Weddings are a time to bring family and friends together to celebrate your love and new chapter in life, but it can be difficult to decide who can and cannot come to your wedding. To begin planning, you should decide on how many people you can invite. (If you already have a venue in mind look at the amount of people that value can hold). Create rules and limitations for your guest list to avoid offending family members. Finally, writing multiple lists can help you maximize the number of people who can come. With some patience and careful consideration, soon you will have your guest list ready for invitations.

Even if you’re not sure on the specific figure, you can determine roughly what size of wedding you want. This will help you get quotes from caterers and venues while allowing you to figure out the specific number later. Some people decide just to invite immediate family members and a few close friends. A small wedding is generally around 50-75 people. The average wedding is around 150 people. A large wedding is 200 people or more.

Keep your budget in mind. The most basic and easiest way to decide on how many people you can invite is to look at how many people you can afford to invite. This one is simple, the more people you invite, the more expensive the reception and ceremony will be. If you have the luck of parents chipping in, find out how much each couple is contributing. Factor that into how much you and your partner can afford to spend. Get a few quotes from local caterers to see how much the reception may cost per person. Remember to factor in drinks and cake as well. Catering should take up about 25% of your budget.

Size of the venue. The number of people you can invite may be decided by where you have your wedding, if you already set a venue before your guest list. If you have your heart set on a particular venue, ask them how many people they can hold. Please do not invite more than this number, the risk is that you may find yourself scrambling to fit everyone.

Children or not. Some people prefer to have a childfree wedding because they worry kids will be loud or disrupt the ceremony. Others feel that a wedding is a big family event and that children are of course part of the family. There is one more option to have children only attending the reception. You must understand that some guests may choose not to come if their children are not invited. If you want a childfree or not for the ceremony I definitely recommend to set an age limit to decide whether you are inviting teenagers or not. This could be as young as 12 or as old as 18 it’s all up to you to choose.

Plus one. Who will be allowed to bring a guest or will everyone be allowed, that’s a decision for you to make. If you don’t have the space for all of your friends to bring an extra person, you might want to skip the option to bring a date on the invitation. By that said, if you have a friend who is in a long term relationship or married, then you should invite their partner as well. Keep these info with you when counting your guest list.

Put your guests into different groups. When planning, create four or more groups of people you are considering. Next number these groups by their priority. Here is an example, it might be more important to you to invite close friends than extended family members. Here are the typical four groups:

• Immediate family members

• Extended family members

• Close friends

• Work mates or colleagues

Establish rules with your family. Your parents and your partner’s parents may have their own ideas about who to invite, this is very normal. Let them know upfront what kind of wedding you want. Tell them how many people they can invite. Don’t forget to be firm about your boundaries, they must understand that they need to follow these rules. Here are some rules you may want to consider:

• Only invite people you’ve talked to in the last year.

• Friends of the couple have priority over friends of the parents.

• Certain estranged family members may not be invited.

Next step. Start by writing two lists, the first list is the people you absolutely want to invite. By that I mean family members, close friends, or other special people. The second is your back-up list , yes a back-up list. The backup-list is the list of people you would like to invite but don’t have space or the budget for. It’s simple, if a person from the first list declines,then go ahead and invite a person from the back-up list. I recommend to assume that approximately 20 percent of your invited guests will not be able to attend. Which means that you can have at least this number on your back-up list. This will help you maximize the number of guests who can come to your wedding and spots won’t go to waste.

Last edit. Before you go ahead and send anything out, take a second look and edit to make sure that you are not inviting any more people than your absolute maximum. If you want to cut guests, start by going from the lowest priority guests (colleagues, distant family members, family friends you might not know) and up to the highest on the list.

Set a date when the backup guests will be invited. There need to be enough time for them to be able to come, you don't want to send out anything last minute. Make sure that you send out your first round of invitations early enough so that you can send out a second round later.

Consider inviting people to the reception only. Are you getting married in a small venue, are you struggling to fit all of your dear friends onto the list. I would say, consider having a separate guest list for the reception. It’s easy to explain, just say that you would love to have them at the wedding but that you are limited with space.

• A good way to explain it is: “Our venue is so small that we cannot invite everyone we want to the wedding, but we would still love it if you could celebrate with us. You are welcome to join us at the reception.”

• If you have a destination wedding, you may choose to have a reception in your hometown. You can invite all of the friends that could not attend the wedding to this celebration.

The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates 6 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, it is customary to mail save the dates 8 to 12 months in advance. For a local affair, send save the dates 4 months in advance. Follow your save the dates with your formal invitations about 8 weeks before the wedding.

The ring is on your finger and the planning is underway, let’s get your guests in the loop. Number one is to send a save-the-date card (aka the pre-invitation that officially announces your date and lets your guests know that they should schedule it in). But you have to do it right. I have written below, go and find out what mistakes not to make while giving your guests the heads up.

Not Sending Them at all

Yes, this counts as a mistake in my opinion. I know you don't have to send save-the-dates (if you're having a very short engagement, I understand it might make more sense to simply send out invitations), you're typically doing yourself a disservice by not sending them. Most definitely if you're having a destination wedding or a three day weekend affair, you want to give guests enough time to clear their schedules and arrange and generally increase their chances of being able to make it to your big day. That's the goal, right?

Sending Them Too Late

As a general rule of thumb, I recommend to start sending them out around 6 to 8 months prior to the ceremony (send them earlier for a faraway destination or holiday weekend). This gives wedding guests plenty of time to book their travel, save money and ask for days off work. Any later than that and they won't have enough lead time to do those things. After all, the only pieces of information you need on them are your names, wedding date (or dates, if it's a weekend) and location—just the city is fine, so you don't even need to have your venue booked yet. Including your wedding website is ideal, but not necessary.

Sending them too early

On the contrary, if you send them any earlier than that,say, a whole year in advance, they may toss the notice aside and forget about it. Also, you should never send out formal wedding information before setting things in stone just in case plans change or something falls through. In the event of an unexpected switcheroo, your best bet is to update your wedding website, pick up the phone and start spreading the word. You do have the option of sending out another mailing that explains the dilemma, but a personal, verbal notice is the best way to avoid confusion. (If your wedding guest list is a bit overwhelming, enlist the help of your bridal party.)

