After the most perfect proposal and receiving the engagement ring of your dreams, finding a wedding band to match will take some time. Consider these tips before you start to shop…
What’s Your Style?
Are you a platinum woman, or will a warm gold suit your skin tone? Have a think about what metals you like and if you’d like something detailed or simple. Consider if you want your band engraved, heavily embellished or finished with glitzy gemstones before you start ring shopping, so you can put more of your efforts into the style you like. And if you’re not at all sure what type of ring you want, start dreaming! Take inspiration from Pinterest and other sharing sites that might give you a few ideas of what ring would suit you.
To Match Or Not To Match?
Do you want your wedding band to match your engagement ring, or just complement it? Would you like you and your husband to- be’s bands to match metals, or take on your own unique styles? Now is the time to answer all of these questions, but don’t be afraid to take a different stride. You and your partner’s rings could entwine two different metals to represent your individual personalities, meaning you could always have them connected to you on your finger. How romantic!
Budget, Budget, Budget!
Just like any other part of your wedding planning, you will need a budget. You might want to research a little into how much your dream ring might cost, before creating an unrealistic budget and being disappointed. Set aside enough of your wedding funds to go towards a ring that you love as you will be wearing it for a long time to come. Take into consideration how much it will be to insure your ring too.
Lifestyle Choices
Ponder your day-to-day lifestyle before committing to a specific ring. Certain metals will be better for different people, so if you’re always on the go and want your ring to feel extra durable, go for platinum and avoid stones that may fall out or get dirty. Or if you’re someone who uses their hands a lot and wants a ‘comfort’ choice, try a flatter band with more rounded edges so your ring slips into your life with ease.
Make Sure It Really Fits
Throughout all the seasons of the year and among having children and many different exercise regimes, your ring will experience it all. But you will need to make sure it’s sized right in the first place so it can be comfortable during all of these situations. Your fingers will expand and slim down depending on the weather and also your weight, so go and try on your ring on different days or in different heats so you can work out what size will be most comfortable for you the majority of the time.
Think Ahead
Most people wear their wedding bands all day, every day for 50+ years. So when choosing your dream ring, you will need to consider if you’ll still like it in years to come. Following the latest jewellery trends can be a great place to start, especially when it comes to finding inspiration. If you do so, however, take into consideration that these styles may become less popular over time. Just make sure you are in love with them regardless. Choose a ring because you have fallen in love with it, not just because your friends love it at the time. Also, don’t forget to get it insured!
Don’t Forget The Upkeep Of Your Ring
After all the time you will spend wearing your ring, don’t expect to have it looking totally sparkling year upon year without any maintenance. Embellishments, gemstones and engraved rings will take more work to make them look new again, so research into what you can do to keep them clean. (And if you’re not sure you can commit, ask your jeweller about what type of wedding bands are low maintenance!)
On your wedding day, you’ll be surrounded by your friends and family. Among them, your bridesmaids will be some of the closest allies and will have a key role to play not just in the wedding itself, but as part of the build-up as well.
But, when it comes to what your bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for, how do you know who picks up the bill? Is it you, your family, or your bridesmaids themselves?
Your bridesmaids will do a lot to support you already, and as tough as it is to talk about costs, it’s a must. Establish from the beginning what they’re responsible for and what you’ll be covering for them. Then hopefully that’ll mean there are no awkward arguments during the lead-up to your wedding.
But, how do you know who pays for what? What are the traditions and the unwritten rules about what you should pay for and what your bridesmaids should pay for themselves? In this post, we’re going to explore exactly that, including who should pay for the bridesmaids’ dresses, who pays for the hen do, and what else you should be aware of as your big day approaches.
One of the most difficult subjects to talk about with your bridesmaids is who pays for their dresses. Traditionally, the bride and her family are the ones who pay for the bridesmaids’ dresses. However, it’s becoming increasingly more common for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses.
It’s also traditional for each of the bridesmaids to wear the same outfit, which will complement the bride’s beautiful dress. But, it’s also becoming more popular for each of the bridesmaids to wear a different dress, but one that usually sticks closely to the theme or colour scheme of the wedding.
Of course, this does depend on the costs involved. If the dress you’re asking your bridesmaids to wear comes with a high price tag, it’d be unfair of you to expect them to pay, so you’d probably want to foot the bill on that occasion.
Whatever you choose to do, or whatever your budget allows you to do, just make sure you’re open and honest with your bridesmaids at all times. If you’re asking them to pay, give them as much notice as possible, so they’ll have a long time to save. Asking bridesmaids at modern weddings to pay for their own dresses is relatively common, but it’s important to give them plenty of time to afford it. Saving for a £200 dress is a much easier task if your wedding is two years away compared to just a couple of months.
While many brides and their families offer to pay for the bridesmaids’ dresses, it’s not as common to offer to pay for their shoes. Shoes may be a part of their outfit, but there’s usually far more flexibility when it comes to footwear than the dress. So, this will often be something the bridesmaids pay for, whether it’s flats, heels or wedges.
Who pays for the bridesmaids’ accessories?
Similar to the shoes, it’s usually the responsibility of the bridesmaids themselves to pay for any accessories they might want to wear, such as any jewellery or bags.
The cost of bridesmaids’ dresses can vary hugely depending on whether you choose to buy dresses from a wedding boutique or a high street retailer. Neither is the right answer – both offer wonderful dresses – it just depends on your style, taste and budget.
Specialist bridal shops that also sell bridesmaid’s dresses, such as The Bride’s Wardrobe and Cherished Wedding Boutique, have ranges that suit a variety of budgets, with prices starting from around £200.
High street retailers such as M&S offer a great selection of affordable bridesmaids’ dresses, with prices ranging between £75 and £250. There’s also the option to rent, although this isn’t quite as popular with dresses as it is with wedding suits.
What if your bridesmaids can’t afford the dress you want them to wear?
If you’ve asked your bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses (which you’re well within your right to do) then you may face an additional challenge: what if your bridesmaids can’t afford it?
If you’re asking your bridesmaids to pay for their own dress, then you possibly already knew about their financial situation. Similarly, you hopefully gave them enough of a heads-up so that they could save money for their dress. Even then, you may face the awkward situation where they’re not able to pay for the dress.
If this happens to you, where possible we’d recommend that this is something you try to find a little more budget for, and offer to pay for your bridesmaid’s dress. It wouldn’t be fair on that particular bridesmaid to expect them to pay, especially if it means them getting into debt. The only other option would be to uninvite them from being a part of the bridal party, which will almost certainly cause tension and could damage your relationship with them forever.
