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You are so excited, you have just booked your venue and probably all in a tizzle and it’s amazing, you most likely had lots of questions you wanted to ask but can’t think of any. This is quite normal, but don’t worry, by the time you get home, you would of thought of loads, but if not , here are 10 questions you may want to ask.
1. How many guests can the ceremony room hold? Which is a valid question as you may, once you have sat down and worked out the guest list, have more guests then you thought. You know what families are like! 2. Do you have a designated person of contact, just in case you have any questions, which you will? Most wedding venues have a least one Wedding Planner , but it is usually the planner who did your show around and who you booked with that will be your point of contact, so remember to get their name and what days they work. 3. Where is the access and toilets facility for guests with disabilities / mobility requirement? 90% of venues know have disabled facilities, it may be worth doing a small plan for guests who may need to use these facilities. 4. Do they have baby changing facilities and a room for nursing mum's? Baby changing facilities are usually located in the disabled toilets, but the venue should provide a small quite room or area for a mother who is nursing. 5. What is included in your wedding package? You may think this is a silly question, but the amount of times I ask a couple what is included in their package and they are not sure, get your planner to write it down, does it include chair covers & sashes, do they have the use of any centerpiece props, does it include a red carpet aisle runner, do you get a choice of wine, what soft drink alternatives do they include, does it include a reception drink, table wine and toast drink, how many choices can you have of the menu. 6. Are there any other events going on at the same time? This is always a good one to ask, I had a situation that a couple had booked a venue and thought they were the only couple who was getting married there on the day, but then I got another couple who booked same date same venue. Some venues have separate rooms far enough away with their own private gardens for their guests, but I also know that there is a few venues who make the couples share the only outside space and are allocated a time slot for photo’s. This is where you need to read your contract, it will say somewhere in small writing that venues do and will and can hold 2 weddings on the same day and there may be restrictions on the outside space on the day. 7.What time can you get access to the venue on the day? If there is not a wedding on the day before, most venues will allow you to drops items of, they usually have a room where they can keep them, you may also be lucky to stay the night before your wedding, which will make things a lot easier. If not, due to an event being on the day before, they usually have a bride’s room which you and your bridesmaids will be able to use, to get ready. You will also need to know what time your suppliers can gain access, I personally always contact the venue directly just to confirm this. 8. Is the venue doing any refurbishments before my wedding? You need to know this, just in case once the refurbishment has been completed, it changes the whole aspect of the venue, the venue you fell in love with. Again read your contract, as there may be somewhere in small writing that the venue reserved the right to refurbish certain areas of the venue and once signed they have done their duty and notified you. You may off planned your whole wedding decorations and flowers around the colours which they had at the time of you booking which may not suit after the refurbishment. If they are, ask what the changes will be and don’t be afraid to ask that important question, “what if I don’t like the changes”, can I cancel and get a refund. 9. What is your cancellation policy? This sometime happens and it is unfortunate. If you do find yourself in this situation be sure to read your contract and get your planner to explain it to you in full, so you are aware. If you just need to move the date and they can accommodate you then usually they will do this without losing any money, but remember they don’t have to, they are in their rights, as technically you are cancelling your wedding, to keep part or full monies which you have paid and make you re-book and pay again, if you find yourself in this situation I would say, be nice, polite, flexible and eat humble pie. 10. Music “ What I am I allow”? This could be a subject all on it's on its own, so I have tried to simplify it. Firstly ask if you have to have their DJ, as a lot of venues now have their own DJ’s and it’s usually in their package. If not can you source your own? Do they need to use the venues in house sound system or can they bring their own. This varies with each venue; some venues like to be able to control the music noise. Do they allow live music if so, do they have a stage or is there a biggish area for the band to stand, is there somewhere for the band to get changed? Are there plenty of plug sockets and where are they. Ceremony music, do they allow harpists or singers to perform, always check with your venue before booking your music.
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You are now happily engaged and what a feeling it is!!! Writing this blog topic has defiantly be a challenge as there is so much you can cover, so I have decided the best way forward is to cover this subject is in three parts. This blog will cover the venue, photographer, florist, brides dress, and bridesmaid’s dresses and suits budget. Remember your budget is never set in stone it is just a guide. Don't get too hung up and stress yourself out if you spend over what you wanted for a service/item you require, remember their always corners you can cut further down the road. The biggest mistake couples make is not being realistic on how much things cost, which in turns means you booking your wedding to early, just not giving yourselves enough time to save up.
