Archive for the ‘Questions/Answers’ Category

Wedding Genie in West Midlands Wedding – Hot Topic

August 10th, 2011 No Comments
rule

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Leicestershire, The MidlandsI am delighted to be answering the hot topic again in this months edition of The West Midlands Your Wedding Magazine. It really is a great read and has really inspiring articles and many fabulous vendors in the west midlands area.

Our lovely Florist Anne, from Tiaras and Flowers keeps us company this month too. Read all about her wedding on page 28.

The hot topic this month concentrated on how to choose Autumnal Colours for your wedding theme. Check it out below.

Question

Our wedding is set to take place next October in a barn venue. What colour combinations would you suggest for this time of year?

Wedding Genie Answer

I love the colours often used in autumn weddings – burnt oranges, chocolate browns and rich golds all echo what’s happening with the change in seasons outside. It’s also a warm colour scheme that will make the venue feel cosy and welcoming. A barn venue is a perfect setting for this time of year, and as the interior is quite neutral, you can start to think outside the box. If orange isn’t your thing, how about using pink and mocha? Muted pinks and sage green have a strong vintage vibe and also look lovely for October.

You could even choose colour combinations that aren’t traditionally autumnal. Midnight blue and gold is rich and warm, and you can include accents of burnt orange to highlight areas of the barn. If you are open to ideas, then look out for other warm colour schemes like teal and orange or red and chocolate. Even dark yellow with hints of orange or red would look lovely. As long as the colours compliment one another, you can let your imagination run wild.

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Leicestershire, Birmingham, The Midlands

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Birmingham, East Midlands

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Birmingham, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Leicester, The Midlands

I hope this gives you some inspiration if you are planning an autumnal wedding.


Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Genie in West Midlands Your Wedding – Hot Topic

April 6th, 2011 No Comments
rule

Hi today I am really excited because The Wedding Genie is giving advice on this months hot topic, The Dad Dilemma, in The West Midlands Your Wedding Magazine. From time time Danielle Wilkins, the Features Editor asks me for some pearls of wisdom. It is a great opportunity to pass on wedding knowledge and think a little outside of the box. This month when Danielle wrote to me with this particular tricky question I had to get my thinking cap on. How can you please your relatives and at the same time please yourself?  Read on.

Question

My parents divorced when I was nine. My mum re-married, and I’ve always been closer to my stepfather than my biological dad. However, while I would prefer to have my stepfather walk me down the aisle, I’m worried this might upset my real dad. Is there any way I can have both of them by my side, or should I ask mum to walk me down the aisle instead?

Wedding Genie Says

Only you know the type of relationship you have with each father, but I do feel it is important to include them both to prevent any bad feeling throughout the planning and on the day. The good news is, most weddings break tradition in some way or another these days so I don’t see why your stepfather and your biological father can’t walk you down the aisle together. I’m sure they would both feel extremely proud to share the experience and it would mean a great deal to both of them. I guess over the years they have shared the milestones in your life many times, so this is just another for them to share in.

This solution gives you the best of both worlds, however if you’d like to do it differently, you could ask your stepfather to walk you down the aisle, and then have your biological dad at the front to “give you away” to the groom. Alternatively, you could have your stepfather walk you down the aisle, and then give your biological dad a role at the reception, such as a speech ora special father-daughter dance.

If you have had a similar experience I would love to hear how you dealt with it. Drop me a line I am always pleased to hear from you.

Until next time, happy planning.

Traditional Wedding Etiquette

June 30th, 2010 No Comments
rule

Over the last three weddings we have had the privilege to work on we have been asked many questions like which side should I walk on when my Dad accompanies me down the aisle? We have chosen our bridesmaids and best man but what really should they do to help us? These questions may seem obvious but until I was a wedding planner I had no idea what side I should stand on when my Dad gave me away. I thought we would detail all the main aspects of the wedding party’s role in this blog to help make it crystal clear. Lets start with the main roles and responsibilities of your immediate wedding party.

Once you have understood these, it will make it a lot easier when you decide who to choose to fulfil these very important roles. In the run up the wedding and on the day itself you need plenty of support so pick your team wisely. Two of the most important people are the Chief Bridesmaid and your Best Man, your team leaders if you like.

The Chief Bridesmaid

Lets clear up the names first, traditionally this role was called Maid of Honour if your were unmarried and Matron of Honour if married. Choose someone close to you, your best friend or sister. You really want to spend the morning getting ready with the people you love the most. Its quite an honour to be given this role and this person should generally help you throughout the wedding planning. When things get too much you should be able to rely on your chief bridesmaid to calm you down and give great advice. She must know you really well so that when you occasionally turn into bridezilla or have a “oh its all going wrong” moment she can step in and save the day. Briefly her role comprises of :-

  • Friend and confidante throughout the wedding planning.
  • Accompany you to wedding dress fittings. Give help and advice on choosing accessories.
  • Help with the choice of bridesmaids dresses and pay for their own dresses if necessary.
  • Organise a hen party – one that you will like!
  • Be available for your wedding rehearsal if you are having one.
  • On the day they should help you get dressed. Look out for you generally and oversee the days events.
  • Look after your bouquet and make sure you have your essentials close by, lipstick etc.

