Wedding Planner Myths Busted

When it comes to wedding planners, there’s plenty of myths out there, often propagated thanks to images of wedding planners in Hollywood movies or lavish reality TV shows.

Of course, there are wedding planners who work with celebrities and those with larger budgets, but that doesn’t mean couples with more modest budgets planning smaller weddings cannot avail of a wedding planners highly valued services too.

And yet, often couples have preconceived notions of what wedding planners can and can’t do and many times those assumptions are wrong.

So in an effort to set the record straight, we’re going to bust some of the biggest myths out there and show you that every couple, no matter what their budget or wedding size/style can avail of a wedding planners services.

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.

                                                           

 

Wedding Planners Take Over

If there is one of the biggest myths surrounding wedding planners we’d like to put to rest, it’s that we have a tendency to ‘take over,’ but that is absolutely not the case. Forget those images you may have seen in Hollywood movies of pushy wedding planners who disregard their couple’s wishes. In reality a good wedding planner is very much YOUR advocate. In essence, we’re here to bring your wedding vision to life, it’s always your day, not ours. Think of us as your fairy godmother, who will work every way we can to bring your ideal wedding plans to fruition, just as you envisioned it.

 

 

Wedding Planners Can’t Assist With Small Parts of the Wedding

Another falsity.  Most wedding planners will be happy to assist with any part of your wedding day. For example I offer full, partial or even on the day coordination. A good wedding planner is adept at handling big parts of the wedding planning, but they are also able to come in and offer targeted assistance with say one particular aspect of your planning that is proving either difficult to pull together, or it could be something you simply don’t have time to focus on yourself.

 

A Wedding Planner Will Blow My Budget

Another often perpetuated myth is that wedding planners are expensive. Again we may have films and TV to blame for this one, however often a good wedding planner will often times help you cut down on your costs as we have access to vendors and venues at much better rates. We pass these savings on to you, plus we are always cognisant of your budget and will be better able to stick within those limits. Often couples can see their budgets spiral out of control when planning by themselves.

 

 

My Venue Has A Wedding Coordinator Why Do Would I Need To Hire Someone Else?

While most venues these days do indeed have wedding co-ordinators, their main job is to oversee the wedding in terms of the venue. They generally don’t liaise with your vendors, or assist in terms of sourcing décor or hire items, beyond what might be offered by the venue. A wedding planner is your advocate and will be able to bring all aspects of your wedding day together from the ceremony to the reception, as well as all the lead up, logistics, décor and much, much more.

 

 

Wedding Planning Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

 

Planning your wedding day is one of the most exciting times in your life. However, for many busy couples the reality of trying to bring your wedding dreams to life can be a challenge.

Factors such as the budget, as well as just having enough time in your life to actually get through your list of wedding to-do’s can be a minefield.

It can be easy to get caught up and fall for some very simple mistakes that could end up costing you both financially and emotionally.

As an award winning wedding planner with years of experience at the top of the wedding industry, I know all the ways to avoid making those wedding planning mistakes.

Here’s some of my top tips.  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.

                                                           

 

Don’t be Tempted to Go over Budget

Your budget is the key foundation of your wedding. While it can be tempting to say, book a lavish venue first, when you know it will eat up the majority of your budget, you’ve got to be realistic with yourself. There will always be last minute costs involved in your wedding planning and it’s key to factor these in. The best thing to do is get a full handle on the costs you’re looking at before going ahead and booking venues, vendors or even sending out invites. There’s plenty of ways to be savvy of course and still have the wedding of your dreams well within your budget and in fact working with a wedding planner like myself is a simple way to do this.

 

Invite The People You Want At Your Wedding, Not The People You Think Should Invite

Sometimes, this can be easier said than done. Family politics can play a huge role in your invite list and indeed if the couple’s parents are assisting with the costs, then they may feel they are entitled to some say in who attends. However, your wedding day is YOUR wedding day and as much as possible that means you want people there who you love and enjoy spending time with. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t invite someone who lives abroad or you haven’t seen in a while. Fundamentally it’s about gathering your loved ones together to celebrate this special day with you and not feeling obliged to invite people based on anything else.

 

Don’t Get Stressed

Planning a wedding should be a wonderful and exciting experience. However, it also has the potential to be a stressful endeavour. Spiralling budgets, a lack of time and a feeling of plans going out of control can all add to couples feeling stressed. This is completely the opposite of how you should feel in the run up to your wedding day, it’ supposed to be fun. If you do find yourself getting stressed, it’s important to pause, take a breath and revaluate things.

