TOP TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR DAY A lot of people skip hiring a planner, but it helps reduce the stress on your wedding day, so it's definitely worth considering. If you decide to hire a planner, make sure you have a consultation beforehand to ensure they’re the right supplier for you and that they specialised in the type of wedding you want. Here are some of my top tips for planning the perfect wedding: Create a moodboard. Take it to every vendor, so they are all on the same page with your theme and understand what you want from your nuptials. Stay organised. Google Drive is your best friend, or you could get a binder/wedding planner if you prefer something physical rather than digital. It’s important to print out your contracts and keep your lists together so that if anything goes wrong you can always refer back to them. Sit and write down the top three items that matter to you the most. Then talk about them with your partner and make sure you’re on the same page and decide what things you should dedicate your budget to. Consider the weather conditions and have a backup plan if you’re planning to have an outdoor wedding, after all, in the UK, good weather is never guaranteed. Some people move the wedding inside, and some just grab some umbrellas or put up a marquee. Don’t forget, your officiant must agree to this too. Let your bridesmaids show some personality. Choose a colour and let them pick their style. It’s also important to let them pick their hair, make-up and jewellery, especially if they’re footing the bill. If your maids feel comfortable in their appearance, then they are more likely to help out and have a good time. Don’t worry about the number of bridesmaids being equal to the number of groomsmen. This doesn’t matter, and you’ll regret adding someone to either side just for the sake of numbers. Plan to do the toasts 10-15 minutes into dinner. Your maid-of-honour and best man will be thankful to get it over with early, and your guests will be quiet and listen while they are focused on eating. If children are invited to your wedding, create an activity station for them - you could even use these as your wedding favours. Have a list of photographs you would like your photographer to take, and make sure they take the style of photographs you want. Deanna Melia | Wedding planner www.yourforeverafter.co.uk CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER My biggest tip is to have the wedding you both want. It’s important to ask questions and advice or recommendations, but you don’t have to do what’s traditional or something you don’t want to do just because family are pressuring you to do it a certain way. It’s your day, and it should represent who you are as a couple. When it comes to choosing a photographer, decide on a budget before you start looking and remember the two things left at the end of your wedding are your marriage and your photos/videos. Look through websites and social media and once you have a shortlist of two or three, meet with them and see if you get along. This is important as you will be spending all of your day with them. Christina Davies | Photographer www.fish2.co.uk www.fish2.co.uk www.fish2.co.uk www.fish2.co.uk 56
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