In just a few weeks, the world’s weddings have come to a halt. The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to widespread wedding business closures and the cancellation of thousands of weddings globally.
With isolation measures in place around the world, wedding businesses are now forced to navigate the uncertainties of moving peak season wedding date bookings into the future while still trying to reach new couples in order to stay afloat. Understanding what couples want and need during this time is essential to ensure each business is making the best strategic decisions.
Bridebook, the world’s #1 wedding planning app, has teamed up with Style Me Pretty, the world renowned top inspirational wedding resource, to deliver this free report to you.
This in-depth report presents 30+ pages of insights, from 6,000+ couples in over 85 countries, on how COVID-19 is affecting weddings in all stages of engagement. You’ll learn:
Wedding date preferences for postponing couples vs. new bookings
Expectations for postponement of weddings later in 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on wedding costs
Impact of COVID-19 on the wedding budget of newly engaged couples
Video tour preferences among newly engaged couples
..and more.
As a member of the global wedding community, Bridebook feels the heartbreak of both the couples whose wedidng days have been jeopardised, as well as the industry professionals whose livelihoods are now at risk. We know that venues and professionals around the world are giving up so much while postponing months worth of weddings, and we know that difficult times lie ahead for your businesses, even after restrictions are lifted.
On behalf of couples everywhere, thank you for being a part of one of life’s happiest moments, and for being generous and caring to the thousands of couples whose celebrations have been put ‘on hold’.
All of us at Bridebook look forward to providing as much guidance, insights and support that we can in order to keep this wonderful wedding industry strong and growing.
Berwick Lodge is Bristol’s hidden gem. This beautiful 19th century country house has so much character, you are bound to fall in love it!
Simone, Wedding Coordinator, tells us what makes their venue and all the weddings they host (big or small) so incredibly special.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Living in the gorgeous Wiltshire countryside, I adore being outdoors and sitting in the garden with our lovely hens and beautiful black cat, Salem. I love a good series or documentary (Louis Theroux and David Attenborough are my heroes!). I also like to be creative – with baking and crafts such as macramé, pottery and painting.
I graduated from Bournemouth University in 2018 with a first-class Event’s Management degree and went straight into the industry working as a wedding coordinator at the beautiful Berwick Lodge.
What drew you to the wedding world?
I always knew I wanted to be in the events industry. I have always loved researching and planning for things, seeing everything pull together on the day is just the icing on the cake!
During my university placement I began working mainly on social events, but with our wedding coordinator moving onto a new career I quickly picked up this side of things and was so pleased that I did. You get so much joy out of being part of someone’s wedding. Every couple is so unique, with different personalities, ideas and flares. It is so lovely to build up relationships with each couple and then finally see them enjoy the happiest day of their life.
What do you think makes Berwick Lodge unique?
Our ‘yes attitude’. At Berwick Lodge, nothing is ever too much trouble and we will always work with our couples to try and create the day that they want. If a couple is looking for personalisation, a non-traditional wedding, a huge celebration or a simple elopement, we are always happy to have that discussion and love that every wedding is unique.
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had at Berwick Lodge?
The most memorable wedding experience was most definitely that of drag performer ‘Lady Diamond’. This couple was all about the details and creating a completely bespoke and personal day. They hadn’t told any of their guests about the special performance, so there were a few nerves among me, the couple and even Lady Diamond herself. However, her ‘Be My Guest’ entrance, honing a floral teapot and serving alongside our team, was met with love, laughter and pure joy. All the guests joined in with the songs, comedy and serenading the grooms and it made for the most amazing energy and a truly memorable evening.
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
The ‘kettle is always on’ at Berwick Lodge. We always encourage couples to come visit us – bring their family, friends, photographer, dog, whomever they like! We love to hear about the couple’s background – how they met, all about the proposal, their jobs, their family, just who they are as a couple! We are here to listen about all the excitement of the wedding and also here for any problems they face too. By the time the couple gets married, we all know each other very well and they are one of the ‘Berwick Family’.
Why should a couple book Berwick Lodge?
We are an exclusive venue, meaning couples have no intrusion from other people and the team are focused solely on the couple and their guests for the day.
We pride ourselves on exceptional, warm and attentive service.
We have stunning grounds with many unique features.
Our beautiful onsite accommodation with 14 unique boutique bedrooms and choice of bridal suite.
Our award-winning food in our 2 Rosette restaurant.
A wedding coordinator (me!) to offer support through the whole process- from the viewing, all the way through to the wedding day itself.
Booking Berwick ticks a lot off of your list (venue, ceremony, food, drink, hotel)!
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
When people are planning the ‘perfect’ wedding, they often consider the tangible aspects of the day – the food, drink, décor, etc. These are all very important, however, a few years on, a lot of the tangible details will be forgotten – it’ll be the atmosphere of the day and the couple enjoying themselves that people will remember.
During the planning process couples should ensure that they are always thoughtful of their guests, but the most important thing to remember is that the day is their day, so they should do what makes them happy and this will shine through on the day.
When it comes to the day itself, leave it in our capable hands, enjoy every minute of it and don’t worry about the small things… the day will be perfect!
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
I would say, just be as organised as you are able to be! We want our couples to have the most stress-free planning experience, so to kick things off we send a ‘Welcome Pack’ which includes a timeline for wedding planning, a schedule for the day, our recommended supplier list, and a Q&A. This is in the hope that the couples will have everything they need to start the planning process. We are then available to help throughout, making suggestions, giving our experiences and helping to pull everything together in planning meetings.
Bridebook tip: you can also use the Checklist, Budget Planner and Guest List tools to help you stay on track with your wedding planning!
What’s the best photo spot at Berwick Lodge?
This is such a hard pick! At Berwick Lodge we are very lucky to have an amazing 18 acres of grounds to explore, and the beautiful 18th century red brick manor house. The gardens of Berwick Lodge are so enchanting and are abundant with photographic opportunities. The most spectacular being our marble ladies, which are just so striking and unusual! A lot of people also make use of the fountain, swing and spiral staircase, among the orchard, flowers and foliage which are ever-changing in the grounds throughout the seasons. Of course, the weather can’t always be on our side, but the interior is just as gorgeous!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Our guests comment time and time again that the place is made more special by all of the staff there and that you can see we all enjoy what we do. We always pride ourselves on creating a ‘home away from home’ and ensuring that our guests feel like part of the Berwick Family. Our team is who I’m most proud of, for always having a positive and attentive attitude and creating the friendly atmosphere that keeps our guests coming back.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Don’t panic! I know it is easier said than done, but we are all in this together. This time allows us to reflect on what is important to us and what we are grateful for and things will eventually return to normality. Ensure you are having open and honest conversations with your venue and suppliers. They will be constantly adapting as best as they can and will be sympathetic to the fact your wedding may have to change. We have seen the wedding community really come together in this difficult time and your venue and suppliers are here to support you and be as flexible as they possibly can be.
For those who are still looking for a wedding venue, there’s no need to panic or put plans on hold either. A lot of venues (including ourselves) are adapting to the current situation and we are doing virtual tours of our venue. For any couple that books during this time, we are also relaxing our booking contract, so once our doors are back open you have some time to decide if the venue is definitely for you (we are of course confident that it will be)!
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
Technology is a huge part of a wedding now – for better and for worse! The internet is an instant resource, which has allowed couples to freely research their wedding day in depth and they don’t even have to move from the sofa to do so! Suppliers can easily showcase their work more widely and have reviews posted about them, allowing couples to make informed choices. Social media is also amazing – with couples, suppliers and guests all able to share material, ideas and experiences instantly. Technology has changed the planning process, with couples creating websites, using apps and even purchasing at home.
However, we find a lot of our couples are still coming to us based on word of mouth and very often use our recommended suppliers list. We are also finding couples still like having tangible items, such as planners and sending out real invites.
Technology is amazing, but every couple is different, and everyone needs to strike a balance that they are comfortable with!
What do you love about Bridebook?
Bridebook is so helpful, as it guides couples through the entire wedding planning process. Firstly, it has a very functional venue directory, which is easily filtered in order to help couples decide on their venue and suppliers. It also offers a ton of articles to help inspire and kick start ideas for couples who may be stuck or lost along the way! The planning app is an extremely useful tool which many of our couples use. It ensures the wedding is more organised by keeping everything in one place. Modern life is always so busy, so being able to have the Bridebook app on the go is an absolute winner!
Fancy a 13th century manor house for your wedding? The gorgeous Elmore Court in Gloucester may be the one for you! Read on to find out what Adele, Marketing & Events Manager, believes makes their venue unique!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I have been in the wedding industry for nine years. I started out with my own business as a stylist, creating designs and decor for couples alongside a well reputable florist. My passion for events grew, I loved the buzz of being at events and fancied another challenge so decided to turn my hand to the organising side of things. In my free time I like to take to the stage, singing, dancing and acting as part of a local theatre group along with keeping fit and socialising with friends.
What drew you to the wedding world?
