My usual Monthly Round-Up!

Here we go… my usual monthly round up of all things covered in our ‘Whine & Wine’ Wednesdays for last month! This one is slightly later than normal… my apologies! It took me longer to type out so we must have done a lot of chatting in the month of January!

Have a scan through the questions below and see if there’s anything that you’ve been meaning to ask but never had a chance… if there’s anything you want more info on then just drop me a message!

(Everything here is written as it was on the day & is saved to my instagram highlights for you too.)

Wednesday 6th January 2021

Here we go everyone! Wedding Wednesday… Feel free to tell me anything… your thoughts about 2021 so far… any questions you have for me? Anything goes tonight!

Q. How do you stop yourself adding things on… when is enough enough?

A. Never!!! Never been one for the whole ‘less is more’ thing haha! I love everything EXTRA as hell! No, I’m totally kidding… I find it’s easiest if you always make sure to keep in mind your colour scheme/theme… When buying or adding anything new, think to yourself ‘Will this new item go with everything else… or will it take away from what I already have?’ Especially if you’re going for a minimalist theme… anything added will more than likely take away from everything beautiful you already have! But if you have plenty of time until your Wedding, the money to spend and really love the new item and think it will ADD to your Wedding… then go for it! Do whatever makes you happy! It’s your big day… you only do it once! So make it as special as you’ve always dreamed! After the year we’ve all had… we deserve it!

Q. Please share a blog on MOH duties!

A. Oooh… already got some notes saved in a draft blog for this one!!! So of course I will!! I’ll definitely get it up ASAP for you!

EDIT: This one is now available HERE!

I’ve got some really good ones coming up this week for any new fiancees! Are there any other blog posts you would like to see ASAP (let me know in the comments below!)

EDIT: Find the new fiancees posts here:

• So you’ve just got engaged… Now what?
• 88 Instagram Accounts to follow when you get engaged!

Q. How to pick the perfect Honeymoon near and far?

A. Ooh love this one! I actually have 2 contacts who I’m going to ask to guest blog with me on this… One is a travel counsellor and will have loads of tips and destinations to share! She actually planned our Honeymoon – (which I will also share with your guys as it was slightly different but epic!!) – She’s amazing!… The other contact is one of my very best friends… who is an AMAZING travel blogger… I know she will have SO many tips and destinations… especially for Mini-Moons! I’m already super excited to write this one with her… but if you can’t wait, give her a follow now! Also… my husband booked the holiday of a lifetime for my 30th. It’s not until December 2022 but I’m planning on Vlogging the whole thing… so although it’s not much help now… I’m so excited to share it all with you then! The thought of this holiday is going to me me through absolutely anything 2021 throws at us! We’re booked at Pullman, Maldives and then onto… Atlantis The Palm, Dubai! Excited isn’t even the word! I’d love to hear what all your plans are for your honeymoon… hopefully I can share some of your ideas with other brides the same week as the blog post! (My Honeymoon was VERY different to this! I’ll share all the details soon!)

Q. How about the benefits of a small/micro wedding?

A. Well apart from the fact they are STUNNING! There are many benefits to having a micro-wedding!… I covered a lot of them in a previous blog post called ‘COVID and your Wedding’, which is still available on my website (just follow the #linkinbio and search the site!)… But I’m happy to do another post if it helps!!! I ADORE micro-weddings!

Thank you all for a lovely evening. This really takes my mind off lockdown and all other C-Word related news… so thank you, I hope it does the same for you too! Lots of Love, Mrs T x

Wednesday 13th January 2021

Happy Humpday! Everyone ready for another Sipping & Sharing Session tonight? It’s that time of the week again guys! Where we talk about all things ‘Wedding’! Feel free to ask me any questions you have… Wedding or non-Wedding related, or share something exciting about your Wedding with all of us! We’d all love to hear it!

