Expert Wedding Advice - Part One : The Bride

In this new series of blog posts, I will be sourcing the most sought after information regarding wedding planning, to provide you with a foolproof how-to guide. Harri Moran, who tied the knot just a few weeks ago, was kind enough to share her words of wisdom with us for our first post in this series.

Weddings are extremely expensive!  Were there any traditions that you were happy to change or overlook in order to keep to a budget, or did you feel that it was important to take a classic approach, whatever the cost?

"We decided not to have a wedding breakfast. It cut hundreds off our bill and the day had much more of a fun feeling because everybody knew

the party was coming next! it also meant there was lots less waiting around and that kept the guests happy as its easy to get bored"

How did you decide on your initial wedding budget, and did you have any problems sticking to it?

"We looked at what would be reasonable for us to put away each month and then looked at what was most important to us for the day we decided we wanted a posh wedding and a fun party where everyone felt at ease!we then worked the budget to suit these wants.we went over budget by about £200 which was nothing in the grand scheme of things"

Would you recommend any websites in particular which helped you to plan or save money on your wedding?

"We bought almost everything from eBay for the party - all of the decorations,napkins and cutlery etc. We also went round lots of pound shops for plates and other bits. EBay was a life saver for us we got lots of quirky bits that made the day really unique to us.  It was important to us that we had things people hadn't seen, or that put smiles on their faces.  We could get things like napkins personalised as keepsakes."

Did you feel that you could add  DIY aspects to any parts of your wedding to save money? Or is it safer to trust the experts?

"We did lots of the wedding ourselves we bought the decorations for the reception and decorated it ourselves. This was nice as we could make it look exactly how we wanted it to. We also bought the suits,shirts,waistcoats and cravats separately from different places, and this gave the boys the look we wanted.  We were able to pay for the suits as, and include them as groomsman's gifts, for the same price as hiring them would have cost.  I did do most of the wedding DIY as that suited me, but people shouldn't feel they have to do everything themselves. Sometimes spending a little more to get someone else to help out with things for you saves headaches - and looking back i should have used the wedding coordinator at the venue more!!"

Which services are best left to experts-what would you recommend paying out for?

"We catered the wedding ourselves and it saved lots of money but on the day it was very stressful getting everything sorted logistics wise.  Other than that we enjoyed being super involved in the process it was stressful before but the day was amazing and totally worth it!!"

Camp and Furnace Wedding Festival

Sorry this is a bit late, but a second wedding festival is in the pipeline for this venue, so this post should still serve a purpose.

I had been eagerly awaiting this event. My maid of honour was unable to join me, but after listening to me gushing about how cool the venue was, i successfully enlisted a very helpful friend to come along with me. The entry fee of five pounds had put me off a little, as the other wedding fairs I have previously attended were always free, but I was so excited that parting with some hard earned cash was something that I hardly even considered.

The initial scene seemed promising, classic camper vans and cool vintage cars provided by 'VW Vintage Wedding Vehicle Hire.' (www.vwvintagewedding.com)

Upon entering the venue, I was struck by how amazing the space was - perfect for any cool party or celebration, but definitely the right place to hold a barn style or festival inspired wedding.

While we wandered around the various stalls, most stall holders were keen to chat about my upcoming nuptials and to discuss their services on offer. Some excellent ideas for hen parties were offered by 'Hen Craft'. (www.thecraftcreative.com) A perfect idea if you don't fancy getting overly tipsy on your hen do, workshops include 'make your own fascinator' and 'pimp your pants' (a chance to design and make some frilly knickers!) These fun classes would not only provide entertainment, and perhaps help you find a new hobby, but you could also use your creations on your big day. I really like this idea!

Beautifully intricate cake creations were on display, crafted by 'The Chocolate Cellar' (at The Wedding House). With awe-inspiring designs, delicious cakes and chocolate favours, The Chocolate Cellar seems like an excellent choice for your dessert course.