So how do you pay for your dream wedding? This all dependent on your circumstances and what finances you already have going out. I would always suggest using savings as your first option with maybe a little help from family, but I know this is not always realistic, so as a last resort you could use finance in the way of a loan or credit cards, but remember you could be still paying for your wedding after you are married. Venue Budget Depending on where you want to get married, as this will make a big impact on your budget. If you are on a really tight budget then look at places which may do Free Function Hire, but remember if you take this route the venue may have a stipulation that they provide the food and drink, but this can work out a big saving. Then there are the venues which offer everything under one roof, ceremony and reception. These places I would have to say are the most popular, and 75% of venues will offer a package which could include ceremony, food, drink package, decorations and even a DJ, these are defiantly more appealing to couples, but remember this method will see most of your budget used, but covers a lot of the big out goings. The most expensive method is dry hire only, then you source out all your suppliers, but this is defiantly a more bespoke wedding and a choice. Brides dress, bridesmaids dresses and suits Every bride wants their ideal wedding dress and some bride do have expensive taste even without knowing. If you are on a tight budget, consider purchasing a second hand dress or even hiring one. For you brides who have a healthier budget and can afford a high street wedding dress shop, remember you could still save, by having your wedding dress made, which would be a bespoke dress made just for you and can cost half the price of a high street dress. Defiantly shop around for your bridesmaids dresses; you could suggest to your bridesmaid that they may want to purchase their own dresses keeping to a certain style, colour and length. With the men's suits sometimes it is cheaper to hire and again you could always ask if the groom's men could pay or at least contribute towards the suits. If you are paying for everything then consider shopping around or reduce your bridesmaids and groom's men. Photographer Majority of couples require some kind of photos taken, they want to remember their special day for years to come. Some couples will want the full works, from pre-ceremony to first dance. Some couples may only one from the ceremony to the first dance; this is all dependent on the individual couple and what their budget allows. Photographers are not cheap; it is another item which can be expensive. On average price for a photographer in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or Leicestershire for pre-ceremony photo's up to first dance can range from £800.00-£1200.00. There are photographers who can do this cheaper, but a good photographer has invested a lot of money and time in to their equipment and profession. There is defiantly a difference in the quality of work produced by a cheaper photographer .If you are on a tight budget then consider approaching the university's they will have students who need to do assignments which would usually cover some king of social gathering. You could just have photo's starting with the ceremony up to first dance which is usually cheaper, I good idea is to get a hand full of disposable cameras and place them on the reception tables for everyone to take pictures. Wedding Flowers Wedding flowers are important, especially for the bride. They can make a wedding extra special; they are a key component for any wedding adding extra colour, texture, smell and style, setting the mood for your special day. Remember flowers can make a statement and reflect on who you are. Brexit is lingering in back of everyone's minds at the moment and yes flowers have increased since Brexit was announced, florists have experienced an increase of up to 25% on certain flowers, but saying this I do feel that fresh flowers if your budget allows is a must. Prices from a florist can vary, depending on the florists experience, remember you not just paying for the flowers it their time as well, to create the perfect wedding flowers just for you, in your flower choice, colour and style. Example of estimates for fresh flowers, this would of course depend on what flowers you have and colour. Brides Bouquet estimate from £100 Bridesmaids Bouquets estimate from £55 Single Buttonholes estimate from £6.50 Double Buttonholes estimate from £8.50 Ceremony/Top Table Arrangement estimate from £100 Centerpieces estimate from £35 Maybe your budget does not stretch to fresh, so alternatively you could consider having artificial flowers, there are artificial flowers now which look quite realistic, don't give of a smell but by considering having artificial flowers you could reduce your flower budget by up to 25%. In my Wedding Budget -Part Two bog I will be covering: Wedding Decorations, Entertainment and Wedding Cakes. Make sure to look out for it! Are you needing a little help, just got engaged, I would love to here from you, message me today. Recently got engaged and starting to plan your special day. I can understand that you feel overwhelmed, a bit of what comes next at this stage.
