Anant & Radhika

Let’s start with the sensational Ambani wedding! It has been quoted as the “wedding of the year” and you can guarantee we enjoyed every element. 

When it comes to grandeur, the Ambanis never disappoint! Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding was a real experience, blending tradition and extravagance. Held over several days at the Ambani family’s Mumbai residence, Antilia, the celebrations featured breathtaking floral installations, live performances, and rituals steeped in Indian culture.

Radhika looked radiant in a red Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla lehenga, adorned with intricate embroidery and jewels, while Anant wore a cream sherwani embellished with gold. Highlights? A stunning Baraat procession, fireworks, live dhol players,  topped with a star-studded guest list, and a reception dinner featuring an exclusive menu by Michelin-starred chefs.

Vicky & Ercan 

My Big Fat Geordie wedding indeed! Vicky Pattison and Ercan Ramadan tied the knot in a very chic ceremony at  London’s Marylebone town hall known for its classic intimate setting for the legal part of their marriage before flying to the Amalfi Coast for their main ceremony at Castello Monaci, nothing short of a Mediterranean dream! Vicky went for more than one dress for her wedding day. Suzanne Neville and The Wedding Club worked to ensure she looked stunning in every single part of the celebration!

Millie & Jake

Another Bride in gorgeous dresses in Italy, Millie Bobby Brown married Jake Bongiovi at the stunning Villa Cetinale. Millie wore four dresses across the occasion, for the wedding ceremony, she wore a custom Galia Lahav gown, working with designers to create her customisations. Later changing into a vintage-style Valentino dress for their couples photos, an Oscar de la Renta short dress for the reception and another Oscar de la Renta full gown to cut the cake! Millie’s four-dress approach not only showed her love for fashion but also ensured each element of the day had it’s own unique vibe.  

The flowers, oh wow! A huge white flower arch was absolutely stunning and they also had one of our favourite bands, Sensation Band, performing for their guests!

Rebel & Ramona

Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma married on the Italian island of Sardinia, a truly romantic spot where they had holidayed before. They organised the wedding in 3 months and an important part of the wedding for Rebel was obviously the music, flying in a 20-piece band led and produced by Alessandro De Angelis

Rebel and Ramona stunned in a duet of Pronovias dresses in a Mikado fabric, classic elegance, styled individually. Rebels corseted princess gown looked stunning next to Ramona’s A-line silhouette, matching perfectly. 

Josh & Jordan

“In a *light* blizzard” Josh Radnor and Dr Jordan Jacobs married at the Cedar Lakes Estate in Hudson Valley, in upstate New York, in a heartwarming moment, outdoors, during a major snowstorm! 

Guests and suppliers had to stay the night as they were unable to travel due to the snow and ice! 

Guests received welcome bags on arrival, including incense sticks, an incense dish, CBD tincture and an ‘intention kit’ with paper a pen and a note reading “‘We find that setting an intention can be a helpful way to drop in and calibrate your internal compass to true north”

Lana Del Ray & Jeremy

The Lovely Lana announced her romance with Jeremy Dufrene, jut one month before they wed in an intimate ‘relaxed, family-focused’ ceremony by the water in Louisiana, where Jeremy operates his popular swamp boat tours and where they first met. 

We haven’t seen any official photos other than those released here, and no information about the dress, sad face!

Zoe & Danny 

Influencer and sister to Molly-Mae, Zoe Hague married her military fiance Danny Rae at the gorgeous Inn on the Lake at Ullswater, in the Lake District National Park. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony, with the British weather on their side, with the clouds parting and blue skies and majestic mountains – Hannah’s idea of a perfect backdrop! 

The night before the wedding, the wedding party enjoyed a scenic lake cruise aboard the Ullswater steamer to start the celebrations. For the wedding itself, Zoe wore a fitted strapless dress from The White Closet, florals from the talented Amelia Rose Florals featured a white floral arch, flower meadows for the ceremony and stunning hand bouquets for the bridal party. Following the ever-popular trend of an outfit change, Zoe’s second dress was a beautiful shorter-style ivory dress and Danny changed into a different suit, after a shower first!

Adele & Rich

Adele has been keeping us on our toes, she has been dropping cryptic hints about her wedding to Rich Paul. If you try to find out information about Adele’s wedding online, you won’t find it! She keeps teasing us all, referring to Rich as her husband and responding to Alan Carr’s asking his audience if anyone has got married recently with an “I did” but she did confirm in August they are not married, yet! So 2025, Adele,  we want to see your wedding!

Hannah & Martyn

Okay, not necessarily celebrity weddings, but one I couldn’t miss out on! Our Hannah Rose married her very own Mr Right, Martyn. Hannah and Martyn met through a friend on a night out, and as she says “The rest is history”! 

The wedding celebrations started with the legal bit taking place in the registry office, afterwards, Hannah swapped her pink wedding shoes for her climbing boots, and they along with 2 photographers, a videographer and 2 friends climbed Snowdon to read their vows to one another! 

Hannah and Martyn continued to celebrate their wedding with Friends and Family a couple of weeks later at home in Northamptonshire, with an outdoor ceremony, in true British style the rain only started 1 minute before the end of the ceremony! They celebrated the rest of the day with a gorgeous BBQ station from Portfolio Events and amazing live music throughout their drinks reception and the Josie Soden band for the reception. You can read more about Hannah’s wedding planning in her wedding blog or listen on the “Let’s Get You Wed” Podcast.

From grand celebrations to intimate ceremonies, celebrity weddings in 2024 have been inspiring and we are excited for 2025! 

Are you newly engaged or planning your big day? Let us help you make it just as magical as you imagine. Book a consultation to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life, from full planning services to on-the-day management. 

The post Celebrity Weddings of 2024! appeared first on Wedding Planner and Event Manager, London and UK.

The cost to hire a UK wedding planner

Now first up, it’s a bit like much of the wedding industry – how long is a piece of string! What we would say is that planners tend to charge 10-15% of your estimated wedding budget. It is so important to have a wedding budget and you can download our PDF guide on how to set a budget here. Once you have an idea of what you want to spend overall, you can then start approaching wedding planners with a budget and your ideas and they will then create a quote from there, taking into consideration the time they will need to plan, location, the size of the team they will need on the day and the length of the wedding.

But not every planner works in this way. For us, we work on a set fee basis as opposed to a percentage of your budget. Our fee is based on your style of wedding, the size of the guest list and what kind of wedding you would like. For example, if you wanted a hotel wedding which has inhouse caterers and accommodation on site, this would be a lower cost than if you wanted a marquee in a field as the logistics are far more time consuming. We generally need a bigger team for a marquee wedding and can be onsite for up to 5 days for the set up etc, so planning fees would be higher to accommodate for this. You can see a rough guide of what we charge here which can give you an indication of the cost to hire a wedding planner.

