There is no better person to help brides plan their wedding than those who have been there. We asked some real brides to share their top tips and advice on planning. They’ve shared their top tips below, including how to create mood boards and hire videographers, budgeting wisely and eating as much cake possible.
Becky Armer, Gateshead
Becky says, “My advice to brides is to book your suppliers early to ensure you get the person you want.” We booked Kerry Woods Photography as our photographer over two years ahead of her due to her high demand. The same time was used for hair and makeup. If we could go back, I would save money and hire a videographer. There’s not much I would change. It was perfect! All future brides-to be, good luck!”
Nicole Asquith (Wrexham)
I would recommend this advice to brides:
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- Keep an eye out for the confetti. You should bring a few baskets with you, and delegate to someone who will distribute it.
- You want to find a spot that is beautiful for photos, but guests will also need to walk through it to reach the drinks reception. You can then meet your guests and take photos as they pass. The group photos were not done. I think the hardest part of a wedding, for me, is finding the guests who have wandered off.
- Instead of having wine poured by staff, ask for the full bottles to be placed on tables. If you don’t ask, staff will often pour your second glass after you have barely sipped from your first.
- Take every second of it and enjoy the moment. It’s impossible to notice any problems in a day.
Sally Forshaw in Brighton
Sally says, “If we had to do it over, I would ensure that I was there in the morning to avoid any last-minute rushes.” We were also told to spend as much time as possible together. It’s easy for guests to become too involved and distract you from enjoying your wedding day. We were so happy to have that advice as it meant we had the most wonderful time together!
Cantara Armah, Bromley
Cantara says, “Don’t give in to the pressure of having everything.” “There were many times when I panicked that we didn’t have enough flowers or decorations. Sometimes I was unsure of my decision not to have light-up letters. But it was all okay. You can choose what suits you best, your taste and your budget. Enjoy the whole process of planning your wedding. Although it can be stressful at times, remember that you are creating the most memorable day possible with your partner and you will miss the planning once it is over. Make a mood board. It was so easy to organize all of my ideas. It was also sent to our suppliers so they could see what we were trying for. You can find mine on Pinterest here if you’d like to take a look.
Karen Stepins, Milton Keynes
I would recommend this advice to brides:
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- Save early and shop around for entertainment, attire, photographers, and other services. Be sure to ask yourself if your wedding is really necessary and if it’s possible to afford it before you make any deposits.
- You can also ask your family and friends to help you with the preparations. I wish I had taken their offer of assistance instead of trying to be a control freak and do it all myself.
- Don’t worry about the little things on the days leading to the wedding or the day. You won’t care about stationery, music or confetti when the big day arrives. It is important that you get married with your closest friends and family.
Charlotte Battersby, Rotherham
Charlotte says, “My top tip for brides is to not get too involved in the wedding planning.” “I did it all in three months. If I had started one year ago, I don’t think that I would have done anything different. Stick to your budget. We didn’t want another PS400 to buy a photo booth so we did not have one. It was not something I missed, and it did not make our wedding less special. Give your hair and makeup artists enough time. My hair and makeup artist arrived five hours prior to my wedding. This gave me and my bridesmaids one hour each. Enjoy the joy of sampling lots of wedding cakes. There is no way to eat enough cake!
Stephanie Fuller, Bromley
Stephanie says, “Make sure your spouse and you work together.” Will helped me get there. Don’t try to please others. It’s all about you, so enjoy the day and take in everything. It’s the moments that you will remember most, and not the tables. Enjoy every moment!
Danielle Crampton (Liverpool)
Danielle advises to stick to your budget. You can achieve everything you desire with a very small budget. Our day was perfect, and our budget was PS5,000. You can do your research to find the best prices and not settle for anything if it isn’t what you really want. If you do, it will be there in the back of your head. You don’t want it to make you regret it. I wish we could do it over again. I would have asked my bridesmaids or groomsmen for a grab and grabber so we could enjoy some alone time. It’s a fast day and everyone is pulling you in many different directions. It would have been nice to be able to just take it all in.
Clare Stone, Milton Keynes
Clare says, “Take the time to be a husband and wife.” Don’t worry about making sure everyone is okay. They’ll find a solution for you if there is a problem. It was not your expense to have everyone running around on such a special day. You can dance the night away on the dancefloor or propped up against the bars if you wish. Also, I would say to make the day what you want it to be, and not worry about others’ opinions. Don’t worry about the little things. No one else will notice them except you.
Rachel Waterman, Bolton
Rachel advises, “Make sure you are comfortable.” You won’t be able to enjoy yourself as much if your aren’t. My dress and shoes were very comfortable and I was able wear them all day. I didn’t have any worries about how to go to the toilet or sitting down in a certain way. A videographer is also a good idea. We watched our videos all the time and this was one of the best investments we made. We didn’t make the decision to buy one until very last minute, and were extremely fortunate to find the videographers that we needed. They capture the special moments that you might have missed and it goes by so quickly.