1. So what does come next Your so excited as so you should be, you have just got engaged to the one you love and want to spend the rest of your life with. When is the best time to start looking at potential venues, it's up to the individual couple, some couples may want to enjoy their engagement for a while before starting to look, some may just want to dive straight in. You will know! You need to set a date when you are both free and have a proper planning discussion. You need to consider a date/month/year the guest list and your budget if you have one., will family be helping you out. 2) Where to start As the bride to be, you have had a little look already and probably have a idea of what your perfect venue has to look like. There is many avenues to consider, from enlisting a wedding planner to google search, I would consider the list below. * Google search * Family and Friends * Wedding Fayres/ Open Days * Magazines * Wedding Planner 3) Initial contact There are a couple of ways how this is done, firstly you could always give the venue a direct call and ask for a show around, secondly fill in a venue's contact form on their website and thirdly send them a email, don't forget to give as much information as you can. 4) Show around It is always good to prepare a list of questions to ask, as you may forget as you are having your show around. Don't forget to ask for a wedding brochure. If you really like the venue ask for a quotation, they may have packages which will suit your needs. Don't forget to ask about their Terms and Conditions, this is usually in a form of a Contract, it covers the deposit payment, when the balance is due and their cancellation procedures as well as other important information that you will need to know. 5. Booking your venue You probably have a short list of about 3 venues which you love, they can accommodate your date, guest numbers and is within your budget, go and have a second show around at all 3 of them, this usually helps to make that final decision. If you are still not sure ask if you can reserve the date for the next 14 days, most venues offer this. This will give you time to talk it over with family and friends, it's a bit portion of your budget remember. Read their contract, I know they can be long and boring but this should have everything you need to know, if you are not sure about anything then ask, you may have a few questions of your own which are not covered. 6. Deposit Make sure you are happy with the deposit you are paying,I would strongly suggest you pay by credit card if you have one, you are then covered "under section 75 of the consumer credit act, credit cards must provide protection for purchases above £100 and below £30,000". I would also strongly advice taking out Wedding Insurance, it's not that expensive and it's a extra cover, just in case! 6 steps to finding your Ideal wedding venue! Happy Hunting Following on from my last blog, I thought it was only right that I touch on the topic about how important it is to search and find the right suppliers for your wedding, who understands your unique vision and can offer you the professional and reliable service you expect. I would firstly consider approaching your venue as over the years they would of probably built up a good working relationship with a number of appropriate suppliers from previous weddings. They may even have a preferred suppliers list who may be offering discounts. These suppliers would usually attended the venue’s Wedding Fayes and Open Day's and may of collaborated on photo shoots for the venue. Defiantly contact these suppliers and ask for a meeting to discuss your requirements, ask them to bring evidence of their previous work in the way of photos and reviews from previous couples. This will give you some idea if these suppliers will suit your unique style. On the other hand you may want to outsource your own suppliers, you have had a recommendation from a family member or friend about a supplier, or you have been to a friend’s wedding recently and seem impressed with a supplier there. I hope you took their details! Firstly I would always do your research about a supplier, take a look at their website, make yourself familiar with what they are all about, take your time and look at the whole website, hopefully they will have pictures showing venues that they have worked with before, this can give you an indication of where they are willing to travel to, as this can be important, as extra charges maybe incurred if you are outside their normal delivery radius. Check their gallery, pictures say a thousand words. Always have a look at their prices, usually most suppliers will put their start from prices to give an indication of how expensive their services can cost, I would have to say personally I prefer these suppliers, shows they have confidence in what they offer. Have a look at their reviews; remember not every couple will off left a review. Don't forget to check out their facebook page, again take a look at their reviews and pictures, checkout any comments on their feed page. There are also plenty of wedding groups which you could put a quick post on asking for any reviews from couples who have used their services. You could also use facebook for recommendations, I personally have found this a great way to locate suppliers, people leave remarks suggesting a company who they have used and can recommend. You then have the good old google search, just because the company is at the top does not mean they are the best around; you can now pay to be at the top of a google search! Once you have found your ideal suppliers, ask them for a itemized invoice, at this stage only pay the deposit to secure your day. Deposits can range from 20-50% of total invoice. Don't for get to get a receipt for your payment. Final payments are usually due 4-6 weeks before your wedding day, but if feel you may struggle with a one of lump sum, ask the supplier if you could pay monthly. Never pay in full straight away, any reputable supplier would never