Archive for October, 2009
Bridesmaid Heaven – Tips & Advice
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Today its all about Bridesmaids. I have the privilege of being one for my best friend next year in Cyprus. There are four of us and we have been discussing our dresses, and the various ways in which we are going to help our lovely friend Melanie, enjoy her day, and reduce her stress levels on the run up to the wedding. This got me thinking about all things bridesmaid.
Here are my top tips for choosing your bridesmaids, keeping them happy and how to get the best out of them during the planning of your wedding.
Choosing your Bridesmaids
This can be very difficult especially if you have lots of friends. First of all choose the friends or relative that will be the best support to you. Planning a wedding is very stressful not to mention time consuming, so you really want someone on your team who is calm, has time to help, and who understands you. The number of bridesmaids is another issue and how many you choose will depend on a number of things, probably the most important one is budget. Explain to your friends that you can’t have all of them, they will understand. You can always give them other roles to play on the day to make them feel part of everything.
The Dresses
The four of us are all totally different in personality, not to mention size and shape. You can ask your bridesmaids to choose their own dresses if you give them a style, theme, and colour to stick to. The picture in this blog illustrates perfectly how lovely bridesmaids can look when the dresses don’t all match. You don’t have to go with tradition, unless you want to. To reduce costs there are great choices on the high street, such as Monsoon, Coast, and French Connection. This way your bridesmaids may not even mind paying for their own dresses, especially if they can wear them again, and feel comfortable wearing them. There is nothing worse than making bridesmaids squeeze into dresses that don’t fit, or choosing colours they hate. At my own wedding we had different bridesmaids dresses and to pull the look together they all had the same shoes and matching jewellery.
Hair and Make-up
If you are having your hair and make-up done it is lovely if the bridesmaids can have theirs done to, but if your budget won’t stretch you can always pay for a make-up lesson for them. This can be fun and you can make an evening of it. Alternatively you can visit a department store where they sell MAC or Bobby Brown, get free advice and a free makeover. An alternative idea is to combine the make-up lesson with a day out, and that could double up as your hen party. Another idea is to visit somewhere like Beauty Boutique where a trained make-up artist makes you all up to look fantastic, and gives you lessons along the way. You even get afternoon tea, and if you really want to spoil yourselves take champagne to sip as you are being pampered.
Bridesmaids Gifts
Bridesmaids are a big help. On the morning of the wedding they will be running round doing all the last minute details, not to mention the time and effort they will have put in, in the run up to the wedding. Giving them a small gesture as a thank you is really appreciated. Jewellery is a lovely present and can be bought at really good prices. You could try Bead Fusion. This is a fantastic web site that makes custom jewellery for excellent prices. You can order the same style to go with the dresses to wear on the day, or different items for each bridesmaid. Another good idea which is really inexpensive but shows a lot of thought is giving each bridesmaid a framed picture of them with you taken on the wedding day.
Thank you cards are a nice idea especially if you personalise them for each bridesmaid. A little tip here is to try Ebay, they have a great selection of companies who make cards that are personalised at really good prices.
Let me know if you have any great ideas for bridesmaids gifts or advice and I will post it on my blog. If you have a bridesmaid question you need an answer for just call or contact me and I will be happy to help.
Good luck choosing your bridesmaids, until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Bridesmaids, Planning, Tips & Advice
Posted in Bridesmaids, Inspiration, Wedding Planning | No Comments »
Real Wedding – Nichola & Lee
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
As the days are getting colder, and the nights are drawing in, we thought we would cheer you up with a quick trip back to the sunshine. Nichola & Lee got married on September 12th, it was a weekend when the sun shone all day. It was fantastic, their guests lingered outside sipping Pimms, watching the photographs being taken and playing Jenga with the children.
The Wedding Genie were privileged to provide On the Day Coordination together with ideas and advice to help along the way. The wedding theme was midnight blue and Ivory, with pearls to add a touch of elegance. Nichola and her sister Juliet, made all the invites, favours, and the order of service. One of their lovely friends baked them a beautiful cake. Proof that you can have the most wonderful day being a little creative and putting in time and effort without the wedding costing a small fortune. It really was a magical day.
You can see from the photographs that everyone had a wonderful time.
The Beautiful bridesmaids
The Proud Father and Gorgeous Bride
Thats it sign on the dotted line!
The gorgeous bouquet
The best mans speech went down a storm!
The Cake tasted so good, lemon in one layer and fruit in the other.