It’s a tough situation, and one that’s hard to offer advice on as every situation is different. Just make sure that you let your bridesmaids know they can speak to you about any concerns they have, because you definitely don’t want anyone to feel stressed or anxious because they’re struggling to find the funds to pay for their dress.
Often, your bridesmaids will cover the costs of arranging your hen party, such as travel, accommodation and activities. But, expect to pay for a few drinks for your hens along the way.
The only exception to this is if you’ve had a heavy hand in the planning process. It would be unfair to expect your hens to pay for a long weekend to Prague – especially if you were the one to suggest it. Travel can be pricey, and not all of your bridesmaids will be in a position to pay for additional costs, especially if they’re not exactly cheap to begin with.
Cheat sheet to what your bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for
If you’re in a rush, check out the below quick reference cheat sheet for everything you need to know about what your bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for:
What you bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for: quick reference cheat sheet
Complete list of what your bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for
Check out our below guide to discover what you might ask your bridesmaids to pay for. Just remember, every wedding is unique – just like your bridesmaids – so these aren’t strict rules that you should stick to.
Your bridesmaids should pay for:
Your bridesmaids should pay for their own shoes and accessories. However, a great gift to thank your bridesmaids for being a part of your big day would be a token piece of jewellery that they can wear on the day.
Your bridesmaids should pay for:
Hen party costs are also up to the bridal party – they can split this between them and still give you the best pre-wedding party of your life. The only caveat to this is if you have ambitious plans, such as a trip to Europe or something else on the pricier side.
Your bridesmaids should pay for:
Travel and accommodation associated with your big day are the duty of your bridesmaids to organise and pay for. However, you could help them out by booking a block of rooms at a discount price, or if your venue is far away, you could arrange for a large group of you to travel together to cut down the cost.
Your bridesmaids should pay for:
If your bridesmaid chooses to give you a wedding gift (and they may not as they’ve already spent a lot of money and effort on your wedding) the cost is up to them. It may only be something small, but it will be a lovely keepsake to mark them accompanying you on your big day.
Your bridesmaids should pay for:
Aside from any welcome drinks and wine/fizz with meals, unless you’re offering an open bar your bridesmaids will expect to pay for their own drinks, particularly as the evening reception begins.
Your bridesmaids shouldn’t pay for:
The bride is expected to pay for any floral accessories and the bouquets being held by the bridesmaids. Don’t forget about any extras, like corsages.
Your bridesmaids shouldn’t pay for:
If you choose to have your bridal party stay with you in your hotel suite on the eve of your wedding, that’s your responsibility and you should cover the cost of this.
Your bridesmaids shouldn’t pay for:
Transportation on your wedding day is also up to the bride and her family to pay for. Your bridesmaids will have enough to think about on the day, so do them a favour and arrange how they’ll get from the altar to the reception. You could save these costs by having the ceremony and reception at the same location.
Your bridesmaids shouldn’t pay for:
This one almost goes without saying, but your bridesmaids shouldn’t have to pay for any food on the big day. This includes any pre-ceremony food as you get ready, such as salmon and scrambled eggs and a cheeky glass of Buck’s fizz.
What about the grey areas?
As we’ve already highlighted, it’s entirely up to you and your budget to decide whether or not you offer to pay for your bridesmaids’ dresses. If you’re expecting your bridesmaids to wear a dress that’s on the pricier side, then this is something you should probably offer to pay for. One of the unofficial rules is that if you’re giving your bridesmaids certain ‘rules’ they have to stick to, then that usually means it’s something you should pick up the bill for.
Hair and makeup is another tricky one. If you’re not that fussed and want to save some pennies, ask them to do their own hair and makeup (they will look stunning anyway). However, if you specifically want a glamorous or particular look for your bridesmaids, you will have to pay for a professional. Your chosen hair and makeup artist can probably offer you a deal if they’re looking after several people in your wedding party. Read our post on the cost of wedding beauty for more information.
Alternatively, if your bridesmaids are being a little diva-ish and want to hire a professional without your requesting it, they’re probably better off picking up the cost – or you could split the bill in goodwill to keep them sweet. Remember, your wedding photos will last a lifetime, so make sure you’re happy with the final looks.
The most important thing you can do is keep money talk open and honest. Talking about money can be difficult at the best of times, but doubly so when you’re asking someone to spend some of their own hard-earned cash. As soon as you know your plans, communicate them to your bridal party so they know exactly what’s expected of them and how much they’re going to have to save.
Evening Standard columnist and wedding planning expert Hamish Shephard has the following advice: “Asking someone else to spend money on your wedding can be a difficult subject to bring up. The best thing you can do is to just be honest. In the UK, the average cost of a wedding is £19,184, which can sharply rise if you have to buy dresses for three or four bridesmaids.
If necessary, be prepared to compromise. You might be spending a lot of money on your wedding, but that doesn’t mean your bridesmaids don’t have financial concerns or commitments of their own. Before you ask them to pay for their own dresses, try to be sympathetic to their financial situation. The more open and transparent you are, and the more time you give your bridesmaids to save, the easier the conversation will be.“
For more expert insights from Hamish Shephard, check out his recent feature on the Financial Times’ Money Clinic podcast, which covers the high cost of being a wedding guest, and how both guests and couples can approach the subject of money And for tips and tricks on saving some cash, read our guide to saving money on bridesmaid dresses.
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
Here at Bridebook, we have all the tools and expertise you need to plan your big day. Want to find the perfect dresses for your big day? Look no further! We’ve got hundreds of boutiques to choose from that can provide both wedding and bridesmaid dresses.
The essence of this morning workout is working on exercises that are fundamental to how we move in everyday life and will help you move more effectively. We will work the whole body as a unit rather than working body segments separately. The end result is a more effective workout with a bigger result for your time and effort.
HOW SHE DOES IT
Perform each move for 60 seconds, rest for 30 seconds between each exercise.
Take two mins rest and repeat the circuit.
GLUTE BRIDGE
Why she does it
This is a fantastic exercise to activate your glutes and improve butt strength as well as teaching you how to extend your hips whilst keeping your core braced.
Strong glutes can help reduce risk of injury by taking the stress off of the lower back and helping with hip function.
The position
Lie on your mat, arms by your sides and legs bent at a 90-degree angle. Your feet are hip width apart and heels rooted to the ground.
How she does it
Engage your abdominals and push down through your heels. Squeeze your glutes to extend the hips so your pelvis comes into one straight line.
Hold at the top for a count of two keeping the glutes engaged before releasing and lowering back to the ground.
