Planning your wedding and don’t know where to start? Bouquet & Bells have put together an ultimate Wedding Planning checklist, covering every aspect of the planning process right from the word go to your wedding day.
Use our step-by-step guide to help ease the stress of planning your wedding day.
You can download more of our free planning resources by clicking here.
EXTRA TIPS
Attend a Wedding Fayre
Wedding Fayre’s are fantastic opportunity to meet local suppliers and to gain inspiration by the latest trends and new innovative ideas. Get your bridal / grooms parties together and organise a few trips to various shows near you.
Pinterest is a great tool for inspiration, especially if you’re willing to get your hands dirty and DIY a few bits & bobs! Start browsing and save some favourites.
Start a Healthy Eating & Exercise Program
If you want to lose some weight or simply tone up for your wedding then why not form a weekly plan on small changes to start right away. You and a friend could go to the gym together, or perhaps some evening power walks.
Introduce / Keep on Top of your Skincare Routine
Makeup artists will always say that your base is so important to achieving a flawless makeup look. A good skincare routine is key. Seek professional advise from a skincare expert as to what you should do to tailor to your specific skincare needs.
Decide on a Gift List
If you have a specific gift list you would like your guests to follow, make one available by enclosing it with your wedding invitations or display on your wedding website if you have one.
And finally… enjoy every minute of your wedding day because it will go so fast! The important thing is that you make all the decisions for you as a couple and not to worry about anyone else.
Remember you can download more of our Wedding Planning resources by clicking here.
The Impact of Social Media at a Wedding Fayre – A Guide for Exhibitors (Part 3)
BY CLAIRE BOON
12/08/2019
5 MIN READ
So, you’ve signed up to exhibit at a wedding fayre… now what? We are often asked by suppliers how they can make the most of their experience at a wedding show, so we felt inspired to create a series of blog posts containing our top tips to help inspire you and give you the best possible chances of succeeding. We’ll help you ensure every box is ticked to give you the best possible chance of securing those all important bookings.
This third and final post in the series focuses on the impact of social media at a Wedding Fayre and how you can use it to your benefit.
Use your followers
Every business has a following, and we encourage exhibitors to use this to their benefit. Our wedding shows host anywhere between 25 – 100 exhibitors, and with so many wedding specialists coming together the online reach can be extraordinary. It’s important that your followers are informed where they can next find you, and giving them an opportunity to meet you and chat to you face-to-face may just encourage a booking!
Marketing plan
We send a comprehensive marketing plan as part of our Exhibitor Manual to all exhibitors that attend our shows. This is made up of lots of ways they can help spread the word about the wedding show.
It’s essential that we work with exhibitors to help boost visitor numbers. While we have a great following with lots of excited couples and a fantastic list of pre-registered couples for each show, working together can result in even more people visiting the shows which gives suppliers a better chance of securing those all important bookings.
Continue social media at the show
Your social media presence at a wedding fayre is so important. Why not take a photograph of you at your stall and let your followers know you’ve arrived. We’d always recommend using the official hashtag (provided in the marketing plan) and tagging us in all of your posts so we can share to our following.
Wedding shows are also a fantastic way to network with other wedding specialists. Why not have a wonder around before show opening and exchange social media handles with fellow exhibitors.
We love helping to make connections. We always publish a list of exhibitors to our social media platforms and website prior to a Wedding Fayre, making it super easy for suppliers to connect in advance.
I hope that’s helped you understand the impact of social media at a wedding show.
Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.
You know that old saying “new year, new me”? Well, ahead of the fast approaching 2025, we’ve decided to switch some things up around here and add a dash more sparkle into Bouquet and Bells.
This shoot was inspired wholly by the vastness and beauty of the venue as well as the unitarians inspiring ethos: Ullet Road Unitarian Church. We chose a beautiful day for the shoot, meaning the light flooding into the building and outside of the building was beautiful. We had a selection of dresses to change into for different parts of the church, and we utilised the late in different rooms and at different windows, as well as the doors for the iconic confetti shots.
Your wedding is a magical day which will stay with you forever. However, it’s unquestionable that with a tag like that, there’s also going to be an element of pressure you need to manage. 84% of brides report feeling some sort of stress about their big day. And while a lot of this comes hand-in-hand with planning a large event, it’s unquestionable that standing in front of anyone as the “star of the show” is going to get the nerves jangling.
Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more! Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.
The Dos and Don'ts of Exhibiting at a Wedding Fayre - A Guide for Exhibitors (Part 2)
BY CLAIRE BOON
26/03/2019
5 MIN READ
So, you’ve signed up to exhibit at a wedding fayre… now what? We are often asked by suppliers how they can make the most of their experience at a wedding show, so we felt inspired to create a series of blog posts containing our top tips to help inspire you and give you the best possible chances of succeeding. We’ll help you ensure every box is ticked to give you the best possible chance of securing those all important bookings.
This second post in the series is focused on the crucial dos and don’ts of exhibiting at a Wedding Fayre.
Do remain standing for the duration of the event if you can
You’ll appear much more welcoming and approachable to couples if you are standing. Additionally if space allows, try to stand to the side or in front of your stall.
Do have an incentive such as sweet treats on your stall
Having an incentive in viewing distance of the visitor like a sweet treat, or special offer will encourage brides to take advantage of this and engage in conversation.
Do collect couples details
Collecting couples details is very important because it will enable you to contact them after the show. It’s often the case that wedding shows are very busy with continuous fresh faces passing your stall. If you engage in a long conversation with a particular bride, it’s likely that you’ll miss potential customers that pass by. Therefore, it’s best to speak to brides but encourage them to write down their details so you can chat to them further after the fayre.
If you don’t quite manage to capture as many details as you would have liked, we always have all the bridal data available to purchase following a show.
Do make your services clear
It should be super clear who you are and what you can do. First impressions are everything. You don’t want to mislead brides or leave them confused as this could detract from potential business.
Do make sure all banners and promotional material are in good condition
I’ve seen multiple suppliers feature tatty banners on their stand that look like they’ve been around for about 10 years. It’s so important not just to keep banners fresh, but to update the artwork and wording to keep everything current.
Do have someone else helping you on the day
There’s a very high chance that you’ll spend the majority of your time speaking to multiple couples, and there may be times where you’re in such high demand with a line of people wishing to speak to you about your services. Try to bring a helping hand with you on the day. Preferably someone that knows a little about your business and can therefore pass the right information on to brides.
Do social media
Being active on social media is not just to help promote the fayre, but it’s to promote yourselves. We’re always hot on social media at our events, so it’s likely that anything you post will be shared on our platforms, allowing our brides and suppliers to connect with you.
There are lots of ways to become involved on social media. Live videos are a fantastic way of giving your followers a taste of the wedding fayre.
Don’t accept the standard furniture included with your space
I know this may seem odd as we offer a 6ft trestle table, plain white table cloth and chairs as standard across our shows, but not using this and creating your own unique set up sets you aside from the average stall and will make you stand out. Even switching the table cloth to one of your own can help. Around 90 – 95% of suppliers use the standard set up, so don’t be scared to be different. It can really pay off!
Don’t leave the show early or start breaking down before closing
Not only does leaving early look unprofessional, but you may miss potential business. It isn’t unusual for us to get a number of brides entering the show just before closing, and they may just be the ones that make a booking.
Don’t eat at your stall
I feel like this one is a little obvious, but we do see a lot of exhibitors sitting down and eating their lunch at their stall. This can be incredibly distracting for visitors and detract them from approaching you. This is another reason why you should have someone else attend the fayre with you on the day. It’s important that you take a well deserved break at a show.
Don’t forget to network
I met a lot of my contacts by attending wedding shows in my spare time, and it’s always lovely to chat to fellow suppliers. Why not head over to some stalls and follow them on social media – It’s likely they’ll return the favour.
We like to upload photographs of exhibitor stalls on our Instagram story during the show, and we always like to tag the supplier so make sure you’re on Instagram and return the favour by sharing the story to yours, and follow the tagged suppliers. This just makes connecting suppliers super easy.
I hope that’s helped you understand the crucial dos and don’ts of exhibiting at a Wedding Fayre.
Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.
You know that old saying “new year, new me”? Well, ahead of the fast approaching 2025, we’ve decided to switch some things up around here and add a dash more sparkle into Bouquet and Bells.