What services do UK weddings planners offer?

The services planners generally offer are full planning, where we plan your UK wedding from the very beginning, right up until the day, covering every part of the planning process to give you the day you want. Many, including myself, offer a partial planning service where you have already started booking the key things such as venue, catering, photography, and now need somebody to step in and take over. It could even be that all of your suppliers are booked but you need someone for the communication with the suppliers and the logistical planning, as that can be a lot!

There are other services some planners also offer, such as styling and décor planning, and we also offer an on the day management/co-ordination service which is perfect for you if you want to go ahead and plan your own day, but want to relax on the day and know that it’s handed over to someone else to handle the logistics in the background and to put any fires which inevitably crop up!

How much does it cost to hire a day of wedding coordinator?

Our 12 hour wedding co-ordination services are a set fee of £1500. There other extras you an add, such as final month planning, day prior set up, post wedding set down and an extension to have an event manager until the very end of the night, to manage the set down if it needs to be done on the same day, and also to manage any taxis/buses etc. But this is entirely up to you!

Every planner charges differently for this service but I would say £1000 – £2000 is the general rule of thumb. Some planners charge more and take over the planning 4-6 weeks prior to the day. I decided not to factor this into the base cost as some couples don’t feel like they need this service and would rather just have someone there on the day. With a background in event management, I have confidence to do this whereas I understand some planners would rather been more involved with supplier communication etc.

You can find out more about what our base co-ordination service includes here. This service is essential if you have a dry hire venue where you don’t have a venue co-ordinator onsite, or if you are getting married on your own land, or land you have hired.

How will I know if I need a wedding planner?

There are many reasons people hire a wedding planner, and as already discussed, in different capacities. Many of our couples (and parent!) afterwards are thrilled that they decided to hire a wedding planner, regardless of the cost to do so. For full planning and partial planning, most couples come to us because they have busy lives, careers etc so the cost of a wedding planner is the best many they spend in their budget! A wedding planner can’t take away all of the stress, such as family situations, but we can take away the stress of the supplier searching, the consistent emails, and the worries of whether the suppliers they are booking are legit and an appropriate cost.

If you’re not able to take the time out to focus on your wedding plans, if you are already feeling busy in your lives, or if you just don’t feel like you have the experience to know what to book, hiring a wedding planner will be essential for you and a great investment.

I truly believe everyone needs a wedding planner in the corner in some aspect, even if you just hire someone to manage your day, but you then have that relief in the back of your mind that you have a professional involved in some aspect that you can go to when you need to, even just to book a one off session to unload your stresses.

Many couples also book a planner if they aren’t in the same country, for example if you live in America, but would like a wedding in the UK or England, you will find a wedding planner is essential for you.

What is the disadvantage of a wedding planner?

I mean, after reading this, are there any? I think finding the right planner for you is essential. I don’t believe a wedding planner takes any control for you, you are ultimately in control, you make the final decisions, but this could depend on the planner you hire. You also need to ensure the planner you hire has experience. There have been many wedding planners popping up who may just think it is a nice job to do, but experience is essential.

There is a cost attached to a hire a wedding planner. Always check if your planner works on commission from their suppliers. This is something we do not do, as we want to hire the suppliers who are right for you, and now ones that we will earn an incentive from. A planner who works on commission may charge you less, but in the long run, will cost you more as your suppliers will then add that commission on top of your price. A wedding planner can most certainly save you money as we work with a budget planner, to make sure we are sticking to the overall budget you wanted to commit to, whereas when planning on your own, you are more likely to go over on the cost you wanted to spend.

Are you convinced that a wedding planner is the right route for you? Get in touch here and let’s get a consultation booked so we can chat further about your plans and how we can help you!

The post How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Wedding Planner In The UK? appeared first on Wedding Planner and Event Manager, London and UK.

Have an initial conversation together

Before booking venue viewings or visiting wedding fayres, have an initial conversation about your day together. So many couples I work with have a very different idea when they are first thinking about how to plan a wedding and how they would like their wedding to be. Once you know the style you want, it is so much easier to stay focused on looking for inspiration, ideas, venues and suppliers for the wedding you both want. There is SO much wedding inspiration out there, you don’t want to be like a magpie with shiny things, stick to the style you have agreed on. For instance, if you have chosen an informal, field style wedding, stick to looking at what will match this theme, not beautiful stiletto heels or venues with no outside space.

Choosing your bridal party wisely

When it comes to choosing your bridesmaids, maid of honour, best man, groomsmen etc (which is an important part of how to plan a wedding and one people get over excited about!) choose the people who you want to be by your side during your wedding day. Don’t feel pressured to choose certain people because you have been their bridesmaids or because they are your sister, or your partners sister.  I hear so often that they bridal party actual cause so much stress for the couple as they don’t want to wear the bridesmaids dress that has been chosen or they don’t want to plan the honeymoon – choose people who you know will support you, whatever your decision and will help relieve your stress, not cause you more!

Parents

It is an exciting time for all of your family to know that there is an upcoming wedding on the horizon, especially for your parents, and they may also be thinking about how to plan the wedding! Some couples love that their parents want to get involved with their planning and give their ideas and opinions, and others…don’t! My top advice if a parent wants to get involved with planning is to give them a specific job, whether it is arranging the favours, booking dress appointments or helping with the table plan, let them be involved, but give them something to focus on. Also, make sure they understand that it is your day and you want them to be involved but also to respect your wishes.

Terms and conditions

It can be oh so exciting when you are sitting at the venue of your dreams, speaking all about colours and flowers, the pretty things, then a copy of terms and conditions are put in front of you to be signed. One of the most important things when working out how to plan a wedding is to make sure you take these home, read them, understand them and get an extra person to read over them before signing. This is the same for suppliers too, don’t sign anything in the moment until it is fully digested.

Keep organised

During your planning process, make sure you stay organised, whether this be using a planning book, excel sheets or an app. Keep a list of all of the suppliers you have booked with their name, business name and contact details, along with the dates they require payments and further information. So often I speak with couples part way through their planning, or even a few weeks before the Wedding and they cannot remember who they have booked and have to search back through old emails! You also want to avoid unexpected payments!

Take time out of planning

This may seem strange now as I am sure you are super excited about planning your wedding day and don’t want to talk about anything BUT your big day, but there will be times that it can get a bit too much for you or stressful times. My advice is, from the very start of your Wedding planning journey, either set time aside when you DON’T talk about Wedding planning or time where you DO talk about Wedding planning. One of the couples I work with only discuss their Wedding plans once a week. Trust me, you will be glad for the break from it all further down the line…

Your day is YOUR day!