Be mindful
Don’t just throw yourself up as this will simply send you into excessive lumbar extension, move through the movement carefully.
SQUAT
Why she does it
The squat is a fundamental exercise that everyone should be doing and is able to do. They challenge strength, mobility, balance, and flexibility in your hips and ankles which all translates into helping your body move more effectively. You will primarily be working your butt, legs and abdominals.
The Position
Stand with feet firmly planted on the floor about shoulder width apart, toes slightly turned out. With your hands clasped in front of your chest, gaze forwards, back straight, chest proud.
How she does it
Ground down through you’re heels as you sit your hips backwards allowing your knees to push outwards in line with your toes as your butt lowers just below parallel.
Be Mindful
Do not let your knees collapse inwards. You can always reduce your range of movement as you work on your technique.
PRESS UP
Why she does it
If you thought the press up was just a chest, shoulder and arms exercise, then think again. Done properly, the butt, abdominals, back and legs play a key part to the press up and developing coordinated strength.
The position
In full plank position, shoulders are in line with wrists and feet together. Firm your thighs, locking out the knees, and drawing your legs together. Squeeze your butt tight and draw your abdominal in creating a strong, solid body.
How she does it
Keeping your body solid from head to toe in the plank position, slowly lower your body all the way to the floor. Once your chest is on the ground you have two options.
Keeping the thighs firm, buttocks tight and abdominals engaged, push down through your feet and hands and return to plank position.
If you can’t push yourself up from the bottom of the pushup, that is okay, just return to the top with your knees on the ground.
Be Mindful
If the lowering phase in full plank is difficult then it’s perfectly ok to perform the movement on your knees, slowly lower and return.
CRAWLS
Why she does it
This exercise integrates your whole body whilst challenges the nervous system to learn new movement patterns and proprioception (awareness of your body in space). From an aesthetic point of view this one really works your core and is great for working the upper body too.
The Position
Come onto all fours with your knees just forwards of your hips. Your knees hover 2 inches max off the floor. Spine is neutral and gaze down.
How she does it
Purposefully crawl your left hand and right foot forwards working in unison (lifting and placing the hand and foot at the same time). As your crawl, keep the movement purposeful and try not to extend the gap between the hands and feet.
Take 4 steps forwards and 4 steps backwards, repeat x 10
Be Mindful
Keep your knees close to the floor throughout the movement.
PLANK TOUCHES
Why she does it
I love this variation on the plank as it’ really focusing on body awareness, engaging the mind and physical body. You will work your core whilst challenging co-ordination and balance.
The Postion
Come into a full plank position on your hands and feet. Your gaze is down and abdominals engaged.
How she does it
Focus on rooting down through the non-moving hand and foot. Engage your abdominals as you move opposite elbow to knee and return under control
Be mindful
As you move, focus on keeping your hips as still as you can and keep the movement precise and controlled.
STEP UP WITH KNEE LIFT
Why she does it
This exercise is excellent for strengthening the glutes and legs whilst boosting your metabolism.
The Position
Stand in front of a step/bench, with the left foot firmly on top. Your spine is straight and hands clasped in front of your chest.
How she does it
Root down through your left heel and focus on “firing” the left glut as you step yourself up to stand tall, bringing the right knee towards the chest.
Return the right leg slowly to the start position, keeping the movement slow and controlled.
Be Mindful
If you’re struggling with balance, then step the right foot onto the bench rather than taking the knee to the chest.
Whether you’ve found your dream florist or you’re still considering options, it’s time to talk wedding flowers. And from buttonholes to bouquets and ceremony flowers to centrepieces, there’s a lot to talk about. So here’s how to get started choosing your wedding flowers.
1. Have A Colour (Or Two!) In Mind
Have you chosen your wedding colours yet? If not, check out this article – then come right back here. You’ll use the colours you pick throughout your wedding decor, tying everything together – and that includes your flowers.
2. Think Seasonally
Daffodils at a winter wedding? Maybe not. But tulips for spring? Perfect! Thinking seasonally is an easy way to choose flowers that will work with your wedding’s aesthetic (and it can save you a few pennies too!).
3. Think Outside The Box
You don’t need to stick with tradition! Roses are great and if that’s what you want, go for it – but there’s a whole world of wedding flowers out there! We love wildflowers, especially for more casual weddings, while sunflowers brighten up any summer ceremony. We’ve even seen a few weddings incorporate vegetables like kale, cabbages and artichokes – and honestly, they’ve looked amazing!
4. Trust Your Florist
At the end of the day, your wedding is about you and you should always trust your gut – but it’s never a bad idea to take a little advice from the professionals! Work with your florist to come up with something you love together, combining your taste and ideas with their creative eye and years of experience.
5. Waste Not, Want Not
If you’re on a tighter budget (and honestly, even if you’re not!), consider how you could reuse flowers from your ceremony at your reception. For example, the same flowers you used to decorate your aisle might be repurposed into table centrepieces later in the day.
6. Consistency Is Key
Once you’ve decided on a theme for your wedding flowers, stick to it. That doesn’t mean that everything has to be identical – but you want some consistency between your bouquet and your buttonholes, for example. If you do want more variation, think about how you could incorporate this into your celebrations – perhaps switching things up after your wedding breakfast to signal a transition from day to night?
Picking your wedding date is one of the first decisions you’ll make as a newly engaged couple. And once this date is set… Well, it’s the ultimate deadline! There’s (usually) no rescheduling – so this is it, and it’s full-on wedding planning mode from here on out.
But with 365 days to choose from, how are you meant to choose? Well, here’s our four-step guide to narrowing things down so you can pick that one perfect date.
1. Think Seasonally
Let’s start nice and broad with four options: spring, summer, autumn or winter. What do you want your wedding to look like? And what kind of vibe are you going for? A formal wedding can be done indoors at any time of year – but if you’re hoping for a garden party, it’s probably best to stick to the summer months. If in doubt, think about what you want your pictures to look like. Are you imagining photographs with a backdrop of autumn leaves or spring tulips? Do you see yourself and your guests wrapped in fur stoles or wearing shorts and summer dresses? This is an easy way to get an idea of what time of year you’re aiming for.
2. Who Has To Be There?
Sure, your wedding is about you and your partner – but it’s also having the most important people in your lives around you as you take this step together. Before you commit to a date, check that your most important guests will be able to make it. You don’t want to send out save the dates, only to find that none of your nearest and dearest can attend. This is especially important if you have guests travelling in from abroad as they’re likely to have more restrictions on when they’ll be able to fly.