ask you to do this. An Option... Any wedding planner would be happy and able to offer you suppliers sourcing package, there is a charge for this service, but could be incorporated in to addition services which you may require. Many couples do struggle with the amount of personal attention that the venue co-ordinator can provide and offer. A wedding planner can offer over and above allowing the venue co-ordinator to deal with the operations on a day to day basis. I can offer support, assistance and guidance through the process of choosing the right suppliers who are trustworthy and within your budget for you. I offer an initial consultation to discuss what services you would like to compliment your wedding day. Remember at the end of the day myself and all suppliers are working for you, so our end goal is to ensure you receive the best possible customer service and a day to remember, stress free! Are you needing a little help, just got engaged, I would love to here from you, message me today.  The outside wedding... what's it all about, there is a craze sweeping through the U.K and bridal market at the moment. Your venue forms such a big part of your day, spending it with love ones is important to you, it show your unique style. More venues are offering the availability for couples to choose this individuality, something a little different which expresses who you are as a couple. There are lots of ways to achieve your unique wedding, especially with this style of wedding, farmers are renting out their fields, using barns which are not used throughout the summer months for cattle, Tipi tents or marquee's being erected, in a field or on a forest clearing, venue's using their lawn area's.. There is the added bonus that many offer accommodation, in the way of bell tents or shepherd huts. The bonus is this is usually a weekend event, spending more time celebrating with family and friends, allowing a more relaxed and less rushed experience. Planning this style of wedding is no harder, you just need to have the right suppliers on hand, remember they do this every weekend so they are old hands at it. Do you arrange it all yourself or do you find a place which is already established and has everything on site already, this is great but of course it is more expensive but they do it all for you, on the other hand if you want this style of wedding and only have a certain budget then there is ways of doing it yourself and saving money.. It is always best to look at both. So how can I help as a wedding planner I can provide professional, expert advice, saving you time, money and energy which could be spent on the more personal details of your special day. I offer support and guidance needed to have everything perfect. I identify and prioritize what needs to be done, taking the stress out of wedding planning. All you need to remember is to take care of yourself and enjoy your engagement period so when you’re special day arrives, you have peace of mind that you can relax and enjoy your day with family and friends. Wedding suppliers Finding the right suppliers for you who understands your unique vision, dealing with all correspondence and the logistics of what each supplier requires to be able to provide your perfect wedding day. I can recommend reliable suppliers who I have worked with knowing that they are trustworthy and will give you their best price on your style and with the added bonus as your wedding planner, I will be in constant communication with them. Budgeting Money is the hardest aspect of planning a wedding, budgeting is something no one wants to talk about, but it is a big part of making sure that you can afford this style of wedding, costs can easily run away with you, I know how much things should cost and what percentage should be allocated for the venue, food, decorations, right down to gifts. I can provide a full break down of costs and keep you on track. Letting you know when deposits need to be paid to secure services and when final payments need to be paid, so there is no danger that a supplier will not turn up on the day, due to poor preparation. Are you newly engaged and this unique style is for you, I would love to here from you , Get in touch today.! The Wedding Open Day, this is where the venue wants to show of all its glory and what it can offer to potential couples and this is what you also want to see if you have shortlisted this venue or thinking of booking it for your special day. This is where they may use a few of their preferred suppliers to help transform their venue; everything they do on this day is to convince you that their venue is the one you want to book. They will ask a venue decorator to come in and dress the chairs with maybe chair covers and sashes, top table skirt and swagging, a post box, then there's the florist who can design some lovely fresh flower centerpieces and top table arrangement, a cake designer to provide a dummy cake and of course let's not forget the photographer, who can show you lots of pictures of weddings which they has shot there. They will have free prosecco and canapes with lots of their brochure's on tables and places that you can freely pick one up,, but most of all, they will have a few of their wedding planners on hand to answer any questions you may have and spend time with you to go over their packages. This is what I call a Wedding Open Day or Wedding Showcase Day! The Wedding Fayre Day, is a totally different experience and one which you may want to attend once you have found your venue to have your special day. This is usually also where some venues make extra money. They invite wedding suppliers from all different categories to exhibit with them on the understanding that they may receive interest from their couples or even bookings, but at the same time it is a good