Category: Locale

Bridebook Business: Self Promoting Your Wedding Business

suppliers.bridebook.co.uk

In order to succeed in the highly competitive wedding industry, it is important to attract regular attention that will increase your popularity. For many couples, experience and understanding equals professionalism, and self-promotion is one of the most effective methods to advertise this. 

 

Couples always want the best. Tell them why you are just that.

 

When organising their wedding, couples want nothing but the very best, often seeking recommendations through friends and family in order to find the most outstanding wedding venues and suppliers. In the absence of personal advice, however, couples will begin to search elsewhere. This is why it is important to build an excellent repertoire highlighting experience, expertise and professional knowledge.  

 

External confirmation, in any of its forms, not only gives couples a greater peace of mind but also helps boost business exposure. When buying a product, we all want that added sense of security, and to know that ‘it’ actually works as advertised. And the same thing goes when couples are deciding on their wedding team; if they can see real life reviews and official associates, they are much more likely to consider you!

 

Here are Bridebook Business’ Top Tips for Self Promotion:

 

Build your network and recommend fellow suppliers. 

If you have previous experience working alongside other suppliers, be sure to include this on your website and social media profiles, especially if they are an established name. This can help to offer reassurance to couples, as if they have the knowledge that things have gone smoothly before, they will be more encouraged to consider you as a potential wedding supplier. Constructing strong relationships with fellow suppliers is crucial to building out your network, which will almost certainly prove useful one day in the future.

 

Reviews & Testimonials From Past Clients

Having a valid and relevant set of client reviews can provide customers with an added sense of security and verifies that what you and your business offers, is genuine. The Wedding Report 2017 revealed that couples on average read 7.6 reviews before making a booking. It is the second most relied upon source of feedback (friends and family recommendation being the first) and is, therefore, invaluable to your business. Bridebook provides a space for couples, guests and family members to share their feedback following a wedding. You know you’ve done a good job, so be confident and ask your couples to share the reasons why. 

 

Social Media

Social media is now the most effective platform in order to successfully promote your business. No matter what your business size or status, never hesitate to tell the world about your skills and services. Sometimes it can just be about the basics and the more often you get your name out there, the greater your presence in the wedding industry will become. Signing up to the most popular social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest will really help you to gradually increase your exposure, but it is important to find the most appropriate channel for your business. For example, Instagram is all about image sharing so may therefore be best utilised by photographers.  Venue suppliers on the other hand may find greater reward from maximising Facebook; where they can formulate longer posts, including information on location and available dates.

 

Blogs

Wedding blogs are a particularly useful source for couples, helping with inspiration and also as a means to find valid recommendations; repetition fundamentally leading to familiarity. To begin with, conduct a detailed web search into the most popular online wedding blogs, and furthermore, wherever possible get in contact with ‘Real Weddings’ editors. Always remember however that it remains crucial when making a submission to tailor your wedding stories to each individual blog’s tone and style. If you show a willingness to comply with certain standards, there is a greater chance you will be chosen to feature.

 

Awards

Wedding awards can be organised locally, nationally and internationally, making them crucial (and fun) to get involved in where possible. Do your research and nominate yourself for those that are relevant to your business. To further increase votes make sure to ask all of your past clients for their support and also encourage them to mention the awards to their friends and family too. Don’t be shy! And of course, once you have been shortlisted, or if you are even lucky enough to win, be sure to showcase this sufficiently, including on your website and social media pages. Also, don’t forget about the yearly Bridebook awards, where finals are judged by both our team here, and also top wedding industry names. It really will help to bring a positive recognition to your brand!

 

Show off your credentials

When building a company profile, many professionals forget to include a list of previous credentials and accreditations. This is so important since it provides further information about your experience and expertise. When advertising work in the wedding industry, it is important to remember that you are selling services that are extremely competitive; therefore it is important to include elements that make you stand out. Simply list your relevant qualifications just like you would include them on a CV, mentioning your school, university and past employers to add validity.

Bridebook Business Handy Hints: To get things started, maybe take some of the comments from your website and social media platforms or even perhaps use feedback from past clients and add them to the Testimonials section in your Bridebook Business Account.

 

Want more tips and tricks as to how to grow and market your business? Like the Bridebook Business Facebook Page and receive weekly updates from industry experts and thought leaders across the UK.

 

 

Who can I contact for help?

For any questions about Bridebook Business or your free wedding business account on Bridebook.co.uk, email our friendly supplier success team at [email protected] who always want to hear from you.  We look forward to helping make 2017-2018 a fantastic year for your wedding business!

Bridebook Business: Confidence In Marketing Your Wedding Business.

suppliers.bridebook.co.uk

In any wedding, the couple are always, of course, the two most central characters of a wedding. But you, the venue and suppliers, the behind the scenes professionals, are what bring that magic together.  Without your continued dedication and skill, it would be near impossible for any big day to become a reality. 

 

Bridebook Business Is Here To Help! 

 

Here at Bridebook.co.uk, we recognise and understand the pressures involved, not only on the wedding day itself but everything that allows you to be a part of that day, including the promoting your business and finding business leads. So we’re here to help. By offering you relevant and industry led advice, our aim is to provide you with the information you need to boost your marketing confidence and increase your presence in the UK’s wedding industry. 

 

Build your confidence and promote your business on these top wedding channels:

 

Pinterest: Weddings are all about the visual. Virtual pinboards are a very effective planning tool for brides to be. Explore how Pinterest could help your business.

 

YouTube: Not just the home to funny videos of cats, YouTube is the second largest search engine with more than 3 billion searches a month. Could uploading regular content help to showcase your services?

 

Instagram: Over 20% of the world’s internet users now have an Instagram account and is for many people a visual diary. Could this powerful social media platform offer potential inspiration for your customers?

 

LinkedIn: LinkedIn can help to nurture relationships with fellow suppliers, while showcasing your own talent.

 

Email Marketing: Email may seem slightly outdated when compared to more modern social media platforms. However, it can be still incredibly effective when proving your work ethic to any potential customers.

 

Copywriting: Without fun and engaging content featured on your website or blog, it may be difficult to effectively communicate your business purpose.

 

Self-Promotion: Confidence is essential when building a business network.

 

Word of Mouth: Friends and family really enjoy a good gossip. How can a solid repertoire of clientele help to promote your business?  

 

Finally, always make sure to keep your Business Account up to date with the most recent news and updates from your business. You can do this by going to business.bridebook.co.uk and selecting log in. 

 

Want more tips and tricks as to how to grow and marketing your business? Like the Bridebook Business Facebook Page and receive weekly updates from industry experts and thought leaders across the UK.

