Month: May 2018

Wedding Save the Date Cards

You could be forgiven for thinking that save the date cards are just another headache to add to your growing wedding list, but on the contrary, they are a very handy tool in your planning.

While they may be a relatively new concept on this side of the pond, a save the date card has now become commonplace for most couples in Ireland.

But just what is the difference between a save the date and an invitation?

Simply put, a save the date is something you send much more in advance of your invitation and gives guests curial information they need to know, such as the date and location, especially if it is a destination wedding. Guest typically do not need to RSVP at this point.

A wedding invitation however, is sent closer to the day and has all the final information and it is expected that guests will RSVP

Here’s some more information. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Give People Time

These days weddings can just as often be on a weekday as a weekend and they can also be places in which guests will need to travel to, so with all of that in mind, it’s good manners to send your guests as much information in advance as possible. That’s where a save the date comes in. It allows your guests to get time off work if needed and /or organise childcare.

 

When Do I Send Them?

It really depends on the type of wedding you are having. If it is to a destination aboard then give as much notice as you can, even nine months. If it’s not so far afield then around six months is perfectly fine. Try to resist to send them out more than a year in advance as people can forget about it.

 

 

Who Should Get One?

Everyone and anyone who you’d ideally love to have at your wedding should get one. By the same token, once you end them a save the date, then you cannot decide to not send them an invitation later.

 

But I don’t Have All the Information Yet

Don’t panic, a save the date typically won’t have all the wedding information enclosed, as you won’t have it finalised yet. What it will typically have is the date of the wedding and possibly the location. You should also make it personal and clear as to who is invited so plans can be made. You should then say more details to follow.

 

 

Get Communication Going

Another pro of a save the date is that you can direct your guests to a website or app, which you can then fill up with important information the closer you get to the big day. This is particularly helpful if you’re having a destination wedding where guests need to book travel.

 

I Haven’t Decided on My Theme Yet!

That’s okay, while you can of course introduce your theme to your guests with the save the dates, there is no reason why they have to fit in with your eventual theme down the line. In fact, it’s a nice way to experiment with what you think you might like to use.

 

Do I Still Need to Send an Invite?

The short answer is yes! You need to send a formal invite to confirm all the details of the day and to finalise your guest list.

 

 

Images via Pinterest 

 

Wildflower Wedding Theme

Wildflowers are not just a wonderful choice for your wedding bouquets, but also for your décor. If you want to get away from the traditional style or flowers and are after a more relaxed vibe for your wedding, reflecting a boho, rustic or vintage style, then wildflowers are a must.

Not only are these natural beauties stunning, they are also much more budget friendly and can be used in your décor as well as your bouquets and buttonholes.

Think centrepieces, floral crowns and even incorporate them into your wedding cake!

Wildflowers won’t tend to work as well if you’re going for a crisper, modern, elegant theme for your big day, so keep in mind what you want as the overall look and feel.

Here’s some visual inspiration for you. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Bouquets

There’s something about a wildflower bouquet that is undeniably beautiful. The colour and variety you can pack into a bouquet is incredible. Chat to your florist about what is available at the time of the year you’re getting married and keep in mind the ideas of colour. You don’t have to go with something bursting with a range of colours, you can go for wildflowers that are more or less in the same tonal family if you prefer.

 

Floral Crowns

Floral crowns and wildflowers are a match made in wedding heaven. They look stunning if you’re planning on having your hair down too. Don’t forget to match the crown with your bouquet and think about whether you want the bridesmaids and flower girls to have some floral crowns too. It can be nice to mix and match.

 

On the Table

If you think that wildflower centrepieces lack the impact of more traditional flowers, then think again! Wildflowers can in fact look even more beautiful. Arrange them in mason jars, vintage style bottles or watering cans, buckets, vases, and wooden crates or planters. Intersperse them with lanterns, candles or tea lights or sit them on top of a wooden slice to complete the look.

 

The Cake

Wildflowers work really well with a more understated cake that’s got muted tones or indeed if you’re going for a naked style of cake. You can arrange wildflowers on each tier, or just on the top. You can mix them with fruit and experiment with different cake toppers for a complete look.

 

Images via Pinterest

Tips to Keep the Morning of the Wedding Calm

The morning of your wedding day is a special time, as it’s the last few hours you’ll spend as an unmarried person. That said, it can also be a chaotic and nervy time, leaving the bride-to-be stressed and overwhelmed. 