You can read what Nichola & Lee said about our service on our success story pages. If you would like the Wedding Genie to help you on your special day call us to check our availability. Need a little advice or a question answering? contact us we will be delighted to help.
Oh! and if you need a little inspiration, why not subscribe to our blog. Its filled with practical tips and advice that just might inspire you.
Until next time happy planning.
Tags: Real Weddings
Posted in Inspiration, Real Weddings | No Comments »
Unique and Personal Wedding Cakes
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Wedding Cakes are a really important part of any wedding and a great way to show off your personality. We are always on the look out for unusual and unique details and we came across this cake on www.blisstree.com. Its really simple, and as you can see, the happy couple had their photographs applied to the cake which portrayed the story of their day. The black and white theme makes it classy and elegant.
We have to say we did not know this was possible until last week. My mother in law had her 70th birthday, she loved the card we bought her, which had a beautiful art deco picture on it. We took the card to the cake shop and lo and behold it was photocopied on to edible sugar paper, framed with icing, and hey presto we had the most gorgeous looking cake.
Wedding Cakes don’t have to cost a fortune these days either, Marks & Spencers, and Waitrose do the most lovely cakes. You can buy them plain, then decorate them with flowers, or cake toppers to make them unique. They come in various flavours, from chocolate, to fruit so you don’t have to compromise.
I hope this idea might inspire you to think about how your cake can portray you and your partner, and make your guests smile. To help you, and for fun, take a look at some of the unusual cake designs around, your imagination it seems is the only limit.
DIY there must have been some major issues!!
Quirky and unusual.
Why not send us your ideas for unusual wedding cakes and we will publish them on our blog. Contact us we are always happy to hear from you. Wedding Genie have lots of ideas like this to help inspire your special day, why not call or email to find out our availability for A Genie for An Evening service designed to get you inspired.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Cakes, Inspiration, Personal Touches
Posted in Inspiration, Tips & Advice, Wedding Cakes | No Comments »
Wedding Poems and Quotes – Words To Inspire
Friday, October 16th, 2009
Our poem this month really bought a smile to my face. Its quirky and funny, not at all serious or austere like some readings or poems can be. The poem portrays a lovely message of dedication and love over the years. I know for a fact that when the groom read this to the bride, the guests at the wedding were really delighted by it. Its another one of those details that reflected the couple and totally rang true for them.
When choosing readings or poems for your wedding breakfast or ceremony, take the time to search for ones that truly reflect you as people. Its much easier to say the words when you mean them and your guests can relate to them too. Often speeches are done before the wedding breakfast, and they can be a real ice breaker. It can give your guests something to talk about over dinner or at least start conversation if some of the guests on the table don’t really know each that well. The one thing they have in common is you, so a reading or poem that truly reflects who you both are as a couple gives your guests common ground and its a lovely place to start conversation.
Here is a lovely quirky poem by
John Cooper Clarke – I wanna be yours
I wanna be your vacuum cleaner
Breathing in your dust
I wanna be your ford Cortina
I will never rust
If you like your coffee hot
Let me be your coffee pot
You call the shots
I wanna be yours
I wanna be your raincoat
For those frequent rainy days
I wanna be your dreamboat
When you want to sail away
Let me be your teddy bear
Take me with you everywhere
I don’t care
I wanna be yours
I wanna be your electric meter
I will not run out
I wanna be the electric heater
You’ll get cold without
I wanna be your setting lotion
Hold your hair in deep devotion
Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean
That’s how deep is my devotion.
Having a meanifnful poem is another way of making your wedding unique and special. It does not cost anything to add these little touches but time and thought. If you know of a poem or reading you would like to share contact us, we are always delighted to hear from you.
If you feel like you need inspiration for those little details, why not take a look at Our Genie for An Evening service which might help you. Call or contact us to check our availability.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Poems, Readings
Posted in Inspiration, Readings/Poems, Tips & Advice | 2 Comments »
Smilers – Personalise Your Invites
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
We love the little details that make the guests smile at your wedding. This is a great idea from Royal Mail, stamps called Smilers which you can personalise with your own photograph. They can be sent on your Invitations or Thank You cards. Its a personal touch that really sets the tone of the wedding day or adds an extra special thank you for the wedding present you received.
You choose from one of the 16 designs, I like this one the best. Then simply upload your favourite photograph. It may be one of you and your fiance the night you got engaged, or one of a special moment that means a lot to you both. The instructions on the website are easy to follow and you can buy the stamps in sheets of 10 costing £7.50, or sheets of 20 costing £13.50 plus £1.41 for p&p. They do become cheaper the more sheets you buy.