One of the best things you can do is to seek help from a professional wedding planner, such as myself. I can help with as much or as little of your plans as you need. So if for example, there is one area of your planning making your stressed, then I can take that off your shoulders and allow you to concentrate on other aspects of the planning, or indeed I can also provide assistance on multiple parts of your wedding day too.

 

 

Remember It Is YOUR Day  

In all the hectic planning and family politics of wedding planning it can be easy to forget that your wedding is YOUR day. It is a most special day where you get to celebrate your love for your partner with your family and friends. It should be the day you’ve dreamt of and it should look and feel the way YOU want it to feel. If you find yourself changing plans to suit other people, then you need to take a step back and remember why you’re doing it.

You’ll hopefully only have one wedding day, so it should be a happy, special day that unfolds how you want it to. The last thing you want is to look back and regret changing aspects of the day or compromising on elements you didn’t feel you had to.

Spring Fling – Wedding Colours

Spring is all about the return of colour. In nature, the buds return to the trees, we start to get daffodils and tulips peeing through, cherry blossoms, the grass gets that touch greener and it’s all about a sense of freshness.

It’s a beautiful time of the year to tie the knot. And if you’re planning a spring wedding and you want to tie in with the seasonal colours and themes, then think colour and fresh greenery.

Often, spring evokes those ice cream dream pastel colours of blush pink, baby blue, canary yellow and mint green. All of which will look absolutely stunning and are easy to work with.

However, don’t discount going bolder with colour, either all round through your decor and flowers, or just with a few pops to offset the pastels. And of course a refreshing touch of crisp white and vivid greenery is always a classic look too.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

                                                           

Ceremony

Whether you’re saying ‘I do’ indoors or outdoors, flowers are key to channelling spring. Don’t be afraid to add some bright colours to your bridal bouquets, but equally don’t fear going for the more traditional blush pinks or soft peaches either. If you want to make a really stunning statement of spring, why not have a floral wall as your ceremony backdrop? Add colourful confetti for your church departure and why not consider having blossom trees line your aisle in the ultimate tribute to the spring?

 

On the Table

A heady mix of burlap, wooden slices, vases and pops of spring colour will look stunning for your table décor. If your budget is tight, why not go for a mix of paper pom poms in a range of colours, against some beautiful baby’s breath? Add in lanterns and candles for the perfect mix to bring your table to life

 

 

Around the Room

While flowers play a key role, lighting will also be a big factor in how your room looks and feels. Intersperse fairy lights with up-lighters and candles for the right mix of spring garden. Chinese style lanterns hung from the ceiling or over the dancefloor in a variety of pastels will look amazing during the day and even more romantic as the sun goes down. Don’t forget to dress focal points like staircases, fireplaces and consider having a flower wall for guests to take selfies at during the evening.

 

The Cake

When it comes to the cake, you can really have a lot of fun with a spring colour palette. But if you want to try something more unique, why not go for a naked style cake but with a different colour for each tier, for an almost pastel rainbow effect? Add flowers to your tiers and play around with buttercream and fondant finishes for that really stunning effect. And why not have fun adding additions like cake pops, donuts or mini cakes too in a variety of spring colours.

Bring The Outdoors In For Your Wedding

Having an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception is not something that’s always possible in Ireland. Of course, it is possible to do an outdoor ‘I do’ and have a portion of the drinks reception outside, but having all aspects of the wedding from start to finish outdoors is an unlikely scenario, especially if you’re having a winter wedding.

But that shouldn’t mean you still cannot imbue your day with a sense of the outdoors. In fact, now more than ever there are readily available props and items of décor that can turn your wedding into a secret garden in a flash.

From green trees, to blossom trees, to hanging floral installations, to bay trees, garlands and backdrops, there are a myriad of ways to make your guests feel as though they are sitting in a garden paradise indoors.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

Ceremony
When it comes to bringing a sense of the outdoors into your ceremony, there’s plenty of ways to channel the look. Why not go for tall tree style pew ends? Crisp white blossom trees or trees with a greenery feel will look stunning and add a sense of magic garden to proceedings. If the venue doesn’t allow for this, then think lower down with leaves lining the aisle intermixed with lanterns.

On the Table
If you want to make a big impression why not go for mini trees as your table centrepieces? Be they white or pink style blossom trees, or greenery, it will have an immediate visual impact on your room. If you want to take things down a notch, then why not consider garlands packed with leafy greens? These work especially well for long tables. Consider bare sticks in long vases interspersed with lower set florals. Of if you want to think differently why not have hanging greenery above your tables?

