A Suffolk Barn Styled Shoot
BY SUFFOLK WEDDING PLANNER AMAE EVENTS
Last year when I created Amae Weddings & Events, the first thing I wanted to do as a Wedding Planner was create a styled shoot, well... drum roll… the results are here for you to see and I couldn’t be any more excited (lets out a little squeal!)
Firstly, I had to choose a Venue (we all know how difficult this can be right?)... I really wanted to find somewhere that I could step away from the typical ‘rustic’ look that is very poplar in barns. Although I do love the rustic look, I really wanted to inject a more contemporary feel into the shoot to prove you don’t have to go ‘full on rustic’ just because it’s a barn.
I researched a lot of venues but Copdock Hall in Ipswich, Suffolk were an absolute dream to deal with. Having managed venues, I know what goes into keeping a venue afloat and I found Copdock Hall to be extremely open minded, customer focused and so passionate about weddings (and just generally really nice!). I LOVE a barn venue and so for me, Copdock Hall was the perfect setting for the shoot.
It’s a stunning Grade II Elizabethan brick barn with this beautiful vibe, when you arrive at the Barn, the quaint Parish Church of St Peters sits comfortably in your eye-line, it’s a very short walk from the hall right next to Copdock Halls Vineyard (I know right, can you imagine working next to a vineyard? There’d be no wine left!). Then as you step inside the barn, the first thing you notice is the marvelous high roof and gorgeous beams stretching from one side to the next. It also has these quaint little windows that really compliment the architecture.
Picture Credit: Dominic Whiten
Next was carefully selecting the suppliers to work their magic. I chose people who I trust and know how to achieve the best look possible, it was important to me that we were all ready to work as a team and collaborate on this shoot to bring my vision to life, exactly how it would be on your wedding day.
Dominic Whiten - An amazing photographer that I have worked with for years, I felt it was important to have someone that the whole team felt comfortable around. Dominic has this amazing ability to get the best out of people and also stay calm even at the toughest of times, it’s one of his strong points, he’s like Superman without a cape!
Capturedit Films - Emran and I are new to working with each other but one thing that strikes me about him is his passion for the wedding industry and drive to make sure only the best memories are recorded, he is so discreet but somehow manages to capture the most amazing footage whilst being completely in-obtrusive.
The Bridal Lounge - Charlotte and I started working together back in 2014 and her personality is just one you cannot forget, she has this ability to make you feel so precious (which is what you need trying on the most important dress of your life right?!) Her dresses are beyond perfect and I will 100% be buying one from her in the future (even if it is just to do the shopping in!)
For this shoot Charlotte supplied the most exquisite dresses from Stella York and St Patrick. With the unmistakable Stella York dresses, 2 came with a minimalist look but with a timeless modern twist, the other, a modern, high halter neck with a feminine and curvy silhouette, while the St Patrick dress provides a flattering plunge bodice with classic cap sleeves and beautiful lace detail.
Helen Newman Florist - I’ve also worked with Helen since 2014, an extremely professional and knowledgeable florist who has this amazing eye for detail, her flowers have always looked like a lot of love goes into them so she was definitely my first choice for the shoot. Again, Helen is one of those people you instantly feel comfortable around, a must have when you’re organising your wedding.
Helen’s great eye for detail meant we had a mixture of (to name but a few) lush Hydrangea’s, Anemone, White Lisianthus, Phalaenopsis and even pampas grass which really added a whole new twist to the shoot, I’ve not seen anyone use this combination of flowers before, we love to try new things and it really paid off!
Amelies Kitchen - Helens cakes are nothing less than perfection, I have never seen her make anything ‘mediocre’ and I have no idea how she does it (I’m sure there’s more to it than chucking a few eggs, flour and milk in a bowl right?). Helen’s ability to match details of your wedding day to the cake is phenomenal and with her own stencils, she is able to create the most beautiful displays.
Helen created a bespoke tiered cake for this shoot adding blush grey and pink hues, she hand crafted the most perfect sugar roses (you would think they are real flowers!)
Ivory & Craft - Katie first caught my eye when I followed her on Insta (yes, I’m down with the kids!) I was instantly a fan of her work and our relationship has blossomed since. I knew I had to have Katie designing the stationary and boy, she didn’t let me down. I really pushed the limits and even made some (very) last minute changes, she was just like ‘Yeah sure, no problem’. This girl knows her stuff and is so lovely to work with!