opportunity for wedding suppliers to get them self's notice, so over all it works well for both. The only gripe I have is some of these venues are making a fortune from suppliers, when there is no need to, yes I believe that they should covers some of their costs, if they provide table clothes, coffee and lunch. A lot of suppliers put a lot of work in to a Wedding Fayre, I know I do, losing their only day of rest, as these events are usually on Sundays, then there is the travelling expenses, some suppliers travel miles, especially photographers and of course spending money on stock, florist's and cake designers seem to have the biggest expense.. This day is for the venue's couple who have booked with them to come down and talk to suppliers, remember they will invite their preferred suppliers, but if they cannot make it, they will then invite other suppliers who they may not know much about or even worked with. I love it when a venue says" all our suppliers are handpicked". The venue will have their own stand with lots of brochures displayed as well and yes they will have their wedding planners available to answer questions, but they don't seem to spend as much time with you like they would do if it was a Wedding Open Day. What do I prefer? Well that's easy to answer, it's Wedding Open Days, I love these days, it's lovely to come in to a venue and see a blank canvas to work from. The venue may have a theme or colour as a starting point for me but on the odd occasion they will give me full rein which I love. At some venues I have been given the opportunity to pick my own florist and photographer and I would always have to say, I ask my daughter Emily from Em'z Flower Boutique to work with me, we work well together and find we bounce ideas of each other, I have a couple of favorite photographers who I work with as well. These days are great days, you have plenty of time to talk to couples to discuss their wedding inspirations, and it's a great opportunity for me and the other suppliers to showcase our work which you cannot really do at Wedding Fayre Day, especially if you are put in front or behind a singer and they always seem to sing just as you start talking to a couple, so you end up having to shout. You usually only get a 6 ft x 2ft table to display your items, which for me is not that good, as I prefer a round banqueting table and chairs to really be able to show a small part of what I offer. A Wedding Open Day and Wedding Fayre Day are both good in their own right, and I hope I have explained a little about how they do work. I would always say if the venue you are looking at offer Wedding Open Days then I would suggest attending as this is a really nice experience and can help you make your mind up about a venue. Regarding a Wedding Fayre I always say attend one just for the experience, but remember most venues will have a preferred suppliers list, and usually if you contact them directly they will offer you a free personal consultation! Tina x Remember, planning your wedding should be a enjoyable experience!! Hello everyone, it's been a busy week with lots of emails and quotes going out, but managed to keep on top of the groups which I am admin on, but it does take a lot of my time up.
I have been hearing more and more about scammers in the industry and how a lot of brides are getting taken to the cleaners, so I decided to update the rules on the groups, but not everyone's happy about it, but as far as I am concerned my first priority has to be the brides who use the groups . I cannot give guarantees for all the suppliers, it's just impossible, so I do my best, so brides can make a reasonable decision if to contact the company they are interested in! I believe if suppliers are reputable and legit then they should not have a problem with putting the basic, which are as follows: 1. Business Name 2. Business facebook link or website or both 3. A start from price for the products/service they are selling. 4. Their own original photo's 5. Contact Number If you have the business name you can search for the company, if there is a facebook page you can see what their reviews are like, website is a bonus as not everyone has this. Start from price just gives an indication to brides if you are in their price range. ( this is more for the brides then suppliers I know). I do understand that some suppliers will find it hard to estimate a starting from price, but they should have some basic tariff which they go by. I just find it all so silly, it’s like suppliers don't want to get business, especially when they just show the deposit, what’s that all about, I would want to know what the deposit is but first I want to know their start from price./s Red Flags: 1. Individuals Names ( they don't have a facebook business name or a website). 2. The review button has been removed of a business page. (This could mean they have had some bad reviews) 3. Don't have a contact number. (An email is not enough) 4. Don't have original pictures of their work. (Means they may not have done what they say they have done) 4. Price is too good to be true, remember the old saying "you get what you pay for" What should you be looking for, and what should you do? You find a facebook page and you’re interested in their services / products, scroll down their page and have a good look. Look at their reviews, read what they have put about them, make sure they have a contact number, find out where they are located; you need to know this, will you be able to collect or will they have to post and will it be recorded delivery? Have a good look at the pictures of their work. Check other groups to see if and where they advertise look for comments from other people. Don’t leave it there, brides always comment on a group when they receive a product from a supplier; like stationary. Then