This shoot was inspired wholly by the vastness and beauty of the venue as well as the unitarians inspiring ethos: Ullet Road Unitarian Church. We chose a beautiful day for the shoot, meaning the light flooding into the building and outside of the building was beautiful. We had a selection of dresses to change into for different parts of the church, and we utilised the late in different rooms and at different windows, as well as the doors for the iconic confetti shots.
Your wedding is a magical day which will stay with you forever. However, it’s unquestionable that with a tag like that, there’s also going to be an element of pressure you need to manage. 84% of brides report feeling some sort of stress about their big day. And while a lot of this comes hand-in-hand with planning a large event, it’s unquestionable that standing in front of anyone as the “star of the show” is going to get the nerves jangling.
Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more! Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.
How to Prepare for a Wedding Fayre: A Guide for Exhibitors (Part 1)
BY CLAIRE BOON
12/03/2019
5 MIN READ
So, you’ve signed up to exhibit at a wedding fayre… now what? We are often asked by suppliers how they can make the most of their experience at a wedding show, so we felt inspired to create a series of blog posts containing our top tips to help inspire you and give you the best possible chances of succeeding. We’ll help you ensure every box is ticked to give you the best possible chance of securing those all important bookings.
This first post in the series is all about preparing for a wedding fayre.
Your Brand
Branding is super important because not only is it what makes a memorable impression and distinguishes you from others, but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company.
Your logo is the most important element of your branding because it is the face of the company, so it should be memorable and used across your promotional material.
Colours and themes should also remain consistent throughout.
We would strongly advise having the following literature & promotional material featured at a wedding fayre:
• A large promotional banner – this may be a roller banner style, or why not get creative and make your own frame to hang your promotional material
• Business Cards
• Flyers / leaflets – this should contain more details on your business and what you’re able to offer couples
We’ve previously seen exhibitors offer a sweet treat or incentive attached to their business card. This is a very good idea as it helps couples remember you, and you’ll stand out for all the best reasons.
It’s also a good idea to have a treat available for children as they’re often brought to wedding fayres, and this is always massively appreciated by the parents because it keeps them quiet!
All items you hand out should include your contact details and website to make it easy for couples to get in touch following the event.
Your Stall
When you are exhibiting alongside top industry professionals and your competitors, you must at all times strive to outshine them. After all, visitors will be bombarded with information and will see so many new faces so help them to remember you.
Your exhibition space should be eye catching and completely irresistible for couples to approach. Why not include something wacky like a dog stuffed toy in a wedding dress? That way when it comes to emailing the couples you met you can start with “I was the exhibitor with the dressed up dog on my stall!” It will make them smile.
It’s essential that visitors recognise the kind of services you offer as soon as they see your stall. Your key message should strike a chord with your audience. It should summarise what you are offering and why your consumer needs it. There are often 30+ different exhibitors at a single wedding fayre, so it’s very easy for brides to get distracted by the variety. Don’t leave them confused about what you do because they’ll give up guessing very quickly.
We highly recommend setting up a mock stall at home. Being prepared in advance to the show means you’ll have time to play around with your space at home, and you’ll have a list of exactly everything you need to bring on the day, avoiding bringing any unnecessary items or forgetting anything!
Goody Bags
Goody bags are something we know couples love which is why we like to have them available across our wedding fayres. These goody bags are filled with special offers and discounts from exhibitors, as well as other treats.
We don’t charge a fee to advertise in our goody bags if a supplier is exhibiting at the show, so take the opportunity! By featuring your literature in the goody bags brides are guaranteed to walk away with your details (and a great special offer they can’t resist).
A lot of couples don’t tend to begin the process of sifting through exhibitor literature until they get home, so another benefit of promoting in goody bags is they’ll come across your details when they’re at their most proactive.
Setting an Incentive
One of the top reasons why couples like to visit wedding shows is to make the most of the exhibitor special offers and discounts.
Having an incentive can hugely increase chances of bookings, so it’s important you think carefully about what you could offer. If you don’t want to discount the price of your service or package then you could throw in a freebie instead. Either way this acts as a great incentive and will encourage visitors to engage in conversation.
