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Very often I am being asked for recommendations of venues and it’s always a tough one as it really depends on what you’re looking for and what your priorities are! One thing is certain, all venues I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years know their stuff and pride themselves on executing weddings very well! They get it that this is going to be one of the most important days of your life, if not the most important day!
Now, instead of asking me for recommendations and as I appreciate many of you will be looking for your dream wedding venues in January and February, I thought to showcase to you the venues my couples most popularly choose for their special day.
Have you got your favourite venue? Tag it in the comments below.
HOPETOUN HOUSE
Hopetoun is a place of outstanding natural beauty, which has Scotland’s finest stately home at its heart. Situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Hopetoun is a welcoming and thriving 6,500-acre community with a great deal to offer all year round.
Hopetoun House was purpose-built in 1699 to bring families and friends together in celebration and has been a family home for over 300 years. The Hope family still live in the house and invite you to enjoy their home for your special day, with the offer of exclusive use of the Stables and Ballroom.
So why not celebrate in one of Scotland’s most iconic ballrooms, adorned with priceless tapestries and magnificent crystal chandeliers.
Ideal wedding venue for beautiful celebration from 80 to 200 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Hopetoun House today!
https://www.facebook.com/HopetounHouse
https://www.instagram.com/hopetounhouse
weddings@hopetoun.co.uk
DUNDAS CASTLE
Secluded in the peaceful countryside of its own 400-acre estate, yet only 8 miles from Edinburgh, Dundas Castle offers all the comforts and high standards associated with the best of hotels. The difference is – when you choose Dundas for your special event, it belongs solely to you and your guests for the duration of your stay. No other guests, no distractions.
From the medieval to the elegant, the great outdoors to the intimate indoors, there are many locations to choose from for your unique ceremony.
Continue the celebrations with a delicious wedding breakfast followed by dancing the night away. Whether you are looking for an intimate setting or a larger location, there are several options available.
With 17 charming bedrooms within the Castle, they can accommodate up to 37 adult guests and have additional beds for children.
Ideal wedding venue for beautiful celebration up to 200 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Dundas Castle today!
https://www.facebook.com/DundasCastleScotland
http://instagram.com/dundascastle
weddings@dundascastle.co.uk
RESTORATION YARD
Restoration Yard is a unique wedding venue set at the heart of the stunning Dalkeith Country Park. Set in a wonderfully re-imagined 18th-century stables and courtyard, Restoration Yard is the perfect space to hold your dream wedding.
The venue is located just outside Edinburgh in Midlothian. Their 1,000-acre park spans through both Midlothian and East Lothian, perfectly situated for your guests to travel with plenty of accommodation options around the venue.
Perhaps you’d like an outdoor wedding ceremony in their historic Orangery? Or to dance the night away in their restaurant, The Kitchen? The choice is yours.
Ideal wedding venue for a beautiful celebration for up to 90 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Restoration Yard today!
https://www.facebook.com/RestorationYard/
https://www.instagram.com/restorationyard
events@restorationyard.com
BROXMOUTH COURTYARD
Once home to the Duke of Roxburgh, Broxmouth has welcomed some very well-known visitors over the years from Queen Victoria and Oliver Cromwell, to more recently Gary Barlow. This rustic, yet luxury Courtyard dating back to 1841 is currently being restored to its former beauty, in order to host some of the most excellent banquets and weddings from 2022.
Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony or a lavish reception, Broxmouth Courtyard is the perfect venue to make your wedding day truly remarkable. With its magnificent gardens, woodland and lake, Broxmouth Courtyard offers an abundance of choices for your dream outdoor ceremony.
The Broxmouth Menu offers a plethora of luxury cuisines for you to design your own bespoke menu. And the Honeymoon suite for the wedding couple, overlooking the loch, together with a private hot tub is also included so you feel really indulged on the morning of the wedding.
At Broxmouth, the team understands that no two weddings are the same, the venue is unique as it offers you the opportunity to create the wedding of your dreams.
A newly restored beautiful venue for 100 to 200 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Broxmouth Park today!
https://www.facebook.com/broxmouth/
https://www.instagram.com/broxmouthcourtyard
events@broxmouth.com
THE RHYND
Built well over a century ago, the Rhynd has been owned by the Foster family since the early 1950s, and up until the late 1990s, the space was a working farm. The café used to be a grain store while the event space was a cattle shed.
It is now beautifully restored with limitless potential for each couple to make it truly their own! They have kept as much of it as original as possible, so you don't need to do much if you don't want to!
The venue is super flexible with suppliers and drink/food service, there is nothing they cannot accommodate.
In addition to that, The Rhynd Farmhouse is a beautifully restored house that sleeps nine guests and is located only twenty metres away from the function spaces.
Completely your own wedding venue for up to 140 guests.
Want to find out more? Follow The Rhynd today!
https://www.facebook.com/TheRhynd/
https://www.instagram.com/therhynd/
lisa@craigiefarm.co.uk
KINKELL BYRE
Kinkell Byre, stunningly located on the coast just outside St Andrews, allows you to create your perfect event. The venue offers you exclusive hire of a converted barn, which is full of character and rustic charm. There is plenty of room inside and outside with spectacular sea views.
Kinkell Byre gives you the chance to build your own event with as much freedom as possible. The venue is a blank canvas retaining many original features. Their experienced team will give you as much or as little help and advice as you want. This allows you to really put your personal touch on your truly unique event.
The venue also offers optional hire of tables, chairs, and Chesterfield sofas directly from Kinkell Byre. Or if you love the venue but don’t want the blank canvas option, they can organise a full wedding package on request.
Kinkell Byre is made up of separate areas which allows each part of your day to have its own space, which can all be set up in advance. There is no need for room re-setting, which helps create a relaxed flow to your day.
The average wedding here at Kinkell Byre is between 100-120 people, however, the space is extremely flexible and has hosted weddings from 60 people to 450 people.
Want to find out more? Follow The Kinkell Byre today!
https://www.facebook.com/kinkellbyre/
https://www.instagram.com/kinkell_byre
info@kinkell.com
THE OLD DR BELL’S BATHS
The Old Dr Bell’s Baths offer all-inclusive packages that are equipped and designed to remove all the stress from wedding planning!