go to their website have a good look around at that.. Some websites can look fantastic and straight away you think they must be good, not always the case, like me I have a website and yes I advertise all my work but I do build my own website but I’m still learning, so I may have some mistakes but I am honest about this on my facebook page, I’m not technical minded and get very frustrated with it but you can see from my facebook page all my reviews and yes I am quite happy for potential clients to speak to any of my past couples and I know they would be happy to confirm their reviews and what they have written about me and the service I provided. Research done, what’s next? So you done all your research, well as much as you can and the supplier looks great, but there is still no guarantee’s, you can only do so much, so at this stage send them a message on their facebook or use their contact form on their website,don't forget to google them aswell, as they should show up on a search engine, ask for a meeting if they are located near to you, like me I always offer an initial consultation, I would prefer for the potential client to meet me, as it gives me a better understanding of what the client needs are. You cannot beat old fashion body language. If they are not local then ask about delivery and how you receive your products and what’s the turnaround time and will they be sent recorded delivery? will a signature be required? If they are sending out byt 1st class mail what’s their procedure if not received in the time scale which was specified. You place your order, what’s next? Ask for an invoice which should show the following: The name and address of the business including contact number and usually email address. Check the date on the invoice, make sure they have put the right month and year. Read through the summary of what you have ordered and what you will be receiving and the price is correct. Check if you have to pay the full amount straight away or just a deposit, usually if it's usually a deposit, most suppliers would ask for a 15-25% deposit and don't forget to ask when the balance is payable, usually this is not due until 1 month before your wedding date (I always issue an invoice and it always has all my information on, even more, I’m abit over the top, it has the clients names, contact number, address, email address, date of wedding, what time they are getting married and venue, as I said a bit over the top but it helps me. P.S. Some suppliers will offer a reduced price if you pay in full, personal I see this as a red flag, and if you pay in full and something goes wrong, then that could be a lot of money you are losing. Always double check and make sure you are happy with this arrangement before paying any money! Payment: How to pay? I know there is a lot issues around this but people do it different ways, some will take paypal, some will use bank transfers and then some will use cash. The problem with paypal is that they can charge the supplier which has to come out of their profit, but you can be protected if something goes wrong; always check what your rights are. Then there is bank transfer and everyone says keep away from this, as it’s harder to get your money back if something does go wrong and yes it can be, but a lot of suppliers do use this method. Then there is the cash method, yes on the old occasion I have taken cash, which I hate doing, I don’t want all that money on me (it worries me carrying cash around with me especially as it’s a clients), but some companies are fine with this, just remember to get a receipt there and then even if it’s a hand written one, with a signature from the supplier and dated. Which way you pay is up to you, but you must feel comfortable with your decision, if you are not sure don’t do it! Contracts? I am not going to go in to this in this blog as it would take too long, and it’s already becoming a novel. If there is one, all I can say is read it carefully, if you are not happy with some of it, don’t be afraid to ask the supplier what it means, if still not sure, then again don’t do it! Received service/product Once you have received your service / product please do leave a review on the supplier’s facebook page or in a group that they advertise, maybe on a post just like the one you saw. If you are not happy with their service / product contact the supplier explain to them why you’re not happy and how can they resolve it for you. I could continue but feel this will have to be another blog about if the supplier does not resolve your concerns to a satisfactory outcome, and I don’t have the spare few hours, which it would take to continue. At the end of the day if you are not sure, listen to your gut, it usually guides us right!!! If this helps one bride from making a terrible mistake from booking a bad supplier, then it's done it's job and it was worth the long blog!!! Tina.x If you would like a little help with your Planning, please get in touch to book a Complimentary Consultation This has been coming up alot on facebook groups lately and I can see it's abit of a challenge for some couples. Besides picking the venue this is about the 2nd hardest thing to do for alot of couples. I feel if couples had their way they would just invite the people they want there, but we all know this is not the case and never happens. As we all know, parents have a great influence on who we invite and we don't like to say no because we want our parents to be part of our special day and the planning and the other reason is they are usually footing some of the bill.. This counts for me aswell, my Daughter is not married yet but has been with her partner for 3 years, so yes we have discussed it a few times. We don't have a big family but her partner does and I thought she would want to invite