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Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

February 1st, 2012 No Comments

My blog post today describes perfectly what a wedding planner is there for. I am sorry for being a bit indulgent but I saw something I wanted to share with you, and I was inspired to write it after a conversation with a friend of a friend who just got married.

I know when you think of using a planner you may think we are expensive and want to plan or take over your whole wedding. NOT TRUE. Many of us are very versatile, cost effective and want to help you out along the way even if you don’t want us to plan your entire wedding day. I love it when I work with creative brides who want to do lots of their own planning.

They tend to use me to help them get the fabulous suppliers I know that will help them plan without the stress and pain of using suppliers they don’t know. I know the best guys who are great value and super reliable. At the end of their planning I work with them on the day and make sure it goes perfectly.

Often brides are too busy at work and want to spend the time they do have thinking of how they can personalise their day and shopping for a dress etc and don’t want to spend an age surfing for a whole team of people. They may want me to help them with the paperwork such as budgeting and liaising with the suppliers. Some have paid me to do the wording on stationery or keep track of RSVP’s.

I guess what I am trying to say is that most of the time our services can be tailored to what you need. My prices are transparent so I only charge for the time I spend doing the work you ask me to do. That way you can budget and you know what you are getting for your money.

Yesterday I saw this post on Twitter and I just had to share it. It is written by a florist, Geralyn Gianna, albeit she does offer some planning services. I thought how she explained the reasons why you might hire a wedding planner was just brilliant. I could not do better myself. Please forgive me for being indulgent today but the information is really useful.

1. Professional Pros: Planning a wedding or event can be a full time job. From researching vendors, taking care of the details, and coming up with creative ideas to make your celebration amazing, a planner will save you hours of legwork. A professional keeps you updated, makes detailed itineraries for all involved, including other vendors, and assures you that everything will happen on time and on schedule. They will flawlessly execute your event. For those with the thought that “time is money”, this is essential as you can be off using your time in more valuable ways.

2. Expert advice: Your planner channels your tastes, taking into consideration your style and personality. They make sure that your event day surpasses all expectations and turn your dreams into a reality, and can offer etiquette and ideas along the way. It’s always good to have an expert on your side. Honestly, you would have an expert in your life for any other major decision right?

3. Vendor Loyalty: Great planners have built outstanding relationships with vendors in all categories. In turn, vendors want to work with these planners because they know the event is going to run smoothly. You are assured to get the best prices from the finest, most reliable vendors who love working with your planner. Bottom line, pick a good planner, and you will have a great team behind them.

4. Just In Case: A planner is educated in handling situations that involve any unforeseen circumstances relating to your event day with grace and ease. Their goal is to go above and beyond and to devise solutions to make your day perfect, no matter what it takes. And most of the time, they do this with out you even knowing the problem. And trust us, problems will come.

5. In the Know: A savvy (experienced) planner with keep up with all the latest industry trends and stay ahead of the curve. They have the ability to suggest out of the box ideas that will add personalization and a wow factor to your event. A few closing thoughts. I’m going to be honest about my personal situation. When I got married, I was already an established event planner and florist. But when I was looking at venues, I was over whelmed with the sales people saying they were the planners and they would “take care of it” for me. So, to my mistake, when we choose a hotel (4 star on the ocean in Palm Beach) and they said they would take care of planning my wedding with me, I didn’t hire a planner of my own. Biggest mistake of my wedding. Let’s say this, not only did they not help us plan it and tried to sell all their services to us, but on the wedding day, the “planner” was no where to be found. As a matter of fact, she was selling another couple on the hotel during my wedding. Bottom line is this, be aware of sales professionals from venues call themselves event planners. They are not. A true wedding event planner encompasses all five from the list above.

My recommendation: Hire a planner. If you can’t afford it, hire one just for the day of the wedding and you plan it. At least they can run it for you.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Last week I got chatting to a friend of a friend who is one of the most organised ladies I know. She has a great marketing job and has just got married. I say this only so that you understand she is super busy but completely has the wherewith all the plan a wedding and know what she wants from it. I was dying to ask her if she wanted me to help her on the day. My friend said no, Caroline is so organised and her attention to detail is so great she has planned it down to the enth degree! She won’t want a wedding planner.

