The creative personal touches were everywhere at Katy and Steven’s wedding from the cross-stitched table names (of bands they’d seen together) to the nautical heart symbol, and K&S heart décor strewn across the tables. Take note of the delicious looking cheese cake (not cheesecake) made of stacked wheels of savoury cheese. Yum!
“Steven and Katy were the second couple to get married in the newly renovated Tithe Barn, at Symondsbury in Dorset. The barn looked wonderful – I absolutely loved the flowers, from The Real Cut Flower Garden, all in beautiful shades of blue and white. Katy had spent a lot of hours carefully cross-stitching the table names (bands they had watched together) – there could not have been a more perfect way to display these, I loved it! It was a fabulous day to be a part of, especially as the expected rain held off and never quite reached us. Katy and Steven are such a great couple and I really enjoyed photographing their wedding day”
Congratulations Katy & Steven and thank you Helen Lisk Photography for letting us share these gorgeous photographs.
You can practically smell the lavender coming through the computer screen in this beautifully coordinated country-style Welsh wedding! The couple even found a perfectly-painted deep purple Volkswagen van to coordinate with their chosen wedding colour – how’s that for matching?
Venue: Glangrwyney Court, a country house in Powys, Wales
“From the moment we met Steve we knew we had made the right choice in wedding photographer. Steve makes you feel relaxed and takes amazing natural photos. The comments we have received about our photos have been amazing and we absolutely love them. One of our photos even won wedding photo of the week on yourperfectweddingphotographer.co.uk!”
Love was the in the air and on the dance floor at this beautiful wedding! We loved the vibrant blue and orange running throughout from the groom’s suits to the table decorations. Such a creative couple!
Season: Spring | Styles: Classic, DIY | Colours: Blue, Orange
Words from the couple:
“Our wedding day was on the 18th April at Holdsworth House, a beautiful Jacobean Manor House in Halifax. We chose the venue because it had a great reputation for food and the setting and the grounds were really pretty. We had everything crossed in the run up to the big day for sunshine, luckily it turned out to be one of the warmest days of the year so we were able to have our drinks reception outside and our guests played croquet on the lawn whilst we had out photos taken.
We knew that photography and our choice of photographer would be one of the most important decisions we had to make, Andy and I both work in the the creative industry and had a very strong idea of the photography style we wanted, James and Lianne’s relaxed style matched what we were looking for perfectly and the photos were more amazing than we could have asked for.
After trying on what felt like 1000 dresses-but was actually more like 30-I finally found ‘the one’-Francesca by Maggie Sottero. The lovely ladies at Angel Brides persuaded me to try it on. Initially I wasn’t sure about it because it wasn’t what I pictured in my head, how wrong I was! Before the dress was fastened properly I knew that I couldn’t get married in any other dress it was so beautiful! I accessorised with a Richard Designs headdress and wrist cuff, Kurt Geiger heels for the day and in the evening I changed into my customised Converse trainers. My hair and makeup on the day was done by Kathyrn Hurl. I knew that I wanted a relaxed loose bun so that I could have my hair up off my back to show off my dress but without feeling too ‘done’-Kathryn knew exactly what I wanted and also managed to hide the fact that I had about 3 hours sleep the night before!
Andy tends to wear jeans and trainers to work so he really wanted a tailored suit with some unique design touches, but something he could still wear again. We went to Michelsberg Tailoring in the Leeds Victoria Quarter and James truly delivered on Andy’s brief, the suit was beautifully made and fitted with all the individual touches that Andy wanted. He wore it with Oliver Sweeney shoes and a Paul Smith pocket square.
Our adult bridesmaids wore coral gowns from the Dessy collection and the men wore suits from Next in a matching colour material to Andy’s suit. Our flowergirl wore a dress from BHS and out page boy had a suite from Matalan and a Ted Baker tie- they absolutely stole the show!
A lot of our decorations were home-made. Andy is a graphic designer so he designed all of our stationery and organised the printing. We made our table plan and photoboards from old picture frames, a friend made the bunting and I spent weeks decorating jam jars and luggage tags for our tables, it was a lot of hard work but it was totally worth it to have a day that really felt like our own. Lynne from Stem Designs filled my jam jars with beautiful white blooms and created relaxed hand-tied bouquets for me and the bridesmaids. We say Typical Type’s Big Love at a wedding fayre very early in the planning stages and I fell in love with it and decided there and then that whatever our wedding looked like, that would be a big part of it. In the end we built our wedding around it and it looked great both during the ceremony and at the evening reception!
The whole day was everything that we’d wanted it to be and more-planning it together meant that we had a day that reflected both of our personalities- I still look at the photos at least once a week and wish we could go back and do it all again!”
Congratulations Gemma & Andy and thank you James & Lianne Photography for letting us share these beautiful photographs to help remember their wedding l day!
Hamish Shephard is the founder and CEO of Bridebook, the UK’s no.1 wedding planning app. He is now considered an expert in the wedding industry, having appeared on BBC news multiple times to provide his expertise and having his own Evening Standard column, Groom With a View, where he shares his insights as one of the UK’s most prominent wedding experts.
Hamish founded Bridebook in 2015, having previously co-founded Hello Fresh. His vast experience in the wedding industry began long ago when he transformed his grandmother’s old home, Hedsor House, into one of the UK’s leading wedding venues with his two brothers.
Hamish discovered that most brides spent the majority of their engagement feeling overwhelmed, stressed and confused by the whole wedding planning process. He thought there must be a way to help couples plan their wedding in a stress-free way and soon became enamoured by the mission to make wedding planning as fun and enjoyable as the big day itself.
Thus began a journey of inspiration, discovery and creativity… to create the UK’s leading wedding planning app, now used by almost 2 million couples.
Hamish has also appeared as an expert speaker on the Financial Times’ Money Clinic with Claer Barrett, as part of the recent July 2023 episode ‘The high cost of being a wedding guest’:
You’re engaged, congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most amazing journeys of your life – and you’ve got your soulmate by your side. You’re on this rollercoaster together, and we promise it’s going to be full of love, surprises and celebration. So enjoy the ride!
As the realisation of what’s to come sets in, you might be wondering what happens next. Where do you start? Who do you tell first? How do you tell them? When should you start planning your wedding? How do you start?
Because there are so many things to do, things can get overwhelming quite quickly. But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you in the right direction and help make the next couple of weeks a lot easier, with a checklist for making sure you have everything covered.
So, in this post, we’re going to outline a step-by-step guide for everything you should do after you get engaged, from the order you should tell your family and friends to when the right time is to start making those bookings.
Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start planning your dream wedding, but where to start? In this video, Bridebook founder (and qualified wedding planner!) Hamish Shephard breaks down your wedding organisation into 5 easy steps so you can plan stress-free and kickstart your wedding to-do list.
Our 20-step guide for what you should do after getting engaged
When you get engaged, everything is so exciting and feels like it goes so fast that it can be easy to get carried away. Did you do this? Did you do that? Before you know it, you’re not sure what you’ve done and what’s left to do. That’s where we come in. Below are 20 steps you can follow to make sure you remember everything after getting engaged.
It can be tempting to run to see your parents or pick up the phone and start yelling about your brand-new engagement. But before you do that, think about if you want to do something a little more creative, or figure out a way to get both of your families together in one room and blow them all away with the news.
Once you’ve figured out how you’re going to do it, you can get to the exciting part. You’re engaged to the love of your life – and it’s time to let your family and besties know! Just be prepared for lots of squeals, some hugs and maybe even a few tears – happy ones, of course.
Have you ever worn anything so precious… or expensive? So thoughtful, so sentimental, so valuable… Get your ring insured. ASAP. The average cost of an engagement ring is £1,978, which is an amount that very few can afford to lose. It’s unlikely that anything will happen to it, but you never know. Then you can stop worrying and start showing it off. And trust us, you’re going to want to show off that amazing new ring a lot.
