wedding prep

Quirky Ideas : Planning your Wedding Entertainment

by

There is a lot of pressure for couples to provide fantastic entertainment for guests, besides some music and food. Jhezze it’s almost like they’re demanding teenagers.

Entertaining guests has grown in popularity, and so have the options on what to include day and night for guests to play, use or get involved in. Many couples seek quirky, imaginative and new ways to wow guests during their special day.

Whether you have a Band or a DJ playing during the evening, having something different and unique is a pretty special addition that is well worth considering shoehorning into your budget.

But what can you consider for your special day? Here’s some fab, quirky ideas for Wedding Entertainment.

Read : Band or Dj : What to consider when planning your wedding entertainment

Mini Golf

Not that common and a pretty unique but well involved idea is Mini Golf. Having this placed on a law within your venue is a great all day entertainment set suitable for all guests, old and young! Your guests will be coming back again and again to play throughout the day!

There are plenty of companies where you can hire 5 hole mini golf sets for anything between £150-£200.

Bouncy Castle

Arguably one of the most popular ideas when it comes to keeping guests occupied would be a bouncy castle. Despite popular belief that bouncy castles are just for kids, wedding bouncy castles offer fun for all guests. With lots of entertainment companies offering Wedding specific castles for hire.

Skittles , Jenga , Chess.

By this I of course mean classic games, over-sized, to create the perfect playground for guests to play and get competitive. Giant Jenga and Skittles are always a great, safe option to entertain guests between ceremony and wedding breakfast, as well as into the night. Plus they can look super cute in pictures!

Caricaturist 

Getting personal with this one. A Caricaturist is a great idea to offer guests a unique take-away from your day. Whilst many guests may have had a caricature before, this one will be unique to your wedding day. The caricaturist can work their way round the guests whilst photos are being taken or into the evening music.

Magic 

Having attended a Wedding that offered magic before the Wedding Breakfast, it offers a great distraction for guests when waiting for food or for photos. With many local magicians offering fantastic acts, it’s a great talking point for many guests and a real intimate entertainment to offer your guests.

Casino 

If you fancy getting a little James Bond esque – this one might just be for you. A spot of poker or a roulette table is a great alternative to those guests that don’t enjoy dancing or fancy a little gamble. Whether inside or out, a casino element to your reception will add some class to your reception entertaining your guests all through the night.

Flash Mob 

It’s the latest FAD to have a flash mob or singing waiters who burst into song mid reception, surprising your guests and adding some fun to the day. If you want your guests to be completely surprised, this is the way to go!

Dance Lessons – Barn Dance 

I’ve been to a barn dance wedding and its a sure fire way to get the majority of guests on the dance floor, or enjoying everyone else muck up the moves. Whether you’re a dancer or not, you will be dragged onto the dance floor and have fun too. Defiantly something to consider.

Fire Pit

If you’re wanting a rustic evening that will encourage your guests to enjoy the grounds, you can do no better than a fire pit and some hay bales. Super relaxed and a quirky alternative. You could even offer some roasted marshmallows and leave a guitar.

There are sooo many other ideas of entertainment that you can incorporate into your day. Whilst you want to keep your guests entertained, bear in mind how much time with guests actually have to utilize and use the entertainment? There is nothing worse than paying for something, that doesn’t get used!

– Pin it for later –

5 Things all brides should know before Wedding Dress Shopping

by
It should be the most magical and exciting part of the wedding planning process, and yet for many ( including myself ), it becomes more stressful than imagined. Having been through the process, and having learnt a thing or two from visiting many bridal shops, and trying lots of dresses, I thought I’d share the 5 things all brides need to know before shopping!
Read : How to pick your Wedding Venue

The best time to start shopping is 12-18 months before the big day!

It may be harder than you think to find your perfect dress. And even when you have an idea on what you want, it can be even harder to find something that fits the bill. So starting early is my biggest advice.

I visited many stores over 3 months, but I knew I could relax as I had started early. Dresses can take 6-9 months to come in after ordering too, so it’s worth bearing this in mind.

Most bridal boutiques run on appointments only – book ahead!

Yup. Most bridal shops run on appointment only – which is great news as you mainly get the store to yourself. Make sure to research your bridal stores, the designers they hold and their availability – some can be booked up for weeks at a time.