Q. Bet you’re doing this from your Hot-Tub again.

A. Ahahahahahaa you know me so well. I’m out here in all Weathers, not the same without my wine though!

Q. What’s your thoughts on parents paying for the wedding?

A. Well… It’s definitely the more traditional way! And who would turn down free money! (Definitely not me… just in case anyone is offering!) So if your parents (or your partners parents) want to contribute (or pay for the whole thing)… then go for it!!… Just bear in mind that they may want a say on how and where things are done… and might even want to invite a few guests of their own. If you’re cool with that then no worries! But if you’re worried that they might take over… then have a chat with them first before you let them write any cheques… just to kindly remind them that this day is about your guys and make sure they’re happy to let you take the reigns and do it your way! It might feel a bit awkward to say this now (especially if they’ve just offered you money)… but it will most likely save arguments. later down the line, so trust me… it will be worth it for your own sanity! Me & Mr T paid for everything ourselves for our own wedding… so we could have out day our way. But my mum offered to cover everything that I would be wearing (dress, jewellery, etc. – I bought my own shoes though) and she also chipped in for some Bridesmaid items and my Hen Do. She also bought Dale’s cufflinks as a wedding gift to him. My Dad was so proud of us doing it all ourselves that he pulled me to one side on our Wedding Day and gave us a lump sum towards our Honeymoon (which we were leaving for in a few days and was already paid for) and said ‘don’t save this money for something serious… go and enjoy yourselves on your Honeymoon’. We ere so grateful as we’d already budgeted for some fancy meals etc. but this meant we could go absolutely crazy and have the time of our lives… but that’s a story for another day!

Q. Any tips on choosing the right photographer for you?

A. Yes, of course!… This is actually pretty much the title of the blog that is currently being written by one of my guest bloggers! But I’m happy to share my Top Tips with you now… Would everyone like to know the types of Guest Blogger I have lined up for you so you can send me specific questions for them to cover? (Poll = 100% YES PLEASE – (A photographer, a travel counsellor, a travel blogger, a make-up artist)

Top Tips for choosing your Wedding Photographer:

1. AVAILABILITY:

If you’re spending time looking at a Photographers page and like what you see so far, drop them a quick message to check their availability first. Please don’t set your heart on someone before checking they have your date free! This is why you should always book your main suppliers as early as possible! (As soon as you’ve secured your date with your Venue). 

2. STYLE: 

Think about the overall style you are going for? Is it: 

– Edgy & Alternative 

– Romantic 

– Traditional 

– Fine Art 

– Trendy & High Fashion 

Would you prefer more of a relaxed and ‘take photos while you’re not looking’ photographer or do you have a ‘shot list’ of people that you want photos with and therefore want a more traditional photographer? 

3. BUDGET 

Again… before setting your heart on anyone… do your research! Are they within your price range? Ask them what their ‘packages’ include. 

Find out things like: 

– Does it include an online gallery or any actual prints? 

– Does it include any extras like an engagement shoot? 

– How many hours does the package cover? 

– How many photographers will be there on your wedding day? 

– How many photos do they usually take on a wedding day vs. How many you will receive. 

That way you can compare them to other photography packages and find out which one will get you the most out of your budget. 

Photography is usually about 10-15% of your budget. But it’s up to you if you want to budget in other areas and spend a bit more here… the photos are memories that you will look back on with your family forever! 

4. EXAMPLES 

When you find a Photographer you’re keen on… follow them on all their socials immediately (Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, Bookmark their Website… if they’re also a Videographer they’ll most likely be on YouTube & Vimeo too). Spend time looking through examples of their work with your partner… (be careful looking at photos that they’ve been tagged in bu other couples, as sometimes these have been badly edited with a harsh filter after all the photographers hard work… so don’t always trust them!) 

Find the photos of theirs that you love (and maybe even find ones that you’re not keen on), save them and show them to the photographer and let them know what you do/don’t like and what you’re looking for on your wedding day.

See if they have any examples of photos at your venue! But don’t worry if they don’t ask them if they would mind booking a show round with your Venue Wedding Coordinator to familiarise themselves with the best spots… or better yet, meet them there for a walk around and a coffee!

5. Personality

This is the most important one of all!!! If you don’t ‘click’ with your photographer then yes your photos will be still be amazing (they’re professionals after all!)… but if you find a photographer that you are comfortable with or better yet, have a laugh with… then trust me, your photos will be on another level!

They will bring out the best in you on the day, and not only that… you will ENJOY your day so much more! (You’ll be spending a lot if time with them so choose wisely!)

I can’t tell you how much we loved our full team on our big day!