 

 

Who can I contact for help?

For any questions about Bridebook Business or your free wedding business account on Bridebook.co.uk, email our friendly supplier success team at [email protected] who always want to hear from you.  We look forward to helping make 2017-2018 a fantastic year for your wedding business!

The Wedding Supplier’s Guide to Reducing a Couple’s Planning Anxiety

Amidst all the fun and excitement of throwing a wedding party, there lurks a more serious, stressful side. As the angst sets in, even the most grounded Bride and Groom can end up wanting to run for the hills, and no more so, than on the big day itself.

As a venue manager or supplier, getting a nervous bride down to the ceremony room and ready to walk down the aisle, on time, and in a fit emotional state can be difficult. Calming the groom so he can enjoy the wedding breakfast, without worrying about making his speech, is equally demanding.

MindMarriage has put together some incredibly insightful tips for how to help calm and guide a couple through some of the more stressful periods, helping to make both their and your experience that much smoother.

Bridebook.co.uk wedding couple

How You Can Help

 

As a venue manager, getting a nervous bride down to the ceremony room and ready to walk down the aisle, on time, and in a fit emotional state can be difficult. Calming the groom so he can enjoy the wedding breakfast, without worrying about making his speech, is equally demanding.

Imagine if you had the power to help. That by using some simple words, you could easily help the bride or groom feel calmer and more confident. MindMarriage works with hundreds of stressed brides and grooms providing Hypnotherapy before the wedding, and have some top tips for keeping them calm on the day.

You probably don’t believe this could actually work but the truth is that over time we’ve all been subliminally conditioned to accept certain trigger words.

You would never suspect these hypnotic words of being able to dramatically change someone’s state of mind but used consciously and correctly, they can significantly alter thoughts and feelings.

So, what are the magic words?

Bridebook.co.uk wedding flowers

The Magic Words

“IMAGINE”

By asking your bride or groom to imagine something, you bypass that critical part of the mind that throws up objections, and essentially sneak in through the back door of their mind.

As strange as it may sound, the brain literally cannot tell the difference between imagining reality, and actually experiencing reality. As far as your brain is concerned, there’s no difference between visualising yourself calm and confident walking down the aisle, and actually being calm and confident walking down the aisle!

“YOU”

Words that refer to us are particularly hypnotic as our critical minds take a break when we evaluate ourselves, in comparison to being naturally critical of others.

There’s nothing as stimulating to us, as ourselves! As long as the words are specific to the individual you’re addressing, it’s guaranteed to carry them along in a daze.

For example, a hairstylist or makeup artist, would confirm not just how great the style is, but how great it is on that particular bride, negating their self-doubt.

“BECAUSE…”

Explaining your reasoning before asking a question, significantly influences the decision making.

The word ‘because’ satisfies the brain’s natural search for reasons. So, give your wedding couple a reason to feel calm and it’s more likely they’ll feel calm!

“Everyone is going to have a great time because you’ve planned everything perfectly”.

There are lots of other hypnotic words but these three are particularly powerful. 

Bridebook.co.uk bride with umbrella

Now you have some of the tools to ensure that the couples you work with are cool, calm and collected throughout the wedding planning process and your time working together. It’ll be a much more enjoyable experience for the couple and yourselves, and is sure to help your brand stand above the rest!

 

How to Manage Wedding Stress and Anxiety

Congratulations, you’re getting married!

As the planning stage kicks in and you realise the size of the task ahead of you, amidst all the excitement, anxiety can often kick in.

Some of us worry more than others, and with weddings people worry about all sorts of things: the size of the task, the cost, being the centre of attention, how they will look, making a speech, feeling judged, wanting the day to be perfect, and so on. All absolutely understandable, for this is the biggest day of your life, right? 

Mind Marriage is here to remind you that while it’s perfectly natural to feel some elevated stress, there is still a lot you can do to help you manage it and ensure you keep in sight the most important thing – that you’re getting married to your life partner and celebrating your relationship.

Bridebook.co.uk wedding couple

How does anxiety affect us?

A surprising amount of people experience anxiety without even realising it. Some of the ways it might manifest itself is by experiencing some of the following:

  • Lack of enjoyment of the process
  • Making rash or poor decisions
  • Not doing things as well as you normally would
  • Having negative thoughts
  • Catastrophizing
  • Feel irritable and/ or short tempered

People who are calm and relaxed generally enjoy the process much more; furthermore they perform better on the day, and have much better memories of the day. Three very good reasons to address those nerves!

You are what you think! Your mind is a very powerful thing and most of us believe that we aren’t in control of our thoughts. But you ARE in control, and you become what you think about. Your mind actually does exactly what it thinks you want it to, and it responds to the words you say and the pictures you make.

So, if you are saying ‘I can’t do this, it’s too much for me, I’m not good at it, I can’t make decisions… .’ your mind will believe this to be the case. It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

However, you can create an image in your mind of how you want to be and tell your mind this is what you want. Tell yourself:

  • I can do this
  • I am so good at it
  • It excites me
  • I make excellent decisions
  • I’m loving this

Simply by thinking the right thoughts, you can change the way you feel.

Start imagining your wedding and the planning process the way you want it. Create a picture in your mind and think about that picture. Believe in it.

Try this:

Pick your favourite ‘uplifting’ song, one with positive messages, something like Simply the Best by Tina Turner, We are the Champions, or Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen.

Now pin those positive thoughts to your song, and listen to that song every day.

Your mind loves what is familiar! The old negative thoughts and images will become unfamiliar and your mind will banish them! The new, positive thoughts and images will become familiar and your mind will take you towards your goal.

Bridebook.co.uk bride opening curtains

Comment below with any tips or tricks you’ve learnt along the way of how to best manage your stress or anxiety during your planning and big day. Unfortunately, this topic is not nearly addressed enough even though the majority of brides suffer from it. With careful planning, support and the right approaches, your wedding planning and big day can be as enjoyable an experience as you want it to be!

Good luck and have a wonderful wedding!

Bridebook.co.uk Mind Marriage logo

Lazy Sunday Morning Workout

The essence of this morning workout is working on exercises that are fundamental to how we move in everyday life and will help you move more effectively. We will work the whole body as a unit rather than working body segments separately.  The end result is a more effective workout with a bigger result for your time and effort.

HOW SHE DOES IT

Perform each move for 60 seconds, rest for 30 seconds between each exercise.

Take two mins rest and repeat the circuit. 

 

GLUTE BRIDGE

Bridebook.co.uk sunday morning workout

 

Why she does it

This is a fantastic exercise to activate your glutes and improve butt strength as well as teaching you how to extend your hips whilst keeping your core braced.

