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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.
Proudly Celebrating Love, By Tasha Monaghan Leung at Fuze Ceremonies
Proudly Celebrating Love, By Tasha Monaghan Leung at Fuze Ceremonies
A Lesbian, A Bisexual, and A Kickass Wedding
You know that feeling when you find someone who truly accepts you for who you, and you know that there is no one else you would rather spend the rest of your days with? Everything has fallen into place, and you can’t wait to plan your future together - it’s just magic isn’t it? Love is one of the most precious things you can experience and getting married should be one of the happiest times in your life.
However, when myself and my partner, Lauren, got engaged back in 2012, there was a slight snag…we weren’t legally allowed to get married… isn’t that wild?? So… we bought a lovely house in the meantime and patiently waited until Scotland legalised same-sex marriage in December 2014 (now part of the 31 countries in the world who do so today).
And the “fun” of wedding planning begins…
Fantastic news - time to plan the wedding! We were so excited to get started. Although we were officially recognised in the eyes of law, we soon realised that perhaps the wedding industry wasn’t quite ready for us… Going to a wedding show particularly sticks out in my mind. Lauren and I walked up to various suppliers, as you do, hand in hand, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
“Who’s the lucky man?”, “Which one of you is the bride?”, “Oh, is this your bridesmaid?”, “Tell me about your hubby-to-be!”
GROAN!! We were literally holding hands, both engagement rings glittering in the light! All the signs were there, henny! What should have been an enjoyable experience left us utterly bummed out and frustrated. Having lived almost our entire lives as out and proud, it felt like we were being shoved back into the closet, forced to relive a hellish nightmare of coming out repeatedly, suddenly anxiety-ridden that we would be angrily rejected, a la homophobic American bakery. It was not an enjoyable day.
The most exciting part was about to truly begin
Luckily, we had some stand-out, amazing experiences to balance this out - seeing many, many live bands (a great excuse for a night out!), tasting delicious cakes, and making genuine friends with our photographers. We married in 2016, on the stunning grounds of Mar Hall – where we got engaged – and our wedding co-ordinator and the staff were more than happy to make our dreams come true. Our celebrant from Fuze Ceremonies listened carefully to our story and delivered a beautiful and touching ceremony. We proudly declared our love for each other, joined by our closest family and friends. As you can see, we were beaming with joy.
And the memories we will cherish for the rest of our lives
I can quite honestly say, it was the best day of my life, and if I could relive it, I would in a heartbeat! I would, however, say my vows first – I was so overcome with emotion after hearing Lauren’s vows, I ugly-cried two sentences into my own! Seriously, she had to calm me down. We laughed at how I’d set everyone else off too, ha ha. Our guests told us how much they loved our ceremony and how personal it was, some even said it was the best wedding they’d ever been to! (Apart from their own, of course!)
(Photo credit: The Gibsons Photographers)
Why I Became a Wedding Celebrant
Eventually coming down from the high of the big day, I reflected on the entire experience. I wanted every betrothed couple to feel as amazing as me and Lauren felt on our wedding day… and I wanted absolutely no one to feel the way we did at that wedding show.
Now, I LOVE a wedding, and Mahatma Gandhi was swimming around in my head, whispering, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” What a wonderful thing to be able to do… what if I were to combine my freakish organisational skills, my creative flair and speaking skills (I worked in training at the time) with the ability to play a part in people’s most special day? How lovely to be a welcoming and understanding face for LGBT+ couples and help them proudly celebrate their love – to be exactly the kind of celebrant I would have loved to have.
A celebrant who truly understands LGBT+ community first-hand…
Now please don’t get me wrong, our celebrant was lovely and did a fantastic job. But Lauren and I would have loved the option of having a celebrant who knew first-hand what we were feeling and had personally walked down similar paths in life. I feel that it’s important to have a choice of celebrants that reflects the diversity of all the engaged couples out there.
Due to the trajectory of my career at the time, I put this idea on the backburner. But such is life, redundancy pulled it back into the spotlight, and this time it had my full attention. I trained with the UKCAPSA (UK Celebrant & Professional Skills Academy – an extension of Fuze Ceremonies) and got my SQA Qualification which gave me the skills and knowledge needed to create and deliver truly bespoke ceremonies.
I absolutely adore getting to know my couples’ love stories, and being able to retell them to their nearest and dearest is an absolute pleasure and an honour. It just brings be such joy to feel the love radiating around the room! Here’s Dani & James Jasper who were the very first couple I married in Clashnessie. There wasn’t a dry eye in the…beach!
(Photo Credit: Craig Johnson Photography)
How to Choose Your Celebrant
You wouldn’t necessarily book the first venue or wedding outfit you saw, so why would you do so with your celebrant? One of the great things about Fuze Ceremonies is that we have lots of celebrants to choose from, and we all have different personalities and something special to offer, so you’re bound to find the perfect one for your day.
It’s important that you find a celebrant who you get on with and is on the same wavelength as you – after all, they will play such a big part in your wedding day, they will be intertwined with your memories. Have a browse through celebrants’ bios and social media, which is a great way to see what they’re all about (these days it’s much easier to tell if they are LGBT+ friendly – phew!). Check if they are available on your wedding day, as celebrants get booked years in advance, so it’s best to check to avoid disappointment…it’s never too early too book!