My love for design and creating something spectacular. I have a passion for coming up with ideas and bringing visions to life. I like to be in a busy environment and am not afraid of hard graft. The satisfaction you get from seeing something through from start to finish, and happy clients, is second to none for me.
What do you think makes Elmore Court unique?
When you book Elmore Court as a wedding venue, you don’t just become another couple in the diary, you become part of the ‘Team E’ family. We make it our mission to ensure that each couple’s individual wants and desires are met and pretty much say anything is possible. Our customer relation is what we pride ourselves on, having an extremely close relationship with our couples from the minute they walk through the doors to the very last song on the dance floor. We are with them every step of the way, from ironing grandad’s shirt in the morning to cutting up the evening cake – anything you need, you can be sure that one of us is an ‘expert’ in it!
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
Before the big day, we have two planning meetings with our couples to discuss and help with plans. Couples also get to come back to Elmore and enjoy a private tasting, where they can sample their chosen wedding menu. Alongside this, we usually hold two annual open days where couples can come back to pick up some wedding inspiration as well as talking to Team E. Overall, there is opportunity to come back and get to know your dedicated coordinator and the team on several occasions.
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
A day full of love and laughter with your nearest and dearest. Mix this in with some exceptional food and drink and a grooving dance floor, and you have your perfect wedding day!
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had at Elmore Court?
They all hold something memorable for us, as they are all so uniquely special. But if we were to choose, then we fell in love with a full to the brim of entertainment, cosy winter wedding last year. Live music was around every corner and styling to die for. Live performers on podiums in the Gillyflower, singing as you enter the room for dinner, roaring fires, champagne towers, games and sparkle… the atmosphere was off the scale!
Why should a couple book Elmore Court?
When you book Elmore, you book in memories that will last a lifetime. We are no ordinary house in the country. This house has something quite special and rare about it. With over an 800 year old heritage, built for celebrations, our beautiful big house is steeped in history. It’s important to us that it feels like a home from home, because that’s exactly what it is: a family home. And that’s not it – you also have use of our modern day, purpose built, sustainable, eco ballroom. A unique spin on a permanent marquee, the Gillyflower is a soundproof space where you can entertain. Our roots are deep in music and events and this is illustrated here, with a built-in, top of the range sound system and design, the Gillyflower is the perfect contrast to the house. Essentially you get two venues in one, with the flexibility to create your dream day with no limitations.
What’s the best photo spot at Elmore Court?
Under our Purple Birch tree, just as our cyclamen carpet is in bloom and the sun is setting.
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Enjoy it! Make it fun, start early so you can savour the moment and not feel rushed.
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
New developing CRM systems that are helping reduce the amount of administration time for the team. They are also offering couples some nifty tools to help with planning and easing stress for them too. For businesses, it means that coordinators have more time to focus on other areas of the business, helping it grow as well as giving more time to clients.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Don’t beat yourself up for feeling sad, allow yourself some time to grieve the date you had dreamed of and planned for so long. There are many challenges that come from this and emotions to follow.
Once you’ve given yourself some time to feel sad remember your wedding day is postponed not cancelled, and all of your family and friends will be so excited to celebrate with you when they can. In fact this extra waiting (and extra planning time) will make the celebration all the more joyous, and there will be so many more reasons to party after all this is done!
In fact, your wedding may not be on the date you originally planned but it is very likely to be even better than the original…
What do you love about Bridebook?
Their fantastic customer service and additional tools that help us monitor our enquiries.
Looking for a fabulous venue in London? Olivia Parrott, Wedding & Events Executive at RSA House, tells us all about what makes their venue and team the perfect one for your big day!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I have been in the weddings world for around five years! In my spare time I love to binge watch my favourite series on Netflix (I may or may not be able to re-enact every episode of Friends… oops!) I love socializing with friends & family, hitting the best brunch spots and exploring new places.
What drew you to the wedding world?
How personal it is! The feeling of making couples dream wedding days a reality is what sold it. Seeing the look on a couples face when they walk into the venue will never ever get old.
What do you think makes RSA House unique?
Our venue is unique because it really is so versatile – there is a style for everyone. The Georgian town house is traditionally elegant and beautiful but also very contemporary which gives great flexibility for couples to create their own unique journey through the spaces. Our approach to our couples is to most of all flexible, friendly and loving! We are with our couples every step of the way and the relationship doesn’t end after their wedding day at RSA – we have created really amazing friendships with a lot of our couples.
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
Personality! Having seen more marvelous weddings than we can mention, the team here at RSA House know a thing or two about personalizing weddings so if you’re looking to put your own stamp on your big day, you’re sure to find some inspiration, or a little extra confidence to do your own thing, right here!
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
We get to know them as people! Regular drink catch ups, video calls, venue visits, supplier visits! Getting to know the family is also a big thing for me, too.
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had at RSA House?
This is a hard one as we have seen so many memorable ones! How many weddings have you been to where the guests can say they were serenaded not once, but twice by the groom?! From a personally re-written version of Elton John’s ‘This Is Your Song’ to kick-start his speech, to a performance of Backstreet Boys ‘I Want It That Way’.
Why should a couple book RSA House?
For this, I would say actions speak louder than words and to have a look at testimonials. However, knowing their wedding contributes to the RSA charity is an incredible thing to know. Booking RSA means you are in for a fun and memorable time planning the most incredible day of your lives and that we promise.
What’s the best photo spot at RSA House?
Our staircase!
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Trust your venue and your suppliers, they are experts and will go above and beyond to create the most incredible day for you!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Our incredible behind the scene team: the people who make dreams a reality and it wouldn’t be possible without every single one of them!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Postpone to not cancel, we are all in this together and talk to your loved ones. We will get through this and your wedding celebrations will be more amazing than you could ever imagine!
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
In an amazing way! Virtual tours, wedding videos and galleries of images allow couples to imagine their day even more.
After the build up to your big day and a night of celebrating with your loved ones, it is important to relax and let it all soak in! What better way to do that than a trip to the spa? Moddershall Oaks is not only a fantastic wedding venue, but also an incredible spa, in a beautiful location: a perfect way to wind down after months of planning and preparations – you deserve it!
Emma, Events Reservation Manager, takes us through the details of what makes their venue special!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I have worked at Moddershall Oaks for nearly three years and have loved every second! Before this, I worked at a venue dressing company, so I have experience on both the venue and supplier side of the wedding industry! I’m lucky to live very close to Moddershall and enjoy walking the beautiful Staffordshire countryside with my partner Joe and dog Perry!
What drew you to the wedding world?
That’s easy! What’s not to love about the wedding world? The dress, the flowers, the décor! I have a very creative, crafty side so I enjoy seeing all those elements come together. But I’m also very meticulous and organised and I love a spreadsheet, so that also helps with planning and making sure everything runs smoothly. Being part of a wedding and helping to bring the day together is very special and something I am very honoured to be trusted with. Seeing the couples faces when they walk back up the aisle is the best part of the job!
What do you think makes Moddershall Oaks unique?
I think as a venue we are lucky to have some really unique aspects, including our boutique spa (perfect for your after wedding relaxation!) and the fact that we can offer outdoor ceremonies by our lake – the most beautiful, peaceful, romantic place for your ceremony! But what really makes Moddershall Oaks different, is most definitely those we choose to be part of our team. Our company aim is to ‘be the best at everything we do by employing great people who make Moddershall Oaks a special place to be’ and that means our team members are passionate about their jobs, and will go above and beyond to make our customers’ experiences with us memorable.
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
Getting to know our couples really just comes naturally, from the initial show round, to discussing ideas at Open Days, the food tasting, the final planning meeting and all of the email and phone calls in between – by the time the wedding date comes around we’re like part of the family! And that makes our job that much more special.
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
I think the perfect wedding for me is simple. Good food, good company and good entertainment, with a few personal touches thrown in. Plus, an experienced venue team who will make sure the day goes without a hitch!
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had at Moddershall Oaks?
We once had a couple who loved their winter sports and used that as the theme for their day. Their stationery had little mountains on it, their cake depicted a mountain with little skiers zooming down the side, but best of all, they had a snowboard simulator set up in the garden! What a way to make your wedding memorable!
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
To take it easy and don’t stress about all the things you have to do to plan a wedding. Have an action plan or a checklist that you can work through step by step. It can be overwhelming to begin with, but when it’s broken down you can enjoy the process and build up so much more!
Why should a couple book Moddershall Oaks?
Because we’re all about you! Whatever your idea, we are flexible to make it happen. Whether you want a big wedding or an intimate wedding, that’s fine by us. Maybe you want an amazing bespoke Italian themed menu? Then our chefs will create one for you. You want some weird and wonderful entertainment? Owls to fly down the aisle and deliver your rings? Go for it. We don’t like rules, so we don’t make many. But what we will do is our utmost to ensure your day and the time leading up to it is as enjoyable as possible and something you will treasure for the rest of your lives!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
The colleagues I work with and seeing them work together to create and deliver something special to our couples. The Moddershall Oaks family is something I am very proud to be part of.
What’s the best photo spot at Moddershall Oaks?
