‘Wine & Whine’ Wedding Wednesdays!

So here we are… at the start of another month!

We had not just four but FIVE ‘Wine & Whine’ Wedding Wednesday’s in March… here’s everything we covered:

(Have a quick stroll through and see if there’s any Wedding Planning Questions that you’ve been dying to get answers yourself!)

Wednesday 3rd March 2021

Q. Tiny details most commonly missed when planning your own wedding?

A. Oooh Okay… this is such a good one! So… The MOST commonly forgotten thing, I find is… that couples ALWAYS forget to arrange accommodation for the Groom for the night prior to the Wedding (especially with ‘Exclusive Use’ 2 Day Weddings… the poor Groom always ends up bunking with someone or heading back home!) Honestly, the happens ALL THE TIME! Some other details that often get overlooked or forgotten are:…

• Emergency Kits (for all those little issues on the Morning of the Wedding) – trust me… they’re worth having! (I’ll be doing a blog or Reel soon with items you need in yours!)
• Bringing extra mirrors for getting ready in the morning. (If you’ve got all your Bridesmaids with you in the same room… you don’t want to be fighting over 1 or 2 mirrors so make sure to take some little travel ones with you!)
• Having a contingency plan for bad weather. (Yes, you may have thought about which room you will move into if it rains but have you told your Wedding Coordinator where all your decor needs to be placed when it’s moved?)
• Finding out your Venue’s Confetti Policy. (Yes, you may have asked if you’re allowed Confetti… but do you know it they allow biodegradable or just dried natural petals? Do you know where you’re allowed to throw the confetti… they may have designated areas for this… and you wouldn’t;t want to incur a fine!)
• Remembering to ask your Officiant to move out of the shot for your first kiss! (I think people don’t ask because they feel awkward… but they are so used to this… so if you want them out the way… just ask!!)
• Preparing a SPECIFIC ‘Shot List’ for your Photographer. (There are SO many people to get pictures with on the day and I’m sure photographers will have their own list of family/friends to go off… but PLEASE remember to make them a more specific one if you have certain friendship groups you want pics of! – e.g. You’d be gutted if you forgot to get a group pic with your Uni Girls or missed the moment with your Godmother!).
• Cake Knife. (Most venues will have one… but it’s always lovely when people bring their own personalised/sentimental one!)
• Champagne Flutes. (Yes, again, the venue will have these… but it’s nice to have a special set for you and the Groom on your Top Table! We always get our back out on special occasions!)
• Bar Requests. (Have you checked that the venue definitely has your favourite brand of Gin or your H2B’s favourite liquor or bottled ale? – Don’t assume they will just because it’s popular!).
• Sunset!!! (Find out what time the Sun will set on your Wedding Day so you can make sure to schedule time for those stunning ‘Golden Hour’ shots!
• Social Media Signs. (Whether you DO or DON’T want people posting pics of your Wedding Day make sure to let them know!!! So many people have stopped taking pics of other peoples weddings because they’re scared of getting in trouble… we definitely don’t have as many pics of our Wedding as taken by our friends (mainly cause they were too busy enjoying the day – FAB – but also cause a dew of them thought they weren’t allowed.) Put a sign up either way, letting them know if you’re having an ‘Unplugged’ Day or with a Hashtag for them to use if you DO want them to post!
• GUEST BOOK! (Please designate someone to get everyone to sign your Guestbook – so many guestbook I’m handing back these days only have about 10 signatures in them and no messages! Get a bridesmaid to take you book round between courses!)
• Suppliers Meals. (Don’t forget to order meals for your Suppliers – check their contact to see if they require one).
• INCLUDE YOURSELF IN THE GUEST NUMBERS! (I can’t believe how many couples forget to count themselves into the numbers – I assume it’s because they think of themselves as the ‘Host’ and not a ‘Guest’… when we ask for numbers… we mean you too!)
• Bridal Box. (Put together a box of all the things you would like your Photographer to capture on the morning of your Wedding (inc. Shoes, Perfume, Invitation Suite, Wedding Ring, maybe a Vintage Ring Box, you could even add some ribbon of your chosen colour scheme -I’ll do a reel on things to included in this for you!).
• Nice baskets or boxes to display items in. (If you’re bringing items like bags of confetti, or flip flops for the ladies… think about how you want these items to be displayed!)
• A PEN!!! (So so so so so many couples buy a lovely guestbook and forget to bring a nice pen to go with it! It doesn’t matter how nice your guestbook is if your guests are going to have to sign it with an old biro with a chewed lid!!)
• Playlists. (The 3 most forgotten playlists are:
• Getting ready playlist for you and your Bridesmaids
• An After Party Playlist for when the evening guests depart but you and the Bridal Party carry on for a while
• A DO NOT PLAY list for your DJ, with all the songs you cannot stand!).
• Something EXTRA to go with your Reception Drink (Yes your venue may include a glass of fizz… but why not ask for a strawberry/raspberry to top the glass? We had White Wine as one of the options for ours… so because it was hot I asked for Frozen Grapes to go into the glasses – it kept the drinks cold without watering them down and was a tiny little extra detail for my guests).
• Morning of the Wedding Snacks. (For you and the girls… especially if your ceremony is around 1/2pm and you don’t want a big lunch!)
• An outfit for the next day. (Comfy shoes and a hangover hoody! – ready to pack everything back into your car).
• Reserved seating tags for the Ceremony. (Don’t leave it down to the ushers, let them look after the groom 100% nothing worse than MIL2b seat being pinched -awks!!).
• Clean your Engagement Ring!! (And put it on the other hand ready for the Ceremony!)