Make a shortlist of celebrants you are interested in and contact each one to have a chat with them. They will be more than happy to explain what they can do for you and answer any of your questions. Think about who you would like to stand at the end of the aisle with you, and then secure your booking with them! Easy peasy 😊
Create a Ceremony That’s True to You
When you close your eyes and imagine your wedding day, what do you see? Maybe a deeply romantic and dramatic affair? Perhaps a pared-back, easy going day? Or even a loud, funny, lively celebration? The beauty of a Humanist Ceremony is that your celebrant works directly with you to achieve exactly the kind of ceremony you want.
There are no rules, apart from making your declaration and signing the marriage schedule – you can do whatever you want! You could live your forest fantasy and get married in the woods (think of the pictures!). You could have your furry (trustworthy) babies as ringbearers. You could even walk down the aisle to RuPaul’s ‘Sissy that Walk’ if you wanted to! The possibilities are endless. But if you don’t have a clear vision in your head, do not fret, as your celebrant will give you plenty of suggestions on how to make your ceremony meaningful and memorable, like symbolic gestures and readings, which can be a great way to involve the thespians in your guestlist.
Freedom from Tradition - Flexibility to Create Your Own Rules
One of the things I love about an LGBT+ wedding is that you can easily toss ‘traditions’ out the window and create your own rules! In fact, I think everyone should if they want to! For example, instead of defining your wedding party by gender, choosing only bridesmaids or groomsmen (and snubbing your favourite people in the process), why not have ‘mates of honour’? The only requirement is, they have to be awesome.
Who comes down the aisle? Well, both of you if you’d like! You could make separate entrances, accompanied by whoever is deemed worthy of the privilege, go it alone (why you all gagging so?) or you could walk in together, like the power couple you are.
Please do not feel like you have to do what people ‘expect’ you to do – this is YOUR wedding day, so don’t dim your shine to make anyone else feel comfortable (friendly advice - if anyone makes you feel like you should, maybe they shouldn’t attend!). Celebrate your love proudly, unapologetically, and make it a day to remember for all the right reasons. Relax, and enjoy every second of it.
Your FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Answered
In preparation to my LIVE Interview with George from Edinburgh Wedding Directory on Thursday 15th July 2021, you have sent through a number of questions and having reviewed the most frequently asked questions in the past year, I decided to give you a snapshot of answers in my next few paragraphs below.
Are you ready to have your questions answered? Scroll down to check out what I have prepared for you this time in terms of tips and wedding planning hints!
Would you like to have a FREE 1-2-1 personalised consultation with me? Book it instantly at https://theweddingguruoskar.co.uk/wedding-planner/one-hour-wedding-planning-consultation
WHEN SHOULD WE START OUR DAY?
Interestingly, I did cover your wedding day timeline recently in this blogpost - https://theweddingguruoskar.co.uk/wedding-planner/read-me-blog/planning-your-wedding-day-timeline
You should start your timeline from the end of the night and work your timings back.
Here is my quick formula on how to come up with a solution to this question:
Evening Entertainment – length of service? (you’d need to check with your entertainment supplier – on average 4 hours)
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
Hair and makeup – will depend on the number of girls and the styling planned, an average 1h – 1h30mins per person
HOW DO I PICK A PHOTOGRAPHER?
There are a few ways to do this – you might have already received recommendations or met a photographer you like at another event. If not, do #hashtag search for your venue on Instagram and you’ll come across portfolio of photographers images of your venue.
It is always a good idea to book a call or a Zoom appointment to check on availability, rates and general feeling for your shortlist of photographers – you want to ensure that your photography looks great, but also that you and your guests will feel comfortable.
If you’re in any more doubt – check out recent reviews on Google and listing directories, you might even book an engagement photoshoot first.
If you’re looking for recommendations, why not download My Recommended Suppliers List today?
HOW SHOULD I VET SUPPLIERS?
If you’re new to weddings and feeling a little lost when it comes to booking wedding suppliers – check out my Six Red Flags When Booking a Supplier blog that touches upon what to avoid and look at when booking your suppliers.
You ideally want to work only with reputable suppliers on your wedding day plans, so check out their Google listing and social media. Look out for the length of service, any reviews, comments and recognitions.
Wedding venues and planners will often refer tried and tested suppliers for you to approach and believe me those recommendations comes after years of working relationships, giving you additional warranties when booking.
Are you looking for more hands-on support with booking your venues and suppliers? Have a look at my wedding planning packages – this is something I could organise for you at specially negotiated rates!
HOW DO I PICK MY FLOWERS AND COLOURS?
This is an interesting question! If you’re asking it, you probably don’t have a set theme in mind or you’re looking for suggestions.
Now, if you’re Scottish you might want to check your family tartan colours first and see if they rock your boat… if that’s not the case, why don’t you look outside for what nature has in stock for you in the season of your wedding?
Seasonal flowers are not only perfectly matching to what you’ll observe outside on your wedding day, but they’ll also be a lot better value for money than trying to get peony roses in October 😊
Additionally, you might want to consider your venue colours and any favourite colours you like - the easiest way to identify what you like from the design is to create moodboards of style images. You’ll very quickly make most fitting choices that way?
Are you needing a wedding styling consultation? Book my one-off wedding planning consultation today!
WHEN TO SEND OUR INVITATIONS?
There are many schools of thought on this matter.
My recommendation is that you firstly send your save the date as soon as you’ve booked your venue and set the date!
