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.
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 aCountry/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.
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.
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
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!
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…
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.
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!
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
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!
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!
We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce the Winners and Highly Commended suppliers of the Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2017!
With so many incredible and talented suppliers across our Bridebook family, picking the final winners was difficult to say the least. So we’d like to extend our sincerest warm wishes and thanks for all of those who participated – the wedding industry wouldn’t be where it is today without you!
Now, without further ado – the 2017 winners! Huge congratulations to all! (And if you’re an engaged couple, there’s no better place to start your wedding supplier search than with this fabulous list of award winners!)
Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended! If you’re an engaged couple, there truly is no better place to start than with this fabulous list of Bridebook suppliers. Be sure to check out their profiles to book these award winners for your own wedding!
We won’t lie to you – choosing your wedding party can be a daunting task. How do you pick the right people – the people you actually want to pick – without offending others who thought they’d make the cut? You don’t want to end up with twenty bridesmaids, half of whom you don’t even know or like… But you also don’t want to insult your guests. We’re in tricky terrain – and navigating it requires the utmost tact and consideration. So let’s make it a little simpler for you. Here’s our guide to how to choose your wedding party – and how to let others down gently.
Put Yourself First!
The first thing to do is remember that your wedding day is about you and your fiancé – not your wedding party! Of course, you should want to keep your guests happy – but ultimately, who’s in your wedding party is up to you. Your wedding day only happens once, so you don’t want to regret having not chosen the people you really wanted. Make sure you and your partner are both happy with your choices as your wedding day is a memory you’ll cherish forever.
So our first piece of advice is to never choose someone for your wedding party purely out of obligation. At the same time, don’t be too harsh. Ruthlessly cutting people out is a sure way to lose friends, so give your decision the care and attention they deserve.
Family or Friends?
The next big decision is choosing between your family and your friends. It’s entirely possible that you’re closer to many of your friends than to your siblings – so you might find yourself wanting to fill your wedding party with friends rather than family. That’s absolutely fine! There’s no “right answer” to this question and the choice is completely up to you.
Our advice would be to do what feels right. It’s totally acceptable to only ask your friends – and many people do! But even if you’re not super close to your family, involving them can make your wedding day even more special. It also prevents you regretting not having asked them later down the line – especially if you’re not asking your sister right now because you had a minor tiff last Tuesday! For many people, their wedding is a celebration of two families coming together and of a new family being formed, so keeping the focus on family may well feel very natural.
Who Has Your Best Interests at Heart?
It’s super important to choose people who will truly be sharing your happiness on your wedding day. They should be happy you’re getting married, with no objections to your choice of fiancé. They also shouldn’t be jealous of you or have any negativity towards your big day in any way.
Now, it’s unfortunate but true that there are some people out there who might have these negative thoughts about your wedding. In some cases, you might still feel it’s important to have them in your wedding party. That’s okay! Just ask them with your best intentions and be led by what feels right to you throughout. Our advice here is just that – advice, not hard-and-fast instructions! When it comes to choosing your wedding party, the most important thing of all is this: follow your heart.
Even if you’re unable to choose the “perfect” wedding party, don’t worry about it too much or let it stress you out. We promise your wedding party isn’t what makes your wedding day the best day of your life – it’s just another ingredient in the recipe! Remember, no one bakes because they love the ingredients… They bake because they love the cake! You’re getting married to the love of your life – that’s what’s really important.
How to Let People Down Gently
Inevitably, there will be some people who expected to be part of your wedding party that won’t make the cut – and that means some potentially awkward conversations. Telling someone they didn’t make it into the final line up is never fun. If you do need to have those conversations, here’s a few tips on how to let them down gently:
Remind them that you could only choose a small number of people. That meant making difficult decisions.
Have your reasons ready for why you chose somebody else before them. You might have known them longer, gone through something important together, and so on. That said, while this can be appropriate or even necessary, our advice is to avoid giving reasons if at all possible.
The easiest way to soften the blow is to invite them to be involved in your wedding in another way. They might not be at the top table with you and your new spouse but you can still make them feel appreciated. Consider seating them at table one or inviting them to your dress fitting with you.
Be nice! This a situation that demands care and consideration – and a little kindness goes a long way.
