PLANNED TO PERFECTION What questions should we ask a venue before booking it for our wedding? Before booking your venue, ask the team how many people the space can accommodate? Where are the licensed spaces for ceremonies? What’s included in the hire of the venue? When do you have access to the venue, and do they have any suppliers that they would recommend? The team at Ghyll Barn www.ghyllbarn.co.uk LADY OF THE MANOR We’re planning a luxurious manor house wedding with 500 guests. How can we style our venue to impress our loved ones? If you’re considering a manor house wedding venue, below are some ideas to help you style it to impress your guests: Grand entrance: Create a breathtaking entrance to the manor house with a red carpet, floral arches, or even a horse-drawn carriage. Opulent décor: Adorn the interior of the manor with lavish decorations such as crystal chandeliers, draped silk fabrics, and fresh flowers in abundance. Consider incorporating gold accents or vintage furniture to add to the luxurious ambiance. Extravagant table settings: Set the tables with fine linens, elegant china, and crystal glassware. Add a personal touch with custom-made place cards, monogrammed napkins, or small gifts for each guest. Luxurious floral arrangements: Fill the venue with extravagant floral arrangements featuring roses, peonies, orchids, and other lush blooms. Consider tall centrepieces for a dramatic effect or floral chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Gourmet dining experience: Impress your guests with a gourmet dining experience featuring a multi-course menu of exquisite dishes. Consider offering a variety of cuisines and options for dietary restrictions to cater to all tastes. Live entertainment: Enhance the atmosphere with live entertainment such as a string quartet during the ceremony, a jazz band for cocktails, and a live band or DJ for dancing into the night. Interactive stations: Create interactive stations throughout the venue, such as a cigar rolling station, a champagne bar, or a dessert table with decadent treats. These stations add an extra element of luxury and indulgence for your guests. Personalised touches: Incorporate personalised touches throughout the venue, such as custom monograms, family crests, or photos of the couple displayed in ornate frames. These details will make the event feel truly special and unique to you. Luxury lounge areas: Create cosy lounge areas with plush seating, decorative pillows, and soft lighting where guests can relax and socialise away from the main festivities. Fireworks or grand exit: End the evening with a grand finale, such as a spectacular fireworks display or a grand exit with sparklers or lanterns, leaving a lasting impression on your guests. Remember, the key to impressing your guests is attention to detail and creating a memorable experience that reflects your personality, style and tastes. Donna Brown www.pureeleganceevents.co.uk TIE THE KNOT We’re considering a mid-week wedding. What are the benefits? Saturdays are the most popular day to get married, but there are plenty of reasons why you should choose a mid-week wedding. A midweek wedding is always cheaper than a Saturday in terms of venue cost, sometimes by as much as 50 per cent! As a result, there’s more money for those Jimmy Choo heels, extra touches for your big day, or spending on your honeymoon. With 52 weeks in the year, there will only ever be 52 Saturdays, but with a choice of 208 midweek days, you’ll never be disappointed when choosing a date. Not to mention, for a seasonal wedding, the choice of dates increases by 400 per cent! Why not celebrate the date you first met or the date you got engaged? Some suppliers can only book one wedding a day, for example, photographers, entertainers, or DJs. If you have a favourite and they’re not available, you’re starting with second best on your big day. In order to give yourself more choice, choose a midweek wedding to book the best florist to suit your style, the photographer who you really click with, or the DJ who’ll keep the dancefloor full from start to finish. Bedrooms are generally much cheaper from Sunday to Thursday than they are on a Saturday, whether in a luxury hotel or budget B&B. A midweek honeymoon means there’s more availability for your romantic break. Plus, your holiday budget will get you further (literally) or get you more nights away. The team at West Tower www.westtower.com www.bridgetteibbotsonphotography.com 50
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