4. Tell wider friends and family, starting with the A team
After telling your immediate family, it’s time to start sharing the news with your mates and colleagues. We bet some of the first people you tell will end up being key players in your wedding party. They might be your maid of honour or your best man, if you have one. Make an event of it and ask them to be by your side at your wedding over a drink or a meal out. Then start thinking about who else you want involved. Our number one piece of advice is to choose the people you love – not the people you feel obligated to have. Don’t worry about upsetting anyone – it’s your special day. You should be surrounded by your favourite people in the world.
With such a beautiful new ring to show off, you may want to do this sooner, but it’s especially important to make sure your nails are on point before you have your engagement photos done or you share the news on social media. There are going to be lots of close-ups of your ring finger, so having clean, shaped and polished nails will help those photos pop. Trust us.
It’s not for everyone, and it’s a little old-fashioned by today’s standards, but you might want to follow tradition by announcing your engagement in the local (or even national) newspaper. It’ll make your parents’ and grandparents’ days, as historically, engagement announcements included lots of details about the couple’s backgrounds, families and so on. Nowadays, though, it’s up to you what you include. If nothing else, it’ll make for a brilliant keepsake.
Now comes the time to scream your news from the 21st-century equivalent of the rooftops. If there was ever a time to share something on social media, it’s now. Whether you post a cute engagement selfie with your partner to your Instagram, update your Facebook relationship status or even make a cheeky TikTok, savour this moment and watch the likes roll in.
From the moment you got engaged, you no doubt mentally went into planning mode, thinking about venues, catering, wedding rings, the song you’ll have your first dance to… but, as hard as it might be, don’t feel the need to rush straight into it. Take a step back, breathe and enjoy the moment. Why not take a little trip away, just the two of you, and enjoy some time as an engaged couple? You’re about to embark on a busy year or more of hectic wedding planning, and taking time to enjoy your engagement is definitely worth it.
It’s party time! Get a date in the diary to celebrate with everyone that matters. Just remember that anyone who’s invited to your engagement party is likely to expect an invitation to the wedding too… But that’s only according to tradition, which of course can be ignored. So, if you want a blow-out bash, go for it. Plus, if you anticipate having to fill your guest list with second cousins at your parents’ request, now’s the time to leave them off the list and party on down with your nearest and dearest.
We’re sure you’ll want to remember this period in your lives forever so make sure to document it with an engagement photoshoot. It’s a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and get used to being in front of the camera. Think of it as a test run before your wedding – so get your smiles ready and be prepared for the jaw ache.
Unless your partner got your ring size spot on, you may need to get your engagement ring resized so it fits nice and snug. You may choose to get it done much sooner if it’s particularly loose, but it’s a balancing act between wanting to wear it to show it off, having it for the engagement photos and announcements, and making sure it doesn’t slip off and get lost forever.
Depending on the jewellers you go to, it might take up to four weeks to get your ring resized. But, if you’re willing to pay a little more, you could get it done in as little as a couple of days.
By now you’ve probably had plenty of thoughts about what you want from your wedding. So, start researching and making notes about what the perfect wedding is for you.
Here at Bridebook, we have a wide selection of tools and resources to help you plan your big day. From our budget planning tool to our easy-to-use app, we have everything you might need throughout your entire planning journey. Plus, we have loads of exclusive discounts from thousands of popular vendors that you won’t find anywhere else.
One of the best ways to get excited is by visiting wedding shows and fairs around the country. It offers you the opportunity to meet vendors, get some ideas and see what’s out there so you can get inspired and start making some decisions. One of our favourite shows is The National Wedding Show, but there are dozens throughout the year up and down the UK. Make sure you also check out local shows, which are a great way to meet vendors close to you.
You’ll likely have a ton of ideas bouncing around inside your head, which will all come together to form your ideal wedding. Don’t forget, your partner will also be doing the same. Remember to communicate all the time, so share your ideas, worries, thoughts, concerns, excitements and everything else. If you’re always open and honest with each other you’ll nail every step of your busy planning process.
This step and the step afterwards may be interchangeable, so it’s whatever works for you. Think about whether you want a big wedding where you might invite more than 100 guests, or would be happier with an intimate ceremony that’s not quite as grandiose. You may want to put together a rough guest list (which you can do right here on Bridebook) and then think about your budget, or it might be easier to do it the other way around. Whatever works for you. But, now’s the time to think about whether you really want your second cousin once removed to be there, or if you’d rather keep things a little smaller and more affordable.
In the UK, the average cost of a wedding is £19,184, which is enough for you to put on one heck of a party. But, that doesn’t mean your wedding will cost that much – depending on your guest list, venue, catering, attire and more, it could be much lower. Or even much higher.
The best way to work out how much your perfect wedding might cost is by using a budget calculator, which allows you to input all of your wedding-related costs to show you how much they’re likely to set you back. If it’s below what you were hoping for, great! If it’s higher, you can start thinking of some alternate choices or where you can make a few savings.
Once you’ve worked out your budget you’re in a position to see how it aligns with your finances. But what if it doesn’t, does that mean the wedding’s off? Absolutely not! One option is to make changes to your plans – for example, a registry office wedding is the cheapest you can have. Another option is to save money across the entire wedding – read our ultimate guide to saving money on your wedding for more information.
Another option is to ask your family for a little extra support. Only one-third of couples pay for their wedding themselves, which means two-thirds get help from family. There are unofficial rules about who traditionally pays for what, but you’ll no doubt be grateful for help in whatever way your family can.
Before you make any proper decisions about your wedding date, start by figuring out what’s going to work for your nearest and dearest. Are there any other weddings happening that year? Does anyone have a big holiday booked? You don’t want to commit to a date, only to find out your best friend can’t make it. If you already know where you want to get married, think about when it’ll look its best. Will it really shine in summer or is it the perfect location for a winter wedding?
Choosing the right date for your wedding can also be a huge money-saver. If you want to get married on a Saturday, like half of all couples did last year, it’ll cost you way more than if you were to get married midweek.
There are more than likely a fair few people in your life who have planned a wedding, so ask them for advice on how they went about it. Ask them for recommended vendors, what they loved, what they wished they’d done differently… use them, their experience and their knowledge and make some notes. Also, getting referred to a specific vendor, like a DJ or wedding car hire company, is a great way to secure a cheeky discount.
Here at Bridebook, we also have plenty of expert guides, tips, tricks and real-life stories to help answer your questions, calm your concerns and help you throughout your planning journey.
Before you make any bookings or get a quote from a single vendor, think about whether or not it would be beneficial for you to hire a wedding planner. Generally, a wedding planner will cost about 10% of your overall budget, but they can save you a lot of time, money and stress by doing a lot of the negotiating and legwork for you. But, to get the best value for money, you should hire a planner at the very start of your planning process. Decide if this is something you’d like to do early on, as tempting as it might be to dive right in and start securing bookings.
So… what comes next?
So, these are the first 20 steps you should take after getting engaged. After that, you might want to take another step back and enjoy a few weeks as an engaged couple. Or, more likely, the excitement of your future wedding will be too much to resist, and you’ll want to get stuck right in with the planning.
Enjoy what comes next – it’s going to be long, exciting and rewarding, and most likely a little expensive as well. But, you’ll have a wonderful wedding day at the end of it.
Start planning your wedding with Bridebook
Here at Bridebook, we have everything you could need to plan your perfect wedding. Sign up and start planning your big day today!
You’ve spent the past year, months, days being showered in bubbly, presents and celebrations! The wedding is over, you’re back from your honeymoon and your tan is starting to fade. Before settling straight into married life, there’s one thing left to do – thank you letters. While they may seem a bit overwhelming, it’s actually a really special process – you get to go through all the people (and wedding presents!) that made your day so amazing. You might have to write a fair few of these so here are our tips to make the final wedmin task a bit easier.