At the end of the day, the number one thing to remember is that your wedding day is about you. At the same time, your wedding party isn’t the be-all and end-all of the day so the people in it don’t necessarily need to be your first choices. It’s about finding a balance between making yourself happy and not offending your friends and family. So the best advice we can give? Go with your heart.
As the whole world eagerly awaits the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Bridebook.co.uk, the number one wedding planning app in the UK, has compiled the Royal Wedding by numbers. With millennials already reinventing the way they plan their wedding, millennial royal couple Meghan and Harry will be throwing a celebration unlike any other.
The party of over 4,000 guests will be treated to 28,000 canapés and billions of champagne bubbles, but they won’t be the only ones celebrating the wedding. Thousands of tourists will be travelling to London to see the newlyweds, and thousands more will be partying in their honour. The celebration of the century will require millions of flower petals, miles and miles of bunting, and enough cucumber sandwiches to feed the entire British population.
With 3 billion global viewers and an expected £280 million boost to the British economy, this is the Royal Wedding by the numbers!
16,000 glasses of champagne
With 4,040 guests, each expected to have at least 4 glasses of champagne throughout the day and evening, that will be at least 16,000 glasses filled with 250 billion bubbles!
8 million flower petals to make 1 million handfuls of confetti
There will be 1 million handfuls of confetti in Windsor on the big day, eagerly awaiting to throw 8 million flower petals in the air to celebrate the newlyweds.
3 million kettles boiling after the service
The National Grid will see a staggeringly high demand for power following the wedding service, as the Brits go straight for the kettle for a relaxing cup of tea. 3 million kettles are expected to be boiled to celebrate the newlywed couple!
Meghan is getting 42% more search traffic than Brexit
Meghan Markle is currently getting 12 times more search traffic than British Prime Minister Theresa May, and on peak days has received 42% more searches than “Brexit”… and 32% more than “Jesus”.
£90,000 for trumpets
20 silver-plated fanfare trumpets stamped with the Royal Coat of Arms have already been requested, and they each come between £3,000 and £6,000 a piece/toot! That will be £90,000 for trumpets!
500,000 people at Windsor
500,000 people are expected to visit Windsor for the Royal Wedding. They will get to witness the most Disney moment of the day: the Royal Carriage procession!
£26,000 for sausage rolls
With 2,600 members of the public attending the wedding, we are hoping they each get a cup of tea and a sausage roll while they cheer on the happy couple.
200,000 flowers and 60 florists
With a budget of £110,000 on flowers, from larger stems to buttonholes and delicate bouquets, more than 200,000 flowers will be styled by around 60 florists across all three venues for the big day.
A banquet hall 10 times the size of the average British home
At 5381 square feet, the size of St George’s Hall will ensure no guests are stepping on each other’s toes during the reception. The hall is 10 times the size of the average British home!
28,000 canapés
28,000 canapés will be needed to keep the Royal Wedding guests happy throughout the day and evening events.
£35,000 for luxury toilets
If this wedding lives up to Pippa Middleton’s, there will be luxury mobile toilets for the guests at the 3 different events. With a guest list this big, it comes down to at least 40 super luxury mobile units with a likely price tag of £35,000.
1,000 waiters and staff for the day
Alongside the 500 people team who work at Windsor Castle on a daily basis, another additional 500 are likely to be on duty on the day. From waiters to chefs to porters to florists, a Royal army will be ensuring the day runs like clockwork. Plus the 5,000 police which will be on duty.
28,000 wedding photos
Although most won’t be revealed, Meghan and Harry’s wedding photographer, and the team to support him will make their flashes go off at least 28,000 times throughout the day and evening!
16,000 engaged couples signing up to British wedding planning app Bridebook
Since US media claimed Harry and Meghan have been using UK wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk under a secret account, more than 16,000 couples have signed up to plan their wedding on the app!
3 Royal stag do’s
Harry has been rumoured to have enjoyed 3 stag do’s (bachelor parties) with different groups of friends. Including a skiing trip, a classic Scotland stag-do with his closest mates, and to celebrity hotspot Hedsor House, near Windsor.
52,750 British pubs with extended opening hours
Pubs all over the UK will extend their curfew to 1 AM for the Royal Wedding celebrations! That’s two more hours of toasting to Harry and Meghan, and an extra 10.5 million each drink served!