all of them, but no she only wants a small wedding. I know we don't see some of our family due to our busy life's and living so far away, but she only wants to invite them to the evening, but my answer to that is but they live so far away, they must come to the daytime aswell. Then her partner has lots of cousins and second cousins who live in Nottingham, do we not invite them to the day, just the evening as they live so close, it 's a nightmare but I suppose we have a few more years to discuss! Who do you invite to the daytime reception? Depending on where you are getting married will reflect on how many guests you can invite. For a Registry Office ceremony that is very much dictated by how many it can seat and that's your number, usually they are smaller then any Church or Venue. Most churches and venues can take quite a few more, even going past a hundred, this is not always great, as parents and family then think they can just invite everyone! Most average weddings have a guest list of between 50-100 for the daytime reception, but this does depend on the budget as remember all the guests will want to be fed and watered. Which family members do you invite? Parents If parents are divorced and have new partners do you invite them to the day and evening? This is a tricky one, do the parents get on is the biggest thing to consider, if so and you are happy with your parents new partners then why not, if not this can be difficult but there is two things you could do, to keep your parents happy invite their partners or if you are not sure and would just prefer your parents there, invite their partners to the evening reception (I would only go down this route as a last result if it was me, as you could open up a whole new can of worms, especially if your parents think you may not like their partners.) Step Parents This is a tricky one aswell, because you have gained a whole new family and if both parents have re-married then that's two new families and all I can say to that is good luck! Grand parents Siblings and their partners and of course lets not forget their children, but this can sometimes work in your favour, a brother may be a best man, your sisters may be bridesmaids and their children could be users or flower girls. Direct Uncles & Auntie's First Cousins and their partners and children. Then depending on your numbers so far and how much budget you have left you then can invite more family, even if you don't see them very often or do you invite friends who you socialize with and spend time with. This is a difficult one, this is where families seem to mention that someone has not been invited and they think that they should of been. Do you invite just to keep the peace or stick to your guns and invite who you want. The thing is once you do it for one, it's amazing how someone else will then complain that another family member should be invited. Which friends and work colleagues do you invite? The friends I would invite is the ones that I keep in touch with, not always seeing them, but call on a regular basis or facebook quite often or friends that I meet up with and socialize with, the friend you want to see but live to far away! Work Colleagues I would invite for the evening. All I would say is if someone is travelling from afar I would invite for the whole day and evening, I would never just expect them to just come to the evening reception. Remember to try and stay within your budget which you have put aside for food and drink for the day and evening. Well hope this helps and good luck. P.S. Don't forget some will be on holiday, some will be busy and have prior arrangements which they can not get out of! If all fails, check out the Wedding Guest List Manager below! Tina.x If you would like a little help with your Planning, please get in touch to book a Complimentary Consultation  Christmas is over and done with and you have 6 months to go!Just recently I have been asked by couples, well mostly brides who are getting married this summer, what should they be doing now that Christmas is done and dusted. You have 5-6 months to go and before you know it spring will be here, which then leaves you only a few months left to finish of all them last minute preparations for your wedding day. Everyone knows how stressful and overwhelming that last few months can be, but take a deep breath! Here is a small tick of list, of things that should be given your attention, it's abit of a long one but hopefully it will help some of you brides who are not quite sure what they should be doing now! Bridesmaids Dresses 1. If you haven't already picked your bridesmaids dresses, have a day off and meet up, make a day of it, with incorporating dress shopping but at the same time, finding somewhere to eat and drink and discuss with the girls the rest of your wedding plans. Don't for get all the accessories! Wedding Transport 2. Are you booking the Wedding Transport or is he, make sure that's if it's him that you keep on nagging him to get it sorted as June, July, August and September are busy wedding months, so double check this has been done. Invitations 3. Make sure that wedding invitations are ready to go out, especially if you are inviting family from overseas. Give guests a time limit to respond, this is usually 6-8 weeks before your wedding day, then you will know who is not coming and who you can invite of your reserve list. Don't forget to create a spread sheet, this will help with the table planning later. Wedding Florist 4. If you have not already found and picked your florist this would be a good time to start. If you have a favorite flower let your florist know. Places to find a florist: Recommendations from Family and Friends Remember to have a look at their work on their website check out their reviews. Then make an appointment to discuss