Be open minded when it comes to design and try everything that takes your fancy

It’s not until you try a style on, that you realise whether you like it, it suits you and it’s something you are comfortable wearing. Whilst I always wanted a fit and flare style, I was surprised on how I did in fact fall in love with the ball gown style too. Take notice of advice from the dress store, and try different styles, even if it’s to eliminate them. This can really help narrow down what you want in a dress.

Most boutiques only carry one size – which is undoubtedly small!

This took me by surprise. I knew I wasn’t the smallest gal, but being a average size 12, I was shocked on some of the stores and how their dresses we only size 6-8! It’s worth noting not all stores are the same ( the store I bought from carried 12,14 &16 sizes ), but most do and it can be terribly off putting when trying to visualise the gown whilst your boobs are up to your neck or your arse is being covered by a make-shift part of fabric.

I would highly advise asking before heading to the store – I started avoiding the ones that only carried sizes that we were way to small!

There will be extra expenditure when it comes to alterations.

Whilst some of you may be lucky, most brides, me included, will need some alterations. This will come at a extra cost, although many bridal boutiques have their own seamstress that will carry these out. Always worth doing your own research too though, as some in house seamstress’ can have pretty high fees!

These are just some of the most important things I learnt on my search for my wedding dress. It is tasking, and sometimes it can feel relentless, but you will find the one – even if you have to head to every store in the local vicinity.

What were your biggest concerns when shopping for your wedding dress? Do you have any advice for women going through the process? As always, share your thoughts in the comment section below!
– Pin it now –

Setting your wedding budget

by

One of the most stressful parts of organizing your wedding is going to involve money. It certainly makes the world go round, and that’s no exception when it comes to weddings.

If only we could have a endless flow of cash and price wasn’t at the top of the agenda when chatting to suppliers and looking at the to-do list you endlessly work on.

Having a wedding budget, of course is great advice, but knowing what you can realistically achieve under a price bracket is hard to understand. Chances are you have no real clue of prices until it comes to planning – I mean why would you?

But i’m going to very real with you now, a wedding really is as expensive as you make it. And if you want all frills in your day, you have to be completely realistic on the time-frame it may take you to achieve everything you want, on the money you have.

Need to know :

Churches tend to be more expensive than registrars. Some even demand more money for things like flowers in the church, wedding bells to be rung and the vicar to be filmed on the wedding video.

Venues that offer the service and reception are cheaper in the long run.

Having it all in one location is a massive money saver. It will save you lots of money on transport and save you on time for everyone to get from one venue to the other.

Venues can cost from £1500- £4,000 depending on location and type of course.

Catering is a great place to cut back and save money. Having food that is offered to the table, 3 courses, and drinks included are all what makes food expensive.

Bands are more expensive than Djs. If you really want to save money – look to hiring a sound system and sticking on your own playlist.

Wedding cakes are expensive. They can range from £300 – £1200 depending on the size and the flavorings.

Day guests cost roughly £50 a head for food and drink. This doesn’t account for other expenses like entertainment, favours and the hiring of chairs ect.

Evening guests roughly cost £12.50 a head and you often only account for 75% of these guests.

So, before you head into that panic mode of freaking the fuck out on how the hella you’re going to afford it, here’s my top tips on how to set your wedding budget, and managing your expectations.

Read : Small changes that will save you big money on your wedding
Read : How to pick your wedding venue

Doing it alone?

Sometimes, some very very very generous family members raise their head showing support and their willing to contribute. Obviously this will be a huge help to you and your partner, and well worth knowing before booking anything. Its a difficult question to ask yes, but speak to parents and family members to establish what help you will be receiving, if any. This is gonnah be a massive help when looking at what you need to save.

What can you save?

Now you have a rough idea of any help you may be receiving, time to take a look at how you will foot the rest. This of course comes down to how much money you can set aside monthly to contribute towards the overall cost. Don’t be too optimistic here, really consider what you can afford to put aside month on month that won’t effect your affordability on vital bills and day to day living.

This is a huge indicator on what you can afford and ultimately the earliest time / date you can get married.

Have a specific date in mind?