Sending them to people you're not sure about

When the save the dates are sent off, there's no turning back. So make sure to only send them to those guests you definitely want to attend. (Even the ones you've received verbal confirmations from, like your bridesmaids and family members.)

Overthinking the design

Save-the-dates are much less formal than your wedding invitations and definitely don't have to match them or your theme. This is your opportunity to let your style as a couple really shine, or try out a theme you love but are hesitant to commit to just yet. Play with colors, motifs or fonts to create something that will get guests excited for the occasion.

Only Sending Electronic Ones

Email invitations for informal events like bachelorette parties and postwedding brunches are becoming more popular, and as a result, rewriting the rules of snail mail etiquette. We stand by old-school stationery for the big stuff like formal invitations, but the use of digital is up to your discretion. If you do decide on digital, consider doubling up: Send out an electronic save-the-date to everyone, and send paper correspondence just in case the email goes to spam. Also, odds are, you have older relatives or friends who may want to keep the physical one as a keepsake.

Being unclear about who's actually invited

It's best to be as clear as possible about who's invited to the wedding, even this far in advance. By including the actual names of every intended guest on the envelope, you're less likely to have any assumed invitees (like your second cousin's new boyfriend), or general confusion (is your 7-year-old niece invited?). Being up front about who's invited also gives families with uninvited kids ample time to plan for child care, and out-of-towners time to figure out hotel room shares.

Including Registry Information

While your guests will likely want to know where you're registered, it's in bad taste to include this information on your save-the-dates. Gifts, of course, are not required. You can wait to include a link to your wedding website (where your registry information should live) on an invitation insert, and guests will know to ask bridal party attendants or your parents for the scoop if they need to do so. 

Check these Free website themes out click here.

I wanted to share a really good wedding planning checklist that you can follow. I love the design and that it actually ticks in all the boxes that you need. It’s perfect if you are the person who prefers to write with a pen and paper instead of on your phone or computer. This is the one for you the Wedding planner Book.

My advice is to really follow it and don’t rush and jump to far before you done everything in the month you are in. The wedding planning can be tricky and confusing on where to start, it’s easy to be lost on where to start and you will get overwhelmed with information and might start searching for the dress before setting a date which is a lot more important to start with. The other thing I would invest in is a wedding planner book, why is because you can really be creative and keep everything in there also it’s easy to have with you everyday to be able to note down anything you come up with or come across during your daily life. I really hope this will be to help and that you feel excited to plan your wonderful wedding.

Just because there is also a combo of her two books the wedding planning survival guide, check it out if you would like them both, I would say go for both.

I am excited to have you onboard of the competition for the free engagement session and I can’t wait to announce the winners through the Facebook VIP Page so please make sure to follow the FB page HERE

There will come more for you soon x

Searching and looking for the perfect venue can be both hard and exciting. My number one advice is to not book a supplier only because somone recommended them and the worst if you haven’t done the research and feeling super good about it.

I would say the number one most important thing is for you and your fiancé to be a team. Let’s face it, as you plan your perfect wedding, there are most likely going to be areas that one of you is more passionate about than the other and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to choosing your perfect wedding venue, this should absolutely be a joint task a team work. As planning goes, it’s the biggest commitment you’ll make this early on in your planning and you should both feel excited and connected about the place you choose.

Go and get organised - With so many details to consider, organisation is your best friend. Start by creating a spreadsheet of venues to visit - I would think 4 in one day is the max as it can become very overwhelming. And don’t be tempted to take an entourage on visits, this is about the two of you, and too many opinions can be really confusing. After you’ve got a shortlist, then it’s a great idea to talk to the people who really get you, to help sort through your own thoughts about each delicious venue you’ve seen!

What I want to bring up in this post is for you to not make a mistake like a lot of other brides and grooms do. Don’t walk into a venue and just see how pretty and how wonderful the place is, ok ok you can do that for a few minutes but if you like the place and feel like this could be it. I want you to look at these questions and have them with you or at least a few of them. There are loads of stuff that can be missed in the planning that can be an expense in the end.

• 1. Can the venue hold both the ceremony and reception?

  2. Which local authority does the venue come under?

  3. What is the venue capacity for both the ceremony and dinner?

  4. Does the venue have a specific supplier list they would prefer you to work with?

  5. How many guests can you accommodate?

  6. Is there a policy about children attending and does the venue need to be child-free at any time?

  7. Is there enough car parking for all guests?

  8. What is included in the hire price? (Hint: catering, coordinator, accommodation etc)

  9. If the venue has its own caterers does the price include a tasting?

  10. How flexible is the catering to suit your wedding style? (E.g.: Meze boards, sharing platters, hog roasts, BBQ, formal dining, street food)

  11. (If they do in-house catering) Is there an extra cost for example cutting and serving the cake? Is there a corkage fee?

  12. Will your wedding be the only wedding at the venue on the day? If not, how many weddings do they hold in one day?

  13. Can you hire the venue exclusively? What is the difference in cost and what extras are included?

  14. What are the bar prices and can guests pay using card or is it cash only?

  15. Do you have a guest book or customer reviews that I can read?

  16. What time will our reception need to finish?

  17. Are your prices plus or inclusive of VAT? 

  18. What are your deposit and payment terms?

  19. Are there any other additional fees or costs we need to be aware of?

  20. What information does the venue need from your suppliers who will be working on site? (Public Liability/PAT testing etc)

  21. When can you come back for a second visit?

Your reception tables will play a big role in the overall atmosphere of your wedding day. There are various shapes and sizes for you to choose from, each option adding a unique touch to your reception area. The shape and size that you choose will depend on your specific wedding style and the space that you’ve chosen to have your reception in. 

Here are the options that you have available to you. 