Katie and I exchanged so many ideas for this shoot but we finally settled on a more contemporary feel focusing on the blush pink and grey theme for our main look. The fonts were simply perfect for what we were trying to achieve and look great in the paler shade of pink. Katie also created some stunning stationary with cute floral detail underneath a velum wrap, simply gorgeous!
Makeup by Faye Neill - I met Faye about 3 years ago when I hired her to make me beautiful for a wedding I was going to and I have used her since, she is also a regular at the stunning Gosfield Hall and is so popular with Brides for creating a fresh, polished look & enhancing your features. She is just beyond lovely and makes you feel so relaxed in her presence, a true beaut.
For Clare, Faye created a modern bridal look, fresh, clean and detailed whilst for Tegan, a Hollywood glam look, winged eyeliner with stunning red lips to complete the look.
Carly Williams Hair - if you can’t have the one and only Carly Williams, who else even is there? Carly’s style is unmistakable and with her vast experience, knows exactly what style looks best on you. She is so funny and easy to be around so it was a no-brainer to have her with us.
For Clare, Carly styled a dreamy ‘messy’ textured up-do with delicate pieces of hair hanging down along the front and back, in look two, it was transformed into a higher bun up-do creating added height to match the traditional St Patrick dress & show off the pretty lace back.
On Tegan, the most stunning Hollywood glam wave which totally complimented Faye’s work on the make-up.
JF Styling - One of a kind James is taking the styling industry by storm currently, in demand for his ability to visualise any request and transform it into reality - he’s like a walking Pinterest. He and his team work tirelessly and have access to some of the best, current on-trend products on the market.
James provided a range of different materials, colours, textures, crockery and cutlery for the shoot, I really could not have done it without him.
True Nature Events - Have you seen Jordan’s wooden tables and chairs?! I knew we had to have these as part of the shoot, I felt they would really enhance the beautiful brick barn and the look I was hoping to achieve and they looked absolutely amazing.
Coes - have been nothing but supportive and have been great to deal with. They have a broad range of suits that include Day Suits, Tail Suits, Wedding Suits, Edward and Albert Frock Coat Suits and Nehru Suits so it was easy to find a suit that would look good on the shoot.
Models: Clare, Nathan and Tegan are personal friends of mine so rather than using professional models, I wanted to show the true beauty in my friends and they did not let me down, gorgeous happy smiley people!
So there we have it, date set, team complete, plans organised, mood boards sorted, endless meetings had, numerous emails and group chats, 3 months later the following look was achieved and I could not be any more proud of the team that made this possible…
If you’ve read this far you’re in for a treat with my bonus bits!… I really wanted to create more than just one look to show the range of styles that can be done on your wedding day. With help from James at JF Styling, we sat and discussed in length what I wanted to do and how we were going to do it.. James has access to some of the most amazing product range I have ever seen, so picking and choosing which looks to go for was made so much easier with his expertise. In the end we managed to achieve 5 different looks in total on this shoot!! The team did an immense job & pulled together to create some exquisite looks, so here is a snapshot before they get released on social media (you lucky things, you!)…
For any help or support planning your wedding or event, contact Hayley
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Time to choose your Bridesmaid squad...
How do you select which of your besties are going to lead you down the aisle?
I planned a Wedding once where there were 10 Bridesmaids and I’m going to tell you about my experience with this from the Brides perspective.
I met the Bride to go through all the details of her special day with her hubby to be, she had a large wedding and I could tell she was really popular, she had all the trademarks of someone with a lot of friends. I remember her telling me she was torn about who to ask to be in her squad as she has so many friends, she didn’t want to upset anyone, plus there was that one time she was a Bridesmaid for someone who she hadn’t even considered to be a close friend so that was a huge shock, should she reciprocate?
@srosinger3997 on Unsplash
In the end she chose her 10 Bridesmaids, she’d ended up falling out with one of the girls otherwise it would have been 11 (odd number anyway so probably a blessing in disguise lets face it). Now, one of the downsides to choosing this many friends was that they were from different ‘groups’ so some of the girls didn’t know each other that well but the Bride felt a sense of loyalty to each of them as individuals. There was also a couple of girls that did not get on very well, something about one of them dating one of their exes and it’s just been tense ever since (would love to be a fly on the wall at that Hen do!)
