Author: Wedding Hacks

How to Easily Find Wedding Accommodation for Guests

Wedding Accommodation for Guests

Now that you have booked your own wedding night accommodation, it’s time to help your guests to do the same.

Let’s face it! You’ve got enough on your plate without having to research accommodation for all your guests.

It’s not your responsibility to actually book the accommodation, but it is extremely helpful if you can at least look into the various accommodation options near your venue and send them some details. This hack will help you do this in the most efficient time-saving way possible.

Ask venue

Firstly, does your venue have any accommodation available? If you are getting married in a hotel for example, then it is highly likely that it will. A castle on the other hand may not, or may require that you book the entire place!

Your venue should also have a list of accommodation available nearby which they can send over to you.

My venue has no information on accommodation

Unlucky for you, the hard work is now in your hands. You will need to do some searching to find all available accommodation near your venue and create a spreadsheet to store all the information. Lucky for you, we have created a template especially for this.

Create email list

If you haven’t already, create an email list with all your guests(do this as early as you can as this email list is going to be useful throughout the entire planning process). Send an email to the entire list with the “accommodation information” spreadsheet attached.

If your venue offers accommodation, let your guests know which rooms are still available and that these will be booked out on a first-come-first-serve basis.

If your venue requires that you book the entire place, they may give you a bulk-price for all the rooms. In this case, you will need to work out the estimated pricing for each room and then email this information over to your guests and see who is interested. If there are only a small number of rooms, you may wish to offer them to your immediate family first.

If gathering emails is proving difficult, creating a Facebook messenger group with all your guests can sometimes be an easier option. The beauty of a messenger conversation is that your guests can liaise with one another to arrange joint accommodation and transport etc. Just beware that if you have a lot of guests in the conversation, they may begin to get irritated with 30+ notifications every day and will begin removing themselves from the conversation.

Our wedding planning spreadsheet has a sheet especially for adding accommodation info which you may find useful.

If you found this hack useful, you may also enjoy our hack on arranging guest transport.

Choosing Wedding Night Accommodation

Choosing Wedding Night Accommodation

Your wedding night is the first evening that you are going to be able to “fully” relax in months. No more planning to do. Just time to take in the events that have just occurred and soak up the magnificence that was your wedding day. You want to make sure that you enjoy it and that you’re not in some crummy hotel with terrible customer service. You don’t want anything to put a dampener on your night.

In saying that, your wedding accommodation is going to be one of the shortest hotel stays in your life. Assuming that your wedding finishes at midnight, you will be arriving at your accommodation pretty late, then checking out at lunchtime the next day(unless you have booked more than 1 night) so you may not get that much time to enjoy the hotel room and amenities. Nonetheless, it is worth spending a little more to get a hotel that is slightly more special than you would normally book. This is the last part of your wedding day and a perfect way to put a cherry on the cake.

Here are our key pieces of advice that will help make sure you book your wedding night accommodation properly:

Venue or hotel?

Does your venue have a honeymoon suite? If so, then your wedding night accommodation is sorted. If not, then you will need to find accommodation near the venue. This means arranging additional transport to get you from venue to hotel.

Book early

If you need to book a hotel, do it as early as you can so you can get the best room before it gets snapped up. Make sure to get email confirmation of the booking(you don’t want any nasty surprises on your wedding night).

Tell them you will be arriving late – any snacks available at this time?

Advise the hotel that you are getting married during the day and that this is your wedding night accommodation which means you will be arriving late. Give them an idea of the time you will be arriving and make sure this is ok. Ask if they can provide any snacks at this time as you may be hungry?

What is the check-out time?

Ask what time you need to check out the next day and if you can use amenities after this time.

Getting your luggage there

Somehow you need to get your luggage(either for your honeymoon or just for the night) to the hotel and you won’t be wanting to take it with you on the wedding night! You could take your car the day before and ask the hotel if you could leave it there overnight or alternatively you could ask the hotel if you could leave the luggage with them if they have somewhere to store it? Quick tip – Pack a notebook in your luggage to take some notes of the pleasant things which happened on your wedding day – It will still be fresh in your mind the day after but if you don’t write it down, I guarantee you will forget things in the coming weeks and months.

If you manage to get the above done, you will have successfully booked your wedding night accommodation with no problems. Hack complete.

Now to sort your guest accommodation

4 Steps to Choosing Wedding Rings for You and Your Fiancé

Choosing Wedding Rings

Choosing wedding rings is both one of the easiest and most difficult tasks you will encounter in your wedding planning.

It’s easy because it bears very little relevance to your actual wedding day…..guests probably won’t see it up close, so as long as you have a ring, your guests won’t care what it looks like.

It’s difficult however because it is one of the few wedding planning decisions that you will live with for the rest of your life! That ring is going to be on your finger everyday which makes it a very personal decision. As a physical symbol of your love and marriage, it is unlikely that you will ever buy a piece of jewellery with such significance. No pressure!

We have established that this is a personal decision which makes it very difficult to provide any solid advice on how to choose your rings. So we will just give you 4 simple steps, not to tell you what kind of ring to choose……but to make sure you are happy with your choice. Let’s do it!

1. Matching or not matching?

Do you and your fiancé want to have matching rings? If you are going for plain bands, you may want to go for the same shape so that they match. This is down to your shared preference.

2. Colour

The main 2 options here are yellow metal or silver metal. Try both to see which one suits your skin tone best.

3. Metal

There are many different metal options. Some are heavier and stronger than others. Metals such as platinum(one of the pricier options) are heavy and very hard-wearing which makes it a desirable choice. Cheap alternatives such as Palladium are growing in popularity due their lower price tag but sacrifice weight and strength.

It’s worth noting that if you plan to wear another ring(like your engagement ring) beside your wedding ring every day, they should ideally be the same metal. If they aren’t the same metal, the softer metal will slowly be worn down by the harder ring.

4. Size

Consider the size of your ring. Firstly, make sure you can get it on your finger. Are your hands hot or cold while putting the ring on? If you’re hands are cold, your fingers are slightly slimmer which will make it easier to put on, but once they heat up, your finger will expand and make the ring a tighter fit.

