One decision that couples tend to have difficulty agreeing on, is what to call their tables, do they choose numbers or name them? If they name them what should it be, should it reflect the theme or have meaning to them. Before I give you some top ideas I thought I would share with you some favourite past table names of my clients over the years. Many clients opt to have names of places meaningful to them as a couple – as these are very personal I have decided not to share those examples with you, sticking instead to theme names.

Midsummer Night Theme/ Woodland Fairy Theme 

-        Field Rose

-        Musk Mallow

-        Daisy

-        Enchanters Nightshade

-        Wild Pansy

-        Willow Herb

-        Foxglove

-        Lavender

-        Buttercup

-        Honeysuckle

Wilkins Jam (the brides Father was a director)

-        Little Scarlet

-        Blackcurrent

-        Mulberry

-        Raspberry

-        Crab Apple

-        Morello Cherry

-        Damson

-        Medlar

-        Quince

-        Greengage

-        Loganberry

-        Victoria Plum

Traditional English Wedding (the below are names of roses)

-        Queen Elizabeth

-        Rosamundi

-        Gertrude Jekyll

-        Cressida

-        Jude the Obscure

-        Albertine

-        Eglantyne

-        Belle Epoque

-        Leander

-        Charmian

Photo Credit: Kerry Morgan & Harvey Collard 

Top 10 ideas for table names

1. Favourite films/TV Shows
2. Drink (Names of Champagne / Favourite cocktails / Names of favourite wine)
3. Names of favourite restaurants
4. Travel (Cities you’ve visited / Countries you’ve been on holiday together / Places that have meaning to you i.e name of your house, hospital where son/daughter was born, hotels, place you grew up)
5. Kings and queens
6. Favourite authors
7. Quotations (Poems / Books / Films / Songs)
8. Retro (Sweets / Computer Games / Board Games)
9. Horticultural (flowers / Herbs / Trees / Plants)
10. Numbers that have relevance to you as a couple

• Number of your house
• Date you met i.e. 10/06/09
• Number of countries you have visited
• Number of holidays you have had
• Date you moved in together (if relevant)
• Birthdays

Congratulations you’re engaged! You’re on cloud nine, your fiancée has declared his love and asked you to become his wife, you excitedly talk about the future and your wedding day. You dream about the dress, partying with your friends and of course becoming husband and wife.But, then the panic sets in. Just how do you plan a wedding, where should you begin? Originally published in 2009, my planning guide should set you on the right path!

Step 1 – What Wedding do you want?

One of the first things I do with clients is to conduct a consultation; this is to determine what style of wedding they want and which suppliers will suit them best. So, although you will not need a consultation with yourself, do compile a questionnaire and go out somewhere relaxing to discuss it. By the end of your evening you should be clear on what you both want from a wedding and most importantly, what you can afford.

1. Talk about when to get married

2. Discuss what you both want from a wedding

3. Compile a rough guest list to get an idea of numbers (you will need this for when you start searching for venues)

4. Discuss type of ceremony i.e religious or civil

5. Talk about the type of venue you would prefer, i.e hotel, manor house, barn, marquee etc

6. Choose wedding attendants

7. Talk about who is paying for the wedding, is it solely you or are parents contributing to part or all of the wedding?

Be organised from the start

You will need somewhere to keep all the wedding documentation. There are many specialist books made especially for this purpose otherwise buy a simple display book or filing folder from your local stationery store. You should keep invoices, supplier letters and pictures you like here, easily assessable when needed. Of course for the technical brides out there, consider having a wedding website where pictures can be stored and guest lists compiled and tracked.

Rough Guest List

It stands to reason that ideally you’d have all your family, friends and work colleagues at your wedding. Remember though that every guest has a price to their head and not just the wedding breakfast, but drink, table flowers, favours and stationery. Create an A & B list, that way if anyone from the A list declines you can invite someone from the b list.

