Posts Tagged ‘Tips & Advice’

Finding the Perfect Venue – Questions to ask

February 29th, 2012 3 Comments
rule

In our series this week on venues we now concentrate on what questions to ask and what to take into consideration before you make the final decision. Your venue is one of the most important choices you make when planning your wedding so be sure to have all the information you need, and be happy and clear with what the venue are offering in terms of the services and the options available.

As a guide here are some things to be sure to look for and enquire about before making your final choice.

Look around and Ask Questions

  • Walk around the venue and get a feel for the atmosphere. Most brides I have spoken to feel really comfortable and at home in a venue as soon as they walk inside. You and your new husband will be spending the very first hours of being married here with the most important people in your life so it should definitely be a place you feel comfortable in.
  • Is everywhere clean and well kept? This will give you an idea of how the venue is maintained.
  • Does the decor fit with your theme? Contemporary modern furniture may not be acceptable if your vision is classic and traditional.
  • The venue staff should be professional but friendly and approachable. You need to feel they will look after you as well as your guests.
  • If your guests are likely to be staying at the venue ask to be shown the bedrooms to check their suitability.
  • Will they offer a group discount you can pass on to your guests? If so how long will they hold the rooms before they need to be booked? Also they should give you a reservation number or ask them how to let your guests know what to ask for when they call to book a room. (You can put this information in the invitations.)
  • Check to see if they have a dedicated wedding coordinator on the day. Many venues use events coordinators to help book the wedding but often they do not work at the weekends. There will be a duty manager and whilst being excellent their main aim is to look after the food and drink. You may need to consider someone to help you set up tables, place favours and liaise with suppliers in the run up to the wedding. On the day then you can relax and enjoy the whole day without worry.
  • Check out the gardens and facilities on offer if your wedding is going to take place over a weekend. Your guests may want to make use of the facilities and you need to know if they have to be booked prior to their arrival.
  • Is there enough parking for your guests? If not ask where the nearest car park is.
  • Are there any restrictions on photographs being taken?

Think about Your Budget

What packages can the venue offer? Will they be flexible? For instance, to reduce costs you may want to serve your wedding cake as a sweet instead of paying for desert. Will they allow this?  If so will they charge you for cutting the cake and serving it? Is there the possibility of bringing your own wine? If so what is the corkage price? If you are planning to stay at the venue do they offer a bridal suite within the package? This can be quite an expense and if you can negotiate this to be included it’s quite a saving. During this credit crunch period  you may very well get a good deal, but you have to ask.

Here are few more things to ask and think about regarding what is offered

  • What exactly is covered within each package? Be sure you are crystal clear.
  • Check if wine is included within the package, can you upgrade to different wines if you want to? What are the corkage costs if you can bring your own. They are often more expensive so do beware.
  • Can you use your own caterers? If not ask who they want you to use.
  • Is there an extra hire fee for the ceremony room? Try and get this rolled in within the package. If you don’t ask you don’t get!
  • Is it extra to hire a cake stand? Cake knife or the board and easel for the table plan? Or are they included?
  • What table linen is offered?
  • If you get married mid week ask for the charges, they should be lower. It’s a thought if you really love the venue but can’t afford the weekend costs.
  • Are there any flowers or decorations within the package? Often the in house florist may be able to match the flowers that they are doing for the hotel to your theme.
  • Is the price quoted with VAT? Will there be any inflationary costs if you are booking a year in advance?
  • When do they need a deposit and when is the final payment? – Make sure it comes in line with your savings if you need to add to them for the venue costs.
  • What are the cancellation terms and conditions?

Phew its a lot to consider, but not so fast. There are a few more important issues to cover before you have all the information you need to make your final choice. Come back and visit on Friday for the final blog on Choosing the “Perfect Venue”.

Until then, happy planning.




Finding The Perfect Venue – How to start?

February 28th, 2012 1 Comment
rule

Photography by www.lesleymeredith.co.ukI have been writing an article for the blog Adore by Chloe all about the best venues in the West Midlands so I thought I would revisit how to choose a venue and what to look for.

Apart from setting your budget, working out your guest list and wedding date, finding the venue is the next important thing to do when planning your wedding. Securing your venue as early as possible will save disappointment. Many of the popular ones are booked well in advance, decide on the style and type of wedding you want so you can start the hunt for your perfect venue.

