PLANNING SOS

Planning Local suppliers from various specialisms share words of wisdom to get your planning off on the right foot LET PLANNING COMMENCE!

SAMANTHA SMART, WEDDING REGENCY

www.weddingregency.com

We’re engaged! Now what? Tell everyone! All the family and friends will want to know and be part of the celebrations, no one will want to feel left out.

Can we have a wedding planner to manage the day only? Yes! You can enjoy your day knowing everything is being cared for. You can plan and prepare everything yourself and we can manage it all for you.

How can we make our big day totally us? Design your own wedding rings, choose a theme, plan the song list, personalise the invites and so much more. You can make every element totally you.

What’s your top planning tip? Decide on a budget and stick to it. It’s so easy to overspend, but this is something a wedding planner would be able to help you with.

SOS

“WE DO”

AMBER PACKER-HUGHES, SOMERSET REGISTRATION SERVICE

www.somersetweddingservice.org.uk

We’re engaged! Now what? Location, location, location! Finding your venue is the essential first step. You need a time and place pencilled in so we can book your registrar team. Our online directory is a great place to start, as it lists every single venue that can hold civil ceremonies in the area.

What is giving notice? It’s just as important as the actual wedding day, so don’t forget to do it! Giving notice of marriage or partnership is the essential face-to-face meeting with your local registrars, where you’ll take in your ID documents and start the legal process at least 28 days before your big-day. It does the same job as having your banns read in church.

How can we make our big day totally us? Contrary to popular belief, civil ceremonies can be personalised. There’s only a couple of sentences you need to say to make it legal, so you can get super-creative with your personal vows and readings. You don’t even need to exchange rings if you’d rather not. How about necklaces, books or a handmade memento? We’re happy to tweak things to make it all the more you.

What’s your top planning tip when it comes to the ceremony? Get your documents ready early. Expired passports, missing birth certificates or lost divorce papers are not something you want to discover the day before your notice appointment. There’s no shortcut to some of the paperwork, so make sure you have everything you need just in case you have to order new copies.

We’re engaged! Now what? You should be thinking about guest numbers before anything else as this will be the foundation for everything from here on in. The size and type of venue, your catering style, the number and type of invitations you’ll need and how you’ll eventually seat your loved ones – each of these will give you a budget starting point.

How do I work out the seating plan? When it comes to stationery family dynamics can be a sticking point. You should think about how people actually get on with each other, and whether they could be seated next to each other, as well as whether you need or want to invite them and how they’ll impact your day. Once this has all been addressed you can plan who to send your invitations to and rest in the knowledge that seating won’t be an issue. Often couples don’t give the table plan a thought until they come to ordering it and then juggling it can be a stressful project.

How can we make our big day totally us? These days there are no hard and fast rules, so anything goes. If you both have a hobby or lifestyle that you’d like to share, use that as inspiration for your stationery – let people see who you are.

What’s your top planning tip when it comes to the stationery? Certainly for bespoke designs, but even for the Studio and Designer ranges, I’d recommend taking your free consultation early. Book your samples and sit with them for a while to see which options you really prefer. It will help you to feel sure that you haven’t rushed into making a decision, and it gives you time to ask your stationer any questions you might have. The more relaxed and organised you are throughout the planning process, the better day you’ll have. We’re engaged! Now what? In terms of finding your perfect dress, the more time you can give yourself the better, but there really isn’t a set of rules. The only thing to consider and remember is that gowns can take up to six months to arrive from the date of order. Don’t be disappointed, start sooner rather than later and if you find the one, don’t worry if it feels too soon – you love your gown and that won’t change. Dresses can be stored by most boutiques, so it’s not an issue.

When do I start shopping for my gown? The answer is: when you’re ready. In an ideal world that would be a year before your big day with a view to having ordered nine months in advance. This allows for shipping time, alterations and keeps you calm. Don’t panic if you don’t have that long – there’s always a solution and we’ll work hard with you to ensure everything is perfect.

