How to choose your Essex wedding venue
You’re engaged! But now you need to find your perfect wedding venue in Essex
As Essex’s wedding planner of the year 2023, I’m here to help!
Have you been searching for the perfect wedding venue in Essex? Look no further! Choosing your wedding venue is an important decision, so it's vital you take the time to explore all of the options available to you. Whether you're looking for something traditional or something more modern, you'll be sure to find the perfect spot to celebrate your special day in Essex.
So take a deep breath and get ready to make one of the most important decisions of your life whilst I talk you through a step by step guide and a list of important considerations to think about when choosing your venue!
Wedding Venues & suppliers who align
You have your eye on that gorgeous Essex wedding venue but really, it’ll be the suppliers you choose that could make (or break) that lovely aesthetic vision - my point here is choose suppliers who will deliver the overall wedding aesthetic that you want and enhances the venue, not takes away from it - consider creating a Pinterest board that you can show your suppliers before booking
Location location location
Essex is quite a big County so ask yourself, Is the venue easily accessible to both you and your guests? Is it close to any other points of interest such as hotels or transportation? These are important elements especially if you have people travelling to come to the big day - Consider who is coming to your wedding before settling on a location
Wedding guest numbers
The perfect opportunity to sit in the garden with a bottle of fizz (or tea if you’re feeling more ‘Bridgerton’) and start creating your list of guests - this is vital to choosing your venue and whilst there is a huge selection of wedding venues to choose in Essex, not all are capable of dealing with large numbers, or are too big for more intimate numbers - Make sure the venue can comfortably accommodate your guest list - whilst a wedding venue may say they can cater for up to 200 people, this number usually means the maximum number of tables and chairs, leaving not much breathing space or room for anything else - consider choosing a venue that caters for more than you are looking for so you have extra space, especially in the hotter months
Wedding Budget
I wouldn’t recommend it, you could visit every wedding venue in Essex however, my suggestion to you is write down a list of needs and wants, from this, start hunting for your ideal venue then narrow that list down to your top 5 (both of you choose your favourite, then 3 others) then start visiting them! Even better, try and visit on an open day where you will be able to see the venue all set up for a wedding day and start gathering quotes - make sure you find out exactly what is included in the cost and don’t get caught out with the VAT being added on at invoice stage! - Consider adding 20% on top of your budget to cater for those little extras that the venue offer as an upgrade option
Dates
Start looking at dates to hold your wedding day on, consider the months, days, school holidays, bank holidays and celebrations as these can make a difference to availability and more importantly, cost. There can be a considerable difference between a January midweek wedding compared to a Saturday in August for example - if budget is tight, consider opting for a last minute deal but remember, you have to give at least 28 days notice of marriage (yes, I have fully organised a wedding in less than 6 months!)
Compromise
As an engaged couple, you will fall into two categories, you both have the same vision for your wedding day or you have totally opposite tastes and cannot agree on everything. Remember, it is a day of celebration for both of you and there will have to be compromises made along the way, the same goes for your venue, it may not have a lake that you were hoping for but it has beautiful views from the wedding dining room - compromise. Consider creating you needs and wants list before visiting any wedding venue as this will help you rule venues in or out before you get overwhelmed
A wedding planner
Still feeling the heat? Consider hiring a wedding planner to support you. Not only do we know the best venues in the area but we are tenacious when it comes to supporting you in delivering YOUR best day. We know which suppliers work best with which venues and we can work to your budget so that you do not spend money you don’t have. Plus, we all need a non-biased wedding bestie right?
So there you have it; my top tips on how to choose your favourite wedding venue in Essex along with just some pictures of my personal favourites.
Where have you chosen to get married in Essex? Drop your comments below!
Contact Hayley, Owner of Amae Weddings & Events HERE for more information on Wedding Planning services in Essex and the UK.
Your wedding is not really for you. Or is it?
Ever sat back and wondered how your wedding budget disappeared so quickly? Your guests, that’s why.
WARNING - controversial wedding budget post, but hear me out - As a UK based wedding planner, I meet so many couples who go through a range of emotions when it comes to the wedding preparations and the wedding day itself. I know not everyone is going to agree with what I say in this blog but it is my honest opinion that some couples lose sight of the meaning of marriage and the celebrations surrounding it.
