MEET MY INTERVIEW TOP-SECRET GUEST SPEAKER
12 Things Wedding Planners Can Do For You
Working with a diverse portfolio of clients from around the world including Myanmar, Peru, USA, Germany and Australia this year allowed me to create unique and personalised wedding visions for my wedding planning couples. Although some of these plans have now moved to 2021 and 2022, my wedding planning service is all about producing tailored joyful and inspirational celebrations.
If you’re considering getting help with your wedding planning and you’re unsure whether to get professional support, in the next few paragraphs I will be revealing to you the 12 Things a Professional Wedding Planner could do for you, so stayed tuned in…
1. SAVING TIME
If project planning isn’t one of your strengths, a Wedding Planner can save you between 200-300 hours of wedding planning.
Very often the misconception about Wedding Planners is that we’re an extravagant expense, where in fact by using a Professional Wedding Planner you get your time back to concentrate on the things you enjoy the most – have I mentioned that we can take a lot of the stress away with our service too?
How much value do you put on your spare time? Can you afford giving up 200-300 hours for wedding planning? Let me know in the comment box below.
2. CREATING A PLAN
Wedding Planning involves juggling both smaller and bigger projects as part of the overall wedding plan.
Wedding Planners create personalised timelines for your wedding and ensure everything happens seamlessly. All the while arranging all those necessary appointments, fittings and consultations on your behalf and keeping your wedmin on track. That way you enjoy the fun part only.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have all those appointments organised for you and taken care of? Give me ❤️ in the comment box below if you agree.
3. CREATING AND MANAGING A BUDGET
It is often part of our service to create a realistic wedding budget and ensuring it is met – having worked in the wedding industry for years and with hundreds of vendors and suppliers, we understand the market that we’re in daily and we can easily navigate through estimates for you.
We can also easily understand what it takes to turn your dream wedding day vision into reality, while providing your accurate guidance.
Do you know how many couples stick to their wedding budget? Up to 20% of couples struggle to keep their wedding budget on track. Does this surprise you? Give me a YES or NO in the comment box below.
4. SAVING MONEY AND MAXIMISING YOUR BUDGET
Reverting to the previous point about wedding budgets, we can truly maximise your budget and save where you might not have anticipated. This is where we can guide you and make recommendations in allocating resources based on your priorities.
Imagine sourcing your decorations for your ceremony and a separate set for your reception – is this the best way to use your resources? Maybe it is, but it is our job to understand your budget and help you make clever decisions on what’s truly important to you.
Are you maximising your budget and making the best decisions?
5. SOURCING YOUR VENUE
Having worked for clusters of venues in my career including city center hotels, mansion houses, country estates and marquee venues, in addition to having a vast network of venue contacts from my time working for an international wedding venue directory in Scotland, I can easily identify venues that are best suited to your requirements.
Additionally, there are so many ways in which you can maximise your wedding budget when considering wedding venues. I’ve recently saved one of my couples the cost of my part-wedding planning package by choosing their venue based on their set criteria, while having my support along their exciting wedding planning journey.
What is / was the most important aspect to you when considering wedding venues? Let me know in the comment box below.
6. SOURCING AND NEGOTIATING WITH SUPPLIERS
Wedding Planners have got a very unique ability to source and negotiate with vendors and suppliers based on the fact that we’re well connected and work with suppliers we know will provide you with the best products and services.
You could almost say that booking suppliers through your Wedding Planner gives you a guarantee of quality, as we don’t easily give our personal recommendations. Because of this loyal relationship with our industry partners we’ve got the bargaining power for you.
Can you believe that a Wedding Planner can save you on average up to 20% of your wedding budget spend using trade deals? Give me 🌟 in the comments below if you’d be happy with this saving?
7. LIAISING WITH ALL SUPPLIERS AND VENUE ON YOUR BEHALF
When you choose to work on your wedding plans with a Professional Wedding Planner, we will liaise with your venue and suppliers on the smallest of details by becoming your one and only point of contact for the entire wedding planning journey and be the main person who takes care of all wedmin for you.
Doesn’t that sound amazing? Give me YES in the comment box below if you’d love to have wedmin all taken care of for you.
8. CONDUCTING THE BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Your Wedding Planner could be your ‘fixer’ and as previously mentioned we draw from an extensive network of connections and years of experience and research.
The chances are that when we recommend a supplier or venue to you, we’ve worked with them before on a wedding or a project, and if we haven’t, they always come with the highest recommendation from those partners we already work with. Either way, we ensure we vet all suppliers before making our recommendations and provide you with our own set of pointers and observations, making decision making a lot easier.
How much time on average does it take to plan your wedding including all the research?
A. 100 hours?
B. 200-300 hours?
C. 500 hours?
Let me know in the comment box below.
9. HELPING YOU STYLE
Many couples often have a few ideas aided by our experience we put these ideas into a cohesive and stylish vision for your special day.
Working with the best of the best in the industry we come up with moodboards that will perfectly highlight your personal and unique aspirations for your desired wedding day.
Would it be easier for you to have your wedding vision drawn out for you?
10. ORGANISING YOUR GUESTLIST
Guestlist management is often part of the full wedding planning package and this is the element which probably takes the most of your wedding planning admin time.
As wedding planners we can take care of all your RSVPs, organizing them cohesively into tables with all requirements clearly noted.
Additionally, we can be that one point of contact that can take the stress of responding to all FAQs on your behalf and updating your wedding day website.
Anyone who finds this part most challenging give me YES in the comment box below.
11. RUNNING THE SHOW
With On The Day Coordination Package we can ensure that all those months of wedding planning come together – call us Master of Ceremonies, Conductors or On the Day Coordinators, our job is make sure that the entire focus is on the two of you and that we make it happen for you.
This includes managing suppliers, setup, organising the flow of the day, handling any on-the-day emergencies all the while soothing nerves and providing a helping hand.
This service is particularly popular with our full and part wedding planning packages or with couples booking dry hire venues or venues.