your requirements. Personally myself I would off booked my florist about a year before my wedding day, but a lot of couples are now leaving it later, sometimes it depends on the budget which is left. Hair & Make up 5. Book your hair and make up, if the budget is tight, talk to your bridesmaids and see if they would like to do their own make up or would they mind paying for themselves. Sometimes you will get a discount, if their are more of you being done. If you have already book then this would be a good time to contact them and make an appointment for your trails, this is a good time to get the girls to come with you, for some support and help. To have your hair up or down? Venue Dresser/Decorator 6. Make an appointment with your wedding decorator to discuss any changes that you are thinking of having or just to discuss how things will look, with your colour, style and theme that you want to achieve on your wedding day. Bring any samples you may have to show them. Discuss access times and how long they will be there and when will they collect. Gifts 7. Start thinking about them all important gifts which you need to find to make the day just perfect for your parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers and of course yourselves. Suppliers 8. A quick email to all your suppliers just to make sure that everything is in place as you would like it to be. Let them know times when they are required. This is also the time to think about them last minute extra's you would like and the finances say you can afford, so give them suppliers a call! Wedding Rings 9. This is the time when you should be thinking about them all important wedding rings, make a list of jewellers and go and have alook at some, they will be able to show you what they have in the way of designs and golds. Do you want white gold?, do you want a pattern on your ring?, do you want them to match?, these are all things to take in to consideration and they will be able to advise your accordingly. The Legal Bit Don't forget for most Marriages and Civil Partnerships, you must give at least 28 full days notice at your local registry office. I have put some down for Nottingham and Derby Nottinghamshire Registry Offices Arnold Registry Office Basford Registy office Stapleford Registry Office Bridgford Hall Registry Office Country House Mansfield Registry Office The Gilstape Newark Registry office Retford Registry Office The Nottinghamshire Registry Office - Worksop The Council House - City Centre Derbyshire Registry Offices Derby Registry Office ( Chesterfield) Matlock Registration Office Ashbourne Registration Office Bakewell Registration Office High Peak Registration Office Buxton Registration Office IIkeston Registration Office Long Eaton Registration Office Ripley Registration office Swadlincote Registration Office There is still plenty to do but if you have the majority of items in place when it comes to 2-3 months before your Wedding Day you should feel comfortable that you have defiantly lightened the load and can move forward to your next chapter . Just remember, that to-do-list's are fantastic, seeing them items ticked off defiantly encourages you to continue, it will all be worth it in the end, remember your goal! Best of Luck and Happy Planning Tina.x If you would like a little help with your Planning, please get in touch to book a Complimentary Consultation.       Returned back to work on the 8th January and been so busy this first week back, especially Saturday I had quite a few appointments, couples who had booked and I had not seen for a while and new couples wanting some guidance who were quite not sure what they wanted or needed. When you meet a couple for the first time it can go either way, they know what they want, including Style, Theme, Colour and Design and it makes my job a lot more easier when showing them items or they just don't have a clue, which can be so hard, as they don't always have that vision as yet and that could be down to a few factors, they may be indecisive and find it hard to make a discussion, just in case it's the wrong one, family members and friends are not always on hand to give that reassurance ok due to living too far away, they are unable to help, they know they have to do it, but time passes them by and then they get the wakeup call they only have 4-6 months to plan the rest of their wedding! Are you at this stage? you know what I am talking about, you have done the biggest and most important stuff, book your venue, you have sent the invitations out, got your wedding dress, booked your singer or DJ you know what you’re eating and drinking, it's the finishing touches which still need to be done which is as important as everything else that you have chosen for your wedding day. The bridesmaids dresses, the suits, flowers, styling and decor. Which one comes first, could it be the colour of bridesmaid's dresses, which then can determine the flower colours, which then determines the styling and sash colour as well as decor then the suits, what if you choose pink dresses and then pink flowers and pink sashes, will the groom and his bestman be happy to wear a pink buttonhole, if not then you are back to square one again, but It's nothing to feel scared about, you just need some help and don't feel embarrassed about asking for it, we all need a little help once in a while! I know sometimes organizing a wedding can be overwhelming and feels very stressful and frustrating. So when family and friends cannot be on hand to give their honest opinion's and support to these couples, that's where I can step in and give that all importance reassurance with support and guidance, from our first meeting right through to their wedding day. Tina.x E: [email protected] T: 07915607955       |
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