Square or Rectangle TablesThese shapes are best for events that are taking place in unconventional areas such as under a tent or on a lawn and are a great way to create borders in your reception area. This doesn’t mean that you need to line them up perfectly either. Square or rectangle tables can be placed at different angles to create a unique look and feel. If you will be using this table shape, be sure to use an even number of chairs and quality linens to soften any edges. 

Round TablesRound tables are used most often for events because they work in just about any space. If you do want to make things more interesting though, try using a few tables of different sizes. Beautiful chairs, cutlery, linens, and flowers can really bring these classic tables to life. 

Banquet Tables. Since banquet tables are longer, they generally work well in larger reception areas. Banquet tables work well when organized in U or L shapes but you could also place them in rows.  Using décor of different heights and sizes helps break these larger tables up; candle holders and vases being some examples. Use runners of different textures or square plates to add some character to the tables. 

Remember that while you need to choose the right table for your unique space, the tables act as a base for your reception area and can be used to create any style and atmosphere you want on your wedding day. 

Choosing your bridesmaid dresses doesn’t have to be stressful, in fact, if you know exactly what to be aware of, it can be a fun and relaxing part of planning your wedding.

Here are a few tips that will help you during the process:

1.    Take your wedding gown style into consideration.Even though you will be the one to stand out, it still looks great when your look coordinates with your girls. If you have a lot of details on your dress, keep your bridesmaid dresses simple.  The same thing applies to necklines – make sure that they aren’t exactly the same.

2.    Consider skin tones and body type.You want your bridesmaids to look and fell beautiful on the day too, so choose a color that works well with their skin tones and body shapes.  You may even want to throw hair color into the mix when deciding on a color. 

3.    Keep the season in mind.Before you decide on a look, take the season that you will be getting married into consideration.  It’s fine to choose long dresses in summer or short-sleeve dresses in fall, but make sure that your ladies are comfortable.

4.    Start shopping early.You never know how long it will take you to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses so don’t start shopping too late.  Plus, you may need to order your dresses and delivery could take a while, so keep this in mind.

5.    Price matters.If you will not be buying your bridesmaid dresses, it’s really important to keep price in mind.  Your bridesmaids are investing quite a bit of time and money in your big day so make sure that the dresses you choose are actually affordable.

6.    Get their opinions.Your bridesmaids will really appreciate having a say in their dresses so ask them if they had any ideas about what they would like to wear. You should, of course, still have the final say, but it’s great to include them in the process too.

7.    Speaking of roping your bridesmaids in.  If you want to reduce some of your wedding planning responsibilities and stress, get your maid of honor to research dresses and prices for you. 

Now that the engagement excitement has settled down it's time to start planning your big day! While this can be an exciting time many couples become overwhelmed by everything they need and all the costs involved. You don't have to sacrifice your dream of a fairytale wedding just because you have a smaller budget. There are plenty of ways you can save money and still have the wedding of your dreams.

5 Ways to Save Money Planning Your Wedding

1. Budget and prioritize

Sit down and create a realistic budget. How much do you want to spend on your wedding and where will you spend that money? Prioritize your list of wedding day must-haves into categories where you don't mind spending extra on and where you don't mind spending a little less. This will give you a starting point to begin planning.

2. Flowers

There are many ways you can save when it comes to the flowers on your wedding day and these can be an expensive part of your wedding day. Consider what flowers will be in season around your wedding date. Choosing seasonal flowers can help you cut cost. Consider opting for a single stem flower instead of a full bouquet for the bridesmaids. Going with less can often have a bigger “wow” factor on your big day and in your wedding images. If you are a creative person think about doing the centerpieces and décor yourself and buying the flowers in bulk. Don't underestimate the power of negotiating. Many florists are willing to work with the bride to be to help her create her fairytale wedding.

3. Dress

The dress may be one area you don't want to skimp on. Although very important and sentimental, you might want to reconsider spending thousands of dollars on it. While you try on the perfect dress from a wedding boutique, don't overlook discount dress shops. Many of these shops carry the same dresses for half the price. Also, if you have already tried on and found the dress, look for it online before you buy it. You can often find the same dress for thousands less.

4. Go online

Invitations, save the dates, engagement announcements all can add up quickly. The printing costs and the cost to send out all these wedding papers can get expensive. You can save thousands simply by setting up your own wedding website. You can still use your beautiful professional engagement photos, but you won't have to spend the extra money on printing.

5. Ceremony/reception.

Booking a venue for your wedding is one place you will tend to spend the most money. If the season is right, planning for an outdoor ceremony or reception can be a great way to make your fairytale come to life. Outdoor weddings at a local park or even a friend or family member’s backyard can be perfect and it will provide the ideal lighting for your photographer to capture those breathtaking images in natural lighting.

Also consider a small ceremony, an earlier reception time, or plan for a weekday wedding. These small changes that aren't so traditional can save you hundreds or even thousands when it comes to booking your ceremony and reception venue.

Where you shouldn't cut cost:

Photography

You might think getting a friend or family member to shoot your wedding photos will help you save. While it may save you in dollars, it could cost you in quality. You want your wedding day images to be beautiful and ones that will bring back the joyful emotions and memories from that day. A professional photographer will be able to capture all these moments that your friend or relative will be not be able to with a point and shoot or even a fancy DSLR camera. You'll regret and be disappointed that you don't have clear stunning images from your wedding in the future if you decided to try and skimp n this area of your wedding budget.

Decision-fatigue is completely real.

When you are planning your perfect wedding, you have to make loads of decisions, from small to big once. I am sure that sometimes, it can feel as if you’ve got decision-fatigue and at this point, it can be a very easy to worrying that you’ve made the wrong decision. Have you booked the right suppliers? Did you choose the right dress? Might your guests have a better time if you’d booked that live band instead of the DJ? Should you have ordered more flowers?

The only way to avoid this feeling, once you’ve made a decision, you need to LET IT GO AND MOVE ON, DON’T LOOK BACK!