Keep this in mind: On your wedding day, your hands will probably be slightly sweaty due to nerves(making your fingers wider) and thus harder to get the ring on.

The most important thing of all is that you love the ring you pick. You NEED to LOVE it. Don’t settle for “like” with this decision as you need to live with this choice long past your wedding day.

If you are looking for a more unique wedding ring, take a look at some of the rings available on Etsy.

7 Steps To The Perfect Groom’s Outfit

Depending on where you are in the world, what the groom wears at his wedding varies. But in this article, we’re going to take a look at one of the most popular options: the suit.

Now, you might think a suit’s a suit, right? Wrong! Black tie is different to white tie, and then there are lounge suits and morning suits too. And once you’ve worked that out, there’s cuffs, collars and lapels to pin down…

But the suit is just one component of the perfect groom’s ensemble. So let’s talk how to build your perfect outfit.

1. Do Your Research

As always, start off with some research. Head to Pinterest or Instagram to find out what you like – as well as what you don’t! And remember to spend some time looking at shoes, accessories and grooming too.

2. Start With The Suit

Now for the fun part! Pick out a few options for suits and see how you feel in each of them. Do you feel good? Are you comfortable? How will it look with your partner’s choice of outfit? Once you’ve found your perfect match, make it official, whether that’s buying or booking in hire dates.

3. The Perfect Fit

To make sure you have the perfect fit, you may want to have your suit altered (although bear in mind that if you’re renting your suit, you won’t have this option). While your retailer may offer this service, you may also need to find an independent tailor. Either way, make sure to organise tailoring ASAP so that there’s plenty of time to make all the necessary adjustments before your big day.

4. Find Your Dancing Shoes

Now your suit’s sorted, look back at that Pinterest board we made in step one. What sort of shoes do you like? Pick out a few options and try them on with your suit to make sure they work together. Try not to go for style over substance – comfort is key! Remember that you’ll spend most of your wedding day on your feet – and there’ll probably be drinking and dancing too, so make sure you’ve got a good grip on the soles.

5. Add Accessories

Now it’s time for the finishing touches: your cufflinks, pocket square, tie or cravat, a top hat, decorative silk scarf… The options are endless! Our advice is to keep it simple with just two or three key accessories. And don’t forget about your socks!

6. Put It All Together

Okay, you’ve got the suit, sorted the shoes and assembled your accessories… We’re nearly there. Now to put it all together. How does it look? Is there anything you’re not happy with? (Did you remember the socks?) If not, now might be the time to go back to the tailor for further alterations – so make sure you’ve left plenty of time to turn that around.

7. Wear Your Shoes In

Whatever you do, don’t skip this step! Wear your shoes around your house at least three or four times in the weeks leading up to your wedding to break them in before your big day. No one wants to spend the happiest day of their life battling blisters…

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Choosing your Wedding Makeup Artist – 8 Questions to Ask

Booking your wedding makeup artist is a very similar process to choosing your wedding hairstylist. Check out our guide on booking your wedding hairstylist to find out how to determine the style you want to go for, find vendors who cater to that style and finally screen them to find the perfect stylist/makeup artist.

In this guide, we are going to outline the key questions that you should be asking potential makeup artists. This is the only part which differs slightly from booking a hairstylist:

1. Do you specialise in wedding makeup?

Make sure you go for a makeup artist who has worked on weddings before. A fashion makeup artist has different expertise and may not be as familiar with wedding make up.

2. Can you do bridesmaids/mother-of-bride makeup also?

If you have other guests from your wedding party getting ready with you on the morning of your wedding, ask if the makeup artist can do their makeup too?

3. Do you offer wedding hairstyling?

Many makeup artists also do wedding hair. You may not want to use the same person for both however as this can increase the time it takes to get ready. If you have bridesmaids getting ready with you too, 1 person doing both hair and makeup could be a challenge.

4. Do you work on location?

Before booking your wedding makeup artist or hairstylist, you need to decide where you will be getting ready on the morning of your wedding. This could be at home, at a hotel or at the wedding venue. Most makeup artists will be willing to travel to you on your wedding day(although some may not). Having your makeup done in the same place you are getting ready is much easier and less stressful as you don’t need to consider travel arrangements. Check if they charge travel costs as you may not have accounted for them. If you are getting ready at home, ask the makeup artist if they require a certain amount of space for their equipment so you can prepare for this in advance.

5. Do you offer a makeup trial?

This is a deal breaker. You need to get a makeup trial prior to your wedding. The great thing about the trial is that you can feedback areas of the makeup that you don’t like to the makeup artist to allow them to amend this on the wedding day.

6. How would you like me to prepare for the make-up trial?

Ask if they have any specific requirements of you for the makeup trial? They may want you to leave your hair un-styled or ask you to bring some accessories that you will be wearing on the wedding day.

7. What makeup brands do you use?

Do some research on the brands they use and make sure they are not going to irritate your skin on the day of your wedding!

This is especially important if you have sensitive skin. Ask them how they have dealt with previous clients who had sensitive skin.

8. What if you are unwell on the wedding day?

It’s a horrible question but what happens if they can’t make it on the day of your wedding? Check if they have a backup option. You don’t want to end up with no makeup artist on your wedding day.

Choosing Your Wedding Hairstylist – Questions to Ask

Wedding Hairstylist

One of the more personal vendor bookings you are likely to make. Your wedding hairstylist is one of the first people you will see on your wedding day, they will be up-close-and-personal and they are ultimately in charge of making your hair look good. That’s a big responsibility. This hair-do will last forever in photographs so they need to get it right.

We have set out the steps to take to make sure you choose the right person and the questions to ask to ensure you get exactly what you want.

Finding the right style

We’ve said it many times, but there is just no beating our Pinterest wedding planning technique. If you’re not on Pinterest, I suggest you make an account for your wedding as it can really help an immeasurable amount. Set it up now, thank me later. Once you’re in, you know what to do.