If you have any ideas for the personal touch why don’t you contact us and share them, we are always delighted to hear from our readers.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Lovely things!, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Stationery, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
A Beautiful Wedding in a Fabulous Venue
Friday, October 9th, 2009
If you are a regular reader of our blog you will know that The Wedding Genie only feature suppliers that we think are some of the best in their field. Back in July we had the privilege to help plan and coordinate the wedding of Mark & Zoe. We have been posting some of the great suppliers we met, and today we are delighted to feature the venue. The whole day was planned to perfection and The Wedding Genie was able to help in the run up to the wedding and on the day to ensure Zoe’s meticulous plans came to fruition, even the weather shone all day long.
Homewood Park Hotel is just outside Bath and set in gorgeous gardens with views over the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley. When I turned into the driveway of Homewood Park the sun was shining and the hotel looked like one those gorgeous, terribly english, country houses you see on postcards. Mark & Zoe spent a long time choosing their venue. Part of the reason that they chose this one in particular was the feeling they got when they were shown around, and how at home they both felt in the surroundings. It is really important to feel comfortable with the staff at the venue. You will be spending one of the most important days of your life with them, and at considerable expense. You should feel welcome and be happy with the service and facilities they offer. Take time to find the perfect venue and it will pay dividends on the day.
For couples who want the feel of a country house but still want a contemporary stylish feel, this venue is perfect. The food is to die for and the staff could not be more accommodating. Mark & Zoe chose to hire the venue for exclusive use which meant that their guests could luxuriate in the surroundings on the morning of the wedding. The atmosphere is very relaxing and quite informal. The location is also great for guests who would like to make a weekend of it.
I had a fantastic time, everyone worked as a team and the whole day was perfection. Nothing was too much trouble and the service was impeccable. Thank you to Denis the Hotel Manager, Nikki, Sarah and the rest of the team, it was a pleasure working with you.
If you want help choosing your venue, or to check our availability for On The Day Coordination call or contact us. Even if you have question you want an answer to we are delighted to help. If you have a venue you would like to recommend why not share it with us.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Real Weddings, Venues
Posted in Real Weddings, Venue | No Comments »
Wedding Planning Advice – Priorities!
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
This week I want to concentrate on the first steps to wedding planning. I have been speaking to lots of couples this week and the message has been the same. They are loving being engaged and the prospect of the wedding is really exciting. However, the more they think about what they want, the more overwhelmed they are on where to actually go, and who to speak to get started. Many brides get carried away with all the little details of the day before really ticking off the big priorities on the list. Step number one is to put the big rocks in place, its a bit like laying down the foundations of your house. But what are they?
Priorities
Once you have decided on the time of year you want to get married, and the type of ceremony, the first priority is to sit down with your partner and really talk about what you both want your wedding to be like. Its amazing how many couples have completely different ideas and views of what they want. This is a great thing to do anyway as communication is key to all marriages. Decide what you really want and exactly what you don’t. It may be that Photography, Food and Wine, and Venue are the most important to you. Whatever is it make a list of your top three or four priorities. Once you have this done you can then think about another key item, the BUDGET! If you don’t set a budget you will almost certainly spend much more than you wanted. Write down a list of your priorities and use them to allocate your funds.Seeing your priorities written down will focus your mind and stop you from being overwhelmed with all the smaller details.
Venue & Guest List
The venue will be probably be one of your priorities, this may set the scene for the day depending on the location, style, cost and type of venue. This goes hand in hand with the guest list, you need to choose a venue that can accommodate the amount of people who will attend your wedding, if you want a civil wedding check that the venue is certified to carry out the ceremony.
Photographer
I would suggest the next big rock to put in place is your photographer. The good ones are often booked up months in advance. This time of year many wedding fayres are taking place and the photographers attend them so their bookings go fast. Think about the style of photography you want and visit two or three to see what’s right for you. Read my last blog for photography tips.
Wedding Dress
Your wedding your dress needs to be chosen in plenty of time. If you are looking at designer dresses, or made to order, you may need a good six months to allow for making and final fittings. Alternatively there are many sample sales on at the moment, you could take advantage of the bargains on offer.
The rest of the items such as your cake, stationery, details of the day, entertainment etc can be done one by one in bite sized chunks. When your date, venue, guest list, wedding dress and Photographer are sorted out you will have a pretty good foundation for your wedding. Trying to think about everything at once is totally overwhelming, so break it down and you will be miles ahead.
