PLANNING SOS

Planning SOS Your wedmin top tips PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID LEGGE, DAVID CHRISTOPHER PHOTOGRAPHY

www.davidchristopher-photography.co.uk

 Select a photographer who resonates with the vibe of your day, for instance if you’d like beautiful portraits, pick someone who loves capturing couples in this way  Make sure you request to see a range of full galleries (rather than blogged weddings, which tend to just be the highlights from the day), so you can see exactly what the photographer will deliver. From this you’ll be able to tell how each part of the day is documented and how many images you’d expect  Always have a video or in-person consultation to make sure you get on well with the photographer as you’ll spend most of your day together  From the hair and make-up to the décor, pick your dream team of professional and reliable suppliers who’ll look after you no matter what, as all of this will be reflected in the photos  Your dress plays a big part in your photos! Making sure it’s a good fit means you’ll feel comfortable and confident and that’ll show in your photos  A good photographer should be able to work in any kind of lighting and bring the right equipment with them to capture your day in the best possible way  Look through the photographer’s reviews online, see if there’s continuity in feedback from previous clients and decide whether these are the things you’re looking for from your pro

KLARA SUCHARSKA, KLARA SUCHARSKA PHOTOGRAPHY

www.photographyklara.co.uk

 Having an engagement shoot is a great idea as it helps you to get to know your photographer before the big day and also helps you to get used to feeling comfortable in front of the camera  Photographers and many suppliers are booked up well in advance, so make sure this is one of the first things you book when you start your planning  If you have a big wedding party, your photographer might suggest bringing a second shooter. This is an extra cost but it’s worth it, as it helps to get through the group shots quicker and you’ll also get different angles of the day infolding  I always love to recommend confetti shots to my clients. Walking through the confetti shower will make you feel very special, it’s fun for everybody and it’ll look great in your photos  If you’re planning group photos, prepare a list of which guests will be in each and put someone in a charge of that so you don’t have to worry about getting them together  Cake cutting is one of my favourite parts to photograph. Adding your names to the cake knife will provide a beautiful keepsake to cherish  If you’re wearing a veil, be sure to have some fun photos underneath it – your photographer will have some great ideas for this

LUCY BERTIE, GEE BROTHERS LONDON

www.geebrothers.co.uk

 Send your invites out six weeks to two months before the date of the wedding. You might want to allow longer if your date is during peak times of the year  When working out how many invitations you need, always consider couples and families – you won’t want the same number of invites as the number of guests you’re inviting  Always budget for 10 to 20 extra invites when you order. This’ll mean you’ll have some spare in case of any mistakes, lost invitations, or if you decide to send a second wave out. In printing, smaller, second runs are usually more expensive per invitation and take the same amount of time to print  Check with your printer and order your invites allowing enough time for the design and printing process, but also time for you to write and post them too  Information sheets included with your invites are useful to fit lots of extra details such as timings, addresses, locations, and dress code.

This’ll help keep the invitations clear of all but the important stuff for a beautiful design  A large, folded invitation with a raised script font, often printed with thermography or engraving, is the most traditional option for invitations, with an accompanying reply card. For a more modern twist, you could opt for a coloured ink, and matching tissue lining or incorporate a motif or monogram in your design  For a luxurious design, foiling, letterpressing and edging can make your invitation stand out. Metallic or coloured foil can sit on top of a coloured card, for a bright and eye-catching design, whilst letterpressing is more understated, but creates a lovely textured indentation. Coloured or foil edging adds a striking finishing touch  If you’re considering a floral design, digital or four-colour printing allows for a bright finish. This works beautifully with hand-drawn or painted designs, particularly using watercolour. For best results, make sure your design or image is provided as a high-quality file  One of our top tips for the reception or day-after party invitation is to create a design that’s bold and playful. For example, why not flip your wedding colours on their head? Choosing a card colour that’s similar to your invitation ink colour and opting for foiled text in white or gold can create a real contrast, whilst still keeping the same colour combinations, or you could go for something entirely the opposite

TRANSPORT

 Work out how large your wedding party is to establish what type of transport you’ll need and how many vehicles  Many London venues have good transport links. It’s a good idea to include the nearest tube stations or even consider putting on a coach to help your guests get to your venue  Think about your bridal party when it comes to travelling from the ceremony to the reception – it’s nice for you to all arrive at the same time  A current trend is for the newlyweds to travel with their guests via a vintage bus or similar. This starts the celebrations early and helps with timings as everyone gets there together  Good transport suppliers will check out routes before they collect you to make sure they avoid any roadworks or traffic delays  Consider your dress when it comes to choosing your transport – a two-seater sports car might not be the best option if you’re going all out with a ball-gown design  If you want to surprise your partner on the wedding morning, you could hire their favourite car to pick them up for the ride to the ceremony

DESIGNER WEDDING DRESSES MADE TO MEASURE IN ITALY 81 Ebury Street London SW1 020 7901 9020 lesposedigio.com

DANILA CALCINAGHI, LE SPOSE DI GIO

www.lesposedigio.com/en

 Be sure to make an appointment with your bridal boutique so you have the time allocated to you for help and advice from the boutique’s advisors  We suggest that you order your dress at least five months before your big day. However, if your wedding is taking place during the summer or spring you might even need to order sooner. Be sure to speak to your boutique to get the timeframes right based on your date  Our gowns are tailor-made, exclusively in Italy. At your appointment, you’ll try on sample dresses to visualise the finished look. Your gown is then custom-made and can be personalised in terms of choice of the

fabric, colour and style – this is why it’s good to allow plenty of time  Don’t worry if you live a distance from a boutique. We offer a special forwarding service where your gown will be delivered hanged and ironed  Don’t take too many people with you to your bridal appointment. Too many opinions creates confusion and this doesn’t help. It’s better to come with a couple of trustworthy people and invite the others during the fitting where they’ll be able to give you some suggestions on all those details such as the veil, hair, shoes and make-up  It’s important to have an idea of budget and what style of dress you have in mind – formal, classic, contemporary. Be sure to be openminded when it comes to trying on different styles though – you might be surprised!

FLOWERS

 Book an initial consultation with your florist to make sure they understand your vision and to check out their portfolio. A good florist will know flowers, their availability, season and vase life so keep an eye out for that  Create a mood board and show your florist photos of looks that you like and any other big-day details so they can make sure the blooms complement your day  Save the date with your florist as early as you can to avoid disappointment. A good supplier will be booked well in advance  Take inspiration from your venue for setting the scene and bringing the outdoor in  Recommended supplier lists that your venue has will be useful as they’ll be used to decorating the rooms and making best use of the different spaces  Reuse your flowers throughout the day to save on costs.

Ceremony displays can be transported to your reception venue and used as centrepieces or a backdrop for your top table or cake table  Be clear on budget – your florist will work with you to get the most out of your flowers based on what you’ve got to spend  If you have small bridesmaids or flower girls, consider easyto-carry displays that won’t damage esily such as wands, wrist corsages or flower-filled baskets  When you think flowers, don’t just think bouquets. Your floral theme can be taken throughout your bridal look, venue styling, cake design and more!