Ceremony type

There are many forms of ceremonies, too many to list here so I have just concentrated on the most popular ones in the UK.One of your first major decisions will be what type of ceremony to have. Will you want a religious or civil ceremony? If you wish to marry in your local church then arrange a meeting with your vicar, most require you to attend church on a regular basis but some are flexible so do check. The banns will be read out in church on 3 consecutive Sundays after which you must marry within 3 months. Try http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings for further guidelines.If you wish to have a civil ceremony then contact the registrar in the town you wish to marry. They will then send you a list of licensed venues in that area along with details of local register offices. The earliest you can confirm a date with a registrar is 12 months before, so even if you book a venue 18 months in advance, there is no guarantee on the ceremony time or even availability of a registrar until 12 months.If you are planning a civil partnership then again by contacting your local registrars you will be given a list of licensed venues in the UK.

Alternatively if you want to plan something different then why not have a legal civil ceremony followed by a humanist celebration? These can take place anywhere and are as individual as the couple themselves. You may have any reading, poem, song that you wish and the ceremony can be conducted anywhere, i.e. beaches, cliff tops, gardens, boats etc. go to humanism for further details.

Ceremony Time

Early ceremonies are good if you have lots of entertainment planned and evening guests. A later ceremony is perfect for the same guests all day creating a more relaxed atmosphere. A late ceremony means a late wedding breakfast and reduces the need for evening food. A cheese table with bread and fruit is more then sufficient.

Photo Credit: Kerry Morgan & Nick Kontou

We all love a good cocktail, gone are the ‘bucks fizz’ days – thank god! Many of my clients design a cocktail that matches their style and personalities and I know this is a huge trend that will continue in 2012. I spoke to Tim at Liquid Spirit Bar Hire for his take on wedding cocktails.  

Tip 1. Stay true to your event

Remember where you and your partner met, how you got engaged, what are your likes and dislikes? Make yourself a list together and go and buy some supplies from your local supermarket.

Tip 2. Celebrate your history

If you have Brazilian ancestry, consider Cachaça. Part Scottish? Scotch. Russian heritage? Vodka. Chinese forebears? Sake, you get the picture. Remember to research your spirits wisely as local produce will support your roots more than an international brand, i.e. don’t think there is that much Cuban interest in Bacardi.

Tip 3. Listen to your pallet

What do you like, sweet or sour, sparkling or still, light or strong, clear or dark? This drink is usually intended to be enjoyed by your guests as well but don’t forget this is one drink you will want to recreate for the rest of your life. When experimenting, try to achieve a contrast in the drink by combining something sweet with something sharp. E.g. fruit liqueur with lemon juice. The result is likely to be more palatable. The most successful cocktails achieve this balance. Consider the visual texture, consistency/density, colour, palatability, aroma, taste and presentation.

Tip 4. Local & Seasonal

Find garnishes and local liquors in your market to make your drink locally sourced and ecologically friendly. Flavoured vodkas are a good spirit to research as they can match any ingredient and provide a flavour for all occasions. Flowers also play a major role in everyone’s wedding but why restrict them to the ceremony? Garnish your cocktail with a flower for a beautiful floral touch to your commemorative cocktail.

Tip 5.  If you think outside the box, destroy the box

Go nuts! Consider outlandish cocktails with that added wow factor; consider flaming orange zests, wild orchids, bacon infusions and possibly a whole banana as a garnish. Who said a cocktail couldn’t be served out of a glass slipper?

Tip 6. Nostalgia

Research old cocktails, the Manhattan, Vesper, Old Fashioned and Sazerac are becoming popular once again. Try inventing a modern twist on a classic; include your family’s namesake or the area your event is in.

The Smiths’ Something Blue, the Oxford Wedding Bell or The Evans Eternal.

Tip 7. Simplicity

Too many clashing flavours can ruin a drink, no matter of the quality of the ingredients. It’s useful to know that many mixed drinks contain a liquor base, a liqueur and juice. The garnish is added for eye-appeal. A Cosmopolitan is double vodka, a single Triple Sec and a double cranberry juice. A dash of lime is added to zest it and a lemon twist is added to the glass to make it more appealing. This formula is tried, tested and easy to adapt.

Tip 8. Fashion

Have a look at modern restaurant menu’s or up-to-date cocktail guides. Pomegranate is in right now and if you’re a perfectionist you could research Japanese tools and techniques, inspired by East Asian tea ceremonies’ attention to detail add to the luxury of crafting slow drinks.