An offer that’s usually quite effective is a freebie for members of the brides / grooms parties, for example, a florist may offer five free gentlemen’s buttonholes when they book.
We’d recommend extending your special offer for up to a week after the wedding fayre because some couples prefer to book after the event once they’ve had a chance to look at your services in more detail.
I hope you’ve gained some useful tips and tricks on how to prepare for a Wedding Fayre. To view our line up of shows, please click here. We’re always looking to connect with more suppliers so please get in touch.
Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.
You know that old saying “new year, new me”? Well, ahead of the fast approaching 2025, we’ve decided to switch some things up around here and add a dash more sparkle into Bouquet and Bells.
This shoot was inspired wholly by the vastness and beauty of the venue as well as the unitarians inspiring ethos: Ullet Road Unitarian Church. We chose a beautiful day for the shoot, meaning the light flooding into the building and outside of the building was beautiful. We had a selection of dresses to change into for different parts of the church, and we utilised the late in different rooms and at different windows, as well as the doors for the iconic confetti shots.
Your wedding is a magical day which will stay with you forever. However, it’s unquestionable that with a tag like that, there’s also going to be an element of pressure you need to manage. 84% of brides report feeling some sort of stress about their big day. And while a lot of this comes hand-in-hand with planning a large event, it’s unquestionable that standing in front of anyone as the “star of the show” is going to get the nerves jangling.
Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more! Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.
Your wedding day has finally arrived! You’ve probably not slept much the night before, and are conscious that numerous people are going to begin bundling through your front door any moment. So how can you keep calm and focused? How can you actually survive and enjoy the should-be-exciting getting ready process?
I was very lucky to get married in June this year, and I was really looking forward to having all my bridesmaids and closest family members around whilst I got ready, but I knew I had to prepare and I have a lot of tips that can help you survive the getting ready process (and actually enjoy it!).
Source: atravelersheartphoto.com
It’s all in the prep
I’d highly recommend getting as organised as possible in advance to the day. This will avoid rushing around trying to get everything done on the morning of.
Buy some yummy nibbles, a range of drinks (soft and bubbly), make sure all the bathrooms are clean and beds are fresh for a relaxed start. I also arranged designated areas for the hair stylists and makeup artists to set up and prepared it for their arrival.
I also prepared a Spotify playlist, filled with feel good songs to play throughout the morning. You can listen and download it here.
Print off your morning schedule
I created a morning schedule with all the important events of the morning listed. This included things like what time the photographer was due to arrive, what time to leave for the church etc. Basically anything I needed to remember I put into the schedule.
It’s so important to take some time out to chill, have a bite to eat and drink lots of water. The time goes very quickly so it’s good to enjoy the moment.
Get dressed in plenty of time
The bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride should get into their dresses around 45 minutes before leaving, then they can all assist you.
My bridesmaids totally underestimated the amount of time if takes to get into dresses (sorry ladies!). The final half hour turned into a mad rush to get everyone dressed and out the door. The bridal cars were outside eagerly anticipating our departure, but the neighbours kept them chatting!
It’s important to remember that it will take the longest time to get you into your dress (especially if you have buttons running all down the back like I did!) so get your bridesmaids to help as soon as they’re dressed.
I hope you’ve gained some tips and tricks to getting ready on your wedding day. Don’t forget that you can access my library of free planning resources by clicking here.
You’ve secured the date, booked your dream wedding venue and drafted the all important guest list.
But it’s the small details at a wedding that make all the difference. Guests will remember your day for the little extras, and these will make your day the most talked about wedding for years.
Here are my top simple and budget friendly picks to make your guests say “wow”.
Keep them entertained
Weddings are often a looong day. And with the wedding breakfast lasting up to two and a half hours on average, it’s important to keep your guests throughly entertained. Having games on the table is a good, simple way to keep guests alert and they can also be a fantastic ice breaker if guests aren’t familiar with each other.
Psst – We have been getting crafty recently and can create completely bespoke table games for you. Contact us for a free quote.
Anticipate their needs before they do
It’s your job to think of absolutely everything your guests could possibly need to make the day a little more comfortable for them.
A popular idea is to offer flip flops for tired feet, or blankets if the weather’s predicted to be a little chilly.