Let’s start with marriage, what does it mean and why do we do it? Well marriage is the legal or formal binding of two people uniting their love for each other. Now for you to do this, you need 5/6 people. You (as a couple), 2 witnesses, the person authorised to register the marriage (and if not, another person will be present who can). That’s it.
So back to the point…. Let’s say you get engaged (yippee!) and you start looking at the guest list…. before you know it you’re saying ‘I didn’t realise we knew this many people’ and ‘well they invited us to their wedding so we have to do the same back’ or ‘I guess we have to invite partners too’. Sound familiar? Ok so lets say you now have 100 people coming to your wedding., you now have to look for a venue that caters for 100 people, then you add on accommodation, and transport etc etc. The costs just go up and up and up so technically, all of this cost is for the benefit of your guests, not really you.
Once you’ve tallied up the total cost you could be looking at £18,400 (HItched guide for 2022) and that’s only looking at 6 key spending areas:
Venue hire - £8,400
Wedding dress - £1,350
Photography - £1,300
Videography - £1,150
Catering per head - £70
Wedding hair & makeup - £155
So that’s not even everything you are spending. Let’s say you spend a further £5,000 on top for cake, suits, flowers and entertainment, taking it to £23,400 (see how it adds up!). You are now spending £234,00 per person!
I am the first person to say that I love a big lovely white wedding and I’m not saying don’t spend a high amount, of course, if you have the budget, this blog may not be for you. But for a lot of couples who feel the pressure to conform to what society deems to be a ‘proper wedding’… please don’t. You do you, and if you are going to get into debt for people who barely make the effort to speak to you every 6 months., I say no more.
Too many couples end up stressed out, mainly with the financials of a wedding so my advice comes from the heart when I advise you, really think about where you focus your wedding budget and whether the guests you intend to invite, justify the £23,400.00 spend.
Maybe I’m ruthless but couples who feel obliged to have the ‘big white wedding’ and invite the people they really don’t want to, only to look back and regret some of their decisions to go for the big venue and additional extras that cost a lot of money .
So whilst planning your wedding. Just stop, and really think about who you are doing this for. You or your guests?
Contact Hayley, Award Winning Wedding Planner HERE
A dreamy Parisienne styled wedding shoot
Paris or Suffolk Wedding?
You may be sitting in your Suffolk home thinking about a destination wedding but feel like the logistics of getting family & friends to travel overseas is too much? Let’s face it, most of us like the idea of jetting off to some luxury, warmer location but when you start planning, it can seem like a minefield, especially without a wedding planner.
So, let me offer you an alternative… what about a sophisticated Suffolk wedding? Hear me out…
A creative team of us got together to make this Parisienne dream a reality and it did not disappoint.
The location for this stunning vibe was at the incredible Butley Priory. Don’t let this Grade 1 listed, 700 year old venue fool you, it is a deeply romantic, luxury and private wedding venue covering 20 acres and surrounded by a stone wall. It’s interiors, unique in design and incredibly appealing to any modern couple looking for that Parisienne feel.
With exclusive use, 20 bedrooms and room for up to 100 of your loved ones to attend the ceremony, 80 to dine (200 if having a tent/marquee) then Butley Priory should be top of your list.
This talented team of suppliers really did come together to make this one of the best shoots I’ve worked on. It’s something as professionals we can’t explain but when a couple comes to us with their own vision, we have the ability to see exactly what you mean even though a mood board may not fully pull that dream together. but I knew with this shoot it was going to be extraordinary.
Moral of this blog? Trust your suppliers to deliver your vision.
What do you think?
Suppliers:
Venue Butley Priory
Florist Charlotte Wild Floral Design
Photographer Sharon Cudworth
Second Shooter Images by Anna
Hair Glow Occasion Hair
MakeUp Emily Chantal Make Up
Videography Films from Lewis
Dresses Perlanova
Jewellery SV Bridal
Stationery Lucy Mcspirit
Cake RT Cakes
Suit Anthony Formalwear
Styling Styled By Lulabelles Suffolk
Styling tips for Dapper Grooms
Grooms matter too, which is why it’s important to think about your personal grooming regime before your wedding day.