3. Weekend or Weekday?
Once you’ve worked out the time of year and blocked off any “no-go” periods, you can start looking at specific dates. Most weddings are still held on Saturdays, giving your guests the day after to relax before work on Monday. That said, Saturday isn’t the only option and it’s increasingly common for couples to choose other days of the week – especially as this often means bagging a bargain. If you have your heart set on a venue that’s just that bit too expensive, consider a weekday wedding – and you could nab your dream venue for a price that won’t give you nightmares!
4. Work Your Priorities
Do you decide your date then pick a venue that’s available then? Or do you find your perfect venue and set a date based on their availability? It’s all about what’s most important to you and your partner. Our advice is to stay as flexible as possible. There’s no point deciding you must get married at 4pm on 8th August if nowhere’s available – but there’s also no point booking your dream venue if no one can come! Sit down with your partner and come up with a list of must-haves to help guide your decision.
Follow these four steps and you’ll have your perfect date picked out in no time! And to make things even easier, try using our Venue Search Tool to find your wedding venue – our wedding venue directory is the biggest (and the best!) in the UK.
With over 40% of engagements happening between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the UK will be seeing Save the Dates and engagement party invitations flying across the country left right and centre. If you’re one of the lucky many to be sending Save the Dates then congratulations! But don’t let preparations daunt you: in perfect addition to our free wedding planning tools, our incredible stationery experts at Paperless Post have all you need for smart and easy wedding announcements – perfect for today’s couples who move faster than the Royal Mail. So what are you waiting for? Start sending those Save the Dates! You won’t believe how good it feels…
Start Spreading the News
Since you got such good tidings over Christmas, now’s the time to share. If you’re feeling especially generous, an engagement party is an ideal way to kick off the many wedding festivities to come. It’s also a great introduction to the convenience, customisability, and ease of our other event invitations. You’ll find options for every style of party—from drinks at home to something more formal—including a few photo invitations with room for spare frames from your engagement shoot.
Make Your First Mark
Your save the dates are the first “official” step in your wedding stationery timeline, so now’s the time to make a stunning first impression. Whether you’re celebrating in a classic mode, trying out something more rustic, or embracing modernity, you’ll be in good hands with options from design stalwarts like Liberty London, contemporary stationers like Rifle Paper Co., or something from our own team of wedding aficionados.
Put It All Together
They’re pretty, of course, but our online save the dates are nothing if not practical. You can track whether your guests have opened them and they’ll collect postal addresses for you, too. (Use that list to order a set of pre-addressed envelopes for your printed invitations, and save yourself the hand-inscribing.) While you shouldn’t start counting heads just yet, this early show of interest will help you start making decisions about your venue, your caterers, and how many paper invitations you’ll need to order.
Date, Set, Match
Even with that bit of pre-planning, we’d still recommend sending out your save the dates approximately 6 months before your wedding day and sending your printed invitations 3 months later. (Eagle-eyed readers will note that that’s 3 months before the big day.) If your venue is farther afield guests will really appreciate the extra time to make transport arrangements, and you’ll be surprised how quickly time flies when you’re planning anyway! We can make the paper stationery simple, of course—many of our save the dates come with matching suites of printed invitations, menus and programs, and couples’ stationery, to carry the theme of your wedding through every event. Whether you opt for flat printing, thermography, letterpress, or engraving, each part of your ceremony is sure to be well-appointed.
Are you in love with Paperless Post’s incredible online and printed invitations as we are? Check out their whole collection of tools and exquisitely designed stationery online today!
Time to plan the most romantic holiday of your life! The Luxury Travel Book share with us their favourite honeymoon destinations. Feast your eyes below!
Remember you can receive 10% off your booking by mentioning Bridebook.
This stunning studio apartment is situated in a quiet side street near the Quai d’Orleans, on the Ile St Louis. With luxurious furnishings, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling French windows, it opens to a balcony which benefits from fabulous views of the Seine, the Left Bank, Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Situated in a great central location in San Marco, just off Campo Santo Stefano, this splendid apartment comes with the advantage of a furnished ‘altana’ roof terrace with spectacular views over the rooftops of Venice. The interiors are of a very high standard and offer the very best of Italian styling, hand-crafted furnishings and luxury fittings.
This ultra-luxurious penthouse spans the top floor of a modern architecturally designed beach house, and situated just across the road from palm-fringed Camps Bay Beach. The property is ideal for romantic couples, with its deck, complete with Jacuzzi and panoramic views of Camps Bay Beach
The village of Oia on Santorini is one of our most romantic honeymoon destinations. Located right on the westernmost point of Santorini, Oia is justifiably famous for its magnificent sunsets and its charming pastel coloured houses, perched on the edge of the cliffs, about 150 metres above sea level. This small Santorini ‘cave’ house has a private cliff-side terrace complete with chromatherapy Jacuzzi tub, set against the backdrop of the Aegean Sea.
Another Oia romantic hideaway, perched on the steep cliffside in a quiet location in Oia town, where the famous caldera views and sunsets can be enjoyed. With typical cave-like whitewashed curves, the property combines the traditional Santorini architecture with the modern comforts, and there is a secluded terrace where guests can relax, looking out over the blue Aegean sea and the volcano.
A stunning apartment in a listed 19th Century building right in the very heart of Seville. Situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir, it a short walk to the main sights, including the Cathedral, the Reales Alcázares (Royal Palace), and the archive of the Indies. There are magnificent views from the apartment’s two terraces.
A charming villa located at Punta Reginella in the heart of Positano. A lively neighbourhood by day, full of small restaurants and boutiques, it is very quiet at night due to its location, 60 steps below the road which passes through Positano. The main beach of Positano and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which are the heart of the village, are a just few minutes away on foot.
The height of luxury in Cape Town, tucked away in Bantry Bay with spectacular ocean views, yet close to all the attractions of Cape Town. With its exquisite sea view location, dramatic architectural proportions and minimalist decor, this villa is attached to one of the most exclusive small hotels in the world, offering complete privacy and discreet personal service, including the services of a private chef. Guests also have full use of the spa relaxation area with sensation shower, sauna, steam room and jet pool.
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…
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.
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.
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.
After weeks of scouring wedding dress shops and hours of fitting room dramas, we know that ‘the dress’ is important. But choosing your wedding jewellery is just as crucial to give you the perfect look as you walk down the aisle. So before you start your search, be sure to consider these steps first, all from our expert insight here at Bridebook.co.uk
Complement Your Dress
First off, the colour of your jewellery needs to stay in theme with your dress. If you’ve gone for an ivory or champagne shade of gown, gold metal will really set off this style and make you glow. If you’ve chosen a bright white gown, platinum or silver jewellery will enhance your look – or try rose gold metal to complement a dress with soft pink or blush tones.