Around the Room
Dot trees around the room in different locations to create a sense of being inside a woodland or lush green garden. Intersperse them with fairly lights, or hanging tea lights for a really magical feel when the sun goes down. Hang greenery from chandeliers or lights. Make use of potted plants and if you’re budget won’t allow fresh flowers, then there are some stunning synthetic versions that will work equally well. Floral backdrops will look stunning in conjunction with these elements and can become a selfie wall for guests too.

 

The Cake
Why not have a floral or greenery style backdrop stationed behind your cake or dessert table? It will add a real focal point to the room and of course it can then be moved to another location after the cake has been cut. For the cake itself, think naked icing with greenery and wooden accents to really reinforce the outdoorsy feel.

Velvet Crush Wedding Theme

This year velvet is making a big impression on weddings. A beautiful fabric, full of rich texture and visual impact, there are dozens of ways to bring a touch of velvet into your wedding décor.

From pops of velvet in the bridal party’s attire, to delicate details on bouquets and to adding well placed elements in the reception itself, expect to see velvet popping up everywhere.

It’s a versatile fabric that can be used in plenty of ways, although it is probably best to stick with accents rather than having velvet overload. There’s a range of colours to choose from, but if you want to keep it classic think of rich tones of purples, sage, red and blush pink.

Ideal for weddings with a more vintage vibe or elegant theme to it, don’t be afraid to have fun and contrast the beautiful texture with sharper finishes such as cool metal or wood.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

 

Flowers

One of the best ways to include a touch of velvet into your big day is with your bouquet. Think velvet style ribbon detailing on the brides bouquet or indeed the bridesmaid flowers too. Go for a colour that compliments your chosen florals and ensure the ribbon becomes a feature in itself to enhance the elegance of the bouquet.

 

Clothing           

Expect to see lots of pretty velvet accents appearing in the bridal parties clothing this year. From velvet shoes to velvet bow ties or even grooms jackets, this is a trend that crosses all gender lines for the couple. If you want to go all out, why not have your bridesmaids in velvet dresses? Invest in a velvet bolero for the bride, or if you want to add detailing to your dress why not have a visually impactful velvet bow around the waist of the dress?

 

On the Table

There’s plenty of ways to add velvet accents to your wedding tables. Think about velvet style table runners, or velvet ribbons around the menus or place cards. Velvet sashes on chairs will make for a stunning counterpoint with draping for example. Play around with textures when it comes to velvet and have a mix of finishes on the table. Cool metal or wood work well as contrasting textures for velvet.

 

Around the Room  

There so many ways to have fun with velvet around your venue. From adding velvet ribbons to garlands, to going big with velvet style backdrop for photos or even some upcycled velvet couches for guests to chill out on and for use for some great wedding photos, don’t be afraid to get creative.

 

 

Floral Installations

Flowers play a big role in how your wedding day will look. It can be easy to simply think of wedding flowers in terms of the bridal bouquets, the buttonholes and perhaps a few flowers for the ceremony or church, but in fact flowers are so much more integral to the wedding theme and overall décor than most couples can imagine.

While flowers will always be key to wedding décor, this year you can expect to see more and more impressive ‘floral installations, thanks in part to  the two British royal family weddings last year, which featured some very impressive floral arches and walls. So not surprisingly this year, we can expect to see this trend reflected in microcosm, with floral arches, floral moon gates, flower walls and hanging floral installations to add drama to the proceedings.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

 

Floral Wall

A good floral wall is a really savvy investment to make for your wedding day, because quite simply it is a multi-taskers dream! It can be used as a backdrop for your ceremony. You could use it as a selfie wall for your guests to take snaps. You could place it behind the top table, use it as a backdrop for your cake. The list is endless.

Ceremony Statements

This year it’s all about the big floral statements for your ceremony. Think chic floral moon gates and floral arches as either the backdrops for your ceremony or if that won’t work, try them on your church entrance. Use oversized greens and draping to make a big statement on your entrances or use blossom trees to line your aisles.

 

 

 

Hanging Florals

This year, it’s time to look up and think about ways to use the vertical space above your wedding! Hanging florals make an absolutely stunning visual impact on your wedding venue and can completely transform the look of your space in an instant. From floral chandeliers, to hoops covered with flowers, to long box style installations, there’s so many ways to utilise the vertical space. Don’t forget to play around with colour and greenery and use additions like hanging tea lights for an added romantic dimension once the sun goes down.

Garlands

While they might be seen as the more traditional cousin of modern floral installations, don’t underestimate the impact of a classic garland. Whether you use them on fireplaces, as table runners, on walls to create a backdrop or lining a great staircase, these type of statement florals are the ideal match for weddings.

