to have it just in case!
12) What is your backup plan if one of the band is sick and do you carry back-up equipment?
You don’t want to worry about ANYTHING on your wedding day, so checking that there are back-ups and all eventualities are covered is a must!
13) Will there still be music playing during your breaks?
Most bands will take 15 minute breaks during their sets, whether to grab a glass of water or to re-tune their instruments, so you want to make sure that these gaps are also filled with music to keep the momentum going.
By Stephen Casey Photography
These questions will guide you through the initial meeting and will make your decision making so much easier.
Do you want to start your life as a married couple with a bang by setting off an impressive fireworks display (venue permitting)? Or perhaps you want to wow your guests with a passionate magician or dance group?
If you don’t want to go that big, even a photo booth and kids’ games area are still great ways to entertain your guests – but they all naturally come at a cost.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at the many ways you can save money on wedding entertainment while still making sure your guests have a fabulous time.
What are the most expensive types of wedding entertainers?
Generally, the more highly-skilled, experienced or technical the entertainment is, the more expensive it’ll be. For example, a fireworks show will cost around £750, which is almost the entire average amount spent on entertainment alone.
Dance troupes and circus acts can also be among the most expensive, as there are a large number of performers and equipment needed. The more members there are in an act, the more expensive it will be. Large dance groups and circus acts have costs starting from around £500.
Also, if an entertainer is well-known or has been featured on TV, like magician Dean Leavy who appeared on Blue Peter and Britain’s Got Talent, they can have higher rates than others.
What’s the cheapest types of wedding entertainment?
There are plenty of options available if you have a limited budget but still want to hire professional entertainment. Some of the most affordable wedding entertainment options include:
If you have your heart set on a certain type of entertainment but aren’t sure it’ll fit within your budget, don’t be disheartened just yet. Below are 10 ways you can save money but still enjoy wonderful entertainment. We also have tips and tricks for saving money on wedding music so you can have the best of both worlds.
Just like how a winter wedding will lead to lower costs for your venue and catering due to lower demand, so will the cost of your entertainment. Summer is the most popular time to host a wedding, which means entertainers can increase their rates. So, by having a winter wedding you’ll pay far less to hire the same entertainer. Similarly, their rates will also be higher on the weekend than they will be midweek. So, if you plan your wedding for a Tuesday in February, you’ll pay some of the lowest rates available.
If an entertainer has to travel far to get to your venue, then this will affect how much you pay. Unless you’re really set on one specific entertainer, then try to hire a professional whose catchment area includes your chosen venue. If it doesn’t, they may charge an additional per-mile fee, and if it’s really far they might need to book a hotel, which will be another expense to factor into your budget.
Remember how we mentioned above that, generally speaking, the more performers there are in an act, the more expensive it’ll be? For that reason, keep costs down by hiring a solo entertainer. Or, if you want dancers at your wedding, a pair will typically be kinder to your budget than an entire troupe.
Entertainment doesn’t have to rely on a professional doing all the work, and can take so many forms. Karaoke, a quiz or motion-controlled games are both great fun and cost-effective, and a brilliant way to get all your guest involved.
If you have a lot of friends and family with kids, then you’re probably conscious that they might get a little bored. Kids’ entertainment, like The Wedding Crècherz and All Events Childcare, are already fantastic affordable professional services, but if you’re on a super tight budget, you could save even more money with a DIY kids’ table. Some colouring books, a box of Lego and some games (which you might already have sitting in the back of a cupboard) could save you hundreds.
This requires a bit of thought and effort ahead of the wedding (as well as coordination with your chosen venue), but it’s a great way to keep your guests busy throughout the reception as the day goes on, especially as you head off to take photos with your new spouse. A scavenger hunt, where guests have to follow clues to uncover secrets, is an engaging, fun and – importantly, cheap – entertainment idea. You can even offer prizes to the guests who come first.
We bet you have a few board games and party games gathering dust up in the loft. Why not put them to good use and provide every table with a game they can use to keep themselves busy and interact with each other? There’s nothing quite as funny as watching Nan play Jenga after a couple of glasses of Prosecco.