I thought I would give you a helping hand with some of our top tips and advice. I will be running three blogs this week on all aspects of choosing and deciding on the perfect venue. First of all check out the advice below:-

The Ceremony – Church Vs Civil

If you are having a church ceremony you need to look at venues that are no more than 30 minutes drive away. You may consider providing transport for your guests if you fall in love with a venue that is just a bit too far for comfort. You don’t want your guests getting lost or stuck in traffic. Civil Ceremonies are very popular now and many venues are licensed to marry you, but check if they have a licence before you go and view. To help you find which venues are authorised to marry you, try The Direct Gov website you can search by post code and it will show you venues listed in your area.

Style of Venue and Surroundings

What style of venue do you want? Make the sure the venue matches the style or theme you have in your mind. Before you spend time looking at venues you can narrow the task down by thinking about what type of venue you actually want and what your budget will allow. Here a few types of venue to think about:-

  • Hotels – these are great if you want an inclusive package. Generally most things are provided and they usually offer various packages to suit your budget and needs. Often they have a good supplier list too. Make sure the suppliers are independent though. By that I mean not paid by the venue, you want the right supplier for you not because they are paid commission by the venue.
  • Marquee Weddings – You can seriously put your stamp on your wedding in a marquee. They are a plain canvas for you to do as you wish. A word of caution though, do not go for this type of venue if you are not prepared to spend a lot of time researching and organising. Its much tougher arranging for services such as caterers, hiring toilets, decorating the marquee, you may even have to hire the tables and chairs etc. Make sure you have the time or hire a wedding planner to help you out.
  • Stately Homes or Historic Properties – These are great for exclusive use. You and your guests have the run of the venue for the whole day and night. Most of them can accommodate small or large weddings. You would not have to worry about bumping into another bride, you can be guaranteed private use.
  • Local halls or Social Clubs – These are very popular if you are on a strict budget. Often you can decorate how you like and really transform the room.

Where to look for venues?

Finding venues on the internet is very easy these days. There are many wedding planning sites available that categorise venues per area and style.  Try sites such as Hitched.co.uk You can also purchase  local wedding magazines such as Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine, they often focus on local venues and their information is a great starting point. Ask you friends and family about venues they know about, you may have already been to a friends wedding at a venue you fell in love with. Check out my latest roundup of the best venues in The West Midlands. I guest blogged for yesterday and will pop this on my blog during this week.

Here are a few more things to consider when deciding on the type of venue

  • Your budget - how much do you have for room hire or for the packages on offer?
  • How many guests will be at your wedding? – can the venue accommodate them for your day and evening reception? Often numbers are restricted for the ceremony. Make sure you check this against your guest list. They are generally very strict for the ceremony because the venue will be licensed for a certain amount.
  • Do you want your guests to stay over? does the venue have enough rooms to accommodate them?
  • Check out the surrounding areas if you want to make a weekend of it. Its lovely if your guests can have something to do the night before or on the day before the ceremony if your service is to be held a little later.
  • Food - Do you want to cater yourself? check if the venue allows this.If not find out who they want you to use. Often it is good when the caterer knows the venue and is used to using their kitchens and surroundings.

Shortlist to three venues and then make appointments to see them. Do check first that they are available on your wedding date before you go and see them.

Now I have given you some idea of where to start looking for a venue and what type, the next blog will cover questions to ask when viewing and how to make the right decisions. Finding the perfect venue is time consuming but very worthwhile. You need to feel comfortable with the surroundings and the staff, and of course be clear on what they are offering you. If you want help just give us a call or email us and I will get to work right away on finding the perfect venue for you.

So until Wednesday when we cover this aspect, happy planning.

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Wedding Genie Hot Topic – Entertainment for everyone

February 24th, 2012 No Comments
rule

I was a little greedy in the last edition of Your West Midlands Magazine. I got to write two hot topics!! This time it was how to choose entertainment to suit you and your guests. Here is the question posed by the couple who wrote into the magazine.

My Fiancé and I can’t decide what kind of entertainment to have. While we love to choose something meaningful to us (we’re a couple of rockers at heart and met at a gig), we’re wondering if we should go for something more mainstream that more of our guts are likely to enjoy. Do you have any suggestions?

You’re right to realise not all of your guests will have the same taste in music as you and although some may appreciate a little rock, older friends and family members probably won’t enjoy a whole night of it. I would suggest booking a contemporary band that covers all types of music.