Find a Skin Match
The same goes for jewellery working with your skin colour. If you are dark-skinned or have an olive complexion, try and find a lighter hue of jewellery that will stand out, perhaps a silver metal. On the other hand, a pale colouring can be complemented by tones of warm golds – but remember to adjust this if you’re planning on getting a tan for your big day! Whilst we are on the topic of skin tones have a read of our article: Nu Bride’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Make-Up Artist for Your Skin Tone.
Hair Accessories
Remember what you’re putting in your hair before you choose what jewellery you’re going to wear on your big day. Think about whether you’re going to sport the veil look, a glitzy tiara, or just using a simple accessory to finish off your hair style. When jewellery shopping, take your hair items with you so you can match metals if need be.
Be Comfortable
On your wedding day, you still need to do ‘you’. So if you don’t normally wear extravagant necklaces and heavy earrings, why do it on the best day of your life? You need to feel confident and comfortable in what you’re wearing, so let it emulate your personality and be yourself!
Oh, the dreaded wedding guest list… Between long lost cousins three times removed and that actually kind of annoying friend you haven’t spoken to in months, even thinking about who to invite can be daunting.
Luckily for you, Bridebook has one of the simplest and most advanced Guest List Tools in the world – and it’s free! As soon as you’ve read these top tips, it’s time to get stuck in. Stressful guest list planning will be a thing of the past.
1. Keep an Eye on Your Budget
You might want everyone and their uncle to be invited to the celebration of the century (and we’re sure they’d want to come!), but you’ve got to think about your wedding budget. How many people can you actually afford? Remember, more guests means finding more space, more food, more favours… and more money. Stick to your budget. It’s as simple as this: if you know you can only afford to invite 100 people… Only invite 100 people!
2. Consider Your Wedding Location
When you choose where to get married, give some thought to your guest list. If your venue is located somewhere closer to home, then it’s more likely more people will be able to attend. If you’re thinking about getting married on the other side of the country (or in a different country altogether!), you’ll need to rethink who it’s realistic to expect at your big day. Will guests be able to afford to travel that far? Can they take the time off work? Will elderly family members still be able to make it? If you haven’t chosen your venue yet, this might be a factor in your decision. If you’re already set on a particular place, have a think about who will actually be able to make it before you invite the masses and potentially get let down.
3. Think About Capacity
After your budget, this is the next big one. At the end of the day, how many people will actually fit in your venue is a pretty hard and fast cap on the size of your guest list. If you’re still looking for your venue, you can use the filters on our Venue Search Tool to find venues that can house the capacity you want. When you visit potential venues and look round the space, double check what they say the capacity is – then reduce it. Remember, you won’t just have guests at your wedding. If the venue says you can fit up to 200 people in one space, consider what else you’ll require there. You might want space for a band, dining tables, etc. Take that into account when inviting guests. It’s all about finding a balance between a jam-packed crowd that can barely move and a half-empty venue that feels too big for a small number of guests.
4. Kids or No Kids?
It’s pretty likely that at least one of your friends or relatives will have children, so think carefully about whether you want to invite them or not. It’s absolutely fine if you don’t, but you do need to remember to politely mention it to the parents well in advance. It’s nothing to be nervous about – and they might even welcome the chance to have a proper night out! On the other hand, if you decide to have a child-friendly wedding, it does mean some extra work. Make sure to work out where children will sit (eg. do you want a kids’ table?) and whether there’ll be a separate kids’ menu. It’s always worth thinking about how you can keep them occupied throughout the day too. Keep them entertained and all will be well!
5. Make a Decision on Plus Ones
Oh, plus ones… The cause of endless headaches. After all, it’s obvious that if a close relative is part of the wedding party, their significant other will be welcome at the wedding. But what about that friend with a new partner you haven’t even met yet? When it comes to plus ones, our best advice is to decide your position and stick to it. For example, if a couple has been dating for over a year, the plus one is invited. No ifs, no buts, no exceptions – otherwise, you risk ending up in sticky situations when people realise they’ve been treated differently.
6. Assume Everyone Will Attend
We know, we know – the temptation to over-invite is real. But this isn’t a house party! There’s nothing worse than having too many people on your guest list and having to uninvite someone. By assuming everyone invited will attend, you leave it open for them to decide. You might not expect them to be able to attend (or they might never RSVP!) but they may actually be able to make it. If you’re still worried about numbers, why not create a backup guest list and order a separate set of invitations with a later RSVP date to send out if your numbers unexpectedly drop?
There you have it – our top tips for getting started with your guest list. Remember to head over to our Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels for more tips, tricks and wedding inspiration. But for now, it’s time to sit down with your partner, figure out who to invite and start adding them to your Bridebook…
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.
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!
Getting engaged can be an overwhelming feeling, and rightly so. You’re about to embark on the journey of a lifetime (let alone all the planning!). So to help you stay on track and stress free, Bridebook.co.uk, home of the UK’s #1 Wedding Planning App, is imparting our wedding planning insights to you to help you set off on the right foot.
Announce Your Engagement (of course)
Call your close family and friends, or gather them together to tell them the big news. You may want to host an engagement party, but just remember to tell the most important people first before they hear it from someone else! Have a look at some more creative ideas here: 6 Ways To Announce Your Engagement
Insure Your Engagement Ring
Believe it or not, insuring the ring is rarely thought about after an engagement with all the excitement of the proposal. It will be your most prized possession and is likely to be worth a lot, so take care of it and get it insured! Also remember to get it properly sized – you really don’t want to lose it!
Set a Potential Date
One of the most commonly asked questions people will ask you once you’re engaged is ‘When’s the wedding then?’ Talk to your new fiance about what season you’d like to get married in and work out how long it will take you to plan the wedding to decide what month and year your prospective date will be.
Location, Location, Location
You will need to pick where you’d like your big day to take place. Would you like it near your hometown, or will you choose a destination holiday? It is important to decide this now as lots of things will change depending on where you host your wedding. Luckily for you, Bridebook has the UK’s largest wedding venue and supplier directory so finding your perfect venue has never been easier.
Budget
Decide on a budget early on so you and your husband-to-be can work within it the whole time. Use Bridebook’s free wedding budget calculator to get a personalised break down of how much you should be spending on what, all depending on your overall goal budget. There is room for compromise though, so if you spend less money on one area, you could assign the spare cash to indulge on something else!
Start Daydreaming!