  1. Search “[your hair length e.g. short/long][your theme] hairstyles”
  2. Pin like crazy
  3. Refine
  4. You should now have your style

While you’re at it, might as well follow us at the same time(we’re nice, we’ll follow back)

Once you have your style, this should help you filter out hairstylists in the next step.

Finding a good stylist

Time to move onto Google. I don’t need to teach you how to use Google so do some searches for wedding hairstylists in your local area and start browsing the various sites(another good option is looking through wedding directories).

Filter out the “suitable” from the “unsuitable” by the following criteria:

  • Check their gallery. Do you like the hairstyles of their previous clients?
  • Is the price suitable for your budget?

After doing this for 20-30 mins, you should have a decent list to choose from. Time to email!

Send the following email

“Hi there,

I am contacting you to enquire whether you have any availability on the date of [your wedding date] to provide hair styling for my wedding day?

If you are available, I would love to discuss it further.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards”

And wait………………..

…….keeeeep waiting……..

Questions to ask

Leave it a couple of days. Once you have a few replies, you can follow up with some questions. Here are a few we suggest:

  • What would the cost be for [outline the service you require]?
  • Do you offer a trial-run before the wedding? If so, should I bring my veil and accessories?
  • Have you worked with my hair-type before?*There are many hair-types in the world. Make sure the stylist has worked on yours before.
  • Do you work on location?*only ask this if you don’t want to go the salon on the day of your wedding.
  • If you are ill on the day of my wedding, do you have a backup option?

It’s worth noting that some hairstylists also do makeup. It’s up to you if you want 1 person to do both(this can cut costs but can be more time consuming). It’s a good idea to ask your hairstylist if they know a good wedding make-up artist who they have worked with before.

Once you have decided on your Hairstylist, it’s time to get creative with them. Remember that Pinterest board we made???? Send them the link to give them a solid idea of what you are looking for. You could spend a long time trying to describe it over the phone or in an email. A picture is much easier to grasp for any stylist.

You’ve done it! The hard part is over, next you just need to look forward to your hair and makeup trial

If you need more guidance, the Knot have put together a great little guide on how to work with your Hairstylist which is definitely worth a quick read.

Next, you will be choosing your wedding makeup artist

Wedding Dress Shoes – Finding the Perfect Match

Wedding Dress Shoes

Ah the shoes! The delight and disgruntlement of many brides. With thousands of pairs to choose from, it seems almost impossible to find the perfect shoe that:

  • Matches your dress
  • Compliments your height
  • Is comfortable for an entire day
  • Allows a slow dance

Here is our guide to finding the perfect shoes to match your dress, your theme and your personality

1. Comfort is key

First things first. Before you go wild looking at sky-high heels, remember that you will be wearing them for a looooong time on your wedding day. You don’t want to spend your day thinking about your feet as they start to get sore so make sure you pick something that is comfortable enough to wear all day long. Think about it, you pretty much don’t get to sit down until you are having your meal. Comfy is key.

2. Can you walk in them?

High heels coupled with a long dress are not an easy catwalk combination. During your dress fitting, take your (potential) shoes and make sure you can walk easily while you have your dress on.

3. The shoes that give you the “feeling”

As important as comfort and strut logistics are…….the shoes must must MUST give you the “feeling”. You know what I’m talking about….it’s that feeling of elegance, grace and sheer #BrideBoss confidence.

If they don’t give you the “feeling”, just put them in the bin…..go, bin them now. No, don’t even try to sell them or keep them for another occasion. Bin them and keep looking. You deserve the “feeling”.

If you are struggling for inspiration, check out BHLDN who offer some unique styles.

4. Match the theme

Hopefully your dress compliments the theme. Matching your shoes to the dress should therefore, by default, also make them match the theme. You will still need to consider their appropriateness to the events in your wedding day however. Will you be spending a lot of time on grass? Heels could pose a problem here. Think style and surface.

5. What came first? The dress or the shoes?

You need to choose a dress before you can choose the shoes but you need to wear the shoes to the dress fitting in order to get the length of the dress measured(unless you’re wearing flats). So how do you manage this? Use your first visit to dress shops to find a dress you love. Once your settled on the dress, go hard on the shoe hunt. When you find a pair you are happy with, purchase them as soon as you can to make sure you have them for the first dress fitting.

6. Match your whites

White is not white. If both your dress and shoes are white, you will need to try to match the shade as closely as you can. There are many shades of white. They make look dazzlingly white on the shelf, but if your dress is a brilliant white, a slightly off-white pair of shoes will suddenly look dull by comparison.

7. Dancing shoes?

Are these the shoes you’re going to be dancing in? This is worth considering early as a high pair of shoes will suddenly render you un-danceable for anything more than a static-sway on your wedding night. Many brides choose to swap into a pair of flats for dancing which is a good idea if you’re planning on owning the dance floor. Just remember, that’s another pair of shoes you’ve got to find(don’t worry, flats are normally easier).

Finding the perfect match is no easy task but these tips should help you filter out the unsuitable from the show-stoppers. Remember to save yourself some blisters on your wedding day by starting to wear the shoes in a few weeks before the wedding.

For People on the Verge of “Wedding Planning Meltdown”

Wedding Planning Meltdown

I get it. Some people love every part of planning their wedding. But for others, it can be extremely stressful. The pressures of liaising with suppliers, co-ordinating guest accommodation and keeping everybody happy (not mentioning the looming task of paying for everything) can quickly become an overwhelming burden. So what can be done to combat pre-wedding meltdown? Here are our best tips:

1. Start planning early

Ideally, start planning as early as you can to reduce the risk of running out of time and having a mountain of tasks to complete in the last week before the wedding. If you are reading this however, there is a good chance that you have already left your planning to the last minute and you’re now thinking that you may not get everything done in time. If that is you, read on.

2. Stay calm

Ok, it’s easier said than done, I know. But try your best to keep your focus on the importance of the upcoming event(your wedding). Not the importance for your guests, but for you! This is one of the most special days of your life. Treat the planning in the same way. It’s very easy to start thinking of it like any other event planning, but it’s not. Even if everything doesn’t go “exactly” as you planned, it will still be one of the best days of your life. Don’t worry too much about the details if it’s stressing you out.