Fast forward to the big day… I always visit the bride regularly throughout the morning as I know how stressful that time can be, everything is coming to fruition, reality has kicked in, everyone is getting under everyone else’s feet (whilst I’m on that subject, for the love of your sanity… please make sure you choose a venue with ample preparation room for you and your troop!), you’re hot, excited, nervous… so if I can, I like to take you to one side and just breathe…’Are you ok'?’ the bride broke down in tears, not only was she competing with all the above, her Bridemaids were all trying to rule the roost (from the goodness of their hearts to try and take pressure off the Bride) but this just made things worse, 10 girls trying to talk over each other, make decisions about what needed doing (even though this was all sorted between the Bride and myself well in advance), tensions were high between the two girls who didn’t get on that well, it was not a good a combo.
The Bride and I agreed that I would move the Bridesmaids to her mum’s room as she just needed some time to relax and absorb the experience rather than feeling like she was trying to herd cats - I sat with the Bride for a little while and just chatted, reassured her that everything was fine in the venue, everything was organised and going to plan, suppliers were present, the cake looked amazing and her hubby-to-be was very calm and excited to see her. At this point I handed her a gift and a card that he had asked me to pass onto her, I left her alone for this moment and returned a few minutes later. She had the BIGGEST smile on her face and felt a lot more composed, she was now excited rather than anxious and stressed! Yay!
I took some time with the Bridesmaids, explained to them that everything was in control and that they could just relax and enjoy the experience too but that the Bride just wanted some time alone (I think they knew they were not helping with her stress).
The Bride had the most amazing day and the best part was seeing the Bride dancing with her crew at the end of the night and in her words ‘I wouldn’t have changed a single thing’.
@srosinger3997 on Unsplash
My point is this, you will always choose the right people, you know your girls (or even guymaids) and you know which ones you want there to witness your big day with you. They may not all get along, they may disagree on the Bridesmaids dresses and ‘make’ you swap them 7 times before they’re all happy, they may even argue on the day, but… they are your squad and you love them beyond words. Ever watched Bridemaids? Happy endings despite a turbulent build up!
If you’re still a little stuck with who to choose, try following my handy 5 step rule below…
Speak to the family first, you need to establish out of your immediate relations who will be chosen to be MOH/Bridesmaid/Flower Girl etc
Time to be a bit selfish with your selection, just because you have known someone for 20 years (or if you were Bridemaid at the their wedding), does not quantify them being in your squad, you really need to knuckle down and establish your true friends here
Remember that each Bridesmaid will be given duties on the lead up and on the day itself, you LITERALLY need to trust these girls 100% with your planning process and wedding day
Speak to your Fiance, this may well be your choice about who to have on the day but, your Fiance will usually offer some practical, honest and thought provoking advice
Hire a Wedding Planner who will be able to have any awkward conversations with the family/wedding guests/bride/grooms party. Trust me, we are used to it and it takes so much pressure off from you
Once you’ve sorted the above, it’s time for the fun part of announcing who you have chosen. Just make sure you’ve got that Champagne on ice!
Good luck! I’d love to hear how you narrowed down your selection and any top tips you have…
Contact Hayley
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Are your events inclusive?
How do you know if your events are not inadvertently discriminating anyone?
Planning events is no easy feat which is why a lot of companies now hire an events planner like myself to get the job done.
There’s so much to think about from venue, dates, time, location, transport, invites, RSVP’s, table hire, crockery, cutlery, glasses, table plans, menus, marquee hire, generators, staff, food, drink, dance-floor, band, lighting, insurance.. I could go on but I suspect you get the gist of the extent of time needed to plan all this.
Your brand name is on the line so it’s vital to get it right first time and make sure all your ducks are in a row.
With all of this aside, have you even thought about whether the event you are hosting is inclusive? By inclusive, I mean the following:
Cultural - be sensitive to other peoples cultures, after all, you can never tell from first appearance what culture someone may be from
Languages - if you’re handing out literature, is it accessible in different languages? (even if it’s online after the event)
Ethnicity - Have you thought about whether anything at your event could insult people from different ethnic backgrounds?