Remember your day is YOUR day, yours and your partners. Of course, you will want all of your friends and family to enjoy the full day, the setting, the food, the music etc but this is a day about YOU. Make sure you stick with what you have decided and how you would like your day to be. The whole planning process is part of your wedding memory – don’t let it be a stressful one because you are worried about other people.

If you need help, get help

Whether it is from one of your bridal party, your partner or a wedding planner, make sure you ask for help if you feel like your to do list is never ending and you cannot catch a break from wedding planning! It is also really important to talk to your partner or wedding planner if you are feeling stressed or worried about anything to do with your wedding day.

If you’re reading this, feeling slightly overwhelmed and still thinking ‘how am I going to plan a wedding?!’, and want to speak with a wedding planner sooner rather than later, you can book a consultation with us here!

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Jamie & Sophie 

Let’s start with Hanahh’s absolute favourite celebrity couple; former Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and Sophie Haboo, having only announced their engagement at the end of 2022, just before Christmas. 

They kept us updated on all things weddings and wedding mistakes in their ‘Nearlyweds’ podcast! Jamie and Sophie legally wed in a Chelsea registry office in April, Sophie wearing a short Vivienne Westwood wedding dress and then packed all their friends and family off to Marbella for one of the weddings of the year. No expenses spared and a jam-packed celebrity guest list! 

Sophie wore a gorgeous long-sleeved lace dress, designed by Emma Beaumont and Jamie was suited in a double-breasted wedding suit and matching shades!  The occasion was an elaborate affair, and we are still obsessed with the stunning details, ahem, the flowers.

Georgia & Tommy 

Just this month TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallet ended the year “happy, in love and together as husband and wife” in a ceremony at Islington Town Hall, with a further celebration in Spain planned – which we are very excited to see and are following them like a hawk for any details! 

Georgia wore a stunning mini dress with a long train and puff sleeves designed by Khirzad Femme, Prada Shoes and carried a simple bouquet of Red roses from Reine Des Fleurs. Whilst Tommy sported a black suit with matching white trainers from himself and their Son Brody – cute, cute cute!

Olly & Amelia

Back in July, Olly Murs and Amelia Tank married in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex during a 3-day celebration! With guests arriving at the venue on Friday night for a barbecue, the ceremony followed on Saturday and wow what a dress! Amelia’s dress by Pallas Couture in Australia had a corset bodice, detachable lace sleeve and covered head to toe in beaded appliques. She also wore a floor-length veil embroidered with “Olly and Amelia” and their wedding date! 

The Saturday celebrations ended at midnight, so guests could prepare and recuperate for “Murs Fest” on Sunday! Funfair rides, a McNugget truck and stage performances from Olly, Craig David and DJ Pandora Christie! Outfit details on Sunday though, Amelia wore a Dissh mini dress and chunky black boots, with a Sophie Webster “Wifey for Lifey” Bag and a bespoke hand-painted “Just Married” All Saints leather jacket. Olly has recently announced on Instagram that Baby Murs is due in 2024, congratulations guys!

Sofia & Elliot

Sofia Richie, Lionel Richie’s daughter, & Elliot Grange exchanged vows at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, back in April, with a star-studded guest list. Following their engagement in April 2022 in Hawaii, Sofia referred to wedding planning as “a full-time job”! We know Sofia, we know! 

Sofia had her dream trio of dresses designed in Paris by Chanel; a rehearsal dinner dress, which took place on Friday night; the ceremony; and one for the after party. Elliot wore a Tom Ford tuxedo for the wedding day and the bridesmaids were all in black, choosing their own dresses – so on trend for 2023!

Sofia and Elliot wed in a traditional Jewish ceremony, having a private legal ceremony with just their parents in the States before flying to France. The ceremony was followed by cocktails, dinner and speeches with Nicole Richie, Sofia’s sister, as MC for the night and father Lionel Richie performing! And then to an after-party, with nightclub-inspired vibes, dancing until 3 am!

Mikayla & Cody

Boston-based Beauty influencer, TikToker Mikayla Nogueira married Cody Hawken in July this year at Castle Hill in Rhode Island, with a guest list including celebrities and TikTokers! “Classic, clean and elegant” they went for a black-and-white aesthetic.

Mikayla wore a Martina Liana ballgown-style dress, with floral accents. Exchanging vows, in a non-traditional ceremony, customised entirely to themselves. They celebrated their nuptials over a multi-day celebration, kicking off with a welcome breakfast and ending with a Fourth of July after-party!

Sia & Dan

May saw Australian singer Sia marry Dan Bernad at the home of Stefano Dolce and Domenico Gabbana, in Portofino, Italy. Also the wedding venue choice of Kourtney Kardashian-Baker and Travis Baker a year prior in May 2022 (Chloe’s celebrity wedding favourite of 2022). Dolce and Gabbana’s home is just a surreal venue. 

Being notorious for being a private person, Sia and Dan exchanged vows under an iron gazebo, adorned with pastel flowers in front of just 4 guests. Sia wore a blush pink mermaid-style gown, with a high neckline, cropped sleeve and pearl buttons.

Lady Amelia and Greg

Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Amelia Spencer, wed long-time partner Greg Mallet in a ceremony at Quoin Rock Manor House, South Africa earlier in March. After their engagement in Franschhoek in July 2020, Lady Amelia, who has previously worked as a wedding planner in the past, worked with Anne Mann to create her perfect wedding day!

With Amelia being a model and Brand ambassador, fashion was a high priority for the day, with both Amelia and Greg wearing Versace. The wedding dress was created from custom silk rebrodé lace, with a 2-and-a-half metre train, adorned with Swarovski crystals and intricate flower patterns. Paired with a 5 metre-long veil made from fine silk tulle and Jimmy Choos shoes – the dream wedding shoes!

An afternoon ceremony on the Saturday, followed by sunset cocktail hour and dinner seated in a bespoke glass marquee, filled with twinkling lights and white roses, dubbed “a magical fairy garden”. Amelia changed into a beaded gown by Provonias and the evening continued with a surprise outdoor party on the elevated lawn, partying through to 3am!

So many celebrity weddings we have loved this year and so many to look forward to next year! Celebrity engagement announcements that have us hooked; Demi Lovato, Matty from GBBO, Molly-Mae & Tommy Fury, Perrie Sian, Channing Tatum, Zooey Deschanel, Nicole Sherzinger, Rebel Wilson, Ella Henderson, Millie Bobby Brown, Chef Ben from Below Deck and how is Thomas Brodie-Sangster old enough to get married?!

What celebrity weddings have you enjoyed this year? If you are newly engaged in 2023, or still engaged in 2023, and have no idea what to do next with wedding planning, book a consultation to learn more about what we do from our full planning services to on-the-day management.

The post Celebrity Weddings of 2023 appeared first on Wedding Planner and Event Manager, London and UK.