Let’s go back to the beginning. You probably gathered everyone’s emails and addresses to invite them to your wedding – use this list! Simply catalogue each gift next to the name of the giver and your task will be easy peasy.
Want to be a super-couple? Start writing the Thank You’s as the gifts arrive, this way, you won’t be overwhelmed with the 200 notes you have to write post W-Day.
The traditional rule is to have your Thank You’s sent a maximum of two months after your wedding day. Try and stick to this and make your guests feel loved!
You’re going to need an area of inspiration. Think special writing area, with comfy chair and music. No writers block here!
Prepare your stationery. You may have ordered your Thank You notes with the rest of your wedding stationery, which is great thinking! Otherwise, get some thick paper notecards and just start writing. Use a nice pen, one that will not blotch the paper and one that is pleasant to write with – it’s going to be with you for the long haul.
Don’t force yourself to write them all at once, unless you only have twenty or so to do in total. It is a big task and you will get frustrated if you have to do it in one sitting. Really take your time on each letter and enjoy remembering all the wedding day details!
As you start cataloguing the gifts, write a little description next to each one. Otherwise, you might not remember the exact throw or vase that you received when it comes to writing the notes, trust us!
If you received money, do NOT mention any sums! Instead, say what you are planning to do with the money. Much more polite.
If the gift was a donation to a charity in your name, then mention how important the charity is to you and the great work that they do.
If you received a group gift, you should still send individual Thank You notes, but acknowledge that the giver was part of the group, by saying “you guys ROCK!”
If you don’t like/want to exchange the gifts (awkward!), don’t mention the situation. Just make a positive comment about the gift and thank them for their thought and for attending your wedding. Then sneak to the shop to swap it. Shhhhh!
Make sure you send a special Thank You to anyone who was a part of your wedding party. This could be the bridesmaids, the ushers and of course, your parents. They probably did a lot to help so take your time writing these ones and really get across how much you love them!
At Bridebook, we get that your W-Day can be a bit full on – with all the excitement, the adrenaline, the nerves and all the people around you. But it’s the biggest party of your life so enjoy it! Things might take longer than you planned, delays might occur but take deep breaths and don’t stress out. Here are our top tips to make sure you don’t lose your cool on your big day:
1) Hire professionals
This is especially true for wedding hair and make-up. You don’t want to do your own make-up with shaking fingers. We suggest you choose a spacious room, with plenty of natural light and not too many people in it, to sit back, relax and feel pampered. Grooms, this means you too! Avoid trying to shave with nervous hands and giving yourself a cut, splurge on a wet shave instead. It shouldn’t just be the girls pampering themselves.
2) Prepare in advance
Pack everything you will need on the morning of your wedding, in advance. Follow our list, that way you are guaranteed not to forget anything. We also suggest you take all the packaging off any recent purchases, because shopping bags can clutter the space and create a sense of chaos, especially as things you need tend to disappear inside them. Get everything ready, make it look pretty and enjoy the calm!
Yes, you probably won’t feel hungry, but trust us, eating something is a must. You don’t want to faint down the aisle or be drunk for your reception! Secret tip: we recommend you have some eggs. They won’t make you bloat and you will feel full for hours.
4) Get dressed
Leave time to get into your wedding dress. It will take your mum and bridesmaids longer to lace and button than it took the professional at the final fitting. Aim to get dressed half an hour before you are due to leave. Then you can enjoy spending time with your family and get used to twirling around in the dress.
Just in case the driver doesn’t know where to go, give him the exact wedding location. If you happen to break down – don’t panic – make sure someone with you has a taxi number to hand. Drama diverted!
6) Picture perfect
Make sure you get all the photos you want on your wedding day! Prepare an order sheet of the shots you need and make sure that everyone knows where they are supposed to be for the pictures. Then you can follow your list without having to think about anything and just have fun!
If any has to be done on the day itself, enlist helpers. Your brain will be in party mode!
8) Relax and enjoy!
Try to relax. Everything is sorted and ready to go, so just enjoy it! Everyone is there to help you. You’re going to look amazing and you’re marrying the love of your life – dreamy!
People probably won’t be calling you on your wedding day, but if they do, pass your phone to the MOH or the BM and they can answer any questions.
10) Drinks
If you decide to have a little drink before the ceremony, don’t over-do it. Grooms, try a half-pint, instead of a full one – you don’t want to be saying your vows and secretly dying for the bathroom!
Your wedding day has arrived! POP open the champagne because today is going to be the best day of your life! To make sure you have everything you need, here are some bits and bobs you might want to whip together – get your Maid of Honour, AKA the superhero, to hang onto them so you don’t have to.
Basic:
Band-Aids
Cash
Comb
Clear nail varnish (goodbye laddered tights or buttons that are about to fall off)
Extra earring backs
Hair Pins (try bringing brown and black, so you can work with a variety of hair colours)
Hairspray
Makeup – cover up, lipstick and anything else you might want to touch up
Lighter (if a hem is showing a bit of loose thread or if any candles need re-lighting)
Mints (fresh breath is always a good idea, especially if you had your favourite garlic bread for lunch)
Mobile phone
Nail file
Paracetamol
Perfume
Q Tips
Safety Pins
A small sewing kit
Small phone charger
Stain remover
Straws (especially if you are sporting your signature lipstick and don’t want it to smudge!)
Pack travel-sized versions of everything and it won’t seem like that much. Summer or winter wedding? Here are some more ideas depending on when you choose to celebrate.
Spring/Summer:
Baby powder. A bit of baby powder will stop your arms chafing against your dress. You’ll be chafe free when rocking the dance floor later too.
Important for an outdoor wedding, and an indoor one, if photos are outside – opt for scent-free. Then it’s already packed for the honeymoon.
Bug spray. Depending on the location – but around dusk, bugs can become incredibly active and protection becomes necessary (again opt for scent-free).
By Ten Twenty One
Autumn/Winter:
Lip Balm is a major necessity, especially in the winter months, when lips start chapping.
Hand Cream. Cold air dries the skin on your hands. So if you’re not wearing gloves, get those babies moisturised.
Anti-static spray. If you are changing in and out of warmer clothes, the spray will stop the static.
As your W-Day draws closer and closer, you might start checking the weather forecast. But WHO CARES… your wedding day is the best day of your life whatever the weather. So let’s just make sure you’re excited and prepared for any wind, rain, snow – because all of them can make your wedding day even better than you could possibly imagine. So enjoy!
By Ross Harvey
1) Consider your venue
The simplest rule is to always make sure you have a marquee or venue big enough to fit everyone inside. So long as guests are warm and dry, they will have an awesome time so simply plan for that. For marquees, make sure it has sides that can be pulled down if it is a little windy, so you can really get that party started. Sorted!
By Cinzia Bruschini
2) Brollies and Wellies
“Every cloud has a silver lining.” If rain is expected, embrace it! Why not get guests to bring a pair of wellies? Or if you have a little budget to spare, give them multi-coloured wellies as favours (you can find cheap ones online) – you could even ask their shoe size on the invite. Or have your names and the wedding date drawn on brightly coloured brollies for people to take away with them, et voila! Imagine your whole guest list in wellies and brollies – the pictures will look amazing! Oh and ladies, keep yourselves (and your stunning shoes) from sinking into the wet ground with heelstoppers!
By Chris Giles Photography
3) Dark skies are superb for photographers
Photographers LOVE a stormy sky. It makes for amazing lighting, so enjoy creative and unique wedding photos! A little wind will make the billowing veil look incredible, snow will make everything much more intimate and cosy, while raindrops look amazing in photos. Go outside, dance around, laugh and stay happy, you’ve just married your best friend!