Would it not be amazing to have a professional making your dream wedding vision happen behind the scenes for you? Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below.
12. GIVING YOU SUPPORT AND ADVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
Finally, the most important element of working with a wedding planner is relying on a person who is available at a time that works for you, for us this is not a regular 9-5 job, this is passion and this is commitment to you and your guests.
We are there to advocate for you, while offering sound and objective advice, and we never get bored talking about weddings… has this given you a better idea on the benefits of working with a Professional Wedding Planner for your most important day?
Feel free to share your worries, concerns or questions in the comment box below or privately email them to me. I’d love to help with things small and big – I’d love to make things easier for you!
PLANNING AN OUTDOOR WEDDING
BLOG POST SPONSORED BY SAINSBURY’S BANK*
PLANNING AN OUTDOOR WEDDING
With the current restrictions, we’ve seen increasing numbers of couples opting to say ‘I do’ in an outdoor wedding ceremony. Whether you’re dreaming of a micro wedding with your closest loved ones around you or planning a grand event, we share some useful tips for planning an alfresco ceremony to remember.
Check out this Guide to Planning an Outdoor Wedding by Sainsbury’s Bank Blog.
THE LEGAL BITS
First up, check the legalities and official rules for the country you are marrying in. If you’re getting married in Scotland, you can get married anywhere you choose. If your wedding is to be held in Wales or England, you need to have the ceremony in a fixed, permanent structure such as verandah, beach hut or bandstand. Some couples choose to hold an outdoor ceremony and legalise the marriage the next day. Chat with your wedding planner, celebrant or local authority if you’re unsure.
SEASONAL BACKDROPS
The beauty of an outdoor wedding is that you can embrace what nature has to offer and opt for a wedding inspired by the season it will be held in. Think of a gorgeous autumnal wedding with impressive colours and folliage creating a stunning backdrop to your ceremony (hello gorgeous wedding photos); or if you’re a sun-seeker, a summer wedding on the beach could be a perfect choice.
If you’re opting for a wedding in the warmer months, think about providing your guests with parasols, paper fans and cold refreshments to keep them comfortable in the heat.
Let’s not forget the beauty of a wedding in winter or early spring. Think warm faux fur cover-ups and sunlight highlighting a crisp icy backdrop - just stunning. Keep your guests cosy with blankets, outdoor heaters and, of course, a yummy hot chocolate station with hot toddy options for the adults.
BRING THE OUTDOORS, IN!
Love the idea of hosting your wedding outdoors, but not sure about the practicalities? Why not have the best of both worlds and hire an open-air tipi or marquee? This will allow you to make use of both the outside and inside space, and create an outdoorsy vibe with all the extra comforts. Use natural foliage and plants to decorate the inside of the tent for a rustic feel, and make sure your centerpieces are brimming with natural textures. Consider incorporating pinecones and ivy for a touch of greenery that won't wilt in the wee hours. The best part is there are no rules. You can stick to simple decor or be as creative as you like!
ARE THOSE WEDDING BELLS RINGING?
From grand weddings on the grounds of luxury country houses to intimate woodland weddings with a few special guests, at The Wedding Guru - Oskar, we’ve planned them all. Let us help you make your dreams a reality with our bespoke planning services.
Useful things to consider when planning for a wedding in the Autumn!
In this blog, I decided to focus on Autumn weddings and the things you might find useful when planning for a wedding in this colourful season.
In the next few paragraphs, I would like to bring to you some of my ideas and suggestions which can add to the magical feel of this beautiful wedding season.
Are there any Brides following an Autumn theme for their wedding? Let me know in the comments where you find your inspiration for your gorgeous celebration.
COLOURS
Autumn is a beautiful, mystical and very vibrant season for weddings, especially when we consider its colours.
From late September to November we are spoilt for rich and colourful notes to the natural outdoors as well as seasonal accents to our indoors celebrations.
Why not take advantage of these vibrant colours in your décor, flowers and even outfit accents – there’s an abundance of choice for you to pick from.
Are you infusing seasonal colours in your wedding design?
WEATHER
Many couples worry about the weather conditions in the Autumn, well you’d be surprised! I’ve got brilliant news to share with you on this!
Although the temperatures drop slightly, statistically according to Met Office - Autumn in Scotland is one of the driest seasons of the year from mid-September to November, there’s less rainfall than between July and August – does that statistic surprise you?
You might want to prepare yourself for more wind on occasions though and have a contingency Plan B should things turn to the worse on the morning of your wedding if you’ve planned for outdoor elements.
Remember, autumn photos look absolutely stunning too – so plan to make the most of this opportunity!
OUTDOORS CEREMONIES
Another element of weddings that can be absolutely stunning is outdoor ceremonies if you do them correctly.
A) DON’T plan for an hour+ long ceremony outdoors in the Autumn and although it might be dry and fairly warm, it might also be windy, so you don’t want to be keeping your guests outside for too long unnecessarily
B) Always have a Plan B for wet weather contingency
C) Make the most of what nature gives you in this beautiful and colourful season
D) You might want to consider providing little blankets, rugs or shawls for your wedding guests on the ceremony chairs outdoors
Would you consider an outdoor wedding ceremony in the Autumn?
COUNTRY VENUES
Venue consideration can also add to the design of your beautiful Autumn themed wedding – many Castles, Mansion Houses and private estates are surrounded by beautiful country grounds, woodlands and parklands.
Imagine all those impressive and mature trees beaming with colours creating the stunning backdrop to your ceremony, drinks receptions and photos – you can let nature do the work of design for you 😊
If you’re going for a rustic look, you can’t pick a better season for a country estate wedding.
AUTUMN DEALS
Summer months are statistically and historically the most popular for weddings, although I’m not sure why if the forecast in the UK isn’t as promising in the summer as it might be at overseas destinations.
This means that some vendors and venues might be offering special seasonal deals and Autumn might allow you to maximise your wedding budget.
If you aren’t set on a fixed date or haven’t made a decision yet, why not ask your desired suppliers and venues about seasonal deals?