Tricky one! The jetty on the lake is the most obvious choice, but I think I would choose the little benches nestled in the woodland. They look like something you would find in a secret garden, and because the woodland is rarely used it’s so raw and natural. The photos I see of couples here always look so enchanting and magical.
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
Technology is a great thing and it means researching venues and suppliers got a whole lot easier over the past few years. But don’t underestimate the power and reliability of word of mouth. There is nothing more reassuring you are making the right decision than the recommendation from a friend or relative!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Firstly, I am sorry that your special day has been affected by Covid-19. It’s a really tough and scary time for the wedding industry as a whole. All we can really do right now is our best to work together to find the best solution for all parties. We all have to be patient with one another and understand that each and every couple/supplier/venue have their own unique circumstances and all will be making compromises to try and get through this. Know that even if your date has been postponed, it will still be the most magical day, albeit a little later than planned!
The tools on the Bridebook app are so handy and really guide you step by step with your wedding planning, for example the checklist tool! This is the perfect way to manage all the ideas in your head and tick things off, stress free!
While you may not be able to view wedding venues physically right now, we want to make sure you’re still exploring your options and to shed some light on the incredible teams at some of the best wedding venues in the country! With our Venue Showcase series, you will learn more about what makes each venue unique and find out how their team works with couples to put together the day they dream of!
The first in our series is The Wellbeing Farm – a fun, quirky farm venue in Bolton. The founder and Managing Director, Celia, shares the story of the venue below.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
After experiencing work-related stress in the NHS, I resigned from my role and set about transforming a neglected farm in Bolton into The Wellbeing Farm. In the process, I experienced every type of business scenario and won various awards such as Implementer of the Year at the National Entrepreneur Awards. I secured a publishing deal to tell my story and my book ‘Why Put a Bow Tie on a Llama? How a crazy idea can change your life and transform your business’ was published in January 2020.
In my spare time I love yoga, meditation, reading, walking, gardening, baking and family days out with my son, Matthew, age 12, and partner Stephen. I also love walking with my dog, Maxy.
What drew you to the wedding world?
After I opened the business in March 2013, everyone kept asking me whether they could get married at the farm. I didn’t have anywhere for anyone to get married, but I set about transforming an indoor riding school into a wedding barn. Our first wedding was in July 2015 and since then enquiries have never stopped rolling in!
What do you think makes The Wellbeing Farm unique?
We apply the concept of Wellbeing to everything we do at the farm. We help couples’ wellbeing by managing the stress of wedding planning and organisation through a thorough and structured programme of meetings, resources, planning and support to ensure EVERY wedding held at The Wellbeing Farm is fun, quirky and magical. We also are a green business with the highest award achieved in green business so sustainability and wellbeing is at the heart of not only our ethos but within the fabrication of our buildings.
Our most memorable way we stand out is through our furry friends – our llamas, donkeys and alpacas – they are the true stars of the show – how many weddings have you attended where you can pose with a bow tie-wearing Llama?
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
We really do love getting to know our couples, and without it sounding like a complete cliché, by the end of the process we really do feel like we have made a long lasting friendship! From the very first time we meet, we always welcome them with a warm hug, a cup of tea and a piece of homemade cake – which is always a good start to the exciting process that lies ahead.
We have a very hands on planning process, and in addition invite our couples to all of our open days and a yearly Quirky Wedding Fair- so they know they are always welcome up to the Farm even if just for a nosey around, to bring their parents for a grand tour or for a cup of tea!
We now also offer a wedding planning service from abroad! We have planned weddings with couples from Dubai and the Philippines over FaceTime and Zoom – the couples arrived in the UK a week before their wedding to found everything planned and organised for them! Our record time for meeting the couple and delivering a wedding is two weeks!
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
Amazing food, plenty of booze, memorable entertainment and of course a beautiful ceremony where as a couple you are surrounded by your family, friends and loved ones.
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had at The Wellbeing Farm?
We really do believe that no two weddings are the same and feel strongly that it is the extra special touches that truly count. We really do go on a journey with all of our couples and do everything we can to make their day one we will all truly remember. This last year (so far!) we have had lots of doggy ring bearers, a Bride drive a tractor to her wedding, a ceremony broadcast to Canada, a couple bring their horse to a wedding and a first dance outside under the stars and a couple who wanted to do a karate fight as their first dance!
Why should a couple book The Wellbeing Farm?
We won the UK Events Team at the National Wedding Industry Awards 2020. We provide so much support for couples in both booking and planning their wedding. We even have a guarantee on the quality of food served at your wedding.
We fully accept that if a couple is looking for a hotel type wedding in a sophisticated setting – we are probably not the venue for them! This is something we are proud of and will continue to be proud of. We want to be a venue the wedding guests all remember for a long time to come. If a couple wants a wedding where their guests can kick off your shoes, dance on a hay bale, wrap ties around their heads and forget their inhibitions, then we are the venue for them!
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Forget tradition – go with what type of wedding YOU want. You can enjoy a relaxed, informal wedding just as much as a five course experience. Don’t try and please everyone, make it your wedding, your way.
What’s the best photo spot at The Wellbeing Farm?
Probably where the couple sit on board a vintage blue tractor with each of them holding a bow tie-wearing llama!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Winning UK Events Team of the Year at the National Wedding Industry Awards.
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
I feel that after experiencing lockdown, in future more wedding planning will be done using Zoom or FaceTime and live streaming will be something that venues will be offering at weddings.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Covid-19 is nobody’s fault and worrying never does solve anything. The panic and fear is just as contagious as the blasted virus. Work with your venue to both agree on a revised date for your wedding. Even if the date isn’t what you originally wanted, I have taken this great advice from Alan Berg – ‘When you look at your photos, can you tell what day of the week it was? Does food taste any different on a Tuesday? Do people dance differently on a Wednesday? Does the sun not shine on a Thursday? Your guests will remember your wedding not what day of the week it was on’.
The support Bridebook provides is amazing, the industry reports you distribute and the coverage you gain from being with Bridebook is brilliant.
Any other comments?
Your wedding is one of the milestones in your life. It’s something that you’ve spent months planning (or even years). So you want the planning of your wedding to be an amazing happy experience, but so often it can turn into a huge amount of work full of stress. Make sure you choose a venue which will help you through the process and support you every step of the way.
Faye Hughes, the Head of Oxleaze Barn wedding venue recently got married, COVID-19 style. Here is Faye’s story about her wonderful COVID-19 style wedding.
7 days – What shall we do? A bottle of Moet for two.
A wedding planner planning their own wedding – simple? Yes, until the unplannable happens. Having to re-think your wedding an uncountable amount of times the week before due to a global pandemic slowly shutting everything down around you!
We had a romantic unexpected (for me!) proposal at the confetti fields in Pershore in June 2019 (the height of wedding season – that’s how to catch a wedding planner off guard!). Plans quickly started coming together (the guest list was written that same afternoon!) and like all excited newly engaged couples they started to pay deposits and book in their suppliers, Pinterest boards and amazon ordering a plenty!
Nothing unusual until the week before our wedding in March 2020. Like something from a Craig David song it went like this:
Honeymoon cancelled on Sunday
International friends cancelled on Monday
High risk family cancelled on Tuesday
We were down to 20 by Wednesday
Even less on Thursday and Friday were down to 5
But we married on SATURDAY!
From 120 guests attending a church ceremony followed by a reception at Oxleaze Barn to 5 guests (including us and the vicar) how is anyone supposed to choose between parents? Having had things slowly stripped away we had numerous conversations after Boris’ 5pm briefing – do we just pull the plug?
For us, it became clear it wasn’t about the party anymore or guests lining the pathway from the church launching confetti. It was about us marrying. We had accepted by Wednesday evening that this wasn’t going to be the wedding we had planned. Any there was nobody to blame for this, it’s simply bad luck. So, at this point what felt important was taking control.
One of the biggest parts of getting married for me was having my dad give me away, for Adam’s best man, Will stepped in so he didn’t have to choose between parents. So, that was our 5.
Once you’ve accepted it and taken control you have to enjoy it! There was no point in going ahead if we were going to mope around so in comes Georgie of Georgina Rose Events to help us test lots of apps and services for live streaming the ceremony to our guests. Georgie went of a secret mission to deliver our wedding champagne to as many local people as possible and we wrote to everyone encouraging them to put their gladrags on and celebrate with us – virtually!
I’ve always worried that the professional photography aspect of our wedding would make it feel more staged, but instead – it made our marriage a wedding! Marcus made us feel like every other couple he has photographed, like nothing was different even though our couples photos were in a public park and he wasn’t allowed in the church unless the best man was out of it!
After our photos, Adam had surprised me buy hiring a Tesla to drive off to the countryside in. We had 2 peaceful days at Thyme before lockdown hit. Our wedding evening was spent video calling our family, drinking lots of champagne and refusing to take off our wedding outfits!
Our Wedding Advice to couples
Our advice to couples deciding whether to change their plans now for weddings this year… Have an honest conversation between you and your fiancé, what is important to you?
