Sophie and Ravi contacted me shortly after their engagement inviting me to plan their wedding day. With no wedding date or venue confirmed we set about sourcing the perfect venue to host their wedding day which would include an intimate twilight ceremony, followed by a large evening reception to celebrate their nuptials with extended family and friends.

After a short search Sophie & Ravi fell in love with the beautiful Baddow Park House a luxury, exclusive hire wedding venue nestled amongst the stunning Essex countryside and promptly confirmed this as the wedding venue for their autumnal wedding day.

With the assistance of Sally from Halo Blossom a luxurious colour palette of cream, champagne, pale plum and a pop of warm aubergine was chosen for the big day which was further complimented by an elegant black tie dress code.

Sophie spent a relaxing wedding morning within the salon & bridal suite at Baddow Park House, where Jaimie Attfield and Sarah Wade created the perfect bridal look for Sophie, whilst everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch prepared by A & Co, the resident caterers at Baddow Park House.

Meanwhile, the talented Sally from Halo Blossom was busy working her magic creating stunning floral installations for the grand sweeping staircase, the open fireplace within the entrance hall as well as centrepieces for the Orangery.

Sophie & Ravi chose to host their wedding ceremony within the Drawing Room at Baddow Park House, which with it’s stunning views overlooking the perfectly manicured gardens and large bay windows which allowed the spectacular autumnal sunshine to flood the room was the perfect location for their intimate ceremony.

We was lucky enough to be treated to the most glorious autumnal sunshine, which allowed for a canapé reception on the natural stone terrace, where the fizz was flowing and delicious canapés were served to guests, whilst the amazing Julia and You captured an abundance of beautiful photos, including a selection of adorable golden hour images.

As the sun set Sophie and Ravi’s evening guests begun to arrive and were welcomed into the stunning orangery by Sophie’s dad who delivered a beautiful and heartfelt speech, which was closely followed by an equally beautiful speech from Ravi and finally the best man.

Following speeches guests were entertained by Dos Tiempos a lively & energetic DJ & Drum Duo who did an incredible job of filling the dance floor for the entire evening. And to ensure no guest was left hungry the food was flowing all evening, which included copious amounts of delicious Mexican bowl food followed by freshly prepared mouth watering pizza’s.

I feel incredibly privileged to have planned Sophie & Ravi’s beautiful wedding day. They are an amazing couple with wonderful families and I loved every minute of planning their big day.

Hayley Jayne Wedding & Events are an award nominated wedding and party planning company specialising in the design of timeless weddings and events throughout the UK, with a particular passion for celebrations held within marquees and dry hire venues.

To enquire, please email hayley@hayleyjayneweddingsandevents.co.uk

Photo’s by Julia & You

Film by Luxe Wedding Films

With a wedding date set for September 2020, Jayne & Georgie contacted me back in November 2019 inviting me to plan their wedding day which would include a church ceremony and marquee reception.

Thanks to a global pandemic, just a few short months into the planning process we were forced to push the wedding date back to May 2021 and then again to June 2021, when Jayne & Georgie exchanged wedding vows in a beautiful and emotional intimate church ceremony within St Marys church located in Essex.

In May 2022, following the easing of all wedding restrictions and with another slight change of plan Jayne & Georgie celebrated their wedding day with extended family and friends by hosting a fun, family friendly party at Old Brook Barn, a stunning 17th century barn located in Navestock, Essex.

Along with her bridesmaids and mum Jayne spent a relaxing morning sipping bubbles within the Honeymoon Cottage at Old Brook Barn. Hair and Make Up by Kirsty did an amazing job styling everyones hair for the celebrations, whilst Sarah Drummond Make Up created the perfect evening look for Jayne and her bridal party. Meanwhile back in the party barn Alana from Petal and Wild was busy creating an abundance of seasonal fragrant florals which perfectly complimented Jayne’s stunning bouquet.