How are you finding my Autumnal wedding suggestions so far? Is there any you’ve found particularly handy?
FLOWERS
Interestingly, I come across this quite a lot lately… Couples often set their heart on certain flowers or certain #Pinterest looks and then there comes the disappointment of finding out that the flowers or the look they want to go for cannot be replicated in the season they chose for their wedding.
Some out of season flowers you want might be still sourced out of season, however, these might come with a hefty price tag for being so limited!
Therefore, I highly recommend for you to discuss seasonal flowers with your florist before looking things up online, to avoid disappointment or opt-in for artificial flowers altogether.
Interestingly, there are some very beautiful and in keeping with the colourful theme of autumn flowers for you to choose from – here’s just a short list of some of the choices you have: alstromeria, gerbera, iris, orchid polymin, chrysanthemum, sunflower, delphinium, freesia and many more.
Is it a surprise for you to know that you might not be able to replicate all floral looks all year round?
MENU
It doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that with days becoming darker quicker in Autumn, colder, we may feel cosier on the inside with some seasonally tailored wedding menus.
Autumn is an incredible season for food and can tickle many taste buds.
In the Autumn your guests are likely to enjoy a delicious hearty meal and a full-bodied glass of red wine or cranberry vodka – what do you think of this combination?
Autumn food is all about variety, rich colours and flavours on your plate.
Imagine quail with figs and walnuts, wild mushroom and truffle arancini, venison loin in a red currant jus or spiced parsnip and red onion shepherds pie – I’m getting hungry myself!
Additionally, autumnal desserts are to die for with choices such as blackberry crumble with vanilla custard, dark chocolate orange tart or an apple pavlova 😊
Anyone hungry at the thought of these dishes?
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
It would be very optimistic for me not to touch upon the subject to dressing for the season.
If you’re considering a country estate, a farmhouse or a barn for your wedding in the Autumn, you might want to keep those gorgeous heels safe until you are in your Wedding Breakfast and Reception venue.
You might also want to equip yourself with a pair of bridal wellies for your outdoors ceremonies and photography, and although you might come across a dry day, underfoot conditions might be very different from morning frost and wet ground.
Additionally, advice especially important for our Brides, why not rock a nice chic jacket accessory to your wedding dress, which will definitely come in handy for your outdoors photos.
What other elements of the Autumn wedding wardrobe have you considered? Let us know in the comments below.
LIGHTING
Finally, there is another element you might want to think about when planning for a wedding in Autumn and this one is a very romantic element in my opinion – it’s lighting!
With days getting darker quicker, you’ll have a lot more opportunities to work with romantic and atmospheric mood lighting to set the perfect scene for your wedding breakfast and especially your evening reception.
Additionally, later in autumn, you might want to consider some fairy light, outdoor photos with sparklers or even early evening firework displays to give a clear start to your evening reception.
Imagine performing your first dance in the backdrop of fireworks or cake cutting while all your guests hold flashing sparklers in their hands – this of course is our good weather plan for the outdoors.
Are there any other elements you would consider for your autumn wedding? Let us know in the comments below.
THE LOVE STORY THAT NOTHING CAN STOP! - Real Wedding Blog
THE LOVE STORY THAT NOTHING CAN STOP!
- Real Wedding Blog
Recently, I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding for one of the kindest, most humble and all-round lovely couple – Holly and Niccolas.
I would like to share their story with you, because their story truly moved me, and I feel honoured to have been chosen to assist on their wedding day with my on the day coordination in addition to some pre-planning support.
This is all thanks to an amazing charity called Wedding Wish Makers based in Glasgow who help terminally ill Brides and Grooms tie the knot in the most beautiful ways!
I was tagged by my friend Jay at The Old Dr Bell’s Baths in a Facebook post from Wedding Wish Makers looking for support with the planning in Edinburgh as their regular area of operations is Glasgow. I immediately responded and was amazed to find that the charity was run by Suzanne whom I’ve met at the Scottish VOWS Awards a few years ago – there was a true connection there and we were both delighted to work together to bring this beautiful celebration together.
I got busy and encouraged my recommended suppliers to get involved too and of course, they didn’t disappoint!
If you would like to find out more about this beautiful celebration – read the full story below.
HOLLY
Allow me to introduce our Bride – Holly (34y.o.), the kindest and most loving mum of six who was diagnosed with stage four cancer in June 2020.
She’s now got weeks to live and with fiancé Niccolas, they decided to fulfil one of Holly’s biggest dreams and create beautiful wedding memories.
Thanks to the support of Wedding Wish Makers and generous local wedding suppliers, the wedding was planned in short 10 days and what a beautiful celebration it’s been!
If you would like to support Holly and her family at this challenging time, you can still donate to the Go Fund Me page in Holly’s name - https://uk.gofundme.com/f/holly039s-fund
All donations are greatly appreciated and will help with childcare, bills and most importantly to make as many happy memories with her young family.
If you would like to learn more about the suppliers involved and the work they’ve put into the day, check out the next paragraphs.
I’ve decided to present the gorgeous wedding of Holly and Niccolas by breaking it down into each element of their beautiful day, starting with:
THE VENUE
Initially, the entire day was planned around the beautiful Leith Community Gardens Croft – Crops in Pots, however, due to the adverse weather condition on the day and night leading up to the wedding, the ceremony venue was changed at 10pm the night before, thanks to the kind offer from Nicola at Duncan Place Leith - Community Centre.
Suzanne at Wedding Wish Makers communicated the change to all suppliers and I notified the Registrar – Ann Burnett about the change on the morning of the wedding to ensure everything was corrected for the purpose of legally binding ceremony schedule and then the transcript to the marriage certificate.
The ceremony itself conducted by Ann was perfect with the right amount of humour and sentiment matching the couples’ personality perfectly.
The revised plan worked perfectly, and all guests knew exactly where they were supposed to be thanks to Dean Saunders Piper who played pipes for the arrival of guests to the ceremony. The change to the ceremony venue also created a nice flow between the two different locations and a surprise factor for arriving into the garden reception already setup.