Strong glutes can help reduce risk of injury by taking the stress off of the lower back and helping with hip function.

 

The position

Lie on your mat, arms by your sides and legs bent at a 90-degree angle. Your feet are hip width apart and heels rooted to the ground.

 

How she does it

Engage your abdominals and push down through your heels. Squeeze your glutes to extend the hips so your pelvis comes into one straight line.

 Hold at the top for a count of two keeping the glutes engaged before releasing and lowering back to the ground.

 

Be mindful

Don’t just throw yourself up as this will simply send you into excessive lumbar extension, move through the movement carefully.

 

SQUAT

Why she does it

The squat is a fundamental exercise that everyone should be doing and is able to do. They challenge strength, mobility, balance, and flexibility in your hips and ankles which all translates into helping your body move more effectively. You will primarily be working your butt, legs and abdominals.

 

The Position

Stand with feet firmly planted on the floor about shoulder width apart, toes slightly turned out. With your hands clasped in front of your chest, gaze forwards, back straight, chest proud.

 

How she does it

Ground down through you’re heels as you sit your hips backwards allowing your knees to push outwards in line with your toes as your butt lowers just below parallel.

 

Be Mindful

Do not let your knees collapse inwards. You can always reduce your range of movement as you work on your technique.

 

PRESS UP

 

Bridebook.co.uk sunday morning workout

Why she does it

If you thought the press up was just a chest, shoulder and arms exercise, then think again. Done properly, the butt, abdominals, back and legs play a key part to the press up and developing coordinated strength.

 

The position

In full plank position, shoulders are in line with wrists and feet together. Firm your thighs, locking out the knees, and drawing your legs together. Squeeze your butt tight and draw your abdominal in creating a strong, solid body.

 

How she does it

Keeping your body solid from head to toe in the plank position, slowly lower your body all the way to the floor. Once your chest is on the ground you have two options.

 

  1. Keeping the thighs firm, buttocks tight and abdominals engaged, push down through your feet and hands and return to plank position.
  2. If you can’t push yourself up from the bottom of the pushup, that is okay, just return to the top with your knees on the ground.

 

Be Mindful

If the lowering phase in full plank is difficult then it’s perfectly ok to perform the movement on your knees, slowly lower and return.

 

CRAWLS

 

Bridebook.co.uk sunday morning workout

 

Why she does it

This exercise integrates your whole body whilst challenges the nervous system to learn new movement patterns and proprioception (awareness of your body in space). From an aesthetic point of view this one really works your core and is great for working the upper body too.

 

The Position

Come onto all fours with your knees just forwards of your hips. Your knees hover 2 inches max off the floor. Spine is neutral and gaze down.

 

How she does it

Purposefully crawl your left hand and right foot forwards working in unison (lifting and placing the hand and foot at the same time). As your crawl, keep the movement purposeful and try not to extend the gap between the hands and feet.

 

Take 4 steps forwards and 4 steps backwards, repeat x 10

 

Be Mindful

Keep your knees close to the floor throughout the movement.

 

PLANK TOUCHES

 

Bridebook.co.uk sunday morning workouts

 

 

Why she does it

I love this variation on the plank as it’ really focusing on body awareness, engaging the mind and physical body.  You will work your core whilst challenging co-ordination and balance.

 

The Postion

Come into a full plank position on your hands and feet. Your gaze is down and abdominals engaged.

 

How she does it

Focus on rooting down through the non-moving hand and foot. Engage your abdominals as you move opposite elbow to knee and return under control

 

Be mindful

As you move, focus on keeping your hips as still as you can and keep the movement precise and controlled.

 

 

STEP UP WITH KNEE LIFT

 

Bridebook.co.uk sunday morning workout

 

 

Why she does it

This exercise is excellent for strengthening the glutes and legs whilst boosting your metabolism.

 

The Position

Stand in front of a step/bench, with the left foot firmly on top. Your spine is straight and hands clasped in front of your chest.

 

How she does it

Root down through your left heel and focus on “firing” the left glut as you step yourself up to stand tall, bringing the right knee towards the chest.

Return the right leg slowly to the start position, keeping the movement slow and controlled.

 

Be Mindful

If you’re struggling with balance, then step the right foot onto the bench rather than taking the knee to the chest.

 

How To Choose Your Wedding Flowers

Whether you’ve found your dream florist or you’re still considering options, it’s time to talk wedding flowers. And from buttonholes to bouquets and ceremony flowers to centrepieces, there’s a lot to talk about. So here’s how to get started choosing your wedding flowers.

1. Have A Colour (Or Two!) In Mind

Have you chosen your wedding colours yet? If not, check out this article – then come right back here. You’ll use the colours you pick throughout your wedding decor, tying everything together – and that includes your flowers.

2. Think Seasonally

Daffodils at a winter wedding? Maybe not. But tulips for spring? Perfect! Thinking seasonally is an easy way to choose flowers that will work with your wedding’s aesthetic (and it can save you a few pennies too!).

3. Think Outside The Box

You don’t need to stick with tradition! Roses are great and if that’s what you want, go for it – but there’s a whole world of wedding flowers out there! We love wildflowers, especially for more casual weddings, while sunflowers brighten up any summer ceremony. We’ve even seen a few weddings incorporate vegetables like kale, cabbages and artichokes – and honestly, they’ve looked amazing!

4. Trust Your Florist

At the end of the day, your wedding is about you and you should always trust your gut – but it’s never a bad idea to take a little advice from the professionals! Work with your florist to come up with something you love together, combining your taste and ideas with their creative eye and years of experience.

5. Waste Not, Want Not

If you’re on a tighter budget (and honestly, even if you’re not!), consider how you could reuse flowers from your ceremony at your reception. For example, the same flowers you used to decorate your aisle might be repurposed into table centrepieces later in the day.

6. Consistency Is Key

Once you’ve decided on a theme for your wedding flowers, stick to it. That doesn’t mean that everything has to be identical – but you want some consistency between your bouquet and your buttonholes, for example. If you do want more variation, think about how you could incorporate this into your celebrations – perhaps switching things up after your wedding breakfast to signal a transition from day to night?

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How To Pick Your Wedding Date

Picking your wedding date is one of the first decisions you’ll make as a newly engaged couple. And once this date is set… Well, it’s the ultimate deadline! There’s (usually) no rescheduling – so this is it, and it’s full-on wedding planning mode from here on out.

But with 365 days to choose from, how are you meant to choose? Well, here’s our four-step guide to narrowing things down so you can pick that one perfect date.