Honestly I think I could go on fever so I’ll leave it there for now (from the amount of messages I can see sliding into my DM’s this is obviously a popular topic so I’ll start a full blog post on it right away for you guys!)

I could write an even more EXTENSIVE list for couples having Marquee Weddings but I’ve already got a blog post coming up on that (and it’s too much to add here… so keep your eyes peeled if you think this one might help you!)

Q. Most useful gifts to give the bride before the wedding day.

A. On it… Check my ‘Wine & Whine’6 highlight for Bridal Gift Spam!

• What about something super special for her Hen Do.
• I know the majority of Brides would ADORE absolutely anything with their name on! Personalised is ALWAYS the way to go for thoughtful gifts!
• Stationery Kits & Wedding Planners.
• Matching Sets are always a good idea!
• Or literally anything with ‘Bride’ on!
• What about something for the Honeymoon?
• Accessories.
• A pretty hanger for her Wedding Dress.
• Perfume or Jewellery… always essential.
• Vouchers!! (For an Afternoon Tea or Spa Day – these will be so well received by any stressed out Bride!) Or a Bride-to-be Consultation Voucher by your truly!
• Alllll the Wedding Magazines you can find!
• A Frame for their Wedding Photos,
• A personalised Cake Knife or set of Champagne Flutes for them to use on the day!
• If you know what her Bouquet will look like… you could get something painted for her!
• This lovely has written a full blog on the subject of Bridal Gifts if you want to check it out!
• How about a Bridal Subscription Box?
• A box of Bridal Cookies
• A Wedding Dress illustration (if you know what it looks like!)
• Anything Bridal Make-Up wise by Charlotte Tilbury!

Q. We are thinking about writing our own vows what do you think?

A. I think it would be absolutely BEAUTIFUL to write your own vows! So much more personal and meaningful… and also memorable for your guests! It can be tough finding a place to start… I think just write down lots and lots and lots of notes of things that you love about the other… You can included silly promises to each other and cute private jokes… like ‘I vow to always deal with the spiders in the house’ or ‘always order extra chips even though you say you don’t want any’… Anything that makes your Wedding more about YOU as a couple… I say DO IT! There’s loads of ideas for Vow templates on Pinterest and lots of little Reels on Instagram of people saying theirs… So spend an evening scouring the internet for Inspo and please… DON’T LEAVE IT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE!!! But I say go for it! (Can’t wait to hear them!)