The teams at both locations were absolutely incredible, especially Evie – the CEO of the Leith Community Gardens – Crops and Pots and Harriet Wood – Wedding Specialist volunteering with the gardens on the day.
Wasn’t that just an incredibly well organised change of plan? What do you think? We loved it!
DÉCOR
There was an amazing array of décor suppliers supporting the setup for this very special celebration.
Lynsay Borthwick Wedding & Events dressed the chairs for the wedding ceremony with shades of purples and lilac bows, rose petals for the ceremony aisle and an impressive arch for the ceremony backdrop. Additionally, Lynsay supplied bird cages and candles around the room setting the tone perfectly and also provided bows for the gates of the gardens for guests arriving from the ceremony.
Kathrin at White House Flowers supplied a fresh floral arrangement for the signing table and beautiful and natural looking bouquets, buttonholes and corsages – all in keeping with the colour theme of the wedding.
Additionally, G Artistry supplied clusters of balloons for the ceremony and then for the gates of the gardens for the reception.
Finally, Mandy and Lynda from Mc Balloons & Events and JACE Balloons and Events supplied a marquee for the catering station, table, linen, chairs and covers for the ceremony venue.
CATERING
The catering for the wedding was absolutely to die for thanks to Skivvy’s Outside Catering and Fish & Frites – Anstruther!
Skivvy’s Outside Catering platters didn’t only cater for all possible dietary requirements, but when I opened the beautifully presented and packaged trays, I was salivating! The food looked amazing and smelt beautiful! If you want to impress your guests with buffet and grazing stations – I highly recommend you get in touch with Tracey!
Fish & Frites – Anstruther was a massive talking point on the day! Sarah and Jordan arrived in plenty time in a stunning blue van, all dressed up for Holly and Nic’s wedding with signage, bunting and frames adding to the presentation of the reception. They served some of the most amazing fish and chips I’ve ever had and the perfect portions too! Massive thanks to you guys for looking after our volunteers also! Simply the nicest team to work with and I would highly recommend them to anyone considering outside catering!
I was honestly very impressed by the quality and quantity of food kindly donated by both caterers! Check out their social media today!
HAIR, MAKE UP AND THE DRESS
There was a wonderful response from hair and makeup artists to help for Holly and Nic’s wedding.
Sophie Arran Make Up Artistry and Andrea Erroch Makeup Artists did beautiful make up for the wedding party.
Dian Ward Hair & Beauty and Maureen from ‘The Bride to Be’ looked after hair arrangements for the wedding party too.
You could see all the ladies beaming with pride with their hair styles!
Finally, Jade at Crystal Bows Bridal Boutique supplied four tea length dresses for Holly to choose from and a gorgeous veil – don’t you think Holly looked absolutely radiant?
Holly took our breath away when she walked into her ceremony. Her relaxed and positive attitude was reflected in the dress code for the day with the high tops worn by the family and wedding party!
What would be your personal touch? Let me know in the comments below!
The wedding of Holly and Nic wouldn’t have been captured in such a spectacular way without the help of:
PHOTOGRAPGER AND VIDEOGRAPHER
The videographer who remains anonymous and Lyndsey from Edinburgh Photographic captured the day so beautifully, don’t you think?
It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with both, who were foremost warm, professional and didn’t need any direction – guests and everyone involved really enjoyed working with them.
One thing that particularly captured my attention was that they weren’t obtrusive, the photography and videography was happening almost in the background and look at the effects of their amazing work – just stunning, perfectly recording the celebrations!
Finally, I would like to thank my fantastic:
VOLUNTEERS
They were instrumental in ensuring the wedding of Holly and Nic went without a glitch. No questions were asked, and everyone was ready to roll their sleeves up to ensure Holly and Nic had the most magical wedding day and didn’t need to worry about a thing.
My husband George led the team in the ceremony venue, and I supported the team in the gardens.
Special thanks go to George, Dawn, Sam, Kimberley, Kamile and Harriet for all their help and support – we couldn’t have pulled it off without you guys!
Massive thanks also go to Evie and her team of volunteers at Leith Community Gardens – Crops in Pots!
If you’re looking for the support of a professional team of industry experts, contact me. My wonderful connections mentioned above, and in previous posts, would be more than happy to help with your next event!
In summary, it was an honour for me to help plan, and also to coordinate Holly and Nic’s wedding on the day of my birthday – it was a humbling opportunity I truly wanted to participate in and on reflection their wedding made me realise that with the support of the amazing industry experts, you can produce a stunning celebration within a very short period of time – in fact this is the fastest organised wedding I ever had the pleasure to be involved with and I’m sure all of you will agree that it was a beautiful celebration.
At the end of the day, a union of two people pronouncing their love for one another is what a wedding should be about no matter the challenges, Holly and Niccolas have proven this to us in this truly remarkable ceremony!
Holly and Nic’s wedding was a day I will not forget! Massive thanks to Suzanne and Lauren at Wedding Wish Makers for giving me this opportunity!
Don’t forget that if you would like to support Holly and her family at this challenging time, you can still donate to Go Fund Me page in Holly’s name - https://uk.gofundme.com/f/holly039s-fund
Effective ways to plan your wedding guest list - by The Wedding Guru Oskar!
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING GUEST LIST
In response to one of the most recent requests on how to plan your guest list, I decided to come up with my own outlook on how you can best tackle this daunting for many task.
In the following paragraphs I am sharing with you my top tips on planning a guest list.
As always, feel free to share your own opinions in the comments below as we all might have different and just as useful approaches.
START EARLY
For those of you that already know me and follow me for a while – you might be right – it’s to START it EARLY!
I don’t believe any of you would want to start wedding planning without knowing who your wedding guests are.
Additionally, having this list started before you’ve even approached any suppliers or venues can become very useful for many reasons including budgeting, venue and supplier’s suitability, catering etc., etc.
The reality is with most things in wedding planning that the more work you do early, the easier things will get closer to your wedding day and ultimately, knowing your guest list inside out, will help you design your wedding day better.