Upon arrival guests were treated to the incredible sounds of Paul Hardcastle Junior on sax and a delicious feast of fish and chips freshly prepared by the amazing Frying Squad. Following a short pause for speeches, Paul continued to play throughout the evening and had the entire dance floor full from the first song until the end of the night. And as a further tasty treat The Pizza Box served wood fired pizza’s from their beautiful converted rice horse box which went down a storm with all of the guests.

To say it was a pleasure planning Jayne & Georgie’s wedding is an understatement. A beautiful couple inside and out who I adored working with. I will be forever grateful to them both for inviting me to be a part of their incredible wedding planning journey as well as both of their amazing wedding days.

Hayley Jayne Wedding & Events are an award nominated wedding and party planning company specialising in the design of timeless weddings and events throughout the UK, with a particular passion for celebrations held within marquees and dry hire venues.

To enquire, please email hayley@hayleyjayneweddingsandevents.co.uk

Photos by Anesta Broad Photography

Film by Third Reel Films

Your wedding day celebrations start with bridal prep, so it’s important you are able to relax, have fun and enjoy the last few hours of being a miss. After months of planning it is now time to enjoy every last minute of your special day and to help make this possible I have put together a simple checklist to ensure your morning preparations runs smoothly.

Choose your location wisely

As mentioned above bridal prep is the start of your wedding day celebrations so you need to make sure the space you will be using will allow you to have a stress free morning.  There should be room for your hair and make up artist to set up, an area to hang your dresses, bathroom facilities, comfortable chairs for you and your bridesmaids to sit, relax and eat as well as plenty of light to allow for the best bridal prep photographs.

Bridal prep timeline

Agreeing a bridal prep timeline in advance of your wedding day is definitely my top tip. Most HMUA will put together a schedule detailing the time that each person will be having their hair and make up done on your wedding morning. If you have a separate hair stylist and make up artist be sure to put them in touch with each other so they can create a joint schedule and remember to share this with anyone who will be with you on your wedding morning. You should also aim to be ready around 1 hour before you need to leave for your ceremony which will give time for any pre ceremony photos, your bridesmaids to see in your dress as well as giving you time to stop, take a moment and have a glass of fizz.

Remember to eat

I can’ stress how important it is to set aside time to eat. Whether this be a hearty breakfast, a delicious lunch, lots of tasty snacks and nibbles, or all three. Ensuring you have plenty of food, water (and fizz) will make sure everyone is well fed and watered ready for the big day that lies ahead.

Additional tips

Aside from my three main tips above you may also want to consider putting together a playlist full of your favourite tunes. This is a great way to help everyone relax, settle any nerves and get everyone in the party spirit.

It’s also a good idea to discuss timings with your florist ahead of the big day so you can arrange for your bouquets to be with you in time for your pre ceremony photos, saving any last minute stresses.

Sharing a list of any detail shots you would like your photographer to capture during bridal prep is another good job to tick of the list before your wedding morning. Whether this be images of your dress hanging up, your shoes and scent or an image of your bouquet, discussing this in advance will allow your photographer to go ahead and capture these details without needing to interrupt you whilst you are enjoying your morning preparations.

I hope this was useful and will help you plan a fun and stress free wedding morning. If you would like more inspiration and advice head over to the wedding planning advice page on my website, where you will find a whole host of wedding planning advice and top tips.

Image Credit: Natasha Marshall Photography 

There’s no denying it, planning a wedding can be stressful. With so many points to consider from choosing the perfect venue, securing each of your suppliers and not to mention the endless decisions all whilst juggling your already busy home and work life. It’s easy to see how planning a wedding can become overwhelming.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way, from making detailed to do lists through to delegating tasks to your trusted family and friends this article will help you get organised, take control and actually enjoy planning what will probably be the biggest day of your life. So relax, pour a glass of wine, grab a notepad and pen and take the first step in getting your wedding planning under control.