If an entertainer charges a certain day rate, ask them if they’ll charge less if they’re hired for a certain number of hours. If you hire a bouncy castle, you might not want merry adults bouncing on it after a few glasses of fizz anyway – so only hire it for a couple of hours. Or, a magician is a great way to keep guests entertained after the ceremony and during the breakfast, so by the evening they won’t necessarily be needed. By hiring entertainment for a shorter amount of time you’ll pay less but your guests will still have the experience.
With a little consideration and creativity, there are plenty of DIY entertainment options. Put a box of props together and fix a digital camera on a tripod for a simple and affordable DIY photo booth. You could build a corn hole set and host a tournament with a winner-takes-all prize. Or buy a face paint kit and encourage your guests to decorate each others’ faces (but after the photographs please). There are plenty of cheap DIY options out there!
Do you have a particularly talented friend or relative who could bring out their party trick to impress your guests? Anything from card tricks to juggling or stand-up comedy to acrobatics. Any talent can be good to go when it comes to entertaining your guests. Just make sure they’re up to the task, and don’t rely TOO heavily on them either. After all, they can’t be expected to provide the same level of service and quality as an experienced wedding professional.
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Planning a wedding is a little bit like putting a jigsaw together, and each of the pieces slots together to produce the overall picture that is your big day. Some pieces are bigger than others, like the venue, the flowers and the food, but another important piece that shouldn’t be overlooked is the entertainment.
Wedding entertainment comes in many forms and goes far beyond the music. Great entertainment can be the difference between a beautiful wedding and one that’s truly memorable – however, the cost of a wedding entertainer can vary depending on what you’re looking for.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at how much wedding entertainment costs, the cost of different types of entertainers available, and how important it is to hire an entertainer for your wedding.
Because there’s such a wide variety of wedding entertainment out there, from acrobats to photo experiences, it can be difficult to put an exact figure on the average cost of wedding entertainment. However, as we set out in our ultimate wedding budget breakdown, the average amount couples spend on professional non-music entertainment is around £800.
But, if you have a larger budget to play with and a flair for creativity, there are many fabulous wedding entertainers who can help make your wedding one that they’ll remember forever.
Check out our post on the average cost of wedding music for more information about bands, singers and DJs.
How much do different types of wedding entertainment cost?
Wedding entertainment costs will differ depending on the type of entertainment you’re after. Got a lot of parents coming with their little ones? A clown or kids’ entertainer will keep them busy during the reception and into the evening. Holding a twilight wedding ceremony? A stunning fireworks display will light up the sky and start your marriage with a bang. The range of entertainers available across all budget levels means that whatever your theme, you can thrill and delight your guests long into the night.
Below are just some of the different types of entertainers you could consider for your wedding.
A real crowd-pleaser, a fireworks display is a wonderful way to entertain your guests, such as those supplied byIllusion Fireworksand Phenomenal Fireworks. Costs start from £750.
Looking forward to kids coming to your wedding but not them running around on the dance floor? Keep the little ones busy with entertainment of their own, like the pun-tastically named The Wedding Crècherz , or Rock Up and Play. Costs start from £180.
Add a little extra magic to your wedding with a magician to wow your guests. Fabulous magicians include Owen Strickland Magic and Chris Priest. Costs start from £350.
A casino night brings a taste of Las Vegas to your wedding but with none of the dangers of walking home empty-handed. Aces Fun Casinos and VIP Fun Casino & photo booth hire are just two fantastic vendors. Costs start from £450.
Should you hire a wedding entertainer other than a musician or DJ?
Whether an entertainer is right for your wedding or not is purely down to you, your personality, the style and theme of your wedding, and your budget. If you’re hoping for an affordable wedding, then an entertainer (on top of music from a band, singer or DJ) can be one of the first to go. However, if you have a larger budget to play with, then additional entertainment will help your wedding to be unique.
So, if you do have a little extra budget and are keen for your wedding to stand out, an entertainer can do just that. It’ll create buzz and excitement, enhancing your guests’ experiences. It also adds an extra layer of personalisation and provides a little more variety to the average wedding celebration.
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The most important thing is to let your guests know you are planning to do the photography after the ceremony. Also let them know how long it will (roughly) take. Try to give exact directions to those VIP’s who will be in your wedding photographs. Enjoy the group shots first, so those guests can go drink, eat and chat to their hearts content, once they are done. This will give you and your loved one all the time in the world to get your photos done!