Have you started your wedding planning with a guest list first?
THE SPLIT
The next thing I would focus on in planning your guest list is to divvy up the split between yourselves and your family, especially if your parents or family are supporting your wedding efforts financially.
It might also be important to discuss this element early, so that you understand the scale of your wedding, set the expectations of numbers each person can invite and only consider those venues, suppliers and caterers that can accommodate for your numbers.
I’ve been there! Many families want to invite all those important to them guests, however, the reality of budgets, venue capacities and catering can be a lot different, this is why, it is important to ensure you’ve all agreed on your split early on, in order to avoid disappointment further down the line.
Do you find conversations with the family about your wedding a little overwhelming? I’ve been there too! Everyone has their opinion, right? But, is everyone right? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
LIST A & LIST B
My next tip for managing your guest list is to have two wedding guests lists… and you might think – why do I need two guest lists? Allow me to explain the logic behind this for you…
LIST A will include all those guests that are a must at your wedding, and therefore you might want to send those invitations early.
LIST B on the other hand, is for those guests that you might really want to invite to the wedding, but due to budget constraints or venue capacity limitation you physically cannot. This is also why, you might want to send your LIST A invitations early, so that should you receive any declined RSVPs from this list, you might want to start inviting your guests in the order of importance from your LIST B without upsetting anyone.
What do you think of this idea? Let me know in the comments below.
POLITE RESPONSE
This next tip might come in very handy as you are meeting people who you haven’t invited to your wedding and they have “expected” an invitation.
This might come up in conversations as you attend other family, work or friend’s events in the lead up to your special day – after all, everyone will know you’re getting married.
It is important to have a polite response why you’ve been unable to invite them, and you don’t want to upset them.
Should they challenge you with this question, make them feel like you really wanted to invite them, but you simply couldn’t. Making them feel like you were cutting them out, might not go down as well…
How about: “We really wanted to celebrate with absolutely everyone – wouldn’t that be fun? It is because of our venue limitations; we’ve had to keep things smaller than we initially wanted and we’ve just fallen in love with the place!”
Would you have any other suggestions? Share them in the comments below.
CHILDREN
Including or not including children to your wedding is always a hot topic and I can understand why you might be having this dilemma.
The reality is that you don’t have to have children at your wedding, but you must make this decision very early on and make it crystal clear if you’ve decided not to have children at your wedding.
Some couples advise of this in Save the Date cards, meaning that families can make early arrangements for childcare and this does not come to them as a surprise if your invitations are only sent out a few months before your wedding date.
If you decide to invite children to attend your wedding, your next task will be to figure out how you’re going to keep them amazed, entertained and occupied – simply catering for them will not do the trick I’m afraid!
EVENING GUESTS
Guest list planning might also involve considering evening reception guests for some couples.
Once again, this will very much depend on your budgets and venue capacities, so you might want to make this decision quite early on.
Most of the time those invitations are reserved for your work collages or plus ones if you’re limited in capacity for your daytime celebrations.
Would you consider inviting evening guests to your wedding? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
TABLE PLANNING
The next step you would like to make in planning your guest list is to arrange it into tables.
To help you with that, you might want to ask for a sample room layout from your venue, so that you know where the tables go and in what order you want to seat your guests from your top table – if you are having one.
There are many table planning services out there, including My Scotland Wedding who can help you with that, easily and effectively.
The reasons behind doing it earlier rather than at the point of RSVPs deadline is that within the last month prior to your wedding, you’ll have many confirmations to make and your pre-organised table plan which will only need small adjustments at that point, will be one less thing you’ll need to worry about.
Statistically, your numbers will only change by up to 10% at the point of your RSVPs, so it makes sense to get yourself organised early.
More importantly, I’ve heard many couples saying that table planning is a time-consuming task and you don’t want to leave it to the last minute. It’s not about physically adding guests to tables (because that’d be easy) and more about making sure that your tables work in terms of capacity, table dynamics, family politics, etc.
Would you rather plan your tables early, or would you choose to wait until you get your RSVPs? Let me know in the comments below.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
When planning your guest list you will also need to consider your guests dietary and special requirements.
The reason why I haven’t only used dietary requirements is that your guests might have other requirements that it is important to 1) acknowledge and 2) accommodate for within your venue or setup.
All caterers nowadays can cater for all dietary requirements, so don’t worry about communicating those to them and they will ensure you guests are well looked after.
RSVP SUBMISSIONS
My next tip on planning for your guest list relates mostly to online RSVP software, although can also relate to paper RSVPs too.
There are many RSVP management software providers out there these days, however, what is often forgotten about (and I’ve seen this many times), they are not always set to one response per submission, meaning that you might end up with a one submission for the entire family and then you’re left which checking who that “vegetarian guest” is in this and many other submissions… make sure you check the setting in advance of sending out the link to your guests.
This can also apply to paper RSVPs and the best way to avoid this happening, is to send out individually named RSVPs. This also reinstates exactly who has been invited to the wedding – remember the tip about not inviting children or not, this could work as a reminder.
Have you heard of multiple RSVP submissions per form before? Let me know in the comments below.
MENU
Another thing you might want to consider adding to your guest list plan is to send out your menu or the link to it in your invitation.
This will avoid guests changing their mind on the day of the wedding if you have opted for a set menu and will allow them to select the alternative option suitable for dietary requirements – this makes things a lot more organised in advance of your special day.
Additionally, this is particularly important if you’re planning for a choice menu – again one submission per form is critical here too!
Would you add anything else to your invitations to ensure everyone is catered and accommodated for? Let me know in the comments below.
DEADLINE
Setting a deadline for your invitations for 2-1 months before your wedding, will give you more time to organise them clearly.
This deadline will also give you the time for chasing late responses and organising your table plan before you need to focus on the final confirmations for your wedding in the last few weeks before the big date.
Would you agree with this deadline?
UPDATES
Your next step after receiving your RSVPs would be to update your tables plan.