Many of the stall holders were really friendly, which added to the happy and relaxed atmosphere. Others were extremely stand-offish, if not downright rude! (There's always one!) At one point, my friend excitedly complimented some beautiful stationary, and the lady manning the stall simply raised her eyebrows and continued to slurp her tea - no stationary is pretty enough to be snooty about!

While I enjoyed searching through the racks of vintage wedding dresses, it was hard to imagine anybody actually wearing one on their wedding day. I think a 'vintage inspired' dress would be more appropriate than genuine vintage, but each to their own I suppose.

When we had finished browsing, we took a seat in the cool 'picnic style' seating area, and I treated my companion and I to a half of pilsner each while we discussed the experience as a whole. We concluded that the stalls offered an eclectic variety of products and services, but felt that we hadn't really seen anything exciting or different (aside from the crafting hen parties!). Some stalls are regulars at vintage fairs, which do not have an entry fee, which was a little disappointing. We felt that on the whole, we couldn't justify paying an entrance fee for this event. I have been to similar events which cost nothing, and I received more goodies! (See my previous post on Memory Lane Wedding Fairs for details.)

The Camp and Furnace venue is undeniably excellent, with a cool, laid back vibe. Even if you are not planning a wedding, I would recommend a visit. The bar is relaxed and comforting, with a roaring fire to keep warm by. The menu looks very exciting, and there is also an art gallery space, as the venue actively encourages and promotes the arts. I feel that it would be an excellent venue in which to hold a modern or vintage inspired wedding...and the kitsch caravan accommodation is an amazing gimmick, meaning that family and friends don't have to worry about finding their way home after the event. I just felt that we didn't get much for our money, and hope that if we were to return next time, that this would possibly be rectified.

New Wedding Accessories

  Now, while I've been spending a lot of time planning for my own wedding, I've also been talking to other people in the same situation, and I know that a lot of people (myself included) are keen for their own personality to shine through, reflected in the accessories that they choose for their big day.  With many couples still scrimping and saving, it helps when these little touches can be hand made.  This makes them seem even more personal.  Here are some of my favourite ideas so far.

http://pinterest.com/pin/226235581251201593/

 

 

 

This music sheet bunting is simple to make, but very effective.  You could stain the paper with food colouring or teabags for an antiqued effect, or add ribbons to tie in with your colour scheme.

http://pinterest.com/pin/226235581252021490/

Another beautifully simple idea, is to collect pretty pebbles, and display them in a pretty glass jar, vase or bowl.  Guests can write their message onto the pebbles, instead of using a guest book.  This can then be kept as an ornament and sentimental keepsake in your home

http://www.facebook.com/groups/TabithasGifts/

 

 

For music lovers, this retro style vinyl record cake stand can be used to display cupcakes, sweets and other deserves, or even alcohol shots.  They can be bought for reasonable prices at many craft fairs, or if you're feeling crafty, you could whip up a few for yourself.

Finding a Unique Wedding Venue Continued

While searching for a beautifully different backdrop for my upcoming wedding, I noticed something that I walk past almost every day, and decided to take a closer look.  Set in the stunning surroundings of Sefton Park, the Victorian structure of The Palm House is definitely unusual.  The thing that appealed to me was it's similarity to an antique birdcage - perfect for a vintage wedding!  Due to the amount of light allowed in, and the exotic plants inside the Palm House, your photographs would look amazing, even on rainy days. (The weather wasn't the greatest when I visited, but the building and surroundings are so pretty, it the photos still look good.)  And if good weather conditions are kind enough to RSVP on your big day, there are plenty of photo opportunities around the park, including statues, boating lakes, and of course, views of the park itself.  Due to it's age, the building has lovely original features, which were carefully restored in order to return it to it's former glory.  This venue seems pretty flexible when it comes to planning your wedding, and a full price list is even available online.