Wednesday 10th March 2021

Q. What would you recommend a Bride puts in her bag for the Wedding Day? I’m thinking phone/purse/lip gloss? I’m thinking of getting a clutch bag and don’t know how big it needs to be! I saw this on To The Moon & Back Social, but wondered if there’s anything extra I’d need to put in a bag?

A. Yes, I can definitely help with that! Here’s all the items I would recommend you put in your bridal bag on the day… So the one on ‘To The Moon & Back’ is what I would call a ‘Save-the-Day’ Kit. This is a full list of items that you could take with you for those mini emergencies and to make things easier on the wedding morning… I have a full blog post saved in my drafts ready to go with items that you should have in your ‘Save-the-Day’ kit which I’ll post soon for you all! But for your actual wedding handbag I would suggest:…

• Lipbalm/Lipstick
• Compact Mirror
• Perfume (Sample Size)
• Tissues
• Safety Pins/Plasters (from your ‘Save-the-Day’ Kit)
• Breath-mints
• It’s totally up to you whether you want to also take your phone… (I had mine with me.. just for a bridal selfie… but trust me… apart from that… you won’t need it at all!) Every wife will tell you… your day will fly by in the blink of an eye… so be present for every second! That being said… if it comforts you to have it on you… then do it! There are no rules… your day your way! (Just PLEASE make sure to check it’s on silent!)

Q. Getting married in September, did not send Save-The-Dates’, do we wait for info from venue or get them sent asap?

A. Okay so, being a venue coordinator myself I would have to say… I would always advise my couples to wait until after their ‘menu-tasting’ and ‘run-through’ meeting with the venue before sending their invitations. There’s so much to discuss… inc. timings and venue specific details… it’s better to send them once and send them right rather than have to follow up with different information at a later date as this may confuse your guests!… The meeting timelines are different at every venue, we do our 6 months prior to the wedding so this would be plenty of time to send your invites afterwards. Find out when your venue do their meetings… if it’s not within the next month I would say ask to arrange a zoom/call with them so you can ask the questions you need and get your invites sent straight after this. With everything (hopefully – touch wood!) opening soon… people will be making plans for the rest fo the year, so you’ll want to get your date in their diary asap! As many of you will already know… I’ma massive advocate of the ‘Save-The-Date’… but don’t panic if you haven’t sent one! Your venue is there to answer any questions you need to know… and if you’re not sure what you should be asking them… speak to your stationery designer!… They are more than knowledgeable and will make sure you have all the important info covered on your invites! Or… as always… feel free to drop me a DM!

Q. Your favourite Wedding Trend?

A. Oooh… so hard to choose just one!!!

• I’ll start with… Sleeves!! Wedding Dresses just get more and more stunning and unique every year! Sleeves are a massive trend this year… whether they are full and billowing or dainty and cap!
• Coloured & Quirky Candles – Now I know that you all must have noticed my obsession with candles by now! But this year especially… they’ve become a much bigger part of table design! A trend I’m definitely loving!
• Concept lighting!
• Perfectly designed lounging areas… imagine the wedding pics!
• Personalised neon-signs… I’m totally here for it!
• Emerald Green Bridesmaids Dresses… Genuinely OBSESSED with this colour!
• Foliage… everywhere!
• Dried Flowers… Natural, Painted, Bleached… Give me them alllll!!
• Larger than life floral & balloon displays!
• Live-streaming – This trend has become big in the last year (for obvious reasons!) and I’m really loving it!
• Creativity with Wedding Food & Drink is better than ever!… and me and allllll the wedding guests are loving it!
• Creativity with tablescapes is also much better than ever… Couples are putting much more thought into not just flowers , but also napkins, glassware, crockery & cutlery and I ADORRRRRE it!
• Also loving some of the more eco-friendly wedding ideas too! This doesn’t have to be a big thing like going totally plastic free on your wedding day – but it could just be doing something like ‘plant a tree’ as a wedding favour (make David Attenborough proud!)
• In general I’m just loving the whole shift in weddings this last year (more relaxed & informal). I will always be the No. 1 fan of the whole ‘Big White Wedding’, don’t get me wrong! But I am loving seeing the elopement pictures from this year and people just having fun with their day and really making the most of it!

