Just Engaged?

You are still buzzing over ‘The Proposal’, flashing your beautiful engagement ring to anybody and everybody and told your close family and friends all about it. The next step is to start planning what will be one of the most exciting days of your life – The Wedding.

Some couples still follow tradition and announcement their engagement in their local newspaper and national press. Others may use more innovative social media to let everyone know.

Sample engagement announcements are:

Formal from Bride to be's parents:
Mr and Mrs. John Smith are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Anna Maria Smith, to Richard Michael Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones.

Formal from both sets of parents:
Mr and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones are pleased to announce the engagement of Anna Maria Smith to Richard Michael Jones.

Part formal from the couple:
Anna Maria Smith and Richard Michael Jones are happy to announce their engagement. A September wedding is planned.

Informal from the couple:
We said "Yes"! We are thrilled to announce our engagement and are busy planning a September wedding. Anna and Richard

Save the Date

People lead busy lives balancing work, home life and leisure time and those guests who you must have at your wedding need to know your chosen date as early as possible. As soon as you set a date it is a good idea to let everyone know and they can plan to make that day free for your wedding.

Save the Date cards can be customised and bought online. Postcard, or business sized cards are traditionally used. Why not personalise your card by including a photo of the couple or a picture of the engagement ring.

DIY Save the Date cards – The high street retail store Paperchase have a fabulous selection of recycled paper postcards, just design and pop into your printer. www.paperchase.co.uk

Fridge magnets are a fun way to remind guests and can be a lovely keepsake. Visit www.vistaprint.co.uk where you will find a large range of fridge magnets at very reasonable prices.

Design your Team

Next step is to design your dream team. Who are going to be the best people to help you plan your wedding? Wedding planners are a great way of taking the stress out of planning a wedding. They can plan as little or as much as you like, and most reputable planners will have a menu you can choose from. If your budget doesn’t stretch to using a wedding planner, start looking at the people you know who have skills you can use – are any of them photographers, florists, cake makers? Pick your matron of honour, bridesmaids and grooms men. These people are going to be your main supporters during the planning stage. Remember to delegate, delegate, delegate.

Wedding planner
Can organise your whole wedding from start to finish. This could include managing your guest list, sourcing all your suppliers, shortlisting suitable venues, decorating the venue, entertainment, and then being there on the day to oversee the whole operation. Wedding planners can just source your suppliers for you sometimes giving you discounts or manage the co-ordination of the wedding venue set up through to the wedding breakfast. The stress of organising your wedding is taken away from you leaving you free to concentrate on the more important things.

Attendants
If you are not using a wedding planner then some of the organisation can be delegated to your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Make sure when selecting your attendants that they are willing to assist you in the wedding planning - there is nothing worse than a reluctant bridesmaid who doesn't even have the time to attend her dress fittings. Most attendants are honoured to be given this role and will do whatever it takes to give you a fantastic stress free day.

Friends & Family

If the budget is tight, look at your close friends and family. Does anyone have a skill that would be useful to you - jewellery maker, cake maker, dressmaker, photographer. You'd be surprised at just how talented friends and family can be, and most are delighted to be asked to contribute. Don't be shy.

To Do List

Before starting any wedding preparations, sit down as a couple and decide on your priorities. What must you absolutely have at your wedding, what are you willing to compromise on and what you absolutely don't want at any cost. Shortlist your top 3 or 4 'must have' priorities and then make a To Do List – this should be part of your countdown planning checklist that tells you what to do and when to do it by. Every decision you make should be based on your top priorities. keep it with you at all times and this will keep you focused on what is important to you as a couple.

You are now ready to start planning the perfect day ever.

Ask the Expert Spotlight - Distinctive Weddings

Every month we feature an expert in the Wedding Industry. This month we have gone over the water to Ireland to look at Wedding Planners and are talking to Bláithín O' Reilly - Murphy of Distinctive Weddings. Not only is Bláithín one of the most talented wedding planners in Ireland, she is also an author. We fired away 4 questions - see what she says......