I asked Caroline how the wedding went. Bear in mind she got married in a very chic venue I won’t name in Manchester. She said oh my I had a nightmare on the day. The venue coordinator promised me that all my instructions would be carried out. It turned out that Caroline spent the morning getting everything done that she had listed in her instructions. She even rang her friend to come early to oversee so that she could get ready. It ruined her morning. If I had know she said!!! You can’t do anything about this after the event, and it won’t help you in the future, thats if you don’t get married twice!!! BUT this story can help you.

Until next time, happy planning.

The Wedding Genie Hot Topic – Venue Decisions

January 28th, 2012 No Comments

Today is another one of the Hot Topics that I write for Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine. If you are finding it tricky to decide which type of venue will suit you, have a quick read of the advice below and hopefully it will give you some help to inspire you.

Question. There are so many stunning venues close to where we live in Birmingham, my fiancé and I finding it hard to pick one. We can’t decide if we want a wedding in the hear of the city, or something more rural in the surrounding countryside – they all look wonderful! How will we know which one suits us best?

Answer. If budget isn’t an issue for either of you, then the venue you choose is really a question of what suits your personalities. Sit down together and ask yourselves some questions. Are you the type of couple who loves countryside walks, or are you happier dining in a chic city restaurant.

Also think about the style of your wedding. Will you be hosting a traditional day, or will you need to pick a venue that suits your particular theme? Are you looking for something formal, or informal?

Other factors include how hands-on you want to be with your decor, is the room neutral enough for you to add your own personal stamp? Also consider whether or not the venue can accommodate the about of guests you’d like to invite and whether it has suitable accommodation if needed.

Once you’ve answered these questions you will naturally start to lean towards either a rural or city venue.

It can be really hard to decide on the perfect venue, as well as have the time to look around and visit. If you need help give me a call I can certainly find you a fabulous venue.

Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Genie Hot Topic – Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine

January 27th, 2012 2 Comments

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Birmingham, East Midlands, Derby, Nottingham, Liecestershire

Highbury Hall

It’s great to be able to offer help and advice to couples planning their weddings. Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine features a hot topic each edition which I have been lucky enough to help with. I thought it would be good to share the advice on my blog. This question was asked by a bride who was looking for a particular venue for her themed wedding.

I hope you find these useful, pop back because over the next couple of days for more hot topics.

Q. We’d love to theme our wedding around Broadway and West End musicals, and plan to have a big band and lots of dancing during the evening. What type of venue might suit our celebration?

This sounds like a really exciting theme, and one you have a lot of fun with. Opt for a venue that has plenty of character, perhaps an art deco building with dark wood furnishings. You might also want to choose somewhere with a long drive, so you can make a stylish entrance in a vintage Bentley.

My choices would be the historic Highbury Hall in Birmingham, (I am super excited as I have a civil partnership booked there in August) or Barcelo Walton Hall in Warwickshire. (Check out one of our real weddings at Walton Hall here.)

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

Walton Hall

If an art deco setting isn’t your thing, you could choose a more contemporary venue such as The Custard Factory in Birmingham. The Old Library is a fantastic space that can instantly be transformed with decor to match your theme.

Whatever you decide, just be sure it has space for a big band, a large dance floor and doesn’t have any sound restrictions.

I do love the Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine. It’s full of help and advice and I am super pleased when the people we work with are featured in it too. This month Sara Moseley has one of her gorgeous weddings for you to take a peak at. If you want another little piece of inspiration, Sara and I had a lovely time working together on Sonia and Anthony’s wedding back in November. It’s worth checking out for ideas and inspiration.

Until tomorrow, happy planning.

Wedding Stationery Advice – Top Tips!

January 25th, 2012 No Comments

Story Book Range

If you’re getting married this year, over the next couple of months you will surely be looking for invitations to wow your guests. When the invite drops through their letterbox the excitement starts to build and everyone begins to talk about your wedding.

