The Wedding Taylor Christmas Advent 2021 – Round Up!
Well Lovelies… it’s been another Year of ‘The Wedding Taylor Christmas Advent’… another 24 FAB Top Tips in the Countdown to Christmas!
And whilst I hope you were ready and waiting to open each new Top Tip every day… I thought I’d put together this round up of them all… just in case you missed any!
So here we go…
TOP TIP:
“So I’ve mentioned in the past about assigning SPECIFIC tasks to your Bridesmaids (for the full list see the link in my Bio), but one thing that ALWAYS gets forgotten about on Wedding Days is: Medication!!!
Just because it’s you Wedding Day doesn’t mean that you can forget to take it. Not only tablets, prescriptions, insulin or Epi Pens but the MAIN one that gets forgotten is CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS!!!
So make sure to assign one of your ‘maids to remind you to take any medications at the right time on your Wedding Day, then you can relax and forget about the everyday norms and fully immerse yourself into your special day!”
“One thing I would always tell my clients is to have a schedule! This is one thing that makes the morning run so smoothly! Myself and your hair dresser then won’t have any gaps where we’re sat twiddling our thumbs and stressing about getting everyone done in time. And lastly always have your makeup done second last so you have a good hour after to tweak anything makeup and hair wise 👏🏼”
“Don’t be afraid to rip up the rule book and do things exactly as you’d like to. If that’s keeping things small, then keep it small. If that’s running away and eloping, just the two of you, then go for it. If it’s wearing something other than a traditional white gown…do it. Flip things around if you feel like it…the order of the day can be messed around with, it doesn’t have to be traditional if you don’t want it to be. For example; meet and greet your guests, share a little glass of something sparkly, mingle, enjoy the company, maybe share food and do your speeches. Then head off to change if you like, before heading into a late afternoon / twilight / candlelit ceremony. Things don’t have to be in a specific order if that doesn’t suit you guys.
Everything you do on your wedding day has to represent you, so do exactly as you please and enjoy every wonderful minute.”
Merry Christmas! Tis the season to relax, stock up on prosecco and realise that there’s no such thing as perfection.
Okay hear me out…my wedding industry top tip is this:
Not everything on your wedding day is going to be PERFECT and is A-okay. (Although Hannah will definitely be on hand to make sure it is as perfect as it can be!)
There will be hairs out of place, crying flower girls, red wine stains, traffic problems, hell, Storm Arwen might show up invited!
And I will be there to photograph it all because these are precious moments not problems. These ‘imperfections’ are what makes your day unique. We all know that even the best-laid plans can change at the last minute. So my advice is to roll with the punches, live in the moment with a big smile because your wedding day is not about chasing perfection. It’s about getting out there in wind, letting your veil fly and laughing at the marks on your dress because they tell your wedding day story.
(SWIPE TO SEE WHAT I MEAN! 📸🥰)
Also, a practical tip: If your having a top table infront of a big window isn’t great for photos because you will all be back-lit so it creates more of a silhouette effect and your faces are in shadow. Instead have the top table face the window (so you are facing out over the view) this is much better for the photographer and your final images of the speeches!
“Request an extra button hole from your florist for hubby later on in the day when you maybe go off for some photos alone. Those golden hour shots or photos at dusk can often mean the button hole flowers are drying out. If you have a spare button hole in water, those florals will be fresh and full of life ready for those all important memories being captured in the evening.”
Top Tip:
“‘Let you dress dictate your accessories’
This tip refers not only to the cut of the dress, ie whether a necklace complements the neckline but more so the fabric of the dress. Many brides love the idea of wearing a bracelet on their special day but depending on the fabric of the dress, sometimes certain accessories wouldn’t be recommended. Imagine, a lace dress, claw set bracelet…recipe for disaster! Thoughtfully selected accessories can help to express your wedding style whilst ensuring you have a stress free day.”
“Calling all Christmas lovers!
Did you know you can get married in magical Lapland?
When it comes to destination weddings, there aren’t many places that can top Lapland. What could be more romantic than a snowy landscape, star-studded night skies and – if you’re lucky – a dazzling northern lights show?
