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.
Introducing our brand new ‘Meet the Supplier’ series. We’re so exited to be interviewing a selection of fantastic wedding specialists. We take pride in recommending the finest in the industry, and hope this series will help you find the perfect suppliers for your day.
Apart from my family, cake is my life! If I’m not baking it, I’m decorating it! If I’m not baking, I’m looking for new ideas and techniques, I love attending masterclasses with industry leaders to improve my skills and you’ll find my attention to detail second to none!
How did it all start?
After taking a break to start a family, I started making cakes for my children’s birthdays and it grew from there – friends would ask for cakes for their children and word spread!
Biggest achievements
Being able to create a huge variety of styles of cakes, not just being stuck in one genre.
Why should couples choose you?
My cakes look fantastic and they taste amazing!
I understand that a wedding is a one off event where everything should be perfect and easy for you. My years of experience mean I can hold your hand from beginning to end – not just with your wedding cake but ensuring that it becomes a seamless part of your entire wedding. Because, whilst the cake is a huge part of most weddings, I understand the need to liaise with other key services and not take up too much of your time as I know how much you have to do in the run up to a wedding. . This is why I often take this pressure away from you by liasing with florist, caterers, venues so you can focus on the things that need you (like picking out that dress!).
Before I started Beth Bakes, my husband and I ran a catering company for several years catering for many, many weddings so I have the ability to see the bigger picture. Why not have a look at some of the testimonials customers have left for me on my website?
Word of wisdom
Consider the time of year when your wedding will take place and try to match your cake to the weather and venue – have you ever been in a very hot marquee in the middle of summer? Did you think “Gosh, I might melt in here”? What might happen to your chocolate covered wedding cake in that same situation????……..
Introducing our brand new ‘Meet the Supplier’ series. We’re so exited to be interviewing a selection of fantastic wedding specialists. We take pride in recommending the finest in the industry, and hope this series will help you find the perfect suppliers for your day.
Couples would love to have their dog (fur baby) attend one of their most wonderful and exciting days of their life but struggle with logistics to ensure all of their friends and family members don’t miss out on any part of their wedding day.
This is why our Exclusive Wedding Pet Chaperone Service is so popular. We plan, co-ordinate and take away all the stress for the happy couple so their dog can be a big part of their wedding day!
Whether they would like their fur baby to be their ring bearer, best man, bridesmaid or just attend for an hour for the wedding photographs, we are here to make all of their wedding dreams a reality.
We do not offer set packages as every wedding and their pet care needs are different. We create a tailor made package to meet the couple’s requirements so that they have complete peace of mind on their special day.
Wedding Day Pet Sitting
A great alternative to our Chaperone Service …
Not every dog is suitable to attend the wedding due to venues restrictions, their temperament or well being.
We have also found that friends or family members struggle with pet care whilst attending the wedding. Some guests have to travel a long distance and want to bring their dog along but again, struggle with pet care options, as they don’t want to miss out on any part of the wedding day.
What makes you different?
Dog arriving in style to the wedding!
We are popular with couples due to the quirky additions which make our Exclusive Wedding Pet Chaperone Service unique!
Couples love the concept of their dog arriving in style in their own wedding car/vehicle. They can choose either a Mini Cooper or a Brand New Professional Converted Dog Van.
What is even more special is that the car/van is decorated with our specially patented designed wedding car ribbons and bows!
Dog Ring Bearer mechanism!
We have created a simple but proven mechanism whereby their dog delivers the rings down the aisle in a safe, secure and fun manner.
How did it all start?
Precious Pets Micro ID is a husband and wife team established Pet Care Service.
In 2018, we decided it was the right time for Adrian to change career direction and pursue his lifelong dream of working with dogs and to train as a self-employed Professional Dog Grooming Stylist.
After three months of commuting to Manchester, Adrian became a fully qualified Dog Grooming Stylist. To subsidise his grooming services and income we decided to set up a number of additional pet care services which included dog walking, puppy visits, cat care at home and mobile micro chipping.
2017/2018 was a very popular time for our friends and family getting married and who all owned dogs. Kennels was definitely not an option for their dogs on their wedding day, so rather than a gift, they asked us to care for and chaperone their dogs at the wedding, which, of course, we did!
One evening, whilst putting our business strategy together, we decided to put together a Wedding Pet Chaperone Service and commence a large-scale market research campaign with pet owners and brides/grooms by attending wedding shows and venue showcases and the creation of social media polls.