Q. Hen and Stag Do’s, Strippers? Yes or No?

A. Yasssss!!! Yes, yes, yes! Totally up to your if you don’t want one… let your girls and guys know in advance… there’s plenty of other things you can do!… But oh the fun we all had *wink wink* (Photos NSFW). I know for a fact the girls had a better time than the boys… Mr T cam back traumatised from his Stag Do.

Q. Fiance wants TV with Football on at the Wedding

A. Now if you’d have told me this a few years ago I would have said HELL NO! However… I had a Wedding not that long ago where the Groom (& his mates) were absolutely football mad… His teams biggest match ever ended up being scheduled for the day their Wedding! (What are the chances!) The Bride decided that it was better to embrace it and make it part of the day rather than fight it and lose (because they’d all be watching it on their phones under the table and ignoring the ceremony/speeches etc. anyway!). Now we’re not really a football household tbh… so I wasn’t that keen on the idea of the football overshadowing their Day… but that’s what they wanted… so I went with it. I must admit… it actually ended up being one of the most fun weddings I’ve seen… because the Bride embraced her new Husband’s passion, he was so over the moon (and so were all the lads) that they declared her an absolute legend and the most amazing Wifey Material and they carried her about all day chanting songs about her! It was absolutely hilarious and everyone was having the time of their lives. So it just goes to show… it’s what you make of it that counts! I will however mention here that the team did end up winning… it may have been a whole other story otherwise! That was my main fear… so it’s definitely something to consider… (what if that match goes to s**t?) If it means the absolute world to him and you’re okay with it, then consider if you could make it work… but for me… it would have been a no. If you feel the same as me then remind him it’s supposed to be one of the most special days of your lives, all about you two… he can always watch it on catch up the next day! As I’ve said… we wouldn’t be having the Football on at our Wedding. (now the Formula One of the other hand… that might have been allowed!).

And last one for the evening:

Q. Tell me more about this 5:2 diet please.

A. I’ve had this question a couple of times. Yes, of course… I’ve only just learned about it from a friend myself! (I’ll just mention here that I’m not an advocate for it or selling anything to do with it.) I literally only just started it about 10 days ago so I don’t know how it will go but I’ve lost 9 pounds so far so I’m super happy with it! And happy to share how it works with you all! All you do for 5:2 is:

• Eat your normal allowance of calories for 5 days of the week. (you can use Google to work out your personal allowance based on your height & weight – for example mine is 1600 calories per day).
• And then on the other 2 days… only eat 500 calories. It sounds tough… but these can be any 2 days… so I don Mondays & Thursdays as it suits me best, and there’s a gap in between them so I don’t suffer too much!

The idea is to make healthier choices and have a balanced diet but you can allocate your calories however you like… I know my friend sometimes chooses to save hers up throughout the day bit more if she wants a glass of wine… priorities! I’m finding it okay so far! But I’ll let you know how it goes!

Wednesday 20th January 2021

Good Evening Darlings!! How are we all today? I’ve just got little one down for the night and I’m here and ready to answer all of your Wedding questions!

Tell me what’s been going on this week with your wedding… have you:

• Booked a new supplier?
  Appointed your Bridal Party?
• Sent out your Save-the-Dates?
• Fiddled with your Seating Chart?

Or feel free to ask me a question… wedding or non-wedding related!

• Supplier/Venue related question?
• How did I get into Wedding Planning?
• A question for the upcoming guest bloggers?
• Requests for new blog posts?

Ask away!

Q. What’s your personal pet peeve when it comes to a wedding?

A. Oooh… good one! My absolute No. 1 Pet Peeve… is when guests move seats during a Wedding Breakfast! Honestly I can’t tell you how much it makes my blood boil… especially on a CHOICE MENU! The Wedding Couple have most likely spent HOURS carefully choosing where everyone will sit… and they’re only asking them to sit there for approx. 2 hours… Yet for some reason some guests decide it’s a great time for a game of musical chairs! So next time you do to a wedding and the service is slow… please don’t blame the Venue… it’s probably your fellow guests seat swapping that are keeping you hungry! And it you’re a Wedding Guest yourself… please please please sit where you’re told… and save the Venue Coordinator and Chefs from a mild breakdown in the process! Thaaanks!