The packages include high-quality decoration, flowing fizz and exquisite food provided by their incredible in-house catering team, the most refined touches on your event are taken care of.
The venue has one aim – to provide their couples with a perfect wedding day experience. And they achieve this by relying on their expert team!
A fabulous one-stop shop for up to 100 wedding guests!
Want to find out more? Follow The Old Dr Bell’s Baths today!
https://www.facebook.com/theolddrbellsbaths/
https://www.instagram.com/theolddrbells
events@theolddrbellsbaths.com
THE BONHAM
With beautiful event spaces full of character and luxurious decor, The Bonham is a truly luxurious venue for an unforgettable wedding day.
The team is pleased to be able to host wedding ceremonies and receptions in the Dean Suite. You can also enjoy access to the private Drumsheugh Gardens, which provide the perfect setting for your photographs.
At the Bonham, they know that it’s the little details that make your big day special and your dedicated Wedding Coordinators will be on hand to help and support you during the preparations and on your big day.
Ideal venue for a more intimate wedding hosting up to 40 guests.
Want to find out more? Follow The Bonham today!
https://www.facebook.com/thebonham/
https://www.instagram.com/bonhamhotel/
events@thebonham.com
Intercontinental Edinburgh The George
What’s in your heart for the wedding day of your dreams? A traditional Scottish occasion or maybe something more contemporary? An elaborate and traditional gathering in the majestic King’s Hall or perhaps an elegant, smaller celebration in the Forth View Suite? InterContinental Edinburgh The George can make your dream a reality. With their team of event specialists to help set the scene and plan your big day to perfection, you can be sure of a truly stunning and memorable time for you, your partner and all of your guests.
The Historic King’s Hall lends a classic scene for larger weddings celebrations including the ceremony and evening reception, where 18th-century décor with original features creates a sense of history and drama for everyone.
The Rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city and the Firth of Forth is unique and perfect for smaller weddings or bridal prep. Moreover, access to private manicured gardens offer a beautiful backdrop for your wedding photographs and videos.
An historic and grand New Town venue for up to 200 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Intercontinental Edinburgh The George today!
https://www.facebook.com/IntercontinentalEdinburgh/
https://www.instagram.com/intercontinentaledinburgh
EdinburghTheGeorgeConference@ihg.com
Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Set in a stunning city centre location, in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, The Royal College of Physicians on Queen Street is a prestigious place to host your dream wedding and celebrate in style.
With a stunning choice of the New Library, Cullen Suite and the Great Hall, RCPE offers a variety of options for your ceremony and reception. The tradition and atmosphere are felt through Georgian architecture, traditional bookcases and grand pillars.
Providing a panel of well tested and professional suppliers, the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh team will work closely with your choice of caterers to create a truly magical event.
This truly spectacular venue can hold weddings from 40 to 150.
Want to find out more? Follow Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh today!
https://www.facebook.com/rcpevenue/
https://www.instagram.com/rcpevenue
venue@rcpe.ac.uk
Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre
This historic building is home to a renovated and contemporary wedding venue, including the penthouse with a roof terrace. Venue’s dedicated wedding coordinators will take care of every detail and make sure that you have an easy planning process.
Whether it be a grand-scale celebration or an intimate family wedding, Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre can offer a stunning venue for your special day at the heart of Edinburgh. With a team of experienced and dedicated event planners, their personalised approach will help create the wedding of your dreams.
From a red-carpet arrival to a beautifully decorated wedding breakfast, the team will work closely with you and recommend local suppliers to ensure that every single detail is exactly as you have imagined it. Whether you would like to say “I do” with Edinburgh Castle perfectly framed behind you in the Penthouse or dreaming of a blank canvas ideal to be tailored for your dream day in their Orchardfield Suite, Doubletree by Hilton can cater to all your needs.
For an unforgettable wedding day, you can either book their all-inclusive Wedded Bliss package or their bespoke wedding option which is as unique as you are.
This contemporary venue with Edinburgh Castle views can accommodate up to 130 guests.
Want to find out more? Follow Doubletree By Hilton today!
https://www.facebook.com/SKYbarEdinburgh
https://www.instagram.com/skybar_edinburgh
weddings@doubletreeedinburghcity.co.uk
WEDDERLIE HOUSE
This beautiful, newly renovated venue filled with peacocks and pheasants will charm you upon your first visit! Wedderlie House is an exclusive use venue, accommodating only one wedding or event at a time. This means the whole estate is yours to enjoy.
The 50-acre estate which is set around a central courtyard with atmospheric festoon lighting, the grounds that are laid out to beautiful lawns, a walled rose garden, grassy paddocks and native woodland, provide a wealth of beautiful spots for an outdoor ceremony, ensuring no two weddings will be the same.
Two carefully restored historic barns, with exposed beams and original sandstone walls, provide the perfect blank canvas for an indoor ceremony or a more intimate wedding breakfast.
Their elegant marquee in the garden adjacent to the Stables for your wedding breakfast, with an enclosed garden is also included in your hire.
This magical venue in the Scottish Borders can host venues for up to 140 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Wedderlie House today!
https://www.facebook.com/wedderliehouse/
https://www.instagram.com/wedderliehouse/
kamile@wedderliehouse.com
HARBOUR CHAPEL
This beautifully restored Historic Wesleyan Chapel is the oldest in Scotland and dates back to 1764. John Wesley preached in the chapel on 21 occasions and in 1770 he wrote:
“In the evening I preached at the new house at Dunbar, the cheerfullest in all the Kingdom”
This spectacular former church and elegant reception bar create an exquisite destination in which to celebrate your love.
Imagine getting married and then celebrating in an atmospheric and historic space lit by magnificent stained-glass windows originating from St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Complimented by oak pulpit and balcony, as well as small outdoor garden and one minute walk to the historic Victoria Harbour with castle remains, an outdoor amphitheatre and stunning panoramic views – you’ve got it all on their door step!
Ideal wedding venue for beautiful celebration from 70 to 120 guests!
Want to find out more? Follow Harbour Chapel today!
https://www.facebook.com/theharbourchapel/
https://www.instagram.com/theharbourchapel/
info@harbourchapel.com
SONAS HOTEL COLLECTION
What can be more romantic than getting married on the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland?