Bridesmaids

Again choose wisely, surround yourself with calm capable people, usually your best friends. The bridesmaids duties are to support you and help you out with last minute preparations. The chief bridesmaid can delegate tasks to the bridesmaids and everyone ideally should work as a team. They should obviously be present at your hen party and if possible the wedding rehearsal. If you can’t choose between friends for chief bridesmaids then split the duties between them but be clear what each is doing. These days tradition does not have to be followed, its your wedding so do what you want to do in terms of your wedding party.

The Best Man

This is one of the most important decisions the groom should make. The best man has a key role to play during the wedding planning and more so on the day. He really should help the day go smoothly and be excellent support both practically and emotionally for the groom. It will help if he knows the family members so that he can greet them and welcome them on the day. Like the chief bridesmaids role he really is a team leader. If anything goes wrong the best man should be the point of contact. His main responsibilities are listed below:-

  • Support and confidante to the groom throughout the wedding planning.
  • Arrange a stag party at least several weeks away from the actual wedding day.
  • Stay with the groom the night before the wedding.
  • Attend the wedding rehearsal if there is one.
  • Check that everything runs smoothly on the day.
  • Make sure the ushers have their suits and wedding attire.
  • Ensure the guests and family are seated in the correct seats for the ceremony.
  • Pay any suppliers on the day if necessary.
  • Helping the Chief Bridesmaid when necessary.
  • Making sure the wedding rings are safe and available at the right time during the ceremony.
  • Delivering a great speech.
  • Making sure the groomsman have their button holes fitted.

The Ushers

Ushers are generally family and friends of the bride and groom. They work closely with the best man. Generally their duties are much lighter and having the right suit to wear is really the only thing they need to do before the day. Of course they will attend the stag party and help out if needed. On the day its usual for them to:-

  • Take directions from the best man.
  • Escorting guests and family to their seats for the ceremony.
  • Greet family and guests on arrival.
  • Give out the order of service at the church or civil ceremony.
  • Look out for the brides arrival so that they can alert the best man and officiant.

Who Leads who?

Traditionally the bride walks down the aisle on her fathers right arm (or other male ) followed by her chief bridesmaid who is followed by the other bridesmaids. If flower girls and page boys are very young its a good idea to have the bridesmaids take them by the hand. These days tradition is not always followed. Its very acceptable for the flower girls and page boy to walk down the aisle first followed by the chief bridesmaid and bridesmaids and finally the bride and her father. I think that you should choose how you want to proceed unless anyone such as an officiant has any objections.

Following the ceremony the bride and groom leave first followed by the wedding party.

Well I think that about sums up the main bridal party. Good luck choosing yours.

Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Tips and Advice – Q/A

June 11th, 2010 No Comments
rule

As you can imagine I am asked lots of questions about all areas of wedding planning. Its time I started to share them with you. This will be a regular slot which you can use as a wedding reference area. Our first question to get started is:-

My parents are divorced but I want them both to come to the wedding. They are not the best of friends and my mum has remarried. Where can I sit them and how would you advise me to deal with the problem?

This is a delicate area. I totally understand you want both your parents to be part of the biggest day of your life. I am sure they both want that too. The key is to talk about it right at the beginning with each of your parents. It maybe that one of them says they won’t come if the the other attends. This is very tricky, you know your parents better than anyone. Explain to them that you really want them both to be there on your special day. They won’t have to sit together and you will make it as easy as you can for them. Weddings cause people to become very emotional so tact and diplomacy is the order of the day. Most parents just want their children to be happy and when it comes down to it will usually tolerate the presence of the other.

Regarding the seating at your top table, I would choose round tables so that you take away the focus from the traditional lineup of parents. You can choose to sit your parents separately on a table with their respective best friends and close relatives. If your Mum would be mortified not to sit at the “top table” she can host that one with you and your father sit with his friends and family. Another great idea that is becoming more popular is to have a table just for you and your new husband, this is called a “Sweetheart Table”. This way no one looses out and you get to spend precious time together. I have also had one of my couples table hop and swap seats with close relatives. They spent the first course on one table then moved for the main course. If you do this remember that the people you swap with will be sitting on your top table so choose to do it with close friends or relatives.

If you want me to answer a question for you, please email or call me. I want this area of the blog to be really useful. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next time, happy planning.