Invitations that way can be sent in the last 6 to 3 months before the wedding and this is also when you’re most likely to attend your menu tasting. Many couples don’t want to have their tasting too close to the wedding, but there is in fact a reason why venues and caterers encourage you to have your tasting as close to the wedding as possible – you’ll have a fresh recollection of it, you’ll be able to try seasonally fresh ingredients and lastly, stock levels of fresh produce are very unlikely to change in the last three months before your wedding. You must also remember that a menu tasting isn’t so much for choosing your menu, it is rather to discuss your choices with the professional Chef in terms of quantity, flavours and presentation.
Finally, I recommend avoiding big gaps between sending invitations and their RSVP deadline – the more time you give your guests, the less likely they are to deal with it instantly.
Are you looking for advice how to best collect and organise your RSVPs? Chatbox message me today and I’ll provide you with more quick and easy tips!
HOW SOON SHOULD I BOOK MY FINAL WEDDING DRESS ALTERATIONS?
If you’re having your wedding dress bespoke made for you, your designer will schedule these appointments for you automatically, however, if you’re buying off-the-rack or online, you want to ensure you have your alternations booked in advance.
I am being told that alterations might take up to three appointments, first is the longest one, which could take up to an hour and should take place shortly after purchasing/receiving the dress.
Your fittings should normally be scheduled between 12 to 2 weeks before the wedding in incremental milestones.
Dress designers advise against buying too small dress for motivation – it’s easier to take a larger dress in than to let smaller one out.
Are you looking for a wedding dress seamstress recommendation? Chatbox message me today!
WHAT’S THE LEGAL PAPERWORK TIMELINE IN SCOTLAND?
All wedding planning couples need to complete their notices forms and the most common form is called M10.
These notices cost £30 each and you need to submit one for each partner. There is a £10 cost for your marriage certificate, which you can request several duplicates of at £10 each – it’s good to take more then one copy as you might need to send these away to authorities if you’re changing your name following the marriage.
Marriage notices – otherwise known as M10 forms can only be lodged maximum 12 weeks before the wedding and no later than 29 days before the wedding.
Along with these forms, you will need send your birth certificates, any previous divorce decrees (if applicable), proof of address (bank statement or utility bills) and if you fall under immigration rules, you might need to supply proof of your immigration status. If you’re under the immigration rules – you’re best to submit your notices minimum 70 days before marriage.
If you’re looking for more hands-on support with completing your M10 form, book one of my one-off wedding planning consultations today.
HOW TO PICK BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES?
Many couples find this challenging as very rarely will your Bridesmaids/Groomsmaids will be of the same size and shape and have the same tastes.
You might have already heard of the multi-tie dress options – these are ideal if you want to ensure the same colour palette and dress flow, yet give your girls plenty of options for how they want to tie the upper section of the dress – these dresses are made of stretch material, so it’s ideal for a varied size and shape wedding party.
Alternatively, you can try jumpsuits – these are very trendy at the minute and will definitely not upstage the bridal dress, additionally they are very comfortable for dancing and moving about. Most of the time these come with pockets! Added Bonus!
Finally, if you want to give your Bridesmaids plenty of freedom, why not give them one pantone colour to work with so that they are colour matching and only cover what you were planning to spend on their outfits? That way they can do the shopping themselves within your guidelines – it’s a win – win this means less pressure on you and they’ll be happy to pick an outfit that best fits within their style.
Would you be willing to give your Bridesmaids the freedom to pick their own outfits matching your chosen colour and guidelines? Comment “Y” for Yes and “N” for No in the comment boxes below.
HOW TO BEST PLAN GUESTLIST?
If you’re finding this part of your wedding planning challenging – why not consider a couple of guest lists based on priority? If you decide to send your invites early, you might always have time to top up if your Top Priority guest’s respond with “No, I won’t be able to make it.”
If you’re already at the point of allocating your guests to tables, why not get creative? I get it – family politics might be challenging, but this can be fun, trust me!
Draw your tables on a large piece of paper – ideally flip chart size paper and bring stick on tabs - write your guests names on them. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get through this and you can always move people about easily on this plan, if anything changes closer to the time, it’s just as easy as to peel the tab and place on another table – simple 😊
Would you need a hand with organising your tables? Book my one-off wedding planning consultation today!
HOW TO BEST PLAN CATERING FOR THE MORNING OF?
This is so very important! Never underappreciate the importance of eating on the morning of your wedding – your Wedding Breakfast meal is unlikely to be served before dinner time and the last thing you want on your wedding day is to feel feint!
Good base breakfast makes a great start to a busy day!
You might not want to eat a lot such as a fry-up breakfast, but at least ensure you cover your morning catering with plenty of treats – continental buffet breakfast is ideal for that! Plenty fruit, pastries, hams, cheeses, yoghurts and cereals will ensure you’re not feeling bloated, yet you can nibble as the morning preparations get under way.
If you decide to opt in for a fry-up breakfast on the morning of your wedding - ideally you want to ensure this is first thing in the morning, so that you’re not feeling bloated and avoid this breakfast being made where you’re getting ready as the smells will penetrate the room and your outfits!
If you’re looking to book a light packed lunch, make sure it is delivered in plenty of time, so that you’re not eating last minute and already in your dress – you want to avoid any spillages before the ceremony and official photos.
Are you looking for recommendations for catering on the morning of the wedding? Chatbox message me today!