Planning a fusion wedding and looking for some advice? Have a look: here

The orangery at Kensington palace

First up is The Orangery at Kensington Palace, an elegant venue set within the beautiful gardens of the palace. The Orangery was originally built in 1704 for Queen Anne and has since been used for various events, including weddings. The venue offers a stunning backdrop for your big day, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens and a beautiful terrace for outdoor ceremonies. The Orangery can accommodate up to 150 guests for a ceremony and 300 guests for a reception, making it ideal for both intimate and larger weddings. In terms of accommodation, there isn’t any onsite, but there are plenty of hotels nearby, including The Kensington Hotel and The Milestone Hotel.

One of the unique features of Kensington Palace is the opportunity to have a private tour of the palace’s State Apartments. This allows you and your guests to explore the lavish living spaces of royalty, including the magnificent King’s State Apartments and the Queen’s State Apartments. You can also take a stroll through the stunning Sunken Garden, which was redesigned in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s passing.

As for celebrity sightings, The Orangery has played host to a number of high-profile events, and of course is within the grounds of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s most recent home, along with Princess Eugenie and her husband. So, if you’re looking for a venue fit for a royal celebration, The Orangery is definitely worth considering.

Visit here.

The Ivy Chelsea Garden

Next on our list is The Ivy Chelsea Garden, one of our favourite wedding venues, which is also a restaurant, in Kensington and Chelsea. The restaurant and bar have become famous for their botanical décor, with an elegant dining room and a beautiful outdoor garden space. The venue offers a number of different spaces for weddings, including The Glasshouse, which can accommodate up to 26 guests for a ceremony and 40 guests for a reception, perfect for smaller celebrations.

As for accommodation, The Ivy Chelsea Garden doesn’t have any onsite options, but there are plenty of hotels nearby, including The Draycott Hotel and The Sloane Square Hotel. In terms of celebrity sightings, The Ivy Chelsea Garden is frequently visited by many well-known names, such as Michael Cain, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Spencer Matthews.

Visit here.

The royal chelsea hospital

If you’re looking for a venue with a rich history, The Royal Hospital Chelsea is definitely worth considering. The venue was founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a home for army veterans and has since become a popular location for weddings and events. The venue offers a number of different spaces for weddings, including The Great Hall, which can accommodate up to 250 guests for dinner and 350 guests for a reception, Wren House which can accommodate up to 50 for ceremonies and 40 for dinner, and The Figure Court which is available for up to 400 people for a reception from 6pm.

You can also have your wedding ceremony at The Wren Chapel, which can accommodate up to 320 guests, although there are a few requirements that you need to match to be able to have your ceremony in the chapel, such as one of you, your grandparents or your parents must have been christened, married or confirmed here.

In terms of accommodation, The Royal Hospital Chelsea doesn’t have any onsite options, but there are plenty of hotels nearby, including The Draycott Hotel and The Sloane Square Hotel. As for celebrity sightings, The Royal Hospital Chelsea has been visited by many household names, including David Beckham, who attended the launch of the annual Poppy Appeal in 2020.

Visit here.

the Chelsea harbour hotel

The Chelsea Harbour Hotel, a luxurious venue located on the banks of the River Thames, also available as one of the many wedding venues in Chelsea and Kensington. The venue offers a number of different spaces for weddings, including The Grand Room, which can accommodate up to 450 guests for the wedding breakfast and 700 guests for a reception, which offers stunning views of the river and can accommodate up to 250 guests for a reception. The Chelsea Harbour Hotel also offers onsite accommodation for you and your guests, with a range of luxurious rooms and suites available. They even have their own onsite spa, perfect for you to have a relaxing evening the night before your wedding, getting you ready for your celebrations!

In terms of celebrity sightings, The Chelsea Harbour Hotel has welcomed a number of famous faces over the years, including David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, who have been known to stay at the hotel when visiting London.

Visit here.

the natural history museum

The Natural History Museum is a prestigious wedding venue in Kensington and Chelsea that is highly sought-after for its stunning Victorian architecture and world-renowned collections of natural specimens. This venue offers a range of event spaces suitable for weddings, including the impressive Hintze Hall that can accommodate up to 450 guests for a reception and the Earth Hall which provides a unique and dramatic setting for a wedding ceremony, along with many other areas suitable for your celebrations. The Natural History Museum also offers in-house catering and event planning services, ensuring that every detail of your special day is taken care of.

The Natural History Museum provides a memorable experience for you and your guests, offering the opportunity to dine and dance beneath the iconic blue whale skeleton that hangs from the ceiling of Hintze Hall. This 25-meter-long specimen provides a dramatic and awe-inspiring backdrop for your celebration that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Additionally, the venue provides a range of museum tours and exhibitions, giving you and your guests the chance to explore the fascinating world of natural history. The museum’s Victorian architecture and unique setting also make for fantastic photo opportunities, creating lasting memories of your special day. Much loved Ollie and Gareth Locke married on the well-known steps of Hintze Hall, under Hope the whale, back in 2020, with just 13 guests due to Covid restrictions.

Visit here.

Chelsea old town hall

Adding to our list of esteemed wedding venues in Kensington and Chelsea, we couldn’t forget the iconic Chelsea Old Town Hall. This stunning Grade II listed building is situated in the heart of Chelsea and is renowned for its elegant Victorian architecture and rich history. The venue offers a range of beautiful event spaces suitable for weddings, including the elegant Main Hall and the intimate Small Hall, each exuding its own unique charm.

Chelsea Old Town Hall can accommodate varying wedding party sizes, with the Main Hall accommodating up to 340 guests for a ceremony and 180 guests for a reception, while the Small Hall accommodates up to 140 guests for a ceremony and 80 guests for a reception. There are also smaller spaces available for your ceremony, especially if you are looking for a legal ceremony only, before your celebrations elsewhere, which are part of the register office, for example, The Rossetti Room, which accommodate 12 guests for a ceremony. The venue boasts exquisite period features, including a magnificent grand staircase, stained glass windows, and ornate ceilings, creating a romantic and sophisticated ambiance for your special day.

One of the advantages of Chelsea Old Town Hall is its convenient location, surrounded by vibrant boutiques, fashionable restaurants, and picturesque streets, providing an array of options for stunning wedding photographs and a vibrant atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. Furthermore, the venue offers flexibility in terms of catering options, allowing you to customize your wedding menu according to your preferences and dietary requirements.

Chelsea Old Town Hall has also hosted its fair share of celebrity weddings. It has been the chosen venue for notable figures such as Pierce Brosnan Judy Garland, and of course, most recently, Jamie and Sophie Laing. Choosing Chelsea Old Town Hall for your wedding will not only provide a touch of glamour and history but also the opportunity to create your own memorable moments within its elegant halls.

