Dazed and confused about wedding organisation? Nerves getting the better of you? Here are our top 10 tips to make sure your wedding day goes with a bang!
Photo nerves
We are told many times by our brides and grooms that they don’t like having their photograph taken. Being placed centre stage for a whole day with a near stranger snapping away at you can be daunting. Our solution is our pre-wedding shoot. It will help you ease into working with your photographer. You will look less stiff, smile more easily and actually enjoy having your picture taken by the end of it.
Ideas
If you have ideas, express them! Remember, you are paying not only your photographer, but all the caterers, location managers, chauffeurs and other professionals. You should feel free to work with them. You’ll be surprised how many truly professional companies will be more than happy to listen to your thoughts and feelings.
Costs
Nearly all of us want to save money. Your wedding day should be no exception. At a whopping £21,000 for the average wedding in the UK last year it’s no surprise that people may cut corners. It’s not our place to say where these corners should be, but consider the importance of every last service at your wedding and their longevity after the day is over. We recommend Evergreen in Saffron Walden or Margaret Kay Flowers in Bishop's Stortford for beautiful flowers.
When it comes to photography we wouldn’t recommend using a family member that is a keen amateur. We constantly hear horror stories of images not being very good or photographers being rude and miserable. Photography is such an important service and it needs to be carefully considered.
Dresses
Your choice of dress is deeply personal and shouldn’t be swayed by others opinions. All we can tell you is you should choose a dress that not only makes you looks good, but makes you feel amazing. We have connections with superb dress suppliers like Kim and her team at Fleur De Lys in Saffron Walden www.fleurdelysbridal.co.uk or Nicola at The White Boutique in Bishop's Stortford www.thewhiteboutique.co.uk
Best man
Being best man is a serious task for any man. But being best man is surely one of the greatest honours anyone can have bestowed upon them. It is a wonderful gift of friendship from the groom to be asked to play the role and it needs to be taken seriously. Being best man doesn’t mean just organising a stag party and propping up the bar at any available moment once the speech is over. The best man must ensure the wedding goes smoothly, taking on any roles which need to be filled last minute and offering help to anyone who may need it. During the group photos is where the best man can really help your photographer. He should be on hand to help round up family members and friends. Don’t forget – the champagne will be flowing and so will conversation. You don’t want this to hold up the rest of your day.
Weather
Love it or hate it, good old British weather is something you cannot avoid. For us, weddings are about emotions, passion and feelings. Weather is an afterthought and you should feel the same way. You are marrying the one you love and no matter how much rain falls, nothing will change that. You will be amazed at how great wedding photography can look even in the poorest of conditions. Don’t pour negative energy into willing the sky to turn blue. There is nothing any of us can do to change it. Turn that negative energy into positivity and enjoy what really matters, your wedding.
Timing
For the bride to be late is a tradition. For the groom to be late is frowned upon.
However it isn’t always just these two that can be late. There are a whole host of family members that need to be ready and waiting on time. An important job for the best man or maid of honour is to ensure that everyone doesn’t dawdle with make-up or pressing shirts. There is a good chance the best man will know many family members and know about any time-keeping problems. Feel free to call around a day or two before the big day to ensure everyone knows where to be and at what time.
Speeches
This is usually an activity reserved for the boys. The speeches will run father of the bride, groom then best man. Every now and again we see a feisty maid of honour giving her shout out to the bride and usually to whoops of approval. It really is important to get the speeches written before the wedding day and that doesn’t mean the night before. Great speeches are thoughtful, clever and amusing, but at the same time, touching. You should get your cues from other speeches and maybe the odd line from a website, but don’t rely on them. Dull speeches are taken straight from a speech website and aren’t heartfelt. You’ll be amazed at how much your audience (and the bride) will appreciate a speech that comes from the heart rather than from a joke book.
Cutting the Cake
The wedding cake will be a favourite item at your wedding. Cutting the cake symbolises your support for each other and your promise to nourish each other in your future together.
Be sure that the bride takes the knife firmly with the groom’s hand placed over hers. Wait for your photographer's signal and make one clean cut through the the cake. If you have a tiered cake cut the bottom tier. Once at the bottom of the cut hold it there as you will momentarily be blinded by the flashing of cameras from all around and cheers from your guests.
First dance
The first dance symbolises the beginning of the party. It is usually started in the early evening after the wedding breakfast and speeches. Be sure your DJ or band has the exact song you want before entering the dance floor. Around halfway through song, by tradition, your best man and maid of honour will take to the floor followed by other dancing couples.
Now the party can really begin!