I know that’s easier said than done but really, it’s not that tough to do, trust me. Firstly, take your time, thoroughly research your suppliers and be confident with the style of wedding that you’re planning. So before you book anything make sure you have that clear. Stick to the things that you like, don’t be swayed by others thoughts or ideas and try to avoid friends and family giving you ‘helpful’ advice because more often than not, that will be enough to bring on the panic. Make as many decisions as you can with your partner so that you can draw strength from each other and whatever you do, please stop looking around once a decision has been made. If you continuing to look at dresses, floral arrangements etc. once you’ve made a decision will only confuse you or make you feel that you’ve somehow done the wrong thin or leave you in doubt. Thick the box on your planner and move on and do that with everything.

Planning your day

Creating a wedding day that looks perfect is usually the top of every couple’s list of wedding must-haves. You really want to create a day that looks perfect, reflects your style and you and impresses your guests (yes, it’s ok to admit that!). However, it’s just as natural to worry about how things will look and whether or not they will come together/work in quite the way you imagine they would. Planning a wedding doesn’t come naturally to many people and it can also be incredibly daunting and again, to cut down on your worry, work with suppliers you trust, suppliers whose portfolios and style are aligned to you and your fiancé’s own tastes and preferences. Knowing that the professionals have it all under control should give you the confidence you need. Of course, the great unknown can be the things that you have arranged yourself and here, if you’re worrying about anything, use ‘less is more’ mantra. That means keep everything as simple as possible, make sure that everything you add on to your wedding works with your vision and if you’re in any doubt about it, I would say don’t do it!

Paperwork & checklists!

If there’s one thing that keeps couples awake closer to their wedding day, it’s the thought that something’s been forgotten. You might be worried that you’ve forgotten to book something or to do something or arrange something or confirm something and if this is your worry, you can immediately reassure yourself that you’re actually a planning genius by either checking your paperwork or emails.

A quick double check will put those fears to sleep and that’s definitely the best thing to do. This is why it’s so vitally important that you have a plan and that you make sure to stick to/stay on top of your plan and that you keep good records as you plan. if you have all the information to hand and you know exactly where you are in the planning process then all the reassurance that you need is to hand. If you do find out that something is actually missing then you got two options you either need to do something about it or let it go. Missing a small item in the day is unlikely to be noticed by anyone, apart from yourself of course, so finding out that you’ve not ordered something doesn’t have to be a big issue. you could either correct things with a quick order or decide to live without that item or element and move on. Especially small things are absolutely not big enough to derail your day or your happiness.

I think out of all the planning with a wedding I think the say Yes I do to the dress is one of the most exciting parts of the whole planning. When you are in that bridal shop and trying on dresses it really becomes real at that moment, this is it. It is soon happening and all you can do is smile.

I am very excited to be sharing a very special bridal designer with you, Katya Katya designer. They are two strong women Katya and Marina who met at school and became close friends. As the years went on and life took them in different directions, their friendship never faded. Built on love, loyalty and happy memories shared, their passion was to create something truly beautiful which reflected them as individuals.

KATYA KATYA became their creation together that they founded, specialising in divinely modern feminine made to order French & Italian laced gowns. One important part of it is to Only us the finest materials Katya’s gowns ooze romance, versatility and comfort, with interchangeable elements to suit every woman.

Katy Shehurina is originally from Latvia, she graduated from the prestigious top ESMOD fashion design school studying the craft of couture. She then went into a period with renowned French designers Nicolas Fafiotte and David Purves, I am sure it gave her a good knowledge and confidence to go ahead and decided to launch her own business in 2007. Katy is focusing on her unique design style which reflects modern vintage inspired aesthetic, impeccable craftsmanship and a lightweight ethereal finish, to melt for. It’s perfect and timeless.

Since then, her distinctive style has gained international recognition. As Katya’s first flagship boutique opened in London in 2011, the brand has continuously attracted the attention of the UK press as well as international buyers.

Our gowns are made to order to your size and take about 7 months to make. However due to the unprcedented circumstances our time frames are flexible and we do cater to all brides with all time frames. We also offer off-the-rack dresses for brides who decided to celebrate sooner or have weddings coming up very soon. For further information please do get in touch with us on +44 2073514359 or on info@katyakatya.co.uk or click here

I think this one is one of the more trickier things to plan, timing how long everything will take to make sure everything will go smooth for your wedding day.

Part one

What time you start your bridal prep and amount of time you allow for this will for sure depend on several things:

• The size of your bridal party.

• The complexity of your hair and makeup.

• How much you prepare in advance.

• The time of your ceremony.

• The distance between where you are getting ready and your ceremony location.

• Whether you plan on having any photos with your bridal party prior to your ceremony.

Where do we start the best starting point when it comes to working out how much time to allow is to ask the expert! If you are having your hair and makeup done professionally then ask your hair and make-up artist how long they think they will take (as a general rule, I would allow a couple of hours for bridal hair and make-up and an additional 45 to 60 minutes for each member of your wedding party).

Work back from the start of your ceremony and factor in travel, putting on your dress (this takes longer than you think so give yourself at least 30 mins!) and timings from your hair and make-up artist. This will give you a rough idea of your starting time!

Expert Tip!

Don’t forget to count in the breakfast and lunch (and of course a glass of bubbles!) into your bridal prep!

If your bridal party are doing their own hair and make-up then ask them how long they think it will take them to get ready and then double it! Overexcited bridesmaids will always take longer to get ready than they think!

Last but not least leave a margin of error of around 1 hour. This will ensure that you’re ready in plenty of time and can enjoy the morning.

Part Two Ceremony!

There are two elements to consider:
Firstly, what time should everyone arrive at the ceremony?

As a basic guide I advise the following:

• Groom, Best Man / Men and Ushers – 45 minutes before the ceremony.

• Guests – 30 minutes before the ceremony.

• Groom’s parents – 15 minutes before the ceremony.

• Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids – 10 minutes before the ceremony.

• Bride and Father of the Bride – 5 minutes before the ceremony.

Secondly, how long should you allow for your ceremony?

This will ultimately depend on whether you are having a Religious Ceremony, a Non-Religious Ceremony, or a Civil Wedding / Partnership…

• Non-Religious Ceremony – 20 to 45 minutes.