8,000 street parties in the UK
After 5,500 street parties were thrown for William and Kate on a Thursday in April, there are expected to be a lot more for Harry and Meghan. Councils will be busy managing the requests to allow over 8,000 street parties all over the UK.
London is where the most street parties will be planned
London is the council with the most street party requests, with over 900 submissions.
More than 100 million drinks in celebration in the UK
With at least 24 million people expected to watch the Royal Wedding in the UK, plus the FA Cup Final and extended pub opening hours, the whole of the UK is going to be toasting Harry and Meghan!
1.4 million cucumber sandwiches (and other fillings) at UK street parties
Start cutting off those crusts, as the UK public will likely munch through over 1.4 million sandwiches at their street parties alone! M&S are already stocking up.
330 miles of bunting
With 8,000 street parties along with endless garden parties, there will be a British bunting bonanza, stretching 330 miles of bunting across the UK. (In 2011, Tesco alone sold 120 miles of bunting for William and Kate’s wedding).
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons, are expected as a result of royal wedding street parties and family get-togethers which will happen all over the UK.
8,500 journalists
8,500 journalists were in London alone to cover William and Kate’s big day, and the same number will be back to cover the momentous occasion of Harry and Meghan.
5,000 police on duty
From grenadier guards to armed police to snipers and undercover officers, 5,000 officers are expected to be on duty on the day to keep everyone safe.
£100,000 to rent a view
American tourists are hiring out homes that overlook the Royal Wedding route for six-figure values so that they can get the perfect view.
£268 million boost to the British economy
After 350,000 tourists came to the UK for William and Kate’s wedding, we are now expecting 450,000 flying over to see the beloved Meghan get married to Prince Harry. The average national spend of a tourist in the UK is £596 per visit, that is a tidy quarter of a billion boost to the British economy.
From lifestyle blogs about Meghan’s wedding dress to online betting sites predicting the odds of rain on May 19th – there are already over 3.3 million pages online about the Royal Wedding!
The hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times
Since their engagement was announced, the hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Twitter takes the cake with the most discussions, with an average of 1,200 tweets using the hashtag every day.
460 Royal Wedding dedicated Instagram hashtags
Instagram has over 460 Royal Wedding hashtags. However, not everyone has the #RoyalWeddingFever, with some couples tagging their photos as #HarryandMeghanStoleMyDate.
3 billion global viewers
After more than 2 billion people watched William and Kate’s wedding, and the global rise of the smartphone and social media since then, more than 3 billion people are expected to watch this Royal Wedding, which is expected to be the most viewed event in history.
1.5 billion tissues to mop up global teary eyes
With a total audience of 3 billion viewers, and half expected to shed a tear, that is a distance of tissue almost enough to get you to the moon! 300,000 kilometres of tissue to be precise, or a mere 7.5 times around the Earth.
Half a million bets on the wedding
The Royal Wedding is going to be one of the most significant non-sporting events of 2018 for betting sites. With over half a million bets expected on the Royal Wedding.
17 leading dress designers
More than 17 dress designers are in the running for designing Meghan’s dress, with leading odds on Ralph and Russo, Erdem, and British bridal-designer Philippa Lepley!
More than 5,000 baby Meghans to be born next year
If the name Meghan is as predicted expected to become the top baby name of 2018, we can expect more than five thousand baby Meghan’s to be born in the next year in the UK, knocking “Olivia” off the top spot.
£1 million in donations
Continuing the tradition started by Kate and William, Meghan and Harry have asked guests to donate to their chosen charities. If they are as successful at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the newlyweds should get at least £1 million in donations.
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We calculated the above numbers following an analysis of over 170,000 weddings via Bridebook.co.uk‘s wedding planning tools and budget calculator, and a review of more than 70,000 wedding industry suppliers listed on Bridebook.co.uk’s wedding venue and supplier directory. Over 100,000 UK couples are using Bridebook.co.uk to plan their wedding, and therefore we have an unparalleled understanding of the wedding planning process, as well as relationships with brides and grooms and wedding industry suppliers across the country.
For further information, please contact Harriet Hunt Communications: [email protected] T: 0208 871 2246 M: 07886 96908
Hamish Shephard, the founder of Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, says:
“Meghan’s dress will undoubtedly be the most well-kept secret leading up the Royal Wedding. Once Meghan’s dress is revealed it will inspire brides for generations to come!”
