PLANNED TO PERFECTION

PLANNING SOS Planned to perfection

How to organise your dream wedding

Here at Your South Wales Wedding, we understand how overwhelming organising your nuptials can be. To help, we’ve spoken to local experts and asked what you should be aware of when planning your big day.

Seraphine by Élysée by Madi Lane Jaya

FINDING THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS

Planning a wedding is no small task! From the flowers and venue to the invitations and music, there’s lots to consider and so many options to choose from. When it comes to the dress however, we’ve got you covered! Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the big day:

When should I start looking for my wedding dress? As soon as possible! Dresses can generally take anything from six to 10 months to be ordered and that’s after you have found the one. If you’re an indecisive bride, your search could prolong the process even more. We would therefore recommend that you leave at least 12 months to find your bridal gown in order to avoid disappointment.

How do I choose a bridal boutique? Picking the bridal boutique that best suits you shouldn’t necessarily be the one that is closest to you. It’s important that you research a multitude of different stores, exploring the designers that they stock, as well as past customer reviews via their website and social media platforms.

Do you have any tips for choosing the perfect dress? It can be extremely overwhelming when you first start looking for your dress. Ideally, before your appointment, we would advise you to do a bit of research to get some wedding dress inspiration as to what you want your gown to look like, whether it be in magazines, on Pinterest or Instagram. This gives your stylist more insight into your bridal vision and helps to progress the appointment in the right direction.

That being said, try not to get too set on dresses you may have seen online. It’s important to stay open-minded and remember that a dress will look different on than it does on the hanger. We would also recommend that you bring a small entourage whose opinions you can trust. Keep in mind that if a party is too large, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a flood of differing opinions, making it impossible to make a decision.

Finally, don’t try on too many dresses! After trying on 10-15 gowns, ensure that you carefully select the dresses you try on and avoid designs that are chosen solely to please your entourage.

How do I stay within budget? If you’re working to a budget, let your stylist know. This way they know what they’re working with and won’t pull dresses that are outside of an amount that you’re comfortable with. This is the best way to avoid the pain of falling in love with a dress that you can’t afford.

Fontaine by Morilee

The team at All About Eve Bridal Ltd www.allaboutevebridalwear.com

Idina E266 by Allure Bridals by Madi Lane Jaye Tuscany Marie by Maggie Sottero

CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

We understand that your wedding is an exceptional day for you and your spouse. Your photographer will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime, which will enable you to revisit the most precious moments of your wedding day over and over again.

Look for a supplier who meets all of your expectations and captures the emotions of the day. They should be highly-experienced and offer you a new and exciting way to get your photographs.

Look online, in magazines and on social media to help you decide what style of photography you like. Once you’ve done this, you can begin searching for the perfect photographer. Every supplier will offer different packages and pricing structures. Look on their website or enquire to see what’s included in the price. Most photographers will happily travel but find out if this costs extra before booking.

Finally, before booking check out their reviews from previous couples to make sure you’re getting a great service.

Once you’ve found the perfect photographer, they will most likely ask you to complete an online booking form and pay a deposit to secure your date. We recommend you spend time with your supplier before your wedding to ensure you feel comfortable around them, after all you’ll be spending most of your day with them.

www.1visionphotography.com

Michael Lundbeck www.1visionphotography.com

www.1visionphotography.com www.1visionphotography.com

www.1visionphotography.com

PRESERVING YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS

Have you thought about what you’re going to do with your bouquet once your special day is over? On average, eight per cent of a couple’s overall budget is put towards flowers, yet there’s no thought about what happens to them afterwards. Gone are the days where the only option was to bin or air dry them, there are now lots of ways flowers can be preserved. Just imagine being able to keep a part of your special day encapsulated in a timeless memory.

Flower preservation is a worth while investment, it’s becoming popular amongst newlyweds who want to not only keep a part of their day for themselves but also to gift to their family and friends.

My greatest tip would be to book early, as vendor’s diaries can book up extremely fast.

Choose a company like you would pick your photographer by looking at their style, level of communication and reviews.

Research the FAQ’s on their website to familiarise yourself with frequent queries and what to expect.

Ask questions. We love helping you feel comfortable with your decision on how you’d like your bouquet to be preserved.

Look out for any discounts as some artists will run offers and savings.

Emma Cross www.encapsulatedmemories.com