Help & Advice

Planning your wedding can be daunting but don’t worry it can be fun too. Here is some held and advice that might help you out.

HOW CAN WE BOOK YOU?

Simple, just get in touch with us via our contact page or drop us an e-mail. We look forward to hearing from you.

CAN I CHANGE THE COLOUR IN THE FLORAL DESIGNS?

Of course, you can! The designs are there so you can get an idea of what works together, but if it’s not quite what you had in mind we can swap and change things around until you are happy.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER?

We will happily appear wherever we are needed. But mostly around Derbyshire, Nottignhamshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire. If you need us to travel further than this, is not a problem.

CAN WE JUST COME TO YOU FOR ONE ASPECT OF OUR WEDDING?

Of course, you can! If you have already booked another vendor for another aspect of your wedding we will not be offended. Just bear in mind we can work out a bespoke package just for you, to ensure you get exactly what you want at a great price.

CAN I PURCHASE MY BRIDAL BOUQUET TO KEEP FOREVER?

Most definitely yes! Your bouquet will make a beautiful keepsake, and we will provide care instructions on how to keep your silk flowers looking amazing. They also make a great focal point in the home; you will never need to buy fresh flowers again.

CAN WE PURCHASE BRIDESMAIDS BOUQUETS TO KEEP FOREVER?

Most definitely yes! What a lovely way to thank your Bridesmaids by giving them a lasting memento of your special day.

CAN WE PURCHASE BUTTONHOLES TO KEEP FOREVER?

Most definitely yes! They make the most wonderful thank you gifts for your nearest and dearest at your wedding.  They will come with name labels, so you get to choose who receives which one. It saves the kafuffle of Uncle Jack wandering off with the Grooms Buttonhole the morning of the wedding.

CAN WE HIRE ALL THE FLOWERS?

Of course, you can! You do not have to buy the flowers outright but instead can hire whatever you need from me. The hire lasts 48 hours.

BUDGET

Have an idea on how much you want to spend on your day and decide on who is paying for what. Now a days, there is no hard and fast rule that says the Parents of the Bride pay for the wedding. More and more couples are paying for their big day and Parents of the Groom are also stepping up too.

GUEST LIST

To start with write a list of people you want to invite so you can get an idea on approximate numbers, this will help you find a venue. Remember you can split the guest list into day and evening guests, this may open up a few more options for you. You may also want to consider welcoming children in the evening to save on potential childcare costs, if you are having and ‘adults only’ wedding during the day.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR GUEST LIST AND BUDGET

The easiest way to reduce your wedding budget is to reduce your daytime guest list… Most of your wedding expenses will go towards wining and dining your guests. Keep in mind it usually costs £100+ per person, so reducing a table of guests can save you big time. Also, by having an ‘adults only’ wedding you can drastically reduce your wedding guest list and therefore your budget. You may also want to implement the ‘No Ring, No Bring’ policy.

CHOOSING A DATE

Think ahead … make sure your date doesn’t clash with any local or sporting events as this could affect traffic and pricing for your day. Also, something to bear in mind, mid-week weddings are usually a better price and getting married during the wedding low season could work in your favour too.

WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Check the weather … If you are planning an outdoor ceremony or reception, please think of a Plan B that you would still be happy with. Similarly, make sure the venue has a snow or flood plan in place so your wedding can still go ahead just in case mother nature throws you a curve ball. We live in the UK, there are no guarantees what it will do from day to day. If you are planning a beach wedding, you may also want to check tide and sunset times.

CHILDREN

You have four choices: 1.You can welcome children with open arms; 2. You can decide to have an “adults only” wedding; 3. You can include immediate family only; 4. You can hire a child care service to provide day care either at the reception space, in a hotel room or at a family member’s home. To prevent hurt feelings, it’s wise to avoid allowing some families to bring children while excluding others (unless, of course, the children are in your bridal party).

SAVE THE DATE

Send them out sooner rather than later. There is no harm in being too organised and your guests will apricate the early heads up, particularly if you are having a destination wedding. Just make sure you finalise your guest list before sending them out… you don’t want to unintentionally not invite someone. Keep the information to minimum, your names, wedding date, location, wedding website and the notice of a formal invitation to follow.

INVITES

Tradition says send out invites 6–8 weeks before the wedding, but we find this cutting it fine. If your guests are travelling from out of town, you want to give them a decent amount of time to book travel and accommodation. Your guests may also need to book extra time off work, and bear in mind that different companies have different holiday rotas (January-December or April-March). I would recommend sending them out as soon as you have all the details worked out, exact venue/s location and time of ceremony. Ask for RSVP’s to be sent back 4–6 weeks minimum before the wedding. This allows enough time for you to get a final head count to your venue or caterer and organise a seating plan without the panic of the final 4 week countdown.

GET ORGANISED

Keep all wedding related paperwork in one place and make sure to take them to meetings with your suppliers. Pinterest is also a great visual tool for stylists like myself to work with, so get pinning! Think ahead of time, what are the main pictures you want your photographers to capture, and make sure they have a copy of your list along with your bridal party so they can help get key people to where they need to be.

REGRETFULLY DECLINES

Usually 10–20% of the people you invite won’t attend. Naturally, this depends on the location of your wedding (destination weddings are harder to attend), how many out-of-towners are on your list, and the timing of the event (some guests may already have plans if it’s short notice).

FEEDING YOUR CREW

Possibly an unforeseen expense is feeding the lovely people you have hired to make your wedding day as magical as you imagined it. Before you sign a contract with other suppliers make sure you’re not required to serve them the same meal as your guests, as that could be pricey. By choosing a packed lunch option for them, it means they can eat when it’s convenient for them. Don’t forget to check if your suppliers have assistants too.