Wedding Planning – Top Tips from the Pros

Jennifer Phipps – Wedding & Event Planner

Holding accreditation from the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners Jenny is a self confessed “wedding-holic” who when not planning perfect days in her native Cornwall can be found reading all about weddings and new wedding ideas from around the world.

Are themed weddings a good or bad idea?

I don’t really think there is a definitive answer for this as each couple are different and whether they have a theme or not is completely dependent on what they want and what is important for them.
In my view though, theme weddings can work really well, especially if they are showcasing a side of the couple’s personality. For example if they are keen sailors a nautical themed wedding would be a great way to incorporate their hobby and gives guests an insight into what they enjoy.
I think what couples should always remember however is that the real ‘theme’ of the day is celebrating the love you have for each other and that is the most important thing so try not to get too caught up on the theatre of it all and remember the romance!

What’s the best way to beat stress in the build up to the wedding?

I can honestly say the best way to beat the stress in those last few weeks during the build up is to hire an ‘On the day coordinator’. It will be at this stage (if you have planned your wedding yourself) that you suddenly realize you are going to be a little too busy on the actual day itself, sipping champagne and marrying your best friend to worry about whether the flowers have arrived or the cake is in the correct position! The final few weeks should be a period of relaxation after all your hard work, you should be enjoying the build up and feel rested and ready for your big day.

The fact is though no matter how many months are put into the planning and how perfect it looks on paper, it is all about the control on the day, something which in my view, the couple should certainly not be responsible for. Hiring a coordinator means they will take over any last minute supplier coordination and run things on the day leaving you and your family with absolutely no ‘on the day jobs’ to deal with. The result of that… a couple that are relaxed and can really enjoy the lead up to their wedding and the day itself, safe in the knowledge all is being taken care of by complete professionals.

The wedding emergency kit, which comes with me to every wedding and contains over fifty items is at your and your guests disposal throughout the day, with everything from a sewing kit to rescue remedy your coordinator will be well equipped to deal with pretty much anything!

In my view a on the day coordinator should be at the top of your wedding planning list, it really is an invaluable service that you owe to yourselves after doing all of that work to create your day plans. Leaving you both to simply turn up on your wedding day and excel in being fabulous!

How can couples avoid some of the stress?

If you are planning the day yourselves then break your planning down and give yourself dates of when to have things done by. That way these milestones will give you a real sense of achievement and you won’t feel so overwhelmed by how much you have to do, instead you will have a clear vision of where you are at, what else is to be done and when you plan to do it.
Start early but not too early. Starting early gives you the luxury of taking your time to handpick your suppliers and means you won’t rush and panic book (and often end up paying more for the privilege) you will have time to negotiate and really do your research. 
However be warned, your taste and ideas for your day can change over time, if you start too early you may regret some of the decisions you made later down the line. Also if you drag out the planning for a longtime you run the risk of loosing interest in it.
What’s your top tip for someone planning their wedding?

My biggest piece of advice would be to not get caught up on what you think everyone else thinks or will want to see at the wedding. Yes you want your guests to enjoy themselves and feel comfortable but if you try to think about what will please everyone else you will drive yourself crazy! It is your day, don’t loose sight of that.

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