I realise now that you only asked for 1 fave trend and I gave you about 70… but hey… what did you expect… I am Wedding OBSESSED after all!

Q. Do you think I should go for the dress I love or the dress that suits my figure better?

A. Oooh… that’s a tough one!! I would have to say… go with the dress that YOU feel most comfortable in. If you love it but you’re worried about your figure in it… that will show in your body language on your wedding photos! (And you don’t want to be in your own head overthinking it on the day!) However, it you LOVE the dress and it make you absolutely GLOW because you know you’ve found THE ONE then don’t worry what anyone else thinks because it makes YOU happy… and THAT will show in your photos!

Q. Any suggestions for party stuff for bridesmaids the night before aren’t too wild/late?

A. Yes, of course! (I definitely can’t share many photos from my Hen Do!)

• Let’s start with… bra-pong (never played myself… but looks like a fun set-up).
• The classic… toilet roll wedding dress competition
• There are sooo many of these prints out ready to buy on Etsy (‘Who know the couple best’ etc.) which always prompts so many funny stories. One I loved on mine was ‘what did the Groom say’… they had asked Mr T loads of questions about me and I had to try and match his answers… it ended up being hysterical!
• How about ‘Guess the Brides Dress’ – drawing competition… and ‘Guess the Wedding Cake’.
• ‘Speak Out’ is always a funny one… make it bridal words to keep it wedding related or rude words for a more Hen Do vibe!
• There’s so many drinking related ones but obviously they’re better saved for the big night out rather than the night before.
• Have a look on ‘Henworld’ to find some fab packs of games.
• For my 21st one of my friends make me a personalised ‘pass-the-parcel’ game… each layer had a something to wear (like a moustache), a shot and a dare… that’s just an example but I’m sure you could make a more bridal themed one for her!
• ‘For the Girls’ game also looks like quite good, full of icebreakers for any girls who don’t really know each other!
• ‘Advice for the Bride’ cards for a more ‘Bridal Shower’ feel.
• ‘Pretty Zen Hen’ Blog called ‘5 classy hen party games that won’t make the bride-to-be cringe) has some pretty good ideas for you too.
• The game called ‘Socialise & Mingle’ sounds pretty fun too!
• Team Hen’s Toolkit includes some Bridal Games.
• Look up ‘The Ring-Pop Game’ for a fun alternative to drinking!
• My FAVE place to find fun and also family friendly games… is to follow this family on TikTok.. I’m guessing loads of you will have seen then already… The Presley Family. They started ‘The Quarantine Olympics’… and their games are sooo funny and creative… I could watch their videos for hours! It’s more than one account as each family member has their own… I save all their videos up for Christmas time to play with the Fam… but they would be perfect as clean games for a Hen Party/Bridal Shower/Night prior to the Wedding. (Think along the lines of the Ann-Summers balloon pop game or the ‘poop-the-potato’ game that went viral… too funny!

Wednesday 17th March 2021

Q. What is the best way to ensure childcare on the big day when both grandparent refuse to help?

A. Ooh… okay… So first of all… I do understand that the Grandparents want to enjoy the day too so they don’t want to be on babysitting duty all day… but I think for them to point blank refuse to help at all is a bit harsh of them!… so definitely a valid ‘whine’ on your behalf! Anyway… solutions! Obviously this will totally depend on the age of the kids and who else you have available (friends/family wise) to help you… but I would say either:

• Hire a professional to help you… (Yes, it’s another item to incorporate into your wedding budget… but it’s definitely something that will change the day quite a bit you’re having to look after them on your own… so would definitely be worth the cost! That way you can fully relax and enjoy the day knowing your kids are safe and having fun! OR
• Dedicate more of your budget to making your Wedding more child-friendly! Have you considered:
• A kids party room
• Activities to keep them busy
• Child friendly entertainment e.g.
• A Magician
• A Bouncy Castle
• You can even do Pony Rides or have Wedding Llama’s (totally crazy but the kids will love it!)
• How about a ball pit/slide set up! Not only will the kids love it… but I reckon a few of the adults will probably end up in there after a couple of drinks too!
• Or how about setting this up with a little kids picnic table (they are sooo many pretty ones with little tipi’s and cushions on insta and Pinterest now!)