How can we make our big day totally us? Don’t compromise. If you want something different that says “us,” do it! This is a one-time opportunity to make your day as special as it can be. Think of the things that are most important and plan them. Make a list, don’t overfill the event, keep the numbers at a point you’re comfortable with and factor in time for yourselves too.

What’s your top planning tip when it comes to the dress? Keep an open mind. If you become too caught up in the specifics of a dress or dresses you might just miss out on the perfect gown. Let the consultant help and guide you – they should know what they’re doing and they may very well surprise you.

SARAH CHURCHILL, SARAH’S SUGARCRAFT

www.sarahssugarcraft.co.uk

We’re engaged! Now what? Decide on your budget and roughly how many guests you’d like to invite. Then, if you have certain venues and suppliers in mind, make contact. Most wedding suppliers have a two to three year diary open, especially if they’re popular. Also, start a notebook or Pinterest folder with any ideas and colours you like.

How many tiers should my cake have? This will depend on how you’re serving it. Will it be after a three-course meal, as part of your dessert, or maybe you’re serving it alongside a buffet? This will all help to decide the size of the slice.

How can we make our big day totally us? Add some decorations to your cake that represent you, such as your initials, where you first met and/or hobbies you both enjoy.

What’s your top planning tip when it comes to the big-day bake? If you want to go big but don’t want all that cake then opt for fake tiers. They’d be decorated to match the others so none of your guests would ever know.

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YOUR BIG-DAY BEST

KATIE DOWDING, KATIE P MAKEUP

https://katiepmakeup.com

We’re engaged! Now what? Decide on a date and venue. Once those big decisions are made, it’s time to pick the rest of your suppliers and don’t hesitate in booking your faves. Get in there early as most suppliers take bookings 18 months in advance. If their diary isn’t open yet for that year, just ask to be added to their waiting list and you’ll be one of the first they’ll be back in touch with, so you can almost guarantee they’ll be available.

Will I ruin my make-up if I cry? Simple, no. Trust in your make-up artist, this isn’t their first rodeo, they have heaps of experience. I’ve been in the industry for almost 10 years, I’ve seen it all. Products and techniques have changed over those years and I’m always learning, so I can provide the highest standard for all my brides.

How can we make our big day totally us? You and your fiance are the priority, try not to put other people’s preference before yours. No one cares what great aunt Doris has to say about your dress, suit or whatever you decide is right for you. It’s your day, remember that.

What’s your top planning tip when it comes to wedding make-up? Pinterest can be your best friend and worst enemy. I love a Pinterest board, who doesn’t? But not everything you see is 100 per cent realistic. I always recommend to come to the make-up trial with inspiration, but it’s also best to come with an open mind. What looks good on one person, doesn’t always look good on another. Try to bear in mind those natural make-up looks you see are usually airbrushed and are an unrealistic expectation.

www.withmylittlecamera.com www.samlanephotography.co.uk

HenburyLodge Hotel

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Henbury Lodge is an attractive Georgian mansion, Grade II listed building with beautiful gardens. The hotel has 22 bedrooms, 12 rooms in the main house and 10 rooms in the coach house.

A restaurant, lounge, bar, and a garden room (under construction) which would be the perfect setting for small weddings. We are using a marquee while the garden room is being built. We are a family-run hotel and aim to offer a tailor-made personal service, working with you to ensure that every detail of your special day is catered for.

A Marquee Wedding in the garden will also have the exclusive use of the main house and will need to take the 12 bedrooms of the main house for the wedding guests as part of the wedding package. The additional 10 bedrooms of the coach house will be available if needed.

For smaller weddings being held in the hotel restaurant, if there is an evening disco, then the package will also need to include the 12 bedrooms in the main house.

STATION ROAD, BRISTOL, BS10 7QQ 0117 950 2615 | info@henburyhotel.com

WWW.HENBURYHOTEL.COM