Grooms… this personal grooming blog is all about YOU. So grab a cuppa, beer, Champagne, whatever floats your boat, take a seat and read up on how you can make sure you’re looking your best on your wedding day.
Similarly, if you are two Grooms, sit down together and enjoy this blog which is focused all on you and your personal grooming, making sure you look dapper on your big day!
Generally, you will fall into 1 of 3 categories.
1) You already look after yourself, manicures and facials are no stranger to you and your skin looks as fresh as a daisy
2) Your hair is always neat and tidy but you don’t faff about with all that ‘skin care’ stuff. However, you’re not adverse to trying new things and if it makes you look 10 years younger? Winning!
3) You are a full-on caveman, mans-man! The only moisturiser to have gone near you is sunscreen, you brush your teeth twice a day and that’s it. No ‘girly’ products are going anywhere near you! Noooo sir!
Now, if you’ve read this far you fall into this category:
‘I want to know how to look the best I can on my wedding day’
Gentlemen, the first place to start is with your hair… are you thinking about a restyle? If so, get some inspo from Pinterest. Then visit a reputable hairdressers, one that doesn’t simply cut your hair but someone who understands what cut you are hoping to achieve on your wedding day. You ideally want to do this 3 months before your wedding day unless you are going for a full restyle, you may need longer.
Then invest in some decent hair care products, shampoo, conditioner, gels, wax etc. Don’t use the same products just because you’ve used them for years! A different product can do wonders for your hair, speak to your hairdresser about this as they will know what works best for you.
One thing a lot of men forget about is the Beard! Don’t forget to look after this, beard oil is the way forward and for the love for your Fiancé, keep it clean!
Next you need to think about your nails… don’t forget, these are going to be on show in a lot of your pictures and you don’t want hands that look like Gollums! Moisturise them before bed EVERY night and treat yourself to a MAN-icure every now and again.
Eyebrows - there is nothing wrong with having your brows waxed or threaded. You would be amazed in the difference it can do and also shape your face. Don’t worry, a professional will make sure they are not overplucked like a teen from the 90’s (hands up if you’re in the same club as me!)
Sleep - The experts don’t say you need 8 hours sleep a night for their health (well, technically they do I guess) but do your best to get 8 hours sleep every night. If you struggle with sleeping, there are a number of personal recommendations I can make… sleep gummies and sleep moisturiser from LUSH. They’ve worked wonders for my partner.
Water - drink at least 2 - 3 litres every single day. Now, if you don’t drink a lot of water, this task feels like being asked to cycle Lands End to John O Groats on zero training however, buy yourself a water bottle and keep it with you. I have a Brita filter one which I love as I feel icky drinking tap water. My skin has improved so much since drinking more, so, give it a try!
Fake Tan - If you are wanting to try fake tan for the first time, please don’t do this on the week of your wedding (disaster pending!). It’s quite a procedure to get it right so DO YOUR RESEARCH first. Your skin needs to be prepped properly and the right shade needs to be used so you don’t end up looking like an oompa loompa.
Teeth - There are a huge amount of products out there on the market so again, do your research and don’t jump into the first thing you find. If you have the budget, speak to your Dentist who will be able to whiten your teeth for you but in the meantime, buy a whitening toothpaste and floss daily (not the dance!)
Massage - Get those knots out of your back from all of the wedding stress with a massage 24-48 hrs before the big day. If you are not used to them, do not go in for a deep tissue massage or you’ll regret it! Trust me.
Diet - No I’m not talking Atkins, Paleo or Weight Watchers but simply changing what you put in your body can make you feel like a million dollars. Introduce more fruit and veg into your meals and your gut will thank you for it. It’ll also have a positive impact on your mood and mental health in case that’s been affected by wedding planning.
Suit - You need to feel like an absolute King in your suit so make sure you are 100% comfortable, not just standing, but sitting also. Oh and don’t forget a second shirt that you can change into if you dirty yours or get a bit sweaty.
So there you have it, some simple changes you can make to look after your personal appearance on your big day. Men you are just as big a part of this day as your Fiancé so make sure you take some time for yourself too.
Main picture by Sharon Cudworth
Contact Award winning wedding planner Hayley, here
Hayley
Looking for an award winning wedding planner in Essex?
