Month: May 2016

Tropical Wedding Theme

While you may not be jetting off to the tropics for your wedding day and the possibility of Ireland suddenly morphing into Hawaii being low, that doesn’t mean you can’t channel the exotic in your wedding day décor! And if you love all things bright and beautiful and want to inject some serious fun into your day, then this theme is really worth considering.

Think pineapples, coconuts, flamingos, rainforests, palm trees, banana leaves, cocktails, tiki torches, pinks, greens, yellows and lots of Hawaiian style. It’s possible to inject some tropical fun into practically all aspects of your day and the best thing is that much of these touches are both easy to source and on the whole inexpensive too. The main thing to remember with this one is to have lots of fun and really go for it.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Pew Ends

No matter if you’re walking down the aisle of a church or another venue, having pineapples at the base of your pews or chairs is a fantastic way to kick things off! Also consider palm leaves tied with flowers and look for brightly coloured exotic flowers if you can. Banana leaves rolled into cones filled with petals look stunning too and if you’re saying ‘I do’ outdoors then why not go for tiki torches?

 

 

Centrepieces and Table Décor

Centrepieces are always an essential cog in your wedding day décor and channelling the tropical will really add the wow factor. Think hollowed out pineapples with tropical coloured flowers inside and tall birds of paradise or green bamboo.  Palm and banana leaves work so well as place settings. Think of using rainbow cocktail umbrellas as place names. Have large shells filled with tropical flowers or give each guest a Hawaiian leis as their escort card or place name.

 

 

Room Décor

Placing some carefully chosen props around your venue will further cement your theme and add lots of fun to the day. Bamboo would work wonders for a backdrop, as would some flamingos, even the inflatable kind would work well! And if you’re having a DIY photobooth they’d be great as props, as would hula skirts and Hawaiian shirts and Hawaiian leis for guests to play around with. Don’t forget the light up Aloha signs and surf boards too!

 

Food and Drinks

Finally have fun with the food and drinks! And what could be more tropical than drinking out of a coconut! And they don’t even have to be real coconuts, source kitsch plastic ones and serve welcome cocktails or ‘mocktails’ to your guests on arrival! Or forego the coconuts and have some colourful pink cocktails or creamy Pina Coladas instead.  Exotic fruit is also a must with fun skewers or even trees made out of fruit for guests to enjoy.

 

Images via Pinterest

Fabulous Wedding Frames

Frames are the super versatile piece of wedding décor you cannot do without. Easy to source, relatively cheap and with a style to fit practically any wedding theme, they really are invaluable. From framing cute signs, love quotes, or pictures, to using them more creatively as the seating plan, centrepieces, or as backdrops or impromptu photobooths, they are a must.

Search your favourite high street shops for value frames in the likes of Dunnes Stores, Tiger, Ikea, Debenhams and so on, but don’t forget to look for some antique versions in auctions or online too! And if you’re a DIY lover then don’t be afraid to give the frames your own personal touch by either upcycling to decorating them to fit in with your theme.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding plans or décor, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.https://www.perfect-details.com/wedding-help/

 

Pew Ends
For a new take on pew ends, consider getting smaller frames to hang from each pew. You could fill them with black and white photos of your parents and grandparents as a nice nod to past generations in your family, or indeed fill them with pictures of both of you from when you were children up to adulthood the closer each pew gets to the top. Also think about filling them with your favourite love quotes either.

 

Signs
From signs welcoming your guests, to your favourite love quotes, the story of how you fell in love, signs directing guests to the different parts of the festivities, or details on your guestbook, frames will spruce up these up in an instant. Look for frames that fit in with your theme, be it glamorous, rustic, vintage, barn style, Gatsby, garden or anything in between.

 

Table Plan
Whether you want to have just one large ornate frame with the tables listed or you want to get creative and use lots of little frames laid out on a table or presented on a board, there’s no doubt that frames look fabulous for your table plan. Plus you can find a frame to fit in with whatever theme you have chosen. Don’t forget you can always use the frames again around your home when you get your wedding photos back!

