HELP! ALREADY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF OPINIONS! Your Yorkshire Wedding editor Kelly Andrews says: Let’s get one thing straight first and foremost. There should be no pressure at all to make sure everyone is happy, all you need to worry about is whether you and your other half are happy. This is your big day, not theirs, and you only get to do it once – no regrets. Begin by sitting down together, just the two of you, and working out between you what your vision is for your wedding. The clearer this is in your own minds, the easier it is to stand firm by it when others try to send you off course. We were all brought up being taught that it’s ok and often important to use the word “no,” and this is one of those times! Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, even if we wish they sometimes wouldn’t share them; so listen to what they have to say, thank them for their contribution, make them feel heard and respected... then politely decline. You can still be your friendly self, just be polite and firm so the meddler knows where they stand. Understandably, if the person wanting their penny’s worth is a close family member such as a parent, someone whose standpoint you generally put more value on, this can get a little more tricky. Here, you may have to master the art of compromise. You still want to reach a conclusion you’re more than happy with, but perhaps to make this important person happy you might agree to make one or two (small) concessions that will make them feel over the moon, and you not adversely affected. As long as they’re not completely taking over your big day, and you’re still in control, consider the stress balance in what they’re asking, i.e. the stress of giving in versus that caused by putting your foot down. On the whole, don’t pay too much mind to what other people think. By and large they’ll just do their own thing in their own interests. So, why shouldn’t you do the same on this day of days? After all, you’ll never please everyone, so why try? Don’t let the expectations of others lead you astray, have the day the two of you want, and keep in mind the mantra: your wedding, your way. WHAT IF IT RAINS? Brooke Jones, events and social media coordinator at Bowcliffe Hall (https://bowcliffehall.co.uk) says: Unfortunately, no one is able to control the weather or predict what it will be like a year on from booking your dream wedding venue, but you should never let it dampen your spirits or keep you up at night. Your venue’s wedding coordinator will have every possible back-up plan in their back pocket, and with your wedding photographer on hand to capture some dreamy shots, you won’t give the weather a second thought. Here at Bowcliffe Hall, we have eight breathtaking venues on site that will become the perfect plan B if we have to move your wedding inside, and our incredible team is here to alleviate all those worries. But all that really matters is that you have the best day celebrating with your new spouse, taking in all the little moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Jeshoots.com on Unsplash HOW DO WE ENSURE OUR DAY RUNS TO PLAN? Naomi Ward at Camblesforth Hall (www.camblesforth-hall.co.uk) says: If you know there’ll be a lot of plates to spin on the big day, it’s important to take the pressure off yourself. The last thing you want when celebrating such a momentous day is the stress of coordinating everything – you need to let your hair down and enjoy yourself, your work is done! That’s why we’d recommend enlisting the services of an on-the-day coordinator. Here at Camblesforth Hall and Grange, couples have the freedom to choose their own suppliers, but this can mean a lot of coordination and logistics to work out. This is the reason we’ve partnered with LND Events to provide on-the-day coordination for our couples, which is included with every package. LND Events provide support, help you put together a timeline, contact all of your suppliers and are the point of contact throughout the big day. So, all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourselves, safe in the knowledge that everything is taken care of. www.barnabyaldrick.com ASK THE EXPERTS 45
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