First things first

If you’re a fair way into planning your wedding you should have already confirmed the three basics, budget, guest numbers and vision. Confirming these three points will help you stay focused and within budget whilst planning your wedding. So, if they are are yet to be confirmed stop planning and confirm these free points first. Believe me, if these three points are confirmed early on, it will make planning the rest of your wedding a breeze, well lots easier anyway. If you need help with this, you may wish to read a previous post of mine A Guide To Planning Your Wedding Day.

Once the basics have been confirmed consider listing each element of your wedding day in order of your priorities. You can then make your way down the list booking suppliers in order of their importance to you.  So, if treating your guests to a mouth watering menu and show stopping cocktails is top of your priority list book your caterers and mixologist first. This will give you an improved chance of securing your first choice supplier for the elements of your wedding that are of high importance to you, reducing the disappointment felt by couples when suppliers availability, or lack of it prevents them from securing their supplier of choice.

Having a priority list also helps you to stay focussed and discourages you from charging ahead and contacting all suppliers at the same time, which can lead to overwhelm when you receive their responses at once, each packed full of questions and additional information requests that you probably won’t have time to respond to.

Stay in control

I find making notes helps me to retain information that is shared and discussed, so I use a simple planning sheet were I enter highlights from conversations and emails that I have exchanged with suppliers. Not only does this help me to remember each detail of a wedding I am planning, but should I need to refer back to information, reading my brief description is far quicker than trawling through an endless email chain.  I also note in my diary 2 weeks before a decision needs to be made or when a payment is due. I then have a reminder a week later as well as a note on the due date. These two simple steps help me to stay in control of all details discussed, when important decisions are needed as well as when payment are due.

Assume nothing & check everything

In my experience one of the biggest causes of stress for couples planning their wedding is due to misunderstandings between themselves and their venue or suppliers. For this reason I always follow the rule, assume nothing and check everything, paying particular attention to timings and exact details of what is included within each suppliers quotation. Yes this can be time consuming and yes you may feel like you are pestering your venue or suppliers, but if you follow this rule from the start of your wedding planning journey you are less likely to face any tricky situations as your wedding day approaches.

Delegate

There is no shame in admitting you need a little help and you may be surprised to learn that your family members and friends are actually pleased to offer their services. So if at any point you do start to feel the dreaded overwhelm kick in, delegate simple tasks. Consider asking your mum to research local cake makers, ask your maid of honour to book dress appointments for herself and your bridesmaids and maybe your auntie or sister could help with the wording on your invitations. By delegating small admin tasks to a select few you are gifting yourself precious time to make those all important wedding planning decisions.

Call in the professionals

And if all else fails, call in the professionals. Wedding planners will have tried and tested procedures, wedding planning templates as well as priceless experience and advice in all things weddings. So if you feel that things are getting a little too much and you need a helping hand and guidance then working with a wedding planner could be just what you need.

I really hope this short article has given you a little guidance on how to stay focussed and in control of your wedding planning. If you would like to read more of my wedding planning advice head over to my website where you will find an abundance of wedding planning top tips and handy hints. Or, if you would like my assistance with the planning of your wedding do get in touch to discuss your requirements, I would love to hear from you.

I am a wedding planner based in Essex, planning weddings and celebrations throughout the UK specialising in traditional elegant weddings and events with a particular passion for celebrations taking place in marquees and dry hire venues. 

Image credit: Natasha Marshall Photography 

When planning your wedding day choosing your catering team will be one of the most important decisions you make. They are responsible for so much more than feeding your guests, so careful consideration should be given as to which caterers you decide to entrust with your big day.

It’s a decision not to be taken lightly, so it’s essential that you carry out the necessary research on your shortlisted caterers before you even make an enquiry with them. There are also various important questions that you should ask before booking your catering team, as well as throughout your wedding planning journey.

Want to find out more? Take a read of this article to learn all you need to know to ensure you book the perfect caterers for your big day.