3. Write a to-do list

Often overlooked, the humble to-do list is a powerhouse stress-buster. Why? Because it gets all that “stuff” out of your head and onto paper. Once you write out your to-do list, you will see 2 immediate benefits. The first is that you can actually see what still needs to be done(rather than trying to mentally visualise it). The second benefit is that now that it’s down on paper, your brain doesn’t have to work as hard to keep it in your mind. There is some sort of mental release(genuinely) which makes you feel more relaxed. You can use that extra brain power to do something else(or just relax). Oh and now that you’ve written it down, there is less chance of forgetting anything(just don’t lose that paper!)

4. Get excited

This is similar to my second point. Try your best to get excited about your wedding day(if you’re not already). It’s easy to become so stressed that all your wedding excitement disappears. Your wedding day is an amazing day. Even if you’re not a “weddingy” person, you will love your wedding day. Too many people regret not having enjoyed the wedding planning period(even if they hated it at the time) because once it’s done….it’s done. There is no more wedding planning, no more late nights and no more countless emails. It sounds strange but you may just find that you actually miss it!

How to Choose Your Wedding Cake

Ever stood in a cafe, looking at all the cakes on offer, struggling to choose? We feel you – but we bet it doesn’t even come close to what you’re feeling right now. After all, this isn’t just any cake – it’s your wedding cake. Whether it’s the role it plays in your photographs, the ritual of cutting the first slice together or just how delicious it tastes… Your cake is a key part of your day. So here’s seven steps to choosing the right one.

1. Decide Your Must-Haves

Start off with a few key questions. Do you or any of your guests have specific dietary requirements to consider? Is there a flavour of cake you absolutely love… or absolutely hate? And how many guests are you expecting to serve?

2. Pick A Style

With the practicalities out the way, it’s onto the fun stuff. What do you want your cake to look like? Make a Pinterest board or an Instagram Collection and start scrolling. Think about your wedding theme and what might fit in well with that. If you’ve picked out specific wedding colours, could you tie these in? There’s a whole world of wedding cakes out there – so get inspired!

3. Find A Cakemaker

By this point, you should know what you’re looking for. Open up your Bridebook app and hop on over to the Supplier Search, where you can select “Cakemakers” from the dropdown menu. Scroll through the fabulous cakemakers in your location and add any which catch your eye to your Favourites. Next, get in touch! If you contact them via Bridebook, we’ll supply them with the key information about your wedding and all you’ll need to add is that list of requirements you made in step one.

4. Narrow It Down

Fantastic – the responses are flooding in! Once you’ve found a cakemaker you love who’s free on your wedding date, it’s time to talk budget. Can they do what you want for the amount you have to spend? If not, do they offer a cheaper option you’d also be interested in? Shop around until you’ve found two or three who are just right.

5. Eat Some Cake!

If you’re happy with the price, now it’s time for the fun part – tasting! Whether you’re going with traditional fruitcake or more contemporary options like vanilla and chocolate, make sure to try a few different options before you make your final decision.

6. Book It In

Even if you confirmed in person, make sure to get everything in writing as well. You’ll want to pin down all the cake details (number of tiers, flavour, etc.) and the cost, as well as practicalities like when the cake will be delivered.

7. Get Prepared

Contact your wedding venue and let them know all the key details too. Check whether someone from the venue will be available to collect the cake when it arrives and that they have somewhere to store it. You’ll also want to chat with your caterers so they know everything they need to be able to serve your cake correctly. They’ll most likely need to know:

  • Where the cake is being stored
  • Where and when you’d like it served
  • How you’d like it served
  • How many portions you’d like to cut
  • Any flavour information (eg. if there are different tiers)

And that’s your perfect wedding cake sorted! So what are you waiting for? Get inspired then head over to Bridebook’s Supplier Search to find the cakemaker of your dreams.

Wedding Catering : How to Book – The Checklist

Wedding Catering

Booking the wedding catering “should” be one of the easier tasks of the wedding. Depending on the venue you have booked, the catering may already be included, in which case you don’t need to worry about it at all. In any case, follow these guidelines and you should be able to hack this task off your to-do list in no time.

Before we dive into the checklist, let’s just go over a few venue-caterer relationship guidelines:

  • Your venue may already have an in-house caterer(this may restrict your culinary choices but eases the stress of having to book one yourself). Check if this is included in the price?
  • Your venue may have a list of preferred caterers. This gives you something to work with. These caterers have usually worked in the venue before which should help things go smoothly.
  • Your venue may have an agreement with a caterer and refuse to use anybody else(not always a bad thing depending on how good the caterer is). In this case the venue will probably organise this for you(make sure to get the caterers’ price list and check for any sneaky add-ons. You don’t want to get caught with a £60 orange juice bill…….I’m speaking from experience!)
  • If your venue is not a purpose built wedding venue, their catering facilities may be limited. What equipment do/don’t they have?

Before you waste any time researching caterers(when they may already be included), first contact your venue and check what their catering arrangements are. This will save any unnecessary hassle.

Ok…..so now we’ve cleared up the venue stuff, let’s get into the checklist.

Researching caterers

  • Look up caterers that are available in the area your venue is situated in(a Google search will suffice, otherwise check a wedding directory)
  • Ask your venue if they have worked with caterers that they would recommend. A recommendation is always better than booking a caterer blindly.