SHOULD WE TAKE WEDDING INSURANCE?
I wish more couples asked me about this pre-Covid, yet statistics say that pre-Covid wedding insurance was rarely taken out, something many of you can’t even imagine starting to plan your wedding without.
As more and more insurers are starting to offer wedding insurance covers and policies, you shouldn’t underestimate this additional protection and not only for the pandemic, but for anything you contract for your wedding! Considering that some covers start from as little as £50.00 it is likely to be the smallest value items on your wedding budget, yet it can save you an awful lot of headache further down the line!
If you cannot take wedding insurance instantly, ensure you remain protected at all times and pay using credit card for additional protection.
Are you looking for advice on wedding insurance? Chatbox message me today!
ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WEDDING MUST HAVE’S?
Following nearly two years of lockdown entertainment unique catering should be at the top of your priority list!
Your guests are longing for a good party and therefore if you’re going to be away for long periods of time ie. your photography, or changeovers or even transportation between venues – ensure this isn’t yet another dreaded hanging about time with nothing to do! You want to ensure that those gaps are filled in with creative and fun guest activities such games, magicians, live act music, quizzes, showstopping selfie opportunities, etc.
Catering is yet another important element of the wedding – unique catering options, full of variety is what your guests will remember and this doesn’t necessarily need to apply to your main meal, but maybe consider something different for your evening snack, that isn’t just another bacon roll display.
Being creative with the drinks will also set the tone for the day – pimp your prosecco is very cool, personalised cocktails and mocktails and theming of the bars can really make a difference to your guests experience and therefore memories.
Would you add anything else to our list of “MUST HAVE” suggestions? Comment below.
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
HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING - a Guide by The Wedding Guru Oskar
“HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING?”
Recently, I’ve researched what advice wedding planning couples are most popularly looking for online and the above key term came up amongst top 10 wedding related searches online, so here is my spin on how to best plan your wedding based on over a decade of experience and 600 weddings in my career this far.
Do you want to find out more? I encourage you to scroll down now!
IDENTIFY YOUR VISION
In order to make your life easier on many levels, you must identify how you see you day and what’s important to you. Ask yourselves – what’s the big vision? Anything you must have or anything you’d rather avoid? Creating moodboards on the styles, venues, outfits, etc. can very quickly help you identify what you like and what you might not be so keen on.
This step is crucial in moving forward with your plan, otherwise, you might be going round in circles, until you understand your dream and perfect wedding day vision.
Would you know how to create your moodboards? Chatbox message me if this is something you think you’d like to learn more about.
DEFINE YOUR PRORITIES
So you say, “vision is a good focus point to have, but do I need it all?” and, I hear you!
Once you’ve identified your vision, it’ll become a lot easier for you to start defining all the elements of what’s truly important to you and what wouldn’t upset your dream wedding plan if you need to downsize or alter.
We will talk about your wedding budget shortly, but to give you an example – let’s say that as part of your vision you identified that you like big impressive entertainment, several acts, etc., yet you know that you’re also big foodies and want your guests to enjoy plenty of quality food and drink – now what’s more important to you? What can you compromise on in order not to upset your dreams if you need to make this decision?
Do you see what I mean about priorities? Have you come across this dilemma before? Give me ❤️ in the comment boxes below if you did, don’t worry we all compromise on some things 😊
CREATE A GUESTLIST
Now, this one is crucial and once you’ve got it done, it will truly help you multiple times down the line and if you can make it in a spreadsheet, that’s even better as it’ll make your life easier if you need to change or update it.
I often meet with couples to shortlist venues, catering and so on, so I ask about guest numbers and rough estimates are good, but then I ask about children or evening guests and this is where things get tricky, because these can have impact on your budgeting.
My advice is, spend one evening and write down all guests you’d like to invite, discuss with family, plan for +1s if you want to – remember this will help you not only in selecting the right venue or catering, but also with posting Save The Dates and Invitations, budgeting, assigning tables and so on… one task that will make a big difference to the rest of your planning.
If you’re looking for advice on how to best plan your guest list – head over to my blogpost on “Effective ways to plan your wedding guest list.”
CREATE AN ESTIMATE BUDGET
This is very important especially when you’re starting to plan your wedding, because in all the excitement it’s easy to make rushed decisions. You might wonder though, how will I know what’s a reasonable price and what’s not?
If you take time to assess your top wedding budget including your existing and future savings plus any contributions, this will give you a very good idea of how much you could spend on your special day.
You can then break it down into each element of your day – how do I do that – you might ask?
Head over to one of my latest blogs
“PLANNING YOUR WEDDING BUDGET - Realistic estimates that will help you stay within the budget!”
to get an idea of costs involved in your wedding.
GET AND COMPARE SUPPLIER QUOTES
Now, let’s get the quotes! If you don’t know where to start, wedding directories and online wedding planning platforms will give you access to multiple suppliers in the same category that you can email at the same time to compare what they offer and find out their pricing – it’s a brilliant time-saving activity.
And remember, the more information you can provide about what you’re looking for, the more accurate quotes you will receive in return. Once you start receiving your quotes, you will be able to easily identify how realistic your budget is and if you need to adjust any of it.
If you’re working with venue or wedding planner suppliers, they will not only come verified by these suppliers, but they might also be offering preferential rates for referrals – so remember to always ask about these recommendations.
Chatbox message me today if you would like to find out about the suppliers I recommend and work with already.