Your invitations are the first thing anyone see’s that portrays you and your wedding day. I can wax lyrical on how to choose and what to pick but I thought it would be much better to hand the blog over to an expert who designs and hand makes the most beautiful wedding stationery. I know! my clients have just sent me a lovely email thanking me for finding them Nikki from Knots & Kisses to work with. I asked Nikki to answer the questions everyone asks when trying to work out how to buy, choose and send wedding stationery. Over to you Nikki.

How do I choose the right style for me? What should I look for when I engage a stationer?

When it comes to choosing your wedding stationer I think the best thing to do is find someone who’s work you love. If you love their existing designs but none are quite right for your wedding, the chances are they will come up with a design you like when you contact them for a bespoke service.

Many couples contact me with very little idea of where they want to go with their wedding and the stationery can be a great starting point for a whole scheme. When it comes to style I usually advise one of two things. Generally the easiest option for many people is to pick a colour scheme they like and let the style of their wedding build from there … often certain colours lend themselves very well to a certain style and you will find yourself naturally going down this route. Pinks & Greens are great for garden party style weddings whereas Blues & Whites often feel more beachy or wintery.

Alternatively often the style of the venue can lead you to the right decisions to how you want your stationery and wedding to look. If a bride contacts me with little idea of what she wants but I know she’s getting married in a barn in a relaxed and casual ceremony I will naturally go down a more rustic route with her stationery … perhaps tied in string.

Provide your stationer with as much information as possible and they will generally be able to evoke the style of your wedding.

When should I order them? Life is so busy now and most of my brides want to send them early.

Traditionally most wedding magazines and planners have always advised sending your wedding stationery out 2 to 3 months prior to the date of the wedding. However for so many couples these days this is just not enough advance warning to give to friends and family who say have to book holidays off work at least 3-6 months in advance, have family coming from abroad, or have to arrange to have children taken care of or taken out of school etc for a special occasion.

There are generally two ways of coping with this … either

a) Send out Save The Date Cards 6 months to a year in advance and then send the actual invitations out at the traditional time within 3 months of the wedding … or

b) Send just one invitation much earlier.

At Knots & Kisses .. I personally don’t put any pressure on couples to send their stationery out at a specific time so they can fit into my schedule. What is most important to me is not when the date of the wedding is but the date that the couple want to send their stationery out on because it fits in best for them.

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry

Russian Doll Range

How many do I order, what should I have as a contingency?

I would always advise couples to order extra stationery. I personally think 5-10 extra of both the day and evening invitation invitations is ample. A lot of my stationery is ordered with preprinted guest names but order extras with a blank space left for your guests names and then you have no problems if you suddenly realize you’ve forgotten to send an invite to someone or you have a secondary list of people who you will be inviting if others can’t make it. ( Sounds cruel but this happens all the time!)

Russian Doll Range Menu and Table Stationery

How do I word them? Is the wording different for Civil Partnerships?

I’ve always been of the opinion since I set up my wedding stationery company that I would never dictate to couples how they should word their stationery. I personally think you should be able to have whatever wording you feel is appropriate to convey the message of your day, so always ask brides what they would like the invite to say rather than getting them to pick between a set number of wording styles.

However if couples are unsure of what they want their invites to say I’m more than happy to offer advice. Traditionally wording comes in one of two formats .. either Formal .. addressed from the parents of the Bride … or Informal .. addressed from the Couple themselves. Of course we now have many couples having civil ceremonies but to be honest the wording changes very little other than asking the guests to join them for a civil celebration rather than marriage.

What essentials should I include in the invite? The etiquette.

There are of course a few basic elements which it is essential to include in your invites. The name of the couple .. obviously! … the date of the wedding and the venue. I generally advise brides to give basic details of the venue on the actual invitation i.e just the name, and if you want to give guests much more detail of the venue including the exact address and directions on a separate information card so it doesn’t clutter the look of the invite itself. Many of my new ranges come with a information and rsvp card inside so this information can be kept separate.