How do you get to understand the bride and groom's vision of their wedding day?

Before I even agree to work with a couple I arrange a complimentary consultation with them. Preferably in their home or at their venue. It is important to me that I can work with a couple and they with me, as in ideas flow easily between us and that we are all comfortable with each other. A wedding is a hugely important day in a couples life and while helping them plan their wedding you can get very intimately involved with the couple, so if there is no connection from the onset it’s very difficult from me to give them my best.

Meeting a couple in their home gives me great insight into their own personal style. The types of colours, fabrics and styles they like. I am also looking closely at their own personal style and fashion. Now on occasion couples do want something totally different to their own personal ‘every day style’, so while seeing what they like for themselves and home, it is important I also ask them to collect a couple of magazine images or photos of weddings or just décor items that represents what they want their wedding to look and feel like. It’s from these I elaborate and create for them their mood boards and style ideas. They generally consist of 2-4 evolved ideas for their wedding, based on what they provide. While each idea is similar I try to incorporate different aspects of colour and design, maybe slightly pushing the concept of their initial ideas to see what they really want. I also include aspects that I think the couple will love and ones they will hate so I know that I understand what they want clearer when I get their feedback.

What is the most unusual wedding you have planned?

As a Wedding Planner this is a question I am often asked. It’s not so much the entire weddings are totally different or unusual but we do get asked (or even sometimes suggest ourselves) ideas that are rather more unusual than most. Among these would include;

• Being asked to get bridesmaids to sign contracts, clauses included for them not to gain or lose weight without approval, not to get pregnant and not to cut or dye their hairs without approval.
• To source a snake charmer to provide some entertainment during dessert.
• To get married at a circus performance and for the circus to be the reception.
• To have an authentic fan dancer (with nipple tassels – for modesty of course(it is a wedding after all!)) to entertain guest’s during the bands break.

In addition to being a Wedding Planner you are also a Wedding Author, tell us about your Wedding Planning book.

My book, entitled Distinctive Weddings, Tying the Knot without the Rope Burns came about on the suggestion from one of the Wedding Magazine Editors here. I had done a number of articles for him and he suggested I write a book, so I did just that! We all know that getting married is one of the biggest days of your life. It can all go by in a flash compared to the amount of time, effort, money and planning it takes to get to that trouble-free day. Many people are daunted by the prospect of organizing their wedding and have no idea of where to start and while of course hiring a Wedding Planner is the best option many prefer to plan themselves and that is where my book is ideal.

It is the first of its kind, written by an established Irish wedding planner, for the Irish wedding market. It brings together in one attractive book all the information you need – from sourcing the ring, to booking the band, picking the menu to hiring the transport, and everything in-between. Also included are handy insider tips, ‘what to ask’, forms for bookings, templates for invitations, mass booklets, and listings of some of the most popular prayers, readings, gospels and hymns. It is ultimate guide to planning your wedding day, if I do say so myself!

Well the book is based on the Irish Wedding Market – as that is what I know best it is an invaluable resource to anyone planning a wedding, regardless of the location. Just entering its second year on shelves it is sold internationally with brides as far as Australia and New Zealand using it! It is available through the publisher’s at veritas.ie on amazon.com and in all good book stores.

What's hot and what's not hot for 2010?

In 2010 I think we’ll see sleeker more refined weddings. Budgets will continue to be tighter than they have in past years and while wedding guest sizes will decrease slightly I think so too will the extravagance that we have seen in the past few years.

Colour wise I think we’ll see an continuation of use, of what I call the ‘Gem Stone’ colours, these are your burnt oranges and siennas, deep purples, cobalt blues and emerald greens. Metallics are going to be huge on the catwalk next year and this will be reflected in Bridal wear and décor – slate grey being the perfect accent or combination colour to the above colours and I think we’ll see it coming through a lot in accent linens, floral arrangements and accessories.