In terms of accommodation, Chelsea Old Town Hall doesn’t offer onsite options. However, with the wedding venues being situated in a prime location of Kensington and Chelsea, it means that there are numerous hotels and accommodations nearby, ensuring that you and your guests can find comfortable and convenient places to stay.

Unsure on what you will need for your tables? We can help: here

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Struggling to choose who to have as your bridesmaids? Read my advice here

how much does a wedding planner cost?

This can be like asking how long is a piece of string….many planners work on a % basis and you can expect to spend around 10-15% of your budget, with many planners having a minimum budget they work with.

Many planners also offer different services at different costs, for example, for the planning side, I offer a full planning service, which covers everything from finding your venue and suppliers, to guest management, wedding management and all the other things in-between!

I also offer a partial planning service for couples who have already booked their venue and a couple of key suppliers such as caterer and photographer, have then realised it’s actually ridiculously time consuming to find suppliers, and then decide to hire a planner! I then jump in and take over.

For couples who want to plan themselves but need a co-ordinator as they have a dry hire venue or hosting their celebrations from their own land, I also offer an on the day management service. All of my services work on a set fee basis, so the price on the website is what you can expect to pay, depending on your requirements, ie. If your celebrations are multiple days, the cost will be higher. You can see my pricing here.

What does a wedding planner do?

It’s a planners job, basically, for you as a couple to enjoy the planning journey more than you would without a planner….of course you are going to still face potential stresses of any family related problems that we cannot control, and of course the stresses of guest list and table plan, so I am not going to say we make the process completely stress free. But what we do do is take a lot of stress away that isn’t necessary, such as endless Google searches for suppliers, stressing over not having the time for searching for suppliers, the endless communication between suppliers and many other time-consuming tasks!

As you can see from my answer to the question above, there are various services that many planners offer, so depending on the level of service you opt for depends on how much the planner will be involved with planning tasks.

What I will say is that what a wedding planner doesn’t do is take away your control. I hear this a lot from couples who say that they can be control freaks and don’t want to loose the control. Ultimately, you don’t loose the control. You make the final decision on your suppliers, you just save the masses of time searching for them, finding our if they are available on your date, are within your budget and fit your style and vibe. You also make decision on details such as colour schemes, what flowers you want and your menu. We just do the background work to make this information far more accessible to you with the right suppliers who are the best for you!

Do i need a wedding planner?

In short, yes. Everyone needs a planner is some way. I have hired a planner to manage my own wedding day, and that is what I do for a living. Whether it’s just a few one off 1-1’s along the way to put your mind at ease and help unload some stress, or a full planning service to completely take the time-consuming task of planning a wedding off tour shoulders, every couple will benefit from a planner.

Venue co-ordinator vs wedding planner?

A venue co-ordinator is there to manage the venue. Yes, they can give recommendation for suppliers, but those suppliers may not work for you. Let’s put it this way, a co-ordinator manages anything from 30 – 150 weddings a year, depending on the venue, compared to a planner who generally take on 5-8 full plans a year. This shows how involved a planner is.

I was a venue co-ordinator myself for 10 years and can wholeheartedly tell you that the roles are completely different. A planner works directly for you. You may also find that your co-ordinator may leave the venue during your planning process, so although you could have a great relationship with them, they don’t work directly work for you so have free will to get a new job elsewhere! You may also find that your venue co-ordinator isn’t there for your full wedding day and passes over to an operational team, as a venue co-ordinator role is full on and doesn’t always leave time for wedding day management!

do wedding planners help find venues?

Yes! If you hire a planner for full planning or even just for a venue search which many planners offer, we can of course find you the perfect venue to fit your requirements such as date, location, accommodation etc and of course your budget. As planners, we have a directory full of perfect wedding venues, including some hidden ones you would probably struggle to find yourself – those private, family-owned venues who don’t have the budgets to get themselves to the top of Google or maybe aren’t the best on social media!

when to hire a wedding planner?

You can hire a planner at any point, depending on when you decide you need one! Only thing I would say is that with busy diaries, and with many planners only taking on a certain amount of couples each year to make sure they can give each and every one the time they deserve, if you have a particular planner in mind, you may want to get in quick!

Do wedding planners get commission from vendors and suppliers?

Ok so this is a controversial conversation across the wedding industry and is one that you may want to ask your planner during the consultation stage when you are deciding on which wedding plan you are hiring, although they may not want to answer the question! For me, my answer is simply – NO! I would never choose a supplier based on who will give me commission. If they want to pass on a payment or a gift to say thank you for booking, then that is up to them and I will always happily take a gift, but I would never choose a supplier based on this factor. I base my choice on the suppliers who will work for my couple.

is hiring a planner a luxury?

It could be, it all depends on your wedding budget, but what I will say is that many of my couple’s feedback after their wedding that they would never have kept to the budget they had in their heads if they hadn’t hired a wedding planner.

When we first start working together, we discuss what you want to spend, and saying ‘we don’t have a budget’ doesn’t wash with me (unless you literally have unlimited money to spend, then fine!) as everyone has a certain budget to spend. My answer to that is, if I put a 1 million pound wedding in front of you, would you be happy to spend that? No? You have a budget in mind then….

We then split your budget down to each area of the wedding, so when I am supplier searching, I can make sure they don’t go over what you want to spend.

Many couples make the mistake of not thinking about budget, as we all, as humans, hate talking about money! They then go off, find a lovely venue and book it without thinking of all the other costs that come with it, then stress because the wedding ends up costing far more than they actually want to spend. Hire a wedding planner and avoid this – in fact, I can guarantee the cost of a planner will actually what you overspend by (and more!) without having a planner.

Still looking for your perfect London hotel wedding venue? Check out my favourite options here

Yes, you may get the odd comment from a friend – “you have a planner?! What are you, Beyonce?!” but this thought process needs to change. In America, when you get engaged, you get a planner, it’s pretty standard. No one thinks you are being a diva by getting a planner, they just think you are clever. They have the right mentality. So many of my couple’s friends and family say afterwards, wow, I will definitely hire a wedding planner now I’ve seen what you’ve done for them and how incredible their wedding was. In fact, many of my bookings are referrals from previous couples. So, ignore the stigma of having a planner and get in touch here!

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Need to book a planner to help with your day, whether you need help with full planning, just parts of your journey or a wedding co-ordinator on the day? Find out about my services here.

Planning your London wedding and want to know where you can shop in London for your wedding? We have the answer for you here: London Wedding Shopping At Department Stores

Utilise the Pantone colour of the year trend in your wedding colour scheme

Not something we are seeing much of yet, but with the pantone colour of the year just being confirmed as viva magenta, more of you may be possibly bringing this into your styling and colour palettes. And why not? I absolutely love it, but I am a sucker for deep colour palettes and red tones. Pantone say viva magenta “vibrates with vim and vigor” and is “expressive of a new signal of strength”, so if that is the vibe you are going for, then let’s get a moodboard created for your day!