One of the most important elements of the information you give is the time the guests need to arrive. Many brides I’ve spoken to want to know whether they should put the exact time of the ceremony or the time of arrival. I’ve always advised time of arrival! You will always have a few guests who are traditionally ‘latecomers’ so best to err on the side of safety and put a time which is a little earlier than the actual ceremony time I feel.

Candy Stripe Pink & Sage reception stationery

How about DIY invites for this growing market and Brides looking to add personal details and reduce costs?

Funnily enough I have no problem at all with Brides DIYing elements or all of their wedding stationery. I think many brides and grooms have a creative flair and would love to use their talents to good use in their weddings. Couples shouldn’t underestimate however how time consuming doing this may be and for many it could be difficult to fit this in around their busy lives.

I am more than happy as a happy medium, or alternative for couples, to semi-produce elements of their stationery .. i.e. a basic pocketfold design that they can then decorate themselves if they wish to add a personal touch to their wedding. I also work all the time with brides on a very tight budget and am happy to adapt designs to suit their pocket and personalise the stationery so it means something to them.

Overall my advice for couples wanting to DIY their stationery would be to do this for the Day & Evening Invitations if they would really love to do this but possibly consider handing over the reception stationery to a professional, who would be more than happy to come up with a design to match. This takes the pressure off the couple in the few weeks before the wedding when the last thing they want to be doing is madly making 150 placecards on top of everything else they have to do!

Candy Stripe Aqua & Mocha

I just love these new designs of Nikki’s, they are hot off the press and how gorgeous are they for summer? Have fun with your stationery and think a little outside the box. Choose a stationer that will help you design an invite that truly reflects you and what your day is all about.

For the next post I thought it would be fun to see various ways of making place cards and seating plans to inspire you. Please email me or send me your unique ways that you have personalised your stationery. It’s always good to pass on great ideas, don’t be shy.

Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Suppliers – Choose your team carefully

January 20th, 2012 No Comments

Good morning! It’s Friday and as we approach the weekend I can imagine many of you out there are busily surfing the internet for your dream wedding team. I had a great conversation yesterday with a groom to be who was quite overwhelmed with the advice his friends and family had given him about the best suppliers to use. He was inundated by emails from well meaning friends and family on who he should choose to photograph his wedding and entertain at it as well as all the other areas such as flowers etc. He asked me where to start and how to know what to pay and who would do the best job.

For me this is an easy answer because of course I spend my life finding great people to work with. Yesterday was one of the days that I spent meeting new suppliers and just catching up with ones I already work with. There really are some fantastic people in the wedding industry and I came home so inspired because of their commitment and enthusiasm.

The people you choose to help you make your wedding day a reality are so important – I cannot stress this enough. You can’t do it alone and it really is all about the journey with them and how they treat you and make you feel. Imagine on the day of the wedding knowing that “your team” will do exactly what they need to do so that your wedding is perfect. Think about the wedding planning process, it can be very stressful and if you have great help from people that inform you, answer your emails on time and have a can do attitude, what a joy! These are the people you need behind you.

My advice is do your homework. Look around at who and what is on offer. Compare prices and services so you have a good idea of what you want to pay and what you actually want before you meet them. It will help you speak with authority and also to understand what they are offering if you have a little background. Make a list of at least two suppliers to see so that you can compare and contrast. If you work with a wedding planner then you can be sure who they recommend are the best. Their reputation depends on it.

Are they Professional in their approach. Did they turn up on time? Slovenly dressed and late suppliers are often a prerequisite for how they will treat you and their business.

Listen carefully and ask questions. When you meet a supplier they should be interested in you and not spout at you as soon as you sit down. They should take time to find out what YOU want and what your budget is so that they offer the right product or service. Sometimes clients can feel intimidated and a little overwhelmed. Remember suppliers are just like you and me, most of them want to help you so please do ask what you want to know and ask for clarification if there is something you don’t understand.