Had a couple of people clicking on ‘How did I get into Wedding Planning’… well…

A. I certainly haven’t had a ‘normal’ journey into my current role (if there is such a thing?) I’ve always been interested in weddings, it has always been a dream in the back of my mind to play some part in planning such a big day in a couple’s life. Before I was even engaged I had a huge stash of Wedding Magazines! Weddings FASCINATE me… the colours, the flowers, the dresses, EVERYTHING! It’s all the little details that make a Wedding Day so special and I am obsessed with them!! So when the opportunity came about, I jumped at the chance…

I have a Degree in Criminology and a Masters in Psychology so this is certainly not the route that I had planned! I started working at my current venue 8 years ago, as a student during the Summer and for Christmas, and the Wedding life took ahold! I worked my way up from Waitressing to Supervisor, we worked long hours but I loved every minute of it (maybe not every minute… we did sometimes work until 3am!). But seeing the guests enjoying this day that the Bride & Groom has designed for them, even having a dance with them now and again, it was all worth it! I was very grateful and a little shocked to be offered the position of Wedding Coordinator once I had finished my Masters (I think they saw how OBSESSED I was with weddings!), and I have been in my Senior position for 3 years now.

I’ve done weddings externally to my current venue and also planned my own destination wedding in Portugal. I then started this blog and business back in October… it’s something I’d been working on since January (with the help of a fabulous friend @stephfoxtravel) and have been helping more Brides & Grooms ever since!

If you’d like to know more about why I love weddings so much or more about the many roles I play as a wedding coordinator… head to my blog and find my very first blog post. Or click the ‘Review’s section to hear more about what I do from my previous Brides & Grooms… or my ‘ Happily Ever Afters’ as I call them!

Wednesday 27th January 2021

Back in my little hot tun happy place and ready to answer all of your Wedding questions, listen to your wedding woes and share in your planning excitement! This little sipping and sharing session that we have on a Wednesday evening is a chance to have a glass of wine with some other Bridal Babes… and also have a little ‘whine’ about anything that’s bothering you wedding wise… It’s a chance to get anything off your Chest and feel refreshed… so that you can continue to be excited for your special day! Cause let’s face it… Wedding planning is so much fun… but can also be super stressful!

Maybe it’s

• An unanswered questions that you can ask me and I can put your mind at ease?
• An unruly bridesmaid
• Something for the wedding that you’ve ordered and had turned up looking rubbish!
• Irritating guests?

Or perhaps you would love to share some exciting news with us about your Wedding?

Have you:

• Booked an awesome supplier?
• Changed your Wedding date?
• Chosen your Wedding venue?
• Or maybe you’ve popped the question to your bridesmaids?

Whatever it is… I want to know!

And if you’re unsure of what question to ask… you could:

• Head to my insta highlights to see questions that have previously been asked
• Or tell me what part of your planning process you’re up to now and what you’re stuck on?

Q. Booked a Gospel Choir for our Church Ceremony – my biggest dream!

A. Oh Em Gee!! How amazing!!! I’ve actually only ever done 1 wedding with a gospel choir so far and it was unbelievable! What an experience! It was actually a surprise for the Bride booked by the Groom! She cried II obviously cried… as always!) and the guests absolutely loved it! That is going to be so so special on your Wedding day! (Can I come?)

Q. Also, question: would you advise to book a coordinator for the day of?!

A. YES YES YES!!! And there are many reasons why!… Firstly… there is SO MUCH set-up to do on the morning of your Wedding (even if you’ve set most of it up the night prior! Inc. many things that you may not have even considered!) Secondly, as a Wedding Coordinator, we will take on your ‘vision’ of the day and make sure everything is done properly throughout the entire day… that things are done exactly as you would wish… but without you having to worry about it on the day! We take the stress away so you can actually enjoy this day you have been planning for so long!… Plus much much more! For example My Wedding Day Coordination Package covers all items such as:

• Free Initial Consultation 
• 2 face-to-face meetings (at least 1 should be at your Venue) 
• Unlimited correspondance – 6 weeks prior to your Wedding 
• Full Wedding Day Coordination from Start to Finish 
• Assistance with clear down the following morning if needed 
• Personalised Wedding Day ‘Details’ Documents inc. all suppliers details, timeline of the day, floorplan and seating document 
• Venue & Supplier communication 6 weeks prior 
• Set up night prior to Wedding if possible / or morning of, if not. 
• Assistance with Bridal Party getting ready 
• Wedding Planning Advice & Tips 
• And also a full Personalised Profile of your Wedding Day featured on my Blog!