“People from the UK and all over the world are eager to witness what will be the most iconic Royal Wedding of the century. Half a million members of the public will be in the streets of Windsor to celebrate and greet the newlyweds.”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding is expected to be the largest social media event of all time. With “Meghan Markle” already getting more search traffic in the UK than “Brexit”, global interest is going to be stratospheric.”
“It’s no secret that British people love to party, and this is the Royal Wedding is the perfect occasion to bring out the barbeques and throw roaring neighbourhood parties!”
“With 8,000 street parties planned all over the UK, the amount of bunting alone will be enough to cover 330 miles!”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding will be more spectacular and iconic than any Royal Wedding we have ever seen. The millennial couple are already defying and giving way to new Royal Family traditions!”
Notes To Editor:
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, currently being used by 1 in 3 UK couples to help plan their wedding.
Launched in 2016, Bridebook.co.uk‘s leading wedding planning toolkit, with fully personalised Wedding Checklist, Wedding Budgeter and Wedding Guestlist Manager, gives engaged couples the power to plan their entire wedding from any device, anywhere, anytime, all in one place, for free. With over 70,000 wedding venues and suppliers in its directory, Bridebook.co.uk stretches the digital presence of wedding industry professionals and connects them directly with engaged couples. Bridebook.co.uk has also partnered with leading industry experts such as Bobbi Brown, Marry Berry and Jimmy Choo, to provide reliable expert advice and inspiration to couples.
Bridebook.co.uk was founded by Hamish Shephard, an industry professional and recently married groom who used Bridebook.co.uk to plan his own wedding back in 2016. Visit Bridebook.co.uk online and the Bridebook.co.uk App on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s number one free wedding planning app, with over 16,000 registered wedding businesses and more than 100K couples planning their wedding with us.
Are you are an engaged couple looking for your wedding team?
Here at Bridebook we were lucky enough to meet with travel experts, ‘The Luxury Travel Book‘, who gave us an insight in to their top 10 favourite places in the world to get hitched.
Exclusive Bridebook Offer: The Luxury Travel Book are offering a special 10% discount for Bridebook users. Mention Bridebook to claim.
Hidden away in a stunning scenic position on the Caldera at Megalochori, this wonderful villa combines spectacular views with a very special ambience and high level of service. There is an outdoor dining area with barbecue facilities for sumptuous barbecues, prepared by the estate’s executive chef, making this a perfect venue for a wedding venue.
Situated in the south of Mykonos, with sea views stretching to the islands of Paros and Naxos, and between the beaches of Paradise and Paraga, this luxury property to rent comprises two superb attached villas and two swimming pools. The vast outdoor spaces, and the close proximity of a church, also make this property very suitable for weddings.
This stunning luxury villa is a gorgeous historic residence built in 1741, and overlooks the beautiful Positano Bay. Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, is one of Italy’s most romantic destinations. The picturesque town is built vertically on the face of a cliff, making for stunning views of the sea. The town is filled with romantic restaurants offering fantastic seafood and sea views.
The impressive Villa Borgo Bernardini, dates back to before the 1700s, and was originally the hunting lodge retreat of Count Cosimo Bernardini of Lucca. It is situated on a family run estate, ten kilometres south of Lucca, with magnificent views over hill terraced olive groves. Within the Italian gardens (2000m2) with gazebo, there is a large salt water swimming pool (16 x 8m) which is floodlit at night. Indoors, there is a Banquet hall, card and billiard room, and wine tasting room with a private selection of Tuscan wines.
This absolutely stunning villa, sits within its own parkland on the western shore of Lake Como in Italy, directly across from the famous town of Bellagio. One of the legendary properties on Lake Como, it offers excellence at all levels. The infinity overflow pool overlooks the lake and there is a spa and a gym in separate buildings. The spectacular lakeside terrace is perfect for parties.
This exceptional beachside villa, is situated on the Bassin d’Arcachon, just 45 minutes from Bordeaux. Its prestigious location, luxurious accommodation and level of service, together with its beautiful surroundings including expansive gardens and a lap pool, make it ideal for a wedding or other special event.
This new luxury villa, offers not only a stunning location and exceptional accommodation, but also the bespoke services of a 5* hotel! It is situated on a 250-acre estate in the countryside just outside Sant Climent, with breath-taking 180° sea views. Outdoor amenities include a 26-metre outdoor heated pool set in the exquisitely landscaped gardens, as well as a beautiful event space, catering for up to 200 guests.