Check out the colour here!

Top tip – this colour scheme is quite bold, make sure it matches the venue styling, for example, maybe older properties may already use deeper tones in their carpets and upholstery, you don’t want this to clash!

Sharing platter courses are on trend for 2023

Sharing platter courses made a come back after covid, but is definitely one of the wedding trends of 2023. Couples seem to be moving away from the formal 3 course sit down meal. They want to be different. Many couples are completely moving away from formal and opting for a more informal day – BBQ, street food and no formal place settings, but if you want to keep to a more traditional sit down then sharing platters work so well! All guests will still be seated as per your seating plan, but each table will be bought a selection of your menu on boards to share amongst the table. It’s even becoming more popular for a joint of meat to be put on the tables, and a carver nominated by the couple to carve for the guests at that table with an engraved knife and personalised apron!
Top tip – don’t crowd your tables for this option! Go tall and narrow with your centre pieces as you need to be able to fit the boards/bowls etc

Use bigger floral arrangements for your wedding décor

It seems like bigger is better recently, more statement flowers, and not just for the tables, arches at church entrances, floral backdrops and walkways for ceremonies and floral decorated lounge areas, bringing a wow factor to any space that guests walk into.
Top tip – if opting for tall flower arrangements, use clear vase or a narrow option to avoid blocking people’s view of guests opposite them

Travel for your perfect wedding venue

Travel is back on the cards and bigger than ever. I am seeing more couples coming to England to get married from America and Europe, and couples not being stuck to the one area they live in, but traveling across the UK, maybe even eloping to Wales or Scotland, to find their perfect venue and the best possible location for them, regardless of travel time.
Top tip – when sending out save the dates, pop in a location so guests can start preplanning their trip.

Use neutral tones in your wedding colour scheme

I am seeing a lot of neutral wedding tones this year, as is cake maker Nina from Erzulie Cakes and florist Hayley from Bloomfields. Whether it’s blush pink, a palette of brown and nude hues or creams mixed with green tones, I feel many couples are wanting to bring a relaxed and natural feel to their day.
Top tip – put together a mood board of your ideals before hiring any styling related suppliers

Large wedding cakes are the way forward for 2023

Nina from Erzulie cakes has found that couples, much as with their floral arrangements want to go bigger! They want statement pieces which will wow their guests. Tall cakes also look great if you have a venue with tall ceilings, particularly stately homes tend to have the taller ceilings. A low ceiling with a smaller cake can look deflating, so add in some tiers! Make sure your cake is also displayed somewhere spectacular such as an archway.
Top tip – you can still go big without having mountains of cake, ask for faux tiers

Wedding dessert tables are on trend right now

Much the same as the sharing breakfast courses, many couples are opting for dessert tables either alongside their wedding cake or instead of a wedding cake. These can also be used instead of a dessert – you find a lot of guests will be getting up, going to the bar, chatting etc by the time the dessert comes out and many don’t even sit back down to eat it. A dessert table means guests can enjoy the rest of the evening, while picking at a dessert as they wish! I think we will see a lot of these in 2023!

More wedding entertainment is trending

Wow, entertainment is KEY to a wedding day! A good band, string quartet, solo singer, maybe even a magician! Whatever you decide to have, keep the guests entertained. We saw a lot of saxophonists in 2021, moving into 2023 wedding trends, I think we will see couples mainly having bands suited to their taste in music, with a DJ in-between sets and also live musicians such as drummers, singers, pianists etc, and not just for the evening reception, also for the rest of the day. I’ve also seen a surge in surprise wedding entertainment, such as singing waiters, and think this will continue.

Still stuck with what 2023 wedding trends to include in your wedding planning? Get in touch and let’s talk through your plans and how I can help you! You can book a consultation here.

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I absolutely love the Urban Dictionary’s definition of a Bridesmaid: “A woman who is the sister I never got, a best friend in every way possible, an amazing lady who I want to share my special day standing next to me”

As a London wedding planner, with 15 years’ experience in the industry, I have seen and heard it ALL and what I will say is that one of the biggest things couples say cause them stress during their planning, is yup, you’ve guessed it, their bridesmaids. From being difficult about what dress they are wearing, to making zero effort with the hen, and just being plain jealous that the day is all about you, your bridesmaids can really cause some dramas, and seriously here, some upset and stress to you. So how can we avoid that? Well firstly, let’s look at what your bridesmaid is actually there to do:

Looking for current trends? Find out here

What is the purpose of your Bridesmaids?

These people are your TEAM!! Whether you’ve had a bad dream in the night that you walk down the aisle with your dress on, or if you’re panicking that your hair isn’t going to go right, your bridal party need to be there to give you any support, be there to wipe away the tears and tell you that it will all be ok! You should be able to trust them with any worries or concerns you have without feeling silly or like they won’t care. They should be bigging you up at all possible opportunities to make sure you feel amazing on the day!

Plan the hen party!

While you have the job of planning your wedding day, plus organising a honeymoon and many other factors involved with a wedding, there is no way you are also going to want to deal with the hassle of the hen party. Of course, it’s a good idea to speak with your bridal party about what you would like (although these people should all know exactly what would suit you! If they don’t, they shouldn’t be a bridesmaid) and also who you would like to invite and an ideal budget per person, but the rest should be down to them. Sorting dates, location, and all the other details for a big group of people can be super stressful – put this on your bridal party and not on yourself!

Whether it’s helping you shop for your dress, or just giving their advice on a decision you aren’t sure of, your team should be there to help with anything you aren’t sure of. They can be a real help with those questions where you think, what would people expect, ie. if you should have credit behind the bar, if you should opt for gin instead of wine on the tables – you get the idea! They should be your first port of call to send a message to for opinions, without any worry of judgement.

It’s the morning of the wedding. It’s an exciting but also nerve-wracking for you. These bridesmaids should be there at your beck and call! Not worrying about themselves! You don’t want to hear any utter of them moaning how they look or how they haven’t lost enough weight. A bridesmaid’s job is to make sure every part of your morning is positive and enjoyable, even if you are a nervous wreck or a ‘bride/groom-zilla’, they should take it all in their stride!

Similar to support and help with planning, but this goes deeper. If you generally need this person’s advice, on something such as what you are wearing, you will need to feel comfortable asking them. If you have a family situation that you are concerned about, you should be able to freely talk about it to them. And you should always get a good reaction from this person and shouldn’t just make you feel worse with their negative reactions. If you are worried about how a guest will be on the day, it is for your bridesmaids to make sure they don’t cause any issues, and if they do, then it is quickly resolved and you don’t notice. It is your bridesmaid’s job to be fully there for you and to be able to be trusted with your deepest, darkest secrets!