If you have been organised as previously advised in my latest posts, you should have your guests provisionally added to tables already.
This should mean small alterations rather than starting from scratch and from a long large list of guests and taking into consideration all other aspects of good table planning.
If you would like to find out more about how to manage your wedding planning time more effectively, follow this link for my FREE 3 step guide.
CHANGES
Finally, if you have followed my guest list planning tips lately, you will already know that I like a no-hassle approach for my couples and therefore my last tip for you is not to discuss or share your final table plan with anyone in the lead up to your big day!
This will prevent from last minute headaches caused by guests “politely requesting” to be seated elsewhere because of XYZ reasons.
These last-minute changes are the last thing you need when you’re finalising everything else for your special day and you’ve already worked so hard in making sure you’ve considered everyone by this point.
Now, it’s time for you to enjoy your special day and see your guests having a great time! You’ve done a cracking job! Well done! Now, go and enjoy it all!
Useful things to be aware of when planning for a wedding in Scotland!
Useful things to be aware of when planning for a wedding in Scotland!
Scottish weddings in particular, might be slightly different to other traditions you might be aware of, especially when you’re planning a destination wedding in Scotland – this might also be useful for our English friends beyond Hadrian’s wall who plan to get married in Scotland.
Wedding Day Schedule
Unlike in some other parts of the world, it is considered unlucky in Scotland for the couple to see one another before the official wedding ceremony so if you’re used to first look photos, this might come to you as a surprise that here, we start with separately taken preparations photos and official couple photos post-ceremony. This is why, traditionally ceremonies in Scotland start between 12 noon and 2pm, although a professional wedding planner can tailor a wedding day schedule specifically to your desired outcomes.
Ceremonies
You might be surprised that neither civil nor religious ceremonies are the most popular forms of legal marriage registration here… that’s right! Scotland, unlike England (although we’re all in the UK) is one of those very few places in the world where Humanist and Independent ceremonies take over the traditional forms of legal marriage registration, the reason for that is that couples have a lot more freedom and can personalise their ceremony a lot more when choosing a Humanist or Independent Celebrant to conduct their legal ceremony. And, it is the celebrant that carries the license, that is why in Scotland you can marry at the top of a hill, outdoors, indoors or in a family backyard – how could you not love this level of flexibility and freedom, right?
Gratuity
It is not as popularly considered at weddings as it is in other parts of the world and if you do decide to offer gratuity to your suppliers or venue in the UK, it is considered a very generous thank you gesture for an excellent service you’ve received. Remember that in the UK, minimum wages and unit prices are regulated that is why some services or products might seem more expensive than in other parts of the world.
Wedding world language
WOW, this is indeed a very exciting topic! For us in the UK, phrases such as Wedding Breakfast, Drinks Reception, Canapes, etc. are so obvious nowadays, however, they might not be as obvious for those couples who are starting to learn about our traditions, so let me bring to you a few of those phrases and their alternatives:
Wedding Breakfast - named as this for it is the first meal for a married couple, it is in fact - a Wedding Meal
Drinks Reception – otherwise known as the Cocktail Hour, this one take place post-ceremony when guests are entertained with canapes and drinks, giving the couple time for professional photography and venue the time to turn things round or complete the final setup touches
Buttonhole – otherwise known as Boutonniere, often floral decorative piece worn by men on their left lapel
Canapes – also known as Hors d’oeuvres, often taster sized savory or sweet refreshments served during the Drinks Reception
Starter / Main Course – might be also referred to as Appetisers / Entree
Chief Bridesmaid – often referred to as Maid (single) or Matron (married) of Honor, the most important person in Bride’s line of Wedding Party, normally assisting the Bride and standing right beside her during the ceremony
Open Bar – term a lot more popular in the Americas, as alcohol sales in the UK are a lot more restricted and regulated with venue licenses, minimum unit pricing and alcohol measures. In the UK, this might be referred to as an Account Bar, where couple pre-pays or pre-orders additional drinks for the guests to enjoy through the wedding day in accordance with the above-mentioned regulations
Additional charges
Some venues and vendors in the UK might charge an additional security deposit which is to cover any damages, normally refundable, but it is important you are aware of this so you’re not surprised last minute that you’ve got to have this amount put aside in addition to your final payments
Additionally, some venues and vendors might or might not include taxes such as VAT in their quotes – so make sure you always ask the question as standard VAT in the UK is 20%, which again could affect your wedding budget especially if this relates to venue hire or catering
Seasonality
In the UK, we’re both, blessed and coursed by the weather conditions, but you would always want to have a bad weather Plan B in place, no matter if your wedding takes place in June, July or December, January – I in fact got married in January and had a lot nicer day for my wedding then that of the first two weeks of June this year.
Additionally, you might want to consider the benefits of daylight – once again we’re blessed with it in the summer and cursed with it in the winter. Because of the far north location of Scotland (similar to that of Norway) we can enjoy up to 18 hours of sun in the summer months and as little as 6 hours of sun light in the middle of the winter, so this is particularly important when considering venues and locations for your wedding photography – also important to consider this in your wedding day schedule.
Suggested Wedding Planning Timelines
Suggested Wedding Planning Timelines
Couples often ask me about suggested wedding planning timelines and although these may vary dependent on your personalised requirements and preferences, I’d like to share with you some of my recommended steps you should take in the lead up to your special day.
12 MONTHS OR MORE…
- Determine your budget
- Make an initial guest list
- Setup a wedding email address
- Book a venue (and caterers)
- Send SAVE THE DATES
- Start considering your overall theme and design preferences
- Contact those important suppliers about availability – i.e. Photographer / Videographer; Band / DJ / Entertainment and Music supplier; Ceremony Officiant…
Can you say you agree with my first tasks for your wedding planning timeline shared above? Let me know in the comments below.
Now, you will be wondering what’s next in my suggested wedding planning timeline! Well…
12 TO 10 MONTHS BEFORE…
- Start shopping for your dress
- Consider accommodation options for your guests
- Create a wedding website with an FAQ section which you can update regularly (Trust me! It’ll save you plenty time by not having to answer the same questions over and over again)
- Book your important suppliers
- Start looking up invitations’ ideas
- Choose and assign immediate Wedding Party
Would you add anything to this list?
