Everyone knows planning your wedding can be stressful. As a wedding planner, I have some insight into how I think you can eliminate some of the most common causes of stress during the planning process.

The last thing you want is a bridesmaid or groomsman who is prone to drama; making things all about them, or an overly-opinionated maid of honour forgetting whose day it is. (Happens a lot)

You’re so excited to be engaged and you want the most amazing wedding, but before you get carried away here are a few tips to help you with your planning.

One of the most important factors that goes into wedding planning is your guest list. It’s what determines most of the other elements of your wedding, from the catering bill to the ceremony seating arrangement, so have a good look around and make sure you are happy with your ‘approximate’ numbers before you book and pay your deposit.

You’ve found the wedding dress of your dreams, but it’s not quite a perfect fit on the real-life you. Your plan: Order the dress two sizes too small, and then do whatever it takes to make it fit. Instead of losing more sleep than weight, find a gown you love and order it in your current size. If you want to work on your body during your engagement, that’s great, just be sure to make your goals are manageable.

Once you’ve realized you can’t do it all by yourself, you enlist someone you trust to double-check with the caterer, the florist, steam your veil and make sure the limo company has directions etc… Most brides turn to their moms (or their sister / maid of honour) to make sure things go as planned on the day. These folks are usually happy to help in any way they can, but remember they are there to celebrate with you too (and they’re working on a volunteer basis!).

You came up with a number, did your research, revised the number, started planning—and now that number’s not going to cut it. Budgeting for a wedding can be the stuff of nightmares but that doesn’t mean you have to elope.

If you find you’ve underestimated some expenses, don’t panic. Instead, sit down with your fiance and try to reach a constructive solution – there will be one!

Picking your bridal party can be stressful and even awkward, but remember it’s your day and you shouldn’t feel an obligation towards anyone. All of your friends don’t have to be in your wedding party.  The most important thing is to pick people who you want standing up with you on your wedding day — whether that means two people or ten. So take your time before you ask anyone.

When working on the guest list, establish a clear “plus one” policy and stick to it. Yes, weddings are costly, but it’s unfair to randomly pick and choose who gets to bring someone along. The general rule is that couples, who are married, engaged, or living together must be invited together, even if you haven’t met your friend’s significant other.

Read everything and then read it again! Weddings are expensive and time-consuming to plan, so it would be a shame to be taken advantage of or be left stranded without a backup plan.

If you’re not good at reading contracts, do your best but still read them, and then also have someone who is good at reading contracts look them over.

Getting ready should be as relaxed and fun as possible. If you find yourself behind schedule the pressure can build to catch up and cause a lot of unwanted stress  – so allow plenty of time!

Yes you do! Weddings can be expensive so taking out insurance is a must. You never know how your circumstances could change, so give yourself peace of mind and just get it sorted.

When the budget is tight it is tempting to forego a professional photographer as this can be a costly part of your budget. This can be a bad move, although everyone will be taking photos relying on this can lead to bitter disappointment. A professional photographer will ensure all the magic moments of your day are captured, they will also edit all the pictures and present you with an album and or usb as a treasured momento of the day.

As a specialist wedding planner, I have observed many grooms in the the build to their Wedding Day. Here are my 7 top do’s & don’t to help you have the best day ever!

This is your wedding too, so get in on the planning. Pick a few things that interest you (food? the music?). Give your opinion on the major planning points; it will let your fiance know that she is not in this alone.

If she is doing the majority of the planning for your wedding, she is probably bordering on wedding overload. You need to make sure that she does not have an ulcer (or a grudge!) by the time she walks down the aisle.

If your mum is calling your fiance every hour to talk about the wedding, your mission is to keep the peace. Call your mum and let her know that while you appreciate her interest and excitement, it is your wedding and she needs to give you two some planning space.

Has your fiance really hit the wall? Suggest hiring a planner to help with the planning. Your consultant will handle all the little details that neither you nor your bride will want to deal with, and it will be a relief to have a professional on hand.

Your fiance may complain about her mum who is being a control freak, or about her uncle who wants to bring his new girlfriend. Do not join in on the family bashing. Hear her out, agree with her, but do not take this opportunity to tell her the things about her family that annoy you. Her bad mood will pass, but your comments may stick.

Do not forget to give the rings to the best man, make sure he knows his role on the day. Guiding guests as they arrive, and being your back up.

On the day of your wedding, send your bride a gift, flowers, or a sweet note to read while she is getting ready. Gifts for the bridal party always go down well; gifts for the Mums and Dads can be presented during your speech.

For more help or advice get in touch

So it’s time to get started on your table plan, but who should sit on the top table? The answer really depends on whether you want to stick with tradition or not.  Below are a few pointers to help you decide.

Bride and Groom in the centre, then both sets of parents and then Maid of Honour and Best Man. Making a top table of 8.

If you already have kids you might like to include them on the top table, either having just Bride and Groom and children or depending on space and numbers including all parties in the traditional set up and having the children as well.

If you are faced with the dilemma of having divorced parents who don’t want to sit together the easiest way to deal with this is to mix the parents up, e.g Mother of Bride sits with Father of the Groom etc.