That way, you can please everyone, including yourselves. One of our real weddings had the same scenario so I suggested a brilliant band. iPop a professional band that covers many modern pop and rock artists. You could even ask them to perform your favourite rock track for the first dance, in a nod to how you met.

A DJ is also great for putting together an assortment of music, including a rock session for you and your fellow rockers. The DJ of my choice would Sounds Fishy – the company has a great repertoire and can cater for everyone, just tell them what you want.

Think carefully about the entertainment you provide, you do have to appeal to everyone. The last thing you want is bored unhappy guests. Check out these blog posts for more information on what to think about and suggestions. By the way the entertainers we suggest are all part of our Wedding Genie Dream Team. I can highly recommend them because I know them and have worked with them. Entertainment is not a cheap area of the wedding budget so choose wisely.

 

Until next time, happy planning.

Bridalicious – Get fit for your big day

February 23rd, 2012 No Comments
rule

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, CoventryIt’s that time of year when we start to see the days getting longer and warming up a few degrees, the perfect time to start your fitness regime if you are getting married this year.

After the winter we all feel a bit sloth like, well I certainly do. So what should we do and how can we motivate ourselves? I asked my very good friend Gail, from Gail Abbey Fitness who is an all round fitness guru to give us her advice on how to be lean taut and terrific!.

Each Thursday for the next few weeks you can pop over and see how to start your new fitness regime. You may also remember these posts from Gail too when she guest posted on the blog.

Read what Gail has to tell us on how to get started.

So the big wedding day is a few months away. You’re thinking that after Valentines loving with the chocs and champagne is over you really need to loose those extra pounds so you can get into your gorgeous dress and look sensational. Are you getting excited yet about this new plan? No I thought not you are probably just wondering if you can delay the kick off until next Monday as by now your friend has texted you to meet for lunch tomorrow and that sounds much more fun than going for a  run.

If all of the above is how your mind works then this is probably why you are struggling to adopt a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain. Lets get your mind set right first.
Start to understand life’s balance, we fall into behaviour patterns because they feel comfortable and fit into our lifestyle even when they are not necessarily what we really want or is good for us.So think about it, if you detest eating apples and running do you really think you are going to feel comfortable and enthusiastic for very long?

So to begin a successful lifestyle change you need to find healthy choices that feel comfortable for you.
Eg. For me to start to go to Zumba and eat a high protein diet forever I would miss the runner’s high and would crave other foods. So there is no way I would want to do either as I know I would mentally battle to stay on that diet and regain the weight very quickly creating a Yo Yo effect. Therefore I would not be comfortable with that plan.

So we need to change our behaviour first of all. To make lifestyle changes we have to

  • Understand what we are doing.
  • Find other things that make us feel comfortable and know we can have fun following them.
  • Practise them lots until they feel comfortable.
  • Small steps = success

Get excited, you have made up your mind you are going to be a better, healthier version of you.. Celebrate..Find an alternative way to celebrate that doesn’t involve food and drink.Think of all the new fun things you are going to find out about yourself and life as you go through this journey to success.

I am going to keep you posted and motivated for a fun pre wedding shape up, follow me for my tips on how to do  and look perfect in your B.W.D.

 

Gailx

Gail also runs a Fitness holiday company that specialises in 1 2 1 and group sessions travelling to her destination of Lindos, Rhodes Greece, or a destination of your choice and you can choose your own bespoke package. Great for HenParties or Bridal Pre Wedding intensive shape up weeks.

Well thats us given a good talking to. Pop back next Thursday for more tips but you can also check out these posts here for some great exercises.


Until next time, happy planning.

 

 


 

 

Wedding Genie Hot Topic – Wedding Vows

February 22nd, 2012 No Comments
rule

wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, CoventryI was asked to write the Hot Topic for the February and March edition of Your West Midlands Wedding Magazine. This time it was all about how to write your own wedding vows. This can be tricky –  but oh so rewarding! You know how keen I am on your wedding reflecting you as a couple, well how much more personal can you make it more than saying for very own wedding vows.

I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but if you are brave enough I can guarantee if will bring a whole new dimension to your wedding day. The ceremony is after all the heart of the whole wedding. What you say together today should be the foundation for how how you live your married life together. It can be difficult to start with but here is my advice.