TRACK ESTIMATES VS. ACTUALS
Interestingly, often this is when the budget is considered done and forgotten about, while you move into finer detail planning.
My advice is to have your budget saved in a spreadsheet as a master working document that you can regularly update and keep on track of your spending. This will ensure you’re keeping within your budget as much as possible.
Why not create a column for your estimates/quotes and actually contracted values. You can also include what you’ve paid for and what’s still due to be paid. As you progress and make payments, your budget document can keep you right.
Would you like to try out one of my templates? Chatbox message me today.
BREAK YOUR DAY/DAYS DOWN
Breaking down your day or even days will help you compartmentalise the smallest of details into each individual element of your wedding.
You can start planning for what’s needed for your hair and makeup, then ceremony, and so on. If you’re planning for additional days, you will be able to identify what’s happening, and when and what you still need to organise for each event.
When wedding planning we’re all guilty of collecting little nick knacks as you shop around – I remember doing so myself when planning for George and my wedding nearly four years ago now and when you do so, you can note down which part of your day these little decorating features will compliment, you don’t want to forget about these, right?
You will also be able to note down what you still need to confirm with your venue, caterers or suppliers for each part of your special day.
Over the years, I’ve developed my own wedding planning checklist that identifies all of these events, details and questions you might need to ask yourself – would you like to try it out?
CLICK HERE to download yours today!
SORT OUT PAPERWORK
One of the most important elements of your wedding planning is the paperwork for your legally binding ceremony, so don’t forget about it and don’t leave it to the very last minute, especially if you’ve opted for a civil ceremony only, there will be nobody there to keep you right or send you reminders.
If you choose a humanist celebrant or a religious officiant, they will keep you right.
In Scotland you need to give minimum of 29 days’ notice of your intention to marry, however, don’t be too quick to do it either, because you will be disappointed to find out that notices aren’t accepted more than 3 months before your planned marriage ceremony.
These timings will depend on your location, so it might be worthwhile checking all the requirements at your ceremony destination and what paperwork you will be required to supply or even if you might be falling under any immigration checks.
If you’re looking for help and support with your M10 forms (marriage notice forms) in Scotland, chatbox message me today and I can talk you through these.
CREATE A TIMELINE
This matter is often approached the wrong way about – many couples’ perception is that you need to decide on when you want to start your day. Interestingly enough, the ceremony start will be defined by the end of your reception as you work your timings back from the end of the night – did you know that?
You need to identify how much time each event of your day takes and this will require a bit of work and communication with your venue, caterers and suppliers – watch out for my next blog as I will be offering a suggested timeline to help you out a little.
You will be asked about this wedding day timeline by almost all your suppliers in the final months before the wedding, but most importantly, you will need to have this figured out for your invitations, so the sooner you do it, the better.
Did you know your wedding day timings are worked out for the end of the night and not from your ceremony? Give me Y for yes or N for no in the comment boxes below.
ASSIGN GUESTS TO TABLES
This is the bit that I see many couples struggling with and honestly, it doesn’t need to be that hard of a task. I recently turned this into a fun activity for my couples.
You will need a large piece of paper to map the room, your guest list, post-it tabs and markers.
Doing it visually and in colour makes all the fun and before you know it, you’ll run out of guest names. It’s fun, simple and so easy to update as you get your RSVPs.
One thing you want to avoid is leaving table planning until after your RSVP deadline as it is likely to come at a similar time when you’ll have a lot more on your mind and deadlines piling up, so do it earlier rather than later and make adjustments only when you’ve got 100% confirmation on changes.
Are you dreading this part? Would you like me to help you plan your tables and assign your guest? Chatbox message me today and we can do it together and make it fun!
COLLECT AND ORGANISE RSVPs AND PREORDERS
Now, this is the tricky bit – when do you ask for RSVPs? When is too early? When is too late?
When you know you might have a complicated multiple-choice menu pre-order – you might want to do it earlier rather than later and ideally online if possible. Online RSVPs will save you a lot of time and you will be able very clearly to see who’s accepted, who’s declined, dietary requirements and any pre-orders. Remember that if you’re using an online service that you accept only individual RSVPs especially if you need a menu pre-order.
In my experience, I often observe too big of a time-gap between invitations being sent and RSVP deadline – this unfortunately, allows your guests to put their invitation away instead of dealing with it then and there. Save the Dates are there to ensure your guests block their time off for the wedding, invitations are only a confirmation and shouldn’t take longer than a couple of weeks to one month to be collected. Don’t make a mistake of giving your guests too much time to respond and remember you will still need to organise them, double check, and potentially confirm pre-order with your caterers.
Give me ❤️ if it makes sense to shorten your RSVP deadline.
COMMUNICATE FINAL DETAILS TO ALL SUPPLIERS AND VENUE
Around one month before you wedding, you want to ensure you’ve got all your details in check and organised into a cohesive plan. You might think – surely there will be changes in the last month and yes, you’re correct, but rather than organising chaos, you’d rather update smaller things as you finalise things.
If you work with my wedding planning checklist, I highly recommend you share it with your suppliers, caterer and venue one month before and updating your changes as you go along on the form, yet communicate the updated form in the last week before the wedding to avoid loss of communication or confusion.