So, how should I choose from bridesmaids?

Use the list above and really think about if the person you are thinking of would fit those job roles! Never choose somebody just because you think you have to have them.

What should I expect to pay for my bridesmaids?

Expect to pay for everything they need – dresses, hair, makeup. Most bridesmaids will be happy to provide their own shoes/jewellery or use ones they already have. If you are asking them to be bridesmaids, it’s difficult to then ask for this to become an expense to them. For makeup, many will be happy to do this themselves so this could be a saving, or you can get quotes so they can have it if they wish and pay for that themselves. If you decide to hire a house or hotel rooms for the night prior to have a night with all your bridesmaids, make sure this is also covered by you and is in your budget. For your hen party, leave this for your bridesmaids to discuss how much your guests are willing to spend and leave this to them to then arrange around everyone’s budgets. For your hen, you should only be paying for yourself, but only expect guests to spend what they have said they are happy to spend.

Not sure what you need for your wedding tables? The answer is here

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Still looking for a London wedding planner to save you time from the endless Google searches and the stress? Check out my services here

Harvey Nichols

The UK’s most recognised luxury fashion retailer has held the premier spot when it comes to sourcing designer brands and is globally renowned for its fashion and beauty merchandise, gourmet food and wine, and several award-winning restaurants. The flagship store was built in 1831 in Knightsbridge and is only a 3-minute walk from the underground. Offering an impressive collection of must-haves and accessories including jewellery, lingerie, wedding dresses and gift sets, they also have a range of in-store beauty services and you can even get married here! On the top floor of the famous OXO Tower in South Bank, Harvey Nichols owns and operates the OXO Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie. A London staple for over 20 years, with an unrivalled, panoramic view of the city and a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. This venue is available for private hire and can accommodate all manner of ceremonies, seated dinners, and wedding parties. Contact the events team to make enquires about the space and the Knightsbridge store for dress fittings or beauty services.

Fortnum & Mason

Not many stores can boast of having centuries of experience or a mention from the great Charles Dickens – Fortnum & Mason can, which makes it the perfect place for your London wedding shopping. Established in Piccadilly in 1707, Fortnum & Mason dubs itself ‘The World’s Most Famous Cornershop.’ It meets and exceeds this title, holding to its flawless reputation for customer care, enjoyment, and experience, whilst boasting an extraordinary collection of designer fashion, luxury accessories, wedding gifts and services. Their wedding gift guide is exceptional, offering a collection of luxury gifts from gourmet picnic hampers to personalised champagne sets. Fortnum & Mason is another store where they have everything you need to celebrate your special day, including a wedding license, their own chapel, and a selection of iconic wedding venues! Choose from the stunning locations of the Royal Exchange which can seat 200 or the intimate and decadent surroundings of the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Once you’ve decided, Fortnum & Mason’s dedicated team will ensure that everything is tailored to suit your needs.

Selfridges

To quote directly from their website; ‘The only store to be named best department store in the world four times!’ Selfridges has truly earned this title by reinventing the retail experience and promising its customers something more than just the incredible products it has to offer.

Since it first opened in 1909, on London’s famous Oxford Street, the store’s motto has been ‘Everyone is welcome,’ and that spirit is kept alive today. Selfridges offers an extensive list of wedding services, perfect for your London wedding shopping – from fashion experts and designer stylists, helping you to choose your wedding wardrobe and lingerie, to beauty experts and skincare specialists ensuring you look your very best for the big day. The groom is covered too with a team of in-house tailors ready to create made-to-measure suits and if you’re looking for something more alternative, you can book an appointment with a fashion advisor to create a bespoke outfit. As well as an amazing collection of luxury gift ideas, Selfridges provides a range of wedding packages. You can tie the knot in one of the beautiful spaces inside the London store and have every aspect of your special day taken care of from the moment you wake up, starting with a gourmet wedding breakfast hamper delivered to you!

John Lewis

The John Lewis Partnership strives in working together for a happier world and continually evolving the way of doing business. The first store was built over 100 years ago on Oxford Street with the principle of putting partners, customers, and suppliers first, which has enabled them to maintain their commitment to outstanding customer service. John Lewis is a fantastic store to get specific elements of your big day such as – outfits, gifts, and stationery. Providing a beautiful range of wedding dresses for the bride and accompanying outfits for the rest of the bridal party (including children’s attire). There is also a stylish selection of men’s fashion for the groom, such as morning suits, blazers, or something more formal. Aside from clothing, other aspects of your wedding are covered – invites, stationery, placeholders, favours, and anything else you want on your tables, including the table decorations! Choose from your own range and infuse your décor with that personalised touch. A popular service is the wedding gift list service which you can curate yourself and send the portal out to all your guests!

Fenwick of Bond Street

Proudly bearing the title of the largest family-owned group of department stores in the United Kingdom, Fenwick has a commitment to luxury, an eye for quality and an uncompromising passion towards customer service and experience. The London store was built in 1891 on New Bond Street and was the first fashion store on the street. Customers flocked there and still do, because of its unmatched selection of luxury fashion and lifestyle products, bespoke services, and beauty treatments, all housed within a sophisticated, elegant shopping space. For your London wedding planning, a visit to Fenwick is highly recommended. The store has a stunning wedding collection, selecting the best outfits, gifts, and beauty services. Treat the newlyweds to something special to help commemorate their special day, including Jo Malone candles or a range of beautiful perfumes and fragrances. If you want to look and feel your best for your big day, why not treat yourself to something more invigorating? Fenwick offers an extensive range of beauty treatments in its in-house Skin Spa, where you can receive a rejuvenating massage or treat yourself to the ancient Indian technique of eyebrow threading in its pioneering Blink Brow Bar. Please check which stores offer these services beforehand. Be sure to get in your London wedding shopping quickly though as the store will be closing early 2024!

Starting to plan your wedding in London but still need a planner or a wedding day manager? Let’s book in a complimentary consultation here and chat about how I can help you!

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Trying to decide on your wedding day jewellery? Take a look at: How To Ensure Your Jewellery Matches Your Look 

Not having a wedding videographer

Probably the top answer to come out of me asking couples what they would have done differently. Videos are such an amazing way to keep memories for life. Spending time with family, re-watching your videos over and over again are priceless, you will have these videos forever, to see loved ones when they pass, to re-watch your vows during every anniversary and to show your children if you decide to start a family once you’re married. A videographer is a must and a big wedding regret if you don’t invest! Make sure a videographer is in the budget from the wedding planning offset. You can often find photographers who offer a package with both photography and videography, which can often work out a lower cost than hiring the two services separately.