Have a Google of it and ponder no longer!

Tip 9. Have Fun!

This should not be a chore; this should hark back to childhood days of ‘mixing potions’. Playful experimentation should be the cornerstones of your cocktail creation. Just get some ingredients’ with your partner and start playing around, there are much worse ways to spend a Friday night after all! Remember to jointly celebrate your likes and don’t stress out about pleasing anyone in particular.

Tip 10. The Golden Rule, never forget:

“A cocktail will never be better than its cheapest ingredient.”  
                                                                                      – David A. Embury (1948)

Could not have said it better myself. Hope this gives you some inspiritation.

Here is a cocktail Tim created for his girlfriend (her surname is Evans)

The Evanly Evans

Ingredients

 - 50ml Bombay Sapphire

- 100ml Lemonade 

- 25ml Elderflower Syrup

- 50ml Champagne Brut

Instructions

Pour the champagne into a rocks glass.

Combine the Bombay Sapphire & Elderflower Syrup in a shaker & add ice.

Shake and pour into the rocks glass so that the champagne mixes in with the rest of the ingredients. 

Top with lemonade & garnish with a single ice cube and a White Daylily (edible)

For information on the basic components of most cocktails please click here.

Please visit LiquidSpirit  for more tips on cocktail creations

Photo Credit - champagne glasses Nick Kontou, other LiquidSpirit

I originally posted this in 2009 but thought it was pretty prudent for now as this is when brides are interviewing suppliers for their weddings next year.

As part of their consultation I naturally ask clients if they have a budget, in past years clients would give me a rough budget but I’ve noticed a bit of a trend recently when clients say there is no budget determined. Far from being helpful this makes it very difficult to price what their wedding will cost.

After all there is a huge difference in weddings costing £10k compared to £30k and even more when the wedding is £80k+. Without a broad spectrum of a budget I have no idea as to what they want for their wedding. I pride myself on being an honest wedding planner so when a client gives me a budget I don’t set out to spend every penny or intentionally go over budget so I earn more! In fact my budget breakdowns are pretty accurate and we rarely go over the agreed budget.

Think about it another way, I have suppliers I recommend in each price bracket and I only recommend those the client can afford. There is nothing worse then seeing and falling in love with something only to discover it’s out of your budget. For example the bands I use can range from £700 – £4,000. Is there a big difference between them? To be honest yes, my top bands are fantastic but I only recommend them IF the client can afford it.

The same can be said of flowers, you could enter a meeting with a florist saying there is no budget, the florist will then quote giving you everything you wanted, you receive the quote and fall off your chair because you don’t want to spend that much so ask them to cut down. Wouldn’t it have been easier to say this is my budget in the first place?

So, the moral of the story is not every supplier is trying to spend ALL your money. We are only trying to give you the wedding or party you desire but without knowing what you want to spend, expectations are rarely met.

Please be honest with us!

Last Friday I was setting up a marquee for a client’s 25^th wedding anniversary party. The day before is when all the installations happen like generator, toilets, bar, furniture & final details for the marquee. When teaching the step by step course via the UKAWP we talk about your ‘DREAM TEAM’ and that as a planner you are only as good as your team. After all this is what a client is paying you for , anyone can find a bar, toilet or marquee etc. But are they any good? Will they work together to ensure everything is perfect?

At one stage I stood back and watched while the generator company shouted a greeting to the toilet company, (despite them being competitors) they told me they often help each other out if booked that weekend. Which reminded me of how successful planners network and help each other esp. those members of the UKAWP.

Then the marquee company arrived and joked with both the generator & toilet company, the generator needed a little heave up a slope so everyone pitched in. Everyone knew each other and had worked together in the past. There was mutual respect, hard work and professionalism.

The bar company is fantastic, the time they put into building their bar & stocking is astounding. And that evening the band I had booked is one I have been using for years so again I knew the evening was going to be fantastic!

So to summarise, although anyone can plan an event on their own, I truly believe it is a planner that ensures a client has the best team possible to make their event a success.