WINNER OF BEST Wedding Planner in ESSEX 2023
When looking for a wedding planner or wedding coordinator in Essex, there is so much choice that you might not know where to start, it’s a minefield right?
Luckily for you, the folks over at the Essex Wedding Awards chose their planner of the year and guess what… it’s ME!
#donttakeyourselftooseriously
I understand that choosing your suppliers can be stressful, there’s a lot to choose from and also you don’t really know which ones are best to use, that’s where I come in. With a range of services available to suit your needs and budget, we work together closely to make sure that all of that hard work you have put into creating your dream wedding day, does not get missed - which I know for a fact is a couples biggest fear.
Let me talk you through my preparations for this award… it’s emotional!
I was due to find out if I was through to the finals by mid October so I had started thinking about booking time off to attend the awards ceremony (just in case I was lucky enough to be chosen) and I went through this awful emotional ping pong of ‘Ah, I’m not going to win anyway’ to ‘No! You DESERVE to win, you’ve got this!’ to ‘I’m definitely not going to win’ to manifesting good vibes and positive outcomes with daily mantras ‘You ARE going to win!’.
I even came across a TikTok that told me some extra good news was coming my way in November (as I’m sure 40,000,000 other people did too) but I still didn’t read too much into it. Anyway, I found out I was in the finals so it warranted a little shopping trip to find an outfit for this black tie event and I quickly found this stunning little number from Quiz for a bargain £39.99 - now I have no issues with the fact I am short but I did have to pay to get it shortened otherwise I’d have looked like a fish trying to get around, not a good look!
I then toyed with the idea of getting my hair and makeup booked in but honestly, I think I’d convinced myself I wasn’t going to win so what’s the point in spending even more money? I ended up doing my own and instantly regretted it as trying to do a smoky eye look when I’ve been mainly working from home for the last 3 years and living in my natural ‘shabby chic’ look was a challenge I can tell you, eyeshadow EVERYWHERE!
Anyway.. onto the night itself and I dragged my other half along (to be fair, he actually wanted to come and support me), he was convinced I was going to win and wanted to be there to see me celebrate (as well as enjoy a few cheeky pops of course!) Here he is looking rather delicious even if I do say so myself!
The time came for the ‘Wedding Planner of the Year’ category and I was lucky enough to be sat on the table with another local wedding planner, Hayley Jayne Weddings & Events. We were both so incredibly nervous but I think we helped each other through it all. Another lovely Wedding planner Louisa May who I know, was sat on the other side of the room unfortunately, it would have been great to have all sat together.
Anyway, we worked out that the cameraperson would stand near the winners table before the announcement was made and who could I see standing by ours?…. Mr Cameraman! Even then, I convinced myself they were there for the other Hayley and not me so when they read MY name out, I literally didn’t know where to look. I started crying and shaking instantly (drama Queen, I know) but I was absolutely gobsmacked. How I made it up onto the stage to collect my award I have no idea?! My next thought was ‘OMG I’ve not walked in heels for years, please don’t fall!!!’
After composing myself and getting lots of ‘well done’ hugs, we quickly headed to the bar to get only the finest prosecco available and we toasted to my new award! I even got an enquiry within 15 minutes but I think that was just good timing, that or word got around super-fast (we’ll go with the latter)!
This is me trying to look awesome and definitely not pulling it off, more like ‘I’ve had too much to drink’ pose or ‘who is going to help me up from here?!’
So there you have it, my adventures winning the 2023 category of Wedding Planner of the Year in Essex. I hope you enjoyed my little journey and if you feel like we are vibing and you want to talk further about me helping with your planning… get in touch HERE
Love, Hayley
(Essex Wedding Planner of the Year 2023)
P.s. I do cover the whole of the East of England too
An elegant English barn wedding with a touch of Greek sophistication
As an Essex based Wedding Planner, I was recommended to Georgia & Alex in the build up to their wedding day by exceptional hair artist, Carly Williams. I instantly knew that if Carly was involved, this was a wedding I definitely wanted to be a part of and I wasn’t wrong!
When I met with Georgia & Alex, we clicked instantly and I knew the visions they had for their day would be met based on the fantastic suppliers on board. They had chosen beautiful 17th Century barn, Blake Hall for their big day and popular venue stylists JF Styling and The Blossom Company were on hand to transform the already beautiful barn.