Between makeup and hair people coming and going, getting your finished look the way you want it, flowers being dropped off, not to mention anxieties about the dress fitting properly, not spilling anything on it, ensuring the bridesmaids/flower girls have all their accessories, making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be, walking down the aisle and a million and one other possible problems and issues, it’s easy to see how brides can get flustered.

And that is not what you want on the morning of the wedding. It should ideally be a calm and enjoyable few hours spent with your close family and bridesmaids.

Thankfully, over my years of putting weddings together, I know how to ensure the bride stays stress free. Here are my top tips on how to keep things relaxed and ordered.  

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Get to Bed Early

This is easier said than done, because you’ll most likely be too excited to sleep! That said, do try and get a good night’s sleep and avoid drinking too much as you’ll want to feel rested and fresh the next day.

                                                       

Lay Out Accessories the Night Before

Before you get your head down take some time to lay everything out in terms of your dress, the accessories, shoes and anything else you’ll need for the morning. You don’t want to be panicking looking for something in the morning as this can make you stressed. And don’t forget to do the same with any bridesmaids/flower girl’s attire too.

 

 

 

Have a Timeline

It’s a good idea to have a timeline for the morning, in terms of hair and makeup people coming and the order in which the bridal party will be getting ready. Start at the end with a time you would ideally like to be ready to go and work backwards from that. Factor in extra or contingency time in case there are delays, which can happen for any number of reasons. You’re always best off having time in hand to play with, rather than be dashing and arriving at the church flustered.

 

Eat Something

Nerves can put you off your food, but weddings are a marathon not a sprint, so be sure to have a little something in your tummy to sustain you. Even if it’s just a croissant try and eat something small it will make all the difference.

 

 

Make the Room an Oasis of Calm

Whether it be some relaxing music, or lighting candles, or spraying some aromatherapy scents, keep the room where you’re getting ready a calm place. Also take a few moments for yourself to take everything in, as it’s probably the only time you’ll have all day with just you.

 

Finally, Have Fun!

Don’t forget to enjoy the morning, as it really is a special time. Smile, laugh, enjoy being pampered, have a few moments with your parents, pop open the bubbly and have a glass to steady the nerves, but just be sure not to over indulge as you don’t want it going to your head.

 

 

 

What is a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner?

You may have heard the term wedding ‘rehearsal dinner,’ in lots of American movies when it comes to wedding ceremonies. But just what is a rehearsal meal and should you have one?

Well while these occasions are par for the course in the USA, there are not exactly a formality on this side of the pond. A rehearsal dinner is generally speaking, a meal held the night before the wedding where both sides of the families can meet each other ahead of the big day.

So while we don’t tend to have official rehearsal dinners here, many families do organise some kind of get together before the main event.

We’ve put together a list of everything you might want to consider about having an official rehearsal dinner vs a more relaxed event.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Formal Rehearsal Dinner

Movies would have us believe that a rehearsal dinner is a very formal sit down occasion held the night before the wedding. In reality, this is not always the case, but it does throw up some pros and cons.

Pros

Holding it the night before the wedding means that most family members who have travelled great distances will be in situ.

It gives the bridal party a chance to practise speeches and go through other formalities of the role.

You can assign seats and get different sides of the families sitting together so they can break the ice ahead of the big day.

Traditionally the groom’s parents arrange this event and it can be a nice way to let them feel more involved in the wedding.

 

Cons

Having it the night before can break the old tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other.

The couple may not be staying in the same location the night before the wedding, so a meal this close to the big day becomes impractical.

If guests have travelled a great distance, they may be tired and not able to stay up for a sit down meal.

A more formal affair can add to your budget.

 

 

More Relaxed Get Together

On this side of the Atlantic, many families would arrange a get together where both sides of the families can meet in a more relaxed environment and it generally takes place in advance of the wedding.

 

Pros

There’s less pressure on everyone if you go for a more laid back feel to the event, such as drinks in your home or local pub or a meal in a restaurant.

You’ve more choice about the sort of event you choose, when it’s laid back – a daytime BBQ, a picnic, an evening in a local restaurant, drop in drinks in your home, etc.

It won’t take a huge chunk out of your budget.

Often the two families spend the night before the wedding in different locations, so having the event more in advance will mean everyone can comfortably get together.

 

Cons

If you’re arranging it in the weeks before the wedding, not all members of the family who may live abroad for example will be available to attend and as such it might negate the whole idea of the event.

You may be quite busy in the weeks leading up to the wedding and the idea of organising a get together like this could be too much to have on your plate.

Without a more formal sit down arrangement where you can control who sits where, people might mot mingle as well and stick to their own families, which again is the opposite of what you want to achieve.