By Allister Freeman
4) Cross fingers for snow
If you are lucky enough to have a winter wedding AND it happens to snow then definitely embrace it! Think of all the possibilities: you could wear a stunning fur coat, you can cosy up to your beloved in the middle of a snowy field… And think about the photos; your wedding will look like a fairy tale!
By David Pullum Photography
5) Hot or Cold?
Your wedding day is set to be scorcher – picture the sun shining and drinks flowing. Just make sure there’s lots of water kicking about and maybe turn your wedding programme into a fan – just so you’re looking out for those guys in morning suits and elderly relatives. Everyone will be happy so you can get back to your party in the beautiful sunshine.
If the temperature is looking a little cold for your big day, you can easily rent an extra heater even a week to go before the wedding so there’s nothing to worry about. Everyone is going to be so hot from dancing they won’t notice anyway. It just means people will party harder!
By Richard Skins Photography
6) Ask the ushers for help
That’s what they are there for! Get the ushers to shelter you with an umbrella as you go into and leave the ceremony. And if you arrange for them to have towels, they can even give the aisle a quick wipe down ready for your entrance = flawless dress. Bonus.
By Ross Harvey
7) Now go and have fun!
Final tip: don’t worry about the beautiful white dress and the smart suit – they can always be cleaned. This is the biggest party of your life so go and have fun; your guests are definitely going to – rain, snow, wind or shine!
Wedding photos are an essential part of your big day. Let’s make sure they are epic but finished in the shortest amount of time, so you can get back to the bubbly.
Here’s our well rehearsed list of traditional group shots – arranged so the elderly aren’t waiting too long, you have your alone time and everyone gets their time to party. You don’t have to take all of these or any of these, but a few of the traditional shots are always much appreciated by the families. Tip: send the order to all people involved so they know when they are expected – and don’t forget to share with your photographer!
Whether it’s you as a couple or one of your parents hosting your wedding, you have a lot of people to say hello to and thank! How on earth are you going to get that done and get married AND party your socks off? Well traditionally there’s a receiving line – where you line up (with your loved one and parents and anyone else you want) and say hello and thank you to every single guest – yup that’s right! But there are plenty of alternatives as well, so let’s run through them so you can decide:
Do you need to have a receiving line? If you have less than fifty guests attending, it is not considered a necessity. However, if it is more, then etiquette dictates you have to have some way of greeting all of your guests in turn – how else are you going to make sure you party with everyone!?
The Order
There is no longer a set order of people who should be in the receiving line. You can have the hosting parents leading the line, followed by you as the married couple, and then the other set of parents as well as the bridal party. Alternatively, you can just stand and greet your guests together, while the parents and the bridal party entertain those who are waiting. Either way, your options are endless! However, the shorter your line, the faster the guests will move.
By Ross Harvey
Where?
We highly recommend checking if there is enough space to hold a receiving line at your ceremony/reception venue! You don’t want guests to get on top of each other, or start getting stroppy because they are too hot or too cold. Similarly, we suggest that you host your receiving line in an area where drinks and nibbles are available, so people aren’t left hungry and thirsty while they wait.
What do you say?
A receiving line is not the moment to catch up with your guests; otherwise you will be there for hours – so hold the chitter chatter! You should simply introduce the guests to the VIP’s in your line that they don’t know, accept their congratulations and offer your thanks. Done!
An alternative to a receiving line is to visit each table in turn during the meal. One lovely idea we heard about was each table having two empty seats for the married couple, so that they could sit down at each table, chat to the guests and keep eating!
We also really like the Chinese tradition, by which the married couple have a toast with each table. This is guaranteed to be quicker than sitting down to eat and, you will get to hear some lovely wishes!
Whichever option you choose, your guests will still race over to you after the ceremony with hugs and congrats, so just make sure you enjoy the moment and thank everyone!
It’s time to tackle something your wedding day can’t do without: your wedding vows. Now, you might be thinking of saying traditional vows – and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! But if you’ve found this article, we expect you’re at least considering putting pen to paper and having a go at writing your own personalised wedding vows instead. So here’s our guide to getting started.
What Should You Do Before You Write Personalised Wedding Vows?
1. Get Permission
Before you do anything else on this list, check with your officiant that you can actually say personalised wedding vows. There may be limitations for some ceremonies and it’s always worth asking before you spend hours crafting those few perfect sentences…
2. Get Inspired
A good place to start is with traditional wedding vows. After all, they’ve stood the test of time for a reason! You may well be familiar with the standard Church of England vows:
I, (name), take you (name), to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow.
Now, you may well decide that these vows – or those from another faith or source – will do you just fine! Or you might use them as the starting point for your own vows, thinking about which words you connect with. Similarly, take a look at examples of other couples’ wedding vows and see what you gravitate towards. You could also look through readings, poems, quotes and lyrics that resonate with you and remind you of your partner for inspiration.
3. Talk To Your Partner
Once you’ve got a feel for the sort of vows you like, sit down with your partner and talk about what you both expect from your vows. You might want to use the following questions as a starting point for your discussion:
What tone do you want? Are you expecting humorous or serious vows?
Do you want to make the same promises to one another or are you happy to say different things?
Would you rather write them together or keep them a secret until the big day?
Don’t underestimate the importance of this conversation. It’s super important that you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to your vows. You don’t want to start cracking jokes, only to find that your partner planned the opposite. And even if you think you’ll be going down the more traditional route, we’d still recommend a quick chat to iron out any potential hiccups. For example, it’s become increasingly common for couples to omit words like “obey” from traditional vows.
By Cinzia Bruschini
How Do You Write Personalised Wedding Vows?
1. Reflect On Your Relationship
Make yourself a cup of tea, grab a notebook and find somewhere quiet to take some time to think about your relationship and the life you and your partner share. What made you fall in love with one another? What hard times have you helped one another through? What do you admire about them and how have they made your life better? What do you share and how do they balance you? Don’t worry about it being perfect at this stage – it’s all about the raw emotions!
2. What Promises Are You Making?
When you say your vows, you’re making promises to your partner. What will you promise to have a happy marriage? A good place to start is the traditional promises: loving, caring for and supporting your partner through thick and thin. Then think about what promises might be specific to you two as a couple.
3. Start Writing
Now you have some ideas, it’s time to put pen to paper! If you’re stuck, try following this simple wedding vow structure:
Affirm your love for your partner
Praise their good qualities
Offer them your promises
Close with a final vow
You could also turn your vows into a narrative, building them around the story of your relationship or another anecdote that defines who you are as a couple. But remember, your vows should only be a minute or two long. Keeping things short will make them easy to memorise – plus, you’ll want to save something for your speech too!
4. Write From The Heart
Be authentic to yourself and your relationship. If you’ve chosen to write your own personalised vows, it’s likely because you want them to truly reflect you and your partner. Don’t worry too much about what other people have done!
5. Remember The Audience
At the same time, don’t forget about the audience. This day is about you – but your friends and family are still there! Make sure they don’t feel shut out when they listen to you say your vows, so think twice before including overly intimate moments or in-jokes that no one else will understand.
By John Lennie
How Should You Prepare To Give Your Personalised Wedding Vows?
1. Practice Makes Perfect
You want your vows to seem natural – but make sure you practise them at least once before your big day! Try saying them in front of a mirror or to a close friend, and make adjustments so that they sound like you, with no overly complicated or difficult sentences. You’ll also be able to get an idea of how long they take. Remember, they should only be a minute or two long – and while this sounds like not very long at all, it will feel like a lot longer on the day, especially with emotions running high!
2. Take Care Of The Little Things
When you write your vows out – and yes, you do need to, even if you think you’ve got them memorised! – make sure to do so on a clean sheet of paper or cue card. You don’t want a neon post-it note or the back of an envelope in your wedding photographs!
Just remember, as long as you write from the heart, your vows will be perfect – and guaranteed to bring a tear to every eye!