Religious - don’t organise something around an important event like Ramadan for example as this could exclude some of your audience
Different Sexes - There’s absolutely no excuse for anyone to feel treated differently, avoid phrases like ‘ladies and gentlemen’ to ensure you are using gender neutral language
Sexual orientation - This ties in with different sexes, you could have non-binary or trans attendees and it could be so easy to exclude people without even realising it
Physical abilities or restrictions - Are you inviting someone to your event who is in a wheelchair but your event has numerous steps to get to the room or bad facilities for less able bodied people
Mental Health - Are you going to be talking about sensitive matters in your speech at the event? Be mindful that every single person could be going through something stressful in their lives at that time and could trigger negative thoughts
Age - Is the content of your event targeted to certain age groups? Bear this in mind if more younger/older guests are attending, they could be made to feel hugely uncomfortable with your choices of entertainment
Food allergies - it’s great that you are offering a 3 course meal but have you thought about the gluten free, vegetarians, vegans, dairy free, religious beliefs, allergies… the list goes on. Don’t make people feel excluded because of their life/religious/dietary requirements.
Neglecting to take notice of the above could contribute to someone feeling left out and a bad vibe against your brand name. Pay attention to our ever changing community and ensure all guests feel welcomed and included.
For more advice or support, why not hire a planner to help ease the stress of worrying about it all…
Contact Hayley
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Is it really the perfect venue?
How do you select the ‘right’ venue?
‘So what sort of venue do you envisage for your wedding/event?’ is one of the very first questions I will ask you. It’s one of THE biggest decisions you’ll need to make whether for your wedding or event - you cannot afford to get it wrong (literally).
In my years of experience, decisions are usually quite split with some of you looking for Manor Houses, Barns or Marquee’s. Some of you also know exactly what you’d like and stick with that (decisive, I like it!), others of you completely change your mind once you’ve seen a few venues and realise it’s not what you want (brilliant, means I get to shop around a bit more for you, I love shopping!).
@photosbylanty
Don’t get me wrong, it is extremely easy to fall in love with a venue, I know you’ve stalked them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn… you know all there is to know about it and you can actually visualise your wedding or event being held there (this is a GREAT thing by the way).
But… with the biggest chunk of your budget being spent on the venue, what should you look for other than beautiful aesthetics?
Location location! - is it easily accessible for you and your guests? Believe it or not, some guests will decide not to come simply because it is difficult to get to or the taxi would be too expensive. Either way, does it have parking for those guests that wish to drive?
Numbers - What are their minimum and maximum capacity numbers? Some venues have these minimum and maximum numbers so before you fall head over heels, check this out as it could massively affect your budget or shatter your dream when you realise it cannot house the numbers you want
Night before and night of - does the venue have accommodation? You may wish to stay the night before, especially if it’s for your wedding day. Similarly, it’s so much easier to spend the night at the same venue the night of your wedding or event, that way you can all enjoy breakfast together the next morning too!
Exclusivity - does the venue offer exclusivity for your event or is Fred the farmer going to pop in for a pint after his shift and gatecrash at the bar?
Catering - does the venue allow you to use your own caterers / bring your own alcohol or is it all in-house (this can push the cost up), are the kitchens on site or is the food brought in from a different location (yes, this happens and whilst there is nothing wrong with that, it’s something you might want to know about.)
Food tasting - does the venue offer you the opportunity to sample the food from the menu? This hugely ties in with number 3 - if you can’t have your own caterers, you at least need to be able to sample the food beforehand if you wish, even if you have to pay for it
Suppliers - are you able to use your own suppliers? Some venues will only permit you to use their recommended list, again, nothing wrong with this as long as they are reputable but, in my opinion, you should be able to use whomever you wish
Restrictions - what restrictions does the venue have in place (for example, what time can you access the property, do they allow fireworks, do they have music restrictions, can you have your own DJ) there are lot more questions to this part but hopefully this gives you an idea
Theme - if you already have a theme in mind, does the venue suit this? There’s no point booking a traditional manor house if your theme is rustic, it probably won’t look right
Budget - Ironically, none of the above matters if you can’t afford the venue. I like to work backwards, once you know your budget, work out costs for everything else (most people have a good idea which suppliers they want to use) then what is left, is for the venue. If it’s not much you know you have to sacrifice something (sorry!)
The other (easier) alternative is to hire a planner who will already know the best venues in the area or can do all of the research for you and probably save you money! WINNING!
For some venue inspiration, make sure you check out Country House Weddings who have 6 venues in the South of England, all absolutely stunning ranging from castles to country estates. Also make sure you check out some of the most beautiful venues in the country… Selected Venues - having worked for both groups, I can offer first hand information on how some of these venues run.