We’ve now explored two big steps in your wedding planning timeline and now we’ll be looking at tasks you should consider -
10 TO 8 MONTHS BEFORE…
- Purchase your wedding dress – remember it takes time to make your dream dress and there’ll be more fittings and alterations along the way
- Register for a Gift List so it is ready to send along with your invitations
- Meet with potential florists and discuss floral options
Does that sound like a fair list of tasks for 10 to 8 months before your special day? Let me know in the comments below.
Now, we’ll be looking as tasks and projects you should consider around the six months mark.
Here are some ideas, I’ve prepared for you:
8 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE…
- Consider if you’d like a rehearsal dinner and who you’ll invite to it; what venue you want for it and caterer
- Start booking hire items such as linens, chairs, draping, bespoke dance floor, lounge furniture and any other décor pieces
- Choose and order your Bridesmaids dresses
- Book your hair and make up
- Start considering your wedding day music choices and ceremony readings
- Discuss your ceremony script, vows and ask for advice on requirements for marriage license with your Officiant
Would you add anything else to this list?
The last six months is when your wedding plans will start shaping up and picking up speed and I’m sure you’ll be proud of the efforts you’ve already put to your plan!
The next vital steps in your exciting wedding planning journey will be taking place in
6 TO 4 MONTHS BEFORE…
- Book your menu tasting
- Book yours and guests’ transportation (if required)
- Book and confirm your honeymoon arrangements
- Order Menswear and book final fittings for all the outfits
- Order your cake and wedding favours
- Post your invitations
- Review and update your ceremony script and vows
- Choose and order your wedding rings
How are you finding this wedding plan so far? Would you find it easy to follow and execute or would you consider hiring a Wedding Planner to help and guide you through it?
It must feel good to have achieved so much in the last two months of your wedding planning, right?
For many couples wedding planning is the first and only project of this volume they’ll be responsible for, but it can be exciting and fun when it is broken down into more manageable plan.
What do you think you should be doing
4 TO 2 MONTHS BEFORE?...
- Attend your menu tasting
- Attend Hair and Make Up Trail
- Start crafting any DIY pieces you’ve planned for
- Start practicing your speeches and vows
- Update your guest list
- Ensure you’ve fulfilled all the legal requirements for your marriage license
- Start shopping for your wedding party gifts
Don’t you feel the excitement building in the air by this point? Let me know in the comments below if you’ve arrived here already?
Now, the time has come to start finalising things for your very important and special day – don’t forget, this doesn’t need to be stressful, because you’ve already achieved so much! Can you see it?
2 MONTHS BEFORE…
In the second last month before your special day you should focus on:
- Type up a list of must-take wedding photo shots
- Attend a dress fitting and try on those gorgeous wedding shoes to start breaking them in
- Finalise arrangements with your florist and event designer
- Supply your song selection to ceremony musicians, DJ and/or Band
- Purchase final wedding day bits and bobs
How would you feel at this stage in your wedding planning? Very excited, right?
1 MONTH BEFORE…
In the final month prior to your wedding there will be a lot of final details admin, but worry not, you’ve got it!
Your final months before wedding will likely consist of:
- Assembling favours, activity packs and little bits and bobs into organised and clearly labeled boxes or bags
- Arranging final payments with your suppliers, venue and caterers
- Finalising guest list, orders of service, speeches and ceremony script
- Having a final run through with your Wedding Planner and venue
- Confirming a final run through of your special day and sharing all important contact details with your suppliers
YAY! You did it! Now, it’s a matter of days to your most amazing wedding day! You must be proud of yourself!
1 WEEK BEFORE…
Finally, there might be a few final tings you’ll need to do in the week leading up to your celebrations, so why not plan for these too:
- Pick up your marriage schedule (if required)
- Arrange a drop off time for your wedding DIY items, favours, activity packs, table stationary etc.
- Pack your bags for the honeymoon
- Attend final dress fitting and collect your dress
- Treat yourself to final cosmetic treatments
- Practice your vows and speeches
and… drumroll… GET MARRIED AND BE JOLLY!
Now, it’s the time to enjoy all the hard work you’ve put into your wedding plan!
Is there anything else I could explore for you in my next projects? Email me at oskar@theweddingguruoskar.co.uk or let me know in the comments below.
Things NOT to miss for your wedding ceremony!
Did you like the post-lockdown trends I have explored for you in my last blog?
I have now decided to focus on something more practical and share with you my advice about the most important element of your wedding - your ceremony.
There'd be no wedding without it, so I'd like to give it some much deserved attention in the coming days, so stay tuned in and watch out for my tips rolling in day by day for you.
LOCATION
Firstly, let's focus on the location...
You might think that this is a personal choice and an obvious element to consider first, but why?
Venue ceremony licences believe it or not vary across the UK and for instance, in England your desired and dreamt about venue might not be licensed to host your legal ceremony.
Some venues might also charge you an additional ceremony fee and in some cases holding ceremony and reception in the same or different venue might offer you some benefits, such as an option to re-purpose your decorations or reallocate your budget towards other elements of your wedding.
Finally, if you're dreaming of an outdoors ceremony - have you considered what your contingency is on a wet day? Have you given much in-depth thought to your ceremony location?
CEREMONY OFFICIANT
Ceremony officiant is another area of your wedding ceremony you will need to focus on.
Dependent on your wedding destination you might be able to consider an independent or religious ceremony which are legally binding, however, there are destination in which you might need to do marriage registration separate from your religious or independent ceremony.
Moreover, civil ceremonies are traditionally a lot shorter and less personalised, so you might need to think if this option is for you. Normally, you will also not get to choose your civil Registrar and will only meet him/her on the day of your wedding.
If you choose to have an independent, humanist or religious ceremony, you'll have a lot more choice and say in the format of your ceremony, however, you must remember that their availability might be limited so I highly recommend aligning your plans with their availability and booking them as one of the first ones.