How much you can save a month between now and 2 months before your preferred date gives you  your budget. Remember most suppliers will want the full payment two months before the big day, and a deposit of some kind when booking their services.
Here is where you may have to decide whether the ideal date, or a day full of everything you want is going to be the best foot forward.

I think its really important for me to say here that it’s your day. Since my very own wedding, I have met lots of different brides who want a small, intimate affair and have often mocked how much we spent on ours. I’ve also met brides who want lots of elements and are happy to wait so they can afford what they want. Truth be told, money can be earnt again and whilst it would be easy for me to say what else we could have spent our money on, I wouldn’t change a single thing from our day. We had everything we wanted and didn’t make compromises due to cost. We had nearing on a 2 year engagement so we could afford everything and it was well worth it.

– Pin it for later –

Wedding favours that will wow your guests – you won’t have leftovers!

by

During the planning process you will be told, by many, that wedding favours are pointless. Useless even. No wants them, many will forget and they are a waste of money. Well, that’s what you are told any way. But like many brides, I wanted a keepsake for my guests. Something they could use, would love and cherish and ultimately wouldn’t be a waste of the budget.

That’s what every bride wants. Well great news brides, there are lots and lots of fantastic favours that will wow guests, and will not be something they will want to leave behind. Ready to get inspired?

Sweet Based / Food

Food 

Anything edible is always a winner. There are sooo many couples that choose the food option, and I don’t blame them. It’s something your guests can nibble on in the evening, or a lovely extra for the coffee and tea after the wedding breakfast. Whenever your guests enjoy their treats, you’re sure all guests will leave with theirs.

Here’s some edible ideas:
Macaroons
Fudge
Chocolate
Sweets
Fortune Cookies
Home-made Baked Goods (cookies, cupcakes, biscuits)

Tea / Coffee

Sachets of your favourite coffee, real tea or even hot chocolate. It’s a real quirky favour, and again something your guests can take home and enjoy after your wedding.

Jam 

If you’re a baker, or just enjoy making a scrumptious jam, this is something you might want to consider. Small jars of home-made jam is a real personal touch, plus is something tasty and fresh for your guests to enjoy at home.

Shots 

‘We’ve tied the knot, so take a shot’.
I know a few brides that have incorporated this into their wedding day and it certainly raises some brows and gets people in the party mood. It’s certainly a fun and ice breaking way to start the wedding breakfast, plus you get to choose you favourite spirit for all guests to neck back.
Not sure this would be a sensible option for those weddings with children involved!

Keepsake

Bottle Openers

I really like this option, as many couples want to give their guests something they will keep and cherish. There is nothing more needed for anyone than a bottle opener. Plus there are so many styles that will incorporate your theme, or even have your names and the date of your wedding engraved. Defiantly a option for those who want to give their guests something different and useful.

Glasses

Everyone needs a glass during the day, so why not create personalised glasses for your guests during the day and to take home too. Plus, it means guests don’t have the risk of mixing drinks. Whether you choose mason jars with labels, or glasses with vinyl stickers, there’s plenty of options if it’s a option you want to include.

Soundtrack

This is a super quirky and perfect if you are a couple who love music. Create a playlist and burn to a CD and give to guests as a soundtrack to your day.
You can even add your aisle music and first dance song to really capture all the music from your day.

Seeds

‘Let Love Grow’ and all that. This is a really popular alternative wedding favour ideas with many online stores now stocking seed pouches for any theme. Pretty inexpensive and not much prep needed to create these different yet adorable favours.I really love this idea and is perfect for any greenery type wedding!

Succulent

Pretty similar to the above, but possibly a little more expensive. A cute little succulent to use as not only a favour but also a quirky way to display name tags!

Home made candles 

This was my initial idea as I love candles!! Making your own can mean you choose you own scent, as well as choose their pots. It’s also great fun to do and a bonding session for you and your mum on the lead up to the wedding.

As easy as it seems, it does seem rather time consuming, and patience is one thing that puts me off with this idea. However, Rachael from helpless whilst drying made the most perfect terracotta handmade candles! You can find them here.

If you’re not feeling like making your own, bulk buying candles and printing your own personalised label is always a great alternative. You can pick up small jars of candles, variant in scent, from Ikea for just 85p.