Puglia is famous for its olive groves, castles and Romanesque cathedrals, Alberobello’s trulli, Lecce’s Baroque churches, Castel del Monte’s eight superb towers and miles of coastline and beaches. In the midst of all this is Masseria Pettolecchia, the jewel of the region’s fortified masserias. With its large outdoor spaces, large pool and high level of service, it is eminently suitable for weddings and other events.
This exceptional villa, over 300 years old, is located in the best area of Ibiza, in the countryside of Cala Jondal. It is just 5 minutes drive from both the famous Blue Marlin Beach and the village of San Josep. Within the beautiful grounds, there is a swimming pool with large furnished terrace, a tennis court, a well equipped gym, sauna and hydromassage Jacuzzi, a massage and yoga space.
Situated near the three main golf courses in the Marrakech area, and just a few minutes away from the city, this wonderful l villa sits in the middle of a splendid Andalusian garden with heated swimming pool. There are wonderful views to the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas Mountains. The property is also highly recommended for special events for 100 – 200 people in total.
Have you fallen in love with the idea of a destination wedding? We don’t blame you! Mention ‘Bridebook’ to receive 10% off when booking through The Luxury Travel Book.
When you picture an “intimate wedding”, you might think of celebrations with under thirty guests or so. And, of course, the shorter the guest list, the easier it is for a wedding to feel intimate – but that doesn’t mean big weddings can’t too! With a bit of forward planning, any wedding can. Read on to find out our top tips for making a big wedding feel intimate and personal.
1. Host A Pre-Wedding Dinner
If you’ve got a long guest list, it’s likely that there are discrete groups within it. So why not host a “get to know you dinner” a few days or weeks before your wedding? It’ll give your guests a chance to mingle and get to know each other in advance.
2. Create Small Spaces
Divide your venue into smaller spaces so your guests never feel lost in the crowd. Floral installations, drapes and decorations can all be used to create alcoves and hideaways where smaller groups can mingle and chat.
3. Let’s Talk Tables
It might sound counterintuitive but consider opting for fewer, long, rectangular tables instead of lots of smaller round ones. It creates a more relaxed atmosphere and people will be able to chat more easily with a wider range of people.
4. Get The Light Right
Soft, subtle lighting creates a cosy atmosphere that instantly makes any location feel more intimate. Think flickering candles and romantic fairylights.
5. Consider Colour
Choosing a wedding theme based around darker colours is an easy way to make a large space feel cosy and intimate.
6. Circle Around
Even if you have a truly astronomical number of guests, arranging them in a circle will make the back row feel much less far back.
7. Make An Effort
Great all your guests personally and make it a priority to speak with as many people as possible over the course of the day. Even if it’s only a few minutes, they’ll appreciate you taking the time to make them feel welcome.
8. Get Personal
If you have a particularly extensive guest list, talking to everyone might not be possible – and that’s when adding personal touches really comes into its own. Consider writing each guest a handwritten note or gifting them a handmade wedding favour. That way, even if you haven’t managed to speak to them, they’ll still know you cared they came.
9. Consider Staffing
If you have plenty of guests, make sure you have plenty of staff to match! If you can’t make it round everybody, you can at least know they’re being attended to and feeling well looked after.
So there you have it: nine ways to make a big wedding feel intimate. Now, with all those guests to look after, why not add them to your Bridebook’s Guest List? Or if you’re still on the hunt for your dream venue, check out our Venue Search Tool to browse the UK’s biggest (and best!) wedding venue directory.
Why not let the groom have his special moment too? Change it up and let your man walk down the aisle first, followed by the bridal party. This will work particularly well with same-sex couples as you can both have your limelight without the other feeling left out.
Meet In The Middle
Get rid of the traditional aisle walk idea and have you and your partner walk from separate sides during the ceremony and meet together at the altar. It will surprise your guests, and what a unique way it will be to start the rest of your life together!
Have Two Aisles
Why only have one aisle in your ceremony? This is the most important day of your life! Be spectacular by creating a bride aisle and a groom aisle. You could also mix up where your guests sit so that the two families can be united as one.