Questions to ask the caterer

  • Let them know your budget and see if they can work with this. Don’t waste any time asking the following questions if it’s a no-go to start with.
  • Ask what type of food they offer? Does it match your wedding theme? e.g. roast chicken with winter vegetables for a barn wedding. We have done a hack which helps you choose your wedding food quickly.
  • Are there any customisation options? Can you make changes or are the menus fixed?
  • Ask what other venues they have catered for? This gives you an idea of their reputation as well as styles and sizes of wedding they have previously provided services for.
  • Ask for a rough cost for the number of guests you are having(emphasis on “rough” as there many factors which can impact the cost). This is handy to add into your wedding planning spreadsheet.
  • How do they handle dietary requirements? E.g. vegetarian alternatives, gluten-free alternatives. If you have any guests that have these requirements, you will need to make sure the caterer provides an option for them….. otherwise they may be left chomping on an entire iceberg lettuce.
  • Do they offer children’s options? What are they?
  • Do they provide “full service”? This is often included in the price. Find out exactly what this covers as it will often include pre-ceremony drinks, canapés, waiting service, bar staff, cleanup etc. How many staff will they provide?
  • Will they provide plates, cutlery, water jugs, chairs etc?
  • Do they provide a fully-stocked bar or do you need to arrange your own alcohol?
  • Will they provide wine during the meal? What is the cost for this?
  • Ask about any add-on fees? Basically, anything not included in the basic price for providing the service. Like orange juice!
  • Are you able to attend a tasting? You would probably want to sample the menu before the wedding so check if this is something they can offer. Many caterers won’t charge for this(or will offer it at a highly reduced rate).
  • Are they licensed to serve alcohol?
  • Are they insured?

Will you require evening food?

Most of your guests should be fairly full by the time the dancing is taking place but you may still want to consider an additional little snack. If you are having a cake, most of your guests will have a piece of this which should keep them going(the caterer should hopefully provide tea and coffee for this). If you have guests who are solely coming in the evening, offering a small snack could be a good idea.

Once you’ve decided on the caterer

  • Check who will be overseeing the event on the day
  • What are the arrangements on the day. Do they need somebody to meet them? What time?(It’s good to find out this info so you can add it to your day-of-timeline and arrange somebody to meet them)

Ok, so I said this “should” be one of the easier tasks of the wedding. I bet you’re thinking that it doesn’t look that easy. Why do I need to ask them so many questions??? Don’t worry. You probably won’t need to do this multiple times…..hopefully just once. Most venues try to make this process as simple as possible for you, which is why they create relationships with caterers and build a “preferred caterers” list. It’s unlikely they would strike up a relationship with a company they don’t trust/like so it’s normally a fairly safe bet to book one of these caterers.

If you feel rude asking a caterer so many questions, just say that you “Googled the questions you need to ask and you’re going to read them off the list”. That normally does the trick.

Follow this checklist and you should end up with spectacular food on your wedding day, beautifully presented with no nasty bills in the weeks following……….even if you have a guest who drinks an entire barrel-full of orange juice………not that i’m holding a grudge……I’m over it………seriously.

How To Choose Your Wedding Dress

Deciding what to wear is hard enough – but deciding what to wear to your wedding? Now that’s a big decision. And while some of you will have been dreaming of your perfect wedding dress for years, we bet there are at least a few of you out there who have literally no idea where to start. So here’s three steps to choosing your dream dress.

1. Think About Your Theme

One thing that will help you with every decision you make throughout your wedding planning is picking a theme. Remember, your theme can be as simple as picking out a few favourite colours to unify your wedding’s aesthetic. But even if you don’t pick a theme, let’s talk vibe. Casual or formal? Indoor or outdoor? Summer or winter? This will help narrow your options when it comes to dresses and then it’s time to head to Pinterest. Just type in your theme or vibe along with the words “wedding dress” and see what comes up.

2. What Makes You Feel Good?

You’ll probably read a ton of articles telling you to pick a dress that suits your body shape – but in our opinion, none of that matters. You’re not an apple or a pear! You’re a person – so what makes you feel good? What do you love? Of course, if there’s something you particularly love about your body, go ahead and highlight it – but don’t feel like you have to wear what someone on the internet says is the most flattering.

3. Do You Love It?

At the end of the day, this is all that really counts. If you’re hosting a casual celebration but you want to wear a ballgown, go for it! And if you try on every dress under the sun but realise, you know what, you’re just not a dress person – well, dare to be different! Why not go for a trouser suit or jumpsuit instead? Don’t worry about what tradition says you should do – find what feels most you.

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How to Throw an Engagement Party – 6 Steps

How to throw an engagement party

Are you planning to throw an engagement party? Some couples opt out and just celebrate quietly with their friends and family, while others go big and celebrate in style. If a party is on the cards for you, we’re going to outline the 6 steps on how to throw an engagement party properly. Most of this will be fairly self-explanatory so we’ll keep it fairly snappy. Planning the engagement party could even be used as a little practice for the wedding day itself(unless somebody else is organising the party).

So, let’s get started

1. Choose who is doing the planning

Decide whether you are going to host the party yourself or if you are going to usher in some help from bridesmaids and your wedding party. If it’s going to be a small party, you could probably do it yourself without adding too much stress(although if you have a particularly keen bridesmaid, feel free to give them the task…..if you think they’re up to it). If it’s going to be a larger party however, try to get some help. Your helpers don’t have to organise the entire party, but they could possibly lend a hand. Try delegating tasks to make things go smoother. E.g. 1 person could confirm attendance, another could book the restaurant and arrange table decoration etc. If you can, try to give people the tasks their good at.

2. Choose the date

The choice of date is completely up to you. Give yourselves enough time to enjoy being engaged without jumping into planning and parties galore. But also don’t wait too long, it is an  “engagement” party after all.

3. Choose the theme

If you’ve been looking at wedding themes, you may feel like you have them coming out your ears. But don’t worry, this one is easy. Just go for the same theme you are planning to have at your wedding. If you don’t have a theme yet, go with something that makes you feel comfortable e.g. if you are a laid-back type of couple, maybe have afternoon tea at home. If you are more outgoing, you may prefer a formal meal at a restaurant

4. Choose the guests

Would you like a large or small party? The choice is yours. The tradition states that if you invite them to your engagement party, you should also invite them to your wedding. But these days, that’s not so important as our network of friends and family are so widely spread it is not always logistically possible.

5. Arrange invites

The invites don’t need to be as formal as your wedding. It could even just be an email or a phonecall(although it’s good to put it in writing). If you are planning something special, then a paper invitation can be a lovely touch although you may think that is too time consuming and you may not want to blow additional wedding budget on it. A good option is an e-vite. Try to send these out at least 1 month in advance.