http://www.bluecoatoccasions.co.uk/1.html

 Not too far down the road, just past the iconic Penny Lane, is The Blue Coat School.  The building had caught my eye a while before, but from the outside, just looks like a school really... a nice school, but a school nontheless.  However, upon entering the Grade II listed building, an entirely new perspective is gained.  The chapel is breathtaking, with coloumns, an organ, and domed ceilings.  As I'm opting for a non-religious ceremony, the room that I was escorted to was very blandly named "The Boardroom."  The events organiser explained to me that it is an actual boardroom, but it is used for civil ceremonies.  I was ready to fake excitement when the door was opened, but found that my acting skills weren't required.  The room has a very classic look, chic and grand, without being flashy or tacky.  An amazing fireplace is situated at the end of the room where vows are taken, and floor to celing length wndows are dressed with dramatic drapes.  It's not hard to picture how lovely the wedding photos could be in these amazing surroundings, but the events team are keen to show me anyway! The team were really friendly, and keen to show me photographs of all of the different types of weddings that they have catered for, pointing out that they are very flexible, and will be on hand to help with all of the aspects of your wedding day.  I would reccommend arranging an appointment to view this amazing building, as I really think it's a hidden gem.  Pricing information is available here.

http://www.ainscoughs.co.uk/Racquet-Club

http://www.ainscoughs.co.uk/Racquet-Club

Another hidden gem that I discovered on my journey is The Racquet Club.  Situated near to the business district in Liverpool City Centre, the exterior looks just like that of many offices, apartments and bars in the same area.  Although it does seem grand, I think I have been somewhat desensitised to the buildings in this area, as they are all similarly beautiful.  That being said, it does have some pretty distinctive doors (I'm a bit of a sucker for a good looking door!).  Once inside, the most beautiful red carpeted staircase came into view, forcing me to stifle a squeal of delight (imagine coming down those stairs in a wedding dress!).  There is a real mix of classical and modern features, but this has been orchestrated so delicatley, that it works really well.  I particularly loved the mounted moose head (despite being a vegetarian) and it gave me some ideas for fun wedding photo props.  I was told that some brides try to hide them in their wedding photographs, as they consider them ugly - each to their own I suppose.  I really liked the flexibility that this venue offered, as there are a variety of rooms available to choose from, each with different surroundings in order to cater for different parts of the day.  There are a limited amount of hotel rooms available upstairs, and children are not only allowed, but activley welcomed (if that is what you want!) which takes the pressure off when planning the guest list.

Finding a Unique Wedding Venue

photo from http://liverpool.gov.uk

Living in Liverpool, I was extremely excited to hear that the local registry office has moved from the Cotton Exchange building, to the historic St George's Hall.  This means that even on the tightest of budgets, it is possible to have your wedding in a beautiful building, with amazing potential for photographs.  Upon visiting the venue, I'm told that on the day, the bride enters through the dramatic St George's Plateau, if that's not a classy entrance, then I don't know what is!  Although most of the building is run separately to the registry office, it is still usually possible to wander around the building to find the perfect wedding shot.  Considering there are many features including a ballroom, columns, gardens and even a court room complete with cells, I think that most photographers would have no trouble coming up with inspiration for a photo shoot.  The ballroom is available to hire for wedding receptions, although it does cost a pretty penny.

http://www.aboutliverpool.com

Another beautiful building in Liverpool available for weddings is the Town Hall.  The seemingly dark exterior is forgotten as soon as the amazing staircase is in view.  I can imagine that walking up the stairs in a white dress, contrasting against the plush red carpet would make for amazing photographs.  Once upstairs, a classic piano can be played for you, while your guests wait to be seated.  Alternatively, there is an option of holding the ceremony in a court room style setting, which is almost half the price of the traditional room.  If you are looking for a unique setting, this could be the perfect option for you.  A ballroom is also available to hire for receptions here, which is lovely.  However, it would appear that I don't have a ballroom permitting budget, so while it would be a fantastic venue, I am required to continue searching.