Basically anything that will keep them busy and our of mischief for more than 5 minutes… Even take some time to think about the little details like how you present the food and drinks for them! Kids are much more likely to sit still and actually eat their food if it looks fun and tasty!! Giving you time to enjoy your wedding breakfast too! The Ceremony is the most difficult part of the day to keep them happy and quiet so if you’re not able to fit childcare into your budget for the full day then just hire them for just this section of the day. OR find ways to incorporate your kids into your ceremony! Using a celebrant would make this easier as they will be able to help you find some lovely ways to do this! This advice also goes for any brides who are having kids at their wedding! Even if they’re not your own kids… find fun ways to inc. them in your day. It will lead to a happier and more relaxing day for both you and their parents… meaning you can all enjoy your day together!

Q. My parents are divorced and haven’t spoken for 20 odd years. To avoid any drama or sour faces we’re having a top table of bride, groom, best man & maid of honour. I’m worried the grooms parents will feel really left out as that tends to be their ‘thing’ at weddings, what could I do to make them feel included? I really don’t want them feeling put out at their sons wedding because of my parents!

A. Okay, as a lot of you will know already, my parents were very recently divorced at our wedding… they ended up being absolutely great on the day and even had a dance together… but this was totally unexpected and out of the ordinary and we were sooo worried in the lead up top! You never know… they may surprise you! But, as I know this is probably wishful thinking, here’s what I would say: I think your top table idea is fab and a great solution! Would you consider configuring the seating so that all of them could still be part of the top table but still keep them apart? i.e. seat the M.O.H. and Best Man in-between them? Or have them at opposite ends? The traditional wedding etiquette for a top table is actually (M.O.H, F.O.G, M.O.B, Groom, Bride, F.O.B, M.O.G, BM). So you could even consider swapping the parent couples as this would mean the grooms parents could still join the top table but you wouldn’t have to risk any awkwardness. If you’re sure you definitely don’t want them on the top table, then here are some ways to make them feel included…

• I would say, first off all… speak to them in advance and make sure they know the reasons behind it… I am sure they will understand!
• Secondly… make sure your H2B says thank you to them in his speech… even better if he goes over and gives them a hug and a handshake!
• Get them a gift or some flowers to give them during the speeches
• Play a song just for them during the evening reception… maybe their wedding song?
• Place something special on their place setting like a hand-written note/card
• Ask the venue to make sure to stock their favourite tipple! (So for example if your Father-in-Law-to-be only drinks John Smiths… make sure it’s stocked on the bar just for him… or go a step further and make sure there’s one waiting for him at his table when he sits down.

Q. Had to move to 12pm ceremony not 2pm, any idea on timeline for the day?

A. Yes, of course lovely!

• 12pm – Ceremony
• (add additional 1/2 hour here for Church Weddings + travel time between venues)
• 12:30pm – Confetti Shot & Move to Drinks Reception area
• 1pm – Drinks Reception & Photos
• 2:30pm – Receiving Line (Guests to be moved to seats)
• 3pm – Speeches
• 3:30pm – Wedding Breakfast
• (add additional 1/2 hour here for weddings over 80 guests)
• 5pm – Room Turn-around
• 6pm – Evening Guests arrive
• 6:30pm – Cake Cutting
• 6:45pm – First Dance
• 7pm – Band/DJ
• 9pm – Evening Buffet
• 12am – Carriages

Please bear in mind this is just a very rough timeline to get you started!!! For a personalised timeline why not book yourself a consultation today!!

Wednesday 24th March 2021

Q. Who do I need to give gifts to? Traditions confuse me!

A. No worries Lovely… here you go… Who to give gifts to on your Wedding Day:

• Maid of Honour
• Bridesmaids
• Best Man
• Groomsmen
• Mothers (of both) – usually couples ask their florist for a ‘thank you’ bouquet to give them during their speeches… whereas the other gifts are sometimes given out in the morning whilst getting ready)/
• Flower Girls
• Page Boy – although both of these may have been given out in advance, i.e. when you asked them!)
• Father of the Bride
• YOUR PARTNER!!!