This might come across controversial, but you’re always best to create a list of updates and share this as infrequently as possible. In my career I’ve worked at venues with over 130 weddings each year, sometimes even 6 weddings on in the same weekend, so I understand that it’s hard for venues and suppliers to find the correct information when they are working other weddings and events, and receive several and sometimes conflicting updates in the same day – this is where errors can happen.
Wedding planning is about keeping communication organised and cohesive at all times – would you like help with your final plan to ensure you’ve got everything in check? Why not book my One-Off Wedding Planning Consultation today?
ARRANGE REHEARSAL AND FINAL DETAILS APPOINTMENT
You might think – “I’m not doing a rehearsal dinner!” and you don’t need to. What I mean here is that if you’ve not had your wedding party together for a ceremony rehearsal and they don’t fully know what they are expected to do and when, it might be a good idea to meet together in the final week before the wedding (if you can) to decide on a quick run-through of the ceremony. Some celebrants offer this at a supplement to be there and guide one practise run for you or if you’re working with me, I can help you with that!
Additionally, it is always a good idea to arrange for a final details meeting with your venue and caterers in the last two weeks before the wedding, to ensure that if there are gaps, you can still make this update to them one week before the wedding. This handover opportunity will give you peace of mind and the opportunity for the venue and caterer to ensure they clearly understand and can deliver your vision.
Chatbox message me today if you need a bit of support with the preparation to your final details’ appointment or with your ceremony rehearsal.
AGREE DROP OFF AND SETUP
Finally, make sure you arrange a time for venue drop off – you don’t want to turn up and find locked doors (especially if it’s an exclusive use venue) or even worse turn up in the middle of somebody else’s wedding… ooopps 😊
Ideally, if you need to go over anything as you drop things off, make sure you check the correct person can meet you then, so that you’re not handing over to an irrelevant person.
Finally, if you’re working with a dry hire venue, plan with them for when you or your stylists can get into setup, prepare and dress it for your special day and when things need to be collected by.
WOW this has been a long blog with a lot of advice and information – what did you think of it? Give me ❤️ if you’ve found it useful or DM me if you need help with some of the things I discussed in it.
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!
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
I have said this many times, that I am very lucky to work with the best in the wedding industry and I am very glad that Geebz Photography and I met for that informal coffee chat – our photoshoot was organised within a short 9 days and everyone truly pulled all the stops to make it happen and make it the best possible!
It was great fun putting briefings together, sharing ideas, scheduling things in and bouncing ideas off each other. The hard work clearly paid off and everything came together creating this very special piece of work. It brings me great joy to announce to you that if you’re looking for that perfect elopement or micro-wedding and don’t know where to start, I have got it all covered for you. With the best portfolio of partners, years of experience and four wedding industry awards! If you would like to find out more, why not get in touch today for an informal chat? Who knows, we may turn your vision into a yet another stunning Outlander-worthy wedding scene!
Massive thanks to all photoshoot partners - without your enthusiasm, vision and determination this fantastic project wouldn’t have been possible!
📷@geebz_photography
👰@lbweddingsandevents
💐@whitehouseflower
📌@glencourse_house
💕@mo.ackroydscottishcelebrant
👗@crystalbowsbridalboutique
🤵@eightyards
📷@bbpicture_photography
📋@theweddingguru_oskar
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.
HOW TO PLAN A LAST MINUTE WEDDING - 7 step guide by The Wedding Guru Oskar
HOW TO PLAN A LAST MINUTE WEDDING
Lately the majority of my wedding enquiries are based on short timelines and micro weddings, which is completely understandable under the current regulations.
This is why I have decided to give you some quick wins on how to plan your last-minute weddings effectively.
Check out my full blog below as I reveal to you my 7 steps guide.
If you’re currently considering a micro wedding that you would like to take place within the next 2-3 months and don’t know where to start, contact me today. I’m sure we can come up with a great plan together.
LEGALITIES
In my opinion your number one objective for a last-minute wedding should be your paperwork.
You want to make sure that you have all the required paperwork completed within the allocated timeline for your destination – in Scotland you need to lodge your notices with the intention of marriage, otherwise known as M10 form, no later than 29 days prior to your intended date of marriage.
This only applies if you want to make sure your wedding ceremony is legally binding – for symbolic ceremonies, this will be down to the availability of your desired celebrant.
How are you all finding the legalities and paperwork related to filing for a legally binding ceremony? Let me know in the comments below.
IDENTIFY WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU
When you’re planning for a wedding with a limited timeline, it is important for you to decide on the MUST HAVEs and things that you can forgo which won’t upset your overall vision.
The reason why this is so important is that you as much as you would want to consider everything for the most important day of your life, you don’t want to left disappointed or frustrated if it doesn’t happen due to the limited timescale.
Take one evening together and work out what’s important to you – I can promise you, this will ensure that even when planning last minute you can enjoy the process just as much.
Would you agree with this advice? Give me YES in the comments below if you do!
BUDGET
Now, that you’ve identified what’s important to you, set your budget – how much can you spend on this wedding celebration and how much are you prepared to invest into it?
You’ll need to consider your venue, legal fees (if you’re wanting a legally binding ceremony), any transport, outfits, photographer, flowers, accommodation, accessories and the list might go on and on…
What I am trying to say is that no matter the timeline or size of you wedding, you will still need to consider a lot of integral parts of this very special occasion and you don’t want to feel like you need to always compromise because of the limited timescale – setting a budget will help you achieve what you’ve planned for.
What budget would you estimate for an elopement or micro-wedding?