The idea is to anticipate your guests needs before they do.
Give them a say
It’s important to hear your guests out. Find out what song they’d like to hear by including a space for a request on the invitations.
Create an interactive guest book
Polaroid’s are a fun an alternative way to create a guest book. Have your guests snap away and sign the polaroids, then stick them into the guest book.
Write a personalised note
Personalised notes are a great way to show your guests that you really appreciate them sharing the day with you.
Write each person a personalised note and leave it on their place setting to show your appreciation.
Give them favours they’ll actually use
Favours are something people always tend to leave until the last minute and skimp on. Do you guests really want a pebble with your initials on? Give them something they can really appreciate.
This is throughly entertaining for guests and is such fun for you as a couple. Create a fun mix of your favourite cheesy hits. You can have first dance lessons for as little as £30.
Assign Ushers to guide guests to their seat
Believe it or not, this was originally an Ushers duty at a wedding, however the tradition has faded in time. Why not bring it back and make guests feel cared for.
Planning your wedding can be a tough journey – to say the least. Brides often rely on the likes of Pinterest and Bridal magazines to gain inspiration on the current trends and themes, and Bridal Forums can be a planning saviour.
Your wedding day is quite possibly one of the most important and memorable days of your life. This comes with an immense amount of pressure for everything to be perfect.
But what would REAL Brides have done differently if they could plan their wedding again?
We asked a selection of past Brides this exact question and put their responses in a blog post for you to relish.
Had a photograph with their nearest and dearest
The day is often such an overwhelming blur that it’s easy to forget to be photographed with the people you love the most. Discuss your requirements with the photographer prior to the wedding and they’ll give you a little nudge on the day to prompt the important shots.
Having a photobooth or disposal cameras on tables make it easy for guests to grab shots together.
Had a wedding video
This is the number one biggest Bridal regret. Having decent photographs is one thing, but a wedding video truly captures the day.
Those that organised a professional to shoot the whole day on film were really glad they had spent the extra money.
Lived in the moment
A lot of Brides become so overwhelmed on their wedding day that they forget to take a step back, breathe and just look at what they’ve created.
It’s your day, so don’t end up annoyed that you didn’t enjoy every minute of it because you were running around making sure everyone is happy.
Hired a Wedding Planner
We couldn’t count the amount of times we’ve heard “I wish I’d had a Wedding Planner”.
Sooo many brides only realise how stressful planning their wedding would be after their big day, and they desperately wish they’d reached out for some help and guidance before it all got too much.
We can be on site for your entire day to ensure everything runs smoothly, as well as helping with your styling and decor.
Taken a spare pair of comfortable shoes
What ruins a night? Sore feet!
Don’t forget that you’ll be wearing your wedding shoes since mid morning. Your feet are bound to throb as the day progresses. Have your Maid of Honour look after some comfy flats for you.
Letting the stress take over
The day will go extremely quickly, so it’s important to make the most of it and truly enjoy every moment.
I think it’s better to accept that there will be minor hiccups on the day. Then you can at least prepare yourself for this.
As stressful as wedding planning can sometimes be, it’s a fantastic feeling to finally get everything confirmed and be in a position where you can start looking forward to the big day.
What would make this feeling even better?
Finding out that you have a spare £1,000 in your wedding budget because you’ve been able to make savings along the way would definitely have our vote, especially if you’ve planned and paid for your honeymoon within that.
So, your wedding is ready to go, but you have that spare £1,000 that you could use to add a finishing touch to your wedding. Here are some of our favourite ideas that you could perhaps spend the money on.
Photobooth Fun
Photobooths are becoming increasingly popular at weddings, and for guests who don’t make it into the ‘official’ wedding photos it’s a great way for them to take something away from the day that they’ll always remember.
Photobooth companies offer a variety of options, too, from you just paying to hire the booth while guests pay a few pounds to use it to you paying for as much use as you like. As well as photos you can create GIF’s, add effects like you would on Snapchat, and add various other quirks to your photos.
If you weren’t sure what you wanted when it came to your wedding entertainment and ended up booking your venue’s house DJ, having this £1,000 left over may be a chance to change things up a little.
Now, we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with a house DJ, no doubt they’ll provide you with a great party and play everything you ask them to, but this is your day, and an opportunity to do something differently.
