Words & images by Amanda Karen Photography
As a bride to be I was a Pinterest addict, in fact I think I could have planned several weddings with all the things that inspired me! I was convinced I could be a DIY bride too, but thankfully realised very early on that this was not to be the case.
I think this is why I have such a mixed love-hate relationship with Pinterest, it’s amazing for inspiration and even to find suppliers, I love it for finding recipes for dinner. But when it comes to wedding planning I think there is a fine line between a casual browse for inspiration and losing hours pored over your phone and getting stressed because you can’t recreate the wedding on your board.
It’s true you’re unlikely to have heard of ‘corkage’ until you plan your wedding… but it’s a topic which comes up on wedding forums over and over again – and a shocker! This, and other hidden costs to booking a venue, is discussed on the latest fab wedding planning video by Revelry Events. There’s plenty to think about: VAT, exclusive use and curfews…
Lovely Susannah and Holly talk us through the major considerations when hiring a venue, including having a plan B in case of bad weather and being allowed to bring in the suppliers YOU want rather than the venue’s own. (Top tip: always, always research your DJ and never rely on a venue’s recommendation without having seen them!)
The ‘average wedding budget’ is a myth. Every wedding is different, and allocating your budget should never come down to a standard formula from a magazine or wedding planning book. Today’s advice from Revelry Events is some of the best I’ve heard: for example, have you allocated a 5% contingency for emergencies? Watch the film to find out why you should!
Timeless wedding style is worth its weight in diamonds. Creating a wedding day look which is timeless means you can look back on your day in 2 years, in 10 years and in 50 years – and you will still love everything about it. Your dress and suit will be elegant, flattering and simple. Your flowers will be breathtaking. You’ll dream of revisiting that amazing venue – and your wedding album will become a beautiful heirloom for generations to admire.
Timeless wedding photography by Fiona Kelly, London wedding photographer
Weddings do the oddest things to time. How often have you heard couples say “it all goes so fast” – and yet it takes aaaages to do everyone’s hair and make up and then lace up the back of a wedding dress! If you do one thing this week, take a little time to consider your wedding day timings. Start planning an itinerary – and chat with your hairdresser, your photographer and your caterers to make sure your day will run as smoothly as can be.
All the images used in this article are by lovely Tiree Dawson Photography, from Lisa and Richie’s Lake District wedding featured on the English Wedding Blog in July