The feedback we received was unbelievable and extremely positive. It became very apparent to us that there was a large gap in the market for our Exclusive Wedding Pet Service in the wedding industry, within our local areas and the UK.
It was also very clear that kennels were not an option for many couples (as we had discovered with our friends and family), as the dog was considered to be a precious and important member of their family. They wanted them to be part of their wedding day but everyone who would normally care for their dog would be pre-occupied either getting ready for the big day or actually attending the wedding.
So we launched our Exclusive Wedding Pet Chaperone Service (Dogs at Weddings) and the rest is history. We have been overwhelmed by all the bookings, couples’ testimonials and wedding venue collaborations.
Biggest achievements
The Wedding Industry Awards 2020 – Regional Finalists (West Midlands) – Special Touch Category
Featured in Staffordshire Living Magazine
A main feature in the October 2019 edition of the Cheshire Life magazine
Appeared on BBC Radio Stoke
We have exclusivity at a variety of large high profile wedding shows in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire.
We have become official Suppliers for a variety of top wedding venues in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire.
Why should couples choose you?
Caring for your pets is more than just a business to us, it’s our passion.
As a family run business, our ethos is to look after your pets as if they were our own, whilst delivering a professional pet care service which is tailored to your specific pet care needs on a daily basis or as part of your special wedding day.
Words of wisdom
If you are considering having your dog at your wedding, check out these Dog Friendly Wedding Top Tips
Important Considerations:
If you wish to include your fur baby, ensure that you book a dog friendly wedding venue or one with an outside area for photographs
Ensure that all guests will be aware that a dog is attending the wedding, in case of allergies. A lovely idea is to send out a ‘save the date’ card featuring a photo of your dog
You may wish your dog to simply be a guest of honour at your wedding but if you would like them to play a specific role in the ceremony, think carefully about how this will work. Popular choices are a dog ring bearer or a dog flower girl but ensure that your pet has the right temperament to cope with all the attention
Rehearse as much as you can with your dog before the big day and leave ample time to practice during the actual rehearsal
If you are considering a special dog wedding collar or accessory, make sure that it is safe and comfortable for your dog. Certain flowers or foliage can be poisonous to dogs so it is vital to check
Let your wedding photographer know that you are planning on bringing your dog to your wedding. This will ensure that they are ready to capture your adorable pet in action and come up with some great fun ideas for wedding photos
At busy times our wedding pet chaperoning service is very much in demand. To avoid disappointment we would advise getting in touch as soon as possible. We would love to chat to you about your exciting plans and how we can help you have a real furrytail wedding!
If you’re looking for some quirky Alice-in-Wonderland-esque wedding inspiration, then you’ll love this whimsical styled shoot.
The amazing decor and surroundings at the Lindeth Howe hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere called for a shoot with a difference. In honour of the Beatrix Potter books hanging from the walls, the animals pictured on the carpets and the foliage growing in the dining area, a Spring Festival Fairyland-inspired wedding shoot, created by AMB-Vision, seemed the only answer.
By bringing together some of the best North West wedding suppliers, AMB-Vision created a shoot to remember.
The Models
Inspired by the fabulous bespoke wedding dresses by Hannah Charlotte Bespoke, a Snow Queen and Fairy Queen were created and styled.
The Snow Queen was styled in a magical feathery skirt paired with a pure silk cowl back top both created by Hannah Charlotte Bespoke.
For the full effect the model’s eyes were dusted with lots of white glittery shadow and a simple blush to the cheeks (Lauren Poole, the makeup artist on the shoot, was somewhat in her element!). The beautiful sculpted hair created by Wedding Hair in the Lakes was crowned with a hair piece fit for any Queen from the hugely talented Eleventh Heaven. The final flourish was a beautiful wild bouquet filled with rich yellow tones from Flower World in Penrith.
The Fairy Queen wore a more relaxed hair style, the work of the super talented Wedding Hair in the Lakes, with an ivy crown, also created by Eleventh Heaven.
Warm makeup with browns and golds (as well as a hint of green to match the headpiece) worked beautifully with the crystal encrusted bodice and classic duchess satin skirt by Hannah Charlotte Bespoke. This Queen was photographed both inside the dining area of the Lindeth Howe and outside, amongst the daffodils, in the venue’s stunning gardens (a tip of the hat to Wordsworth there for anyone keeping tabs!).
As a final flourish, the Snow Queen became a Festival Queen with glitter makeup on the face and lips. An extraordinary butterfly headpiece made from pink and purple gems by Eleventh Heaven dressed her hair.