Sonas Hotel Collection offers a choice of three luxury, yet intimate and boutique wedding venues - Skeabost, Duisdale and Toravaig, each with their own individual personality but all with the same warm island hospitality and a passion for sharing local produce!
Surrounded by private gardens, water and hill views, those full of historic character wedding venues are a natural oasis of peace in which to celebrate your love!
Proudly holders of 2 AA Rosette winning restaurants and Wedding Venue of the Year with Scottish Hotel Awards on many occasions, Sonas Hotel Collection offer a unique opportunity to celebrate your weddings from 20 to 100 guests and you can do so on exclusive use basis!
Would you like to Find your Happy Ever After on the Isle of Skye? Follow Skye Weddings today!
https://www.facebook.com/IsleofSkyeWeddings
https://www.instagram.com/skyewedding/
weddings@sonashotelcollection.com
WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE?
Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken a look at the most popular venues my couple clients choose for their special day, but what are the venues you’re considering?
What’s important to you?
What’ informs your decision and what are your motivations?
Let’s take a minute to share your notes and help other couples make their important decision - share your opinions and tips in the comments below.
*All images used have been credited back to their authors with click-through links.
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Wedding day timeline blog
*by George Gilchrist-Grodnicki
Planning Your Wedding Day Timelines
I am asked quite often “when should we start with our ceremony?”
The easiest way to work out your wedding day timeline is to start from the end of the evening and work your way back. This is something that naturally causes many couples worry especially as this is the very first time you’ll be planning such large event, but it needn’t be this hard! Start with a rough timeline, then as you fill in more details your timeline becomes more solid. An adequate timeline will ensure you feel in control of your day, and able to relax and enjoy yourself, while providing all those involved accurate timings, because timings are key to the success of every wedding, right?
Give me ❤️ in the comment below if you think having an air-tight timeline for your wedding will ensure its success!
End of the evening
As the timings of your day are worked out from the end of your night, the big question is how long is your entertainment booked for? Speak to your venue to find out when the room hire ends. This gives you carriages time, and from there, after speaking to your entertainment, you can plan when your entertainment starts. Don’t forget to include any extra entertainment i.e. small acts who are also to perform in the evening. For example, at our wedding, the venue licence was until 1 AM, and our entertainment was a DJ, who was booked for three hours, preceded by a live ceilidh/covers band played for three hours. This meant our evening entertainment started at 7 PM.
How long do you think an average entertainment runs for?
A. 6 hours
B. 5 hours
C. 4 hours
Let us know in the comment boxes below
Comfort break
Now that you know when your entertainment starts, you can start to plan the end of the meal. Do you want a comfort break? Is there turnaround time? Do you intend taking photographs after the meal? Are there any small entertainment acts booked for this time, such a Signing Waiters? Your venue will advise you of any turnaround times, so make sure to ask about this.
Average band setup time and sound check will take around 60 minutes too, so if your band can’t get in to setup during the meal, comfort break might be advisable. Secondly, who wants to be throwing shapes on the dance floor right after a three-course meal?
If you need help understanding this part of your special day and how much time is good, too little or too much, chatbox message us today.
Speeches
Next comes the speeches, by allocating maximum of 10 minutes per speaker, you avoid boredom in the room! Ideally, you wouldn’t want to have your speeches for longer than 30 minutes, if you do, speak to your venue, caterer or planner to see about the best times to split them up – the last thing you want is your speeches overrunning if you decided to host them before the meal and having your guests seating hungry for hours.
Traditionally, which by any means is not a norm, speeches are structured in the following format: Father of the Bride goes first, Groom goes second and Best Man presents the closing speech.
You might want to decided if you’re having your speeches before the meal or after and this will very much depend on the public speaking confidence of your speakers and whether you feel your guests should be fed first or after the speeches.
At our wedding had four speeches, including ourselves, which meant our speech times ran into an hour [scary face emoji] (we spoke too long, due to translations into Polish) which meant our speeches started at 5:30 PM.
Are you feeling a little unsure about your speeches and don’t know how to best go about them? Why not book one of our one-off consultations today to help you put a plan together?
Drinks reception
The drinks reception is an excellent opportunity for guests to mingle, family to catch up, and photos to be taken with the happy couple! Some couples may choose to have entertainment booked for this time, or even couples’ photos to be taken. Speak to your suppliers to understand how long your entertainment or photographer will take, as this will give you the start time for your drink’s reception (otherwise known as cocktail hour).
When we got married, we arranged for a magician who entertained our guests, canapes were served, all while we had family portraits taken and disappeared for our wedding day photoshoot for 1 hour.
This allowed our venue enough time to turn the ballroom round and gave our guests a little mingle and catch up time. Our drinks reception started at 1:30 PM.
Are you planning to head away for your photoshoot? Chatbox message us today if you want to better understand the timings you might need to consider in order to ensure you’re not running late on the day.
Wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremonies vary dependent on the ceremony style chosen.
On average Civil ceremonies may take between 15 to 25 minutes, religious ceremonies may last around 45 minutes, and humanist ceremonies between 30 to 45 minutes dependent on the ceremony script, reading and the symbolic gestures chosen.
Our wedding ceremony was conducted by a humanist celebrant, we had three symbolic gestures and parts of our ceremony script was translated into Polish. This meant our wedding ceremony lasted 30 minutes, starting at 1 PM.
Let me know in the comments below what style of ceremony you have chosen.
Preparation time
Finally, this leads on to preparation time, therefore speaking to your hair and makeup artists will help you understand how long each of them needs.
Hair styling may take 30 to 60 minutes depending on the style and hair structure, while makeup can also take 30 to 60 minutes.
Speak to your photographer and other suppliers to understand their timelines for the delivery of their services.
Consider things like, when your flowers arrive; is the photographer taking preparation photos or group photos when you’re ready and dressed; what time is your Dad arriving, etc.
This enables you to build a timeline and ensure you’re prepared in plenty of time.
At our wedding, we each had four groomsmaids, and mother’s hair and makeup. We got up at 6 AM to spend some time together before the chaos of the wedding day began!
Have you considered how much time hair and makeup may take? Chatbox message us today if you need some estimates and recommendations for the best in business!
Full day timeline
What did you think of the breakdown of your wedding day? Did you know you’d need to consider your timings from the end of the night?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and feel free to use the template below to help you plan your special day!