There are a number of scenarios depending on the type of ceremony and the type of venue that you were planning for. You have to accept that your wedding won’t be the same, you may have to compromise on your wedding date which in turn means your bridesmaids dresses might not be normal for that season – OH WELL! Does this really matter?
At your fingertips there are hundreds of suppliers who are itching to express their creativity and have tricks and tips on how to adapt things affordably. If you are determined to have a summer wedding, this may cost more and that’s where only you know what matters to you as a couple. If It’s worth the money, do it and enjoy it but it’s ok to decide that a cheaper February wedding would still have the same meaning for you.
Take advice from your suppliers and accept that you aren’t going to be able to cast blame on this situation, but you will have one heck of a story at the end of it!
With huge thanks to the suppliers who made us feel like a Bride and Groom:
Flowers: corkyandprince
Photography: Bigeyephoto
Wedding coordination: Georgina.rose.events
Makeup: amyhickeymakeup
Hair: rhysjoneshair
Church: St Mary’s Church Charlton Kings
Couples photo location: Pittville Park, Cheltenham
Have a look at some more beautiful real weddings here:
Exclusive use North Cornwall wedding venue Pengenna Manor, a private 800-year-old manor house set in over 300 stunning acres specialising in rustic barn and marquee weddings, launched a new service at the end of March to try and keep the business rolling during these uncertain times – a virtual video tour of the entire venue. Grace from Bridebook spoke to Richard, the proprietor, about his experience and the successes so far.
Having to cancel several pre-booked viewing appointments once the shutdown was announced on the 23rd March got owner Richard Blewett thinking about how to try and keep new bookings coming in during the crisis. He realised the perfect solution would be to shoot a series of individual tour videos of the whole venue, and although there was nothing new in that idea, he knew what couples always love when visiting the Manor is the personal touch.
“They love being given the personal tour by the owner himself and I have underestimated in the past the power of personality” says Richard, “so I decided that I had to somewhat step out of my comfort zone where I’d rather feature the Manor than myself and step in front of the camera!”
Introducing the video tour himself from in front of the camera, and wrapping it up at the end, lets couples see who is guiding them around, helping them connect to what is being shown and described. You don’t need to spend big to make it great either! “I wasn’t aiming for a super glossy professional look, I wanted it to be as personal as possible so I just filmed and edited each video on my mobile, just as if I was taking someone around with me… it’s just the same as taking couples on a FaceTime or Skype tour but without the signal drop-outs!” said Richard.
Showing your personality through a video tour is crucial. Bridebook’s data from the UK Wedding Report 2020 shows that it is the team at the venue that is the single biggest deciding factor when it comes to booking!
The tour is broken down in to a series of 8 bite size videos, each one showcasing a different area of the venue to allow couples to dip in and out as they wish. Richard leads you around the entire venue step by step, featuring everything the couple would see if they visited in person, sparing no detail, ensuring they have the full experience. The introduction is quick and to the point (about 30 seconds in length) and the longest video is about 20 minutes. He concludes the short series with another 30 second video, where couples are offered the chance for a live video chat with him afterwards to answer any follow up questions. The videos have now been viewed over 270 times and four brand new bookings have been achieved in the last three weeks directly because of them.
Richard says: “Since we finished and launched the tour on the website at the end of March it’s been really popular with new couples looking to view who can’t visit us right now, and also our existing couples can use it to help them plan their wedding, and share it with their family and friends. One of our booked couples got in touch to thank me, saying that their parents who have yet to visit loved it, and their grandma now watches it every day, helping her to get through isolation!”
As the year progresses Richard plans to re-film and issue updates on certain sections as the seasons change and the stunning grounds at Pengenna burst into life. This is a fantastic example of proactive marketing during these unprecedented times, proving exactly how much they pay off, too! For more on this topic, read Hamish Shephard’s advice on why you should be offering virtual tours and how best to do them.
Please find below a resource for all the steps we’re taking to assure that you are supported during this unprecedented time.
Our belief at Bridebook is to approach every situation with C.A.R.E. It’s with this mentality that we are approaching this challenging time in our industry. Bridebook’s number one priority is the health and safety of our employees and our communities, including our couples and our business partners across the UK.
Community: Weddings are made through teamwork. Our resource hub and live community create a friendly, supportive environment that elevates the entire industry.
Ambition: In just 3 years, we’ve become the #1 wedding planning app in the UK, and we’re only getting bigger. We invite businesses to collaborate with us to accomplish their goals.
Respect: We respect the skills and expertise of everyone who works in the wedding industry – young and old, big and small, traditional and modern – and we ask you to share your knowledge with us.
Education: True excellence relies on targeted, meaningful insights. We give businesses the real knowledge they need to meet and impress couples.
Below details the measures that we have put in place so far, along with resources to help you tackle and beat COVID-19.
We understand that each business’s experience is different, therefore if you have any recommendations as to how we can support you better please contact us at business@bridebook.co.uk. The Bridebook Business Team are on hand and ready to support you in any way we can. We promise to listen to every request, learn from your feedback and to continuously look for ways in which we can navigate this challenge together.
How Bridebook is helping
Open letter to the Government
The CEO and founder of Bridebook.co.uk, Hamish Shephard, has sent out an urgent call to support and save our community and industry amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
This is an opportunity for all professionals, businesses and staff within the UK wedding industry as well as couples, families and wedding guests to highlight the insensitive and uncooperative behaviour of wedding insurers amidst the mass wedding cancellations due to COVID-19. Join us in asking for support from the British Government to ensure these insurance providers cover their responsibilities during this crisis.
Bridebook continues to be at the forefront of the industry, building advanced technology to support businesses during these unprecedented times. Since the 16th March 2020, the Bridebook product team have built and released:
COVID-19 Status Updates: Keep your current bookings, suppliers and prospective customers informed of your status during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internal team messaging: VenuePro members are now able to interact with their team with ease and assure efficient enquiry management using instant messaging on Bridebook.
Venue Partners
Prioritised support
To support our existing VenuePro Classic and Expert members we are offering a series of additional benefits that support you and the promotion of your venue. Benefits include:
Social shout outs
Editorial access
1-2-1 consultations
New product releases
And more…
Your Account Manager will be in touch with further information about the above benefits.
Free tool access
To support our community through these extremely tough times, we are offering venues free access to our entry-level VenuePro Lite tier until the 1st of June. Benefits include:
Increase your reach with Search boost
Stand out with an enhanced profile tile
Promote late availability & offers on your listing with Special Offers
Completely free – no payment details required
(N.B. VenuePro Lite members will not appear above VenuePro Classic or Expert members in Search
Venue Community
UK Wedding Venue Community
The next few months are going to be tough for our industry. We must all band together as a community to share our learnings, latest news and guidance, in order to help each other get through the other side. Bridebook have created The UK Wedding Venue Slack group to serve as a space where we can discuss experiences, share latest updates and support each other.
Live video series
Amidst the whirlwind of coronavirus, Bridebook CEO and Founder of Hedsor House will be sharing updates on the ever-changing situation and its effect on our industry. Head here to see the videos covering topics including postponements & cancellations, visual show rounds – how to, and more…
New resources
By gathering insight from our community and industry specialists, Bridebook will be putting together resources that will help us gain a better understanding of the new normal. We’ve created a hub of articles which include guidance on everything from supporting your remote team to effectively managing your business through this time.
Live activities This situation is difficult for all, so let’s have a bit of fun too! Bridebook will be curating a series of fun and energising activities to help you stay sane (and get fit in the process). Activities will include weekly virtual cuppas, yoga & nutrition, dance classes and more… Join the UK Wedding Venue Slack Group for regular updates.
Supporting our employees
Fully remote workforce
Bridebook is now fully remote and employees are required to work from home. We are using virtual communication tools including Zoom, Slack, Google Hangouts & email to keep the team motivated and engaged. To see our tips on remote working best practices head here.
Remote onboarding
With new members joining the Bridebook Team, we have built a virtual onboarding training plan to ensure our new team members are set up and ready for success. We take the onboarding of our employees very seriously so as to sustain our company culture.
The Bridebook team works Monday – Friday, between 9:30-5:30. We are all now working remotely, but are very much reachable and here to support.
Is Bridebook offering any additional support to wedding venues during this time?
Yes! As the article above details, the whole Bridebook team have been working hard to think of ways to further support our venues. From educational articles & videos to temporarily free premium tools to support businesses – we are here to help as much as we can.
I am a VenuePro member, who can I discuss my membership with? For VenuePro members, access your priority support by contacting your dedicated account manager at gabriela@bridebook.co.uk.
What does COVID-19 mean for enquiries?
Coronavirus is taking its toll on weddings, but people are very much still getting engaged! Enquiry volume will likely be more unpredictable over the upcoming weeks, but the new business is still out there. Engagement season only ended recently, and Bridebook are seeing a steady acquisition of new couples every day. Make sure you keep up your marketing!
We all love date night: It’s the getting ready in anticipation, looking up restaurant reviews, arguing over what film to see, and who’s booking the seats.