On the morning of the wedding day, Georgia and her Bridesmaids were busy sipping Champagne whilst high profile makeup artist Kate Glanfield looked after Georgia, then Amy May and Rebecca Claire worked with the Bridesmaids before Georgia slipped into her stunning Ersa Atelier dress from Morgan Davies Boutique in London topped with a pearl headdress from Botias Accessories and the look was completed with iconic Dior shoes.
The ceremony took place at Blake Hall and the couples request for draping wisteria on the beams and elegant flower displays to line the aisle was created beautifully. Georgia walked down the aisle to her excited Fiancé whilst music played on the mezzanine by string quartet OM Strings and sung by her equally beautiful Chief Bridesmaid. Soon after they slipped through an archway of aromatic confetti from Shropshire Petals.
Wedding guests were then treated to Processo, Beer, Orange Juice and Cloudy Lemonade with a delectable selection of Canapes provided by Caterers Waters Edge.
To entertain the guests further, the couple had arranged for the fluffiest alpacas from Hilly Ridge to wander around which made for the cutest photo opportunities.
Meanwhile, JF Styling and The Blossom Tree company were busy transforming the main barn in preparation for the wedding breakfast. Tables were laid with gold detail crockery & cutlery with bespoke grey table linen. Stationary was lovingly crafted by Georgia’s friend at Mag & Marge whilst tasty biscuits laid on each place setting providing favours to each guest. A gorgeous unique 5 tier black cake made by multi award winning cake designer Amelies Kitchen stood in the corner of the room.
Making sure the couple made the most of Alex’s heritage, Greek music was played towards the end of the meal which was a great addition and really got everyone in the mood for an amazing night of music arranged by Creation Events.
Georgia quickly transformed into her Greek themed evening outfit from Erin Kelly Bridal with a stunning number from designer Catherine Deane and matching headpiece from Victoria Percival she looked simply breathtaking.
The whole day was captured by one of the most talented photographers I know, Alicia, owner of Aurora Grey photography whose Dad is also Greek so the couple had a great connection with her. She was accompanied by contemporary videographer Robbie from RJ Wedding Films who shot the day and all the magical moments that came along.
Thank you to Georgia and Alex for letting me be a part of your day and to the most amazing team who put this vision together. Georgia & Alex, I wish you endless years of happiness and love together.
Additional thanks to:
Lovelight Entertainment (Uplighters & Canopy)
Shropshire Petals
To enquire about hiring Hayley as your wedding planner, click here.
A beautiful English garden wedding
Take an Essex wedding planner, a home along the Thames, a wonderfully happy couple and a bunch of fantastic suppliers and this is what you get…
On the banks of the River Thames, Lucy & David were finally able to go ahead with their beautiful marquee garden wedding party in Maidenhead, Berkshire. It was shortly after the number restrictions had been lifted so there was a huge weight lifted off everyone’s shoulders when that news came through (phew!).
Lucy had approached me back in early 2020 to say she needed a wedding planner but I was not prepared for supporting one of the most organised brides I’ve ever worked with (fact). As soon as she, David and I spoke, I could visualize exactly how they wanted their day to look and Lucy was already working hard in the background preparing for their big day!
Fast forward to the wedding day and I arrived on site to the most beautiful location at Lucy’s Mum and Dad’s home which backed onto the River Thames (I mean, just WOW), it was so tranquil and had a beautiful English country garden feel to it, Mum and Dad had clearly been working hard to make sure it looked perfect for their day, it was laced with stunning Rose bushes and was very well kept. Baytree Events had done a fabulous job with the marquee even with all the last minute changes that Covid forced upon us.
Whilst Lucy and the girls were getting ready with Abbie at The Studio Effect, their Daughter Immy was getting more and more excited about the day ahead and looked stunning in her Sage sequined dress completed with a cute headband. David was in a hotel preparing for his journey to their local Church in Taplow and Abi the photographer for the day, worked closely with Shannon & Jack from Forever Curious who were the videographers for the whole day and boy did they capture some beautiful moments!