A – up to £1,000.00
B - £1,000 to £5,000.00
C - £5,000+
VENUE
Choosing a venue for a last-minute wedding might have its disadvantages such as availability, but also benefits such as ‘late availability deals’ which will help you to maximise the budget you have set.
Availability is of course important, so would you consider off-peak dates such as Fridays, Sundays or even Thursdays?
Is it a unique reception hall that you want for your wedding or would you rather hold your ceremony at the Registrar’s Office and host your meal in a private room at a hotel or restaurant?
Remember that no matter what you decide on – charges might apply for the hire of your venues even if it is just a Registrar’s Office.
What venues would you consider for a last minute or micro-wedding? Share your ideas in the comment box below.
SUPPLIERS
This one is an interesting matter – because normally, you would see many suppliers fully booked for years in advance.
Nowadays, you might find a lot more flexibility, however, if you’re struggling to find available suppliers – check out online wedding directories and place your enquiries through these sites with as much detail as possible - remember you don’t want to be wasting your time on follow up email asking for more details!
On the other hand, if time is precious for you and you would like to focus on other things that matter to you more, delegate this task to someone else - Wedding Planners like myself can organise a list of availability, negotiate rates and put together proposals for you within a few hours.
Would you consider sourcing suppliers though a Professional Wedding Planner? Give me YES in the comments below if you would due to limited timeline.
INVITATIONS
This one I think shouldn’t come as a surprise – designing, printing and then posting hard copy invitations might not be an option if you’ve got limited time to organise your wedding. Additionally, you wouldn’t want to wait for RSVPs in the post either – your time is precious here!
Why not use one of the web-based services widely available to send your invitations and collect your RSVPs automatically?
You can still have a say in how they will look like and what they will read, but this method simply ensures you can shorten the process and send your invitations in a matter of minutes to your entire guest list.
Have you heard of PaperlessPost.com? It gives you the first 50 online invites free and helps you collect your RSVPs. Check it out today!
DELEGATE
If you can, delegate some of the tasks so that other can help you. People like your Bridemaids, parents, siblings and friends.
You don’t want to feel overwhelmed and all those that are there to support you will be more than happy to contribute their time too.
Additionally, while looking for venues, you might want to consider those that already include or are willing to include all those important MUST HAVEs – all-inclusive packages are a great solution for your last minute wedding, so take advantage of this!
If you would like to discuss your elopement or micro-wedding with me, enquire with me today.
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.
Your ceremony reading recommendations by The Wedding Guru Oskar
YOUR CEREMONY READING RECOMMENDATIONS
by The Wedding Guru Oskar
Before we get started with my ceremony readings recommendations, I wanted to let you know about my weekly Facebook Lives Interviews with my expert guest speakers on Thursdays at 6pm.
If you’ve missed my previous sessions - you can access them all on my YouTube channel by clicking on the image above.
All my Facebook Live Interviews are streamed live on Thursdays at 6pm on my Facebook Page and in my Facebook Group - follow the links to subscribe.
As it stands, in majority of cases, only small marriage registrations and ceremonies are permitted at the moment and there’s quite a few couples I’ve been working with recently on their intimate ceremony arrangements.
This is why, I thought to share with you some of my ceremony reading recommendation in the following paragraphs.
Have you picked your ceremony readings already? Or have you got a favourite reading in mind?
Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below to help other couples with inspiration.
The first recommendation that I would like to propose is a reading from Stephen Curtis Chapman – “I will be here”.
What do you think about this reading option?
Let me know in the comments below.
The second recommendation that I would like to share with you is “Maybe” by an Unknown author.
It is a lovely tale about how varied ways love can be found.
Have you found your favourite reading yet? Comment YES in the comment box below.
In this paragraph, I would like to bring to you a reading from Jim Reeves – “I love you because”.
It’s almost an ode to the reasons why we love - it can help you voice your gratitude for the one you love in your ceremony.
Have you considered this type of reading for your ceremony?
Are you a fan of books, films and music/song lyrics?
Well… I’m not sure if you knew already, but you can also incorporate them into your ceremonies.
How about “Les Miserable” by Victor Hugo?
I find this reading having so much depth to why we love – what do you think?
You might have also noticed that I am sucker for an inspirational quote and if you can’t decide on a full reading, why not research your favourite quotes on love?
When I was younger, I used to hold a journal of my favourite quote which still sit proudly in my Mum’s book cabinets.
One quote from this journal remains my favourite to this day and it is from AA Milne – “Winnie the Pooh”.
Don’t you just love it?
Another reading I would like to propose to you is “Love” by Roy Croft.
It is such a beautiful reading – don’t you think?
It almost an ode of gratitude to the one we love – it could make a beautiful start or end to the wedding ceremony in my opinion – what do you think?
Finally, I would like to go down the memory lane to my own wedding in 2018 and this is a yet another proof that you don’t need to stick to poetry if it doesn’t feel right for your special day.
We’ve decided to start our ceremony with an extract from “Nightmare before Christmas” – it just felt like us and made the perfect entrance to the vows we were about to exchange.
What do you think of this choice? If you would like some help with the choice of readings for your ceremony, speak to your celebrant or wedding planner – we’ve got plenty suggestions at the ready for you!
Lastly, I would also like to share one more piece for your reading list – “Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns.