But don’t worry… you don’t absolutely HAVE to give all these people gifts and if there are others who have helped or been there for you in some way, it’s nice to give them gifts too! (As I always say… it’s your day! The choice is yours! – I mean… I like gifts if you’re dishing them out… just saying!) Pleaaaase remember to send thank you cards after your wedding for any gifts you receive! And to your suppliers too… I can’t tell you how much it means to us!!

Q. What do you get an 8 year old boy as a Wedding Favour? (The girls are getting teddies).

A. Ooh okay… so I would say the best thing to do would be to go more personal with it… e.g. my Godson is dinosaur obsessed so I would go down that route… (If you’re not sure… ask his parents, as a parent myself, I really like it when people ask what Aurora would like, as it’s actually really thoughtful that they want to get her something they know she will really enjoy!) Or if you don’t want to ask then you’re always safe with something like sweeties!. Or what about getting a kids party box and filling it with things like

• An Activity Pack
• Colouring Pens
• Sweets
• A pack of cards like Top Trumps or a travel-sized game?
• How about something like this amazing wedding lego set? Something to keep him busy… and a keepsake for afterwards!

Q. Sorry if this sounds weird… but have you changed your engagement ring?

A. (I was in my Hot Tub wearing a different ring than my Engagement & Wedding Ring – but it looks similar to an engagement ring). OMG… how eagle-eyed are you lovely! Hahaa, no I haven’t changed my ring but this is a different one… I’ll tell you why… So this is a ‘promise’ ring that my Hubby bought me a longggggg time ago when I was at Uni and we were living far apart for 3 years… I used to wear it on the other hand but would put it on this finger on nights out for any particularly persistent drunk likes to get the hint)… anyways, I absolutely hate going anywhere without my engagement ring on… butttttt if you’ve read my blog post about ‘looking after your engagement ring’ you already know that you should take your ring off for anything that might damage it… e.g. chlorine from the Hot Tub! So for this reason I take my engagement & wedding rings off and wear my old promise ring instead (it’s not real or expensive… so I don’t have to worry about it tarnishing) and it makes me so happy… (it’s such a sweet memory of a younger Dale & Hannah). Plus it’s a much prettier option that the rubber wedding rings you can get although these are brilliant for surfers etc. (I’ll definitely be getting one for next time we go Scuba Diving).

Q. When would you say is a good time to ask your bride squad & best man etc.? I know there isn’t a right or wrong time but just an idea? I am so excited to ask them!

A. Okay sooo… Like you’ve said yourself… there is no right or wrong time to ask them! However… as I’ve mentioned on a previous W&WWW session and in my Bridesmaid Duties blog post… I would always recommend waiting (not ages) just a little bit in the beginning. Wait and see:

• Who is the most excited for you
• Who helps you plan your engagement party
• Who buys you Bridal Magazines
• Or sends you pics of Venues they think you might like?

These are the ones who are going to be there for you, not just on the day, but through the whole planning process! So many Brides tell me after their Wedding that they wish they’d have chosen differently… and not just picked them because they felt like they ‘had to’… So really take your time when making your decision and try not to worry about upsetting people… if they genuinely love you then they’ll be happy for you… no matter what you decide! But also it’s a super super exciting moment… so take your time as well to make sure that you’ve planned the moment perfectly… it will definitely be one that you’ll both always remember!

Q. What happens during the Ceremony? How long does it all take? Scared I’ll need a wee!

A. So… Wedding Ceremony, here’s a rough guide as to what’s included (Civil Ceremony – Lasts roughly 30 mins (this will depend on the amount of readings etc. you have)):

1. Processional
2. Welcome
3. Readings
4. Official Declaration & Vows
5. Giving & Receiving of Wedding Rings
6. Announcement of Marriage / First Kiss
7. Signing of the Register
8. Closing Remarks / Congratulations
9. Recessional