Negotiate. Yes do ask what is the best offer they can give you, but please don’t go there with an aggressive attitude, it does not help either of you. The wedding suppliers that I know and work with are all good quality and value. A good supplier should be worth the cost of their service and should be able to justify it to you. You may certainly get a discount, if you don’t ask you don’t get but you may not. You can of course ask for added value. It maybe that this person just cannot discount their service because it is a fair one but they might like to help out with something that adds value. Such as, a photographer may decide to add an engagement shoot to their package or offer extra images, or a venue might give you the bridal suite for free. Everyone knows the financial climate at the moment and the wedding industry is very competitive and good suppliers will be fair. Remember they do have to make a living as well.

Before You Sign on the dotted line. Read the contract through carefully, be sure to ask what the cancellations charges are. What will happen if they are ill, who will turn up at your wedding if they can’t? When do you need to pay and how much. Is VAT added to the cost? Be sure that if you book very early ask if the price will change with inflation. All of this should be in the small print. READ IT!

Go with your gut! If you feel this person is just not for you or in any way you are not happy with them or comfortable in their company. WALK AWAY! There really are hundreds of people that can help you.

I hope this helps you engage with great wedding experts. If you have anything you want to share about your experiences please let us know. It is always good to have good and bad feedback.

Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Dress Heaven – Sabina Motasem

January 18th, 2012 3 Comments

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham

Yvette by Sabina Motasem Bride

One of my weddings that I have been working on this week is in the style of Art Deco. The theme was inspired by the hotel where my lovely couple became engaged. Burgh Island Hotel is without doubt one of the most luxurious retreats to stay.

It has been completely restored in 2006 to its glorious sophisticated and elegant form. Dinner here is black tie! Decadent, glamourous and super stylish. Just how you should feel when you wear your wedding dress.

I could not believe it when Sabina Ali, the head designer from Sabina Motasem Bride in London sent me her super new collection to look at which fits perfectly with this era.

There are six brand new vintage inspired, elegant wedding dresses alongside two bestsellers – perfect for the style conscious bride and the photo shoot was shot at the gorgeous Eltham Palace.

Sabina found inspiration for the new collection from the style and glamour of iconic performers at the Folies Bergeres in 1900s - 1930s Paris. The slinky, understated dresses complement the opulent and decadent style that you associate with perfectly and styles brides tend to wear at Eltham Palace for their weddings.

Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, society millionaires who used influential designers of the period to create Eltham Palace as a high status home consisting of a series of elegant rooms, reminiscent of Hollywood-style glamour. The use of geometry and simplicity combined with simple shapes in an understated luxurious fashion, mirrors the style of Sabina Motasem Bride dresses, making Eltham Palace the perfect backdrop for the new collection and a sensational venue to plan a wedding.

Sabina Motasem wedding dresses are understated, great value, simple and elegant. Brides can select alternative details like different necklines, sleeves, colours and accessories.

The Yvette dress, a strapless knee length number with full knee length skirt and can be worn with a 50’s style petticoat, transforming its silhouette from an understated 40’s shape to a dramatic 50’s dress. This dress can be accessorised with matching shrug, beaded belt and French corded lace bodice.

Colette

Colette – a strapless wedding dress in beautiful stretch duchess satin, fishtail skirt and puddle train. The Colette dress can be accessorised with a matching shrug, beaded belt and French corded lace bodice, taking the bride all day through several easily changeable looks.

Cabaret

The hem and train of the Cabaret dress is made entirely of asymmetrical shaped box pleats, each mounted on top of the one below giving a subtle geometrical relief shape.

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Staffordshire, Lichfield, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Liecestershire

Josephine

The Josephine dress, a backless cowl draped dress with a puddle train in luxurious crepe silk available in Ivory, Vintage Cream and Soft Pink, oozes old Hollywood-style red carpet glamour and is a demure way to show off a toned back.

Loie

The Loie dress, a stunning geometrical and architecturally pleated empire line bodice in a rich oyster coloured satin crepe with contrasting satin front panels and pleated back detail, is a dress to turn heads. The Loie dress is available in Ivory, Vintage Cream and Soft Pink.

A sample collection is available to view during appointments at the Islington studio, London and is priced between £900 – £1750. Dresses can be altered to fit, made exclusively in the UK and delivered within two months throughout the UK and internationally. Shorter timescales are possible from one week. To book an appointment email mail@motasem.co.uk or go to www.motasem.co.uk for more information.