Evening Entertainment – length of service? (you’d need to check with your entertainment supplier)
Would there be any comfort break after the meal? 30/60 minutes?
Speeches – if 3 x 10 minutes speeches, that’s 30 minutes
Wedding Breakfast – three course is 2 hours
Drinks Reception between 1h30mins to 2 hours (you’d need to check with your photographer)
Wedding Ceremony between 30 minutes to 45 minutes (you’d need to check with your celebrant, officiant or registrar)
Guest arrival from 30/60 minutes prior to ceremony time
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING BUDGET - Realistic estimates that will help you stay within the budget!
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING BUDGET
- realistic estimates that will help you stay within the budget -
Due to some popular demand, I want to talk about the important things to you!
Working out your wedding budget is super important and one of the early activities you should put the time aside for to ensure you plan realistically and that you don’t overspend where you don’t want to or need to.
It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of wedding planning and go overboard before you realise it - I’ve been there just before our wedding in 2018, which is why I now work out a budget with my couples first. This is when we identify your must have’s, wants, desires and priorities. Similarly to mood boards, you’ll very quickly identify what’s important to you and where there is the flexibility to downsize or upgrade.
According to Hitched UK, the average UK wedding is £32,000 including the honeymoon, but statistics vary starting from £20,000. Don’t worry if this is not what you had in mind, but do remain realistic that a wedding could easily cost you a deposit for your first house or a new car.
Would you need help identifying and understanding your budget, message me in the chatbox today – this could be your one-off consultation that will save you a lot of headaches further down the line.
How to assess your budget?
Have an honest conversation together and identify your savings, how much you could contribute to the wedding before your day comes and if there are any other prospective contributors.
The last thing you want is anxiety about where the money comes from to fund your special day.
Once you’ve figured it out, you can start breaking things down into each individual item on your wedding list – you might wonder… how will I know the expected price to pay?
Want to find out more – check out the full blog below.
What can I expect to pay for…?
FLORIST
Flowers such as bouquets and centerpieces are such a personal taste and therefore it is difficult to put an average price tag on these beautiful decorations, however, I can help you with a range of pricing for your estimate. Most prices will vary dependent on the season and therefore the price of the flowers at the market.
Decent-sized bridal bouquets in Edinburgh, Scotland will cost you in the region of £100-125, bridesmaid’s bouquets around £85 a piece, buttonholes and corsages will be around £15 each.
When it comes to centerpieces this is where the real differences happen and this can be influenced by the size of your arrangements, smaller low arrangements will start from £150 each, but the more opulent and sizable arrangements you would like to have, the more you will pay, on average many of my couples work with a budget of £300 to £500 per centerpiece.
Another trick that might help you maximise your wedding budget when it comes to florals is considering seasonal flowers, flowers out of season can be up to 4/5 times as expensive and therefore downsize your arrangement.
Additionally, you might want to consider artificial hire filled in with fresh floral accents – artificial florals nowadays offer higher quality than ever before and almost natural look to build your structure, accented with fresh florals, they can make a truly impressive arrangement and they are a lot more durable when transported or setup outside even in windy conditions.
Are my floral estimates in the region of what you’ve considered for your wedding? Let me know in the comments below.
VENUE HIRE
The biggest element of your wedding budget will be wedding venue-related expenses, and these can vary dramatically.
Hotels and venues with all-inclusive packages might offer more competitive hire rates based on set minimum numbers. On the other hand, exclusive use or dry hire venues might offer you more flexibility and the ability to do your wedding your way!
Venue hires can start from £2,000 for all-inclusive package venues or mid-week hires, to £10,000+ for peak dates and multiple days hires at exclusive-use estates and dry hire venues.
Always check that you understand exactly what they include, because some venues will only offer bare walls and the rest is for you to arrange – so look out for A) accommodation inclusions, B) equipment provisions such as tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, crockery and glassware, C) VAT inclusions and D) additional things you might need to hire such as PA system for your music, staging, lighting, heating, power, toilets, catering units, etc.
Did you know that there’s such a vast choice of options available for you? Chatbox message me today if you’d like a bit of help navigating your way around venue hires, I can also negotiate special rates for you too.
CATERING
This is another area of your wedding that will consume a big part of your budget – quite literally consume, did you see what I’ve done there? 😊
All-inclusive venue package will take care of it all for you, however, you might want to consider upgrades if food is important to you and your guests’ experience – menu tastings are brilliant for that!
External catering can provide you with more flexibility on the format of the dining choices available – anything from buffets, plated or family-style service or even BBQs.
Food catering will range from £100 per person to £150+ per person – it will very much depend on the style of catering, the number of courses, the choice of options on the day, and so on.
On the other hand, you’ll also need to consider your beverages too!
Once again all-inclusive packages will look after the main parts of your wedding from the drinks reception to your meal, after that, you will be offered a bar facility paid for by guests or something called an Account bar where you can provide some or all drinks to your guests on the account.
With dry hire venues, you might need to arrange for a bar service to cover service on the day, glassware, ice, setup and derig – some catering companies will offer this as an extra to their catering, so that you’re not having to source another service separately. Dry hire beverage fees may vary from per spend or per volume corkage to flat service fee – as an average, you’ll be looking at £1,500.00 to £3,000.00
Were you aware of these options and charges to consider for your special day? Give me ❤️ in the comments below if this has helped you to understand your wedding budget better.
WEDDING CAKE
Wedding cakes are also such a personal taste – these days you can have three-dimensional character cakes, naked cakes, statement cakes, cake swings, upside-down cakes, tower cakes, you name it- there’s probably somebody out there who has done it before or would love a challenge.
The average spends I am familiar with working with my couples ranges from £500 to £1,500 and you’ll have plenty of flavour choices available serving an average of 100 guests.
If you would like to go for a much more personalised choice, you will be offered upgrades and extras to supplement your vision.
What cakes have you considered for your special day? Let me know in the comment boxes below.
LIVE MUSIC
A very important element of your wedding day, but don’t just focus on your evening entertainment, remember to consider your ceremony music, background music for drinks reception and meal.
Music makes such an integral part of your special day and it can truly make or break the atmosphere of your wedding.