The fun part is dreaming up all the ideas of your perfect day. Have some fun with it, collect all your ideas so you can remember them, and you could even create a wedding blog to share your visions with others!
Book Your Priorities
The wedding venue is likely to be the first thing you book, but don’t forget about that band that you fell in love with and have to have play on your special day. Lots of wedding vendors are booked up well in advance, sometimes a couple of years ahead, so if there’s one or two things you know you can’t be without on the day, book them now! And no matter what you’re looking for, don’t forget to check out Bridebook’s easily searchable wedding supplier directory.
Keep Your Wedding Planning Simple
To reduce the stress of planning your day, try to be organised and enlist the help of your friends and family if need be. The easiest way of preparing is to use Bridebook.co.uk, our free wedding planning site that allows you to keep everything (vendors, budget, guestlist) in one place and personal to you. You can then focus on enjoying your engagement and dreaming up your special day!
We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce the Winners and Highly Commended suppliers of the Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2017!
With so many incredible and talented suppliers across our Bridebook family, picking the final winners was difficult to say the least. So we’d like to extend our sincerest warm wishes and thanks for all of those who participated – the wedding industry wouldn’t be where it is today without you!
Now, without further ado – the 2017 winners! Huge congratulations to all! (And if you’re an engaged couple, there’s no better place to start your wedding supplier search than with this fabulous list of award winners!)
Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended! If you’re an engaged couple, there truly is no better place to start than with this fabulous list of Bridebook suppliers. Be sure to check out their profiles to book these award winners for your own wedding!
Find your zen and take a few moments at the end of your day to leave your busy mind behind. Sit comfortably with a straight spine and your eyes closed to allow your body to relax. Practise breathing in for 5 and out for 5 while you imagine a calming scene, perhaps a beach or a sunny field. You’ll be amazed how deep breathing and visualisation can work wonders for your mind and body.
Switch Off Your Tech
By turning off your phone or laptop a good amount of time before bed, you’re letting your brain switch off too. Your device’s screen produces a certain type of blue light that keeps you awake and throws your body clock out of sync. Unplug extra early to get a good night’s sleep (or if you just can’t keep away, you can download an app that filters the blue light from your screen!)
Speaking Of Body Clock…
…you will find it helpful to balance your circadian rhythms. To do this, get yourself into a routine by waking up and going to bed at the same time every day – without fail! You will soon build up enough momentum to settle into your own internal timezone without feeling overly tired.
Cut The Caffeine
Avoid drinking coffee, strong teas and other products containing caffeine. It is a stimulant and will do you no favours when trying to get to sleep, so switch to decaf from mid-afternoon onwards. Also, remember be sensible with the amount of alcoholic drinks you consume too – if anything will make you feel lousy throughout the night and into the morning, it will be that!
Write Down Your Troubles
If you’ve got hundreds of to-do’s racing around your head, note them down before bed. You’ll be surprised how effective this can be – by transferring your worries onto paper, you’ll still remember them tomorrow but will allow you to regain some peace in your head once again.
Get Physical
Exercising in the evening is a very effective way of getting your body ready for rest. Try doing some stretching or light yoga poses before you go to bed, perhaps with some soothing music to calm your state of mind. You’ll be snoozing before you know it! (Plus, you could get your partner involved – the rest is up to you!)
As the whole world eagerly awaits the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Bridebook.co.uk, the number one wedding planning app in the UK, has compiled the Royal Wedding by numbers. With millennials already reinventing the way they plan their wedding, millennial royal couple Meghan and Harry will be throwing a celebration unlike any other.
The party of over 4,000 guests will be treated to 28,000 canapés and billions of champagne bubbles, but they won’t be the only ones celebrating the wedding. Thousands of tourists will be travelling to London to see the newlyweds, and thousands more will be partying in their honour. The celebration of the century will require millions of flower petals, miles and miles of bunting, and enough cucumber sandwiches to feed the entire British population.
With 3 billion global viewers and an expected £280 million boost to the British economy, this is the Royal Wedding by the numbers!
16,000 glasses of champagne
With 4,040 guests, each expected to have at least 4 glasses of champagne throughout the day and evening, that will be at least 16,000 glasses filled with 250 billion bubbles!
8 million flower petals to make 1 million handfuls of confetti
There will be 1 million handfuls of confetti in Windsor on the big day, eagerly awaiting to throw 8 million flower petals in the air to celebrate the newlyweds.
3 million kettles boiling after the service
The National Grid will see a staggeringly high demand for power following the wedding service, as the Brits go straight for the kettle for a relaxing cup of tea. 3 million kettles are expected to be boiled to celebrate the newlywed couple!
Meghan is getting 42% more search traffic than Brexit
Meghan Markle is currently getting 12 times more search traffic than British Prime Minister Theresa May, and on peak days has received 42% more searches than “Brexit”… and 32% more than “Jesus”.
£90,000 for trumpets
20 silver-plated fanfare trumpets stamped with the Royal Coat of Arms have already been requested, and they each come between £3,000 and £6,000 a piece/toot! That will be £90,000 for trumpets!
500,000 people at Windsor
500,000 people are expected to visit Windsor for the Royal Wedding. They will get to witness the most Disney moment of the day: the Royal Carriage procession!
£26,000 for sausage rolls
With 2,600 members of the public attending the wedding, we are hoping they each get a cup of tea and a sausage roll while they cheer on the happy couple.
200,000 flowers and 60 florists
With a budget of £110,000 on flowers, from larger stems to buttonholes and delicate bouquets, more than 200,000 flowers will be styled by around 60 florists across all three venues for the big day.
A banquet hall 10 times the size of the average British home
At 5381 square feet, the size of St George’s Hall will ensure no guests are stepping on each other’s toes during the reception. The hall is 10 times the size of the average British home!
28,000 canapés
28,000 canapés will be needed to keep the Royal Wedding guests happy throughout the day and evening events.
£35,000 for luxury toilets
If this wedding lives up to Pippa Middleton’s, there will be luxury mobile toilets for the guests at the 3 different events. With a guest list this big, it comes down to at least 40 super luxury mobile units with a likely price tag of £35,000.
1,000 waiters and staff for the day
Alongside the 500 people team who work at Windsor Castle on a daily basis, another additional 500 are likely to be on duty on the day. From waiters to chefs to porters to florists, a Royal army will be ensuring the day runs like clockwork. Plus the 5,000 police which will be on duty.
28,000 wedding photos
Although most won’t be revealed, Meghan and Harry’s wedding photographer, and the team to support him will make their flashes go off at least 28,000 times throughout the day and evening!