Go Solo
If your family is complicated and you can’t decide on who to walk you down the aisle…do it alone! Not only will it be a statement move to start your wedding, but it will be something everyone talks about for weeks to come!
Take The Trip Together
Why not let your spouse be the one who gets to walk you down the aisle? It will be one of the most precious moments of your lives and something to talk about when the wedding photos come out on your anniversary!
360° Ceremony
Eradicate the tradition altogether and sit your guests in a circular fashion around the action. You and your husband-to-be can walk through the crowd from different sides and meet in the centre, ready for your vows. Not only will it be a memorable experience for all involved, but your guests won’t have to peer above 10 rows of heads to see the newlyweds!
There’s a fine line between looking pasty against your white dress and sporting the fake-baked look on your wedding day. Always try out a tanning salon well in advance of your wedding and know what shade of tan you like. That way, you won’t be looking overly bronze unexpectedly on the eve of your big day!
Skin
See a dermatologist several months before your wedding to find a recommended skincare routine suited to you. If acne is a problem, see your doctor to get your skin on track well in advance and get you glowing again. For a pre-wedding treat, you could also have a soothing facial on the week leading up to your special day to make you look and feel vibrant!
Nails
Get a manicure 1-2 days before your wedding so your nails look perfect in your ring shots! Don’t leave it too late though, otherwise there’ll be no time to rectify mistakes if there’s a problem. Remember that all important pedicure too!
Cut & Colour
Start early with hair appointments as you will want to maintain strength throughout your length! Get your tresses trimmed regularly to stop split-ends and weakened locks, and make sure you share your vision of hair colour with your colourist.
Hair Stylist
The important question – up or down? Again, make an appointment with your stylist well in advance so you can try out a few different options and choose your favourite. Make sure you bring along any accessories that you’re planning to wear in your hair, like a tiara or veil, so your stylist can incorporate it into your finished look.
Teeth
Booking an appointment with your dentist is an essential one. Getting your teeth deep-cleaned will ensure you have a sparkling smile to show-off on your big day. Also consider teeth-whitening, and also Invisalign (an invisible alternative to braces) if you want to correct any wonky teeth.
Make-up
Be open to ideas and try out lots of different looks in your make-up trials, as you may really like a style that you hadn’t previously thought would suit you! Really listen to your make-up artist as they will know what colours go with your skin to compliment your complete look. It will take time to get this right, so don’t leave it until the last few weeks!
Laser Hair Removal
If you think you’ve had enough of shaving, laser hair removal will do the trick for long-lasting smooth skin. However, you will have to prepare for it in advance as it can take up to 6 treatments to take full effect. In the end though, you’ll feel great knowing you won’t have to worry about stray hairs on your honeymoon!
Are you suffering from wedding planning stress? Struggling to motivate yourself to just… get on with it? We’ve all been there. There’s just too much to do – and you don’t want to do any of it! Or you do, but you just… kind of… can’t? Well, never fear. Here’s our guide to getting back on track.
The Two-Minute Rule
The two-minute rule is a productivity technique used by high-flyers everywhere. To put it simply: if it’ll take less than two minutes, do it now!
A big reason you might be procrastinating your wedding planning is because you’re overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the task at hand. And we get it! But the two-minute rule means you start with the easiest tasks first – and once you’ve gotten them out the way, it’ll be easier to continue. An object in motion stays in motion unless something stops it, according to Isaac Newton. So does a wedding planner! So once you’ve started, it’ll be easier to continue.
But enough physics. Let’s get back to weddings. Choose an easy task like responding to an email from a photographer or sending an enquiry to a venue (hint: it’s as easy as clicking a button on your Bridebook!) and get that done. Feel the rush of ticking a task off your to-do list… then do another one!
Don’t Wait For Motivation
Waiting for motivation to strike is a risky game to play. We often hear people (*cough* ourselves *cough*) say, “I just don’t feel motivated to – .” But do you think an athlete jumps out of bed every morning, delighted to lace up their running shoes at 5am? Are they beaming as they step out into the cold, knowing everyone else is still tucked up in bed? We’re pretty sure the answer is, “Absolutely not.” Some people are naturally more driven than others but nobody is motivated all the time.
So what’s the athlete’s secret? It’s not that they have motivation – it’s that they have a goal. They know what they need to do – and they do it, regardless of how they feel. No waiting for motivation to strike.