String quartets are very popular to accompany ceremonies and drinks receptions and can offer their services from £650 to £1,000, but if live music isn’t your priority ensure you check your venue for PA system and if you could connect a device to supply some music for these parts of your day.
Nighttime entertainment again is down to each individual preference, some couples will choose Ceilidh only bands, some will select Ceilidh + covers band, others will book a DJ.
Bands start from £1,500 and DJs start from £500 – if you’re going for mix of music such as Ceilidh and covers or band and DJ or DJ + saxophone player – prices will automatically reflect these additional extras. As an average you’re looking at £1,500 to £3,500 for your evening entertainment.
What choice of evening music are you going for? Let me know in the comments below.
CEREMONY
This can vary between belief bodies, independents, and legal fees.
As of January 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland, your legal fees include – M10 form (Lodging marriage notices) is £90 per couple and marriage certificate is £10 per certificate.
In addition to that you’ll need to pay your ceremony room hire fee and celebrant, registrar or religious officiant fees – these can vary from £450 to £700 per ceremony.
Without these your ceremony will not be legally binding; therefore you need to ensure you cover all fees and remember venues don’t cover legal fees.
If you need help with organizing your ceremony paperwork, go ahead and book one of my one-off consultations today and we can get it all organised for you and have it checked ready to be submitted.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY
I would almost want to say that wedding photography is the second most important element of your event after the ceremony as photography will remain the biggest tangible memory of your special day and you want to make sure it is captured perfectly.
Therefore, price tag for photography and videography reflects the detailed work it requires – it is the hours of preparing, shooting on the day and then weeks of editing.
Wedding photography can vary from £1,500 to £3,000 on average – this will also depend on the demand, peak/off-peak dates and travel.
Wedding videography can vary from £2,000 to £10,000 on average – this very much relates to the production required for your desired video and if international travel is required, this might also add to the overall cost of production.
Would you need some advice on recommended suppliers? Why not download one of “my resources” available on my website?
HAIR AND MAKEUP
This is an important element of the wedding where all the girls in the wedding party get to relax and unwind ahead of the big day. Don’t sorry boys, you’ll get looked after too!
For wedding trials, you can expect to pay in the region of £85 for hair and £85 for makeup.
For on the day hair and make-up you can be looking at anywhere from £85-100 per service for the Bride and in the region of £75-90 per service for Bridesmaids and Mums. Some bridal salons will charge an additional venue fee if they’ve got to leave the studio to carry out your hair and makeup – this fee can vary from £80-£120.
Have you considered your on-the-day hair and makeup arrangements – how many you’ll need it for? Will you do it at the venue or in the studio? Chatbox message me today if you need a bit of support with this.
HONEYMOON
According to Hitched UK, the average destination honeymoon for UK couples costs nearly £5,000 and although some couple opt in for mini-moon first with an average of £1,100 – you might need to identify your preference on the matter.
Some couples try to finance their wedding entirely from their saving, earnings and family support, while asking guests for contributions towards their dream honeymoon – would you consider that option? Give me Y for yes or N for no in the comment boxes below.
WEDDING RINGS
Weddings traditionally can’t happen without a wedding band, although traditionally, it was the Bridegroom that offer a wedding ring to his Bride, these days you will likely both exchange your rings during a wedding ceremony, but how much do you think you’ll spend on your bands?
The average UK couple invests around £2,500 into their wedding rings – have you considered your options yet?
Why not chat box message me today for a referral to my recommended jewelers to offer you the best deals possible?
WEDDING OUTFITS
So, you’ve always dreamt of this perfect white gown, or maybe not! There will be some considerable amount of time you might want to spend on considering just the perfect fit and feel for your wedding dress.
The same will apply to gent’s outfits, no matter if its suits, kilts or tuxedo, you should consider colours, fits and all the accessories that come with it.
Average UK wedding dress will cost you between £1,000 to £3,000 and bridesmaid’s dresses will range from £100 to £500 each.
Finally, Gents outfits can very, because if you’re hiring you’ll be considering outfits in the region of £125 per hire per outfit, however, tailor-made outfits will start from £500 to £2,000 on average per outfit, this applies to both kilts and tailor-made suits.
Have you booked your dress shopping appointments or kilt fittings? Not sure where to start? Chatbox message me today to take care of it all for you.
COST SAVING
When you’ve assessed your budget and you realise it is a little steep, you might want to reassess a couple of things:
- Consider your guests numbers again – venue and catering will be your higher cost, the more guests you invite, the higher overall cost of the wedding will become – think about it, average wedding guest costs you in the region of £100-£200 per person
- Consider your date – could you move to off-peak dates to benefit from special venue deals or move your wedding back by a year, how much could you save in that extra year?
Would you need more help assessing your wedding budget? Why not book one of my one-off consultation? I can help you make sense of your wedding spending, and often ensure money savings!
MOST FORGOTTEN COSTS
There are a few hidden or often forgotten costs you might want to be aware of before you end up clearing your bank balance.
- VAT exclusions - make sure that you check all quotes for VAT exclusions, you don’t want to be surprised with additional 8%-26% bill before your wedding day
- Delivery, service and corkage charges – once again, worth checking before you get surprised with these at the final invoice
- Additional equipment and facility hires, such as cake stand, table and chairs or even toilets or the correct power supply if you’re getting married at a location with none of these things provided already
- Wedding insurance is often forgotten about and it can be lifesaving! You want to ensure you’re protected just like you are with your car or house!
- Stationary – not only invitations, but save the dates, on-the-day place cards, table plan and post-wedding thank you cards + stamps
- Wedding day gifts for bridesmaids, groomsmen, Mums, Dads or other loved ones
- Wedding outfit alterations or second trials – all these little things quickly add up
How did you find my estimates advice? Has it helped you plan and prioritise your wedding budget elements accordingly? Give me ❤️ in the comment boxes below if you’ve found it useful!
Christmas Eve City Wedding Story - Donna and Mark - REAL WEDDING
Christmas Eve City Wedding Story - Donna and Mark - REAL WEDDING
It’s been quite a start to 2021 for everyone so far, hasn’t it?
In order to liven up the mood, I would like to share with you the very inspirational story of Donna and Mark over the next few days! I have had so much fun planning their most special day. There were plenty of giggles and even tears too, but what a day it was in the end! What was meant to be my very first wedding of 2021, turned out to be my very last wedding of 2020!