• Civil Wedding / Partnership – 30 to 45 minutes.

• Religious Ceremony – 60 to 90 minutes.

Expert Tip!

If you want to use your ceremony location for some group pictures and the confetti shot, if you do then remember to count this into your timings.

Part Three

The drink reception I recommend to allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for your drinks reception as this will give your photographer and videographer plenty of time for your group and personal portrait shots. It will also give you enough time to mingle with your guests and enjoy your canapés and bubbles.

Expert Tip!

If you want a longer drinks reception then it is essential to your keep your guests entertained, with games or shows of any kind and provide plenty of drinks and canapés!

GROUP AND PORTRAIT PHOTOS

The number of group photos you want will ultimately determine how long your photographer will need. However, as a general rule of thumb allow 5 minutes per group photo and at least 30 minutes for your personal portrait shots.

Expert Tips!

Make sure everything runs like clockwork by asking your photographer to scope out some potential backgrounds in advance.

Make a list of different photos and combinations of your family and wedding party that you don’t want the photographer to miss. Then arrange for the relevant people to gather at a designated spot right after your ceremony so that nobody goes AWOL when they’re needed for group shots!

Give somebody trustworthy (and someone who knows the difference between your dad and your distant uncle) the job of rounding everyone up for group photos and chasing any stragglers!

Part Four

For your guests to move from the drinks reception I recommend to allow up to 30 minutes for your guests to move to the location of your Wedding Breakfast and for them to then find their seats. If you are planning on having a receiving line then allow an additional 40 minutes on top of this.

Expert Tip!

Designate at least a couple of your Bridesmaids or Ushers to direct guests, assist with the receiving line and speed up any loitering guests!

This is a perfect opportunity for you and your beau to steel some time together, whether that’s using the time for a little one-on-one time or indeed to capture those couple’s shots.

Part Five

This one is important allow no more than 30 to 40 minutes for your speeches. With each speaker allocated up to 10 minutes. It is important to try and stick to these timings as speeches that take any longer normally result in fidgety guests and your evening may lose momentum.

Expert Tips!

Don’t forget to ask your speakers how long they think they’ll take always double it. From experience I have never known a speech to run to time, it just doesn’t happen.

Part Six

How much time of you need for your wedding breakfast you may ask? The best starting point is to once again ask the expert for advice.
Your caterers will be able to give you a guide on how long they think their service will take depending on the number of guests, choice of food, number of courses, number of catering staff and type of venue. General guide allow up to 2 hours for a 3 course meal.

Part Seven

When the evening reception has begun timings can often go out the window. There are some key elements that need to be factored into your schedule as otherwise they can easily be forgotten in the excitement of the evenings festivities, you don’t want that to happen, right.

That’s why I advise my couples to plan in their first dance, cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet no later than 45 minutes after the end of their wedding breakfast (this will also ensure that their photographer manages to capture everything before they leave).

Expert Tip!

If you have invited evening guests ask them to turn up at least 30 minutes after your wedding breakfast. If your wedding breakfast overruns the last thing you want is to have evening guests turning up whilst people are still eating.

Don’t forget that each wedding is unique and different and timings will vary between different weddings. Use the above as a loose guide, but no need to feel like you’re doing it wrong if you want to skip it or do only some parts of it, remember it’s your day after all! Last thing this covers lot’s of the traditional elements of a wedding and you may want to skip parts of these to suit you the best.

Before you jump away into contacting and booking, I seriously recommend making at least one mood board of what style you want. When you made the mood board and are happy to start your contacting and booking keep that mood board close to you and stick to the style you set, I know it can be easy to side track but that’s the time you need to bring your mood board out. It’s also a great way to show your suppliers what type of wedding you want and see if they are a good fit for it.

You can’t beat Pinterest – it’s the best way to gather ideas and create boards for each aspect of your wedding. You can collect all of the cake ideas you fancy and wedding dresses that takes your dream into reality. Check my colour scheme mood board out.

Please share your mood boards with me or why not book a zoom call with me and show me live what you have planned so far and who knows I might be able to add some more ideas or good information towards your wedding. If you want to book a call in with me over a coffee click here.

Planning your wedding and getting married is one of the biggest plans and events in anybody’s life. All you want it to go so smoothly in every way even the planning. 90% of brides and grooms have a professional photographer booked in, but what should you look for in your wedding photographer? Good question right, do you agree with me?
 

Let me say to remember that your wedding photographs, video and your rings are the only aspect from the big day that you will be left with to remember that special day and so its important to get it right!
The cake will be eaten, the flowers will fade away and be discarded the dress will be carefully stored away or sold.
 

Let me share some things to consider as you search for your photographer, to ensure you get it right.

My Aunty or a good friend will take the photographs!

There is A few people that will depend on a family member or friend to take the shots on the wedding day to save money. I can understand the thought of it as some photographers can be expensive. The risk of choosing a family member or friend typically has several big issues.

• They don’t really know exactly what they are doing, or do they?!

• If they are being the photographer, remember that they will not be enjoying the wedding – they will be working, do you want that?

• They probably don’t have good enough camera equipment.

• They most likely don’t have the post processing skills like a professional photographer.

• After reading this does it sound like a good plan?

Oh great, you have decided to hire a professional photographer

But what should you do to help make sure you get this right?
 

Number one is what style of wedding photography do you like and want, its an very essential decision you need to make.
 

1. Formal style – posed shots

2. Reportage - candid documentary style

3. Informal – shots that don’t look posed

4. Colour

5. Black & White

6. Retro style – a vintage look

7. Country - rural style – flowers fields warm light

8. Street style – urban little bit of grunge and contrast

9. Something of all these
    

Typically, the formula most people end up with is:

Mainly 2 & 3 with some 1 and a Mix of 4 & 5
The general theme and the style of the couple dictates which of 6,7 and 8 will dominate.

Typically, people want some formal shots of the couple and family groups but mainly  reportage style photographs that are just taken as the day goes with no formal shots.

Are there any alternatives to consider?