I just love this collection and it’s very well priced. Makes me want to get married all over again. Who knows? renewing vows is very popular.

Until next time, happy planning.

What next for Newly Engaged Couples?

January 13th, 2012 No Comments

Congratulations to everyone that is newly engaged! I have had many questions and enquiries in the last couple of weeks about how to start to plan so here is my advice to get you off on the right path. Being engaged really is the most fabulous feeling and you want to tell the whole world. My advice is to do just that!! Take some time to enjoy this time before you throw yourself into your wedding planning. Once you start although it’s really good fun it can also get pretty full on.

Having a few weeks or months to bask in the enjoyment of being engaged with nothing to do is just lovely. It seems many of you get very overwhelmed with the idea of trying to organise and plan everything. Taking this time will allow you to calmly think about what you want. You will certainly reap the rewards in the long term.

Many couples are tempted to go straight out and start booking the first suppliers they meet. Beware! think it through first. Unless you have to get married in a few weeks or months there is no rush to get it all done at once. Choosing who helps bring your wedding day to life is very important. They have a massive effect on you and your day.

Planning a wedding is a great achievement especially when your guests come up to you and tell you how much fun they had and what an amazing day it was. It will end up this way if you spend some time thinking it through before you start to get bogged down in all the practical side of planning.

Having a clear picture of what you want will be useful to not only you, but your suppliers will thank you too. They will be able to offer you the service or product you need because you are clear on what you want from them. You budget will thank you because you will know what to spend your cash on. If you are not careful you can run out as soon as you get engaged and start to buy lots of pretty things that you may not need once you have had chance to think some more.

How do you start to plan?

If you follow The Wedding Genie philosophy you do it your way and you choose activities and personal details that your friends and family can take part in and will understand. There will be elements of your personality that really make your wedding stand out above others that your guests have been too.

Here are my ideas on how to organize your thoughts and come up with a wedding day vision that is clear, what you really want and shouts of YOU!

What Do You Really Want? Choose Your Priorities

The first thing is to just take some quiet time and sit and think about how you imagine your perfect wedding day to be. Close your eyes and visualise what it looks like, what it feels like, even how it smells. Yes use all your senses and then write down what you thought of. It doesn’t have to be detailed notes just ideas and feelings. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with. Irrespective of the venue you choose there will be a theme or style or feel that comes out of your brainstorming. Sit down together as a couple and do this. Remember it’s a day for BOTH of you. Men are great at the practical side of wedding planning and usually have really good input. Decide on what you absolutely have to have and what you don’t! Make a list of these and make them your priorities. You might need to compromise but it should be a joint effort. There might be four of five major things on your list like, great photography, fab food, a live band. Whatever they are this will be the foundation for your budget.

What time of year is your most favourite? – Choose a Date

Do you love winter and the way you can dress up for the weather, real fires, smells of the winter, warming drinks and food with candle light? Are you a summer bird who loves the outdoors,the heat and anything bright? How about a time that means something to you? The time of year you first met maybe. Your first holiday, when or where you were proposed to.It should be all about You – Your stamp on the day

What kind of person are you? Do you love quiet gatherings with fabulous food and great company? Are you a party animal who is the life and soul of a night out? Are you artistic with a love for the eco friendly. Whatever you are the best weddings reflect you both! One of my lovely brides I am working with now was deciding whether to have favours or not. She has come up with a brilliant idea that suits the situation she is in, reflects her new husband to be’s job and completely involves her family who are extremely important to her. I can’t tell you what it is but it will be perfect and her guests will be very moved by this small detail.

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry

Who Do You Want to Share Your Day With? – The Guest List

Choosing the people you want at your wedding is necessary before you can choose a venue. If you only want to have a very small intimate affair that’s fine. If a large wedding is your dream that’s great too as long as your budget stretches to feed and entertain everyone. Think carefully about who you want to share your day. Guests really do make the day. BUT they have a great effect on the budget.

