Wedding bells

How to plan the perfect wedding

You’reengaged – congratulations! Whether you’re at the beginning or end of your wedding planning journey, it can be stressful trying to put everything together. There’s so much to consider from the venue and theme to the dress and accessories, and so you might be asking yourself where do I start? Before you start surfing the internet for venues and supplies, sit down together with a cuppa and discuss what you want your wedding day to be. Whatever you decide will have an impact on everything else you do from here on in. Think about your overall vision. Is rustic bliss your vibe, or are you more the modern chic kind of couple? Perhaps you want to keep it classic and traditional. You may even want to go completely your own way and host a festival-style wedding in a field with a temporary structure such as a marquee or tipi for cover. All of these aspects will guide you towards the style of venue you should be researching. Crucial to this process is the budget and guest numbers, as one will very much dictate the other. You may want to invite 300 people, but are you willing and able to fund 300 wedding breakfasts? Be realistic about what you want to spend, settle on a budget and above all, stick to it.

Once you’ve booked your venue and have a date set, you’ll be thinking about your other suppliers. To help you create the wedding of your dreams, we’ve rounded up local companies and asked for their top planning tips.

Booking Your Entertainment

Live musicians have a special way of exciting a crowd, and if you can find it in your budget to squeeze a band in, you shouldn’t think twice.

An awesome live band will make your day, and a bad one can have quite the opposite effect. Our main advice would be to not leave booking your entertainment until the last minute. Live music will create an atmosphere that your guests will remember more than anything and it will lift your wedding to the next level.

Professional bands are busy and can get booked up a few years in advance, especially on summer weekends, so if you find a band you love, snap them up early.

Whatever band you go with, make sure you do your research. Look at previous couples’ reviews, check out their social media pages and look through their website and promotional materials. You’ll instantly see if the band are the correct calibre for your big day.

We’re a big believer at Jukebox that all the music should be performed live. Some bands perform with backing tracks, which, to me, doesn’t allow performers to interact and adapt with a crowd to keep your guests on the dancefloor.

Check they have the necessary certificates in place, especially PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) and PLI (Public Liability Insurance). Most venues will insist on seeing these and will stop your band from playing if they do not receive the documentation.

Remember, quality music isn’t cheap, but it will make a great day even more memorable.

The team at Jukebox Band www.jukebox-band.co.uk

CHOOSING YOUR BIG-DAY FLOWERS

Once you’ve booked your venue, you can start looking for your florist as you’ll know the space you’d like to fill, the size of your wedding and the date it’s going to be taking place.

My biggest tip is to choose a florist whose work you truly love and ‘vibe’ with. It will make planning your flowers much easier as you’ll be on the same wavelength.

When it comes to budgeting, it’s usually said to give 10 per cent of your overall budget to your flowers. If you want your blooms to make a big impact, you may consider putting more of your budget towards them.

By discussing your needs and wishes with your florist, they will be able to advise and utilise your budget to its fullest to create the perfect flowers for your special day.

Abbey from Fleurs&Ink www.fleursandink.co.uk

Finding The Perfect Jewellery

Start choosing your accessories once you’ve decided on your wedding dress, as the style and colour of your gown may influence your decision.

If you’ve opted for a V-neck dress, then we suggest you go for a simple pendant.

A strapless or sweetheart gown can be accessorised with a choker or statement piece of jewellery.

Keep in mind that high necklines already have a lot of drama, so skip necklaces and opt for statement earrings or a bracelet instead. Less is more with busier gowns. A good rule to go by is the simpler the dress, the bolder you can go with your accessories.

Jewellery shouldn’t overlap fabric and should lay on your exposed skin.

You may decide not to wear a necklace and instead opt for statement earrings but don’t forget about your hair accessories. Discuss your hair accessories with your hair stylist and make sure your accessories will work with your preferred hairstyle.

Donna from DM Bridal Accessories www.dmbridalaccessories.co.uk

How To Plan An Amazing Hen And Stag Do

Get an idea of the number of participants who are committed to doing an activity as early as possible. Bank holidays are often very busy, consequently, accommodation can become booked up very quickly, so make sure you book far in advance. Likewise, most hen and stag activity sessions happen in spring and summer, so it’s best to plan and book early to get your preferred date and activity.

Choose activities that suit everyone’s ability and comfort zone, so that everyone feels happy and confident.

Decide on the location that you want to go to for your accommodation and activities. Most of our activities at Adventure North West are in the

Coniston area of the South Lakes.

Have a plan for how you and your group will travel to and from your accommodation and activity locations, as public transport and taxi services can be limited within rural areas.

Be sure to budget for travel, activity costs and food and make sure everyone is on the same page money-wise.

Keep in mind that the weather can be very changeable, so it’s best to come prepared with the appropriate clothing and footwear.

Private group activity sessions work well for hen and stag parties, as the activity can be delivered in a bespoke way just for your group.

The team at Adventure North West www.adventurenorthwest.co.uk

Our Top Tips For Choosing The Perfect Cake

Do some research before setting a budget as some embellishments and flavours will cost more than others. Once you’ve found a supplier, work with them to create a bespoke design for your big day. Tell them about your likes and dislikes and show them photos of other creations that have caught your attention. Remember, a bespoke option will cost more than a standard design, so factor this into your budget.

Flowers are a wonderful way of decorating your bake. Blooms can be carefully painted to look like a watercolour masterpiece, made using sugar or even sculpted out of icing.

Chocolate can be used to decorate your bake. Whether you choose a modern drip effect or a quirky half-and-half creation, your guests are sure to be delighted.

If you’ve decided against a traditional white bake, then ruffles are a fun alternative. Not only will it make the cake stand out, but it’s also a great way of incorporating your colour scheme.

Cake freezes perfectly, so if you have any leftover and it wasn’t frozen previously (check with your supplier), freeze it and enjoy it for months to come. You could even keep some for your first anniversary.

Cake-toppers are an opportunity for you and your partner to show off your personalities – have some fun with it, and don’t be afraid to go against tradition!