We know that you might be missing these special nights out, but in the age of social distancing it’s time to get a little bit more creative with your date nights at home.
There really is no better time than the present to shake things up and even save yourselves some serious dollar in the process. Lucky for you, we’ve come up with some quarantine-approved, stay-at-home date nights that you and your partner can try out. You are most welcome.
1. For the Cant-Sit-Still Couple
Have you been talking about taking those salsa lessons or tango classes for ages, but never managed to do it for fear of falling in the middle of a rumba? Well, now’s the perfect time to learn with zero fear of embarrassment. DanceDojo has free salsa lessons with video tutorials on salsa steps, turns, and combinations. This could be the perfect time to perfect that fancy footwork for the first dance at your wedding!
2. For the Aspiring Mixologists
Who said you can’t have an at-home happy hour? There’s no need to go to the shops for this one, why not see who can come up with the best cocktail from items you already have in the fridge. If winging it isn’t your style (or you don’t want to waste any precious liquor), the make me a cocktail website will tell you what classic cocktails you can make with what you already have.
3. For the Comfortable Couple:
No judgment from us if you don’t feel like changing out of your cosiest clothes (who can blame you). But why not make movie night a little more special, and camp out in your living room. Setting up a blanket fort will automatically make you feel like mischievous children, in the best possible way. Just grab some pillows, some extra blankets and you’ve got yourself a cozy hideaway. Bonus points for whoever brings the fairy lights and extra snacks.
4. For the Theatre-lovers:
For those of you missing out on theatre trips, Filmed on stage is bringing the theatre to you. Access hundreds of plays and musicals, from Comedies to Shakespeare, at your fingertips. You can even watch that sold-out National Theatre play you’ve been trying to get tickets to for months. Feel free to crack open an interval ice cream (and it won’t cost you £6!).
5. For the Jetsetters:
We know you might have had trips cancelled, but rather than setting your screensaver to that picturesque beach, why not have an around the world evening-in? Curb your wanderlust by bringing Tokyo to your living room by watching Lost in Translation, ordering sushi and singing out-of-tune karaoke. Or head to the Italian Riviera by watching a classic Italian film (Il Paradiso is our pick), making a delicious bolognese and drinking a bottle (or two) together.
6. For the Cultural Couple:
One of the perks of 2000 museums and galleries being online at Google Arts & Culture is that finally, they’re open 24 hours! So why not find your way to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris (without thousands of people blocking your view), or head to the Guggenheim in New York. Alongside art collections, there are tours of famous sites and landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum and the Bolshoi Theatre. Now is a better time than any to learn your Monet from your Manet and your Dalí from your Degas.
7. For Romantic Reminiscing:
We could all do with a little extra romance right now, so go back to the beginning of your relationship, when the words social distancing had never been uttered. Light some candles, look through your old photos together and go through the New York Times’ 36 questions to make you fall in love. We promise you will laugh, cry and remember things you had completely forgotten about each other. Take this time to slow down and be present with the person you love most.
While couples stuck at home and showrounds are off the cards, it’s essential to focus on what you can do to sell your venue and get future bookings. Sharing reviews from your real weddings is one of the most effective ways to continue generating interest from new prospects and secure future bookings during the pandemic. Bridebook have pulled together some advice to demonstrate why your reviews matter and encourage you to share your hard-earned feedback.
Why your reviews are so important
While anyone can get a good photographer and fill their website with beautiful pictures, it’s what your real couples say about you that will have the biggest impact and make you stand out from the crowd. With couples currently unable to meet you and your team and experience the showround in person, they will be relying much more on trusted reviews to narrow down their search for the perfect venue. Your couple content will therefore be more valuable now than ever in providing a real and authentic insight into your wedding venue.
Be proud of the special days that you and your team have created and be sure to share, share, share! The more widely accessible you can make this content, the more couples will be able to envisage their dream day with you. We’ve written an article giving tips on the best channels to share your content during the pandemic, so have a read for some inspiration and make sure you’re covering all the bases.
For more information on how to make the most of your reviews, Bridebook CEO Hamish Shephard shares his thoughts in this short Bridebook Business Live video:
Next Steps for you and your team
Ask – do you have a process in place for asking your couples for reviews? Why not create an email template ready to send after each wedding – send a link to the Bridebook reviews page where your couples can leave you a review directly:bridebook.co.uk/reviews. Also consider whether you have any reviews on paper that you could manually add to your online collection.
Promote – you worked hard for this feedback so continue to use over again and reach as wide an audience as possible. Share on social media, add to your email signature, create testimonial videos, the opportunities are endless!
Collaborate – connect with the suppliers you know and create a network for yourself. Couples will talk to a lot of other suppliers on their journey, and if they mention you it will give the couples extra confidence. Similarly by reciprocating the favour and recommending suppliers to your couples you will establish trust in your business.
Learn – get feedback not only from those who book you, but follow up with those who don’t – find out why and what you could change.
For more business advice and support do have a look at the information available in our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
The CEO and founder of Bridebook.co.uk sends out an urgent call to support and save our community and industry amidst the coronavirus pandemic
This is an opportunity for professionals, businesses and staff within the UK wedding industry as well as couples, families and wedding guests to highlight the insensitive and uncooperative behaviour of wedding insurers amidst the mass wedding cancellations due to COVID-19. Join us in asking for support from the British Government to ensure these insurance providers cover their responsibilities during this crisis.
The UK Wedding Industry is one that thrives on celebrating one of life’s happiest moments. Working fastidiously behind the scenes to ensure that every couple’s wedding day runs smoothly and exactly as they had hoped, our remarkable community hosts over 20 million wedding guests and 252,000 weddings every year in the UK, worth over £10 billion to Britain’s economy.
The industry is comprised of 139,000 businesses, mostly small, local or family-run, and combined we account for over 500,000 jobs in the UK. We are the caring, entrepreneurial, local small businesses that bring these weddings to life. From cake-makers to caterers, dressmakers to DJs, venues to violinists, florists to photographers, and so many more. We spend our days bringing joy and celebration to the entire population.
How COVID affects our industry:
The COVID-19 crisis and related government regulations have essentially wiped out the peak wedding season for 2020, from April through September, in which 80% of UK weddings take place. As a result, 36% of all 2020 weddings will not take place this year, and 56% (141,000 weddings, representing £5.6 billion) will be significantly impacted. Heartbreakingly, couples throughout the nation are scrambling to cancel and postpone one of the most significant and long-awaited days of their lives, with damaging implications to the livelihood of the many professionals supporting these weddings.
The unsupportive role of wedding insurers:
30% of couples, approximately 76,000 in total, purchase wedding insurance each year to provide reassurance for the unimaginable circumstance that the wedding doesn’t take place. Now that thousands of couples are in this exact predicament the wedding insurance industry is largely avoiding their financial responsibility. Different statements about coverage are being issued by each insurer, causing confusion and ultimately resulting in financial losses for couples, venues and suppliers.
The insurers have instead focused on steering couples to pressure their venue and suppliers to postpone to later dates at no cost, rather than paying out to the couples. Rather than accepting the liability themselves, they are pushing the financial burden back onto the budget-stretched couples and small businesses who are, in-turn, cannibalising their own future business to assuage the situation. At the same time, the insurers of these small businesses have themselves turned their backs due to the crisis. To date, we have only seen uncollaborative behaviour by this goliath insurance industry against our severely impacted community of small businesses.
The impacts of mass cancellations and postponements to the industry:
The wedding industry has effectively been brought to its knees having made huge sacrifices to help couples who haven’t purchased wedding insurance, while being pressured further to also cover those who have. The no-cost “in-kind” postponements that insurers are encouraging, in lieu of paying the couples, are detrimental to the livelihood of many wedding businesses across the country. This proposed ‘solution’ removes valuable future dates from suppliers’ calendars thus only exacerbating the impact of the crisis.
Our industry is also largely unable to secure new business for the foreseeable future due to venues being closed for viewings and registrars not taking any new bookings. This is to the further detriment of the extreme cash flow challenges that many businesses are experiencing within the wedding community.
Whilst many hospitality businesses will be able to spring back to life instantly post-crisis, the wedding industry will take significantly longer to recover due to protracted lead times in arranging a wedding and the legal requirements of giving notice. Already, in the short time that the UK has been dealing with cancellations due to coronavirus, many businesses have been forced to close their doors permanently, and we can expect more to come if our industry is left to absorb the financial losses of the cancellations on its own.
What we ask of the wedding insurers:
We implore wedding insurers to join the rest of the country during these incredibly tough times and act with more responsibility and empathy. We ask the insurance providers to understand that couples and venues are being forced, through no fault or choice of their own, to cancel weddings, and to recognise that their policies have been purchased specifically to address this challenge.
This is the time to step in and be supportive, not to step away. If wedding insurers financially support the third of couples who have wedding insurance, it would not only give the couples the reassurance and peace of mind that they deserve, but it could give the industry the lifeblood and capacity to survive.