You could consider booking a wedding band instead – just remember they’ll take up more space than a wedding DJ – or looking at other forms of entertainment such as a table magician or dancers.
Freak Music is a great website for finding a wedding band, while if you use a wedding planner such as ourselves we can put you in touch with other options across the UK, too.
Book a Fireworks Display
Despite the widespread popularity of fireworks, they’re still something of a rarity when it comes to seeing them at weddings.
One of the big advantages of fireworks is that you can have a lot of flexibility around the length and type of display you have, while if you only wanted to use a small amount of your remaining budget you could order a display but fire it yourself!
Wedding Fireworks by Firework Crazy provides a range of display options, and for self-firing packages provides you with a layout map and a remote ignition kit to make your display happen yourself, or alternatively they can come to you and wow you in person.
Invest in More Wedding Favours
Whether you have a wedding list, ask for gift vouchers, or request contributions to your honeymoon fund, your wedding guests contribute a lot to your day. If you aren’t having hundreds of people at your wedding then your £1,000 could go a long way to upgrading your wedding favours.
Brides Magazine has some great ideas for wedding favours, while of course you can come up with your own unique ideas, too.
Adding the Finishing Touches, What Will You Do?
What will you do to add the finishing touches to your wedding? If you need help in adding your finishing touches or with your wedding planning in general, you can contact us here.
Did you know you can access a range of free, useful documentation including spreadsheets, checklists and guides to help you plan your wedding, the RIGHT way?
We’ve gathered together a selection of top wedding planning tips & tricks based on our experiences, as well as those from experts in the industry, just for you.
We reveal clever ways on how to save money, as well as techniques to make the entire process a heck of a lot more stress-free.
Want to read even more tips and tricks? Download our FREE resource straight to your computer now. Click here.
START EARLY
Don’t hang around. Suppliers often get booked up extremely quickly, so don’t prolong the booking process, especially if you’re getting married in peak summer. “Late planning will drastically reduce the options,” says Vic Alexander, Visiting Tailor at JB Bespoke. “This could result in ‘second best, poorer service, and far from a dream wedding.”
HIT PINTEREST
Pinterest is quickly becoming the most popular search engine, especially for Brides. I like to call it the wedding Bible.
BE BUDGET SAVVY
Start by actually writing down your budget, saying it out loud even helps. Then begin to think about what you’d LOVE to have at your wedding.
THINK BEFORE YOU START RESEARCHING VENUES
What kind of wedding do you want? And how many guests do you want to invite? Only once you know the answers to these questions should you start researching possible venues.
VISIT YOUR VENUE AGAIN, AGAIN & AGAIN
You’ll find that you come across so many questions throughout the planning process, such as, “how many tables can we fit in the space?”, and “where can we put flowers where guests will notice?”. Visiting your venue during open days/evenings is a great way to discuss any queries with the staff (plus it’s always nice for an excuse to see the venue again!).
THINK ABOUT THE LIGHTING
Lighting is something that is usually massively overlooked, yet it can make all the difference to your venue. Uplighters and candles are relatively low-cost effective ways of introducing lighting. Don’t forget to think of outside lighting too – outdoor lanterns are really cheap and look amazing.
CHOOSE WISELY
“Take your time and choose suppliers that compliments your personal style. Shop around before contacting them. Everything is easier when you work with suppliers that you trust 100%.” Cameron & Mindy Braun of Braunphotography.
Click here to download even more incredibly useful wedding planning tips & tricks — it’s free!
CHOOSE A MENU YOU WILL ENJOY
Many future brides and grooms worry about the wedding breakfast menu, and get caught up in the details of others’ preferences and dietary requirements. Trying to please everybody is an impossible task. It’s YOUR day, so pick a menu you and your partner both love.
MAKE THE PLANNING FUN
“With so much to think of, planning a wedding can be really stressful. It’s easy to forget to enjoy the journey,” says Maria-Antonia Greenhill, Wedding and Event Planner of White Door Events. She encourages her clients to make a celebration out of as many planning events as possible. “For instance, if you’re having a dress fitting, meet with your entourage for afternoon tea or bubbly afterwards.”