But don’t just take my word for it… here’s one of my Wedding Coordinator Package Reviews:

“She was the perfect example of a wedding day silent partner, everything you needed, wanted and even the things I forgot about she was there throughout quietly ticking those things over. She effortlessly orchestrated the biggest and most important day of my life, had all the answers when I needed them and even found the time to join us for a dance at the end.”

Now your venue may already come with a Wedding Coordinator included… which is fab! But some don’t! Especially if your booking something like a Marquee Wedding for example, or a Wedding at home! In which case I would 1000% recommend booking a Wedding Coordinator on the day, to make sure everything runs smoothly without you having to lift a finger!

Q. Worried that my day won’t be as special because of CVD-19.

A. Ahh… I get asked this a lot… I honestly wish I could explain better but… PLEASE TRUST ME… Your day will still be SO special! I can honestly promise you that. I did quite a few weddings in-between lockdowns last year… (and I’m sure your suppliers will tell you this as well, as I know that the ones that I worked with felt the same)… But MicroWeddings were just even more special than normal weddings… I honestly can’t explain it… Everyone was just so happy to be there for the Couple, (the guests and the suppliers!) We all felt so adamant that this day would be just as special for you, that everyone was so in-the-moment and the feeling of ‘togetherness’ was amazing. And the couples were just so happy that they were finally allowed to marry and start their lives together, I could have just stared at them all day, watching them in their happy little ‘wedding-bliss’ bubble’. It has totally changed the wedding scene because of how beautiful they were!

I can’t even begin to understand how hard it must be for you all right now, it’s awful having to watch my couples wait in worry… my heart absolutely breaks for you all. But PLEASE believe me when I say… Your Wedding day will be SO special…

• Your suppliers will work 10 x harder
• Your guests will enjoy it 10 x more (Especially be we’ve all been locked away for so long!)
• And NOTHING… (not even a Global Pandemic) can take away the fact that you will be marrying the love of your life and you will be Husband & Wife, Husband & Husband, or Wife & Wife from that day forward.

And if you’re really stressed about it and just want to enjoy the lead up to your wedding without the worry… head over to my Blog post called ‘Changing or Sticking with your Wedding Date’ and see whether postponing may be the best option for you. I’m always here if anyone needs to talk!

A message I’ve just received from the lovely Mrs W:

‘I was also worried about this but my day was amazing. Everything I could have imagined and more. Everyone there made it so special and to be honest it’s nice to say no matter what we were up against, love never fails!’

We hope this helps put your lovely minds at ease, even if it only helps a little bit. #loveisnotcancelled

Q. Just asked my Brother to be my ‘Man of Honour’!

A. Omgosh! How absolutely LUSH is this! What an amazing bond to have with your sibling! I have 2 younger sisters and both were my Bridesmaids… we used to fight so much growing up but now we couldn’t be closer. I LOVE that people are switching up traditional Wedding Roles at the moment! I’ve seen people having a ‘flower-man’ instead of a flower girl… (hilarity ensues!) And people having their Grandma’s as Bridesmaids! – Utterly ADORABLE! Just because something is traditional it doesn’t mean that you MUST do it that way… make your Wedding perfect for you!

Q. I want to look Bridal for my Wedding party… people have seen my original so I don’t want to wear it again. What would you do?

A. Oooh! Love that you’re having a second party! (I’m guessing you had a micro-wedding in between lockdowns?)… Well I think there are 3 main options here:

1. Firstly is there a way of changing your original wedding dress by adding something extra? An additional sleeve? A detachable skirt? A lace or beaded overlay top? Anything that will make your dress look different.
2. Buy a brand new (totally different) Wedding dress… I’m sure your friends would absolutely LOVE to go dress shopping with you again! (And if not, take me! I’ll happily go dress shopping any day of the week!)
3. Go for a Bridal style party dress… there are SO many STUNNING options out there that I am dying to wear myself!

And there we have it! Everything that was covered during our ‘Wine & Whine’ Wednesday’s in January 2021.

Thank you all for making my Wednesday nights so much fun… I look forward to spending my February Wednesdays with you all too!

Lots of Love,

Mrs T x