Contact Hayley
Wedding Guest Etiquette
How should you behave at someone’s wedding?
You knew they’d gotten engaged and in the back of your mind, you knew you’d get an invite to their wedding, after all, it’s not a party if you’re not there right?
Regardless of whether the couple have gone with a traditional wedding, there’s certain things that you must do as a guest, be that because it’s simply common courtesy or because you just can’t behave the same way you did on the Ibiza stag do (what happens in Ibiza *should never be repeated anywhere else, ever*…)
@kalvisuals
These useful tips may sound a bit harsh but trust me, having seen these things happen with my own eyes in my career as a Wedding Planner, it’s for your own good and you’ll thank me later. So yes… all of these horror stories have actually happened…
Invitations - the couple are already under a lot of pressure to get everything sorted in time. The last thing they need is to be chasing you for your RSVP
Don’t be offended if you didn’t get a +1 invite or an invite for the children. Weddings are expensive and this is the couples money, not yours
Food options and dietary requirements - the couple have given you a deadline date for a reason and of course the caterers will do what they can but you risk ‘getting what you’re given’ if you don’t reply on time. Also, don’t expect to turn up on the day and decide you’d ‘forgotten’ to let them know you suddenly turned Vegan last month
Don’t criticize - the couple have to make a lot of choices surrounding their wedding day, the last thing they need is negativity surrounding the decisions they made for special day, they’ve chosen them for a reason and whilst it may not be your cup of tea, it’s not your wedding day
Gifts - couples are more and more likely to ask for cash on their wedding day now and that is their prerogative. They are spending enough money on you attending so please honour their wishes and take point 3 into account but bear in mind, you don’t need to spend a lot if you are buying a gift, something homemade will probably mean more than something bought
Girls - do NOT wear white. It’s a well known fact you ‘cannot’ wear white to someone’s wedding (unless you want a death stare from the Bride!)
Bridesmaids - Don’t post a picture of the ‘beautiful bride’ in her dress, on her wedding day, BEFORE SHE’S EVEN WALKED DOWN THE AISLE!! No no no no no
Timekeeping - Do not be late! Coming from the mouth of experience (huge oopsie!), turning up late to a wedding is a huge no-no. Obviously there are some circumstances that cannot be avoided but either way, it does not look good if you are walking in as the couple are saying their vows (especially when it’s captured on video)
Spotlight - no matter what, under no circumstances should you use this platform to propose to your other half or announce a life changing event, this is not your day! (unless you have the approval from the happy couple!)
Behaviour - I’m all for people having fun at weddings, heck, twerk on the dance-floor if you must (I’m just jealous as I can’t do it) but… do not get so drunk that you become the talk of the day. It may be funny but there is a fine line between being drunk and showing up the happy couple - trust me, I have many horror stories about this one
Property - understand that if you cause damage to any property of the couples chosen venue, that this will be paid for by them. The last thing you need is to fall out with the couple because they are lumbered with a bill for damages you caused
Don’t try and seduce the brides mum (or dad!)… I don’t need to say any more on this matter
If you’re going to argue with your partner… leave it until you get home. It’s not the time of the place for negative vibes!
Last but not least. don’t forget to book a cab. The bride and groom will invite certain guests to stay at the venue, if you’re not on the accommodation list, they will not be pleased to find you sleeping on the sofa downstairs with a cushion as a blanket.
You’re welcome! Now…Enjoy the wedding!
Contact Hayley
@thomasw
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Wedding planning leaving you overwhelmed?
How do you stop getting so stressed out with your wedding planning?
Picture this, you are in a relationship. An amazing, happy, great relationship (despite their annoying habit of leaving the bathroom door open whilst they’re in there! - please tell me I’m not alone here…). You know you want to marry this lush human, because when you know, you know, right? You fantasize about your special day and have even set up a cheeky little private Pinterest board to start gathering ideas (and it looks sooooo pretty). Then one day, they pop the question! (Squeal!) Your dreams are becoming a reality and you can’t wait to get planning your big day! Everyone is so excited for you both!