What we ask of the British Government:
We ask the British Government to recognise the severity of the situation that the small businesses of the wedding industry are currently facing, and to stand with us. It is reprehensible that, in the face of a global crisis where our community is being forced to shut down business completely and cancel hundreds of thousands of weddings, the wedding insurers are not accepting their share of the financial responsibility. We are therefore asking for your help during this crisis, so that we can be there for our nation when they need us afterwards.
Why the UK needs our wedding community intact, especially following the pandemic:
Each wedding that takes place in the UK is an ecosystem in itself. From guests staying in local B&Bs and buying new outfits, to couples booking honeymoons and families finding gifts, to students waitering and caterers keeping supply-chains humming, to florists blooming, stationers printing, venues bustling and dancefloors jumping. And all in the name of love and celebration.
The world needs love and celebration more now than ever before, and I know our whole industry cannot wait to get everyone back on those dancefloors and smiling again. Weddings are joyous occasions, packed with friends and family, and filled with embraces. And in this awful crisis today it is those happy moments that we miss the most.
We don’t want to lose such treasured local businesses. We want to be here to celebrate with you, together, when all of this is over. As the future of the wedding industry hangs in the balance, our community needs the wedding insurers to understand the role they have to play and to start honouring their policies, helping couples and the industry recover from this disaster.
A vital contributor to both the British economy and the wellbeing of our nation, our industry hopes that you can support us through the challenging weeks ahead.
For your valued time reading this letter, we are truly grateful.
See you all on the dancefloor,
Hamish Shephard
Founder of Bridebook
Partner of family-run wedding venue, Hedsor House
On behalf of the UK Wedding Professional Community
I, the undersigned, support the UK Wedding Professional Community Open Letter.
Follow Bridebook Business on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the developments of this petition.
About Bridebook:
Bridebook supports the UK Wedding Industry with free insights, reports and tools to market their businesses. We are a proud member of this wonderful and cherished community.
Thousands of couples use Bridebook’s top-rated wedding app every day which offers a suite of free planning tools and the most extensive marketplace of local venues and suppliers in the UK. Bridebook was featured as Apple’s #1 Favourite App for 2019.
We encourage you to share these links with colleagues, staff, friends and wedding couples and post on your social media so we can gain more signatures and support. Thank you for helping to support our industry!
With couples now at home and spending more time browsing online, it’s the perfect time to maximise the impact of your content and keep engagement levels with your venue high.
With the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation not only providing enhanced opportunities to connect with your audience, but also demanding a more considered and sensitive approach, the Bridebook team have put together a 3-part series of articles with our top tips on content creation during this time. While part 1 covered what type of content you should be creating, and part 2 gave advice on where you should share it, here in part 3 we look at how to build and implement your overall strategy.
How do I approach and implement my overall content strategy?
Research
There’s no point producing content for the sake of it – you need to be thinking about providing value. Do some keyword research to see what couples are typing into the search engines right now – get a view on their pain points and topics of interest. Keeping an eye on the news and joining discussions in the UK Wedding Venue Slack group will keep you in the loop with industry updates – this awareness is super important to ensuring your content is relevant and engaging.
Think holistically
Take a step back and think about the wider plan for your content. This overall view will ensure you cover all of the most important and relevant topics, that you don’t repeat yourself and that you can prioritise the most important content. Set aside a chunk of time at the start of the week or even month to plan your content, saving yourself time in the long run and making the process feel manageable. Advanced planning will also ensure you’re able to maximise on important milestones, for example you might create a content campaign in preparation for when lockdown is lifted and you’re able to open your doors to couples again.
Be SMART
Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely for each piece of content. This approach will ensure that your time is well spent on valuable content, that the message is clear throughout, that you don’t waste any time on topics that are no longer relevant, and that you maximise the impact on the audience. It also enables you to take learnings from previous content performance and use this to improve your approach going forward.
Consider your audience
Every time you start a new piece of content think ‘who is this for?’ – put yourself in their shoes and adapt your style accordingly. The tone and language throughout should reflect how you would communicate the message in person.
Your audience should also inform which channel you choose to share each piece of content on. Important updates are most likely best shared directly in email, social media might be the best channel for inspiring potential prospects and collaborations could be a great opportunity to share advice and establish yourself as an industry expert.
We hope these tips, along with part 1 & part 2, provide guidance for how to approach your content strategy over the coming weeks. For more business advice we’ve collated all of our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals to help you easily find the support you need. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
With couples now at home and spending more time browsing online, it’s the perfect time to maximise the impact of your content and keep engagement levels with your venue high.
With the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation not only providing enhanced opportunities to connect with your audience, but also demanding a more considered and sensitive approach, the Bridebook team have put together a 3-part series of articles with our top tips on content creation during this time. While part 1 covered what type of content you should be creating, here in part 2 we look at where you should share it. Be sure to read part 3 for how to build and implement your overall strategy.
Where should I be sharing my content during the pandemic?
Blogs
The value of blogging for business growth is well-documented. That value could be even greater now with couples spending more time online, while your industry experience puts you in a great position to create the most relevant, wanted and engaging content. Share your expertise through blog posts to improve SEO and drive organic traffic to your site, while also establishing yourself as an industry leader.
Collaborations/guest posts
A great way to increase your exposure is to work with other brands or businesses and share one another’s content. Reach out to brands that you align with, contact wedding blogs you follow, email your suppliers and find out if there are any opportunities for you to work on content together or share something you have expertise on. This is an easy way to be seen by a whole new audience.
Bridebook are currently collaborating with venues to ensure that the most helpful tips and advice are accessible to all during this difficult time. If you do have any particular experience or expertise that you’d like to share then let us know by contacting grace@bridebook.co.uk – we’d love to work together to make a difference!
Bridebook
With the most relevant and engaged audience for wedding businesses, keeping your Bridebook profile up to date will ensure you maximise interest from your ideal couples. It’s a good idea to regularly maintain all of your online marketing platforms and be sure that they reflect your brand as business as you want them to. Update your profile here.
Social media
Facebook and Instagram have seen a 40% increase in activity since isolation rules were brought in, so make sure you’re seen on these platforms. A great opportunity to get creative and engage informally with your couples, read our article on your social media strategy and social media content for our top tips.
Email
Everyone’s inboxes are overflowing with covid content at the moment, so don’t add to the noise by sending generic news updates. Your email list is your most direct and targeted audience, so nurture these valuable contacts by keeping them in the loop with the most important and relevant information. Valuable email content will ensure you avoid the trash!
Your website
While blog posts, emails and social media are all important ways of increasing your exposure, if you are ultimately driving traffic to your website then your website has to sell your venue! Make sure it reflects you entirely as a brand and gives couples a real feel for what their wedding with you could be like. Show off your reviews, link to your collaborations, highlight your virtual showround – make your website content as engaging and unforgettable as possible. And if you think it needs a complete overhaul, now is the time to do it!
We hope these tips, along with part 1 & part 3, provide guidance for how to approach your content strategy over the coming weeks. For more business advice we’ve collated all of our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals to help you easily find the support you need. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
With couples now at home and spending more time browsing online, it’s the perfect time to maximise the impact of your content and keep engagement levels with your venue high.
With the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation not only providing enhanced opportunities to connect with your audience, but also demanding a more considered and sensitive approach, the Bridebook team have put together a 3-part series of articles with our top tips on content creation during this time. Here in part 1 we cover what type of content you should be creating, while part 2 gives advice on where you should share it, and part 3 how to build and implement your overall strategy.
What content should I be sharing during the pandemic?
Important messages, news & updates
Show care for your couples by keeping them in the loop with your most important news and updates, such as changes to any of your policies that may impact them. While times are still uncertain, be as transparent as possible on your plan of action over this period including any extensions to your closed dates and how you’re handling postponements. Bridebook is supporting this by enabling you to add a Covid Status to your venue profile and quickly communicate your most important updates with couples.
For new couples, important updates might include any special offers that you’ve introduced, such as mid-week discounts, or your plan to conduct video showrounds and online consultations. Do you have any refurbishment plans? This is a great example of positive news that could become an intriguing and engaging series for potential clients to follow.
Help and advice
What everyone wants right now is advice on how to handle the challenges that covid has thrown at us. If you have any tips on how to navigate a specific problem then share it – this type of content will no doubt be well received by suppliers and couples alike. As well as joining discussions in the UK Wedding Venue Slack group, why not also use your blog and social media channels to share your valuable thoughts?
We’ve written a series of articles specifically for couples which you can find in the ‘Couple Management’ section of our covid information and resources for wedding professionals – please do feel free to share any that you think could be helpful. Supporting your couples in these difficult times will build valuable relationships.
Inspiration
Make sure you don’t neglect new prospects by continuing to create inspirational content. As well as sharing your best photos, this is a great chance to have fun and get creative with video content – have a read of our reasons to ‘go live’ in our social media article for some ideas.
There is no better way for couples to get a real insight into how their wedding could be at your venue than through reading your reviews, so be sure to share this content. We’ve written a whole article about the importance of sharing your reviews during this time, including a video from Bridebook CEO Hamish Shephard. Sharing feedback from your real weddings is a highly effective way to sell your venue without a showround.