She was photographed in the gardens of the Lindeth Howe beside a yet-to-blossom tree in an amazing flowing satin skirt and illusion bodice embroidered with silk flowers, pearls and delicate beading all by Hannah Charlotte Bespoke. The outfit was completed with an upcycled denim jacket emblazoned with fairy wings. Oh, and of course, some fabulously vibrant balloons from Balloons in the Lakes.
The Decor and Accessories
For the table decor, in keeping with the magical feel, the venue stylists Wilde and Romantic created a vintage vibe for the fairyland-inspired wedding shoot with clashing vintage crockery, coloured bottles and peacock feathers. Favours were Lake District-inspired booze (Kendal mint cake gin anyone?) courtesy of Penningtons Spirits & Liquers and Grasmere Gingerbread (yum). And for dessert, a rainbow layered cake of dreams created by the super talented Bella Bakes Cakes.
In keeping with the theme the beautiful stationary, created by the uber talented Raspberry Toast, which included a stunning hand painted envelope depicting birds and butterflies.
Hopefully Beatrix Potter, who once stayed at the venue when it was a family home, would have approved of our fairyland-inspired wedding shoot!
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.
Most bride’s find the starting point the toughest part in the wedding planning journey.
And that’s why I created this Wedding Planning Starter Pack – specifically to help new Brides begin the planning process, but most importantly to develop your dream wedding vision.
Having a clear vision helps to make difficult decisions a heck of a lot easier throughout the process.
And don’t worry if you’ve already started planning; completing this step will enable you to weigh up your decisions so far and you may actually discover something you never thought about.
Click here to download your free worksheet and let’s work through it together.
When would you like to get married?
As soon as possible? A specific date thats significant to you as a couple? In a few years so you have plenty of time to plan?
Pro tip: I’d recommend the date being no less than about 9 months from now to give you oodles of time.
What is your budget?
Think of a realistic figure that is reachable for the date of your wedding.
Deciding on a budget is one of the most essential parts to planning your wedding, because everything will revolve around it from this point. Your venue, location and number of guests are all determined based on your budget. Setting a precise figure right from the start allows you to have a clear target and avoids wasting time.
If you’re unsure, sit down with your partner and discuss a realistic figure.
Where do you want to get married?
This can be your home town, somewhere abroad, or maybe a place that you and your other half have always envisioned.
Pro tip: Take into consideration the convenience for your guests. Nobody likes to travel for hours to a wedding.
What type of venue would you like to get married in?
Do you want a relaxed, boho style wedding in somewhere like a barn? Or perhaps a glamorous affair in a manor house? Use your budget as guidance to help kick start the venue search.
How many daytime and evening guests would you like to invite?
This can be just an estimate for now. Having an idea of numbers from the start massively helps determine the size and location of the venue.
How many are you having in the Bride and Grooms parties?
It’s best to decide on this sooner rather than later as A LOT works around these numbers. You’ll find most suppliers ask this exact question. And anyway, it’s fun asking your best friends and most loved ones to be involved in planning your wedding day.
List five absolute must haves at your wedding.
It’s absolutely essential that you complete this step. I ask all of my clients to do this during the first consultation and most only begin to truly realise their vision after doing so.
These can be something like hiring a photo booth for the reception, or perhaps having your dog as the ring bearer, or playing a certain song for the first dance. You really aren’t restricted when it comes to this. Just pick five things you absolutely want to see at your wedding.
List three things you absolutely DO NOT want to see at your wedding.
Going along the exact same lines as what you just did, I want you to list three things you absolutely DO NOT want to see at your wedding.
Don’t worry as much about completing this section, but it’s still important to realise what you don’t want.
All of these things are still contributing towards achieving your dream wedding vision.
What five things would you love to have at your wedding, if money was no option?
You can really let your imagination run wild with this.
Perhaps you’d love to rent a super car to pick your partner up on the morning of the wedding, or maybe you’d love to arrive by helicopter to your reception, or have the biggest chocolate fountain ever. This one’s a bit of fun, but it continues to develop your dream wedding vision and help you realise what you truly want.
Now you have all of those vital details decided on, you’re ready to start REALLY planning your wedding day.
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I’m sooo excited to announce my brand new online Wedding Organiser.
Download and print essential tools created by me (a real wedding planner!) for a smooth and fun planning process.
Hiring a full, dedicated wedding planner can be costly. That’s why I decided to create an alternative that’s much more affordable, but just as valuable.
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?