A recent client in June sent me a letter of thanks for her party saying ” you finalised the whole event with excellent furniture, a fantastic bar and absolutely brilliant band. I would never have found these companies searching the internet. I also appreciated the other details: garden lighting, printing, jazz band and flowers etc. It was fantastic, thank you so much” Sally Tinney

I hope to bring you images from this event very soon…..

In life we all have pet hates, how many times have we all screamed at our boyfriends/husbands ‘put the toilet seat down’ and being an event planner it dawned on me I perhaps have more pet hates that most. So just what is it that makes me cringe in the peak summer months?

1.Seeing table legs – yes I know such a small thing and I’m assuming most guests or brides wouldn’t notice, but I do. Please have round cloths on round tables. 108″ cloth for a 3ft cake table will go to the floor with enough material to ruche under the table, a 120″ cloth is perfect for a 5ft or 5ft 5″ table.

2.Symetrical – when I’m hired as a planner it is my job to be picky with everything I do so when I set the tables out on the day I ensure napkins are folded the same, place cards are positioned correctly and favours are facing the same direction.  Is this petty? YES.  Does it make a difference to end photos – YES!

3.Toilets – if you have to hire in mobile toilets make sure you ask for pictures of the interior and compare to other companies, this applies even if the marquee company is supplying for you. Never assume they will be to your liking.

4.Rude Suppliers – yes we are all stressed in the summer but that doesn’t mean you should be rude to me, I’m like an elephant, I never forget. If we are working together on a client event it is in our interest to work together as a team, it shouldn’t be a them and us situation. And if you want me to work with you and I say you are not suitable for my events, I’m being honest. Would you rather I lie? And if I try to give advice listen, I’ve been doing this job for nearly 9 years so my advice should be useful.

5.Rude Competitors – I just don’t get it, I’m on very good terms with planners in the UKAWP but also those not members. Why be rude? It’s unnecessary.

Ok but what do I love? Suppliers working together both before the event and on the day itself, working as a team, solving any dilemmas that occur without bothering the client. I love waiting staff who are efficient and friendly. I love bands who are obliging without any tantrums. When we all work together the days flows as perfectly as it should do.

What are your pet hates?

I’m so excited to tell you about an event that the UKAWP are running alongside some FABULOUS suppliers. As a director for the UKAWP I am immensely proud of this event and I sincerely hope you can join us there.

The Wedding Sanctuary is a bridal event being held at the stunning Somerset House on the 20^th March. This is not a ‘wedding fair’, it is a ‘wedding show’ designed to offer top design inspiration alongside practical workshops from the UK’s leading experts. Don’t believe me? Let me explain more…..

OUR PARTNERS

We have teamed up with some of the UK’s most inspirational suppliers whose enthusiasm is infectious.

Julia Boggio Photography, Amanda Austin Flowers, Sternberg Clarke ,Gorgeous Film Productions, Staggered, Table Talk , Zoe Clark Cakes , Cutture Stationery,

Some suppliers will be paired with the fabulous wedding planners who make up the UKAWP to offer top tips and the opportunity to ask specific questions regarding every element of your wedding day.

And if you think this is yet another ‘fair’ for grooms to be bored at you’d be wrong  because international bloggers, staggered will be on hand to assist them with their suits, stag dos and speeches.

The Wedding Magazine team will also be there to chat through your ideas.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

The UKAWP will also be offering a range of talks addressing the trickier issues when planning your wedding like how to set and stick to a budget, and how to get the best from your suppliers. You can find me in the ceremony room where I will be overseeing all the presentations. Please do come and say hi!

DESIGN GALORE

We want you to be relaxed so sip champagne and nibble delicious canapés courtesy of renowned event caterers Table Talk whilst browsing the inspiration zone for design ideas. 5 stunning dining tables will be styled by wedding planners of the UKAWP alongside Zoe Clark Cakes and Cutture Stationery, displaying the very best of what is available to hire for your wedding reception, with pricing guidelines and practical information included.

HOW DO I LOOK

Brides in need of style advice can meet in the boudoir where the likes of Sassi Holford and Emmy Shoes can dress you from head to toe whilst hair and make-up expert Elle au Naturel and top personal stylist Katrina Choat offer consultations on how to look and feel your absolute best on the day.