Wedding dress wise I think we’ll see more knee length and ¾ wedding dresses coming down the catwalks. Shorter wedding dresses always come back into vogue when a recession hits. These will probably take a while to filter down to the ever day bride and I think the Grecian Sheath will be another big wedding dress style for 2010. As has been the case for the past 18 months hints of colour will continue to feature in wedding dresses, either in sashes, decorative brooches and more and more as the complete dresses themselves.

While cakes have been getting bigger and bolder over the past number of years I think we will see a huge return to the smaller more traditional ones for the next couple of years.

Thanks to Bláithín for sharing her expert knowledge with us.  To contact Distinctive Weddings....

Bláithín O' Reilly - Murphy

Distinctive Weddings
Email: info@distinctiveweddings.ie

Finding the Perfect Wedding Venue

Every couple want to find the perfect wedding venue - beautiful surroundings for photographs, with enough space to accommodate your guests, and of course a venue that gives impeccable service. We will give you a complete guide from start to finish on how to find your perfect wedding venue. The surest way to enjoy your wedding is to plan and organise. A wedding reception is like organising a big party with you at centre stage. You need to select the location of the venue, the type of venue, the menu, drinks and wedding decorations. At www.weddingsinsurrey.co.uk we give you checklists, so you can't forget anything, cover the Q&A's that you may have and provide some great ideas and the best wedding vendors in the business, so that your reception is perfect for you!

Choosing the Venue

This is the most important piece of your wedding planning - as the day centres around your chosen venue. Obviously if you require a venue with a civil wedding licence you will need to ensure that your shortlist of venues is actually licensed to marry you!

 The Mansion at Albury Park

What type of theme do you want for your wedding? There are so many options out there, ranging from the basic village hall, to a modern hotel, country golf clubs, museums, stately homes and castles. Do you want a town wedding, which is accessible for your guests, or an away from it all location, where your guests will have to travel and stay in local accommodation? Is there a particular theme you are following - this may dictate your final choice. Consider your own personality and style, there is no point in booking a stately home, if you are party animals - this could make you and your guests will feel uncomfortable and not able to have fun.

Where do you want to get married? There are several options here, the bride's hometown, the groom's hometown, or somewhere entirely different - even abroad. There are lots of options for getting married out of the UK - one of the most popular being a Caribbean Wedding. Weddings in Italy and Weddings in Spain are proving popular - but you will need to check local legalities to be sure you are able to have a civil ceremony. There has never been more choice than today. Keep your minds open to the unusual - your theme may dictate the type of venue (e.g. - vintage glamour in a stately home).

Types of themes could include:

Black and White Wedding

1920's Vintage Glamour

Country Hoe Down, Barn Dance

Winter Wedding

Autumnal Wedding

Spring Wedding

Summer Wedding

Asian Weddings

Christmas Wedding

Romantic Wedding

Beach Wedding

Garden Wedding

You have decided on your theme and the type of venue it has to be (barn, hall, hotel, stately home and so on). Next thing to consider is the size of your venue, and whether it can accommodate all your guests - day and evening too. You may have found a beautiful country barn but you must ensure that it can comfortably seat your guests and the staff can easily move around between tables to give a good service. All venues give their capacity, of seated, buffet, and standing. I would suggest that you do not fill your venue to its maximum capacity. 80% should make it comfortable for everyone. If you are having entertainment you will need to consider a dance floor and space for your entertainers to set up.

You have the criteria for your shortlist:

Location of wedding venue

Type of wedding venue

Size of wedding venue

Theme of wedding venue

Make your shortlist based on these three criteria and make appointments to visit them. Visiting on a weekend can sometimes be an advantage as they have already set up for a wedding take place, and this will really give you a feel for the venue.