 

 

 

Living Coral The Pantone Colour of The Year

 

The Pantone colour of the year for 2019 is ‘Living Coral,’ and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

According to the colour giant it’s; ‘an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.’

Coral is a colour that has been consistently popular for weddings over the last number of years, but this year we’re going to see more than just pops of coral, this year we’re going to see a whole new vibrant and lush interpretation, thanks to the ‘Living’ element.

So think vibrancy and vividness, yet with mellow undertones alongside different shades of the main Pantone colour.  

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

 

Flowers

All shades of coral work really well in wedding flowers. From subtle hints of pinks and oranges to full on vivid blooms, there’s something for all tastes here. Pairs really well with crisp whites and vibrant greens. And don’t forget to extend some of the colour beyond your bouquets and into your ceremony and reception too.

 

Bridesmaids Dresses

One of the best ways to bring coral into your wedding is with your bridesmaids dresses. Whether you want to keep it traditional with matching long gowns or you want to give things a modern twist with shorter lengths or indeed let each bridesmaid have her own personality shine through with mismatching dresses, coral is a colour that is going to work on lots of skin tones. It’s also a great colour to contrast to the white or ivory or the brides dress itself and you can play around with what shade of ‘Living Coral’ is going to suit best.

 

Around the room

Why not go for mood up-lighters in coral shades to set the tone for your venue? Coral draping or go for simple touches like coral inspired table cloths, napkins or table runners? Use lanterns filled with coral blooms for your centrepieces, living coral coloured pom poms hanging from the ceiling or coral candelabras as your table centrepieces? There’s no limit on the ways you can incorporate the colour into your décor.

 

Wedding Cake

While coral lends itself well to all things décor, it’s also a superb match for sweet things! So whether you’re going for a wedding cake, or cake pops, cupcakes, macaroons or other sweet treats, interpretations of ‘Living Coral’ are the perfect match. Naked cakes are still a big trend going forward and adding pops of coral is the ideal way to channel the trend with ease.

Six Wedding Trends for 2019

Another year sits before us and that means it’s time to look to all the new and exciting trends that are going to feature in terms of wedding décor this year.

There’s very much return to opulence, with wedding cakes getting bigger and bolder. Expect to see flecks of velvet appear throughout the wedding day, as well as a sense of wanting to bring the outdoors in.

Wedding dresses will see a shift toward more simple lines, thanks to Meghan Markel’s choice of gown last year. And separates will continue to feature.

In terms of colour, there will be a delicious contrast to the dark elements of velvet, against the pantone colour of the year – Living Coral, full of vibrancy and vividness. 

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

 

Coral

It’s been a colour that’s remained popular, popping up in bridal florals, bridesmaids gowns and décor, but expect to see a lot more of this vibrant, lush colour as Pantone have announced ‘Living Coral’ as the colour of the year! According to the colour giant it’s; ‘an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.’

 

Bring The Outdoors In

This is a really show stopping trend and one that’s really versatile. Think blossom trees for pew ends, foliage and branches on tables, lush greens and crisp white in trees and leaves interspersed around the venue and ceremony to give that unmistakable, whimsical feeling of a secret garden indoors.

 

Dried Flowers

As almost a counterpoint to the idea of the living, vibrant trees and foliage, dried flowers are a unique element that is set to have a renaissance this year. While brides might baulk at the idea of walking down the aisle with a dried bouquet, the trend is more about incorporating elements of dried flowers in with the vibrancy of fresh flowers for a stunning contrast. Dried flowers will also work really well for vintage style themes.

Rainbow Confetti

Thanks to the rise of the Instagram generation, rainbow confetti is going to be big this year. Think every vivid colour you can imagine, hoisted up into the air for that perfect picture. Think traditional size and shape to the more creative. The key here is big and bold and a camera at the ready to capture the moment.

 

Velvet

Lush and opulent, velvet has always evoked that luxury feeling. It’s set to become a popular choice this year, so don’t be surprised to see it popping up everywhere, from bow ties, to shoes, to napkins, table runners, ribbon, cake accents and more.

 

Floral Installations

The two royal weddings last year featured some very impressive floral arches and walls. So this year expect to see this in microcosm, with floral arches, floral moon gates, flower walls and hanging floral installations to add drama to the proceedings

 

 

Top Reasons to Hire A Wedding Planner

I’ve had the pleasure of being a wedding planner for over 15 years. I adore what I do and have been lucky enough to work the so many truly wonderful couples over the years as well as picking up some really special awards for my work along the way.

But no matter who I’ve worked with, be it an international couple wanting to get married in Ireland, to a big traditional family wedding in a country house, to a special blessing on a cliff top, to celebrities like Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman, the one thing they all share is love and wanting to have their big day to be just as they dreamt it to be.