Our wedding overall was rich in our two cultures and infused into all areas of our wedding day. This is why the reading from Robert Burn felt right again and allowed us to pay respects to the Scottish heritage of our friends and family.
Once again, this piece has a very ode like feeling to it, don’t you think?
If there’s any other readings you’ve used or like to recommend to the couples following my page – pop them in the comments below or send me a message in the forms below.
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!
Bridal Preparation Advice by The Wedding Guru Oskar
BRIDAL PREPARATION ADVICE BY THE WEDDING GURU OSKAR
Many Brides often wonder how the morning of their wedding could look like and although it might often seem like an organised chaos, there’s a few things you can consider in preparation to your special day.
Over the next few paragraphs, I will be bringing to you a list of things that will make this process easier and more relaxed, so that you can enjoy this moment of pampering before your all-important marriage ceremony.
Is there any part of the morning of the wedding you’re most concerned about or looking forward to?
Let me know your thoughts on this subject in the comments below – the more the merrier and many Brides might find your personal opinion useful!
LIST OF JOBS
My number one advice is to create a list of jobs which you can delegate to your Maid of Honour, Bridesmaids, your Groom-to-be, Best Man, Ushers, Parents, etc.
You won’t be able to do it all by yourself and you don’t have to! There’s a reason why you’ve selected these important people to give you a helping hand on the most important day of your life!
Trust me, they’ll also love having the responsibility and being involved.
It might also be a good idea to have these lists printed for them and given out on the morning of the wedding.
GOOD NIGHT SLEEP
This applies to Brides or Grooms, having stag dos or hen dos on the night prior to your wedding is definitely not a good idea, nor is it staying up late, and although you might have a lot going through your head, try and relax and put your head to rest at a reasonable time.
Your wedding day goes fast but it is also a long day with most preparations starting around 8am.
There are many solutions that might help you relax on the night prior to your wedding such as essential oils, relaxing music or ambient lighting.
Have you got any suggestions on how best to relax before your sleep? Remember sharing is caring and all advice can be found helpful!
BREAKFAST
Don’t underestimate a good base and start to your day!
This is particularly important and although you might not feel like eating much, make sure you have what you enjoy for breakfast and that is also fairly filling, as your first meal after that will be your Wedding Breakfast, normally served around 5pm.
You simply don’t want to be feeling faintly, hungry or dehydrated on the day of your wedding, so please make sure you take this part seriously!
If you’re planning to nibble on things throughout the day – it might be useful to purchase the same lipstick your make up artist will be using on the morning of your wedding, for touch ups.
THE SPACE
It is very important to consider the space you’ll be getting ready in too!
Does it have plenty daylight? Does it have easy access to the bathroom? Is it large enough for your group? Is it equipped with enough of and correct furnishings for hair and make up?
If you’ve decided to get ready at your venue – has it got a dedicated room which is setup for this purpose?
Have you decided if you’ll be getting ready at home or at your venue?
TIMINGS
It is imperative to get your timings right, because you do not want to feel rushed on the morning of your wedding. You want to create as much of a relaxing atmosphere as possible, right?
Good idea is to put your hair and make up teams in touch with each other and listen to their advice – they’ll know exactly how much time will be needed to make sure you’ve also got some spare time for breaks and any emergencies.
There are also businesses out there that provide a full service in one place for you – if you’re not sure of how to “marry” the two together, you might want to consider that option too.
DRESSES
It is advisable to keep your dresses out of the bags and hang as high as possible to let the fabric breath.
If your dresses need to be transported on the morning of your wedding, you might need to place them in a steamy shower room to get rid of the creases from transport.
On the other hand, if you will need to arrange for steaming service for the morning of your wedding, make sure you arrange this well in advance as a lot of dry-cleaning businesses will be closed at the weekends.
Additionally, you might want to keep your dress as far away from any make up and bring in a specialist to help you get in your dress when you’re ready. Remember, your Bridesmaids might have never done this before and they will also be wearing make up already.
Is there anything else you’d add to the care necessary to look after your wedding dress on the morning of your wedding? Comment below!
GATEKEEPER & PEACEMAKERS
Having a dedicated person or a Wedding Planner on the morning of your wedding can save you many unnecessary conversations or “helpful” visits. The less people helping, the better too!
Nobody will question if your Mum or Wedding Planner opens the doors and says you’re busy with the photographer 😊
A few years ago, when I was assisting a Bride, all was going to plan until the zip on one of the bridesmaid dresses broke off completely! The only option was to sew her in. I took on this challenge, having stocked my pockets with a sewing kit. My skills must have been rather good as the thread wasn’t visible and lasted well until the night. The bride and I still giggle over this.
MARRIAGE SCHEDULE
I’ve seen this forgotten about so many times especially when the ceremony is held at a venue.
Somebody must be made responsible to bring your marriage schedule on the morning of your wedding to the venue.
Without it, legal marriage cannot take place, and this is another reason why delegating jobs in advance is so important.
Would you add anything else to my list of preparations to the morning of your wedding day?
Finally, ENJOY IT!
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have this experience!
If you’ve taken care of all previously mentioned steps, you should have a fabulous morning, filled with heartfelt words, beautiful emotions, improvised toasts and plenty chat, giggles, fizz and nibbles.
As mentioned previously, the day goes within a blink of an eye, so take the time to capture mental snapshots of it all.
Now, go on, put that gorgeous dress on and meet your guests and most importantly, nervously awaiting your arrival other half!
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