Made partially of snow and ice, the Northern Lights Snow Chapel is super special!
After your ceremony, celebrate with a glass of chilled champagne in front of the roaring fire, or admire the reindeer from the beautiful panoramic restaurant. Here, you can enjoy your first meal as a married couple.
You can complete your wedding day with a romantic overnight stay in one of the warm and cosy Sky View Cabins. The cabins are located in the forest, away from light pollution and provide the perfect place to spot the northern lights.
You can even travel to your wedding in style on a Snowmobile, Reindeer sleigh or Husky sleigh ride!
Doesn’t it sound amazing?! ✨☃️🎄🎅”
“Choosing your bridal gown/ wedding outfits should be both sentimental and significant – this will be one of the most expressive garments you will ever wear whilst surrounded by all of your most special family and friends – it should totally reflect you and your style xoxo”
As I always get asked Wedding Dress Timeline Q’s, I also asked them to include this note for you too:
“Your final fittings begin around 6 weeks before your special day depending if there’s any bespoke additions they may start a little sooner and your final dress fitting is usually the week leading up to the wedding”
“Think about bringing a spare pair of cheap heels that are the right height… then you can pop them on during your couples shots around the grounds of your venue. This will keep your dress looking right without getting your gorgeous expensive Wedding Heels dirty! If a bride changes into flats and out of her high heels, the dress can drag along the floor, making it difficult to walk naturally”.
“Your wedding day is your day and this means it should be personal to you and your partner! Whether this means having a non-traditional first dance song (our favourite has been Late to The Party by Kacey Musgraves) or even not having a first dance at all. The day should represent you as a couple!
The best way to make a wedding day personal to you, is to customise it! One of our favourite ways to customise a venue is to have your surname in our 5ft Light up Letters and what better way to make a statement! Or if you would like something a little more subtle, a custom neon sign is just as personal! Music is one of the most important and easiest ways to personalise your day! We hold consultations with all of our couples to ensure we know exactly what type of music they would like on the night, our DJ’s take unlimited requests before and on the night. Some of our couples even send us playlists they’ve made of songs they would like to be played.
Personalisation is key!”
Finding your dream wedding cake maker can be overwhelming, my top tip is to think about your aesthetic for the day when researching. Each cake designer has their own unique style, take the time to look through their past work and see if it complements the look you have in mind.
Your wedding cake should be a real feature of the day, here’s some simple steps to take it to the next level:
– Using a cake stand adds height and that extra wow factor. When paired with table runners, candles etc it can be co-ordinated with your table styling.
– Repurpose your bridal bouquets by placing them in a vase on your cake table.
– Think about the placement of your cake, maybe your venue has a beautiful stone wall or a statement fireplace to create a photogenic backdrop (say no to those walls with light switches and fire extinguishers!)
“Six weeks before the wedding, start lifting 2kg weights every morning or cans of beans, anything to get your arms ready for the bouquet weight. This will get your arms ready for the big day and you won’t feel like the bouquet is a burden to you.
Don’t go too big as when you hold your bouquet you will keep it down by your waist line for photos. The lower you hold it, the better it looks (foof not face ladies!) Because its sits on your waist line, we want to be able to see your waist and your lovely figure. If you have a overpowering bouquet, it will hide your lower half of your body and give you no shape!
Quality over quantity ladies 💐”
“When having your hair and makeup trial, try to wear your chosen styling for the rest of the day to see how it wears. I always advise my Brides to make some plans for after their trials, not only to make the most of looking and feeling glam, but also to put the hair and makeup to the test. Whether you go for some dinner or drinks with the girls, ensuring you wear your style for as long as possible means that if there are any tweaks that need to be made, you can inform your hair and makeup artist so that you know everything will be perfect on your day.”
[Mrs T’s Additional Note:
If you’re going for a super natural Bridal look… why not book your engagement shoot for the same day as your make-up trial so you can also see how your make-up photographs!]
2nd TOP TIP:
“What to keep in your touch up kits/handbags for your wedding day:
💄 Lipstick/lipgloss.