 

Centrepieces
Frames are the perfect choice for your wedding table centrepieces. What’s great is that they can be either the main focus, or they can be just part of the overall look. For example you could have a picture of each of you at the age of the table number in a frame as the main part of the centrepiece. Or you could have a frame with a page from your favourite books on a stack of books. Similarly a still or quote from a film within a bespoke frame, or a framed map of a part of the world you have both been to will work really well. In the same way, frames can also become just an element of the centrepiece by adding a subtle extra with simply the number in a frame that suits the décor. The possibilities are endless.

 

Photos and Photobooths
If you want to get creative then make sure to have some frames at the ready for photo time! You can easily set up an impromptu DIY photobooth with a frame and a camera yourself for lots of on the hoof fun. But also consider using frames in your official wedding shots too. Chat to your photographer about setting up some clever perspective shots with the bridal party holding a frame and the couple situated within the frame from afar, for some truly stunning pictures.

 

 

Getting Married on a Weekday

Planning your wedding can be both exhilarating and stressful at times. One of the first things you need to do, is to choose your wedding date and this will often be dictated by availability and budget. Many a couple have viewed a venue and completely fallen in love with it, only to be told it’s either not available on their preferred date, or it’s out of their budget. It can be upsetting, especially when you have your heart set on it. But there is still hope. One big thing you can do is to consider saying ‘I Do’ on a weekday instead of the traditional choice of a Saturday.

Indeed today, more and more couples are opting for weekday nuptials for a whole variety of reasons and while it can mean big savings and securing the venue of your dreams, bear in mind it will also have other consequences for your wedding day.

As an award-winning wedding planner, I’ve organised many weekday and weekend weddings for my happy couples over the years and ultimately the decision of which you go for has to come down to what you both want as a couple and what’s going to feel right for your closest family and friends; as these are the people you want with you on this most special day.

If you’d like to chat through your wedding ideas or want to find out how I can help bring your wedding dreams to life, then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

The Pros of Getting Married on a Weekday

  • There really are terrific savings to be had on wedding venues and packages if you decide to get married on a weekday and even more so if it’s ‘out of season.’ So if you are on a budget, then it’s well worth considering, as you can get much more bang for your buck and a more luxurious venue.
  • Many wedding venues can book out on Saturdays up to a year in advance and if your preferred wedding venue is booked out on Saturdays, then it’s worth checking about weekday availability.
  • If going for a weekday wedding is not your preferred choice, but your dream venue is only available on a weekday, try and see if they have a Friday available as it can be a good compromise for your guests, as opposed to say a Wednesday when they have to get back to work on the Thursday or Friday.
  • As well as savings on the venue itself, you’re likely to find a whole variety of wedding vendors may give better rates or throw in extras for weekday bookings.
  • A weekday wedding is ideal for a more intimate affair and feels less generic. In fact getting married on a weekday can feel unique and special.

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The Cons of Getting Married on a Weekday

  • The biggest issue with getting married on a weekday is the impact it is going to have on your guests getting the time off work and/or taking the kids out of school.
  • Depending on which weekday you go for, bear in mind it will in all likelihood mean guests taking two days off work, depending on where the wedding is and this can ask a lot of those who are outside your family and very close friends.
  • If you are getting married on a weekday, then you’ll need to send out a save the date card well in advance to give your guests the maximum notice so they can secure the time off.
  • Your final wedding numbers may end up being significantly smaller than you anticipated which can have an effect on your wedding package rates.
  • Take into account rush hour and lunch time traffic, as well as school collection traffic all of which will be at its peak on a weekday and can impact you or your guests getting to the wedding on time.

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Choosing the Wedding Suits

Men can sometimes be forgotten to an extent in the wedding attire process. We tend to put a lot of emphasis on finding the dress, but for the groom or indeed grooms, finding the right suit is just as important. If your husband-to-be is not really the shopping type or into his fashion as such, then it can be tempting to jump in and try push him towards a certain type of suit, but bear in mind, even if he’s not a fashionista he’ll still have his own thoughts on how he should look and feel, so take that into account.

The most important points to remember are; finding a suit that feels comfortable and fits well. After that it’s really up to personal choice and what’s going to fit in with the style of the day. The groomsmen suits should then follow easily after the groom’s suit has been chosen.