Questions to Ask

Once you have a shortlist, then it is really good to go prepared with a list of questions and queries. Nobody wants any unnecessary surprises regarding costs, and it really helps you to set and stick to a wedding budget.
You have selected your shortlist of venues and make appointments to view. Do have an open mind when you look at the facilities available, but also have an idea of what you will not be prepared to compromise on and what you will not be prepared to compromise.  It is really good to be prepared and come with a list of questions and queries before visiting your shortlisted venue. Prepare a checklist and mark them off as you go through the list. Most popular wedding venues are used to anxious bridal couples and already have a prepared FAQ sheet to handout. Here is a list of the most common questions you should be asking or thinking about when choosing the right venue for you. This will ensure that there are no nasty cost surprises nearer the time.

• Most important - is there a cost for hiring the venue (most make a charge for hiring the facility)
• What deposit is required and what are the cancellation notices
• What wedding packages are available (do they include cost of venue hire)
• If you are having a civil wedding - what is the cost of the ceremony (some venues charge extra for the ceremonial room)
• Is it Exclusive use or is there a premium to pay.
• If shared, how many other weddings are there that day and where are they located
• What restrictions are there - candles, confetti, decorations, disabled access
• Is there a coat room or space for hanging coats
• Can we use our own wedding coordinator? Is there an in-house wedding planner
• Is there a dance floor
• What time does the entertainment have to stop
• Are there any restrictions on noise
• Are gratuities included for waiting staff
• Is there sufficient parking
• Is there enough accommodation for guests wishing to stay overnight
• If it is an early wedding, what time will accommodation be available
• Are there changing facilities for the bride, groom and guests
• Are there locations for stunning photography
• Do they have a list of preferred vendors (entertainment, caterers)
• Do they have a cake-stand and knife
• How many waiting staff do you employ per guest ratio
• Is the bar located near the entertainment area or in a separate room

So now you have everything you need to find yourself the perfect wedding venue to create the perfect wedding day. Weddings in Surrey. Your wedding planning directory providing heaps of wedding ideas together with the best wedding vendors in the county.

Weddings on a Shoestring

A lot of keyword searches through Google are brides looking for budget bridal wear - secondhand wedding dresses or ex model wedding gowns.  The latest bride on our site is searching for a "secondhand wedding dress in Croydon for £20-£30!  Are things really that tight for couples getting married out there, or are they hoping to get that designer dress for a bargain in that "credit crunch" mindset that people have today?  Either way, it is obvious to us at Weddings in Surrey that the budget conscious brides are no longer prepared to spend several thousands of pounds on a dress to sacrifice other areas of their wedding celebrations.

Swoon Wedding Gowns
More and more bridal wear vendors are having one day sample sale wedding gowns where brides can pick up a beautiful dress for just a few hundred pounds, rather than going into 4 figures.  Bridal shops are emerging in the market that specialises in once worn/sample wedding dresses such as Swoon Wedding Gowns in Surrey.

Oxfam has a whole string of secondhand bridal shops across the UK.  95% of the stock is donated by wedding dress designers and bridal shops when they change their wedding dress collections.  They are sold at less than high street retail prices.  The average selling price of a wedding dress is £250, and you can expect to pay 30% of the retail price.  All dresses are in mint condition.

Recently hit the news was the price that bid for a dress for just 99p on Ebay, and the wedding reception auction that went at a rock bottom price.  It seems that Budget Weddings are here for a little while longer.

If you are getting married on a budget take a look at our Once/Worn Sample Wedding Dress vendors in Surrey and our article on Weddings on a Budget for wedding money saving ideas.

Handy Handbag Sized Wedding Planner

Get your Free Handy Handbag sized Wedding Planner! 

Every wedding is unique to the couple,  but one thing in common with every wedding is the amount of planning that goes into making the perfect day.  No matter what the budget, whether it is a small simple wedding or a huge lavish event in a stately home, the more planning that goes in beforehand saves on the stress levels leading up to the big day. 

The wedding planner is a twelve month countdown checklist that tells you what you need to do every step of the way.  From the major decisions of setting your wedding date and choosing a venue, right down to the finer details, should you wish to include them in your plans too.

We've made it into a handy handbag size that can be folded and inserted into your diary organiser, ready to come to hand just when you need it.

Get your FREE Wedding Planning Checklist