Lucy and her Dad enjoyed a journey to the Church in a beautiful Silver Bentley S3 supplied by Christophers
With Weddings having been stuck in lockdown with so many restrictions, it was refreshing to watch Lucy and David get married at their local 7th Century Norman Church. It went without a hitch (almost) as David managed to ‘do a funny’, unsure of whether to say ‘I do’ or ‘I will’ the Vicar kindly reminded him ‘The answer to this is, I hope, I will’ which David then repeated word for word, the whole Church roared with laughter and it was such a funny moment at a time which is usually very serious.
Then apart from dropping the ring (eek) everything was perfect and the Ushers had all clearly done their homework with their duties, they were on point!
What followed was an absolute gem of a day! The guests arrived back to the house being serenaded by the wonderfully talented Lawrence Hill, a room whose table plan from Helen Scott Design had been designed heavily based around music that Lucy and David love, the marquee was adorned with flowers from Lisa at Petal Power (she did flowers for the Queen don’t you know!) and Lucy’s mum had hand made the centerpieces and various displays around the marquee - what a talented woman! The couple chose favours of Gin & Tonic (my kind of wedding!) and an exquisite cake from the lovely Lauren at The Mix Cake
The wedding party then tucked into a delicious menu from Rachels Event Catering but made sure they left enough room for the tasty Pizzas served in the evening from Team Knead.
Before dancing the night away with BE Smart Events, of course…. they got to watch the Semi Final on a huge TV where Ukraine played England! What an atmosphere!!
Thank you to all the suppliers mentioned above who made this stunning garden wedding possible!
Contact Hayley
How do I seat my family on top table?
Top Table Etiquette explained!
Etiquette implies the way something ‘should’ be done however when it comes to top tables, there are no rules! (whoo hoo!)
However, there are some very simple guides I can give you that will help make the decision on where and how you should seat your guests to make it so much easier (you’re welcome).
The first major elements to think about are:
The layout of the venue - You may have in your head that you are going to have the top table in a certain location within the dining room but make sure you run this past your venue first. This may not be physically possible with the space they have to work with
Maximum numbers - Find out exactly how many people you can have on the top table, be that a trestle table, round or semi circle
Family Matters - do you have divorced/separated parents, maybe nobody who takes the place of a Father or Mother in your life, this may affect how you choose your top table seating
Whilst it’s traditional to have your Chief Bridesmaid & Best Man on top table, stop and think about whether they would actually prefer to be sat with their own family/partner rather than on top table
Ok so let’s take a look at the traditional top table:
However… hold the line caller! Gone are the days when ‘families’ consist of Mum & Dad then the kids. Of course, we now have many more diverse families (yippee) consisting of legal and non-legal step parents, divorced parents, same sex parents, no mother/father figure, siblings who have raised you… the list goes on so if you are unsure on how to seat your family, think about this:
Traditional - if like above, you can and want to do this, brilliant! I’ve just sorted your table plan, congratulations!
Sweetheart Table - this is where as a newly married couple you may wish to sit together, on your own. As it’s your first meal together, you may wish to take this time out to reflect on the day and have a good old chin wag over a bottle of wine.
No family - choose to only have your nearest friends on the top table with you
Table Ownership - if you wish to have a sweetheart table, OR if you prefer to only have friends/ Chief Bridesmaid and Best Man etc, you may wish to officially invite your Mum/Dad/Step Parents etc to ‘host’ a table. Make a big deal of it and ask them to look after the table nearest to the top table which will have your ‘VIP guests’ on. It doesn’t really mean anything but it helps to give them a sense of ownership and made to feel special
Speed Connecting - like speed dating but for a newly married couple!! Ask your venue/caterers to put one spare blank seat on every table then at each opportunity you get, go to one of the seats for a catch up with that table, no more than a few minutes then work your way around the room. This way you get some ‘121’ time with that table and the guests sitting on there
Speakers only - only have anyone who is making a speech on the top table
Trestle Tables - to make the event less formal, ask your venue for long trestle tables, they are great for these occasions and look absolutely stunning!
Whatever you decide will be best for you and your wedding day, try not to get too wrapped up in deciding who sits where, everyone will have a good time regardless and if you are worried about what family members will say about your decision to not have them on top table, hire a planner… we are totally used to having awkward conversations on your behalf.
Good luck!