16,000 engaged couples signing up to British wedding planning app Bridebook
Since US media claimed Harry and Meghan have been using UK wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk under a secret account, more than 16,000 couples have signed up to plan their wedding on the app!
3 Royal stag do’s
Harry has been rumoured to have enjoyed 3 stag do’s (bachelor parties) with different groups of friends. Including a skiing trip, a classic Scotland stag-do with his closest mates, and to celebrity hotspot Hedsor House, near Windsor.
52,750 British pubs with extended opening hours
Pubs all over the UK will extend their curfew to 1 AM for the Royal Wedding celebrations! That’s two more hours of toasting to Harry and Meghan, and an extra 10.5 million each drink served!
8,000 street parties in the UK
After 5,500 street parties were thrown for William and Kate on a Thursday in April, there are expected to be a lot more for Harry and Meghan. Councils will be busy managing the requests to allow over 8,000 street parties all over the UK.
London is where the most street parties will be planned
London is the council with the most street party requests, with over 900 submissions.
More than 100 million drinks in celebration in the UK
With at least 24 million people expected to watch the Royal Wedding in the UK, plus the FA Cup Final and extended pub opening hours, the whole of the UK is going to be toasting Harry and Meghan!
1.4 million cucumber sandwiches (and other fillings) at UK street parties
Start cutting off those crusts, as the UK public will likely munch through over 1.4 million sandwiches at their street parties alone! M&S are already stocking up.
330 miles of bunting
With 8,000 street parties along with endless garden parties, there will be a British bunting bonanza, stretching 330 miles of bunting across the UK. (In 2011, Tesco alone sold 120 miles of bunting for William and Kate’s wedding).
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons
More than 200,000 bin bags of rubbish, weighing 2,500 tons, are expected as a result of royal wedding street parties and family get-togethers which will happen all over the UK.
8,500 journalists
8,500 journalists were in London alone to cover William and Kate’s big day, and the same number will be back to cover the momentous occasion of Harry and Meghan.
5,000 police on duty
From grenadier guards to armed police to snipers and undercover officers, 5,000 officers are expected to be on duty on the day to keep everyone safe.
£100,000 to rent a view
American tourists are hiring out homes that overlook the Royal Wedding route for six-figure values so that they can get the perfect view.
£268 million boost to the British economy
After 350,000 tourists came to the UK for William and Kate’s wedding, we are now expecting 450,000 flying over to see the beloved Meghan get married to Prince Harry. The average national spend of a tourist in the UK is £596 per visit, that is a tidy quarter of a billion boost to the British economy.
From lifestyle blogs about Meghan’s wedding dress to online betting sites predicting the odds of rain on May 19th – there are already over 3.3 million pages online about the Royal Wedding!
The hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times
Since their engagement was announced, the hashtag #RoyalWedding has been used 730,000 times on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Twitter takes the cake with the most discussions, with an average of 1,200 tweets using the hashtag every day.
460 Royal Wedding dedicated Instagram hashtags
Instagram has over 460 Royal Wedding hashtags. However, not everyone has the #RoyalWeddingFever, with some couples tagging their photos as #HarryandMeghanStoleMyDate.
3 billion global viewers
After more than 2 billion people watched William and Kate’s wedding, and the global rise of the smartphone and social media since then, more than 3 billion people are expected to watch this Royal Wedding, which is expected to be the most viewed event in history.
1.5 billion tissues to mop up global teary eyes
With a total audience of 3 billion viewers, and half expected to shed a tear, that is a distance of tissue almost enough to get you to the moon! 300,000 kilometres of tissue to be precise, or a mere 7.5 times around the Earth.
Half a million bets on the wedding
The Royal Wedding is going to be one of the most significant non-sporting events of 2018 for betting sites. With over half a million bets expected on the Royal Wedding.
17 leading dress designers
More than 17 dress designers are in the running for designing Meghan’s dress, with leading odds on Ralph and Russo, Erdem, and British bridal-designer Philippa Lepley!
More than 5,000 baby Meghans to be born next year
If the name Meghan is as predicted expected to become the top baby name of 2018, we can expect more than five thousand baby Meghan’s to be born in the next year in the UK, knocking “Olivia” off the top spot.
£1 million in donations
Continuing the tradition started by Kate and William, Meghan and Harry have asked guests to donate to their chosen charities. If they are as successful at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the newlyweds should get at least £1 million in donations.
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We calculated the above numbers following an analysis of over 170,000 weddings via Bridebook.co.uk‘s wedding planning tools and budget calculator, and a review of more than 70,000 wedding industry suppliers listed on Bridebook.co.uk’s wedding venue and supplier directory. Over 100,000 UK couples are using Bridebook.co.uk to plan their wedding, and therefore we have an unparalleled understanding of the wedding planning process, as well as relationships with brides and grooms and wedding industry suppliers across the country.
For further information, please contact Harriet Hunt Communications: harriet@harriethunt.com T: 0208 871 2246 M: 07886 96908
Hamish Shephard, the founder of Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, says:
“Meghan’s dress will undoubtedly be the most well-kept secret leading up the Royal Wedding. Once Meghan’s dress is revealed it will inspire brides for generations to come!”
“People from the UK and all over the world are eager to witness what will be the most iconic Royal Wedding of the century. Half a million members of the public will be in the streets of Windsor to celebrate and greet the newlyweds.”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding is expected to be the largest social media event of all time. With “Meghan Markle” already getting more search traffic in the UK than “Brexit”, global interest is going to be stratospheric.”
“It’s no secret that British people love to party, and this is the Royal Wedding is the perfect occasion to bring out the barbeques and throw roaring neighbourhood parties!”
“With 8,000 street parties planned all over the UK, the amount of bunting alone will be enough to cover 330 miles!”
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding will be more spectacular and iconic than any Royal Wedding we have ever seen. The millennial couple are already defying and giving way to new Royal Family traditions!”
Notes To Editor:
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s no. 1 wedding planning app, currently being used by 1 in 3 UK couples to help plan their wedding.
Launched in 2016, Bridebook.co.uk‘s leading wedding planning toolkit, with fully personalised Wedding Checklist, Wedding Budgeter and Wedding Guestlist Manager, gives engaged couples the power to plan their entire wedding from any device, anywhere, anytime, all in one place, for free. With over 70,000 wedding venues and suppliers in its directory, Bridebook.co.uk stretches the digital presence of wedding industry professionals and connects them directly with engaged couples. Bridebook.co.uk has also partnered with leading industry experts such as Bobbi Brown, Marry Berry and Jimmy Choo, to provide reliable expert advice and inspiration to couples.