Before you make an enquiry

• Does their style align with the vision you have for your wedding day
• Have you taken a look at the sample menu’s offered on their website, do they match the style of food you were hoping to serve to your guests
• Are they based local to you, or your venue (think attending tastings)

Initial enquiry stage

• Are they available on your wedding day
• Have they worked at your venue before, or, if you are planning a marquee wedding are they familiar with this style of wedding
• Are they able to give you a guide to their pricing based on your requirements (guest numbers, wedding date, timings)
• Do they have the necessary insurances, such as public liability insurance

Once you have established their availability, pricing and the other essential details listed above you can then dig a little deeper to establish if they are the best caterers for you.

Prior to booking

• Are they happy to adapt their sample menus so you can create a feast that is perfectly suited to your wedding day
• Do they provide all waiting staff and is this included in their provisional quotation
• If you have booked a dry hire venue or are hosting your reception in a marquee have they included the cost of all kitchen equipment within their provisional quotation
• Do they supply bartenders for your evening reception (if required) and what is the additional cost
• If they supply all beverages can you choose which brands and how do they charge for their any drink they supply, (number of bottles allocated or number of bottles opened)
• Can you choose to supply your own beverages, will they serve these to your guests and do they charge corkage
• Does their quotation include VAT
• Does their quotation include linen, tableware & glassware and are you able to upgrade any of these if required
• Will the catering team be responsible for setting the tables, including laying out favours, table numbers and place cards
• Will the catering team be responsible for the clean up and is there an additional charge for this
• Are they able to operate a cash bar if required
• Are they able to slice your wedding cake and is there an additional cost for this
• What are their payments terms
• Will they confirm all decisions agreed in writing

Whilst planning your wedding

• Can they share guide timings to help you can create your wedding day timeline
• When will they require your final menu choice
• When will they require your final guest numbers

Now, I am by no means suggesting that you bombard your caterers with each and every one of the above questions. Instead, you may wish to use this article as a handy guide so you can decide which points are relevant to your wedding day, and remember the answers to some of the above questions may be answered on their website or within their terms & conditions.

I do hope you have found the above information helpful and if you would like to read any other wedding planning advice head over to my website where you will find an abundance of top tips and handy hints.  Or, if you are interested in working with me please do get in touch via the contact page on my website.  I am a wedding planner located in Essex specialising in planning fun, relaxed, elegant weddings and parties with a particular passion for marquee celebrations.

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Image Credit: Hannah Phipps Photography 

A hidden gem discreetly nestled amongst the tranquil Essex countryside, Baddow Park House has been lovingly renovated by new owners James & Samantha Martin. With it’s perfect blend of traditional features complimented by the most exquisite contemporary styling, Baddow Park House has been transformed into the ultimate exclusive hire wedding venue in Essex. And, along with a handful of other local wedding planners, I was lucky enough to be treated to an afternoon and evening at Baddow Park House. A wonderful and much needed treat after an exhausting wedding season, which I am very excited to share with you.

They say first impressions count and that is definitely the case with Baddow Park House. As you enter the perfectly manicured grounds and catch a glimpse of the striking and impressive country house you instantly want to see more, and once inside the house you soon realise that this wedding venue is something special.

As we were welcomed into the grand hall by Kelly & Gaynor my eyes were instantly drawn to the impressive staircase, which alongside the roaring log fire and glass of bubbles made for the perfect welcome. We were soon invited into the Oak Room with it’s open fireplace and luxury sofas was the perfect location to be treated to tea, coffee, cake and of course more bubbles, served by Jo and her attentive team from A & Co who are the resident caterers.

After mingling with my fellow wedding planners and a handful of Baddow Park House’s recommended suppliers we all enjoyed getting creative in the Drawing Room creating flower crowns with the expert guidance of Jo and her team from Stock Florist.

A tour of the house soon followed which begun with a visit to the Salon located just a few moments walk from the main house within the beautiful and perfectly maintained gardens. As expected this space has been thoughtfully designed and beautifully furnished and is filled with the most relaxing and calming spa aroma. It has an abundance of well positioned mirrors and plug sockets as well as a spacious open plan design, and with the added advantage of a well equipped kitchen area and discreetly positioned bedroom this is the perfect space for bridal preparations.