The same goes for you and your wedding planning. Think about your wedding day as the goal. You don’t need to wait for motivation – you’ve got a wedding to plan! These tasks need to be done and no one else is going to do them. In fact, you’re going to do them so well that if those tasks could look at themselves in the mirror, they’d feel foolish because of how well you’re going to do them! You’re going to boss them! You’re going to smash it! Those tasks won’t even know what hit them!
… You get the picture. We might have gotten a little carried away there. Motivation struck.
Little But Often
What’s that? You’re sitting down once a week to face down a forty-task-long to-do list, three pots of coffee and an entire Victoria sponge in hand? Okay, now we get why you don’t want to plan your wedding. But we’ve got a simple solution. Set aside thirty minutes each night. Just thirty minutes. That’s just one rerun of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ worth of planning. Now turn the TV off, get focused and dedicate yourself to your planning. Doesn’t that feel better?
Breaking your planning down into small chunks of time makes it much less daunting than trying to do it all in one mega planning session. Plus, doing it little and often makes it easier to stay on top of everything as you can remember what you did the day before, instead of having to cast your mind back a week or two. Get into a routine and stick to it. Once you see how much progress you’re making, you’ll be on a roll!
So there you have it: three easy ways to beat the wedding planning blues! We’re sure you’ll have blitzed through your to-do list in no time. And remember – you can always stay on track with your Bridebook checklist. It shows you exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it to have your dream day planned quicker than you can say, “I do!”
Do you need a wedding theme? In our opinion, the answer is absolutely, “Yes, you do!” So here’s why we recommend couples choose a wedding theme – and how to get started picking yours.
1. A Wedding Theme Gives Your Planning Clarity
Look, we get it! Wedding planning is a stressful business. After all, it can feel like there are a million different things to sort: venues, flowers, table decorations, clothes, catering… Taking a little bit of time at the very start to pick a wedding theme will instantly streamline your planning by giving you a clear vision of what you want your big day to be like. Plus, when you search for venues and suppliers on Bridebook, you can filter by theme, reducing the number of suppliers you need to contact.
2. A Wedding Theme Will (Probably!) Make Your Wedding Look Better
If you don’t have at least some sort of theme, it’s incredibly difficult to make everything cohesive and you’ll probably end up with a complete mishmash of styles. Now, if “mishmash” is what you’re going for, go ahead… But isn’t that a theme? Remember, your theme can be as simple as choosing two or three wedding colours to help guide your choices. Sure, you might decide on an underwater pirate theme (and if you do, we’d love to see the photos!) – but you might also go for a sage-green wedding theme, adding pops of colour throughout your soft furnishings, stationery and floristry.
3. A Wedding Theme Helps Create Atmosphere
Your wedding theme is about more than just what your wedding looks like – it’s about how it feels, the sort of atmosphere you create. So think about the mood you want your guests to be in. Do you want them to feel a sense of glamour and luxury? Then maybe a black tie theme is for you. Or are you hoping for a more relaxed celebration where everyone can let loose? In that case, you might want to consider a more casual theme – say, something boho or rustic. Whatever you decide, it’s a huge part of what will make your wedding unique in your guests’ memories – so choose wisely!
Valentines Day is just around the corner and for those of you that have been a couple for a few years and are at a certain stage in their life… this could be the day your partner pops the question! If you’re cringing at the thought, turn away now! But if you are planning to propose on or around this special day…here are some common mistakes to avoid.
Try to ignore this cliche proposal if you can, and if you really can’t resist …make sure to have some distance between the ring and the food. Not sure about you, but I see no appeal in picking my engagement ring out of a lemon mousse.
Flash mobs are a no, no!
For the average bride-to-be, having a bunch strangers dancing around for you in a public place sounds more like a nightmare than a romantic gesture. Be sure to stay away from this unless you know for sure thats what she would want.
The go to bunch of red roses
If your partner loves red roses then by all means! We find that a thought through bouquet with her favourite flowers will go down a lot better than the go-to bouquet of red roses.
Don’t just think about what you want
Don’t get too carried away with planning the proposal around only what you like! Remember this act is for the both of you! So if you’re considering proposing at a rugby match or dinner at your favourite pub, make sure it’s just as special for her as it is for you.
Try not to over-plan the proposal.