This can be tricky, especially if you have a step parent who has been a signififcant part of your life for a good period of time and you want to include them, but at the same time, you don’t want to upset any biological parents present. So there are a number of ways to deal with this:

1. Include both biological and step parents on the top table if there is room
2. Explain to the step parent that you would love them to be on the top table however there just isn’t room and then make sure and mention them in your speech, ensuring they feel included and valued.
3. Keep the top table just for Bride, Groom, Best Man and Maid of Honour.

This is becoming increasingly more popular. This is a top table designed just for the Bride and Groom. This is a lovely and intimate idea allowing some ‘just you’ time before the evening entertainment starts and the party gets underway. Usually the Bride and Groom spend much of the evening reception socialising with guests and have very little time together, so this is a great idea that allows you to sit back, take it all in and create some shared memories.

It is always worth checking what limits there are on guest numbers. Also some wedding venues will have a minimum number clause, which could vary depending on the the time of year you are getting married.

Most venues will include the bridal suite as part of their wedding package with compliments, but its always worth confirming this at an early stage. You will then know whether or not you need to include it in your budget.

If you would like your ceremony and reception all under one roof make sure your venue is licensed to provide this. Some venues may only be able to offer a blessing and you will need to make it legal elsewhere.

Wedding packages can significantly vary from venue to venue. Some packages may include some extras such as table clothes, basic table décor and even a drinks package. So make sure you compare ‘like for like’.

This can be important for couples having a small wedding with a larger evening reception, especially if many are traveling a good distance and in the mood to party! Depending on the location some venues are able to offer entertainment as late as you are willing to pay for, whilst other may have noise restrictions.

If there are specific things you want on your wedding day such as fireworks, confetti, karaoke or even fairground rides out on the lawn, remember to ask if these will be allowed before you book! Depending on the venues insurance cover and requirements, some may have restrictions.

Check with the venue when all payments are due by and discuss a payment plan if required. You will be handing over a significant amount of money, so the longer you can keep it in your bank the better!

I hope this has given you a little help for when you start looking at venues for your perfect day.  One of the benefits of working with a Wedding Planner is they will know the answers to all of these questions for all of the venues they frequently work with in their area.

If you have any further questions I am happy to answer them – just get in touch.

Happy Planning!

According to a survey of 20,000 couples who got married in 2016, the average wedding cost a whopping £27,000, rising to £38,666 for those based in London!  That’s a lot of money, so looking at old fashioned ‘Wedding Etiquette’ who pays for what?

If you are lucky enough to be able to follow the more traditional path (i.e have parents who can afford it!), then the Bride’s family will cover the majority of the Wedding expenses. There are certain items however, which will still fall under the responsibility of the Groom, or the Groom’s family including:

If you are looking at possible wedding venues in West Sussex, I would like to share with you some of the venues that I love, which can offer a unique, personal, wedding experience.

Maybe you are looking for the ‘wow factor’, or perhaps something more quirky and unique? There are a large number of options across Sussex and this is just a short list to give you a feel for the different styles you can choose from.

I know I said ‘My Top 10’ however I couldn’t finish without mentioning 2 of my favourite East Sussex wedding venues. Both are Brighton based and certainly offer the ‘Wow Factor’ along with the charm of being by the sea!

Whatever your style or taste in Wedding Venue, there will be something out there for you.  If I can be of any help finding your perfect location or with the planning of your wedding please get in touch.

When it comes to the planning process, the question of should we hire a wedding planner can be something some Couples discount as they feel that wedding planners are only for celebrities or are outside of their budget. For some, having a professional on board to help ensure that their day runs perfectly is a must.

For the couples who are feeling like they’ve got this from the get-go or who feel like the extra help isn’t financially feasible so wonder is spending thousands on a planner really worth the investment?

Here are some things to consider before making your decision:

Planners are aware of costs in terms of; is your wedding vision reachable within your budget? Planners can help you decide what items on the must have list are the priorities and work the budget around those. There are also a number of payments and final balances due closer to your wedding date, a planner will help you structure these into a timeline of who to pay when, removing the stress for you from having to remember to pay these bills on time.

In addition to helping couples with their budget and supervising all the details, the most important perk of hiring a wedding planner, is having someone who’ll fight for your wedding vision from start to finish. While many vendors tackle more than one wedding per day or per weekend, a planner is focused only on your special day and will push to make sure everything goes according to your unique plan.

From a suppliers perspective, working with a wedding planner instead of directly with the bride or groom or their parents can keep things streamlined and stress-free.

Sometimes discounts don’t appear on paper. Most planners have a supplier list that includes their trusted and proven wedding suppliers that will usually offer a preferential rate for any bookings made via the wedding planner as a repeat customer. This is a bargaining tool couples booking direct with the supplier do not have.

It is so important to have somebody who can bring in suppliers who are familiar with the space AND who are familiar with what is expected of them.

A wedding that’s divided in multiple venues with their own co-ordinators may require less overall co-ordination. But even if a venue offers an in-house co-ordinator, it is advisable for couples to remember that that person will likely only be co-ordinating the specific details that venue is responsible for providing, like food or the space itself. They may not be focused on helping you juggle all the little details that will make your special day so special. And juggling details is the last thing you and your fiancé want to worry about on your wedding day.

Sometimes, full wedding planning may not be practical or even possible for everyone. If you have already booked your major suppliers and only decide to consult a wedding planner mid-way through the process, most planners still offer partial or customized packages that can fit your needs.