With so many wacky and unique ideas for wedding favours, there really is something for every budget, theme and interest. Of course, these ideas can be bought ready to go, or homemade. My top tip would to not be too ambitious. Creating 100 off homemade cookies days before the wedding might just be the stress you’re not after!

– Pin it for later –

Band or DJ – What to consider when planning Wedding Entertainment

by

So you’re coming through planning. Chances are you’ve got your venue secured and save the dates sent!
Caters are sorted and photographer briefed.

Now comes the tricky part of entertainment? There seems to be this unwritten rule of modern weddings that guests need to be entertained – like their a fidgeting toddler.
Lawn games, mini golf, photo-booths, music, magicians, Ice cream vans and even bouncy castles. The possibilities and opportunity to entertain your guests are endless, and costly.

The first and foremost entertainment needed for any wedding, and branded a necessity is the music. What is a party without music? And some say a wedding is just a massive party, so the music has got to be good right?

So that makes a tough decision of whether you hire a Band or a DJ. Some hate DJ’s, and some dislike live music. I’ll take you through a couple of things of what to consider if you’re struggling on what choose for your special day.

Read : 5 Things all brides should know before wedding dress shopping

Who are your guests? 

Silly question really but one to consider. Whilst its not at all about everyone else, you don’t want a rock band if the majority of your guests hate rock and prefer soul. There is nothing worse than paying for music, and no one is even up there dancing.

Consider the age of your guests, and the music that will get them up and moving. Tie it in with music you prefer and you’ll have a happy medium. Bands tend to work better if you are looking at a variety of music of all generations, that can get your mum and Nan up and dancing through the evening.

What atmosphere are you after? 

Whether you are looking for a more relaxed evening of slow dances and swaying, or a jump around 90’s disco feel, will all depend on the best option for music. DJ’s tend to be more suited if you really want to vary the music, suit all tastes, and even let your quests choose some tracks.

Bands work much better if you want a upbeat and everyone involved atmosphere. Bands can play music new and old but guaranteed to suit all tastes. They can also create a atmosphere where music is more of a focus, with in between sets a break for guests and the band!

Budget? 

And of course its cost. DJ’s tend to be cheaper, and can cover the music you want much more easily than that of a band. Tight on budget and a DJ is the way to go. Want to splurge a little, than consider seriously the atmosphere a live band can create. Find a band that will cover a variant of music to suit all tastes, including your own, and you’ll be sorted.

Read : Small changes that will save you big money on your wedding

There is never a wrong decision when it comes to your music. It’s all dependent on Budget and atmosphere of the day. It’s always nice to have a live band, who can play music in between sets, to have a best of both worlds. Of course, a DJ is much less hassle, and you can have more control over performance and track list. You could even do your own playlist and avoid hiring someone in all together.

– Pin it for later –

How to Pick your Wedding venue

by

Its probably the biggest decision of the whole wedding, and yet, depending on your time limit, its one that you might have to make fairly sharpish. It’s common for many to be booked up well in advance. And if they are a popular venue ,they’ll possibly going to be pricey too. Yes, picking your wedding venue is a big deal, but its achievable and with a little vision, any venue can look perfect.

I made my decision on our wedding venue pretty sharpish Whilst I would no way say I know everything when it comes to choosing your perfect venue, I managed to book mine within a month of looking. It can be so easy to get bogged down, worried and freak out about never finding the perfect place, but you just have to be prepared.

To help streamline the whole experience for your, here’s my top tips for picking your wedding venue.

Read : 10 Things to do As soon as you’re engaged

Have a criteria

You want your venue to fall within. Whether you want a lawn big enough for a marquee, accommodation on site for guests or all within a manor house. Know what you want your venue to offer on your big day, and bare that in mind when researching venues.

Search venues

Within a 10 mile radius of your ideal location. For me, this was home. I knew there would be some guests travelling down to my home town, and I wouldn’t want it to be any further than 10 miles from home or place of stay for those guests. Whether you have a church you would like to marry in, or a location for wedding shots, base your radius within a reasonable distance from them. You really don’t want your second location or only location a far distance away, this can really impact on your day and guest attendance.