We were also shown the expertly crafted Pavilion located within the gardens, which is perfect for outdoor ceremonies and comes with the bonus of no guest number limitations.

It was then back inside the house to learn more about it’s beautiful spaces starting with the Oak Room which can seat 50 guests making it perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony, as well as an additional reception space for any guests looking to relax with views across the stunning parkland.

The Drawing Room is another room licensed for ceremonies, slightly larger in size so is perfect for couples inviting up to 80 guests to their ceremony. Flooded with natural light from it’s beautiful bay windows and a view over the immaculate gardens and parkland, it’s a wonderful elegant room for couples and their guests to enjoy.

With it’s full glass structure and fully equipped Art Deco bar area the Orangery is the most incredible and versatile space.  Bathing in natural light and with views across the vineyard it’s the perfect place for couples to host their wedding breakfast, evening reception as well as larger ceremonies.

The bridal suite along with the additional bedrooms are truly remarkable. Each has their own style and scent but with the same exquisite attention to detail. With their opulent wallpaper, finest linens and luxurious ensuite bathrooms they all have the perfect combination of original features and contemporary touches. Split across two floors and each varying in size, which is perfect for newlyweds who wish to offer guest accommodation to families as well as couples.

Following the tour it was then time for a quick change before heading back to the Orangery for canapés and cocktails followed by a delicious 6 course meal, which made for another fabulous opportunity to catch up with my wedding industry colleagues and members of the Baddow Park House team, including James the owner who delivered a personal and heartfelt speech during which he shared his ideas & plans for this beautiful venue, which I can not wait to see.

A huge thank you to all at Baddow Park House and Kelly Chandler Consulting for inviting me to your fabulous event. It was an absolute pleasure to attend and I am so excited to have such a charming & wonderful venue on my door step.

Engaged couples, if you’re searching for an exclusive hire county house wedding venue in Essex then Baddow Park House is a venue not to be missed of your short list.

Image Credit: Visions of View 

A couples bridal party normally includes family members as well as close friends of the bride & groom.  Each role comes with it’s own responsibilities, but the common factor which runs throughout your bridal party is they are all there to help and support you throughout the planning of your wedding day and on the big day itself.

How many people you include is completely up to you.  Some of my brides have chosen to have as many as ten bridesmaids, whilst others have chosen not to have any at all.  Whoever you choose to include will be there for you to offer advice, moral support, love and probably a shoulder to cry on when things get a little stressful throughout the planning process and when emotions are running high on your special day.

Throughout this blog post I will explain the traditional roles associated with each member of your bridal party, but remember this is only a guide and if you wish to break with tradition and shake things up a little that’s perfectly fine. It’s your wedding day after all.

Maid of honour

Your maid of honour is basically your right hand women, providing support whilst you are making plans as well as on your wedding day. This could be helping you find the perfect dress, assisting with sending out your invitations, helping you get organised as your wedding day approaches and not forgetting arranging the all important hen do. They will also be there for you throughout your wedding day making sure your glass is always full, looking after your lipgloss, making sure your flats are close by ready for dancing and not forgetting toilet duties (a maid of honour is not a maid of honour unless she has held up your wedding dress).

Bridesmaids

Traditionally close friends or relatives of the bride, bridesmaids will be there to help the bride and maid of honour throughout the wedding planning journey as well as on the big day. As with the maid of honour bridesmaids will help the bride on her special day making sure all runs smoothly. The duties will vary but typically they may help the photographer gather guests for group shots, set out the place cards ready for when guests take their seats for dinner, make sure your cards and presents are put somewhere safe at the end of the night and of course walk down the aisle before or after the bride.

Flower girls & page boys

Typically the younger members of the bridal party, your flower girl’s and page boy’s main role is to add the cute factor to your wedding day. However, aside from looking adorable you may want your page boys to accompany the flower girls as they walk down the aisle scattering petals from their flower baskets.