We understand that nowadays there is an awful lot of pressure on making sure your proposal is “insta-worthy”. But don’t let that bother you, sometimes even the simplest of proposals can mean far more than a planned-to-the-tee affair.
Don’t put her off the scent (too much!)
Don’t be one of those proposers was so preoccupied with keeping it a surprise that they go overboard and end up just p***ing off their partner! A subtle nice romantic dinner and a movie is far less suspicious and far less likely to get you into trouble.
You’re engaged – massive congratulations! Soon enough you’ll be strutting down that aisle looking incredible. Before we start talking weddings though, you want to tell people about your fab news. We’ve compiled a few ways you can let people know what’s happened to sound excited but not rub-it-in-your-face-y. (And just because you’re not talking weddings publicly yet, doesn’t mean you can’t start planning! We’ve got the UK’s #1 Wedding Planning App and a whole host of super useful and free wedding planning tools to help. Let the planning commence!)
Word-Of-Mouth
The best way to announce the news to your loved ones is by telling them in person. You don’t want the news spreading elsewhere before you’ve told the most important people! They will pick up on your excitement and feel included in the moment.
Publish It
Go old skool and get your engagement published in your local newspaper. Not only will your whole town get to hear about the big news, but your older relatives will be impressed!
Take To Social Media
Post on Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites to get the word out! Don’t forget a cute proposal photo showing off your ring, and of course, make it official by changing your relationship status to ‘engaged’!
Capture The Moment
If you managed to get photos or videos of your proposal, why not upload them? It will give an intimate edge to your engagement and allow your friends and relative to feel almost like they were there to witness your special moment in time.
Get Creative
Write your news in the sand, create a timeline of your relationship, or even get your pet involved! No-one will be able to resist their ‘aww’s when they spot your pooch bearing a message of engagement on behalf of it’s humans!
Host an Engagement Party
Put pen to paper and formally invite your family and close friends to an engagement do. Add the finishing touch to your news with music, champers and making an entrance with your new fiancé!
We are thrilled to announce The Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2017 Shortlist! With over 180,000 votes cast by thousands of clients and Bridebook.co.uk couples, this amazing list is packed with some of the UK’s very best wedding suppliers and venues – truly the cream of the crop!
These shortlisted suppliers will go through to the next and final round where our Finalists, Highly Commended and Winners will be picked by top Bridebook.co.uk and wedding industry experts. So stay tuned as these will all be announced the 1st of March!
We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to all suppliers who participated but did not make it through to the Shortlist. All votes will count towards boosting your Bridebook.co.uk search ranking, and we are already planning on an even bigger and better 2018 awards!
In the process of dress shopping for your wonderful winter wedding, don’t forget the climate or it might spoil your day. Hunt for a warm fur shrug or a statement bridal cape to compliment your dress and keep you from feeling the cold on your big day. Don’t forget about your bridesmaids too!
Festive Food
Your guests will be amazed if you can offer traditional food and drink to add to the festive feel. Include hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies to make your loved ones feel warm and content inside.
Cosy Decor
Think candles, throws, and scatter cushions if you want to turn your reception into a warm and inviting atmosphere in the height of winter. Your guests will be rushing to take their seat!
Get Insured
With the chance of torrential weather on your wedding day, be prepared. Be it rain, hail, snow or ice, having wedding insurance will be a safety net in case anything should happen. It will take the pressure off you and allow you to enjoy the moment.
Be Colourful
Just because you’re getting married in winter doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a white wedding. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright, bold colours when choosing your theme – stand out and be unique!
Photo by Ten Twenty One
Sensible shoes
You may have dreamt about walking down the aisle in glittery 6-inch stilettos, however if you’re potentially contending with snow and ice you may want to reconsider. There’s nothing worse than a bride slipping and sliding her way to the altar, so make sure you’re wearing sensible footwear to walk (you can change back into the stilettos later!)
Don’t Overheat
Just because it’s reached sub-zero temperatures outside doesn’t mean it will be the same inside. Once everyone’s on the dancefloor, the sweat will start, so make sure you ask the venue to keep it to a comfortable heat. (Also, sweat patches ruin photos!)
Festive Favours
Give something to your guests that will wow them. Whether it’s a holiday-themed personalised gift, or a winter wonderland-inspired keepsake, make sure everyone takes something home that they won’t stop talking about for weeks!