6. Choose the food

If you’re not using a restaurant for the party, you will probably need to provide food yourself or hire a caterer. The food can be fairly simple. Small nibbles or canapés are perfectly fine. It’s probably a good idea to put this on the invitation though, so your guests don’t come with empty stomachs, expecting a slap-up meal. Say something like “join us for champagne and strawberries” rather than “you will be provided with a small bowl of fruit”

And that’s about it. If you want to add your own decoration, you can, but don’t over think it. Your engagement party is primarily an opportunity to celebrate and relax with loved ones before you dive head-first into wedding planning(you may not get many chances to relax after this). So make the most of it and just enjoy yourself.

You may also like our hack for engagement photoshoot ideas

How To Choose A Wedding Florist

So it’s time to find your wedding florist. Now, we don’t know about you – but outside of wedding planning, we’d say most people’s experience with flowers is limited to buying the odd bouquet from the supermarket or flower shop. So with everything posies to pergolas to consider, how should you choose your wedding florist?

1. Find Out What You Like

It’s the first step to choosing any element of your wedding: create a Pinterest board or a Collection on Instagram and start saving images. Don’t think about it too much – just scroll and save.

2. Take Some Time To Reflect

Okay, so how’s it looking? Are there any common themes you can pick out? You might be gravitating towards pastels and delicate posies. On the other hand, you might realise you love big, bold blooms and extravagant floral installations.

3. Search Suppliers

Now we know what we’re looking for. Head to Bridebook’s Supplier Search, pick “Florists” from the drop-down menu, pop in your wedding location and hit “search”! Here are all the fab florists in your area. Click through to check out any that catch your eye then tap the heart in the corner to save them to your Favourites if you like what you see.

4. Contact Your Favourites

Don’t worry – no spreadsheets or emails necessary! All you need to do is hit the “request a brochure” button on your potential florist’s profile. If you’ve filled out your wedding details, we’ll send all this information straight to them automatically – so there’s no need to waste time writing out your wedding date, location and so on again and again.

5. Wait For Responses

Cross your fingers and wait for them to get back to you! In the meantime, why not start shopping around for other suppliers…

6. Have A Chat

Whatever element of your wedding your choosing, we always say to wait for “the feeling” – and you’ll know when it happens! Take some time to chat with your potential florists, reflect on how they communicate with you and the ideas they’ve come up with. You’ll almost certainly have a standout – and then it’s time to book them in!

And there you have it: six steps to finding your perfect wedding florist. That was easy!

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Wedding Cars – Choosing the Perfect Car

Wedding cars

Choosing your wedding cars may or may not be high on your list of priorities. It’s one of the areas of your wedding planning that could get side-lined due to the relatively minor part it plays in your wedding day. Primarily, the car is a means of transport so you might not be getting too excited about it. But don’t overlook this. Your transport can add a lot of style, luxury or quirk(depending on your choice) that both you and your guests can enjoy.

What kind of car should I go for?

Here are some ideas that other couples go for(listed from most sensible to totally crazy):

  • Executive luxury car – this is the most popular option(Mercedes, Audi etc). Large, comfortable, looks good, easy to get in and out of, unlikely to breakdown(a solid choice)
  • Classic vintage car – A little more adventurous with a vintage style. Depending on your theme, this could be make your day a little more unique
  • Funky transport – VW Campervan, Back of a Vespa – If you’re going hard with a 60s/70s theme, these are for you.
  • Horse-drawn carriage – The princess approach
  • Stretched Hummer – Loud and Brash
  • Helicopter – One of the most expensive options and is dependent on your venue having a Helipad. Unlikely to go unnoticed
  • Atop an Elephant – Very slow. Least safe and least practical. Dependant on your venue being Elephant-friendly(don’t worry….most venues are)

Just to make clear that we are aware that an Elephant is not a type of car

What is more important to you? Comfort or uniqueness? Get the balance right and try to make a choice which suits your theme.

How many cars will you need?

Usually 1-3 cars is all that is needed. You need at least 1 for the bride and groom after the ceremony. In this case, the rest of the bridal party can either use taxis or the guest bus(if you are providing one).

The traditional setup for “who gets in each car” prior to the ceremony would be:

  • Car 1: Groom and best man
  • Car 2: Mother of the Bride and the Bridesmaids
  • Car 3: Bride and her father

This is also the order that the cars should traditionally arrive at the ceremony venue.

Tips for booking:

  • Check how many seats the cars have. This may not be such a problem with a modern executive car but if you opt for a classic sports car, there may only be 2 seats in the back and you may leave yourself a seat or two short. Do a mental head count before booking and clarify this with the transport company.
  • If you are booking 3 cars from the same company, ask if they offer a bulk booking discount? Many companies do.
  • Clarify times for picking up and arriving at venues. Add the times to your wedding day spreadsheet immediately so you don’t forget.

How to Write Save the Date Cards

How to write save-the-date cards

In recent times, there have been less and less people writing their own save-the-date cards. It has largely been replaced by highly gifted Etsy sellers who create beautiful templates which can be customised for your wedding at a very reasonable price. The low cost of customisation has sky-rocketed the popularity of these sellers due to the high-quality results and the time-saving they provide.

But not everybody wants to take this route. Many people prefer to make their own or at least do their own wording. If you are in this category and you want to know how to write save the date cards, this hack is for you.

There are many different approaches to this and there are really no set rules to which you must follow. Ideally, you want to get your save-the-dates sent out soon after you get engaged to allow your guests to pencil the date into their diary. The save-the-date should have less detail than the actual invitation (otherwise there is no point in sending both) and should only contain the essential details as you probably haven’t confirmed many bookings yet. You can say whatever you want! To make sure you’re covering all the important info, we have outlined below the key information which you should make sure you don’t miss.