Print brochures & prices

For any venue within that radius. Gather as much information as you can on those venues without having to go and see them. You don’t want to dedicate too much time visiting venues that aren’t suitable or that don’t match your criteria, so its vital this info is obtained before viewing. Slim your to view list down to those that match your every need and are in budget. Remember your budget!

Write down anything you want to know and what could sway your decision.

Can you have real candles? When can you get in to decorate? Do you have to use their recommended suppliers? When is the full payment required? These are all really valuable questions that could sway your decision. Knowing these upfront can save you a lot of time.

Don’t take too many people to look at the venue.

Too many opinions can shadow your own opinion and really cloud your view. The venue is something you and your partner only can make a decision on. It is good to have other opinions, but too many can spoil the pie as they say.

View one venue at a time

And don’t over book yourself. Just like viewing a property, you need as much time as possible to get a feel for the venue and ask as many questions as you can. Don’t rush yourself and take your time wandering around. Make notes and take pictures if possible. These will come in handy when thinking back to that venue to compare.

Ask as many questions as you can 

And don’t worry if you forgot some. Take a contact email, or chances are you already have one, to send over any further queries you may have. Don’t be shy if you think your question may be obvious or silly. You need to make sure you have the right info to make a informed decision.

View again before you make a decision.

Viewing a venue for the second time is always a good eye opener on some of those small details you may have missed on the first viewing. Again take your time and note down anything you may have missed before hand. You’ll have a better idea this time around on what you would like so think about some of your ideas as you look round. Is there anything you’re going to have to change or compromise on. Make sure its really what you want.

You’ll know when you have found the one.

Heck I only viewed one and it was just perfect. I did so much research before hand and my criteria narrowed down suitable venues so much, it was my venue or another. We knew what we wanted and we found it without having to view many venues which was perfect. Its just like your dress, once you know you know and you won’t imagine getting married any where else.

Choosing your venue can be exciting but worrying and that is normal. But once you have found your feet and researched as much as you can, you will soon realise what is obtainable and it will get oh so exciting. Take you time and above all enjoy yourself.

– Pin it for later –

What I am packing for my wedding morning.

by

I have just one week and one day until my wedding. And boy has it been a long time coming. If you have been a frequent follower of my blog, thank you for sticking by. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of wedding content to come because I still have so much to share in the coming weeks, before and after the day!

So on to packing. Because yeah, I am packing. Packing for my honeymoon, packing for the wedding venue and packing for the wedding morning. There is sooo much to consider and organise in these final days that my mind sizzles.

So onto the second of many for these. What I’m packing for my wedding morning.

The day before the wedding we will be getting the venue ready. Following the set-up, me and my fiancée will part and I will spend the evening at my parents with my bridesmaids. I will be heading off to the venue on the morning of the wedding to get ready.

There isn’t much to go on in the world of the web, so hopefully this will give some guidance to some of those fellow bride to be’s out there struggling.

Read : The skincare I’m taking on Honeymoon!

Breakfast

It’s one of the most important meals of the day, even on your wedding morning! Despite probably not wanting to eat too much due to nerves, I will most certainly be packing breakfast snacks and grabs. I can’t imagine anything worse than not eating the morning of, especially with the flow of Prosecco! I have recently been craving fresh fruit and juice, so that is a must for the wedding morning.

Robe

Am I even getting ready with my girls if there isn’t a utterly divine robe to wear? It’s something that is mega popular to have when getting ready with the girls, so it was one of the first things I bought. I managed to find some gorgeous robes for me and my girls off Ebay at a really reasonable price. We all have different colours, so I am excited for us all to wear them whilst sipping champagne!

Nail Varnish

Here comes the little iddy bits that I would have forgot, if I allowed myself. I really don’t want to be painting my nails too early, encase of chips from dressing the venue, or general wear and tear. Whilst I am having acrylics on my fingernails, I will get one of my hens to quickly paint my toes, so some nail varnish is a must!

Perfume

This is something that I have been thinking about for a while. The perfect scent to wear on the day. I love it when a certain scent takes you back to a time and that’s what I want for my perfume. I am still yet to find the perfect scent, and chances are it will be a real last minute nab, but I am eager to get something that I have never worn and will forever remind me of the day!