Where Would You Like to Be Married? Choose a Ceremony Type and Venue

If your absolute desire is to marry in a Tipi Tent in the middle of a field then why not do just that? I know I am a wedding planner and should know better that you have to marry legally in a building with walls and foundations and the relevant licence. Well how about getting married quietly in your local registry office and having a celebrant marry you “again” in your Tipi? Your ceremony can be exactly what you want it to be, involve as many friends and family as you like, say and do what suits your personalities. If you think outside of the box you can do whatever you like. This way you will be legally married and have the ceremony your really yearn for. What’s more you get to do it twice!

Alternatively choose between a church and civil wedding ceremony. I think you have to decide what would be typical for you and your partner’s idea of a perfect ceremony. If the idea of a civil ceremony puts you off because they are not that personal dispel that thought immediately. I got married this way and we took the time to make up wedding vows that really meant something to us. I said a lovely poem to my husband that I was so moved by from a film would you believe. Our family thought the ceremony was the best part of the day. I guess what I am saying is when your wedding planning takes over go back to basics and really understand why you are getting married and make the ceremony mean something to both of you.

Photo by Rosie Parsons

What are your favourite colours and interests? Your Stamp on The Day

This maybe dictated by the time of year you choose to get married but anything goes now and as long as you are careful you can have pretty much anything you like. For instance if you love the winter but also lean towards bright colours you can choose to use bright splashes of colour against a black and white background or autumnal colours with splashes of bright colours to lift the theme. If you don’t really have a favourite colour then how about a fabulous classic look, creams, and greens. Lush foliage with soft shades of cream gives a classy sophisticated feel to the day.

For a theme for the wedding why not try and involve your hobbies or interests. You may be a film buff or a foodie or absolutely love flowers. Whatever this can be highlighted in your day.

What will it cost? The Budget

Whether you put your budget here, or at the top of this list it has to be one of the first things you determine. It is imperative you set this and think about how you are going to achieve it. Work out where the money is coming from. Is the wedding going to be funded by yourselves or a mix of donations from your and fiancés parents. You could argue that before you even start to visualise your day you should set a budget. To my thinking having a clear idea of what you want and then looking at your budget to see if it will afford you this vision is a good exercise. This way you at least have a list of needs and what are important and then you can allocate this budget according to what is the most important.

If you do this now you will have a great foundation for your wedding planning.

The Date
Your Priorities
Your Guest List
A Venue and Ceremony type
Style
Budget

The last piece of advice is don’t panic take your time. Just do these steps first. Make sure you take time out from your wedding planning too. It can take over your life. You must have nights or weekends where you don’t talk about it. Please enjoy the planning, if you just pace yourself it will be fun. If you want some help just to make it clear why not book one of my bridal workshops. It’s a fun way to start your wedding planning and you will go home with everything you need to make your wedding planning a breeze.

Until next time, happy planning.

New Year Wedding Genie Offers and News

January 5th, 2012 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to 2012! I have to say I am super excited about the new year. Despite the gloomy predictions from the finance guys about out national debt I am feeling very positive. I still believe you can have the wedding you want if you plan carefully and take time to sniff out bargains and think about what you spend your hard earned cash on.

In my quest to help everyone who is getting married this year as well as all the newly engaged couples I am running a couple of New Year offers to help out.

Firstly my Bridal Workshops

Sunday, February 12th at 11am till 1.30pm
Sunday, March 25th at 11am till 1.30pm

If you attend these classes I will be giving away my Wedding Genie Wizard Planning Tools worth £15. On top of all the top advice and planning inspiration you will also leave my class with everything you need to plan, budget and stay organised. Being organised is the key to wedding planning utopia. Don’t want you to get lost under mounds of paper work, just pop it all into The Wedding Genie Wizard. Write up all your notes, add your suppliers in too. Everything you need at the click of a button. Book the class here.

You will also go home with my free 12 month wedding planning countdown. Print it out, pop it on the wall and tick off everything you have done month by month. It’s a great visual aid and makes you feel fab when you see the amount of ticks!!