1. Think Seasonally

Let’s start nice and broad with four options: spring, summer, autumn or winter. What do you want your wedding to look like? And what kind of vibe are you going for? A formal wedding can be done indoors at any time of year – but if you’re hoping for a garden party, it’s probably best to stick to the summer months. If in doubt, think about what you want your pictures to look like. Are you imagining photographs with a backdrop of autumn leaves or spring tulips? Do you see yourself and your guests wrapped in fur stoles or wearing shorts and summer dresses? This is an easy way to get an idea of what time of year you’re aiming for.

2. Who Has To Be There?

Sure, your wedding is about you and your partner – but it’s also having the most important people in your lives around you as you take this step together. Before you commit to a date, check that your most important guests will be able to make it. You don’t want to send out save the dates, only to find that none of your nearest and dearest can attend. This is especially important if you have guests travelling in from abroad as they’re likely to have more restrictions on when they’ll be able to fly.

3. Weekend or Weekday?

Once you’ve worked out the time of year and blocked off any “no-go” periods, you can start looking at specific dates. Most weddings are still held on Saturdays, giving your guests the day after to relax before work on Monday. That said, Saturday isn’t the only option and it’s increasingly common for couples to choose other days of the week – especially as this often means bagging a bargain. If you have your heart set on a venue that’s just that bit too expensive, consider a weekday wedding – and you could nab your dream venue for a price that won’t give you nightmares!

4. Work Your Priorities

Do you decide your date then pick a venue that’s available then? Or do you find your perfect venue and set a date based on their availability? It’s all about what’s most important to you and your partner. Our advice is to stay as flexible as possible. There’s no point deciding you must get married at 4pm on 8th August if nowhere’s available – but there’s also no point booking your dream venue if no one can come! Sit down with your partner and come up with a list of must-haves to help guide your decision.

Follow these four steps and you’ll have your perfect date picked out in no time! And to make things even easier, try using our Venue Search Tool to find your wedding venue – our wedding venue directory is the biggest (and the best!) in the UK.

The Easiest and Smartest Way to Send Your Save the Dates

With over 40% of engagements happening between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the UK will be seeing Save the Dates and engagement party invitations flying across the country left right and centre. If you’re one of the lucky many to be sending Save the Dates then congratulations! But don’t let preparations daunt you: in perfect addition to our free wedding planning tools, our incredible stationery experts at Paperless Post have all you need  for smart and easy wedding announcements – perfect for today’s couples who move faster than the Royal Mail. So what are you waiting for? Start sending those Save the Dates! You won’t believe how good it feels… 

Bridebook.co.uk Paperless Post Online Wedding Invitations

 

Start Spreading the News

Since you got such good tidings over Christmas, now’s the time to share. If you’re feeling especially generous, an engagement party is an ideal way to kick off the many wedding festivities to come. It’s also a great introduction to the convenience, customisability, and ease of our other event invitations. You’ll find options for every style of party—from drinks at home to something more formal—including a few photo invitations with room for spare frames from your engagement shoot.

Bridebook.co.uk Paperless Post Online Wedding Invitations

 

Make Your First Mark

Your save the dates are the first “official” step in your wedding stationery timeline, so now’s the time to make a stunning first impression. Whether you’re celebrating in a classic mode, trying out something more rustic, or embracing modernity, you’ll be in good hands with options from design stalwarts like Liberty London, contemporary stationers like Rifle Paper Co., or something from our own team of wedding aficionados. 

Bridebook.co.uk Paperless Post Online Wedding Invitations

 

Put It All Together

They’re pretty, of course, but our online save the dates are nothing if not practical. You can track whether your guests have opened them and they’ll collect postal addresses for you, too. (Use that list to order a set of pre-addressed envelopes for your printed invitations, and save yourself the hand-inscribing.) While you shouldn’t start counting heads just yet, this early show of interest will help you start making decisions about your venue, your caterers, and how many paper invitations you’ll need to order.

Bridebook.co.uk Paperless Post Online Wedding Invitations

Date, Set, Match

Even with that bit of pre-planning, we’d still recommend sending out your save the dates approximately 6 months before your wedding day and sending your printed invitations 3 months later. (Eagle-eyed readers will note that that’s 3 months before the big day.) If your venue is farther afield guests will really appreciate the extra time to make transport arrangements, and you’ll be surprised how quickly time flies when you’re planning anyway! We can make the paper stationery simple, of course—many of our save the dates come with matching suites of printed invitations, menus and programs, and couples’ stationery, to carry the theme of your wedding through every event. Whether you opt for flat printing, thermography, letterpress, or engraving, each part of your ceremony is sure to be well-appointed.

Bridebook.co.uk Paperless Post Online Wedding Invitations

Are you in love with Paperless Post’s incredible online and printed invitations as we are? Check out their whole collection of tools and exquisitely designed stationery online today!

 

Happy Planning!

9 Romantic Honeymoon Destinations

Time to plan the most romantic holiday of your life! The Luxury Travel Book share with us their favourite honeymoon destinations.  Feast your eyes below! 

Remember you can receive 10% off your booking by mentioning Bridebook.  

 

 

Paris

Quai d’Orléans 2, Ile St Louis

This stunning studio apartment is situated in a quiet side street near the Quai d’Orleans, on the Ile St Louis.  With luxurious furnishings, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling French windows, it opens to a balcony which benefits from fabulous views of the Seine, the Left Bank, Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral. 

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Venice

Apartment  San Samuele

Situated in a great central location in San Marco, just off Campo Santo Stefano, this splendid apartment comes with the advantage of a furnished ‘altana’ roof terrace with spectacular views over the rooftops of Venice.  The interiors are of a very high standard and offer the very best of Italian styling, hand-crafted furnishings and luxury fittings.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Cape Town

Camps Bay Penthouse

This ultra-luxurious penthouse spans the top floor of a modern architecturally designed beach house, and situated just across the road from palm-fringed Camps Bay Beach. The property is ideal for romantic couples, with its deck, complete with Jacuzzi and panoramic views of Camps Bay Beach

 

Bridebook.co.uk castle wedding venue

Santorini

Captain’s House, Oia

The village of Oia on Santorini is one of our most romantic honeymoon destinations.  Located right on the westernmost point of Santorini, Oia is justifiably famous for its magnificent sunsets and  its charming pastel coloured houses, perched on the edge of the cliffs, about 150 metres above sea level.  This small Santorini ‘cave’ house has a private cliff-side terrace complete with chromatherapy Jacuzzi tub, set against the backdrop of the Aegean Sea.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Santorini

Oia Ivory, Oia

Another Oia romantic hideaway, perched on the  steep cliffside in a quiet location in Oia town, where the famous caldera views and sunsets can be enjoyed. With typical cave-like whitewashed curves, the property combines the traditional Santorini architecture with the modern comforts, and there is a secluded terrace where guests can relax, looking out over the blue Aegean sea and the volcano.