And that’s where a wedding planner like me comes in!

Think of me as a fairy godmother, who flies in and waves her magic wand to make your dreams come true. A good wedding planner can assist with as much or as little of your day as you wish and simply take all the stress out of your planning, leaving you to just show up and enjoy the best day of your life.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor, but for now here’s four top reasons why you should hire a wedding planner.

 

Less Stress More Fun

Planning your wedding, should not be stressful!  It should be full of excitement and be enjoyable. However, it is common for couples to get overwhelmed during their wedding planning and it’s not hard to understand why. A wedding is a huge event in their lives, it’s going to be something they will have dreamt about for ages, so naturally they’ll want it to go off without a hitch. That said, most couples have full time jobs and busy lives and wedding planning can be something they just do not have time for, or they feel it’s getting too much to take on themselves. If that happens, my advice is to stop. Take a breath, call me and let me take care of all the stressful parts of the planning so you can concentrate on enjoying the run up to the day

 

 

Brainstorming

Another really important aspect of talking with a wedding planner is for ideas! We’re busting with inspiration! We’re fonts of creativity and are packed with helpful ideas. We know all the latest wedding trends that are in vogue and how to bring them to life. We’ve got years of hands on experience and can help you come up with some superb suggestions you hadn’t even considered, to make your wedding day look stunning.

 

Budget and Logistics

A wedding planner can both help you keep to your budget and can bring ideas to life! It can be all very well to have lofty ideas for how you want your wedding to look, but it can be hard to make it happen. A good wedding planner has the logistical knowhow and contacts to make your wish list a reality, while at the same time negotiating better rates with suppliers without a ballooning budget.

 

Totally Customisable

There are plenty of myths floating around about wedding planners. One of them is that couples can lose control or have to hand over every aspect to a wedding planner. Not true. In fact, my services are completely customisable. I can assist with as much or as little of your wedding plans as you wish. I can even help with on-the-day co-ordination too. The bottom line is, it’s always your day and I’m here to help bring your vision to life.

 

 

Your Guide To Wedding Chairs

When it comes to your wedding day décor, chairs might not be the first thing that pop into your mind for a number of reasons. First if you’re trying the knot in a traditional church setting you don’t need to think about chairs at all. Second, your chosen venue will already have a particular type of chair option included in their packages and you might at first glance assume you have to go with those.
So you might forget about chairs all together and move on to something else on your list.

But you’d be wrong.

In fact, chairs can make a huge difference to the overall look of your wedding day and they need lots of consideration.

If you are saying your vows outside of a traditional church set up, then you’ve got huge scope to have some fun with seating.

But regardless of your ceremony, when it comes to your reception, don’t feel you have to go with the chairs on offer by your venue. There are lots of different styles of chairs and indeed ways to dress those chairs which you should consider before making any decision.

With all of that in mind, here’s some visual inspiration for you on the top three most popular chair styles I encounter, to get the ideas flowing. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

Chiavari Chairs
One of the most popular chairs of recent times, the Chiavari Chair actually dates back to 1807. It was created by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi from Chiavari on the north-western Italian coast and has been a firm hit in gatherings ever since. This style of chair works well with a whole host of wedding styles and themes, from elegant, to modern, vintage and marquee. While the beauty of these chairs mean they don’t need any dressing up, they can look even more stunning with light draping.

Ghost Chairs
The transparent theme has been one of the biggest wedding trends in the last year and continues to be popular for 2019. Ghost chairs are the perfect way to bring the theme into your wedding day. These chairs don’t need much adornments, as the whole idea is the transparent effect they bring to the room. Keep them simple and only add the bare minimum for that on trend transparent look.

 

Hannah Jane Chairs
The Hannah Jane style of chair gives a nod to the beauty of the grace of the 17th Century. Again, these are chairs that don’t need much dressing up. Their design speaks for themselves and evokes a look all its own. Hannah Jane chairs work really well for that elegant or formal style of wedding.

Covers and Draping
Chairs are going to be one of the most noticeable things in your wedding venue or ceremony set up. So give some thought to how you want them to look. If you’re going for chairs and sashes, consider the colours of the sashes and remember you can go for mismatched sashes or alternative sashes too.

Even if you go for one of the design led chairs mentioned above, such as Chiavari, that doesn’t mean that you cannot add some embellishments or adornments to them. Chiavari Chairs look well with an element of draping, and adding florals or pom poms to the back of Hannah Jane chairs can look really stunning. But don’t rule out ribbons or streamers or even signage and the concept of having mismatched chairs too.