Jewellery

I cannot forget this! Whilst the dress and veil is the most important part, jewellery just finishes it off! I have some gorgeous pieces of my own, and borrowed that I will be wearing on the day that compliment my dress perfectly. I must just remember them!

Tauc Powder 

I have been eyeing up the weather for a while and today it’s actually showing up on my phone! It’s going to be warm by the looks of things and honestly, I do not want chub rub under my dress. I have been told tauc powder is the best remedy, so I will have plenty encase it’s just a little too warm!

Bridesmaid Prezzies

You can’t forget the thank you gifts! I have previously mentioned the gifts I have been gathering for my girls, and I am so excited to share it with them, and you in a forthcoming post. Alas, I will say no more, other than I am so happy with how they have turned out!

Other than the bridesmaids, we have gifts for our parents and the grooms-man, as well as other helpers, that we cannot miss off the list.

Ipod

I really want to keep the mood up, even when I may feel emotional, so a ‘getting ready’ playlist is a must. I’m thinking Beyonce tunes and classic pop tracks to get the vocal chords chiming and the laughs started early!

Day After extras 

Luckily, we are staying at our fabulous venue over night, and then whisking off to the airport for our honeymoon! With that comes major preparation for the morning after. There isn’t much to be added, other than a gorgeous satin robe that says Mrs on the back. I want to spend the first morning as a married women sipping champagne in a Mrs robe and this is utterly perfect! Of course, we will be using our personalised wine glasses and eating plenty of breakfast snacks, in bed!

Shop : Hukemoller 

For now, that’s all I have currently waiting for the wedding morning. I think I have been pretty organised but I am sure there is something I have missed! 

Have any advice or something I need to pack? 

As always, leave your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Charlotte x

Additional Buys for our Wedding Day!

by

ONE MONTH TODAY! Literally one month and I will be sitting pretty, drinking prosecco and waiting for my ceremony at 2pm.

As you can imagine, the nerves, excitement and happiness is certainly building. It’s only bee 18 months in the planning after all. We are now really ramping up everything we have left to do. Flowers, favours and more are still un ticked on my list.

As we get nearer – I can nearly say I get married this month! We have started to gather the smaller and finer details for the wedding. Aside from the big decoration pieces, we have been considering the smaller, rather intimate details.

Guest books, reserved for signs, welcome signs, top table decor and more. It’s all be going on and popping through my letter box. Here is everything I have been gathering on the final push to the wedding day.

Mr & Mrs Glasses

This is something I really wanted for us to use for our first glass as a married couple. Plus, they make gorgeous keepsakes for friendly at home glasses and Christmas toasts. I am sooo impressed with these glasses and cannot wait to use them on the day of the wedding!

Shop : Lily Bobs Gifts 

‘ The Peters ‘ Plaque

I knew I wanted something on our top table to signify that we were Mr and Mrs and this is just perfect! What’s even better is that I had it personalised to say ‘ The Peters’ so its an addition to our home even after the wedding. So simple but effective. Going to look superb on the top table for sure!

Shop : Lily Bobs Gifts 

Keepsake Memories Box

I have previously pictured this and honestly, this is one of the products I am sooo stoked with. This wooden, engraved and personalised keepsake memory box is literally so perfect for keeping wedding stationery and printed snaps from the day. It even came with a personalised, wooden USB stick which will be ideal to store our wedding video on!

Shop : Bespoke Wedding Gifts 

Heart shaped ‘Guest book’

This gorgeous, alternative guest book is perfect and I cannot wait for my guests to use! It comes presented in this stunning long wooden box, engraved with our names and dates! It’s filled with over 50 wooden hearts that guest can sign and leave messages on! It fits in perfectly with all our wooden accents and keepsakes!

Shop : Secret Creation 

Floral Swagging & Chandelier

This isn’t something I have taken a picture of yet, purely because they have been boxed up ready for the venue. And I’m not sure I want to share everything before the day itself. Alas, we have a stunning array of faux flowers throughout the venue. We are getting married outside, so the flowers and greenery had to be replicated in the stunning Victorian house and purpose built marquee. Debbie from Florals Forever was an absolute joy to work with. She creates stunning faux floral arrangements that are just perfect for our nuptials. She created a bespoke floral chandelier, 3 arrangements for our cake, and 3 arrangements for our seating plan. I am sooo excited to showcase these in our marquee and venue. So keep your eyes peeled the day before, for some sneak snaps.