We hope these tips, along with part 2 & part 3, provide guidance for how to approach your content strategy over the coming weeks. For more business advice we’ve collated all of our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals to help you easily find the support you need. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
With all the chaos you have been facing over the past couple of weeks, we’re sure that updating your website has probably not been at the forefront of your mind. However, it is important to ensure that your website communicates how you are operating during the coronavirus pandemic, and reassures your future business prospects.
To help you get started, we have shared some quick tips on effectively updating your website to support your business during COVID-19.
1. Your home page – can you add a pop-up?
If you are able to add a pop-up to your homepage, this is a really great option. It won’t distract from your beautiful website, but it will quickly assure your visitors that you are handling the situation appropriately.
You’ll need to decide what angle you want to take with your copy. You could create a ‘status update’ to reassure prospective couples, for example: “We are absolutely still taking bookings for late 2020 / 2021, please get in touch and we can arrange a virtual show round / video meeting”.
On the other hand, this would be a great place to communicate with your booked couples, and simply reassure that you are following Government advice. For example: “At [VENUE NAME] we are closely monitoring the situation and are following all Government guidelines. If you have booked a wedding with us, we will get in touch if this is likely to affect you.”
Bridebook has also built a COVID-19 status update tool that you can use on your profile – update your status HERE.
2. Your weddings page – what are you offering?
Revise your copy on your dedicated wedding pages to assure couples that you’re still open for business. Make sure you are offering a variety of options for different couple needs at this time:
Couples who have booked you already: Add a line to reassure your booked couples that you will be here to support them and help to reschedule their events as smoothly as possible.
Couples who are having to find a new venue: Some couples may have sadly lost their venue booking. You could add some empathetic copy, showing you are here to support any couples who are looking for a new venue.
Couples who are looking for a wedding venue: If you have late availability, you could attract some couples looking for a last minute wedding on this page. Do you have an elopement package, for example?
3. Your enquiry / contact page – set expectations and reassure.
Whilst it is still crucial to be replying to new business enquiries as efficiently as possible, there may be an understandable delay at the moment, due to dealing with postponements etc.
We’d recommend adding a short line or two in your ‘contact us’ page, to set expectations on your reply time. Do remember to keep it as friendly and enthusiastic as possible – their wedding enquiry is still very important to you, you are just spinning lots of plates handling COVID 19 repercussions so may not reply as efficiently as usual.
For example, use cheerful phrases such as “Huge congratulations on your engagement, we are so pleased you are considering [VENUE NAME] for your special day” and set expectations with: “Due to recent world events / repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, our team’s response time is slightly delayed. Please allow us 48 hours to get back to you”.
4. FAQs – get ahead of the COVID questions!
Whether you have a pre-existing FAQ page or haven’t yet created one, we strongly recommend creating a ‘COVID-19’ section. This will allow you to get ahead of the questions you’ll be asked frequently by couples, for example: “Are you open?”, “How can I view the venue?”, “Can I still book with you?”.
An effective FAQ section will ideally provide you and your team a little more time to handle the influx of calls and emails coming your way, and allow you to prioritise the urgent postponements.
We know this is the most difficult time in our industry any of us have had to face. If you need any support from Bridebook on website copy advice, please don’t hesitate to message us in the UK Wedding Venues Slack group and we will be happy to help. Have a read through our founder, Hamish Shephard’s advice for handling postponements.
With social media providing a means of escape from reality for many, it’s no surprise that isolation has been linked to increased use of the most popular apps (and a few new ones). Any attention that you can focus on your social media channels now could be hugely beneficial long term. Bridebook have put together a 2-part series of tips to help you and your team best use social media during this time. While part 1 focuses on your overall strategy, here in part 2 we cover the type of content you should be sharing.
1. Get creative
Social media is not the same as your website – content here is much more temporary so it doesn’t have to be perfect! This is a great opportunity to do something different and innovative, stand out and interrupt feeds. Perhaps you could have fun with quizzes or polls, encouraging couples to get their friends involved? Or partner up with another brand or supplier and create a competition/giveaway – “tag your partner for a chance to win…”, “comment and share to enter…”, “caption this…”? Whatever you do, be yourself, don’t overthink and try to have a bit of fun with it!
2. Go Live
Live video enables you to connect with your audience in a much more genuine way and, with everyone in isolation, face-to-face communication is a really engaging means of interacting. Why not try answering couple questions on an Instagram live or offer online check-ins to potential clients? Or how about sharing your latest news, such as a ‘refurbishment underway’? If you’re not keen on recording live, then short videos of pre-recorded content can be easily shared on Instagram or Facebook, and will help couples feel like they’re getting to know you and your team.
3. Inspire
With Engagement Season ending just a few weeks ago, a large percentage of couples will be in the early stages of wedding planning. Share inspiring content to capture your audience’s imagination, post your best photos and react to any couple engagement to nurture new relationships.
As a wedding venue, you will know the difficulties that some couples are currently facing better than anyone, and social media is an easy way to show you care by reaching out and engaging. We’ve written a series of articles for couples which you can find in the Couple Management section here, so please do feel free to share any that you think could be helpful.
As a wedding venue, you will know the difficulties that some couples are currently facing better than anyone, and social media is an easy way to show you care by reaching out and engaging. We’ve written a series of articles for couples which you can find in the Couple Management section here, so please do feel free to share any that you think could be helpful.
With Suppliers
Any tips or advice that you’ve picked up so far could help someone else going through the same. Coming together as a community and supporting one another in these difficult times will build valuable relationships. Use your social media channels to help and educate and you will no doubt see this reciprocated.
If you do have any particular experience or expertise that you’d like to share then let us know by contacting grace@bridebook.co.uk. We are collaborating with venues to ensure these messages reach as wide an audience as possible.
We hope these tips provide guidance for how best to approach your social media content over the coming weeks and beyond. If you haven’t already, be sure to read part 1 of this series for more social media advice.
For more business advice and support do have a look at the information available in our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
With social media providing a means of escape from reality for many, it’s no surprise that isolation has been linked to increased use of the most popular apps (and a few new ones). Any attention that you can focus on your social media channels now could be hugely beneficial long term. Bridebook have put together a 2-part series of tips to help you and your team best use social media during this time. Here in part 1 we focus on your overall strategy, while part 2 explores the type of content you should be sharing.
1. Be Present
While no doubt a stressful and busy time for your business, it’s important to try and maintain your social media presence. Since people have been spending more time at home, Facebook and Instagram have seen a 40% increase in activity. This is a great chance for you to reach a wider audience and engage with your couple community. If you didn’t use social media before then perhaps now is the perfect time to start!
2. Be Positive
Whether reaching out to those who are having to change plans or connecting with newly-engaged couples, the best strategy across your platforms is to be positive. Focusing on what you can do rather than what you can’t, will both calm anxious couples and give potential new prospects confidence in your team.
3. Prioritise
If you’re short on time with a million other things to do, prioritise which social media channels you want to focus on, considering which give you the best engagement and the most enquiries. Don’t be inclined to spread your efforts too thin – while it’s sensible to claim profiles across channels, there’s a great deal more value in one nurtured and engaged audience.
4. Consistency is key
An organic and engaged social media following is not just about what you share but when. Whether you decide to post daily, twice weekly or just once a week, make a schedule and stick to it. If you can set aside a bit of time early in the week to plan your next few posts, it will feel much more manageable and sustainable. There are plenty of tools out there to help too, for example Later lets you schedule up to 30 Instagram posts per month for free. Any upfront effort is worth it, as regular posts will undoubtedly give you the best results.
We hope these tips provide guidance for how best to approach your social media strategy over the coming weeks and beyond. Be sure to read part 2 of this series for advice on social media content.
For more business advice and support do have a look at the information available in our COVID-19 resources for wedding professionals. If you have any questions at all or need any help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. You can alsojoin the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupto chat with others who are in the same boat, and if you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do share – we are in this together!
Curated by Hamish Shephard, Bridebook CEO & owner of Hedsor House, this video series covers some of the most challenging issues that you and your wedding venue might be facing now and over the coming weeks as the Covid-19 situation evolves.
Part 1 – Intro
Hamish introduces his educational video series, giving his thoughts on the situation so far and an overview of the topics that he’ll be covering over the coming weeks.
Part 2 – Postponements & Cancellations
In this video, Hamish sheds some light on how best to approach one of the most challenging situations – postponements and cancellations. Advice includes what you need to take into consideration to make the best decisions, financial implications, when you should consider moving weddings to, insurance policies and communicating with your couples.
In part 3 of this educational video series, Hamish shares his thoughts on virtual tours and why you should consider creating one for your venue. Highlights include Hamish’s own experience at Hedsor House, the best ways to create a virtual tour and his recommended next steps.
In part 4, Hamish dives into how to increase couples’ confidence to make a booking with you during this difficult time. There are 3 key things you need to think about – watch the video to find out what these are.