Q. Not wanting kids at the Wedding but then worried people will get offended

A. Yes, of course… the children/no children dilemma! I get asked this quite often so I think I will make this into a full blog post for you! I actually covered this questions wayyy back on one of my very first W&WWW!… If you head over to my story highlights you’ll find the vert first one, but always happy to answer it again… (you’ll also find ‘ways to keep kids happy at weddings’ if you scroll back up through this blog post!)… Essentially it’s totally up to you whether you guys want to inc. kids at your wedding or not! If you definitely want to have an ‘adult only’ day then that’s absolutely dine! (again… ITS.YOUR.DAY!). Buttttt… instead of telling the parents that you don’t want their adorable little bundles of joy screaming in the middle of the ceremony and getting their sticky fingers on everything… approach it slightly differently… tell them that you would absolutely love for them to have night off all to themselves to be able to celebrate with your fully and party the nigh away! There are loads of cute poems / nice ways or wording this that you can find online and then include in your invitations (so they know from the very start!) And if they definitely can’t get childcare and you don’t want them to RSVP ‘No’… have you considered hiring childcare for the day? e.g. having a kids party room? I know it’s not your first choice… but it may be better than not having some of your VIP’s there! Hopefully you won’t need to do this as your guests will be totally understanding and will be excited to have a child-free evening and get on the wine and celebrate with you!!! As much as I adore my little one… that sounds like a fab night to me!!! *Cue the immediate #mumguilt for saying that!*

Wednesday 31st March 2021

Q. Best way to pick jewellery that goes best with my style of dress?

A. Fab question!… So first of all (although a bit obvious)… I would say, make sure to choose your dress first before your jewellery! I know it can be tempting if you see some jewellery that you fall in love with… but as the most visible item, your dress, has to be the first choice to base everything else around! Secondly I would say… make sure to balance out your dress and your jewellery! If you dress is more plain and simple, you can afford to go with bigger / heavier statement jewellery… but if your dress is already super embellished then think about keeping your jewellery on the more simple side! You want them to compliment each other! Also you’ll need to know the neckline shape of your dress to see which necklaces / pendant earrings work best with it! One of my absolute FAVE & most helpful blog posts (that I always refer back to) is this one from The Diamond Store UK. Consider the overall ‘theme’ of your jewellery… if you’re thinking Pearl, or Art Deco, or Antique… stick with that theme throughout… you wouldn’t want lots of mismatched pieces! Think about the Metal you choose and how it works with your dress…

• White Dresses tend to look best with White Metals (White Gold, Platinum & Silver)
• Ivory Dresses with Gold
• Unique Dresses with ‘EXTRA’ detailing i.e. something with feathers, look fab with Rose Gold!

Diamonds are a girls best friend & Pearls are a Brides best friend… you can’t really go wrong with either! Remember it’s YOUR day… go with your own personal style and preferences… be your own kind of Bride… not just what you think you should be! Keep in mind your Hair Accessories… These should match / compliment your jewellery! Also keep in mind your ‘Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue’ (if you’re following this tradition!) You may already have a piece that you should base your other jewellery around! Don’t worry if you don’t have any of these traditions… you can start your own with your own Wedding jewellery if you want!) I would definitely suggest getting in contact with the lovelies over at @botiasaccessories, @thebobbypinkuk & @svbridaljewellery (over on Instagram). They are the jewellery experts and can help you choose something stunning from their collections!

Q. Do you think weddings at the back end of the year will go ahead as normal, I’m praying x

A. Okay, so… I wouldn’t want to jinx anything so (TOUCH WOOD)… All I’ll say is that I am planning all my Weddings as totally back to ‘normal’… I believe that we all have to stay super positive and get on with ENJOYING this planning process rather than being nervous about it! (I’m praying for you all too! Every finger & toe is permanently crossed for you all!).

Q. When are you able to offer face2face meetings again pls?

A. At the moment all consultations are still taking place over Zoom… however I’m happy to meet for a very informal initial consultation if you just wanted to go for a walk and a chat to see how I can help with your Wedding! I prefer to do all my meetings somewhere where I can take (many many many) notes… so I think face-to-face consultation will be happening when Restaurants / Pubs can re-open… and I can buy you a glass of Fizz to toast your Wedding!!