Contact Hayley
How to savour your wedding day
My wedding day won’t go that fast... Will it?
I’ve been planning weddings throughout the East/South East of England for many years now and the one thing I stress to my couples is that the day is going to fly by faster than your guests heading to the free bar!
Do you know the first thing they say to me after the wedding day? ‘Wow, we really didn’t think it would go as fast as you said it would’
Let me give you an example… you plan a holiday (well, not exactly right now with Covid going on but you get where I’m going?) you spend months and months preparing; diets, clothes, skin care, beauty prepping, shopping, to-do lists, organising, the list goes on. Then BAM! You’re back home with nothing more than dodgy tan lines and a million selfies to show for your time away, oh and maybe a cheesy souvenir or two!
The exact same thing will happen on your wedding day and I’ll tell you why… you will literally forget to savor the day. But… there is a solution! Ta-dah!
Check out my top tips!
1) Don’t go into autopilot - I’m confident you have someone looking after you be that a Wedding Planner or a Wedding Coordinator. LET THEM TAKE THE STRESS AWAY, after all, we know weddings more than anyone else so leave it to the experts, we’ve got your back, I promise.
2) Prepare your build up - by this I mean make sure that the night before, you get organised. Don’t just say ‘Ah me and the girls/guys are just going to chill, have a bite to eat and chat’. Make sure you plan a healthy dinner, get an early night (set your bed time) and drink lots of water. I’d even go as far to say meditate or fall asleep listening to some hypnosis. Trust me, it works!
3) Have a good breakfast - as with the night before you do NOT want to be feeling sluggish on your wedding day, the last thing you want is for your dress or trousers to feel tight or your skin to feel all puffy. It’s not going to help. Have a continental breakfast but something filling that will keep you going until your canapes. Oats are a slow release energy source and are great for breakfast!
4) Get your timeline right - again, if you have a planner on board, they will have checked your timeline but, you want to make sure you know where you stand on the day… what time is your photographer getting there? What time will your make-up start? What time do you need to be ready by? What time will you give your Bridesmaids/Groomsmen their gifts? You will feel much better prepared and more likely to be able to savor the day if you know what’s going on
5) Have a ‘safe word’ - something I do is giving my Brides and Grooms a safe word. If I hear them use this word when talking to me, I’ll know they are finding it overwhelming and I whisk them off to a different room or I ask everyone to leave. This just gives them time to regather thoughts, have a chat in private with me or simply take a breather away from the hustle and bustle of the morning
6) Don’t sweat the small stuff - I promise you that the things you are stressing about, you will not even think about on your wedding day. However, if you are naturally anxious, be prepared and have a thorough to-do list for your planner so that nothing gets missed off. I regularly get given a list of ‘The card box needs to face 40’ south and 5 inches away from the signing book with the ballpoint pen facing diagonally next to it precisely half way down the book’ (maybe I’m slightly exaggerating)
7) Communicate with your photographer - you will probably spend as much time with your photographer/videographer as you do your new hubby/wifey. It is integral that you tell them how you are feeling. If you feel like there’s too many photos going on (and believe me, it can feel that way) be open and honest with them, they are there for you and will be able to support how you are feeling by coming up with an alternative suggestion
8) Jont git zoo drank - exactly. I love seeing everyone having fun but there’s drunk and then there’s druuuuuuuuuunk! Pace yourself or before you know it, the night will be gone and you’ll be left remembering nothing, nadda, zilch (apart from potentially falling off the table to Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer). Are you really spending all that money for a lash up?
9) Have no regrets - Make sure that you are 100% confident with your suppliers and that you don’t spend the whole day thinking ‘I really don’t like my make-up’ or ‘what the heck is that cake, that’s not what I ordered’. Get all your ducks in a row and don’t settle. Your suppliers are pulling your vision together so it’s (in my opinion) the most important part of the planning
10) Take time out - I always schedule time out for my couples, at various points in the day I allow them to spend some time alone together. It’s really important for you to see the fruits of your labour and just take a little drink together, savor the moment!
So there you have it, my vital tips to ensuring you can savor the day all gathered from my years of wedding planning experience! You’re welcome!
Good luck savoring your big day and for more useful tips, check out my other blogs or head over to my Instagram page.