 

Bridebook.co.uk Santorini 2

Seville

Apartment Alcazar

A stunning apartment in a listed 19th Century building right in the very heart of Seville. Situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir, it a short walk to the main sights, including the Cathedral, the Reales Alcázares (Royal Palace), and the archive of the Indies. There are magnificent views from the apartment’s two terraces.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Lake Como

Villa Lakeside

A beautiful villa situated right on the edge of Lake Como, in the hamlet of Lezzeno.  The villa has a private pool, large garden and wonderful views.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Positano

Punta Reginello

A charming villa located at Punta Reginella in the heart of Positano. A lively neighbourhood by day, full of small restaurants and boutiques, it is very quiet at night due to its location, 60 steps below the road which passes through Positano. The main beach of Positano and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which are the heart of the village, are a just few minutes away on foot.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

Cape Town

Ellerman House One

The height of luxury in Cape Town, tucked away in Bantry Bay with spectacular ocean views, yet close to all the attractions of Cape Town. With its exquisite sea view location, dramatic architectural proportions and minimalist decor, this villa is attached to one of the most exclusive small hotels in the world, offering complete privacy and discreet personal service, including the services of a private chef. Guests also have full use of the spa relaxation area with sensation shower, sauna, steam room and jet pool.

 

Bridebook.co.uk honeymoon destinations

 

Happy Planning! 

Download The UK Wedding Report 2017

The UK Wedding Report 2017 by Bridebook.co.uk and TWIA

Bridebook.co.uk, the free app and website that connects couples with local UK suppliers, are thrilled to bring you the most comprehensive study on UK weddings:  The UK Wedding Report 2017! 

Together with The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA), Bridebook.co.uk have examined the behaviours and spending habits of nearly 4,000 recently married couples in the UK.  We’ve uncovered trends, statistics and average costs based on the real-life answers of UK newlyweds. 

 

Click here to download the free UK Wedding Report 2017

 

Use these learnings to influence your business’s marketing strategy, inform decision-making and ensure your prices are competitive to help you book more weddings in 2017-2018.  

 

Get the most from the report and increase your wedding bookings with Bridebook.co.uk

Haven’t claimed your FREE Bridebook.co.uk profile yet? Visit Bridebook Business to get started!

There are 15,000 registered UK venues and suppliers with free profiles in the Bridebook.co.uk directory. By claiming/creating your free Bridebook.co.uk Business account, and adding all the information you love about your business (inc. photos, details, links to your social media, reviews and more), you are instantly searchable and accessible to our community of 40,000 couples (Top tip: the more information you add, the higher you will appear on search and the more couples will find you).

Once your profile is complete, couples are able to view your business profile and contact you, sending all relevant lead information directly to your inbox – saving you time, and making sure that enquiries received are relevant to you and your business.

 

How do couples find you on Bridebook.co.uk?

1 in 7 UK couples visit Bridebook.co.uk (and our newly launched iOS app) to plan their weddings with state-of-the-art free personalised wedding planning tools such as Checklist, Budgeter, Guestlist Manager and Advice which keep them on track from day 1 to wedding day.  Couples visit Bridebook.co.uk week after week to follow their checklist tasks and search the supplier directory (the largest in the UK) for local providers every step of the way.  Couples can filter their searches by location, style and specific offerings they want so they’re connected suppliers that best fit their needs.

 

Any questions?

For any questions about your free wedding business profile on Bridebook.co.uk, email our friendly supplier success team at [email protected] who always want to hear from you.  We look forward to helping make 2017-2018 a fantastic year for your wedding business!

 

2017 Celebrity Engagement Predictions

Alright, confession time. There are some of us who may or may not be just a little bit intrigued by celebrity couples. We just can’t help ourselves! So if you’re as guilty of this as some of the Bridebook.co.uk team are, this piece is perfect for you… our top list of duos we’re putting our money on getting engaged in 2017!

And though we may be just a little biased, we’re also convinced they’ll all be planning their weddings on Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s free online wedding planner and app. Because all the smart couples do…

 

Cheryl Cole & Liam Payne

 

Bridebook.co.uk cheryl and liam
Photo by Getty Images

With a baby on the way any time soon, this X Factor couple are sure to take things to the next level. Payne is rumoured to have already bought a ring for Cheryl, so it’s only a matter of time before we find the One Direction singer down on one knee.

 

Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton

 

Bridebook.co.uk castle wedding venue
Photo from Inquistir

Rumours have surrounded this duo for a while regarding an engagement when Stefani showed off some bling on her left hand last year (supposedly hinting to Shelton about marriage). It seems to have worked, as Blake has been seen jewellery shopping recently – only time will tell!

 

Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx

 

Bridebook.co.uk katie holmes and jamie foxx
Photo by Getty Images

Having reportedly been secretly dating since 2013 and recently celebrated New Year together in Miami, things are looking serious for Holmes and Foxx. The couple seem like they have a lot in common, both with daughters from previous relationships, so we reckon it won’t be long before it looks like they’ll tie the knot.

 

Jim Parsons & Todd Spiewak

 

Bridebook.co.uk celebrity couples
Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Film Magic

November marked the 14th anniversary between the Big Bang Theory star and his partner Todd Spiewak. Parsons continually denies engagement rumours, however Spiewak is said to have wanted to marry for a long time – and with encouragement from Ellen Degeneres during an interview with Parsons, we have high hopes for this pair!

 

Prince Harry & Megan Markle

 

Bridebook.co.uk celebrity weddings
Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage

Has the prince finally found his princess? We think so – and it’s in the form of Suits star Megan Markle. They reportedly spent their first Valentine’s Day together this month, hiding away at Kensington Palace. We just want to know when he’ll follow in the footsteps of his brother, and when to expect another royal wedding!

 

Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom

Bridebook.co.uk castle wedding venue
Photo from Inquistr

Having both moved on from previous marriages, we’re predicting great things for this pair. They’ve been linked since January 2016 and have even sported rather epic couple’s costumes at Hallowe’en, dressing devotedly as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. They can commit to dressing up, but can they commit to each other? We think marriage is on the cards at some point.

 

Adele & Simon Konecki

Bridebook.co.uk celebrity wedding
Photo by Getty Images

We all know Adele is great at writing break-up material, but it’s her love songs that hint at a potential engagement – after all, her and boyfriend Simon Konecki have been together for 5 years. They’ve had a son and are now talking about having more children, so are her love songs telling their story? We don’t think it will be long before the singer can expect a proposal.