Shop : Florals Forever 

Bridesmaid Thank you gifts

There are so many ways you can thank your bridesmaids and wedding party, and I had spent months hunting for the best products to do this. I am creating my very own bundle of goodies for my bridesmaids for the morning of the wedding and I am sooo happy with the products I have nabbed already.

Shops :

Amy Lucy Designs

Letter room 

This is no way is this the full extent, but hopefully this has helped those brides get a jist of what we’ve purchased recently, and some gorgeous on-line independent sellers have for your magical day. I will of course be posting all my bridesmaids gifts in the near future, but without risk of them knowing what their goody bag will include!

What did you purchase in the last 4 weeks of wedding planning? 

Anything I need to grab? 

As always, leave your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Charlotte x

A ‘Lil Life Update

by

HALLO FRIENDS!

This not so little post is a life update so you ruddy know what is going on around here for the coming weeks because it may be a little different.

In case you didn’t know, because damn I never talk about it do I, we are getting married in 5 weeks. You bet its getting busy around here.

There seems an endless list of wedmin chores. On top, of course, mundane life chores and blog ones too. To put it lightly, it’s getting pretty stressy. So much so, I’ve been without a period for 6 weeks. Who knew stress could do something nice!

So what is actually going on? Well….

I’m losing weight

Because my wedding dress is a little too snug for my liking. It is being altered and let out a little, but all the same, I am trying to ditch the tum.

I pick my dress up next week

All being well, of course, I can pick it up next week ahead of the day. As mentioned, I am losing weight, so hopefully it has paid off and my dress fits perfectly.

My bridesmaids have had their fittings

Of course, it’s not just me that has to be fitted, it’s the bridesmaids too. Their fittings have just started to commence. I adore their dresses and honestly, their alterations have made such a difference to their dress, I am so excited for the day!

I am attending a baby shower

Aside from the wedding prep and celebrations, I am attending my cousins baby shower this weekend. A tad excited to celebrate something aside from the wedding. It will be the first baby in the second generation of the family in which I will have a close connection to, so you can imagine the excitement surrounding its arrival!

I will be of course posting lots of snaps over on the ‘gram!

My sister is graduating

My baby sister is graduating and I couldn’t be prouder! She had her ups and downs through her 3 years and yet she persevered and achieved an amazing degree! I couldn’t be prouder of her, and I am ever so excited to celebrate with her at her graduation in just a couple of weeks.

Just what to wear is the question!

I am creating tonnes of content

And by tonnes I mean tonnes! I am getting into a thorough rhythm with my blog and seem to have ideas sprouting and content brainstorms daily. I am getting really comfortable in my blog space and honestly, I am so excited for the future.

I hate to be one of those brides, but once the wedding has been and gone, and financial stability/normality has returned, I will be jumping feet first into the video content world.  On top of that, I plan to hit the road as it where and explore as much as I can to really strike up the travel area of my blog.

I’m sorting out finances

Don’t even ask me why I have chosen this exact time to start sorting out finances and bills but I have. I have tried to be clever and moved over our credit cards to interest-free cards, and started to look over our monthly expenditures and see how we can cut them down where possible.

I am seriously considering starting a blog series on some finance related topics because honestly, many of us are left to fend for ourselves and try and answer our own questions.

Thankfully, I have my dad who I often call 4-5 times an evening when I am struggling to get my head around a certain area.

Is a new home on the horizon?

Again, don’t ask why we are discussing and considering a property move in these hectic few weeks but damn we are.

Honestly, it is timing due to the crop up of new builds in our area. We are very consious on what we want from our next property, and considering the idea it will be a house with the ability to start a family in, we really don’t want to miss the oppertunity to purchase the perfect property in the location we desire.

Due to that, we seem to be in a position to be looking at properties a little earlier than expected. As always, we are fully assessing the probabilty of making it work before we dive right in.

As it stands however, we could be looking at moving later this year if not early next, ahead of 2019 and the adventure that entails as a family.