Yes, here are somethings to look for and what the implications are of these alternatives
 

1. Digital copies of the images
   Some photographer will offer you the images digitally in colour and in black and white

   1. They will normally retain copyright but that’s not an issue for you

   2. You get all the images - why would you not want all the images?

   3. In colour and in black & white

   4. You can use them on social media as you wish

   5. You can send them to friends and family electronically and they can get their own printed

   6. You can get them printed at a professional lab
      - as many as you want
      - any size you want
      - you will pay surprisingly little compared to buying them via a photographer, but do not get them printed at a “cheap” outlet. You photographer will advise you.

   7. You cant get a canvas done and you can control the size and the quality

   8. You can control the process, what you get and what you pay.

   9. This option gives you the most control over what you get and what you pay. However the packages that the high end photographers offer are often all you could want with a high customer focus.
       

2. Photobooks
   These are coffee table style books, they look great and are very accessible, but some things to consider

   1. These look easy to do but get you photographer to do them as they understand how to put these things together to create the right style and story

   2. They are cheaper than albums and more accessible and so you will keep them out and use them as opposed to storing them away as people do with albums

   3. Get two, a colour and a black and white one - it makes sense!
      The two styles of images look much better when separated from one another

   4. Once a book is “built” its relatively cheap to get multiple copies and so you can get a copy for the parents as well

What other aspects should you be aware of?
 

1. Contracts
   You photographer should ask you to sign a contract detailing

   1. What will pay and when?

   2. How much deposit is required?

   3. Cancellation or change requirements

   4. What they will provide

   5. What you will receive at the end
       

2. Food
   I would suggest you plan to provide the photographer with a meal. They will be working a long day up to 12 hrs depending on the shoot requirements. Plan to give them the main course from the wedding breakfast. They will have their food in the bar area or somewhere away from the wedding reception.  If you keep them well fed they will work well and be flexible.
    

3. Shoot list
   Expect the photographer to generate a shoot list detailing the shots that will be taken.
   This typically breaks down into several phases.

   1. Bridal prep and arrival.

   2. Groom prep and arrival.

   3. Guests arriving at church

   4. Inside and outside of church pre ceremony

   5. Ceremony

   6. Exit from Church

   7. Confetti shot - needs to be carefully planned

   8. Everybody shot - Do this as soon as possible before people rush off for a drink

   9. Group shots

   10. Bride and groom will go off for a personal shoot at a pre-defined location

   11. Reception venue shots inside and out

   12. Arrival at reception and pre meal shots

   13. Meal - no shots as people don’t photograph well when eating
       (except young children who look great covered in food)

   14. Speeches and post meal

   15. Wedding rings

   16. Early evening

   17. Bride and groom will go off for a personal shoot at a pre-defined location

   18. Throwing bouquet

   19. Cutting the cake

   20. First dance
       (don’t stand still – rotate as you dance it means the photographers will get a range of shots)

   21. Disco (don’t go on too late as the shots will diminish in quality as the night goes on)
        

4. Elderly or disabled guests
   Plan the shoot around these people if you can speed things up and make things as easy as possible for them.
    

5. Walk DON’T run
   Remember during the day to walk don’t run and to stop take a breath and look around primarily

   1. Bride arrival at church

   2. Walking down the aisle

   3. Walking back up the aisle

   4. Confetti shot
      At all of these points walk don’t rush, stop take a breath and enjoy it. You will enjoy the day more and they will get batter shots.
       

6. Group Caller
   Identify a person who knows both families who will work with the photographers to get relevant people for the next group shot. As the photographers are shooting one group this person is getting all the people for the next group shot. This is essential as the group shot can consume so much time.
    

7. Strange Things
   Tell the photographer if any thing strange or unusual is happening or if anything has a particularly significant value to you during the day. 
    

8. Remember it’s your wedding you can do what you want outside of the legal bits
    

9. Invite them along when you go to the practice and to the venue so they can discuss with the ceremony and the reception what they can and can do, can give you a feel for how it will work on the day and get some shot ideas as well as understanding the lighting
    

10. Processing takes time
    Ask that they get you a few shots (3 – 5) through to you in 24hrs so you have something fast and then expect the others to take a couple of weeks.
     

11. Rain
    What is the plan for the photographs if it rains ?
     

12. Shots you forgot
    There will be shots on the day that you realise you forgot to mention. So simply ask if they can take these shots for you, as long as it does not increase the duration of the shoot they will be fine and not add any cost. If it does add to the duration of the shoot it may result in small additional cost or it may mean that another shot is lost.
     

13. Role of the photographers - It is a strange part they play in the wedding!

    1. They see lots of weddings so ask them for advice 

    2. Pre wedding shoot with bride and groom

       1. Settling nerves

       2. Advising on what will or should be done

    3. Post meal and in the space ahead of the evening celebrations they tend to mill around taking shots and have a significant interaction with the guests and help move the mood along at this point

    4. To be invisible at all of the key moments

    5. The should facilitate the proceedings not take control or be the focus.
        

14. Have fun

If you are stuck with the wedding planning during the lock down I would recommend you to start writing your own wedding vows? It's a tremendous undertaking, as attempt to sum up all your love, dreams, and promises to your partner in a few short minutes. Overwhelming as it can be, it's well worth it and please take your time with it, It's a chance to tell your own story, give guests a look into what makes your relationship tick and to share meaningful, wonderful words with the person you love.

It's also intimate—you're really baring your heart to the love of your life, and you're about to be doing it in front of your loved family and closest friends. If you're up for the challenge, I am here to help you out. From examples and advice to sources of inspiration, here is I believe everything you need to know to write your own wonderful wedding vows.

1. Make sure to say "I love you." This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s so often forgotten or left out.

2. Share your personal stories. It's definitely so much more interesting for your family and friends to hear about your odd quirks and personal little moments and don't be afraid to talk about both the highs and the lows. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that vows are only about the highs in your relationship, remember that your guests want to hear vows that are truly real. If you've been through bumpy spots, don’t be afraid to express that.