The Second New Year Offer

I am selling The Wedding Genie Wizard Planning Tools for just £10 until the end of January. Being organised as I have mentioned is key to a stress free wedding planning journey. Keeping an eye on your budget is most important. Does not matter if you are spending £5,000 or £25,000 you still need to write it down and track it. check out the offer here.

News

I have some great weddings this year, including our first civil wedding. Very excited about that, a lavish Art Deco affair. A Tipi wedding which promises plenty of DIY heaven and if that is not enough then a Caribbean Indian fusion wedding. I am in planning heaven. On top of that I am writing some of the hot topics for Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine.

Throughout the year I am also adding more services to my website and giving the website itself a face lift. 2012 is going to be the best yet I hope. If you are newly engaged and need a helping hand why not call me for a free consultation to see what I can help you with. If you are half way through our planning and need a little oomph then I can help you too.

Blog Inspiration

Over the next few weeks I have plenty of advice and inspiration on the blog. A stationery feature, answering all the questions you may have on how to choose the right style for you, when to send them, etiquette and top tips and hints from the best people in the wedding industry. I have a great designer from London to show case and on friday the blog gives you the heads up on the best places to choose for your honeymoon.

I must apologise if this is blog is a little indulgent today but I am really excited about The Wedding Genie. A little holiday has truly inspired me and recharged my batteries. I hope the festive period gave you time for reflection. If you are getting married this year, now is the time to book your suppliers before they get snapped up. Our Wedding Genie Dream Team are a great place to start. Check out a few from the list below to get you started. I have added some of the main suppliers you need to book, Photographer, Stationer, Cake maker and some gorgeous Accessories. You know they are tried and tested and they all go the extra mile. I can guarantee their value and quality.

In the next blog I have some great destinations if you are booking your honeymoon. So pop back on Friday. I am a little out of synch this week but the blog will resume on wednesday and fridays from next week.

Until next time, happy planning.

Wedding Stationery Heaven!

November 29th, 2011 No Comments

Good morning! Christmas is nearly here and if you are getting married next year it will be soon be this year!! To help I want to be sure you are armed with all the information you need for heavenly wedding planning.

I am going to run a series of blogs on all things stationery in January and February. If you are just starting to plan your wedding or have not got round to your invites, this feature will be ideal for you.

Learn the etiquette of when to send an invite, what to write in them and how to choose them. Everything you want to know about perfect stationery for your big day. The lovely Ivy Ellen will be joining our Genie Dream Team and giving us their expert knowledge. We will also have a special offer running too.

I must admit I am totally addicted to beautiful stationery, it really does make a wedding stand out. Think I went a little over the top sending swatches of my bridesmaids dresses to my stationer but she did match them perfectly to the hearts on our invites.

To be sure we answer exactly what you want it would be great if you can send me anything you want to know about wedding stationery. It does not matter how small the question is we will be really happy to help. I look forward to hearing from you. You can mail me or comment on this blog.

Until next time, happy planning.

English Wedding Free eBook – Down to earth wedding advice

November 17th, 2011 No Comments

We are so proud and excited to be part of a fabulous new eBook that the lovely Claire at English Wedding Blog has produced. It is full of the best suppliers, including me!! with their expert advice.

It really is a great resource. You can read it here and download it too as a PDF.

I hope you find it useful. The pictures are amazing!

Until next time, happy planning.

Archive for the ‘Wedding Planning’ Category

How do I choose the right style for me? What should I look for when I engage a stationer?

When should I order them? Life is so busy now and most of my brides want to send them early.

How many do I order, what should I have as a contingency?

How do I word them? Is the wording different for Civil Partnerships?

What essentials should I include in the invite? The etiquette.

How about DIY invites for this growing market and Brides looking to add personal details and reduce costs?

How do you start to plan?

What Do You Really Want? Choose Your Priorities

What time of year is your most favourite? – Choose a Date

Who Do You Want to Share Your Day With? – The Guest List

Where Would You Like to Be Married? Choose a Ceremony Type and Venue

What are your favourite colours and interests? Your Stamp on The Day

What will it cost? The Budget

If you do this now you will have a great foundation for your wedding planning.

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