 

Happy Planning!

 

7 Steps To The Perfect Groom’s Outfit

Depending on where you are in the world, what the groom wears at his wedding varies. But in this article, we’re going to take a look at one of the most popular options: the suit.

Now, you might think a suit’s a suit, right? Wrong! Black tie is different to white tie, and then there are lounge suits and morning suits too. And once you’ve worked that out, there’s cuffs, collars and lapels to pin down…

But the suit is just one component of the perfect groom’s ensemble. So let’s talk how to build your perfect outfit.

1. Do Your Research

As always, start off with some research. Head to Pinterest or Instagram to find out what you like – as well as what you don’t! And remember to spend some time looking at shoes, accessories and grooming too.

2. Start With The Suit

Now for the fun part! Pick out a few options for suits and see how you feel in each of them. Do you feel good? Are you comfortable? How will it look with your partner’s choice of outfit? Once you’ve found your perfect match, make it official, whether that’s buying or booking in hire dates.

3. The Perfect Fit

To make sure you have the perfect fit, you may want to have your suit altered (although bear in mind that if you’re renting your suit, you won’t have this option). While your retailer may offer this service, you may also need to find an independent tailor. Either way, make sure to organise tailoring ASAP so that there’s plenty of time to make all the necessary adjustments before your big day.

4. Find Your Dancing Shoes

Now your suit’s sorted, look back at that Pinterest board we made in step one. What sort of shoes do you like? Pick out a few options and try them on with your suit to make sure they work together. Try not to go for style over substance – comfort is key! Remember that you’ll spend most of your wedding day on your feet – and there’ll probably be drinking and dancing too, so make sure you’ve got a good grip on the soles.

5. Add Accessories

Now it’s time for the finishing touches: your cufflinks, pocket square, tie or cravat, a top hat, decorative silk scarf… The options are endless! Our advice is to keep it simple with just two or three key accessories. And don’t forget about your socks!

6. Put It All Together

Okay, you’ve got the suit, sorted the shoes and assembled your accessories… We’re nearly there. Now to put it all together. How does it look? Is there anything you’re not happy with? (Did you remember the socks?) If not, now might be the time to go back to the tailor for further alterations – so make sure you’ve left plenty of time to turn that around.

7. Wear Your Shoes In

Whatever you do, don’t skip this step! Wear your shoes around your house at least three or four times in the weeks leading up to your wedding to break them in before your big day. No one wants to spend the happiest day of their life battling blisters…

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Jimmy Choo – Author Bio

Jimmy Choo is a fashion house that specialises in luxurious shoes, accessories, handbags and fragrances.

Jimmy Choo are very well known in the fashion industry, and are regarded as experts in luxury shoes and shoe designs.

Jimmy Choo has achieved many awards for the products including the:

  • British Fashion Council Awards Designer Brand category in 2008
  • Accessories Council Brand of the Year award in 2008
  • Footwear News Brand of the Year award
  • Nordstrom Partners in Excellence award in 2009

Given their expertise in the fashion industry, Jimmy Choo wrote the ‘Jimmy Choo’s Guide to the Wonderful World of Wedding Shoes‘ on Bridebook, providing their expertise and advice on wedding shoes.

View Jimmy Choo’s full Bridebook profile.

How to Choose Your Wedding Cake

Ever stood in a cafe, looking at all the cakes on offer, struggling to choose? We feel you – but we bet it doesn’t even come close to what you’re feeling right now. After all, this isn’t just any cake – it’s your wedding cake. Whether it’s the role it plays in your photographs, the ritual of cutting the first slice together or just how delicious it tastes… Your cake is a key part of your day. So here’s seven steps to choosing the right one.

1. Decide Your Must-Haves

Start off with a few key questions. Do you or any of your guests have specific dietary requirements to consider? Is there a flavour of cake you absolutely love… or absolutely hate? And how many guests are you expecting to serve?

2. Pick A Style

With the practicalities out the way, it’s onto the fun stuff. What do you want your cake to look like? Make a Pinterest board or an Instagram Collection and start scrolling. Think about your wedding theme and what might fit in well with that. If you’ve picked out specific wedding colours, could you tie these in? There’s a whole world of wedding cakes out there – so get inspired!

3. Find A Cakemaker

By this point, you should know what you’re looking for. Open up your Bridebook app and hop on over to the Supplier Search, where you can select “Cakemakers” from the dropdown menu. Scroll through the fabulous cakemakers in your location and add any which catch your eye to your Favourites. Next, get in touch! If you contact them via Bridebook, we’ll supply them with the key information about your wedding and all you’ll need to add is that list of requirements you made in step one.

4. Narrow It Down

Fantastic – the responses are flooding in! Once you’ve found a cakemaker you love who’s free on your wedding date, it’s time to talk budget. Can they do what you want for the amount you have to spend? If not, do they offer a cheaper option you’d also be interested in? Shop around until you’ve found two or three who are just right.

5. Eat Some Cake!

If you’re happy with the price, now it’s time for the fun part – tasting! Whether you’re going with traditional fruitcake or more contemporary options like vanilla and chocolate, make sure to try a few different options before you make your final decision.

6. Book It In

Even if you confirmed in person, make sure to get everything in writing as well. You’ll want to pin down all the cake details (number of tiers, flavour, etc.) and the cost, as well as practicalities like when the cake will be delivered.

7. Get Prepared

Contact your wedding venue and let them know all the key details too. Check whether someone from the venue will be available to collect the cake when it arrives and that they have somewhere to store it. You’ll also want to chat with your caterers so they know everything they need to be able to serve your cake correctly. They’ll most likely need to know:

  • Where the cake is being stored
  • Where and when you’d like it served
  • How you’d like it served
  • How many portions you’d like to cut
  • Any flavour information (eg. if there are different tiers)

And that’s your perfect wedding cake sorted! So what are you waiting for? Get inspired then head over to Bridebook’s Supplier Search to find the cakemaker of your dreams.

Results are in from the Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Report 2017

We analysed survey results from nearly 4,000 couples across the UK and found that the average total wedding costs have reached a new high of £26,989.  However, whilst supplier costs are increasing, today’s couples are continually finding new and different ways to save on their weddings.

This year, we’re seeing fewer couples going to the chapel as more couples are holding their ceremony at their venue…which is likely to be a Country/Manor House, the most popular venue type.  When choosing a venue, couples are swayed by stunning views/grounds and friendly staff.  Venue managers, take note – couples want beautiful backdrops for their photos!