http://www.blackburnehouse.co.uk/

Of course, there is the option of having the ceremony in a traditional venue, such as a church or registry office, and then finding an eclectic venue for the reception.  While researching reception venues, I came across Blackburne House on Hope Street, and was keen to explore this option.  The building was originally Liverpool's first school, and is now a Women's Education Centre, which houses many services including a nursery and a cafe.  The building itself is stunning, located in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool.  I feel that this would make for majestic photography.  As Blackburne House is charity orientated, weddings held there are referred to as "weddings with a conscience", so even if you do spend a fortune, at least you know that it's going towards a good cause.

http://www.theblack-e.co.uk

Possibly the most unusual venue that I have stumbled across so far is The Black-E.  Although it's not specifically advertised as a wedding reception venue, I found that the space would be almost perfect for what I had planned.  A huge floor space, with a stage area and various balconies would be perfect to house a band, or any other kind of entertainment hat you might have in mind, plus as many guests as you like!  The wooden floors and large windows give a classic yet modern feel, which could be altered with any decor that you might choose, and upon enquiring, I was told that the venue can also provide chair and table hire.  This is yet another charity run space, which basically allows flexibility to do whatever you like with your wedding celebrations.  There is also a dressing room available, with shower and disabled toilet access, which  sounds perfect for pre-celebration preparations, and also, an answer to possibly embarrassing "wedding dress in toilet cubical" problems!

Wedding Venue Dilemma

Photo from culturepool.com

http://www.contemporaryurbancentre.org/

     When originally planning my wedding, I knew that a church would not be suitable for the ceremony.  Aside from my desire to have a unique wedding, there was the issue of religion.  My fiance is Catholic, and I'm Church of England, so steering clear of churches altogether meant that neither family would be offended or made to feel uncomfortable.  Aside from that, I wanted the opportunity to choose my own music, vows, decor etc, and a lot of these things are more difficult to achieve in churches.  Many couples now choose to have a civil ceremony in registry offices or other public buildings, but I wanted something a little bit different,
  It all seemed too easy, and I found the perfect venue straightaway.  My fiance and I had visited the Contemporary Urban Centre (CUC) to see various art exhibitions and gigs.  I knew the area well, and I liked the fact that it was close to the city centre, but far away enough for it to have a cool, laid back atmosphere.  However, upon discovering that the CUC was available for both wedding ceremonies and receptions, I just had to view the space.  The exterior of the building looked very underwhelming - similar to the other warehouses in the area.  This made the wedding space even more exciting.  When my guests arrived at the venue, they would expect a plain, modern, clinical space, and would be amazed to discover what was actually there...
...
a room with beautiful wooden floors, a spiral staircase,

http://www.contemporaryurbancentre.org/

traditional wooden beams, plush red carpets,  chandeliers, fireplaces...need I go on? It was the perfect venue for a modern city wedding!  And possibly the best part, is that the money spent on weddings went to a good cause, the "People Can" charity.  Because of this, the price seemed extremely low, and I'm assuming that this is because there is no profit to be made, just funds raised to be passed on to the charity, 

You may have noticed that while discussing The CUC, I have been writing  about it in the past tense.  That is because in December 2011, The CUC sadly announced that it would be closing.  I had been engaged for a year, and thought that I had the main parts of the day - the ceremony and reception venue - all planned out, but this announcement changed everything.  How will I ever find another venue in which the two events can be held with the same amazing location, classically beautiful features, and most importantly, will I still be able to afford it?  I will keep you informed as I undertake this seemingly impossible task, fingers crossed!

Unusual Wedding Favours

The tradition of handing out tiny boxes or bags filled with sugared almonds at weddings was to represent; "fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness. The bitterness of the almond and the sweetness of the coated candy exemplify the bitter sweetness of a marriage."  Which is a very nice sentiment.  However, modern couples will often want favours which are more useful, quirky, or reflective of themselves and their own personalities.  After all, wedding favours can actually cost a pretty penny, wouldn't you rather they were admired, taken home and used, instead of being left behind, put into a drawer, or even thrown away after your big day?