Wedding planning stress regrets

Whether it’s stress during the wedding planning phase, or on the actual wedding day, stress and anxiety crops up often when talking through wedding regrets. Stress on the wedding day can be common, and a lot of the time it is the adrenaline from the day, mixed with emotions and also overwhelm. Not everybody enjoys having all eyes on them. Majority of the time, once the ceremony is over, you can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the day, but occasionally, the stress stays throughout, with worry about timings, whether everything is running smoothly, if suppliers are ok etc. My advice is to put your full trust in your suppliers. We do this for a living, have done for many, MANY weddings and know what we are doing. Trust the process. Enjoy yourselves. ALWAYS make sure you have someone with experience onsite to manage the wedding day. Still looking for a wedding coordinator? Get in touch here.

Not spending enough time together

Something that also comes up regularly, at the end of the day, the wedding is about the two of you and the love between you. Of course, you will be enjoying your day with your friends and family, which is great, but also make sure to take time out, just the two of you, to sit back, enjoy some alone time and watch your guests enjoying themselves. This works well when incorporated into the evening couple shots. You don’t want to reflect on the day, and think, wow, I barely saw my other half unless I had to! Enjoy the full day together.

Spending too much time on photos

Some of the lists of group shots I see….crazy! I would stick to an absolute maximum of 10 group shots, as they really can drag on, and when planning you photos, you may think you really want all of these photos, but in reality on the day, you will get sick of it and just want to enjoy yourselves. Don’t forget, your photographer will take natural group shots. Cut the pointless shots, like the ‘full group shot’. It’s not a photo you will ever use, and the distance it needs to be taken out, you can barely even see people’s faces. Make sure to have your planner/wedding manager one of the Bride’s/Groom’s party to help find the guests needed for each photo to save some time, as you don’t want to regret spending pointless time hanging around taking wedding group shots.

Not getting everyone to sign the guest book

Whether you decide on a guest book, video, voice messaging, a picture, a polaroid station and book, a tree….wow there are plenty of options, make sure it gets used. Ask the DJ to announce it to your guests and task one of your party or your planner to pass it around to guests. It would be a shame to not get a message from all of your guests if this is something you have your heart set on, and many couples have wedding regrets on not having this.

Bridal/Grooms party

So many newly engaged people are so excited to be a fiancé, that they quickly jump into bridesmaids, best men, groomsmen etc. It is easily done, especially when people can come over strongly and actually ask you outright if they are going to be one of those important roles, without even thinking, especially when alcohol is involved, and the next think you find yourself is saying yes! One of the biggest problems I see are fall outs, arguments, and stress caused by Bride’s/Groom’s parties. Make sure you choose wisely, people who you know love you and will support you, and don’t think of the role as just putting on a nice outfit. If you regret your choice, then be honest before the wedding day, so you have no wedding regrets on your bridal party choices!

Suppliers involved in the wedding day regrets

Make sure that during your planning process, you aren’t rushing into booking suppliers too quickly. Ensure you are reading testimonials, having conversations with a few different people and checking through contracts before confirming anything. DO NOT focus on price! Quality costs. Many couples regret after their wedding choosing certain suppliers who many not then give what they promised, caused stress for the couple with lack of communication during the process or not being aligned with their wedding style and vibe. For example, a rustic décor provider wouldn’t work if you want a chic, modern hotel vibe.

Look for red flags such as delayed responses in the enquiry process, bad recommendations or unprofessionalism such as calling you ‘hun’ during emails and putting kisses at the end of messages. Use a planner for supplier recommendations if you are really struggling to find the right people. There are so many suppliers out there who are amazing, but also many who are not what they say they are, and don’t have the skills and knowledge required, for example, a florist generally would have had professional training and aren’t just doing it because their friend said their flowers are nice.

Focusing on cost over quality

As mentioned above, quality is much more important that the cost. Of course, everyone has a budget, but focus your costs on what is important. Don’t have EVERYTHING but then do each thing half-heartedly at a minimal cost. So many couple have wedding regret over things which they ‘cheaped out’ on.

Buying things not needed

Cut the rubbish which isn’t needed, as I said above, focus on the important things you need first, ie. food, venue, music. Things such as flip flops on the dancefloor, favours on the tables, a long line of Bridesmaids, just aren’t necessary. You can seriously cut costs by cutting these unnecessary items. For example, if your favours aren’t edible, they WON’T get used, and you will end up with a box of them to take home with you.

Not having more help

Whether it’s assistance setting up, someone to set down the next day, or during the planning process, help will be needed! Make sure to choose people involved in your day who you know will help you and won’t be a hinderance. Many couple regret after their wedding or just before the day, not hiring help. Hiring a wedding planner may seem like a luxury, but when you have a career, a family, fitting wedding planning in can be so stressful. You will also find yourselves saving money due to the knowledge of the planner. For example, I include my costs into your wedding budget and will make sure you don’t go over! Most couples will go over budget if they added up everything they spent.

Listening too much to other people

Another massively popular wedding regret, and one I see regularly. It can be difficult to avoid opinions around you, especially ones coming from family and parents who may be inputting financially. Remember that this is a day about the two of you, and you are celebrating your love together. Financial gifts are great of course, and I am sure you will appreciate them, but they shouldn’t come with an obligation for the person to make decisions on your day. If there is something you really don’t want, make sure to have a calm conversation and explain your reasons. It can help to give people who want involvement, a task to help you with instead of decisions to make, as you will of course need help along the way.

Not bringing their own personalities to their wedding day and regret it on the day

Something I have seen in the past, and actually makes me feel sad, is a wedding completely planned around what other people want (as discussed above) that the couple almost look awkward at. If for example, public speaking isn’t your thing, and you don’t really like dresses, there are other options! Bring your personalities into the day, with your music, your venue, even your table names! If you are outdoorsy people, then have an outdoor wedding. If you have never lived in your hometown where your family are based, don’t feel pressured to have your wedding there and it being one of your regrets afterwards.

Drinking too much alcohol

A big one which crops up – getting too drunk and not remembering parts of the day is a BIG wedding regret! Keep your cool, remember it’s a marathon not a sprint, enjoy yourselves but just be careful on your alcohol consumption, especially if you haven’t eaten much and people keep buying you drinks! Many couples also decide to wait until after the wedding breakfast/evening couple shots to start drinking, or may just have a couple before then, so you don’t get too carried away too early!

Saying yes to the venue too soon

You’re excited, of course, you are about to get married! But before you sign on the dotted line for your venue, make sure you have your budget worked out. So many couples start venue searching before putting the budget together, and end up falling in love with a venue which ends up taking a large proportion of the expenditure. Another wedding regret which crops up is booking a dry hire venue which has an external caterer, thinking you can afford the venue no problem, without getting a quote from the catering company they use.

Still having anxieties about regrets after your wedding day? Maybe you are struggling with a difficult situation? Get in touch here and let’s chat!

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