GoHen asked some of the UK’s best wedding planners for a few top wedding planning tips to help keep things under control for your big day.
Rebecca Wood – Network Wedding
If you’re planning a Yorkshire wedding with a hint of sea air then Rebecca Wood at Scarborough Wedding Network has a huge selection of top class wedding suppliers to help create a unique and memorable event tailored to any couple.
What is your top tip for someone planning their wedding?
Think outside of the box. I love all that wedding etiquette, lots of it comes from an age when the bride came with a cheque but whilst we may have changed the values that drove the tradition, much of it is still popular at weddings in the 21st century. Check it all out then put your own twist on it – for example, greeting lines at the start of the reception can look a bit artificial but they do make sure you’ve at least said hello to all your guests; do it your way however by thinking carefully about who needs to be in the line! If there will be lots of children at your wedding or you are struggling to whittle down a big guest list you could consider re-arranging the order so that after the ceremony you have some nibbles to feed and entertain a large crowd then, once the children are fed and watered you can enjoy photos and later sit down for the main reception meal.
Don’t follow the crowd, make the day work for you and your guests.
Decide at the outset on your priorities – every bride wants a few luxuries but most need to watch the budget too. What’s your priority – pretty invitations, glitzy shoes, top band, amazing photos to remember it all – where will you push the boat out and what will you do without?
Do your homework – made good use of all those wedding websites and magazines to discover the latest trends and must-haves before you’ve allocated your budget and try to keep a little back in case you come across something you simply must have!
Have you got any handy tips for bridesmaids?
Have someone with a little bag of tricks like tissues, make-up, needs and relevant coloured threads, safety pins, camera etc so these are available for you and the bride – just in case!
In advance make sure you know what the bride is expecting you to pay for and agree what you are having a say in – if you have to pay for your shoes you may want a say in the colour so you can war them again etc.