💄 Pressed powder and/or blotting papers.
💄 If you are having your hair down (especially important for a Hollywood wave style) – A Hairbrush.
💄 Plasters – you never know when a blister might ruin your dancing abilities.
💄 A few spare hair pins, just in case.“
“My main Top Tip is…
If there is a specific flower you want and love do some research! With flowers being seasonal I speak to so many brides that want the flowers that aren’t physically available the month they are getting married!!
Another is to always make sure you have vases of water at your venue to put the bridal + maids bouquets in so they last as long as possible!! I always provide these, but ask your florist if this is something they’re happy to help with.”
[Mrs T’s Additional Note:
This is also a FAB way of adding decoration to areas you might not of thought of… by repurposing your bridesmaids bouquets by popping a vase in places like:
– On the end of the Bar
– On your Gift Table
– Or Cake Table
– or maybe even your Venue’s Reception Desk – where your guests will be checking in!]
“Stationery Top Tip – ‘How many do we need?’
Remember not every guest requires an invite, as there will be couples and families. As a rough estimation, I would normally say divide the number of guests by 2 and add 10 – this will give you a base quantity to work with when ordering your stationery. Remember to include your parents in the list, a few for yourself as a keepsake, plus a few spares just incase.
If you require your wedding to be an adult only affair, make sure you address your invite to the parents only and reference in your information that it is an ‘adult only’ occasion. There are lots of ways to politely say no children.”
“So here it goes… My advice for your big day would be to plan your day the way they want it to be; after all a wedding celebration is an expression of you as a couple. Think about things you love and incorporate them into your big day! We love spelling out fun statements, so don’t be scared to get creative and make your day unique to you both as a couple. But one thing I would say is to be mindful of how much space you have in the venue, choose your lighting carefully to complement your room décor, flowers and colour scheme rather than overwhelm.”
“Isn’t it shocking that the biggest regret of newlyweds is NOT having a wedding video with 75% of couples going on to regret it… the biggest question is why?
Budget, shyness, fear of being filmed, perhaps thinking you won’t watch it, an old idea of what wedding videography is? Maybe all of the above?!
Modern videographers have a way of combating all of this. Many – like myself – have a minimalistic, discreet approach. I say to my couples that for 90% of the day you and your guests won’t even notice I’m filming. My cameras are small and compact and I dress smart helping me to blend in.
The old school videographers that you may remember from the 80’s/90’s and early 2000’s still roam our streets, but they’re a rare kind. They are likely be cheaper, but don’t let that fool you! You get what you pay for. The quality of their films will be poor. And they will be VERY visible on the day.
My style is very avant-garde, contemporary and emotional. I truly aim to produce a FILM of your wedding day.
Final note: View videography as a serious investment. Try not to worry about budget. When you get your films back you’re receiving a document of one of the most precious days of your life and you get to keep that document for a lifetime. Seriously don’t underestimate it😬🎥”
“Mindset? Why is this so important during planning your wedding? Mindset is key throughout all aspects of your life!
Your wedding journey can see ups and downs, it can see situations present themselves to you that you’ve never had experience of dealing with before, and in the majority of cases people will look on a bad or hard situation as a negative, it’s not, you can turn any situation into what it is you want it to be, and the way you handle it is then a reflection on you and the outcome you receive!
Having planned 3 days for our wedding during last years situation, my bridal coaching business became a place where people sought comfort and advice, but it’s also a place where people built a strength they didn’t realise they had!
Face hard situations head on, see a lesson as a blessing and just know that any hard conversation, any financial difficulty, any overwhelming decision can all be made better by you believing it can be better, and by you trusting in your journey! The most important thing you can do, is to let go and have faith it’ll all work out 👌🏼
Never look back and regret anything, look forward and make yourself proud! Focus on the mind, focus on the good, focus on being the best version of you, and watch your wedding journey be the best journey you walk with minimal stress along the way 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼”
“So my top tip is all about the MUSIC… and this top tip comes from a DJ who genuinely enjoys being a DJ and doesn’t just see it as a job / work.