Did you expect to have to give so much consideration to your ceremony?
MARRIAGE LEGALITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Legal parts of your ceremony are particularly important if you're planning for a destination wedding.
There might be certain local regulations that you will need to fulfil in order to carry out a legally binding ceremony registration, so it is worth contacting your designated Registration Office at your destination to find out more details.
Some couples choose to obtain legal registration on their home ground before travelling for their symbolic ceremony at a foreign destination to avoid any legal complications.
Remember that no matter the destination or location of your ceremony, you will be required to give notice of your intend to marry, this notice period vary dependent on local laws and regulations.
All in all, you want to ensure that you do everything required of you to have a legally binding marriage.
How do you feel about the rules and regulations on marriage? Let me know in the comments below.
CEREMONY MUSIC
Ceremony music is incredibly important to consider early on, especially if you'd like your ceremony to be accompanied by a live music from a harpist, string quarter, pianist, Piper... you name it - they get booked up years in advance too.
Music at ceremonies is often used to fill those important gaps, such as marriage schedule signing, group photographs or simply accompanying hymns or readings.
This is why you might want to consider what music pieces you'd like for your ceremony, when they are to be played and how they will be played, from the beginning of your wedding planning journey.
If you're choosing pre-recorded music for your ceremony, ensure you've got the appropriate equipment for this and that you've got a reliable person briefed on how to work your device and your playlists.
Have you given much through to your ceremony music? Let me know in the comments below.
CEREMONY READINGS
What are your thoughts on readings and hymns at wedding ceremonies?
With humanist ceremonies becoming the most popular in Scotland, personalised readings and hymns are highly encouraged.
Couples aren't only limited to a small selection of readings at it happens with civil or religious ceremonies, they can in fact pick and choose their preferred items for this.
Two years ago at our wedding, we've incorporated "A Red, Red Rose" by the Scottish poet Robert Burn.
What poem or reading comes to your mind first when thinking of your wedding ceremony? Have you got any favourites?
CEREMONY SCRIPT AND VOWS
Ceremony script and wedding vows writing has become a lot more popular in recent years and with more independent and humanist ceremonies taking place around the world, you can now not only personalise your vows, but also write your entire ceremony script with the help of your celebrant - something that Tim Maguire - Humanist Celebrant shared with you on a few occasions now in my online wedding fayres and instagram take overs.
Would you like your ceremony script and vows to be personal and written by you and about you?
This is definitely something you could now consider in humanist and independent ceremonies.
CEREMONY DECORATING
Ceremony decorating is another topic I wanted to touch upon with you, especially from a logistical stand point.
Some venues might offer early setup and some might not be able to do so. This is why it is important to ensure you check your venues' setup capabilities in advance of committing to logistically challenging setup arrangements.
Additionally, it is important to check with your venue about any other limitations such as height, wall decorating, fixtures etc. to avoid disappointment.
Finally, you can definitely see you wedding budget stretch further if you decide to re-purpose your ceremony decorations - you will also need to consider the logistics of that. Will your venue be able to do so or will you need your florist to stay longer for the turnaround?
CEREMONY SEATING AND PROCESSION ORDER
Have you considered your ceremony seating and processional arrangements?
Will you be offering your guests formal or informal seating and if it is formal who will be responsible to ensure this happens correctly?
The same questions relates to Bridal processions:
- will you be going in first or last?
- will your Bridesmaids be entering with ushers or alone?
- will your Mum be seated by Best Man?
- will you be having flower girls and page boys?
- what will be the order of procession?
Have you given much thought to this and did you know there was so much choice? Let me know in the comments below.
TRANSPORTATION
I often ask couples how their guests are arriving to the ceremony, because, there's so much to consider for it.
If your ceremony and reception take place across two different venues - how will your guests move between them? .
If your venue is in the city centre, the question falls on distance from the nearest airport, train station and supply of car parking spaces.
You would also want to ensure that your guests don't arrive to the venue too early or two late and vice versa that you don't arrive to the venue too early or too late.
I remember once in my career having Bride and her entourage 30 minutes in advance of the ceremony - I sent them on "a city sightseeing tour" until all the guests were seated 😁
Finally, always consider your travel arrangements, timings and distance if you're arriving to the venue in a car from a longer distance on the day of your wedding.
WEDDING GIFTS AND CARDS
One element of the ceremony is often forgotten about by wedding couples - gifts and cards.
Although wedding lists are particularly popular for weddings these days, your guests might still decide to bring along a symbolic congratulations card or a personalised gift along to the wedding.
The question is - what happens with these? Who will look after them and how will they be safely stored?
I highly recommend a safe deposit space or facility and to allocate one responsible Usher or wedding party member to help you look after these on the day of your wedding.
How did you find my ceremony tips in this blog post? Have you found them useful? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or simply comment YES!
THANK YOU for attending our Online Wedding Fayre!
A massive thank you to all of you that have attended our ONLINE WEDDING FAYRE yesterday lunch time!
We had a great day filled with a line up of award winning wedding experts sharing their wedding tips and hints in Facebook Lives, giving couples the opportunity to ask questions and interact with our speakers just like you would have at a wedding exhibition.
If you have missed this one-off event, worry not!
THERE'S STILL TIME FOR YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP AND WATCH ALL THE VIDEO ON #REPEAT
Are you still planning for wedding day photography, ceremony scripts, what to consider when buying your wedding dress or how to impress your guests with breath-taking florals and your first dance?
The feedback below speaks for itself so weather you're feeling confident with your wedding plans or not, you'll want to grab a pen and notebook as these experts share some of their biggest secrets in these video sessions.
Should you have any questions, comment #REPEAT + your question and our experts will come back to you with the answer.
With warmest regards,
Oskar.
With Oskar, you know you're in the most capable hands! He's professional, warm, super organised and diligent - nothing was too much trouble for him and he knows the wedding industry inside out!
Michelle, The Bride