This is a great way to personalise your day as I say but before you start make sure your officiant is happy for you to say your own vows and if there are any phrases you have to use depending on your religion.  As a couple decide if you are going to write your vows together or separately. Also will you show them to each other before the ceremony or on the day or surprise each other?

Choose a quiet time and write a list of what you love about your fiancé, how you met, when you fell in love and how you knew he was for the one for you.  What is the best thing about your fiancé that you just adore? What does marriage mean to you? How have you changed since you met, why you bring out the best in each other? How your life will change once you are married. Your hopes for the future together.

Write from the heart, don’t worry about how it comes out at first just jot your feelings down. Your vows are all about publicly saying what you mean to each other. Your devotion and how you are going to prove that, your future as a couple and how you are going to help and support each other throughout the years. If you do get writers block then leave it for a while, go and do something together and then takle it again.

Once you have finished leave them for a day or so and then read your notes back with fresh eyes. You will be able to see everything you like and what you want to use. Your vows don’t have to be complicated. Stick to simple phrases but most of all be true to yourself. Don’t say anything that doesn’t feel right or is not really you. Of course you can use the traditional wedding vows as inspiration and then tailor them.

Try to keep them fairly short, much longer than a minute or so will make your guests uncomfortable. Then practice over and over until you are happy.

One last tip - Make sure your vows are printed on the day. You may have practiced and memorised them perfectly, but nerves sometimes take over and I strongly recommend you have them to hand. They are also a great memento to keep. Having your stationer print them to match the rest of your theme is a lovely idea.

I can really recommend doing this, I know it was one of the best things I remember about our wedding, our guests loved it too.

 

If you need more inspiration click here, there are many examples you will find very useful.

 

Until next time, happy planning.

 

Meet The Wedding Experts – Alrewas Hayes

February 20th, 2012 No Comments
rule

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Birmingham, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, CoventryCome and spend the day with a fabulous team of wedding experts. If you are looking to plan your wedding and need superb, reliable and professional suppliers this day is just the ticket.

The lovely team at Alrewas Hayes have gathered together some of the best people in The West Midlands.

Throughout the day there will be talks on just about everything you need to know to plan and look fantastic.

Jo from the brilliant Silk Brides is going to tell you all about how to choose a wedding dress thats right for you, give advice on when to order, how you know the dress is the one! and lots more. This is no ordinary wedding fayre, we really want to inspire you. Jo will certainly do that! Have you ever met her!

I am going to help kick start your wedding planning, set and stick to your budget as well as talk about Style and Theme! Organisation is key to wedding planning utopia and I will have my Wedding Genie wizard tools with me to keep you on track.

Makeup and hair demonstrations will be going on all day, you never know it might you being made over! We are all really looking forward to meeting with you.

As a taster here are some of the great suppliers who will be waiting to spend time with you.

  • Ben The Cake Man - Superb stylish cakes. Ben is very well known in the area and I hear his chocolate cake is to die for.
  • Eleanor Clarke - Flowers to accompany any theme or style. Super contemporary as well as vintage chic!
  • Joseph Barry – Be amazing at Joe’s close up magic. His card tricks will have you mystified. I know I was!!
  • Sensational Centrepieces - Bridget will guide you through all you need to know about choosing your table decor.
  • Sheelagh Powell - Makeup to make you feel and look just gorgeous! Air brush makeup up too!

Just a few of my favourites to introduce you to. There will also be venue stylists, musical artists, photographers and just about everyone you need to plan your perfect day.

Alrewas Hayes is one of my most favourite wedding venues in The West Midlands. Bonnie, Toby and Georgina make a fantastic team. With it’s chic decor which is a fusion of contemporary and period furnishings you will feel right at home whatever your wedding day vision is. The Marquee is to die for which over looks the lake and enjoy your drinks reception in the beautiful private courtyard. Top that off with a beautiful ceremony room, great food and a sumptous bridal suite to spend your first night in as a married couple! It makes me want to get married all over again.

Please join us we look forward to a lovely, relaxed but inspirational day.

Check the details here. Sunday 4th March, 12.30 – 4.30pm  Alrewas Hayes, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire. De13 7DL. Why not give Georgina a call and let her know you are coming along on 01283 791625

Until next time, happy planning.

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

February 1st, 2012 No Comments
rule

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
rule

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

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!)

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

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.

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

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.