Would you like to learn their story? Follow their journey in the next few paragraphs.
THE BEGINNING
Donna emailed me an enquiry on Thursday 20th August after receiving a message from her former venue that they wouldn’t be reopening in time for her and Mark’s wedding. Donna was distraught but beknown to her, Mark did his research and suggested contacting wedding planners to help them bring their vision to life again as they weren’t sure where to begin- again!
Upon Donna’s enquiry and without any commitment, I got busy organising provisional quotes and availability in order to give Donna confidence that her dream wedding day can happen 100%!
We were on the phone that same evening to discuss the options available.
Would you have considered a wedding planner to help you if you found yourself under those same circumstances?
THE VENUE
It didn’t take long to get the venue organised – by the weekend, I had Donna and Mark visiting 5 fantastic venues in the city with me. I knew the city centre was their number one preference and we had such a great response and reception from them all – Hilton Carlton, Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, The Old Dr Bell’s Baths, Kimpton Edinburgh Charlotte Square and finally The Bonham.
We matched and booked the perfect package within one week from the initial enquiry – With the weight lifted off their shoulders, the fun of wedding planning truly began for Donna and Mark.
Would you like to find out what venue they selected in the end? Follow their story below.
THE SUPPLIERS
Very quickly after selecting The Bonham, the perfect wedding venue for our couple, we focused on sourcing the best team of wedding suppliers to complement their special day.
The next few posts will reveal to you who supported Mark and Donna along their wedding planning journey with me.
How do you choose your suppliers? Let me know in the comments below:
A - Word of Mouth Recommendation
B - Directories
C - Google searches
Geebz Photography
We had a range of photographers to consider but when Donna and Mark told me that it is important that their wedding day photography isn’t long, dull and all staged and that their daughters are very important for them to be featured too – I immediately knew who I needed to speak to!
No matter the age of the group, I know Geebz can make photography fun and all guests naturally relaxed and they all had a brilliant time having their photographs taken and the effects are amazing!
What is most important in your opinion when choosing your wedding photographer? Let me know in the comments below.
Mo Ackroyd
Donna and Mark also told me that they were looking for ceremony recommendations – they initially considered civil ceremony, but when they heard how personalised humanist ceremonies could be, they asked me to check availability with my connections. I know that personalised ceremony was important to them from the first moment we spoke. We were in luck! My recommendation Mo Ackroyd was available on their date!
I was very lucky to be responsible for the ceremony music and 19 guests joining on Zoom from around the world. Everyone agreed what a moving and heartfelt ceremony it was!
I hear about the statistics around the ceremonies, but I wonder how many of you – my followers are choosing each type of wedding ceremony – let me know your choice in the comments below:
A. Civil
B. Humanist
C. Religious
DJ Edinburgh
Music and evening entertainment were one of the wedding elements that we weren’t too sure about from the beginning, but thankfully Jim at DJ Edinburgh was on hand to help us with suggestions and recommendations.
In the end, Donna and Mark performed their first dance, assisted with Toastmaster announcements and post-dinner games including Kahoot!
What evening plans would you make for your micro-wedding? If you’re looking for recommendations, message me in the chatbox now!
BagPiper Online
As always Pipe Major David McRobert didn’t disappoint!
It was Donna and Mark’s personal request to ensure a Piper was available on their special day and David arrived an hour prior to the ceremony to greet all guests on arrival in his full highland dress.
He was then available to play the couple to the Top Table and raised a well-wishing toast to our couple with a dram of whisky (which was actually just an apple juice – he was driving after, you know 😊)
One thing that always impresses me with BagPiper Online is how David and his team can come up with tunes on the day and we weren’t disappointed this time either. David played himself out of the room to Jingle Bells.
Do you enjoy bagpipes at weddings? Give us ❤️ if you do in the comments below.
EightYards
My next recommendation was the kilts for the male part of the wedding party! Mark’s Mum said that the service from Eight Yards was impeccable when dressing the boys!
As mentioned before – Eight Yards also now supply tartan face masks matching their range of kilts, which is what Mark chose for his special day too.
All the gents looked absolutely outstanding in their smart outfits, don’t you think? Live chatbox message me if you’re looking for some advice on the matter of outfits today.
George Gilchrist-Grodnicki
My husband George got introduced to Donna and Mark during one of our consultations as we were looking for some winter wedding inspiration. George, having worked with flowers in his career, managed to pull off the perfect design for Donna and Mark’s wedding. Further to this consultation, we also met at the hotel to discuss the final touches and arrangements.
It was very important for Donna and Mark to ensure their wedding was matching the season perfectly with not flowers, but rather plenty of pine branches, pinecones and mistletoe to set the perfect winter backdrop to their nuptials.
George played an essential role in building the arrangements on the morning of the wedding and setting up the space in accordance with Donna and Mark’s brief.
Don’t you think he’s got a good eye for these things? Chatbox message me today if you’d like to speak to George about your upcoming wedding décor if you’re looking for inspiration consultation.
The Dress/es
Now, this will be a very inspirational part of Donna and Mark’s story!
From day 1, Donna wanted to make her own wedding day dress and four dresses for her daughters, and she did it!
Initially, it was meant to be a 1920’s inspired dress by Vera Wang, however, along the process it became apparent to Donna that she wanted something a lot more flowing and open!
Her daughter’s dresses were finished in early December when Donna was working on the final elements of her dress, but by that point her dress changed to cigarette-style trousers with a stunning wrap-around train – when she arrived at the entrance to the ceremony, I truly appreciated her vision – it was breathtaking!
Give Donna ❤️ in the comment boxes below!
THE 1ST CHANGE
Not long into the wedding planning the Scottish five tier Covid guidelines system was introduced and Edinburgh was immediately placed in the 2nd most restrictive tier, meaning we had to consider our options for evening entertainment and relook at the numbers again.
I was very proud of Donna and Mark for having persevered through yet another change to their wedding plan after having to find a brand-new venue all over again already!
We discussed the options and came to the conclusion that no matter what – their wedding was going to be epic! Donna and Mark managed to work out their final numbers and worked with their girls on games to keep their wedding fun, exciting and entertaining all round and they managed this!
