Wedding blog by respected wedding planner discussing design, planning, advice and reviews.

Congratulations you’re engaged! You’re on glad nine, your fiancée has declared his love and asked you to become his wife, you excitedly talk about the future and your wedding day. You dream about the dress, partying with your friends and of course becoming husband and wife.

But, then the panic sets in. Just how do you plan a wedding, where should you begin? In our fortnightly series we will break down how to organise a wedding like a professional wedding planner. In our 8^th instalment of our planning guide we continue with the final details

In the last two months you need to be cross checking all your supplier confirmations thus ensuring everyone involved with your wedding knows what they are doing.

 1-2 Months

• Finalise table plan & layout
• Give final numbers to the caterers
• Chase missing RSVP’s
• Organise dancing lessons for the important ‘first dance’

Copyright Kerry Morgan

Table Plan

The easiest way to do this is on the computer enabling you to move guests around from table to table with relative ease. Otherwise put guests names on small pieces of paper and pin to a foam board (available from art shops) round each table, you can see what tables are near to each other and whether children have easy access to toilets or gardens.

Bridal Fitting

Go for your final fitting and hopefully take your dress home. Speak with the designer regarding any special instructions on getting into the dress on your wedding day and how to store it after the wedding.

RSVP

Keep track of these on a daily basis and never put off adding the confirmations to your master list. You don’t want a situation with guests turning up on the day who you have not allocated a seat; yes it does and has happened! Detail whether they are coming, dietary requirements and whether they have bought a present from your gift list.

Final Month

Everything is organised but it is a matter of confirming details and ensuring everyone knows what to do on the wedding day.

• Attend wedding rehearsal
• Buy gifts for the wedding party
• Pack holiday clothes
• Produce a wedding schedule for key members & venue
• Remind key people about the wedding speeches
• Reproduce all supplier contracts for the venue
• Run through duties with ushers & best man
• Start to wear in your wedding shoes at home

Wedding Rehearsal

Most religious ceremonies will include a rehearsal as standard whereas civil ceremonies do not. If you want to run through the plan for the day then ask your venue if you can use the ceremony room for 1 hour for you and the wedding party. But your venue will have final say on a civil rehearsal without any registrar in attendance. Think about who will walk down the aisle first and in which order, I always think bridesmaids going down first creates a more dramatic entrance for the bride.

Insider Tip - take deep breaths before walking down and remember to walk slowly, sounds obvious but when nervous people tend to walk fast.

Supplier Letters

Send confirmation letters to all suppliers reconfirming what you expect from them on the day. Give a copy to your wedding co-ordinator if you have one so they are fully aware of your plans. Include directions and a schedule for the day along with emergency numbers, i.e. your co-ordinator or maid of honour.

 Top Tip - check whether any suppliers need feeding on the day.

Stationery

Have the order of service printed and write out the place cards. Put all table stationery in a separate envelope per table, this makes it easier for your co-ordinator or venue to lay out for you on the wedding day.

Insider Tip - have a few extra place cards in case some get damaged or you have guests drop out and subsequently fill their seats.

Speeches

Check that the speeches have been written and practiced; also give key speakers an estimated time in which to complete it in order for the timetable to be kept. Who will announce them if you do not have a toastmaster or co-ordinator then perhaps a family member will provide this honour?

Copyright Harvey Collard

Catering Plan

Your venue or caterers will need final numbers about 8 weeks before the wedding. Don’t forget to let them know about children, allergies and dietary requirements.

In our next and final instalment we cover the actual wedding day. If you think you would like help planning your wedding dont forget to visit our main site

 Photo Credits: Kerry Morgan & Harvey Collard

Congratulations you’re engaged! You’re on glad nine, your fiancée has declared his love and asked you to become his wife, you excitedly talk about the future and your wedding day. You dream about the dress, partying with your friends and of course becoming husband and wife.

But, then the panic sets in. Just how do you plan a wedding, where should you begin? In our fortnightly series we will break down how to organise a wedding like a professional wedding planner.

In our 5^th instalment of our planning guide we talk about some of your suppliers in more depth.

Photographer

Think about what you want from your photos. Do you want an album of modern images or would you prefer to buy your own high street version? Is it vital to have a CD of images to print and share with friends around the world? Will you want traditional posed photos or mainly reportage? Personally I think a good photographer is vital to capture all your memories from the day. Is the photographer willing to work with you and your vision or do they seem set in their ways? There are many styles to choose from traditional, modern, artistic so browse photographer websites to see what style suits you best. Some of my favourites are: Harvey Collard, Kerry Morgan, Lloyd Dobbie, Tim Bowden

 Videographer

Videos are gaining popularity after a decline in recent years. Visit some fairs and do some internet based research. Ask to see actual wedding demos and not a show reel which of course has been edited superbly as a sales tool. Has it been shot in focus and is the editing seamless. What effects have they included, does it add to the film or detract from the footage itself? What is included in the price and what is extra. If you do not want a traditional video then what about Super 8 cine film. It’s very stylish and has a classic vintage feel, this does tend to cost more then standard video/DVD filming.

Entertainment

Of course you will want your guests fully entertained on the day both day and evening, the options are literally endless. To begin will you want any professional singers or musicians for the ceremony? As with everything else check references and demos. Back at the reception the musicians can continue playing or you can book additional entertainment. In the evening a band or disco is the most popular options but to get your thinking caps on here are a few more choices for the day/evening. A good agency will have most of these on their books.

• Harpist
• String quartet
• Jukebox
• Opera Singers
• Gospel singers
• Guitarist
• Pianist
• Caricature
• Silhouette Artist
• Magician
• Comedian
• Life statues
• Casino
• Professional dancers
• Tribute bands
• Look-alikes
• Party bands
• Discos

Caterers

If your venue allows outside catering or you are having a marquee then you need to start looking for good reputable caterers. Does the venue have a list of recommended companies familiar with the venue kitchen & layout? If not look through local wedding magazines, wedding fairs and the internet. Ask whether they have experience of weddings and check their relevant insurance & food & safety certificates. Check what is included in the price and what is extra, for example some companies have a set price including linen, staff and equipment whereas others charge these items separately. How many staff will they have on the day, any less then 1 per table of 10 then start to worry! Ask how long they need to serve your wedding sufficiently and how big they need the catering tent (if needed) should be. And finally have a food tasting nearer the time to choose your menu, cutlery, crockery & glassware.

Dress

This is one of those moments you have been dreaming about for years so make the most of it. Make a list of some bridal shops to visit, why not do some local and some in town? Decide who you want to go with you and set a girly date. Start to think about the styles you like and of course dislike but enter this stage of planning with an open mind. The dress style you like is not necessary the style that suits you. Make notes as to what you liked or disliked about the dress so you remember when digesting the day afterwards. If you cannot find one you like then think about browsing US websites, even with shipping and additional seamstress costs it may work out cheaper. Otherwise why not have an individual dress made for you, its not as expensive as you may think. Once the dress has been chosen you need to select a veil, shoes and accessories.

Top Tip - don’t make too many appointments in one day otherwise you will be checking your watch constantly, try to fit in afternoon tea or lunch to discuss the dresses with your Mother or bridesmaids.

Photo Credits: Kerry Morgan & Nick Kontou