3. Please don't wait until the last minute. Make sure to plan in to have your vows written at least three weeks before your big day. You'll be very much thankful for having it done in time and be able to have time to rehearsal so you are prepared.

4. Make a list of all your thoughts. There is no need to put everything into sentences right away. Take a peace of paper and write down all the things you can come up with that you love about your soon-to-be spouse, ask yourself what you're looking forward to most in your marriage? and what promises you want to make to your future husband or wife? and now answer them. Take a day or two and look through these notes and highlight your favourites. The once you highlighted use them for your starting point for your vows.

5. Don't try to include everything, it will be to much. I understand that you would want to fit everything you're feeling into your vows, but in reality, you can't include everything.

During my years as a wedding photographer I’ve seen loads of things go wrong at the last minute. And it’s usually the smallest little details which can turn a bride into a bridezilla. That’s why I advise to prepare a Wedding Emergency Kit in advance. It’s so easy to forget about the little things on a wedding day. So preparing a kit in advance for all those small happenings could save you a lot of headache (literally!). I make sure to carry one with me with the basic necessities but I always advise a bride (and groom) to prepare a personal one for their big day. Here are some items I recommend keeping in your kit - but remember it’s YOUR day so keep whatever YOU need. Here we go: 

• Sewing kit with safety pins and scissors. ( in case any dress or garment needs a little tailoring or emergency fix.)

• Clear nail polish (if you are wearing tights and to be able to stop ladders getting bigger.)

• Lint roller

• Chewing gum/Breath mints

• Plasters (Normal and for blisters.)

• Painkillers (in case that headache kicks in you can tackle it.)

• Toothpaste and toothbrush

• Hand sanitiser/Hand lotion

• Deodorant/Perfume (There will be sweaty moments either walking up the aisle or on the dance floor, make sure to be ready for it.)

• Nail file/Nail clipper/ Nail polish remover

• Hair spray/Hair brush

• Baby wipes

• Makeup remover

• Tissues

• Cotton pads

• Tampons/pads

• Phone charger

• White chalk, if the dress or anything else white gets stained it can be covered with chalk.

• Super glue

• A snack (It can be a long time in between and having a snack to keep your mood and energy up is the way to go.)

• Straw (This is the trick to keep the lipstick glowing just after it has been done, it’s perfect until the ceremony.)

You should feel like a princess from head to toe on your wedding day, that is so important, how you feel. But it’s so easy to be picking the wrong shoe for your day could turn any princess into an evil queen. It’s actually amazing how difficult it can be to find that perfect pair of wedding shoes to carry you down the aisle. There are so many shoes of white and ivory-satin heels and flats to go through that it comes to a point when it might seem like a good idea to just pick a pair without giving it a lot of thought and just get it over and done with. You might think, after all, no one will see the shoes under the long dress, will they?!

The process of picking your shoes should go beyond just matching them to your wedding dress. When you are looking for that perfect cinderella glass shoe, you want to really think about what you are going to be doing on your wedding day and don’t forget how long you may or may not be standing on your feet. To help you with the process, I have written a few mistakes to avoid when picking your perfect wedding shoe.

You’re likely going to spend most of the day up on your feet, so the importance that your footwear is up for the challenge is the one. One mistake to avoid when picking your wedding shoe is picking a pair that is uncomfortable. Make sure to find a pair that can do a long day of standing, walking, greeting relatives, and dancing with your new life partner. If you’re the person who is not used to be wearing high heels, then try a pair of flats, nothing wrong with a pair of flats or low heels.

This advice is brutally important, like any other shoe in your closet, your wedding shoe should absolutely be worn before the Big Day. Skip the thought of getting a spot on the white satin might seem like a nightmare, I promise you’ll regret keeping them in their box until the actual moment before standing at the altar. Of course you don’t have to wear them on every night out before the wedding, but it won’t hurt to put them a few times and walk at home with them to make them softer. Walking in your wedding shoes for these short times will make them bearable when it’s time to show them off.

I reccoment to have a extra pair of more comfortable shoes for the later evening and the dance floor, a pair of flats it the one I would recommend. Because be honest wearing high heels for the entire evening isn’t going to work out for anyone and walking around barefoot might not be an option.

To empower the woman who wears Titi Adesa,every sole is distinctive of a specifically designed ‘Tilted Diamond’ logo, embodying a philosophy Titi learnt from her mother growing up ~ ‘Within every woman, lies a diamond – unique, resilient and imperfectly perfect.’

If you have a floor length dress, you might be thinking that matching your shoes to your dress isn’t such a big deal. Honestly on your wedding day I think you should strive for the perfect shoes, especially if you want your photographer to capture some epic shots of them. It might even be in your best interest to be picking your shoes before you make the decision on your dress. Don’t forget your wedding shoes are what will determine your height on the day and for your dress. So, if you’re planning to rock a pair of six-inch heels, then you need to ensure the dress is still going to reach the floor. And if you’re going barefoot, then you want to make sure your feet will be covered, so they don’t end up the focus of your outfit.

Forgetting to put your shoes in the budget is a huge mistake to avoid when buying your wedding shoes. Wedding shoes can get very expensive, and it could be a huge blow to buy them without considering how the cost could affect other parts of the wedding. 

Picking the right shoes for your wedding is one of the most vital parts of bridal preparation. Your wedding shoes should showcase your style while staying comfy enough to enjoy every moment, from stepping out and taking that first step down the aisle, to dancing with your friends and now-hubby at the reception!

Always remember that comfort is the key to picking the perfect wedding shoes and do your research, so you know what mistakes to avoid when picking out your wedding shoes.

And don’t forget that penny for good luck!

How do you feel about details of your wedding day being posted online? Do you want guests to share as many images as possible, or would you much better prefer to share the first image yourself or do you like for everyone to put their devices away completely and connect with you and your wedding instead? Whatever your feel is right for you and your fiancé. Here’s a few tips on how to manage social media at your wedding day.

TIP ONE

The number first thing to do is to make the decision where you stand on the whole question of social media. Please decide BEFORE the big day itself. Remember it’s your day and you’re the one making the decisions and don’t think of others be selfish at this point. Make sure you are clear with your decision and add this to your wedding planning to-do list.