Bridebook.co.uk was founded by Hamish Shephard, an industry professional and recently married groom who used Bridebook.co.uk to plan his own wedding back in 2016. Visit Bridebook.co.uk online and the Bridebook.co.uk App on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s number one free wedding planning app, with over 16,000 registered wedding businesses and more than 100K couples planning their wedding with us.
Are you are an engaged couple looking for your wedding team?
Here at Bridebook we were lucky enough to meet with travel experts, ‘The Luxury Travel Book‘, who gave us an insight in to their top 10 favourite places in the world to get hitched.
Exclusive Bridebook Offer: The Luxury Travel Book are offering a special 10% discount for Bridebook users. Mention Bridebook to claim.
Hidden away in a stunning scenic position on the Caldera at Megalochori, this wonderful villa combines spectacular views with a very special ambience and high level of service. There is an outdoor dining area with barbecue facilities for sumptuous barbecues, prepared by the estate’s executive chef, making this a perfect venue for a wedding venue.
Situated in the south of Mykonos, with sea views stretching to the islands of Paros and Naxos, and between the beaches of Paradise and Paraga, this luxury property to rent comprises two superb attached villas and two swimming pools. The vast outdoor spaces, and the close proximity of a church, also make this property very suitable for weddings.
This stunning luxury villa is a gorgeous historic residence built in 1741, and overlooks the beautiful Positano Bay. Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, is one of Italy’s most romantic destinations. The picturesque town is built vertically on the face of a cliff, making for stunning views of the sea. The town is filled with romantic restaurants offering fantastic seafood and sea views.
The impressive Villa Borgo Bernardini, dates back to before the 1700s, and was originally the hunting lodge retreat of Count Cosimo Bernardini of Lucca. It is situated on a family run estate, ten kilometres south of Lucca, with magnificent views over hill terraced olive groves. Within the Italian gardens (2000m2) with gazebo, there is a large salt water swimming pool (16 x 8m) which is floodlit at night. Indoors, there is a Banquet hall, card and billiard room, and wine tasting room with a private selection of Tuscan wines.
This absolutely stunning villa, sits within its own parkland on the western shore of Lake Como in Italy, directly across from the famous town of Bellagio. One of the legendary properties on Lake Como, it offers excellence at all levels. The infinity overflow pool overlooks the lake and there is a spa and a gym in separate buildings. The spectacular lakeside terrace is perfect for parties.
This exceptional beachside villa, is situated on the Bassin d’Arcachon, just 45 minutes from Bordeaux. Its prestigious location, luxurious accommodation and level of service, together with its beautiful surroundings including expansive gardens and a lap pool, make it ideal for a wedding or other special event.
This new luxury villa, offers not only a stunning location and exceptional accommodation, but also the bespoke services of a 5* hotel! It is situated on a 250-acre estate in the countryside just outside Sant Climent, with breath-taking 180° sea views. Outdoor amenities include a 26-metre outdoor heated pool set in the exquisitely landscaped gardens, as well as a beautiful event space, catering for up to 200 guests.
Puglia is famous for its olive groves, castles and Romanesque cathedrals, Alberobello’s trulli, Lecce’s Baroque churches, Castel del Monte’s eight superb towers and miles of coastline and beaches. In the midst of all this is Masseria Pettolecchia, the jewel of the region’s fortified masserias. With its large outdoor spaces, large pool and high level of service, it is eminently suitable for weddings and other events.
This exceptional villa, over 300 years old, is located in the best area of Ibiza, in the countryside of Cala Jondal. It is just 5 minutes drive from both the famous Blue Marlin Beach and the village of San Josep. Within the beautiful grounds, there is a swimming pool with large furnished terrace, a tennis court, a well equipped gym, sauna and hydromassage Jacuzzi, a massage and yoga space.
Situated near the three main golf courses in the Marrakech area, and just a few minutes away from the city, this wonderful l villa sits in the middle of a splendid Andalusian garden with heated swimming pool. There are wonderful views to the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas Mountains. The property is also highly recommended for special events for 100 – 200 people in total.
Have you fallen in love with the idea of a destination wedding? We don’t blame you! Mention ‘Bridebook’ to receive 10% off when booking through The Luxury Travel Book.
When you picture an “intimate wedding”, you might think of celebrations with under thirty guests or so. And, of course, the shorter the guest list, the easier it is for a wedding to feel intimate – but that doesn’t mean big weddings can’t too! With a bit of forward planning, any wedding can. Read on to find out our top tips for making a big wedding feel intimate and personal.
1. Host A Pre-Wedding Dinner
If you’ve got a long guest list, it’s likely that there are discrete groups within it. So why not host a “get to know you dinner” a few days or weeks before your wedding? It’ll give your guests a chance to mingle and get to know each other in advance.
2. Create Small Spaces
Divide your venue into smaller spaces so your guests never feel lost in the crowd. Floral installations, drapes and decorations can all be used to create alcoves and hideaways where smaller groups can mingle and chat.
3. Let’s Talk Tables
It might sound counterintuitive but consider opting for fewer, long, rectangular tables instead of lots of smaller round ones. It creates a more relaxed atmosphere and people will be able to chat more easily with a wider range of people.
4. Get The Light Right
Soft, subtle lighting creates a cosy atmosphere that instantly makes any location feel more intimate. Think flickering candles and romantic fairylights.
5. Consider Colour
Choosing a wedding theme based around darker colours is an easy way to make a large space feel cosy and intimate.
6. Circle Around
Even if you have a truly astronomical number of guests, arranging them in a circle will make the back row feel much less far back.
7. Make An Effort
Great all your guests personally and make it a priority to speak with as many people as possible over the course of the day. Even if it’s only a few minutes, they’ll appreciate you taking the time to make them feel welcome.
8. Get Personal
If you have a particularly extensive guest list, talking to everyone might not be possible – and that’s when adding personal touches really comes into its own. Consider writing each guest a handwritten note or gifting them a handmade wedding favour. That way, even if you haven’t managed to speak to them, they’ll still know you cared they came.
9. Consider Staffing
If you have plenty of guests, make sure you have plenty of staff to match! If you can’t make it round everybody, you can at least know they’re being attended to and feeling well looked after.
So there you have it: nine ways to make a big wedding feel intimate. Now, with all those guests to look after, why not add them to your Bridebook’s Guest List? Or if you’re still on the hunt for your dream venue, check out our Venue Search Tool to browse the UK’s biggest (and best!) wedding venue directory.