If budget allows, consider hiring an entertainer. This can be a band, so that guests can listen to some music while they socialise, a caricaturist, a magician, a comedian, or any other professional entertainer. If you can’t stretch your budget, maybe one of your musical friends would be keen to get involved? If you can’t find someone for whatever reason, don’t worry, hit up Spotify and make an epic playlist instead.
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
Outdoor games? Yes please
If you are having an outdoor wedding, or if your venue has some fantastic gardens and the weather is sunny and warm, why not have some outdoor games? Giant jenga, croquet, or badminton are amazing, low-sweat options that will keep your guests – kids especially – entertained.
We can’t tell you enough how much we love a good ol’ photo booth, whether it’s hired or DIY. Your guests can goof around, socialise and have fun, especially if you stock it well with props. If instant printing is available, then consider giving these out as favours to your guests! How about this: Incorporate your guestbook into the photo booth! Equip your photo booth with a chalkboard and ask your guests to write down their wishes and take a photo holding up the board. That way, you are creating unique pictures, providing entertainment AND getting loads of marriage advice – done!
As not all of your guests will know your love story, why not play an interactive slide show, telling the story from yours and your loved one’s varying perspectives. Integrating a quiz about the couple, with a gift for the winner is also a great touch. If you can tell some anecdotes about your guests in the slideshow, even better!
By Weddings Vintage
Lip syncing
Are your guests an outgoing bunch that love a moment in the spotlight? Give them a lip-syncing competition and film it! Again, endless entertainment and fun for all the observers. (Although we would suggest a few tipples first!)
As long as there are some drinks, nibbles, superb company and some chairs for people to rest on, everyone will have a great time. So enjoy your photos and look forward to going through all of the epic shots after you’re married and back from honeymoon – another party in itself!
Whether it’s the theme tune to your favourite movie or that advert that makes you cry, music makes the world go round and it’s an essential part of your wedding day. It creates the mood and gets everyone on the dance floor to party their socks off. You want your music to be a perfect reflection of you as a couple and a great medley of tunes for your guests to love and party to all night. While you might have a list of your favourite tunes coming out of your ears, you might be stuck on whether to have a wedding band or DJ? We compiled a list of pros and cons for each, so you can just sit back and enjoy the music while you choose.
Whilst most bands are more than happy to learn a song for your first dance, the remainder of their repertoire might be quite specific. Just make sure the band you pick plays your kind of music! Going to hear them play (before you book) can help with this.
Band members will always need a break between sets, which can create a lull in the music. But you can always have a playlist ready to fill the gap.
A band can often cost a fair amount of money, as each member needs to be paid.
A band will require a fair amount of space and a large number of electricity outlets so just make sure you work this out before booking!
A DJ will have an endless variety of songs instantly available to them, meaning they can adjust to the mood or even do requests. You can also make sure they have your list of favourites before the big day!
A DJ can take breaks without having to stop the music.
The volume levels are easily adjustable.
DJ’s require smaller spaces to set up.
Reputable DJ companies will always have a stand-by DJ, ready to take over should anything go wrong. Phew.
A DJ is usually cheaper than a band (maybe not David Guetta…!)
Pre-recorded music might not evoke the same energy as live music… Unless the songs played are ‘your’ songs.
Every DJ has their own personality and style, just like every couple does. So it’s best to meet them before to make sure it matches yours.
The best way to find out more about a DJ’s style is by collecting some reviews. Try and speak to people who booked your DJ for their wedding, to confirm he will rock it!
Weigh up the pros and cons of each and work out what is best for you. Either way, epic music is going to make your party rock so enjoy choosing!
“Oh wow – Who’s it from? Look at my name written in beautiful calligraphy! Look at the handcrafted card! Where is the wedding? What is the theme? Oh my goodness, it’s so stunning. I’m going to pop it on my mantelpiece for years to come!” That is the kind of reaction you want when your wedding invitations finally reach people. Your wedding is actually happening and this is the first time people get a proper hint of what to expect, what to wear, what to give you! And not only that, it’s a lifetime souvenir of your big day. At Bridebook, we love a heavy papered, beautifully written wedding invitation, especially when it is landing on our doorstep! But you might be a savvy millennial toying with the idea of going online and saving lots of lovely trees? Let’s work out what you want so you can create the best bit of post (or email) your guests will EVER receive.