Ask yourself, do you want an entirely ‘unplugged’ wedding with no social media at all? Would you prefer that images are shared only once you’ve shared the first and definitely not on the day itself? Would you be happy if your guests shares photos of the details and décor only? Are you completely happy for your guests to share images if they want to? Are you wanting your guests to go all out and share, share, share?! As you can tell by this post, this is absolutely something that have to be discussed together because your decision or not decision could end up having quite an impact on your day.

TIP TWO

Once you’ve made the decision on what your social media is, you now need to let your guests know your preferences and best is to have that done in advance of the day itself. Why not including some wording on your info cards or on your wedding website or invitations so that there are no discussions along the day. If you’ve decided ‘no social media’, the importance of making it clear that this applies to everyone can be helpful. On the other side, if you’re more than happy for your guests to post all day long, they’ll need to know the right hashtag to use! Yes don’t forget the hashtag.

TIP THREE

If you’re happy with guests posting photos and videos from your special day, I recommend creating a hashtag before your day, that will allow you to easily see all their photos and posts from your day. The best is to add your hashtag to all your wedding signage and wedding day stationery so that everyone easily can use it and share some love with you. Also when it comes to creating your hashtag, please keep it simple (remember a few drinks and typing can get tricky!) and don’t forget to look to see whether anyone else has used it before. Don’t want to get lost in someone else hashtag.

TIP FOUR

The most important I would say is the decisions should always be yours. Please don’t worry about what the guests will think and simply go with the decision that suits you and your fiancé the best and what you’re the most comfortable with.

TIP FIVE

The last advice is to let your photographer and videographer know what you’ve decided when it comes to social media. If you’ve told your guests no phones for the ceremony. I promise you’ll have your photographer’s undying gratitude and you’ll certainly get better pictures and coverage without any guests leaning out into the aisle to snap pics of you as you arrive or for the kiss. That’s a photographers nightmare guests being in the way.

As a photographer, an engagement session is a perfect opportunity to spend some time together and to get to know each other, while you warm up in front of the camera and show off your personalities and we get to see which poses or which side you prefer to be on, so we can nail it on your big day.

Figuring out what to wear for your engagement session shouldn’t be something to stress about. But it’s easily happened, casual, dressy, or themed? Darks or lights? As photographer I, of course, want my couples to look their best in their images and the most important thing to remember is that your images should be uniquely you, so read on for my top tips for engagement shoot fashion.

BE YOURSELF

The most important thing during your engagement session is to be completly yourself!  The whole purpose of the shoot is to capture exactly who you your fiancé are and be able to show your personalities. If you pick an outfit that just isn’t ‘you’, you’ll feel uncomfortable, and trust me, it’ll show in the images. Whether you want to wear jeans and a t-shirt or a matching pyjama set, I am sure your happiness will show through and influence the overall mood in the images so keep that in mind.

An engagement session is a great opportunity to enhance your natural beauty. If you plan to wear makeup for your wedding day, this is a great time to coordinate a trial with your makeup artist. Getting your makeup done is a small investment that helps you feel confident and happier. That definitely shows up in the final result the pictures. Even if you don’t normally wear makeup, cameras have a sneaky way of picking up uneven tones on our faces. Go ahead with a  little foundation and mascara that will go a long way toward making your pictures reflect how you look every day.

FEEL COMFORTABLE

Have a think about your body type as well; you know what suits youth best and what doesn’t, so don’t just pick something you thought looked great in a magazine or on Instagram. If you’re worried about what your arms look like in that strapless dress, it’s going to be harder to capture those beautiful moments of a couple in love. I mean that you should select clothing that is literally comfortable to wear, but I also mean that you should choose outfits that make you feel your best. Nothing creates awkwardness in front of the camera like feeling self-conscious, so be sure that whatever you end up wearing gives you confidence!

COLOURS & MATCH

You’ll want to coordinate with each other, rather than looking identical. As an example, if SHE will wear a beautiful red dress and HE sweet red tie then we have a match. They will look great together without looking too “matchy”. One thing to remember is they don’t have to be the exact same colour. The same colour family would work well too! Think about colours that complement each other, say cherry red and bright blue, or baby pink and turquoise, and make sure your outfits are colour coordinated.

Black might be slimming, but I generally advise couples not to wear it since it leads to every speck of dust and hair being easily caught on camera. Wearing white should be saved for your wedding day. If you’re feeling it, go ahead and embrace bold prints and bright colours. You’ll be amazed how easily you become the focus of the photo, rather than just an addition to the landscape when you’re wearing an eye-catching hue or pattern. But don’t both go for bold patterns. Instead, only one of you should, and the other should choose a top that pulls out a colour from the pattern.

Because it’s so tempting to skip a pro shooter or to ask a friend to take photos—but trust us, not hiring a professional photographer is one of the biggest, most common wedding regrets for couples who didn’t. If you're on a budget, missing out on gorgeous images isn’t the answer.

Unlike your wedding dress or flowers, your wedding photos will last forever, so you obviously want them to be amazing. Hiring a professional wedding photographer is truly the one and only way to get those crisp, high-quality images that capture every moment from your special day. Realistically, you should plan to allot 10–12 percent of your overall wedding budget to photography.

Before hiring a photographer make a list of the style you want and what you want in your package. Is it digital photo files or prints or wall frames and albums. That way, you'll go into the hiring process knowing what your package should look like. This allows you to pay only for exactly what you need, whether that’s a certain number of hours of coverage, extra sessions, multiple shooters or access to digital photo files, prints, wall frames and so on. Some photographers have some fantastic packages that will meet your needs and have good amount of variations but if not ask for to build your own package.

To know what to prioritize, don't underestimate the value of your recently married friends, but also potential pros you interview. Ask them to walk you through the ins and outs of the services they offer, like whether you can realistically fit all your must-have shots in the minimum amount of coverage they offer or how many assistants make the most sense for the size of your guest list.