Venue and catering top the list for supplier costs at £5,819 and £4,747 respectively.  With wedding dress, photographer, videography and rings costing upwards of £1,000 each, the wedding budget can max out quickly.  But does the average UK couple actually pay this much?  The answer is…a reassuring “No!” (You can breath a sigh of relief now.)

 From hiring lower-cost DJs to  homemade cake, couples are finding ways to save in all aspects of their wedding.  Interestingly, almost half of couples are booking weddings on a weekday other than Saturday which can lead to significant price reductions from various wedding day suppliers.  

Considering these savings, today’s couple spends an average of £16,842. Want to save even more? Consider getting married in Scotland where the average wedding spend is only £13,683…and avoid expensive London where average wedding spend is £25,450, almost ten grand higher than the national average.

When it comes to wedding planning, mum’s opinion actually counts.  While couples enjoy reading reviews (7.6 for each supplier) they lean on mum for her support with 42% couples reporting their mum to be heavily involved in planning.  Awwww.  (Or Yikes!) They also enjoy visiting wedding fairs, with more than half of couples attending fairs near their homes.  

Couples identify the most difficult aspects of wedding planning as managing the guest list, managing the budget and knowing what to do next.  Bridebook.co.uk to the rescue!  With Bridebook.co.uk’s free Supplier Directory, Guestlist, Budget and Checklist tools, and the newly released iOS app, next year’s couples should find wedding planning a breeze.

 

For more detail of this year’s wedding trends and spending habits, view or download the the complete slideshow report.

Happy Planning!

How To Choose Your Wedding Dress

Deciding what to wear is hard enough – but deciding what to wear to your wedding? Now that’s a big decision. And while some of you will have been dreaming of your perfect wedding dress for years, we bet there are at least a few of you out there who have literally no idea where to start. So here’s three steps to choosing your dream dress.

1. Think About Your Theme

One thing that will help you with every decision you make throughout your wedding planning is picking a theme. Remember, your theme can be as simple as picking out a few favourite colours to unify your wedding’s aesthetic. But even if you don’t pick a theme, let’s talk vibe. Casual or formal? Indoor or outdoor? Summer or winter? This will help narrow your options when it comes to dresses and then it’s time to head to Pinterest. Just type in your theme or vibe along with the words “wedding dress” and see what comes up.

2. What Makes You Feel Good?

You’ll probably read a ton of articles telling you to pick a dress that suits your body shape – but in our opinion, none of that matters. You’re not an apple or a pear! You’re a person – so what makes you feel good? What do you love? Of course, if there’s something you particularly love about your body, go ahead and highlight it – but don’t feel like you have to wear what someone on the internet says is the most flattering.

3. Do You Love It?

At the end of the day, this is all that really counts. If you’re hosting a casual celebration but you want to wear a ballgown, go for it! And if you try on every dress under the sun but realise, you know what, you’re just not a dress person – well, dare to be different! Why not go for a trouser suit or jumpsuit instead? Don’t worry about what tradition says you should do – find what feels most you.

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A Guide To Choosing Wedding Jewellery

After weeks of scouring wedding dress shops and hours of fitting room dramas, we know that ‘the dress’ is important. But choosing your wedding jewellery is just as crucial to give you the perfect look as you walk down the aisle. So before you start your search, be sure to consider these steps first, all from our expert insight here at Bridebook.co.uk

Bridebook.co.uk wedding jewellery

Complement Your Dress

First off, the colour of your jewellery needs to stay in theme with your dress. If you’ve gone for an ivory or champagne shade of gown, gold metal will really set off this style and make you glow. If you’ve chosen a bright white gown, platinum or silver jewellery will enhance your look – or try rose gold metal to complement a dress with soft pink or blush tones.

Find a Skin Match

The same goes for jewellery working with your skin colour. If you are dark-skinned or have an olive complexion, try and find a lighter hue of jewellery that will stand out, perhaps a silver metal. On the other hand, a pale colouring can be complemented by tones of warm golds – but remember to adjust this if you’re planning on getting a tan for your big day! Whilst we are on the topic of skin tones have a read of our article: Nu Bride’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Make-Up Artist for Your Skin Tone.

Hair Accessories

Remember what you’re putting in your hair before you choose what jewellery you’re going to wear on your big day. Think about whether you’re going to sport the veil look, a glitzy tiara, or just using a simple accessory to finish off your hair style. When jewellery shopping, take your hair items with you so you can match metals if need be.

Be Comfortable

On your wedding day, you still need to do ‘you’. So if you don’t normally wear extravagant necklaces and heavy earrings, why do it on the best day of your life? You need to feel confident and comfortable in what you’re wearing, so let it emulate your personality and be yourself!

Happy Planning ! 

Browse other similar articles: 

Wedding Prices: Rings 

Saving Tips: Wedding Accessories 

Introduction: Your Wedding Accessories

Q&A With Royal Favourite Jewellery Designer Kiki McDonough

6 Tips For Starting Your Guest List

Wedding guests raising a toast seated at the wedding table

Oh, the dreaded wedding guest list… Between long lost cousins three times removed and that actually kind of annoying friend you haven’t spoken to in months, even thinking about who to invite can be daunting.

Luckily for you, Bridebook has one of the simplest and most advanced Guest List Tools in the world – and it’s free! As soon as you’ve read these top tips, it’s time to get stuck in. Stressful guest list planning will be a thing of the past.

1. Keep an Eye on Your Budget

You might want everyone and their uncle to be invited to the celebration of the century (and we’re sure they’d want to come!), but you’ve got to think about your wedding budget. How many people can you actually afford? Remember, more guests means finding more space, more food, more favours… and more money. Stick to your budget. It’s as simple as this: if you know you can only afford to invite 100 people… Only invite 100 people!

2. Consider Your Wedding Location

When you choose where to get married, give some thought to your guest list. If your venue is located somewhere closer to home, then it’s more likely more people will be able to attend. If you’re thinking about getting married on the other side of the country (or in a different country altogether!), you’ll need to rethink who it’s realistic to expect at your big day. Will guests be able to afford to travel that far? Can they take the time off work? Will elderly family members still be able to make it? If you haven’t chosen your venue yet, this might be a factor in your decision. If you’re already set on a particular place, have a think about who will actually be able to make it before you invite the masses and potentially get let down.

3. Think About Capacity

After your budget, this is the next big one. At the end of the day, how many people will actually fit in your venue is a pretty hard and fast cap on the size of your guest list. If you’re still looking for your venue, you can use the filters on our Venue Search Tool to find venues that can house the capacity you want. When you visit potential venues and look round the space, double check what they say the capacity is – then reduce it. Remember, you won’t just have guests at your wedding. If the venue says you can fit up to 200 people in one space, consider what else you’ll require there. You might want space for a band, dining tables, etc. Take that into account when inviting guests. It’s all about finding a balance between a jam-packed crowd that can barely move and a half-empty venue that feels too big for a small number of guests.