Your wedding speech as the bride is a special opportunity to express your love and gratitude to your spouse, your family, and your friends on your special day. In this guide, we will go over the steps involved in writing a memorable and impactful bride wedding speech.
Step 1: Determine the Purpose of Your Speech
The first step in writing your bride wedding speech is to determine the purpose of your speech. What do you want to achieve with your speech? Do you want to express your love and gratitude to your spouse, your family, and your friends? Do you want to thank everyone for being a part of your special day? Do you want to share your story and your journey together?
By determining the purpose of your speech, you can ensure that your speech stays focused and on track, and that you achieve your goals.
Step 2: Gather Your Thoughts
The second step in writing your bride wedding speech is to gather your thoughts. Take some time to think about your relationship with your spouse, your family, and your friends. Think about the moments and experiences that have shaped your relationship and brought you to this day.
Write down your thoughts and memories, and use them as inspiration for your speech. This will help you to personalize your speech and make it unique and meaningful.
Step 3: Write Your Speech Outline
The third step in writing your bride wedding speech is to write a speech outline. A speech outline is a basic structure that will help you to organize your speech and ensure that it flows smoothly.
Your speech outline should include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you can welcome your guests and introduce yourself. In the body, you can express your love and gratitude to your spouse, your family, and your friends. You can also share your story and your journey together. In the conclusion, you can thank everyone for being a part of your special day and wish everyone a happy future together.
Step 4: Write Your Speech
The fourth step in writing your bride wedding speech is to write your speech. Use your speech outline as a guide, and flesh out your ideas and memories. Keep your speech personal and heartfelt, and make sure to use a language that is accessible and easy to understand.
It is also a good idea to practice your speech several times before the wedding day. This will help you to get comfortable with the delivery and flow of your speech, and will give you a chance to make any necessary revisions.
Step 5: Rehearse Your Speech
The fifth step in writing your bride wedding speech is to rehearse your speech. Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror, or in front of a trusted friend or family member. This will help you to get comfortable with the delivery and flow of your speech, and will give you a chance to make any necessary revisions.
It is also a good idea to time your speech to make sure that it is within the allotted time frame for the wedding.
Step 6: Personalize Your Speech
The sixth step in writing your bride wedding speech is to personalize your speech. This means adding personal anecdotes, jokes, or stories that reflect your relationship with your spouse, your family, and your friends. Personalizing your speech will make it unique and memorable, and will help to engage your audience.
Step 7: Consider Your Audience
The seventh step in writing your bride wedding speech is to consider your audience. Who will be listening to your speech? What are their interests and expectations? What do they want to hear from you on your special day?
By considering your audience, you can tailor your speech to meet their needs and interests, and ensure that your speech resonates with them.
Step 8: Keep it Short and Sweet
The eighth step in writing your bride wedding speech is to keep it short and sweet. Your audience will appreciate a concise and well-delivered speech, rather than a lengthy and rambling speech.
Aim to keep your speech between 5 and 7 minutes long, and make sure to keep your speech focused and on track.
Step 9: End on a High Note
The ninth step in writing your bride wedding speech is to end on a high note. Your conclusion should be memorable, impactful, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Consider ending your speech with a heartfelt expression of love and gratitude to your spouse, your family, and your friends, or with a wish for a happy future together.
Step 10: Have Fun!
The final step in writing your bride wedding speech is to have fun! This is your special day, and your speech should reflect the joy and happiness that you feel.
Delivering the Bride’s Speech
Once you have written your bride wedding speech, it’s time to deliver it! Here are some tips for delivering a memorable and impactful bride wedding speech:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice makes perfect! Rehearse your speech several times before the wedding day to get comfortable with the delivery and flow of your speech. This will also help you to build confidence and overcome any nervousness you may feel.
2. Make Eye Contact
Make eye contact with your audience while delivering your speech. This will help to engage your audience and create a connection with them.
3. Speak Clearly and Confidently
Speak clearly and confidently, and use a natural and conversational tone. This will help to ensure that your speech is easy to understand and engaging.
4. Use Appropriate Body Language
Use appropriate body language to enhance your speech and convey your emotions. Stand up straight, smile, and use gestures to emphasize your points.
5. Take a Deep Breath
Take a deep breath before you start your speech, and take a moment to calm your nerves. This will help you to deliver your speech with ease and confidence.
6. Enjoy the Moment
Finally, enjoy the moment! This is your special day, and your speech is an opportunity to express your love and gratitude to your spouse, your family, and your friends. Trust that your audience will appreciate your effort and sincerity, and have fun!
In conclusion, delivering a bride wedding speech can be a rewarding and memorable experience. By following these tips, you can deliver a speech that is impactful, engaging, and heartfelt. Good luck!
Move over Best Man, the Maid of Honour is here! No longer does the Best Man have to dominate the speech-making scene with his gags and stories; more and more Maids of Honour are stepping up their game and stealing the thunder, without any expectations or pressure from the audience. So if your Maid of Honour is keen to make a speech on your wedding day, hand her these pointers so she nails it:
Looking for an easy place to start? Thank the families of the bride and groom for inviting everyone and especially thank the bride for selecting you as the Maid of Honour. The beginning of your speech is also the perfect time to introduce yourself, as it is guaranteed that even at a smaller wedding, not everyone will know exactly who you are, or what your connection to the bride is – and that’s just wrong!
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
2) Story Time
Now it’s time for you to dive into the main body of the speech. This will require the most preparation and should include a few stories and anecdotes. We find that the best one to start with is how you know the bride; this can be a funny or sentimental story, depending on who you are as a person. Make sure to keep this classy and relevant, you don’t want to list off in-jokes that no one but you and the bride will understand. So pull out your best stories and enjoy your moment!
By Weddings Vintage
3) Back it up
We strongly advise you don’t just list off positive qualities (obviously there are many!) that the bride has like “the bride is caring, kind, funny, sweet…” Try choosing a select few and backing them up with examples, this will make your speech much more genuine and will let you bring in some funny stories.
Now that you’ve told the audience what the bride was like before she met the groom, you should talk about their relationship. We find that the best stories to focus on are how they met each other and how you, as the Maid of Honour, knew that he was the one for the bride. Similarly, you can talk about what the bride and groom have learnt from each other and how happy they have become in the process – awwwwww. Again, you can make this funny or sentimental; all depends on your personal preference and sense of humour. A tip from us: if you are going for the funny angle, make sure your speech doesn’t turn into a roasting, keep it appropriate at all times. There could be grandparents present people!
By Weddings Vintage
5) And give the groom some love
Definitely don’t forget to give a special mention to the groom! It is great if you have become close friends and you know his good qualities and can compliment them or tease him! However, if you aren’t too close then just talk about how happy he has made the bride and how well suited to each other they are. Finish your speech with some funny or useful advice to the newlyweds and toast them. Cheers!
Sneaky tool: Calculate how long your speech will take to read – http://readtime.eu!
The father of the bride speech is a highly anticipated part of a wedding reception where the father of the bride addresses the all the guests and offers words of congratulations, gratitude, and well wishes to the newlyweds. It’s no wonder that many fathers of the bride get a little nervous at the thought of delivering a speech to their nearest and dearest, so let’s have a closer look at all you need to know about writing and delivering a brilliant father of the bride speech.
What is a father of the bride’s speech?
The father of the bride speech typically is given after the wedding breakfast, and is a show of love for the bride, as well as giving words of advice to the couple. The father of the bride speech is often an important moment for the father to show his support and affection for his daughter, and to welcome the groom into the family. It also serves as an opportunity for the father to express his gratitude to the guests for their participation at the wedding.
How should I write the perfect father of the bride speech?
There are three key stages to crafting the perfect Father of the Bride speech – preparation, content and delivery and we are here to walk you through each step.