Are you looking for inspiration for a micro-wedding? Chatbox message me today for some fabulous ideas!
THE BIG CHANGE
On 19th December a big blow arrived when the First Minister of Scotland announced the full lockdown starting at 00:01 on Boxing Day – we didn’t think we’d get any further restrictions before the New Year and here we are back to the drawing board as Donna and Mark’s wedding was planned all along for 1st January 2021!
Initially the wedding was meant to have 40+ guests joining from around the world to celebrate. Starting with the torch Procession on 30th, followed by the Hogmanay street party and a late wedding ceremony on 1st January- commencing at 4pm.
Without much notice or even anyone to speak to as the lockdown announcement was made on Saturday evening, I was quick to contact all suppliers and had options to present to Donna and Mark.
Knowing that Donna and Mark worked so hard on this wedding plan, Donna made her and her daughter dresses, and her parents arriving from USA over two weeks early to quarantine for their wedding (after four flights cancelations – I might add), I couldn’t imagine them not having the perfect wedding day, when we were so close!
A few private messages later with all my amazing suppliers and The Bonham, and we had a plan – we could move their entire wedding in its finalised format to Christmas Eve and they loved the idea!
How amazing is that with only four days’ notice? Give us ❤️ if you’ve loved this story so far!
THE PERFECT DAY
After countless changes- venue change, supplier changes, date change, number changes, cancelled flights and many more… the day has finally arrived for Donna and Mark to tie the knot!
And it was the perfect day in every possible way – which started with a crisp, dry weather outside complimented by occasional rays of sunshine!
George and I arrived at the venue early at 10am to set up and dress the spaces -the hotel had everything ready for us and Mark delivered the remaining items for the décor. We got busy and had everything ready by 2pm.
Donna and the girls arrived at 1pm to get ready in the Bridal Suite- stunning, spacious and full of daylight. George and I greeted her on arrival and popped a bottle of Champagne to the room to help get rid of the nerves.
Guests and suppliers started arriving from around 3pm, and by 4pm we were ready in the ceremony room and on Zoom to announce the arrival of our stunning Bride to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Kina Grannis – you could quite literally hear pin dropping in the room!
From there guests proceeded to drinks reception while I helped the couple with their photographs.
When the meal was being served, George and I had another surprise for our lovely couples – beyond the double doors to the function room, we set up a round first dance dancefloor including cylinder vases and pillar candles surrounded by a circle ring of pine branches, pinecones and mistletoe to help capture their first dance and give their guests the best view from the dining table.
After that guests remained in their seats and enjoyed the games organised by the youngest in the family until the 10pm curfew.
So much persistence from this fabulous couple ensured the most magical wedding day – it truly proves that it’s not the numbers and the volume that make beautiful weddings, it’s those that truly care that make it happen!
If you would like to find out more on how I could help you with your elopement or a micro-wedding, chatbox message me today!
MEET MY INTERVIEW TOP-SECRET GUEST SPEAKER
MEET MY INTERVIEW TOP-SECRET GUEST SPEAKER
Have you missed my LIVE interview on 14th January? Nothing is lost! Why not watch it on #repeat?
Feel free to share your comments or questions in the comment boxes below and don’t forget to give us ❤️
SIX RED FLAGS WHEN BOOKING A SUPPLIER by Monica Cutler
SIX RED FLAGS WHEN BOOKING A SUPPLIER by Monica Cutler
Lately, I have been observing quite a few engagements popping up on social media and since it’s this exciting time of the year, I thought to share something I believe to be incredibly important to know for newly engaged couples.
Following my Facebook Live interview with Monica Cutler – I remembered that she’s worked with industry experts on a guide for wedding planning couples and came up with “Six red flags when booking a supplier” which she’s agreed for me to share with you.
If you would like to find out what to look out for when booking wedding suppliers, you’ll need to check out the next six paragraphs.
ONLY OFFERING PAYPAL PAYMENT AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
PayPal buyer protection is not as iron-clad as it used to be. If you send a supplier money using the f&f feature you will not be covered.
Excuses to look out for: "It will take X days to clear. If you want it before a certain date you would be better off paying f&f."
Remember that Credit Card payments may give you additional protection – would you normally pay using credit card for wedding services? Chatbox message me if you’d like to find out more.
NO WRITTEN CONTRACT
Even if it's a friend, family member or someone you've known for years. Getting an agreement down in writing saves so much trouble and shows empathy for your future self. Get a contract and ensure there's a copy for supplier and couple.
A contract doesn't have to be complicated or full of jargon, but it should include the service you're paying for, exact payment terms, and a refund and cancellation policy.
Have you received a contract for all your wedding services? Chatbox message me if this is something, you’d need help with.
STOLEN IMAGES
Reverse search images to check if they're from other companies.
Most wedding professionals are comfortable using some stock imagery as fillers on their site but would never claim them as their own product. This is completely different to one wedding supplier stealing images from another and claiming them as their own.
Would you be able to identify this? Let me know in the comment boxes below.
ONLY ONE METHOD OF CONTACT
There are many successful wedding businesses who only operate on social media, without a website.
But you should have multiple contact details, such as an email address, mobile number, postal
address. If you can only get in touch via Facebook messenger back away. If they don't have a physical postal address ask them why. This address should match any accounts you pay.
Is this something you have given thought to before? Let me know your thoughts in the comment boxes below.
MULTIPLE NEGATIVE AND SPECIFIC REVIEWS
If there are a small number of poor reviews ask your supplier about them. It could have been a challenging circumstance where they might have a completely sensible response to.
If they did upset a client ask how they used the experience to move forward. No
business gets it perfect 100% of the time so always compare with their positive reviews and check the dates for their most recent customers.
Do you normally check supplier reviews before booking? Give me YES in the comment boxes below if you do.
CHEAP PRICING
If it looks too good to be true it probably is!
If their price is way below market value they could be brand new or not as legitimate as you would like.
If they are a newer business make sure you talk about their level of expertise and what they are capable of delivering. If you pay for a Mini don't expect a Rolls Royce.
Would you opt-in for a cheaper option based purely on pricing? Chatbox message me today if this is something you’d like help with in order to understand what you can expect to be paying for a specific service.