4. Kids or No Kids?

It’s pretty likely that at least one of your friends or relatives will have children, so think carefully about whether you want to invite them or not. It’s absolutely fine if you don’t, but you do need to remember to politely mention it to the parents well in advance. It’s nothing to be nervous about – and they might even welcome the chance to have a proper night out! On the other hand, if you decide to have a child-friendly wedding, it does mean some extra work. Make sure to work out where children will sit (eg. do you want a kids’ table?) and whether there’ll be a separate kids’ menu. It’s always worth thinking about how you can keep them occupied throughout the day too. Keep them entertained and all will be well!

5. Make a Decision on Plus Ones

Oh, plus ones… The cause of endless headaches. After all, it’s obvious that if a close relative is part of the wedding party, their significant other will be welcome at the wedding. But what about that friend with a new partner you haven’t even met yet? When it comes to plus ones, our best advice is to decide your position and stick to it. For example, if a couple has been dating for over a year, the plus one is invited. No ifs, no buts, no exceptions – otherwise, you risk ending up in sticky situations when people realise they’ve been treated differently.

6. Assume Everyone Will Attend

We know, we know – the temptation to over-invite is real. But this isn’t a house party! There’s nothing worse than having too many people on your guest list and having to uninvite someone. By assuming everyone invited will attend, you leave it open for them to decide. You might not expect them to be able to attend (or they might never RSVP!) but they may actually be able to make it. If you’re still worried about numbers, why not create a backup guest list and order a separate set of invitations with a later RSVP date to send out if your numbers unexpectedly drop?

There you have it – our top tips for getting started with your guest list. Remember to head over to our Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels for more tips, tricks and wedding inspiration. But for now, it’s time to sit down with your partner, figure out who to invite and start adding them to your Bridebook…

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How To Choose A Wedding Florist

So it’s time to find your wedding florist. Now, we don’t know about you – but outside of wedding planning, we’d say most people’s experience with flowers is limited to buying the odd bouquet from the supermarket or flower shop. So with everything posies to pergolas to consider, how should you choose your wedding florist?

1. Find Out What You Like

It’s the first step to choosing any element of your wedding: create a Pinterest board or a Collection on Instagram and start saving images. Don’t think about it too much – just scroll and save.

2. Take Some Time To Reflect

Okay, so how’s it looking? Are there any common themes you can pick out? You might be gravitating towards pastels and delicate posies. On the other hand, you might realise you love big, bold blooms and extravagant floral installations.

3. Search Suppliers

Now we know what we’re looking for. Head to Bridebook’s Supplier Search, pick “Florists” from the drop-down menu, pop in your wedding location and hit “search”! Here are all the fab florists in your area. Click through to check out any that catch your eye then tap the heart in the corner to save them to your Favourites if you like what you see.

4. Contact Your Favourites

Don’t worry – no spreadsheets or emails necessary! All you need to do is hit the “request a brochure” button on your potential florist’s profile. If you’ve filled out your wedding details, we’ll send all this information straight to them automatically – so there’s no need to waste time writing out your wedding date, location and so on again and again.

5. Wait For Responses

Cross your fingers and wait for them to get back to you! In the meantime, why not start shopping around for other suppliers…

6. Have A Chat

Whatever element of your wedding your choosing, we always say to wait for “the feeling” – and you’ll know when it happens! Take some time to chat with your potential florists, reflect on how they communicate with you and the ideas they’ve come up with. You’ll almost certainly have a standout – and then it’s time to book them in!

And there you have it: six steps to finding your perfect wedding florist. That was easy!

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Priority To-Do’s Once You’re Engaged

Getting engaged can be an overwhelming feeling, and rightly so. You’re about to embark on the journey of a lifetime (let alone all the planning!). So to help you stay on track and stress free, Bridebook.co.uk, home of the UK’s #1 Wedding Planning App, is imparting our wedding planning insights to you to help you set off on the right foot. 

 

Announce Your Engagement (of course)

Call your close family and friends, or gather them together to tell them the big news. You may want to host an engagement party, but just remember to tell the most important people first before they hear it from someone else! Have a look at some more creative ideas here: 6 Ways To Announce Your Engagement

 

Bridebook.co.uk announce engagement

 

Insure Your Engagement Ring

Believe it or not, insuring the ring is rarely thought about after an engagement with all the excitement of the proposal. It will be your most prized possession and is likely to be worth a lot, so take care of it and get it insured! Also remember to get it properly sized – you really don’t want to lose it!

 

Set a Potential Date

One of the most commonly asked questions people will ask you once you’re engaged is ‘When’s the wedding then?’ Talk to your new fiance about what season you’d like to get married in and work out how long it will take you to plan the wedding to decide what month and year your prospective date will be.

 

Location, Location, Location

You will need to pick where you’d like your big day to take place. Would you like it near your hometown, or will you choose a destination holiday? It is important to decide this now as lots of things will change depending on where you host your wedding. Luckily for you, Bridebook has the UK’s largest wedding venue and supplier directory so finding your perfect venue has never been easier.  

 

Budget

Decide on a budget early on so you and your husband-to-be can work within it the whole time. Use Bridebook’s free wedding budget calculator to get a personalised break down of how much you should be spending on what, all depending on your overall goal budget. There is room for compromise though, so if you spend less money on one area, you could assign the spare cash to indulge on something else!

Bridebook.co.uk budget

 

Start Daydreaming!

The fun part is dreaming up all the ideas of your perfect day. Have some fun with it, collect all your ideas so you can remember them, and you could even create a wedding blog to share your visions with others!

 

Book Your Priorities

The wedding venue is likely to be the first thing you book, but don’t forget about that band that you fell in love with and have to have play on your special day. Lots of wedding vendors are booked up well in advance, sometimes a couple of years ahead, so if there’s one or two things you know you can’t be without on the day, book them now! And no matter what you’re looking for, don’t forget to check out Bridebook’s easily searchable wedding supplier directory.

 

Keep Your Wedding Planning Simple

To reduce the stress of planning your day, try to be organised and enlist the help of your friends and family if need be. The easiest way of preparing is to use Bridebook.co.uk, our free wedding planning site that allows you to keep everything (vendors, budget, guestlist) in one place and personal to you. You can then focus on enjoying your engagement and dreaming up your special day!

 

Happy Planning!