Preparing the father of the bride speech
Planning and preparation are crucial for delivering a successful father of the bride speech. It allows you to organise your thoughts and ideas, and to structure the speech in a way that flows naturally and makes sense to the audience. It also gives you the chance to tailor the speech to the audience, so that it is appropriate and relevant to the guests.
By taking the time to plan and prepare for the speech, you can ensure your words are well-received and that the speech is a memorable and meaningful part of the wedding celebration.
When it comes to researching and gathering information for your wedding day, let’s have a look at some tried and tested ways to help you begin your speech writing journey.
Start early – The earlier you start preparing for your speech, the more time you’ll have to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Talk to your daughter – Your daughter will be a great source of inspiration and material for your speech. She can tell you about the special moments and memories she shares with you and her partner, and give you an insight into their relationship.
Talk to your daughter’s spouse – It’s also a good idea to talk to your daughter’s partner and get to know them better. You could ask them about their thoughts on marriage, future plans with your daughter and what they love about her.
Find wedding speech inspiration – Look back at old family albums, videos, and pictures: It can be a great source of inspiration for the speech and can even be incorporated into the speech itself.
Check out other father of the bride speech examples – There are countless examples of father of the bride speeches that you can look at for inspiration, just be sure not to directly copy any work you find.
By doing this, you will be able to gather a wealth of material that you can use to craft a heartfelt speech that truly captures the love and affection you have for your daughter.
As the father of the bride, what should I include in my wedding speech?
It’s hard to know what should be included in a father of the bride speech but really, it is quite simple. There are a few things that you won’t want to miss and you’ll find that almost all speeches roughly follow the same format.
Most father of the bride speeches will include the following:
Well wishes for the newlyweds – Start by congratulating the couple on their marriage.
Personal anecdotes and memories – Share personal stories and memories of your daughter that show your guests more of her character and upbringing.
Expressions of pride – Let your daughter know how proud you are of the person she has become and how much you love her.
Welcome the groom into the family – Formally welcome the groom into your family, and express your happiness that he will be a part of your daughter’s life.
Thank the guests – Show your gratitude to the guests for being a part of the special day.
Offer words of advice or wisdom for the couple – Share any words of wisdom or advice you have for the couple as they begin their life together.
Toast to the couple – End your speech by raising a toast to the couple and wishing them a lifetime of love with a toast.
Father of the bride speech examples
It’s important to make the father of the bride speech your own and not rely wholly on just one source of inspiration.
To get you started, here a few examples of quotes that you could include in your father of the bride speech
“I’ve always known that my daughter would find someone special, but I never imagined she would find someone as wonderful as [partner’s name].”
“I’m so grateful to have [partner’s name] as an in-law. He has not only won my daughter’s heart, but mine too.”
“To my beautiful daughter, [bride’s name], I couldn’t be happier for you on your special day”.
“You have grown into an amazing woman, and I am so proud of the person you have become.”
“I want to welcome you to our family. You have brought so much love and happiness into our daughter’s life, and we are grateful to have you as part of our family.”
“A wise man once said, ‘The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.’ And that is exactly how [bride’s name] and [partner’s name] make each other feel.”
Should I write a funny father of the bride speech?
Many people aren’t sure if they are expected to make a humorous father of the bride speech. Overall, the opinion is that It depends on your personal style and the tone of the wedding. Humour can be a great way to lighten the mood and make the speech more enjoyable for the audience, but it’s important to use it in a way that feels genuine and appropriate.
If you are naturally inclined to be a funny person, and you are comfortable with it, then you may want to include a touch of humour in your speech. You can still make your speech entertaining and engaging without using humour, by preparing, delivering and practising your speech well. In all, your speech should be tailored to your own style and should reflect your relationship with your daughter
Speech Delivery
Delivering your speech well shows your love and support for your daughter. The father of the bride speech is typically one of the first speeches of the reception, and it sets the tone for the rest of the event. A well-delivered speech can help to create a positive and excited atmosphere that will be enjoyed by all the guests.
Practise your father of the bride speech
Practicing your father of the bride speech is extremely important because it allows you to become more comfortable with the material and delivery of your speech. When you practice, you will be able to identify areas that need improvement and make necessary adjustments before the big day.
Beat the nerves
Giving any speech, especially at a big event like your daughters wedding, can be nerve-wracking, but there are some things you can do to help calm your nerves and deliver your speech with confidence.
Prepare thoroughly: The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel. Practise your speech out loud and in front of friends and family.
Use positive visualisation: Close your eyes and picture yourself delivering your speech with confidence and ease. Imagine the guests clapping and enjoying your speech.
Take deep breaths: Before you begin your speech, take a few deep breaths to help calm your nerves. This will also help to steady your voice and slow down your heart rate.
Speak slowly: If you’re feeling nervous, it’s easy to rush through your speech. Speak slowly and clearly, and pause between sentences to give yourself time to gather your thoughts.
Make eye contact: Make sure to make eye contact with different members of the audience. This will help to engage them and make them feel more included in your speech.
Practice, practice, practice: Did we mention… practice?!
A well-written and well-delivered father of the bride speech can help to set the tone for the wedding, build a connection with the guests and make a lasting impression, so it’s worth putting the work in to ensure all goes well on the day. The key to success is preparation, practice and delivery. By using these tips, you’ll be able to deliver a heartfelt, meaningful and memorable father of the bride speech that will be cherished by all.
Need Tips & Advice?
If you are looking for advice on how to write a Father of the Bride speech, you’ve come to the right place. You are the Father of the Bride – your girl’s wedding day is such a special day! When you held your child for the first time all those years ago, did you picture this day?
Well now it’s here and as her father, you will (traditionally) be the first to stand up and speak in front of the guests. But don’t worry! Follow our carefully selected tips and deliver a father of the bride toast to remember! If your daughter is also making a speech, tell her to head over to our tips to the bride: writing your wedding speech!
By Simon Biffen Photography
1) Welcome the guests:
It is your job to welcome everyone to the reception and acknowledge all those who have financially contributed to the wedding (probably best not to mention actual sums!). It is also a good idea to give a special welcome to the guests who travelled a long distance to be there and thank them for participating in the celebration.
2)The thank you’s:
Thank everyone who helped put this wedding together, the ushers, the bridesmaids, even the staff! You can also thank the special people in your daughter’s life, who helped raise her and make her who she is today! Take a trip down memory lane and remember your loved ones. Find out more about your wedding team here!
3) Praise the bride:
We find that every father-daughter relationship is different, some are more humorous, with plenty of banter, others are more sentimental and this is exactly what should be reflected in the overall tone of your speech. This section will require the most planning, so separate it into sub-sections: talk about the stories from your daughter’s childhood, about her achievements in her personal, academic and professional lives. Lastly, tell her how proud you are of the woman she has become and how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day.
By John Lennie
4) Welcome the new additions to your family:
You should also welcome the groom and his parents into your family. Many Fathers also take this opportunity to tell the groom what he has got himself into: this is the funny part of your speech, where you can joke about the bride. Talk about your daughter’s adorable little quirks and lighten the mood after the more emotional part of your speech.
We also think it’s a nice touch when the Father of the Bride talks about the groom – whether that be the first time you were introduced, or when the groom asked for your daughter’s hand in marriage, or just some funny moments or nice traits. Want to help your future son-in-law out? Send him our tips to the groom: writing your wedding speech!
5) A word of wisdom:
Finish with some advice to the newlyweds. This is a great time to mention your personal marriage experience and what you’ve learnt about love and family. If you don’t want to go down that route, then carefully chosen quotes about love and marriage can be just as effective. Whatever you decide to say, make sure to do so clearly and calmly, as the audience want to hear from you! We find that gesticulating when talking can ease the nerves too.
6) The toast:
End your speech by asking everyone in the room to stand up and toast the newlyweds!