BOOK ME A PLACE

To book your ticket please go to The Wedding Sanctuary website Tickets cost £10 for a single ticket or £15 for 2.

PRIZE DRAW

There is also a prize draw we would love you to enter:

Luxury travel to the show by Mechgem Luxury Wedding Cars
(from addresses within the M25)

Free double entry to either the morning or afternoon session

A private 1 hour consultation with a top wedding planner
during The Wedding Sanctuary

A personal shopping experience with stylist Katrina Choat

Yesterday while looking through my post I saw a Christmas card addressed to my husband ‘Paul Chapman’, I debated whether to open and thought no better not, it might be a Dream Occasions Hire client sending a card to him. I left it on the side until he opened it later on.

I was shocked therefore to see the card was from his sister, we have been together for over 12 years and married for 10 so really the proper way to write the envelope should have been Mr. & Mrs Paul Chapman or informally Paul and Bernadette Chapman. I guess most people wouldn’t even notice the way an envelope is addressed but because I frequently send invitations out for my clients,  I’m a bit of a stickler for details. Don’t worry my name was inside the Christmas card!

It made me wonder how many people could get stuck with the correct etiquette. From time to time I like to pop onto the Debretts website even though I have their book on modern manners.  I often find some form of etiquette I was unaware of. For example I just discovered that traditionally an invitation to a social event would be addressed just to the wife, but with both christian names inside the invitation.

*Note that, traditionally, invitations to a married couple, when sent to their home address, are addressed to the wife alone, with both names being inscribed on the invitation card. It has become increasingly acceptable, however, to address the envelope with both names.

So have I been addressing envelopes wrong all these years I wonder?! I’d love to know your views on the above or whether there is a form of etiquette you just wish people would comply with!

I do love Debretts, I don’t necessarily agree with all the advice, like most things I cherry pick the advice I want to follow! In the New Year I plan on sharing my favourite bits of advice from them on a regular basis.

Q. We have finally chosen our venue for our wedding next summer but I’m really stuck on what colour/theme. It seems whenever conversation comes up regarding the wedding it’s the first thing people say ‘whats your theme then’? Ahhh, I feel like screaming I DON’T KNOW!

For some brides choosing a theme/colour is so easy and something they have been thinking about secretly for years. But for others, it takes a little investigation to find a style that is right for you. First thing first, go back to the venue and look at the walls, floor and general décor – you don’t want to pick a theme of lilac in a red gothic building. Then speak with the venue about what colours looks great in their building. Finally start looking at interior magazines as well as wedding magazines to see what fabrics, colours, accessories and styles you like/dislike. Start cutting the ones you like out and stick to an A3 card. Take this to a DIY shop and collect paint swatches to find out what colours work well together. Hopefully after this process you have a colour and theme to work with!

If there is one aspect of weddings that Brides worry about it’s whether to invite their friends’ children, knowing they may scream throughout the ceremony. If you are inviting children to your wedding but are worried about how to ensure they don’t ruin your special day, I have listed some tips below. Look out for a reader offer at the end from All Things Nice.

• Ask the Photographer to have one picture of all the children together, they will love being centre of attention.
• If you have a Mum with a young baby then check whether she needs somewhere to feed the baby and/or change nappies.
• During the drinks reception, have a table set to one side and cover with paper (to protect the venues furniture). Then provide the children with crayons, pencils and one large sheet of paper, ask all the children to draw a picture and hand to the best man when finished, the bride & groom could then keep as a memento to the day.
• If you have a lot of children why not organise a treasure hunt with one of the ushers in charge?
• If you have older children set up a small room with computer games, puzzles and board games.
• Iif money is not an object and you really want some peace and quiet, hire a wedding crèche service, they will entertain the children and you won’t even know they are there!
• For favours why not give them a specially baked & designed cookie like the dinasour one below?
• New to the market this year is the Wedding JollyBox which I think is fantastic, it contains illustrated flash cards, inspiration booklet, activity book with puzzles, themed games & role play ideas for boring moments like the speeches!

Reader Offer

Both products pictured are available from All Things Nice who have kindly offered a discount of 10% to our readers, please enter the code of AATN10DO when making an order.