So you google ‘How do I start planning my wedding’ and up pop 543,000,000 results. WHAT THE?! Each website tells you a different thing, one is telling you to buy your dress first, the other, sort the venue out. There’s a thousand downloadable spreadsheets so which one should you choose and you hear yourself saying ‘I’ve never done this before?!’. Then there’s the budget… you don’t have any money saved and have even talked about buying a house together recently so which one takes priority ?! (er, wedding btw) You start getting quotes and it all seem’s so expensive, how on earth are you going to afford this Pinterest perfect wedding day?! You don’t even know if you want to get married in this country, ah but Uncle Bob needs to be there and he doesn’t travel well and you won’t marry without him there, then the venue you’ve had your eye on won’t work because it doesn’t have a lift to accommodate your wheelchair bound cousin!! Your future mother-in-law keeps trying to convince you to up-cycle her wedding dress as it would' ‘mean so much’ to her but that’s not what you want, you’ve already got your eye on that Stella York dress you’ve fallen in love with (can’t she just BACK OFF, you mutter under your breath… this is OUR wedding day!).
Work is getting more and more demanding, social commitments are increasing, you’ve got an endless to-do list and it’s just relentless. Then comes the question from your friends (every SINGLE time you speak) ‘So, how’s the wedding planning going!?!’. You say calmly ‘Yeah fine, still a bit to sort but we’re getting there’ in reality, you’ve checked 7 of the 543,000,000 google search result, confirmed zero suppliers and actually the thought of sitting down and sorting something seems miles away and not something you envisage doing any time soon. Your other half is losing their patience as all you do is talk ‘wedding’ and now you’re getting frustrated with them because their not taking an interest in your beautiful, special and romantic day. Still, you smile and pretend everything is okay but you don’t want to be seen as ‘stressed out’ or unreasonable.
Ok firstly… stay calm. I’ve got you. It’s not your fault for getting overwhelmed, you’ve probably not done this before so if I asked you to go and do something you have no experience in, of course it’s going to be stressful, this is why we hire professionals to do the things we can’t do well ourselves, beauticians, chefs, pilots (a bit extreme but hey, I know I certainly can’t fly a plane!). Wedding Planning is NO different.
Here’s 5 quick tips to help you remain calm:
Respect the fact that some things are out of your control, don’t stress over it. Find a solution and move on
Take regular breaks with the planning process when you do start, it’s easy to spend a whole lunch break simply googling a local photographer (then you realise you didn’t eat your food and the stress starts all over again!)
Stop trying to appease everyone else. If you want someone’s opinion, you’ll ask for it (and don’t be afraid to tell them that, in a non aggressive way of course)
Don’t over stretch your budget. If the money is not there, it is not there. Unless you’re planning on getting a second job to help fund the wedding, don’t spend money you don’t have
Hire a wedding planner, easy solution, extremely effective problem solver and could even save you money!
After checking my testimonials, have a look at my services (aka problem solvers!) and let’s sit down, over a coffee and I’ll guide you through what you should and should’t be doing to ensure you have a blissful wedding planning adventure!! It really doesn’t need to be stressful, I promise.
Photo: D&A Photography
Contact Hayley
Grooms matter too
What importance does a Groom have on a wedding day?
Men. Let’s face it, like it or not, Brides tend to get the spotlight when it comes to the big day, and if you ask me, I don’t think it’s fair (sorry ladies). If a marriage is seen as an equal partnership, then so should your journey be in the lead up to it and on the day itself (and of course afterwards).
Now I totally get it, some men are happy to not get involved and are satisfied with whatever the Bride wants, I’ve heard it a million times ‘as long as she is happy, then I am happy’.
Believe it or not, there is an increase in the number of Grooms taking the steering wheel when it comes to the planning and plenty of brides’s taking the back seat. But, what if you are in a same sex relationship where you’re both a groom, or the Groom of a Bride who does actually want to get involved with the planning?…
To get a couples opinion on the matter, I spoke to the wonderful couple Jay and Liam who got engaged on Christmas day, and I’ve loved following their wedding planning journey. Whilst their Instagram page is no longer active, their old blogs are so funny to read so make sure you check them out here, they’ve also featured on the ultimate wedding guide for LGBTQ+ couples G Wedding Directory…
“On Christmas morning, I said yes to my new Fiance, Liam, and now we are two grooms planning our wedding together. We’ve found that the wedding industry is geared towards the bride, and the grooms are very often secondary. That’s obviously in response to the fact that it is usually the bride attending the wedding fairs and doing the planning - but we don’t have a bride. So we’re sharing the planning reigns... and thankfully we have very similar preferences and ideas! I enjoy the wedding fairs and the brochures, so Liam leaves it to me to collate the ideas and gather the options. Then we work through and decide what we like best. We’ll both be viewing our venue choices and making all of the decisions together, though Liam is in charge of the ceremony and the music and I’m in charge of the decorations and the finer details. So that’s our plan; two grooms sharing the responsibilities and decision making. In our case, only the grooms matter!”