And here is our Final Tip:
Don’t act the Alpha Male and threaten to hunt down the groom if he misbehaves! This never sounds as funny to the groom…
Sneaky tool: Calculate how long your speech will take to read – http://readtime.eu!
Wahoooo. Your wedding day is swiftly approaching! It is set to be the best day of your life. Everything is planned, everything is ready and now it’s all about marrying the person you love and throwing one hell of a shindig! Party aside, the true emotion at any wedding comes from the heartfelt speeches. And since Bridebook is here for you all the way, we have some tips on how to write a Best Man speech.
We’ve all been privy to awkward best man speeches, long-winded routines performed by bridesmaids and monotonous ramblings from that random uncle. So, in this series of tips, we are going to guide your loved ones to give a speech that they (and you!) will be happy (insert sigh of relief here) to remember and your guests will love. First up is the naughtiest of the bunch… writing the Best Man speech.
Structure of the Best Man Speech:
Have an opening line that grabs everyone’s attention
Give your congratulations to the newlyweds (get a few more cheers)
Thank the other speakers
Say some nice words about the bride
Make a few jokes and tell a few stories about the groom
Propose a toast!
By Miki Photography
Tips for writing and delivering your Best Man’s Speech:
1) Give Yourself Time
Leave yourself enough time to write the speech. Very few of us can naturally wing it and have the audience laughing at everything we say. Prepare stories and categorise them, this will make structuring your best man speech much easier. Think of stories about the groom, the happy couple or the three of you together. It won’t go down too well if you talk only about the two of you and include in-jokes that no one is going to understand! Obviously, there has to be a few – you’re the best man. And you’ve got a lot of stories!
2) Do Your Homework
If you’re talking at a multicultural wedding, find out about any interesting sayings in the native language or fun and exciting traditions, as that shows you made an effort to connect with all of the guests. This is a great opportunity for an icebreaker, but make you don’t say anything inappropriate or offensive!
3) Pick a Theme
A good speech has a theme as this creates a flow. Rather than a random recollection of unconnected stories, think of a theme to tie it all together. A great theme to use is how on earth did X manage to ‘get’ Y. This allows you to bring up funny stories of X and flatter Y. Embarrassing jobs, stupid incidents, bad fashion – it can all come out – and it keeps a great tone as the speech is focused on the bride and what she is taking on!
By Anna Clarke Photography
4) Test It Out
Always read your speech to a third party, at least several days before the wedding, so that you have enough time for editing. Tip: do not read it to one of the groomsmen, no matter how much you want to. What may seem funny to the two of you over a pint may not be hilarious to the audience on the day. (Obviously it is funny but grandma might not think so.) Oh, and bring a printed copy of the speech with you, so that you aren’t panicked and scribbling last minute notes.
5) Be Funny
The pressure is on for the Best Man because everyone expects them to be one thing… funny. Not just ‘ha ha’ funny but ‘gut-wrenchingly’ funny. Just remember two things: this is a toast and not a roast and please, remember your audience! You are not there to humiliate the groom and upset the bride, you’re there to make sure everyone has a good time and a giggle. But make sure you get some good old mockery in there, you can’t let them off that lightly.
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
6) Compliments All Round
Compliment the bride and mention how lovely the bridesmaids look. This is traditionally expected in a Best Man speech and will get you extra brownie points! You can also compliment the party, the food and even the groom (before you start making jokes at his expense).
7) Pace Yourself!
Don’t be too drunk or go on for longer than ten minutes, both are guaranteed recipes for disaster. Instead, speak calmly to the bride and groom and leave time for all that laughter! There’s the rest of the night to hit the jaeger bombs! Use this sneaky tool to work out how long your speech will take – http://readtime.eu!
8) It’s all about the future
DON’T: mention any ex-girlfriends or conquests, at all, ever. It will only create awkwardness. Mention how you envision the newlyweds’ future together, you can make this part funny and witty, but also emotional and sweet!
By Guy Hearn
9) Mr and Mrs – Wahey!
Start your best man speech with a reference to his “wife” or “Mr and Mrs” as that will always guarantee an enthusiastic response from the guests. As will a few self-deprecating jokes, which are guaranteed to put the audience on your side.
10) End with a toast!
End your speech with a cheer, but telling all the guests to toast the newlyweds and their union! Most of all enjoy yourself. You’re talking about your best friend and their amazing new bride. So, have fun gathering all the stories, enjoy it and then party the night away!
By Allister Freeman
If you’re planning your wedding and reading this, make sure you send this article to your best man! Once you’ve done that, why not try our other wedding planning tools? Use your budget planner to sort out all of your wedding costs, your guest list tool to keep all your guests and their info in one place, and your wedding planning checklist, to make sure you don’t miss anything!
Oh thank goodness for your wedding day. When else do you get a room full of tables packed with your nearest and dearest? Don’t be daunted by the prospect of working it out, enjoy it! You get to organise a room full of your favourite people – you can set people up, you can make sure your top people become best friends. So follow our tips and create the best seating plan known to mankind.
By Anna Clarke Photography
1) Square or round?
Ask your venue what shape tables they have available (round or square) and how many you can have for your wedding. Then you’ll know how many people should go on each table – and you’re ready to go. If you’re given a choice, have a google and see whether you prefer round or square.
2) Top table
Think about the Top Table. Traditionally, it is a rectangular table perched higher than the rest of the tables, with the newlyweds at the centre, flanked by their parents, the Best Man and the Maid of Honour. If the traditional isn’t for you, go for a circular table in the middle of the guests, or a sweetheart table just for the two of you. It’s your day, so do whatever you want and have the best time!
Start thinking about where your guests will sit sooner rather than later – to give yourself time to enjoy putting the plan together. We recommend dividing them into logical groups, like friends, family, colleagues, or any others that are applicable. This will form natural groupings that you can then mix up; making sure everyone socialises and meets new people! Try and seat people next to someone they will be comfortable with but will also have the most fun with! Balance out: men and women (traditionally you alternate between the two), loud and quiet guests, people that know each other and don’t.
4) Visualise it!
Try writing all the names on post it notes and sticking them to a drawing of the table plan – that way you can visualise it and move people around accordingly. Sneaky tip: use different colours for different sexes so you can keep track of everyone!
Be as considerate as you can of your guests’ needs. Children should be close to bathrooms and exits, the elderly should be close to the speakers as they might not hear as well and if you know some of your guests don’t like each other, sit them apart – drama averted.
6) Logistics
Don’t forget about logistics. Think about where the cake will go, where the photographers and videographers will have the best angles and how to give the waiters the easiest access to the tables.
Your bestest friend/ family member/ work colleague is getting married and you are over the moon! But it suddenly dawns on you: “what do I wear?” Wearing your Sunday best is no longer the norm for weddings, which can range from quaint rustic affairs, to lavish and extravagant soirees. Have no fear! We are here to decode the various dress codes and help you find the perfect outfit.
By Anna Clarke Photography
White Tie
Ladies: A formal, floor length evening gown in a neutral or dark colour. Stay away from white!
Gentlemen: A tuxedo, a long black jacket with tails, white shirt, white bow tie, gloves and evening shoes.
Black Tie
Ladies: A floor length evening gown or a cocktail dress.
Gentlemen: A tuxedo, white shirt, black vest or cummerbund, black bow tie and evening shoes.
By secretservice.com
Black Tie Optional or Formal
Ladies: A smart dress, long or cocktail, or a dressy suit.
Gentlemen: A tuxedo or a formal dark suit, shirt and tie.
Morning Dress & Suits
Ladies: Daytime cocktail dress that covers shoulders, or alternatively a blazer on top. Hats are optional.
Gentlemen: Morning suit, waistcoat, shirt and tie.
By Millie Benbow Photography
Beach Formal
Ladies: a smart sundress, knee-length or maxi.
Gentlemen: a summer suit and shirt, no tie necessary.