Q. To suit or not to suit the men at a summer abroad wedding. I’m afraid they will melt!

A. Fab question… I can defo help with Hot men! I actually have Mr T here with me… so I feel he’s the best person to answer your question… So we opted for: Groom (3 Piece), Best man (Waistcoat), Groomsmen (Shirt & Braces)… I think the boys were definitely happy that they weren’t in full suits, but asking Mr T about his… this is what he had to say… (Mr T): I REALLY wanted to wear a 3 piece suit as I’m definitely a massive suit fan… however I was also MASSIVELY worried about the heat on the day… It turns out… I needn’t have worried… I don’t know if it was the adrenaline / nerves / excitement or just being ‘in the moment’… but I don’t remember being hot once on the actual day! I think you shouldn’t worry about it too much, the ceremony its only 1/2 an hour… get your perfect pics, them take your jacket off afterwards if you’re too hot! You could vary the outfits like we did! Hannah’s Dad wore a full 3 piece too and he said he was also fine! I think you genuinely just get caught up in the moment! (Hannah’s Dad opted for a linen suit so a lighter material… better for destination weddings!). Most of our lad guests chose to go with a shirt/tie combo with it being abroad… so we were really glad our boys were slightly more ‘dressed up’ so you could tell them apart! (It was 34 degrees in our Wedding Day… just as a reference! – Hope that helped! Mr T x)

Q. Postponed our date for third time now. Finding it hard to keep excited for the wedding.

A. Oh honey!! 3 times!… I honestly can’t even imagine how hard you must be finding all this… I’m finding it upsetting enough helping all my Brides & Grooms rearrange their dates and it’s not even my own Wedding! I have one couple who are now on their 4th date… the stress of rearranging all the suppliers and informing all your guests… I can TOTALLY understand how that would take the shine off everything for you… We are all here for you… to celebrate on your would-have-been wedding days and to offer advice where we can! All I can say here is that we MUST all stay positive… I know it’s far from an ideal situation that you find yourself in at this point of your Wedding Planning journey… but it is what you make of it!!! Obviously some things will be harder than others… things you feel you’re missing out on especially… but your must make the most of every second!! If you do manage to get married in your new wedding date (fingers crossed) you don’t want to look back and feel as though you didn’t;t throw yourself fully into the fun of Wedding Planning… there are so many other ways you (& your Bride Tribe) can make the run-up to your wedding special for you!… Here are some ‘Ways to fall in love with your Wedding again’:

• Get involved with Bride Groups of Facebook / Insta… ask about their Wedding Details and tell them about yours.
• Watch Videographers films of other couple at your Wedding Venue and picture yourself walking down that very same aisle! (Same with Photographers albums)
• Plan to attend events such as ‘Battle of the Wedding Bands’ @amvlivemusic when lockdown is lifted!
• Attend a Virtual Wedding Show like the one hosted by @bellebridalmagazine
• Now that we can have 6 in a garden why not plan a garden Afternoon Tea Party with your ‘maids!
• Take a break (yes, totally switch off – for a week… a month… however long you need) then set yourself a date to dive in headfirst again!
• Take a walk around your Venue’s Gardens (if you’re allowed)… or walk back to the place you had your engagement shoot… or where your partner proposed to get those giddy feels again!
• Take a Wedding-Planning-Moon… promise not to talk about anything Wedding related… a little holiday away from the stress (obvs. local at the moment of course! – check out my girl @stephfoxtravel for some great places to go ASAP!)
• Follow someone on social media who makes you feel Positive (my go-to girl is Alex @brideinmind) – such an amazing outlook… you can’t help but feel positive too!)
• and finally… Book a Consultation with your Fairy WedMother… me, Mrs T! I’m here to help you in any way you can! Read my Reviews and find out from my Brides why they would recommend booking a sessions with me! I’d love to help you fall in love with your Wedding again!

Join me every Wednesday at 7:30pm on my Instagram Stories for more ‘Wine & Whine’ Wedding Wisdom!

Lots of Love,

Mrs T x