Many DJs will market themselves with 15+ 20+ etc years of experience, tell you how great they are at ‘reading the room’ and may even go as far as cutting short your music ideas due to their higher knowledge and experience… This is where a great Wedding DJ comes in!
A great Wedding DJ will work with you to create a Wedding soundtrack that suits you and your guests… YOU know YOU better than anyone else (including your DJ) – so take time in advance to think about the music you love… the classics, the throwbacks, the songs you and your friends used to party to! Nothing should be off the cards when it comes to your music – it’s all about having a great time on that dancefloor – a DJ that works with you (not just for you), who will take time to meet you prior to your wedding and understand you, can make all the difference!”
“Every single detail can be made better in some way – even down to the garnish you have in your water jugs! – Usually Ice & Lemon, but if you’re doing a Mexican themed wedding, why not opt for Ice & Lime instead, or even Strawberries for a Summery Vibe! – Speaking of Strawberries… does your Glass of Fizz for your Reception Drink come with a Strawberry or Raspberry on the side? Have you asked?… can this be added?… Your venue might even throw it in for free! Having Tea & Coffee after the meal… why not add some After Dinner Mints to accompany them? Everything can be made extra… down to the tiniest details! Walk through your Wedding Day in your mind and picture all the items… what can you do to make them more perfect!”
“Don’t allow your guests to Check-In during your Drinks Reception – even if the rooms are ready! – All your guests will want to check-in as early as possible if they’re staying overnight at your Wedding Venue… but if you let them into their rooms too early it just means they’ll disappear whilst you’re trying to get all of your group photos!
Instead get them to check-in during the ‘Room Turnaround’ after the meal but before the evening reception starts- this usually when you’ll be busy greeting your evening guests so it’s a quiet time for them any way and will give them something to do!”
“Following on from the Wedding Coordinator Advice the other day… think about how you can make each part of your guests stay-over at your Venue more enjoyable! How about a personalised welcome note or gift bag in the rooms with some snacks
(especially if they’ve had a long trip!) Or even better…a ‘Hangover Kit’ for those sore heads the morning after!
Always make sure to include Check-In and Check-Out times on your Wedding Website so they can plan their trip accordingly. Something else that not many think of… Why not request for any carpets in the Main/Reception areas to be professionally cleaned before your Wedding (as they usually have the most foot-traffic!) especially in the winter months as people’s shoes are always muddy!”
GM: “Discounts usually happen on Open Days or at Wedding Fairs / Big Shows – so if you’re looking at a Venue, see if they have an Open Day coming up or if they’re exhibiting at a Show soon and book then!”
Groundskeeper: “Nobody ever thinks to come and ask me what flowers will be in bloom at the time of year of their Wedding! If your Wedding is a while away, make sure to visit at that time of year, the year before… you’ll get a better vision of the grounds and scenery which will be the backdrop for all you Photos!”
Kitchen: “Why not ask us for something totally different! – We make the same things from the menu every week – and whilst it’s a delicious menu, we love a challenge… if there’s something that you’re thinking of, just ask! – We’ve recreated special meals for couples, e.g. one that they had in Italy on the night of their engagement… or we’ve created full menu’s from scratch… we recently had a full Mexican themed one! Even if it’s just something as simple as making your Canapé selection more Christmassy for your December Wedding i.e. deep fried brie with cranberry, mini pigs in blankets and mulled wine macarons!”
Food & Beverage: “Always remember to put in your ‘Bar Requests’ … what is it that YOU usually drink – just because it may be pretty standard choice so you expect it to be there doesn’t necessarily mean it will be… ALWAYS ask. Also ‘Corkage’ doesn’t always work out cheaper – instead, why not just make a request and see if we can get something in for you.”
I really hope you’ve enjoyed this Countdown to Christmas… comment your Fave Top Tip below!
(You can find them all in my ‘Guides’ section and on my Highlights too!)
Merry Christmas Eve Everyone! 🎄
Hope Santa is good to you! 😘
Lots of Love,
Mrs T 🤶 x