We have a wealth of additional information to support you in our COVID-19 Resources for Wedding Professionals hub. If you need any further help then please do reach out to anyone in the Bridebook team. We also recommend joining the UK Wedding Venue Slack groupwhere +700 wedding venues are discussing the fast evolving Covid-19 situation and sharing helpful tips and advice. If you have any thoughts or tips yourself then please do join in and share – we are in this together!
When the time comes to sit down and properly start planning your wedding, one of the very first questions you’ll face is ‘what day of the week shall we get married?’ Your first instinct will likely be on a weekend – but, you’ll have to compete with thousands of couples who’ll have exactly the same thought process.
But, is a weekend the best time to have your wedding? What about midweek? And which month, or even season, would make for the best choice?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but there may be a one-day-fits-budget answer that could make your decision a little easier.
In this post, we’re going to dive into the busy world of how to choose which day you should get married. We’ll explore the considerations to keep at the forefront of your mind, the most popular dates and days to have a wedding, and why a midweek wedding might just be the best decision you make.
What are the most popular dates to get married on?
As discovered in our 2023 UK Wedding Report, the top 10 most popular dates to get married are:
19th August
26th August
9th September
16th September
23rd September
12th August
8th July
2nd September
20th May
7th October
As you can see, most of these dates are during the summer months, which is when you might expect the weather to behave itself – although this is in the UK after all, where nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the weather.
However, there is something that each of these dates has in common, which we’ll come on to next.
What’s the most popular day of the week to get married on?
The most popular day of the week to get married is Saturday. Because of this, everything from venues and caterers to photographers and transport generally has higher rates on a Saturday than any other day of the week.
However, for the first time, less than half (48%) of weddings in 2023 took place on a Saturday, according to our 2024 Wedding Report. This is a continuation of the trend in recent years away from Saturday weddings.
Why is Saturday the most popular day of the week to get married on?
The most obvious reason why Saturday is still the most popular day couples choose for their wedding is because it’s when most of your guests will be free from work and school commitments. Around two-thirds of employees don’t work weekends, which means the majority of your guests won’t have to book annual leave to come to your big day. Plus, they’re more likely to let their hair down and enjoy themselves if they don’t have to get up early for work the next day – this goes double for any guests who may have travelled a long way to be there.
The cheapest day to get married on is a Tuesday, with the average Tuesday wedding costing £16,273, compared to the overall average of £20,775. This is also over £6,000 cheaper than the average Saturday wedding, which costs £22,290.
Despite being the cheapest, Tuesday is actually the least popular day to get married, with only 4% of couples tying the knot on the second day of the week.
Just like how Saturdays are the most popular day for a wedding because most of your guests are off work and school, Tuesdays are the least popular in part because the reverse of this is true. Unless they work shifts, your guests are likely to be at work or school on a Tuesday, and because it’s not on either side of the weekend like a Friday or Monday, guests might not be so keen to take a day’s annual leave. Then there’s the additional travel time for guests who don’t live close by, which might mean another day or two of holiday.
In 2023, just 7% of weddings took place during the first three months of the year. As the weather got warmer so did couples’ love for a wedding, with a fifth having their big day in April, May or June. Then another 41% had summer or early autumn weddings in July, August or September, and the final quarter tied the knot in October, November or December.
From this, it’s obvious that couples prefer to get married during the warmer spring, summer and autumn months, with more than two-thirds of all weddings taking place between April and September. Because of this, these months will be among the most expensive within which to get married. That said, autumn weddings are rising in popularity, with October especially now being sought-after (16% of weddings in 2023 took place in October).
What do superstitions say about the best and worst months for a wedding?
If you believe in superstitions, there are some to consider before choosing your date, because some think that certain months are luckier to get married in than others.
When it comes to bad luck, there’s a rhyme that states, ‘Marry in May and you’ll rue the day’ which dates back to Pagan fertility rituals. Among its most famous believers was Queen Victoria, who supposedly banned her children from getting married in May. Clearly, not many modern couples believe this superstition, with May currently being the fourth most popular month for weddings.
If you’re seeking some good luck, here are some of our favourites to bear in mind:
Marry when the year is new and he’ll be loving, kind and true.
Marry in April when you can, and joy for maiden and for man.
Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
What’s the luckiest day of the week for a wedding?
Now that you know some of the superstitions surrounding months, what about the days of the week? Well, there are Gaelic superstitions that state:
Marry on Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
and Saturday no day at all.
You may not be a big believer in superstitions, but even if you’re not, it can’t hurt to err on the side of caution, right? Besides, would a Tuesday wedding in September be so bad? It would certainly be cheaper, if nothing else.
Should you get married on an important date, like Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve?
Christmas Day is the most popular day to get engaged on, followed by Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. But, what if you want to get married on a date like this and have a shared celebration with your friends and family?
The first thing to be aware of is that not all of the guests you invite will want to give up a special date, so don’t be surprised if you get a few Xs on your RSVPs. Travel and accommodation can also be tricky, not to mention expensive during holiday periods.
It can also be extremely expensive for you if you choose to have a Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve wedding. Staff may be paid double or triple rates, and this is already a popular date in the hospitality industry anyway, which means it might be difficult securing your chosen venue.
If you’re keen to have a wedding that falls on a holiday date, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. But, just be prepared to pay a little more for the privilege.
What else should you bear in mind when booking your wedding date?
While it will usually be cheaper to get married between October and March, we get that this might not always be an option. You might be tied to school holidays, weekends or other specific times of the year, which means you have a limited choice for when to book your wedding.
If this is you, then we recommend booking your venue as far in advance as possible to ensure you secure your chosen date. And when we say far in advance, we mean it – popular venues at busy times of the year can book up several years into the future, so get in there as soon as you can and throw down your deposit.
If you’re still not sure about a midweek wedding, here are eight reasons why you should consider getting married on a school night.
1. You can get married sooner
As we already highlighted, Saturday is a popular day to get married. That means the most popular venues are booked up for weekend dates years in advance. It might also mean that you or your guests have already committed to attending someone else’s wedding on almost every Saturday this summer or next summer.
So if you want to get married in your dream venue and you want your best friend to make it, you might be looking at two or three years until the dates (and the stars) align for you to have a weekend wedding at your number one choice of venue.
But, if you book your wedding on a weekday, you’ll have far fewer availability worries to think about. No need for this to turn into a five-year engagement. Being more flexible with your date opens up a much wider variety of options, meaning you’re more likely to get your dream venue and avoid clashes with other weddings.
2. You can secure the best suppliers (and pay less)
Not only do venues get booked up early on weekends, but so do all your other suppliers. You’re much more likely to get your dream team with a weekday wedding. Many suppliers will also lower their prices during the week so you might even be able to push the boat out and get a truly top-notchphotographer, caterer or florist that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. With a weekday wedding, you’re much more likely to get exactly what you want and have a far smaller bill at the end of it.
3. You’ll save yourself from stress
Planning a wedding can sometimes be stressful – especially when things don’t go to plan, such as your favourite photographer or caterer becoming unavailable because another couple snapped them up. Because far fewer couples get married midweek, you’ll have less competition, which means you’ll save yourself from stressful planning-related scheduling conflicts.
4. You can have your loved ones there
Despite all the perks that can come with a weekday wedding, one concern that many couples have is that their loved ones won’t be able to make it. While this is a possibility, we’d always expect those most important to you to do everything they can to be there for your big day. After all, it’s only one day of holiday (or two if they have to travel).
That said, you should think about your guest list when making this decision. If you’re planning a weekday wedding and your parents are teachers, for example, you’ll want to prioritise school holidays to make sure they can make it. But at the end of the day, your nearest and dearest will want to show up for you – and a weekday wedding won’t stop them.
5. You can keep things intimate
If you don’t want a blowout bash, a weekday wedding can be a great opportunity for a more relaxed and intimate affair. Without the fuss that can come with a huge weekend do, you can just have your nearest and dearest around you and get to spend more time talking to the people you care about the most. If you know there are people you’ll have to invite but don’t really want to, a weekday wedding is also a cheeky way to make it less likely they’ll show up.
6. You can save your guests some money
While you might think a weekday wedding would make it harder for guests to attend, it can actually solve a lot of problems for them. By holding your wedding on a weekday, it means better availability for travel and cheaper accommodation for your guests.
7. You can keep the party going
Another benefit of a weekday wedding is you can spread the celebration out and extend the fun, particularly if you host your wedding on a Monday, Friday or around a bank holiday. After all, you only get married once – make the most of it. Organise a cocktail party the night before or a relaxed brunch the morning after.
You could even go old school and decide to jet off on your honeymoon straight after the wedding. Travelling midweek can mean huge savings on flights and accommodation, leaving you with more cash to splash elsewhere.
8. You’ll support local businesses
Because so few wedding vendors provide their services to midweek weddings, they may find themselves with empty calendars between Mondays and Thursdays. By planning something for the start of the week, you’re doing your part to support smaller local businesses.
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
Here at Bridebook, we have everything you need to plan your perfect wedding, whether midweek or not. Sign up today and start planning your big day!