So Grooms, do you want to be involved in the Wedding Planning process?
Grab a pen and paper (or iPad if you’re not old school like me!)
Take an interest - sit down with a bottle (or glass if you don’t drink as much as I do!) of wine one night, no social media, no radio, no TV… go through the plans and ideas so far, don’t fake being interested, your Fiancé will be able to tell!
Get involved - express an interest in whatever element of the day that you would like to manage, it could be you want the responsibility of sourcing the entertainment, flowers or building something for the day (drinks station, welcome signs etc)
Take initiative - if your Fiancé comes across like he has it all in hand, I can assure you it will still be stressful at times for them and they would appreciate some help, especially from you. Do some research and offer to gather some quotes.
Compromise - You are not going to agree on every detail for the big day but it’s important you both compromise, the day is about you BOTH.
Be happy - if you don’t want to get involved but your Fiancé wants your assistance, just put a smile on your face, nothing ruins the happy engagement bubble like a groom-to-be with a face like a slapped fish!.
On the flip side, if you really don’t want to be involved and are sincerely, genuinely happy for your Fiancé to plan everything, just make sure you’re ready for whatever turns up on the wedding day, like a pink Unicorn dressed horse and a ‘Cinderella’ carriage to drive you around in whilst blasting out Celine Dion’s My Heart will Go On (unless you’re into that sort of thing…)
Let me know how you get on with your planning!
Contact Hayley
Women should only propose on a leap year!
Should you propose to your partner on leap year?
There are a lot of women who cannot wait for those long 4 years to pass so they can propose… then there are the women who don’t bother waiting for a leap year and just propose anyway (girl power!)
On February 29th 2020 women are ‘permitted’ to take matters into their own hands and propose to their partners, but where did this tradition come from?
According to Irish Folklore, during the 5th century in Ireland, St. Brigid of Kildare (an Irish Nun) felt that women were left far too long waiting for a proposal, so he discussed this with St. Patrick and expressed her dismay.
It was decided that women could propose on one day only in the month of February during a leap year.
Now, ladies, you are of course more than capable of proposing on any other day of the year but there is nothing wrong with following tradition and waiting for this special date to come around. After all, if you are in a same sex relationship, are you going to wait 4 years if you miss this one? Heck no!?
So women, like Beyoncé said… put a ring on it!
I can help set up the most amazing proposal and provide a photographer to capture this special moment so please get in touch to learn more!
Image by ohsoperfectproposal
It's all about the Money Money Money
How can you save money on your wedding or event?
I know. Money is tight right now, you’ve agreed a budget for the wedding or event and you’re not prepared to go over it. You can’t. You’ve plucked every last penny you have for this special day so the last thing on your mind is hiring a wedding or event planner (a planner?! What, are we American now?). Believe it or not, the use of planners is becoming more and more popular which means by hiring a wedding or events planner in Suffolk or Essex, you could actually SAVE money, who’d have thought?!
So many couples get into debt over their wedding day and companies go over budget on their event. There really is no need. We can sit with you and go over a budget review right at the very start, this means no nasty surprises when you get near the end of your planning or get hit with that unexpected invoice.
For weddings, the simplest way to save money is by looking at your numbers. Do you really need/want all 150 people there during the day? Don’t feel obliged to offer plus ones either, especially to friend ‘Bob’ who is on partner number 4 for the year already! Remember, this is your hard earned cash, don’t spend it when you could be putting that money towards an upgraded menu for your guests or even the honeymoon. When you break it down, is it really worth inviting a load of people that you’re not entirely convinced you want there anyway?
Of course the flip side is that you genuinely do have that many loyal and worthy friends (lucky you!) so what then? If your venue allows it, skip the evening food and opt for a later sit down meal, this could potentially save you hundreds of pounds! Just opt for a sandwich platter or scatter snacks around instead if you really want to offer guests something to eat.
For events, it really is about knowing your stuff and which suppliers to turn to. Ensure you do not compromise on quality but that you are getting the best price possible, negotiating is key here! Luckily your event planner has the best relationships and has already done this for you.
Get in touch for a free, no obligation consultation on budgeting for your wedding or event.