GET ORGANISED
Create a master document with supplier names, contact numbers, and other important details. Not only will you feel in complete control during the planning stages, you can print it and hand it to one of your trusted bridesmaids on the day!
TAKE NOTES
“It may feel a bit like being back in school, but take lots of notes when visiting venues or other suppliers. You’re bound to forget the detail by the time you get home. With venues specifically, I recommend giving marks out of ten on things like style, charm, and budget.” MariaAntonia Greenhill, Wedding and Event Planner of White Door Events.
Click here to download even more incredibly useful wedding planning tips & tricks — it’s free!
Did you know you can access a range of free, useful documentation including spreadsheets, checklists and guides to help you plan your wedding, the RIGHT way?
Most Bride’s are unaware of hidden wedding costs. But you’re already very wise to search the net for any potential nasty surprises that will knock a hole in your budget.
With lots of hidden wedding costs sprinkled throughout the planning process, it can cause you to go way above your budget, around 30% in fact. Ouch.
So where are these hidden costs? And how can you avoid them? Listen up, my friend, cos’ I’m about to teach you a whole lot.
Grab a pen and paper to jot down some of my essential tips.
SET-UP & BREAKDOWN
Are you going to hire a florist? A venue dresser? A cake maker? Each of these will charge various fees to cover transport costs, and the time it takes to set-up and breakdown items.
This can be anything from 20% of a single suppliers total costs. And obviously, the more suppliers you use, the more you can expect to pay in these fees.
ALTERATIONS
Alterations can be costly for the Brides and Bridesmaids dresses. Before you buy, you must ask what the stores alteration policy is.
It’s extremely common for the Bride and Bridesmaids to fluctuate in size, and you don’t want to be forking out potentially double your original budget in alterations.
This can cost anything from £100 per dress.
POSTAGE
It seems most Brides are still opting for the more traditional method of posting the invitations to guests. Which personally I LOVE, however, you must remember that not only are you paying for the invitations to be delivered, but also for stamps and RSVPs.
To keep costs down, avoid bulky or large invitations and use RSVP postcards rather than letters.
VENUE
This is fo’ sure my biggest tip. If you take anything away with you today, let it be this.
Ask your venue what exactly is included in your chosen package.
Table linen? Chairs? Cake table? Lighting? These aspects can be the most costly for a wedding. And do you know why? Because it’s a WEDDING, so venues know they can be sneaky and charge up to triple what they usually would.
Be very careful that you’re not purely paying for hire of the venue.
These costs can add an additional £75 EXTRA per person. Say what?!
CORKAGE
Bringing in your own wine sounds like a good get out of extra fees, right? It can be, but be wary of the corkage charges.
If you bring your own alcohol to avoid the venue’s costs, you may still rack up a similarly priced bill. And you may even be charged glass rental fees.
Corkage fees range from venue to venue, so it’s always worth asking.
PERMITS
While having an outdoor wedding may initially seem cheaper, you may have to get permits to hold your event. Add on rentals (marquee, heater, generator, etc.) can begin to get costly.
Some indoor venues will also require a permit if you choose to use candles or other non-approved details. Inquire about these before signing the contract.
Additional add ons can cost from £500.
WEDDING BREAKFAST
Some venues charge extra for guests to select their own meal from a range of dishes. This can cost an additional £2 per person. However, this is not expected by guests so make life easier for yourselves and just choose some good all rounders.
If there’s no set price for a three course meal, be cheeky and save some buck by opting for the wedding cake as desert instead.
TAXES & SERVICE CHARGES
Did someone say taxes? Yawn. Listen up though, cos’ this is important.
Tax varies from country to country, however you can expect to fork out an extra 20% on food, drink and rental fees.
Make sure that the venue package is inclusive of VAT, or at least be aware of the extra costs you’ll possibly have to pay. Sometimes, you will even be taxed on the service charge, increasing costs more.
Taxes and tips will be around 1/3 of your budgeted amount.
I truly hope you learnt some useful tips. The bottom line is, always read the small print to avoid hidden fees.
TOTAL COSTS: £8,460+
Did you know you can access a range of free, useful documentation including spreadsheets, checklists and guides to help you plan your wedding, the RIGHT way?