STYLED PHOTOSHOOT - Autumnal Intimate Wedding Experience
STYLED PHOTOSHOOT:
Autumnal Intimate Wedding Experience
I’ve got a very exciting project to share with you, which I’ve been working on in the background with some amazing industry partners lately.
It was following an informal coffee with Geebz Photography that an idea was born. We’ve identified that many couples who were due to get married in 2020 and early 2021 still want to go ahead with their plans on a smaller scale but often don’t know where to start when they had initially planned for a large gathering. Therefore, we’ve put our heads together to bring to you the idea of a perfect romantic elopement or micro-wedding which we believe will blow your socks off! We’re sure you’ll be impressed at how personalised and beautiful intimate celebrations can be, so stay tuned and learn more about our project below.
STYLING
We were inspired by the natural tranquility of the autumnal and scenic Scottish countryside. From the beginning, we were keen to have our photoshoot in an iconic Scottish location that would allow us to capture the intimacy of an elopement or micro-wedding perfectly and I think we managed to achieve that and a lot more!
Lynsay Borthwick Weddings and Events beautifully dressed an arch for the ceremony with leafy fern, pondweed and autumnal florals. Setting the scene with atmospheric pillar candles, earthy moss and wood-inspired finishing touches – arranging the perfect stage for a romantic ceremony.
Lynsay has been involved in the wedding industry for nearly two years and what a breath of fresh air she brings with her. Her creative flair and enthusiasm allowed us to capture our photoshoot perfectly against a stunning backdrop, don’t you think?
FLORISTRY
The romantic atmosphere was perfectly finished with a stunning creation of a bridal bouquet and a buttonhole from Kathrin at White House Flowers. They were both blooming with peach avalanche and black bacarra roses, asparagus fern, orange euphorbia, vintage lisianthus and eucalyptus gunni.
The colours were truly eye-catching, and perfect for our autumnal wedding theme, for the very first time, I could smell the beautiful scents of roses and botanicals used for this rich, yet natural looking bouquet – Kathrin simply never fails to impress me!
Having worked with Kathrin on many weddings over the years now, I would highly recommend her to all those couples who look for something truly special – she’ll not disappoint!
LOCATION
From the very beginning we were keen to make the most of the Scottish scenery surrounding the stunning estate of Glencorse and we were so lucky to shoot the majority of our project inside this privately owned ‘Glencorse Old Kirk’ dating back to 17th century.
Sarah Chambers who owns the estate and is pictured here, looks after all the wedding planning couples in the lead up to the wedding, as well as on the day of delivery. She greeted us so warmly and kindly with a welcome smile and prepared for us refreshments – a true testimonial to a truly personalised and caring service this unique venue provides.
If you’re still undecided and looking for you dream venue that radiates the true Scottish spirit in every way possible – you should contact Sarah today at sarah@glencorsehouse.com
An interesting fact to mention about this stunning location is that the chapel used for our photoshoot was also used in the filming of the “Outlander” Wedding in episode 7 of the 1st season!
Can you imagine a better location for your truly Scottish elopement?
CEREMONY
All current restrictions were taken into consideration when planning for this gorgeous photoshoot including working with the best of the best in the industry.
Mo Ackroyd (pictured) from Fuze Ceremonies helped us with the ceremony plan for the project. Mo is up-to-date with all the latest regulations and was able to instruct us on appropriate distancing for all the photography.
She’s also come up with some fantastic symbolic gestures including drinking from the quaich, hand fasting and the official exchange of rings. Humanist ceremonies definitely make weddings more personable and memorable, no matter their size.
Having worked with Mo for many years now and very often on weddings and showcases together, I know for a fact that she is loved by all her wedding couples. She emanates caring approach with all of her couples and out-of-the-box approach to performing ceremonies that is personalised, yet fun – I continue to recommend her to all my couples too!
OUTFITS – THE DRESS
Thanks to Jade from Crystal Bows Bridal Boutique and Kyle from 8 Yards, we were able to dress our models, including Geebz Photography and I, in attire perfectly fitting for the occasion.
Don’t you just love that full-length cathedral veil over the stunning Victoria Kay dress full of lace and delicate embroidery? Our model Lynsay looked absolutely stunning in it! Can’t you spot that she played as a double act?
Crystal Bows once again didn’t disappoint – one message from me to Jade was enough for her to say: “Yes to the dress” at our photoshoot 😊 Lynsday and I were invited for a dress fitting and the dress Jade picked for us was just stunning, don’t you think? It’s the personalised touches that make a difference and even the assistant at the shop – Liz also supplied us with a gorgeous feather balero from her daughter’s wedding! There is a reason why Crystal Bows are one of the most loved Bridal Boutiques in Scotland!
OUTFITS – THE KILT
Joel on the other hand was perfectly matched to the autumnal feeling, perfectly matching the season. For the photoshoot he wore the Hebridean Kilt range exclusive to 8 Yards in modern tartan with no specific clan affiliation and matching tie. It was complemented by a colour coordinated tweed waistcoat and jacket in addition to copper-coloured brogues and sporran.
A lot of men these days like to opt in for something a little more modern, fashionable and matching to the rest of the celebrations and with the latest range from 8 Yards – you can clearly do that! 8 Yards can provide you with a full range from matching flashies to the same tartant face masks – how cool is that? You can get kitted out from top to toe in one place and they also offer a great range of hire and ex-hire outfits too.
Don’t you think our couple looked perfectly dressed for the occasion and the theme?
PHOTOGRAPHY
Geebz Photography is very close to my heart. For this reason Gerlof photographed my wedding to George, I know the lengths he will go to for the perfect shot! He is an outstanding photographer.
He doesn’t just shoot, he is a magician who transforms photography into a fun activity and creates a vibrant and exciting aura around him.
I’ve observed Gerlof’s master photography on many occasions. Every photo tells a story, every photo captures the moment perfectly! Its almost as if his elopement weddings were big and elaborate parties– not a micro wedding at all!
Additionally, Gerlof introduced us to Beate from BBPicture who accompanied his efforts and captured so many outstanding moments in the photoshoot – it was great observing the two working together!
After the photoshoot everyone messaged me how relaxed they felt around him. He was coming up with off-the-cuff jokes, orchestrating a perfectly photoshoot-fitting playlist, we didn’t even realise how quickly the time passed us.
PLANNING