Read our tips and advice pages for more and if you would like us to help you take a look at our Genie for An Evening Service. This covers everything you need to know about how to start planning your wedding. We will even give you a written roadmap after our session to guide you. If you have any questions you need an answer to we are always happy to help. Call or contact us to check our availability.
Until next time happy planning.
Tags: Planning, Tips & Advice
Posted in Tips & Advice, Wedding Planning | 2 Comments »
Choosing Your Photographer – Tips & Advice
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
I cannot stress just how important it is to choose a really great photographer. When the wedding is over there is nothing better than curling up with your new husband, and “the album” and browsing through the beautiful memories and moments of your day.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to work with Jessica Beveridge from Redrabbit Photography. From the moment we met I knew we were going to have a great day. Jess has a very calm, relaxing and confident approach. She knew exactly what to do to capture the essence of the day without making the guests feel they were being rounded up or bossed about. Her organisation was excellent and it was a joy to work with her. We kept to the timelines of the day, the food was served on time and it also meant that the Bride and Groom, Mark and Zoe, were not away from their friends and family for hours, but able to mingle and enjoy the sunshine before the wedding breakfast.
Jess had taken the time to get to know Mark & Zoe so on the day the couple felt totally relaxed, and confident that Jess knew exactly what they wanted from their photographs. I had also been able to give Jess an outline of the day, she knew who and where everyone was. Its very important to capture the details of the day. If the photographer knows when the wedding party will be ready, the flowers are set up and the tables are laid etc they can ensure they incorporate this into their own schedule and capture all the elements that make a fantastic wedding album.
Here are some of Jess’s favourite images of the day, followed by her top tips.
How Cute
Eagerly anticipating, nearly ready
Dreamy
The Perfect Ending and Beginning xxx
We asked Jess if she would give us her top tips and advice on choosing a Wedding Photographer:-
Tips for Hiring a Wedding Photographer
When deciding on a photographer for your wedding day it is vital to make sure they are going to be right for you. The wedding photographs form a critical part of your wedding, they record the atmosphere and emotion of your special day. They are the only reminder you have apart from your memories of what happened as to who was involved and how the day unfolded. Not only must they produce some fantastic results with good quality images, prints and albums, but they must also fit into your day and gel with you and your guests.
Five helpful tips on what you should consider when making this important decision.
Personality
It is really important to connect with your photographer, they will be spending a lot of time with you on the day. You must feel that they will fit in with the day and your guests without being overbearing. At the same time the photographer should have the ability to take charge when necessary, and be able to be ready in anticipation to capture your special moments. You must be able to get along with the photographer so the rapour and chemistry between you is key to you feeling relaxed in front of the camera.
Photographic Style
You must view the photographer’s portfolio to get an example of the type of style they use. There are many styles and types of photography that are currently adopted within the wedding photography field, including reportage, traditional and artistic, you must choose a style that suits you. It is always good to view a complete wedding rather than just selected images as often photographers select the best images to show in their portfolios. Seeing whole wedding will show you what you can expect to be achieved on your day.
Price Range and Packages
Budget is obviously important so you must check the charges and exactly what is on offer and what you expect to receive for your money. There can be a massive difference between different photographers’s prices and packages so look around and view lots of portfolios and price lists to make sure you understand exactly what is on offer. It is also wise to check what additional costs are involved. This can be CD’s, DVD’s, reprints, framed prints, canvases, albums, parent albums and any travel costs. I would recommend trying to purchase the CD or DVD as this is always useful if you want to print your own images or give images as gifts to guests.
Meetings
Arrange with your chosen photographer to have a meeting at the venue before the wedding day. This is especially important if they have not used that particular venue before. This will mean that they will be familiar with the layout and how everything will run on the day. You can also let them know your favourite areas so this can be incorporated into the photographs. Everything like timings and any group photographs you require can also be discussed.
References and Contract
A personal reference is always the best way of finding out a little bit more about your photographer, the way they work and the results they have achieved. The other important item is the contract. Find out when you pay the deposit and the final amount. Also get a description of the package you have ordered and the final costings. The other thing to check is the photographers cancellation policy and/or what happens if they are ill on the day.
This is great advice and I really hope it has helped you think about what you need to do and ask when making this very important decision. In the meantime if you want to organise a Genie for An Evening or see if we are free for On the Day Coordination just call or contact us. If you have a question you really want an answer to we would love to hear from you.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Photographer, Supplier, Tips & Advice
Posted in Photographers, Real Weddings, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
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