So, here are the things you MUST include:

  • Bride and groom’s names(yeah…..thanks for stating the obvious!)
  • Wedding date(It’s kinda in the name)

And here are the things you should include:

  • The wedding location(city – not the venue)
  • Wedding website(if you have one)
  • A little bit of text saying “Formal invitation to follow” or similar(just to make clear it’s not the actual invitation)

And here are the things you probably shouldn’t include

  • Venue(you probably haven’t booked one yet)
  • Gift list details(you’re just casually inviting them to the wedding. Don’t start asking for presents yet!)
  • RSVP card(too early for finalising your guest list)

And here are the things you definitely shouldn’t include:

  • A list of your top 10 favourite Robert de Niro movies(but why would you?)

Kidding aside, that’s all you need to know. The save-the-date requires less detail than your actual invitation so can be a little lighter and playful in tone. Have some fun with it and be creative.

Next up, learn how to write wedding invitations

What Is Wedding Insurance? Do I Need It?

What is Wedding Insurance?

Wedding insurance is an area that many brides+grooms-to-be don’t consider. A lot of people aren’t even really sure they know what it is. If you’re one of those people, we’re about to sum it up real quick. In the next 2 minutes, you will know exactly what wedding insurance is, what it covers and whether it is something that you feel is worth investing in.

What it covers – Cancelling the wedding

Wedding insurance covers many aspects of the wedding. The most important thing it covers is the possibility of having to cancel the wedding due to uncontrollable circumstances. This would include injury to bride, groom or important member of the wedding party. Also normally included would be sudden closure of the venue that is out of your control.

In the circumstance that you had to cancel the wedding due to any of these circumstances, most insurers would pay the amount that you have spent on deposits in booking vendors and venues up to an agreed cap. Make sure to check the amount they cap at before taking out the policy.

Oh, and just to be clear….wedding insurance doesn’t cover cold feet.

What else it covers

Apart from having to cancel the wedding, there are other (smaller) things that could potentially go wrong on your wedding day that would be covered by wedding insurance. This would include:

  • Vendors cancelling at last minute. If any of your vendors cancel at the last minute and you need to rebook somebody else(potentially at a much higher price), your insurance will cover any additional costs incurred.
  • Transport company cancelling at last minute. Same as above.
  • Loss or damage to items(e.g. dress, cake, flowers etc). Cost of relevant items would be paid by the insurer.
  • If any gifts are lost or damaged, you will be paid the relevant value of the gift. If any gifts are stolen, the same applies but you will need to report this to the police in order to be eligible for any claim.

What it doesn’t cover

  • Cold feet
  • Cancellation for a minor reason
  • Cancellation due to pre-existing conditions
  • Cancellation due to financial difficulties

How much does it cost?

Wedding insurance starts at about £100 and can go up to around £500 depending on what you want covered. You can find out more about available wedding insurance policies here.

When should I take insurance out?

As soon as possible. The earlier the better as the cost doesn’t change based on when you arrange it.

Arrange your wedding insurance with John Lewis

Choosing Your Wedding Readers – The Guide

Choosing Your Wedding Readers

During your ceremony, it is quite probable that you are having some form of reading(s) from friends and family. This can be a bible reading, a poem, an excerpt from a book…..the list goes on. This would normally be read by a member of your family or one of your friends. But who do you choose as your wedding readers? Here are some top tips:

Wedding party or somebody else?

You may want to choose members of your wedding party e.g. best man and bridesmaid as they are probably the people who are most important to you. On the other hand, you can use this opportunity to include other people in the wedding who may have just missed out on being included in the wedding party. A close family member(such as an uncle) would also be a good choice if you want to involve more people in the wedding without dipping into the top table.

Choose a good speaker

This may be obvious, but are they a good speaker? Do they have a clear(loud) voice? If there are no microphones at the ceremony venue, they may need to project.

Choose somebody with Confidence

Don’t choose somebody who is going to find it very nerve-racking. You don’t want a shakey-voiced reading during your ceremony. Plus, you don’t want the reader to be stressed. Choose somebody who considers it a great privilege to do the reading and will feel comfortable in front of all your guests.

Readings can be emotional

Depending on the emotional depth of your reading choices, it can be a very special part of your ceremony. Make sure you choose the person who you want. If you have a videographer, you will have this record forever, so make sure you are happy with the choice. Also, consider if they are the correct person to present the depth of the words. Will they just read it off the page or will they speak the words with the emotion they carry?

How to Choose Your Wedding Party

We won’t lie to you – choosing your wedding party can be a daunting task. How do you pick the right people – the people you actually want to pick – without offending others who thought they’d make the cut? You don’t want to end up with twenty bridesmaids, half of whom you don’t even know or like… But you also don’t want to insult your guests. We’re in tricky terrain – and navigating it requires the utmost tact and consideration. So let’s make it a little simpler for you. Here’s our guide to how to choose your wedding party – and how to let others down gently.

Put Yourself First!

The first thing to do is remember that your wedding day is about you and your fiancé – not your wedding party! Of course, you should want to keep your guests happy – but ultimately, who’s in your wedding party is up to you. Your wedding day only happens once, so you don’t want to regret having not chosen the people you really wanted. Make sure you and your partner are both happy with your choices as your wedding day is a memory you’ll cherish forever.

So our first piece of advice is to never choose someone for your wedding party purely out of obligation. At the same time, don’t be too harsh. Ruthlessly cutting people out is a sure way to lose friends, so give your decision the care and attention they deserve.

Family or Friends?

The next big decision is choosing between your family and your friends. It’s entirely possible that you’re closer to many of your friends than to your siblings – so you might find yourself wanting to fill your wedding party with friends rather than family. That’s absolutely fine! There’s no “right answer” to this question and the choice is completely up to you.

Our advice would be to do what feels right. It’s totally acceptable to only ask your friends – and many people do! But even if you’re not super close to your family, involving them can make your wedding day even more special. It also prevents you regretting not having asked them later down the line – especially if you’re not asking your sister right now because you had a minor tiff last Tuesday! For many people, their wedding is a celebration of two families coming together and of a new family being formed, so keeping the focus on family may well feel very natural.

Who Has Your Best Interests at Heart?

It’s super important to choose people who will truly be sharing your happiness on your wedding day. They should be happy you’re getting married, with no objections to your choice of fiancé. They also shouldn’t be jealous of you or have any negativity towards your big day in any way.