Semi-Formal
Ladies: a cocktail dress or a formal skirt and top.
Gentlemen: A suit and tie, dark or light depending on season and time of day.
By Anna Clarke Photography
Casual
Even though this says casual, jeans and flip-flops are not acceptable.
Ladies: A sundress, skirt and blouse, or trousers and blouse.
Gentlemen: Smart trousers with a shirt or smart polo, loafers or similar styles of shoe.
Festive Attire
Ladies: A bright and fun cocktail dress, paired with statement accessories.
Gentlemen: A suit, made more fun with a coloured shirt or tie.
Some Extra Tips From Us:
While we always encourage you to dress for the weather to be comfortable, never ever show too much flesh, it is against wedding etiquette.
We strongly recommend you don’t wear white. Sometimes a cream can be acceptable, but really, the white is the bride’s prerogative.
If you are wearing a hat, stick to small and neat. You don’t want to be obstructing the view of everyone behind you!
Traditionally daytime celebrations are before 5pm, and evening celebrations commence around 6pm.
You’re at that stage of wedding planning… choosing a room full of presents for just the two of you! Yup it’s pretty much our favourite bit – who doesn’t love presents?! You’ve spent months choosing what your lovely guests are going to eat, drink and dance to and now it’s time for them to say thank you. For some couples the gift list can be a breeze, especially if they know where they want to register and exactly what they want. Understandably, other couples take a little longer to decide – what if you want everything?! So let’s help you pull together the ultimate gift list.
Traditionally, wedding gifts made up a couple’s first home, so anything from comfy pillows to frying pans, to vacuum cleaners. Now, as lots of couples live together before they tie the knot, you may just be topping up things you have AND choosing things you love but definitely don’t need – why not?! As well as considering your needs, you should think about your style as a couple; if you are not into fancy dinner parties, but love camping, then choose an epic tent, not the punch bowl you will never use! Remember, as your guests browse your gift list, their reaction should be “wow, this is so them!”.
2. What are your options?
Gift list
The beauty of a gift list is that it can be set up in a number of stores and you can choose plenty of different pressies – yay! Stores like John Lewis and online gift lists like The Wedding Shop are absolutely perfect, as they stock a variety of brands and lots of goodies, like household items, clothes and anything else you can think of! Tip: always choose twice as many gifts as wedding invitations that you send! This will give your guests plenty of choice and make sure you do this for price options too. In our experience cheaper gifts will range from £20-40, £40-100 is fairly standard, £100-200 is more on the expensive side and £200+ are the luxury items.
Honeyfund
This option is perfect for a couple who have all the home comforts they need and would prefer going on an amazing and unforgettable honeymoon. There are two ways in which you can do this: one is to collect cash and spend it on your honeymoon of choice. Or you can personalise the experience for your guests – give them the option of contributing to a candlelit dinner, first class travel, or VIP accommodation, all of which will make their cash donations more special, both to them and to you.
Charity Donation
If you are a philanthropist couple, charity donations are another great alternative, especially if you have a cause that is close to your heart. Whether your guests donate to a specific project, or to the charity as a whole, you can let them know what their donations have achieved in your Thank You notes, which will make them feel pretty good about themselves – good deed for the day and wedding present sorted!
By Jamie Bott Wedding Photography
Cash
This option can be a bit tricky for a lot of couples, especially as they don’t necessarily know how to ask for cash. But don’t worry, cash gifts are perfectly acceptable and even traditional in a lot of cultures. Just make sure to spread the word to your family and bridal party, who will in turn notify the guests.
Personalised gifts
If you aren’t keen on any of the above options and really don’t want to ask for cash, you can ask your family and friends to get you personalised gifts, which can become awesome family heirlooms in years to come! One of our favourite ideas is a beautifully drawn map, where you can pin the destinations you’ve been to, destinations you want to go to and display it all in your living room, as a gorgeous piece of art. If collecting art and creating your own travel diary isn’t your bag, you can always go for collecting wine and filling up your wine cellar, with a special bottle set aside for your first anniversary and the christening of your firstborn.
3. Etiquette
We hear a lot of couples say that they have decided on their registry/charity/fund, but they don’t know how to let their guests know, especially as etiquette says that you shouldn’t put gift information on your invitations. You don’t need to worry, as there are plenty of ways around this. The first and most traditional is to ask your parents and Maid of Honour/Best Man to gently spread the word amongst your guests about your decision regarding gifts. The second, is to include it on your information sheet or on a subtle card (John Lewis provide these) with the gift list information on, so that you can slip one into your invitation envelope. Another option is to direct your guests to your wedding website and let them know the gift options there. Problem solved!
Long gone are the days when the MOBs had to wear washed out pastels or, horror of horrors, varying shades of the beige suit when their daughters got married. Now bright colours, amazing designs and stunning patterns are available to mums as they watch their daughters walk down the aisle (thank goodness!). Worry not about the amount of choice available! Our guide will make sure you look like an image of sophistication on your daughter’s special day.
When you start the hunt for the perfect outfit for your child’s wedding, let the bride lead the way. She has spent a significant amount of time setting the tone for the event, so will be able to tell you how formally or casually you should be dressed. She might even have a set idea of what she would like you to wear. So sit down with a glass of bubbly, grab some inspiration and talk through both of your ideas.
By Anna Clarke Photography
2. Which colour?
One question we get asked a lot is, “What colour should the Mother of the Bride’s outfit be?” It’s confusing without a strict guideline available. Some mums prefer to coordinate with the bridesmaids, but not match! But we do suggest you complement each other, so if they are in orange, you could wear a rich blue and look fantastic in the photos. We also suggest that MOBs should shy away from black, which can look mournful, red, which can be a bit racy, or white, which is the colour of the bride. Having said that, if done tastefully, all of the above can look fantastic. Choose a colour (or pattern) that doesn’t clash with the overall colour scheme and you will look absolutely fabulous.
The wedding venue and the season can be useful when you are deciding on your outfit. If your daughter is going for a beach wedding, then a relaxed dress will be perfect with some comfortable and pretty sandals, but if it’s a chic evening affair, then tailoring and heels are the way to go. The season will also guide you in terms of accessories: you might want a shawl or a blazer to keep warm with and they can be a perfect addition to any outfit. We would suggest you stay away from sky-high stilettos, not only will you have a fairly long day, but you will immediately start sinking in grass or in the sand – not a good look!
By Stephen Casey Photography
4. Mother of the Groom
Traditionally, as the MOB, you should choose your dress first and then notify the MOG of your decision. While you don’t need to follow this tradition, it is a nice gesture. After all, you will be in a LOT of photos together so you want to make sure you complement each other in your elegance. This does not mean that you should match, only that your outfits shouldn’t clash with one another. Note to self: start looking for the perfect attire six months before the wedding, leaving enough time for the MOG to find something she likes and for all the altering to be completed in time.
Demure and elegant are the main words when it comes to choosing your outfit! This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t inject a bit of personality through your accessories. Your daughter’s wedding is the perfect opportunity to wear a stunning hat or an elegant fascinator. If you don’t feel comfortable with either of those, then shawls, scarves and jewellery are a great way of adding some drama to your outfit. Bit of advice: don’t overdo it on jewellery and go with one statement piece. Our favourite look is a cuff bracelet or some statement earrings, with the neck left bear and feminine.
You also shouldn’t forget to take care of your hair and make-up! It is your daughter’s big day, but you shouldn’t leave your own beautification to the last minute. It’s a special day for you – you’re the Mother of the Bride!
By John Lennie
6. Undergarments
Even if you have found the perfect outfit, it won’t feel right until you have the right underwear to go with it. Choosing good hosiery will make you feel comfortable throughout the day and it will flatter your shape, making you look your best in the outfit that you choose! Try taking your dress to the shop so they can help you pick out the best items for you to lift and hold wherever you might need!