At a wedding fair recently, I was given a promotional organza bag with a tiny individual heart shaped soap inside, made by local business Sutton Soap.  This seemed like an excellent idea for a wedding favour.  The soaps are handmade, and can come in a variety of colours, textures and fragrances, they would be easy to tie in with your colour scheme and express your own personality.  Just add matching organza bags and a typed or handwritten message, and you're good to go.

As there has been a little bit of a retro revival, why not go all out with retro sweets? A small packet of love hearts like these ones from Sticky Fingers Retro Sweets will go down a treat with both old and young guests alike, and since they are arguably the most romantic type of confectionery, they're very appropriate for weddings.  And why stop there? Sticky fingers retro sweets offer a huge array of sweets from your childhood, so a pretty paper bag filled with a selection would be like a grown up pick'n'mix.

While searching Etsy (my new favourite website since I stared planning my wedding) I came across these button badges, which I think would make excellent favour for a music themed wedding.  Some guests may choose to wear them afterwards on their bags, jackets, ties etc, or some could attach them to a pin board at home, but either way, then could be kept as a lasting memory.  These particular badges are from buttonempire on Etsy, but you could even find a seller who will customise buttons to your own design, or using the names of your partner and yourself, and the date of your wedding.

Because I'm such a sucker for anything vintage, pretty and handmade, I have to mention my favourite wedding favour at the moment is teacup candles.  Using mismatched retro teacups and turning them into beautiful candles will give the tables at your wedding a classic look with a modern twist, and your guests will love to take them home and adore them forever - well, they will if they are anything like me.  These are readily available in most vintage and craft fairs that I visit, but you can also order them from Etsy, or have a go at making your own.  Here is an easy to follow tutorial that I have found.  If you choose this option, ensure you leave enough time to actually make them before the wedding.  You should probably volunteer your maid of honour and bridesmaids to help you too!

So there is now more variety than ever when choosing wedding favours, and the only limit is that of your imagination - or your wedding budget!  Why not opt for a more creative alternative, to help add a bit more personality to your big day?

Memory Lane Fairs at Holiday Inn, Liverpool

In search of some inspiration, I headed out on Saturday to the Holiday Inn.  Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at the bucks fizz on offer upon arrival (I believe there was also an orange juice option, but I was planning a wedding - fizzy wine was required!)

Photos from https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Wonderland

The first stall that caught my eye belonged to Vintage Wonderland, a company that hires out vintage props for weddings and other special events.  A beautiful birdcage on a stand was used to hold cards recieved from guests, which is a unique twist on the printed caed boxes that can be ordered from invitation companies.

Other items for hire included union jack bunting (perfect for a jubilee party!) beautiful vintage crockery, and a retro camera.  Another unusual item on offer was a typewriter to be used as a quirky alternative to a guestbook.  If you're looking for a pretty, romantic, vintage style wedding, then Vintage Wonderland is the perfect place for you to start.

Photo from http://isabellesices.com/

Another idea with a classic twist is to hire an ice cream trike.  Isabelle's ices offer a range of traditional 1940s ice creams, served from a classic loking cart.  Not only did I get to sample the delicious ice cream, but I also was allowed to sit on the trike - far too exciting!  This would make for quirky photos, and offer a fun alternative to a formal dessert at your reception.

photo from www.hannahbhodge.co.uk

Possibly the hardest part of planning a wedding (well, for me anyway) is choosing a wedding dress.  Especially since I'm extremely picky, it is proving very difficult to find something that will cover all bases - the right length, colour, shape, material - there is a lot more to think about than one might initially think!  For this reason, I was excited to find a bespoke wedding dress designer Hannah Bethan Hodge, who promised to work within set budgets to create the perfect gown for each bride - perfect for fussy brides to be.  A range of bridesmaid's dresses with a modern twist were also displayed, which was a refreshing change from the average gowns available.

www.carriealisha.co.uk

  And once the perfect dress has been chosen, why not have some unique jewellry designed to complement your gown, and your individual style?  Carrie Alisha offers just that.  I was struggling to think of suitable bridesmaids gifts to give, this seems the perfect solution - personalised necklaces, a gift that they can keep and use forever, but that will always remind them of my special day.