If you’d like to chat about any aspect of your wedding plans, from themes, to décor to choosing a venue, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Why You Should Buy Your Suits
The big dilemma is always do you buy or rent your suit? There’s a few things to consider. While buying your suit or suits will be more expensive, you will most likely get a better, made to measure fit and higher quality suit. If you’re planning to wear the suit again, even a couple of times, the return on investment is really worth it. If you are planning to buy your suit, then you can always rent the groomsman’s suits to cut down on the costs. Finally, consider that you can always customise your own suit much more than a rented version. And you’ll have it for all time too.

 

Why You Should Rent Your Suits
Renting your suit is better value and these days there are a myriad of expert suit hire companies who should have something to complement your personal taste. Keep in mind when you need to collect and leave back the suits, especially if you’re getting married further afield as you may incur extra charges if you leave it back late. Another advantage of renting is that you can make sure the groom and groomsmen’s suit match perfectly.

The Fit
The fit of your suit is the most important thing to consider. It has to be cut to suit your body shape and be as-made-to-measure as possible, buying your suit is obviously an advantage in this case, but you can still find a good fit in a rented suit too. Think about the different styles you like to wear normally, be it skinny fit or something more traditional and classic. Don’t be pressured into choosing something you’re not comfortable with.

 

Style
Once you’ve chosen the fit, style is really the next consideration. Do you want something modern and slim? A three piece suit? A tuxedo, or even a full dress Ascot style morning suit? It will all depend on what you’re comfortable in and importantly on the theme of the day; is it a more laid back, rustic style wedding or is it a very formal affair? Also consider the time of year as the weather will place a role in the sort of fabric you go for.

 

Colours
Don’t be afraid to have fun with your choice of colours. Gone are the days of just having black as a choice. Today think blue, navy and grey which are all popular colours at the moment. For something a little more daring consider tweed or burgundy!

 

Accessories
Finally don’t forget the little accessories that will really make your suits look stunning. Choose from ties or bowties. A cravat, or no tie at all! Consider vintage style pocket watches, braces, hankies in the top pocket, colourful socks and even hats. The only limit is your imagination!

 

Wedding Balloons

Balloons are the perfect wedding prop. Completely customisable and available in a variety of sizes, colours, shapes and finishes, there is a balloon to suit every wedding theme. From the photo-friendly trend for oversized balloons, to having balloons that spell out words like ‘LOVE’, to using balloons as part of your décor and even incorporating them into your escort cards and table décor, they are often budget-friendly, easy to source, visually stunning and well worth considering for your big day.

If you’d like to chat about this, or any aspect of your wedding day planning or décor, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Oversized Balloons
A trend that is still very popular, oversized balloons look stunning. They can make for breath-taking photos and they are great fun for the younger guests too, if you’ve got Paige boys and flower girls, then why not consider having special oversized balloons just for them to make them feel extra special. Look for balloons with tassels, colours that fit in with your palette and if you’re a DIY lover then why not consider covering them with tulle or netting for a really unique look.

 

Letter Balloons
Whether you want to spell out LOVE or your names of just have your initials, letter balloons make incredible photo props. Think about different colours and make sure they are large enough to have an in impact in your wedding photos.

 

Group Balloons
For a great picture, why not consider giving everyone a balloon and get them together for a group shot, then they can all release the balloons for an epic moment you won’t forget.

 

Escort Cards
If you really want to wow with something more unique, why not have each of the guests escort cards floating on the end of a balloon as they enter the pre-reception area? They can then have lots of fun finding their names and they get a balloon too!

 

Room Décor
Use balloons as alternative centrepieces by having large, or ornate balloons weighted down for each table. Get creative and paint part of them in glitter or have fun by filling them with confetti and let the tables burst them after the speeches. Also consider having just a few oversized balloons with tassels, painted with art, or in a special shape, placed in strategic locations around the venue as stunning props. And instead of tassels think about using flowers for a show-stopping effect. Don’t forget about using balloons for backdrops and arches too.

 

Images via Pinterest