I’m into the final weeks

Yes of wedding planning. Finally. Today marks 5 official weeks and I am slightly petrified. As always, there is plenty to be done, and every weekend from here on out is full of wedmin and creative doo’s. Flower arrangements, greenery hoops and wedding favours are all to be made ahead of the day.

If you don’t already follow me on Instagram, it may be worth it since there will be plenty of live updates over the coming weeks as everything comes together!

There is so much going on over these next couple of weeks and despite the stress I am ever so excited for what is to come!

Stay tuned and be sure to follow me on the gram to catch daily uploads and story snaps!

Have a lovely rest of the week and a stunning weekend!

Charlotte x

Wedding | The finer details you may have forgot!

by
Everyone always thinks about the bigger details of a wedding such as the venue, the dress, the transport etc. But there are a few finer details that you need to consider if you’re going to make your wedding perfect.
We all have veryyyy different views about what a perfect wedding should be, which is fine. But, all weddings should include some things, all of which I have featured in this post. So if you’re wondering if you have covered all the bases you should, take notes and scroll below.

Who’s Going |

This is one of the biggest and earliest decisions you may have already made. Yet even in the latter stages of planning, it can majorly change. The easy part is knowing who you do want there, and deciding who isn’t going to quiet make it to the guest list, well that’s tough.
Chances are, you’re going to offend someone, especially if they know someone invited, and they well, aren’t! The first and only thing to remember when negotiating your guest list and numbers, is it is your wedding, and you need to make sure you’ve got the right people you want there to make sure you have a perfect day.
Once you’ve decided on numbers, you need to let them know, asap. There is nothing worse than wanting certain people there, who can’t make it as they didn’t get enough notice. Send out cards or little gifts that say to save the date for your wedding. It’s the easiest and most effective way to make sure your ‘A-list’ won’t forget, and you nor they won’t be disappointed. Be sure to do this as soon as you have a date confirmed!!

Where Will They Sit? |

Until it comes to planning your wedding, you won’t realise how hard it is to plan a seating arrangement. And the unfortunate thing is, there will be someone who has a problem with someone else. This will become ever so apparent when you’re trying to sit people next to each other. And since the last thing you want to do is cause an atmosphere on a day, it’s going to be so important to lower the risk of tension.
The best thing you can do is sit the people who you might not get along as far away as possible from each other. If you know there’s going to be a bit of bad blood in the air, it might be worth having a little word with both parties before the wedding to make sure nothing happens to spoil the day.

Bridal Party Accessories |

You probably know how you want your hair, nails, eyebrows and jewellery to wear with your dress, but what about your bridesmaids? What about your grooms-man’s cuff-links? These are little aspects that are always overlooked, and yet these finer details can make your bridal pop and keep in sync with you and your groom. Be sure to brainstorm hairstyles, make-up, nail colour and accessories with your bridesmaids early so you can prepare them as well as yourself for the big day.
 

Decoration Details |

Decorations span a hugeee space including the ceremony area, reception drinks, wedding breakfast seating and evening reception venue. You may be lucky (like me) and have all of this in one place, or have multiple areas to decorate. Whether its across multiple, or just one, it’s still a lot of location and venue to decorate for your wedding. Make sure you have considered your decoration not only for your guests to enjoy, but for the sake of your wedding pictures.
Consider flower arrangements that will be used in the background of pictures, and smaller details for the guests to enjoy on the tables, and whilst waiting for the ceremony.

The Music |

The DJ has the power to literally make or break a wedding. Some of them spend the night playing the most cheesiest songs all night, whilst others play completely random bits of music nobody has heard of. Make sure your DJ will create the perfect atmosphere for your day by choosing wisely. Consult a few different DJ’s before the wedding and make sure you find one you know is going to make your night special. Consider your possible music choices, and make sure before booking, your DJ can cater to this.
Remember there is lots of other music you need for your day too, including your aisle music, signing of the register music and walking out of the ceremony music too. These can often be overlooked, so make sure you have some ideas on what you’d like!
It is easy to miss such things when you’ve got a million and one things going through your mind, so be sure to look over some of these points and what you may need to sort pronto before it’s a little too late!
Is there any finer details you forgot?
 
Anything I have forgot off my checklist?
 
Let me know and comment below!
 
* This is a collaborative post and may include affiliate links