Now, it’s unfortunate but true that there are some people out there who might have these negative thoughts about your wedding. In some cases, you might still feel it’s important to have them in your wedding party. That’s okay! Just ask them with your best intentions and be led by what feels right to you throughout. Our advice here is just that – advice, not hard-and-fast instructions! When it comes to choosing your wedding party, the most important thing of all is this: follow your heart.

Even if you’re unable to choose the “perfect” wedding party, don’t worry about it too much or let it stress you out. We promise your wedding party isn’t what makes your wedding day the best day of your life – it’s just another ingredient in the recipe! Remember, no one bakes because they love the ingredients… They bake because they love the cake! You’re getting married to the love of your life – that’s what’s really important.

How to Let People Down Gently

Inevitably, there will be some people who expected to be part of your wedding party that won’t make the cut – and that means some potentially awkward conversations. Telling someone they didn’t make it into the final line up is never fun. If you do need to have those conversations, here’s a few tips on how to let them down gently:

  • Remind them that you could only choose a small number of people. That meant making difficult decisions.
  • Have your reasons ready for why you chose somebody else before them. You might have known them longer, gone through something important together, and so on. That said, while this can be appropriate or even necessary, our advice is to avoid giving reasons if at all possible.
  • The easiest way to soften the blow is to invite them to be involved in your wedding in another way. They might not be at the top table with you and your new spouse but you can still make them feel appreciated. Consider seating them at table one or inviting them to your dress fitting with you.
  • Be nice! This a situation that demands care and consideration – and a little kindness goes a long way.

At the end of the day, the number one thing to remember is that your wedding day is about you. At the same time, your wedding party isn’t the be-all and end-all of the day so the people in it don’t necessarily need to be your first choices. It’s about finding a balance between making yourself happy and not offending your friends and family. So the best advice we can give? Go with your heart.

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Wedding Band or DJ? How to choose

Wedding Band or DJ?

Trying to decide whether to book a wedding band or DJ? This hack is for you. We have 3 points for you to consider:

Music catalogue

Are you willing to sacrifice your “perfect playlist” in exchange for the atmosphere that only live music can create?

  • With a DJ, you can usually choose ANY music you want(as long as there is a digital version of the song available somewhere). This allows you to craft your perfect playlist
  • With a band, your choice is more limited. You’re pretty much restricted to the band’s playlist. They may be able to learn a song or 2 especially for your wedding, just don’t expect them to learn an entire playlist

Atmosphere

The key thing to consider when making the decision is the fact that bands and DJ’s create VERY different atmospheres. Live music and recorded music are totally different in the way they make people feel. Both have their place.

A DJ seems to create a more passive atmosphere where your guests can casually flow between dancing and socialising.

A band on the other hand, creates a more engaging atmosphere, the live music adds a sense of urgency which can lead to either more guests dancing or less guests dancing, depending on the willingness of your guests. This part is a judgement call as it is down to your knowledge of your guests and which option you think would be more appealing to them.

If your goal is get as many people dancing as possible, a Scottish ceilidh band is a great way to go. It fills the floor and is a lot of fun.

Which one best fits the theme?

Sometimes, there is an obvious match between your theme and the music. For example, a live band would probably work really great at a festival wedding or barn wedding. If you are having a retro theme on the other hand, a DJ may be the perfect fit.

Tip for band bookers: A band will often take a break during their set. To allow your guests the option to continue dancing, ask the band in advance if you can plug your phone into their sound system. Have your phone ready with a pre-built playlist on Spotify. This way you benefit from both the live band and your perfect playlist.

Once you decide, it’s time to book!

Wedding Videographer Checklist

Wedding Videographer Checklist

Booking a wedding videographer is in many ways similar to the process of booking a photographer. In other ways however, it is very different. You may have not decided yet whether you need(or want) a videographer, but if you do, follow these 3 simple steps in our wedding videographer checklist to follow to ensure you make the right choice.

The first thing to note is that there are far fewer wedding videographers than photographers. So the choice is slimmer.

There are many styles of wedding film going around nowadays. This has shifted in recent years from the more traditional reportage style to short stylish videos built for the Youtube generation. Instagram-like filters, quirky backing music and fast-cuts are all the rage at the moment, spawning a new generation of wedding video. A far-cry from the hour long, ultra-boring wedding videos from back in the day, that hollywood so often jokes about.

1. What style do you want?

As with any vendor booking, choosing your style is a great place to start. This helps you refine your search which saves a lot of time in the long run. If you are set on a particular style, you may not be guaranteed to find a videographer within your local area who meets this style. In general, a videographer will have their own unique style, they wouldn’t offer a range of styles. Many top wedding videographers are often willing to travel a long distance(possibly even worldwide) to work with you if you are looking for their particular style of work, but this doesn’t come cheap. If you hire a videographer from another city, state or country, they will probably ask you to arrange accommodation(or at least pay for it) and you may be eligible to pay the travel costs to. If you love their work however, it may be worth the price.

2. Book the date ASAP!

Top wedding videographers are in high demand. Book them as early as you can! Seriously! I would suggest making them one of your very first bookings as they can easily be booked a year in advance and you can end up going through several videographers until you settle on somebody who wasn’t your first choice. Once you have your list of potential videographers, email them straight away!

3. Speak on the phone

Once you have found somebody you are happy with and they have confirmed they are available(make sure you pay a small deposit to secure the booking), it is a good idea to contact the videographer over the phone for a brief chat. This helps you both establish what you are looking for on the day. Send them links to their other videos that you enjoyed and describe which parts inparticular you liked. If there are any specific moments you want to make sure they capture on the day, this is a good time to let them know, although you will probably have an opportunity to talk this through with them on the day of the wedding too.

Follow these 3 simple steps to help book your wedding videographer in the most efficient way possible. Ok, I admit, wedding planning is not all about efficiency, you wan’t to enjoy it as much as possible, but with the number of vendors that you are probably looking at booking at the current time, I imagine efficiency is a welcome friend.