Best man

A similar role to that of the maid of honour, but providing support to the groom. The best man is usually the groom’s best friend, brother or a close family member.  Traditionally the best man would stand with the groom at the altar whilst waiting for the bride to make her entrance, as well as keeping the wedding bands safe until they are exchanged throughout the wedding ceremony. The best man also delivers the final speech of the day, (if you are following the traditional order) and arranges the groom’s stag do.

Ushers

The main role of the ushers is to greet guests and show them to their seats before the wedding ceremony begins. Ushers may also be asked to help move items such as chairs and flowers if they are being repurposed following the ceremony.

Parents

We all know that the father of the bride traditionally has a big part to play on his daughters wedding day. Walking the bride down the aisle, delivering a speech and a father & daughter dance throughout the evening reception to name a few. However, the other parents also have important roles, generally providing love & support throughout the wedding preparations and mingling with guests on the big day.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog post and it has helped you understand the variety of roles and responsibilities for your wedding party. Throughout this post I have described traditional roles of a bridal party, but these traditions can of course be mixed up. Many brides now choose to have a man of honour in place of a maid of honour, as well as a combination of bridesmen and bridesmaids. They may also choose to have their mum walk them down the aisle as well as give a speech throughout the wedding breakfast. Groom’s may also choose to have two best men or even a best lady. Remember it’s your day and there are no rules, so enjoy choosing your bridal party and allocating their tasks.

If you would like to learn more about planning a wedding take a look at the blog page on my website where you will find an abundance of planning advice and top tips.  And if you are considering working with a wedding planner head over to the wedding planning page on my website or get in touch to discuss how I can assist you.

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Image credit: Chris Bradshaw Photography

Ask anyone in the wedding industry and we will all say the same, weddings are back and they are back with a bang. After being restricted for so long engaged couples are now planning their big day with renewed confidence, a revived passion and an abundance of new and exciting ideas. From supporting small businesses, a full vegan menu and the newly found Anni-ception. Take a read to see what I believe we will be seeing lot’s of now weddings are back.

Garden weddings

Although they have always been a popular choice with couples planning their big day, garden weddings are going nowhere fast, and with lots of couples choosing to marry in their local childhood church, bringing the celebrations back to their parent’s garden to host a relaxed and fun filled reception seems to be the obvious choice.

Some couples are also choosing a marquee celebration to mirror the destination wedding they once wanted but no longer feel is  possible due to travel restrictions. Instead they are choosing to plan a garden wedding incorporating alfresco dining, romantic taplescapes, creative lighting and roaming musicians.

Supporting small businesses

Couples are also looking to support small local businesses when choosing their wedding day suppliers. From working with a local stationer to create their dream invitation suite, choosing caterers who can serve locally sourced produce, through to booking their village florist to create eye catching florals purchased from nearby flower growers. It seems that after spending extra time at home over the past 18 months couples are all the more aware of small local companies that can help them create their dream wedding day.

Sustainability

There has been a steady rise in couples making sustainability a priority when planning their wedding day, with many choosing to provide group transport for their guests in order to cut down on the number of vehicles being used by their wedding guests. Another popular sustainable choice is incorporating potted plants that can be used as centrepieces, which are then gifted to guests at the end of the evening and as mentioned above couples are also making a conscious effort to work with local food suppliers to keep their food miles down.

Vegan wedding food

Tying in with sustainability as well as an increase in newly found vegan diets throughout lockdown, an increasing number of couples are choosing to offer their guests a full vegan menu on their wedding day. From tempting canapés, a delicious three course meal, eye catching evening snacks and not forgetting the much needed wine and beer, all vegan and selected by couples to keep their ethical values at the very heart of their wedding day.

Anni-ception

New for 2021 the anni-ception is set to be popular throughout the coming months.

A number of couples that chose to go ahead with an intimate wedding ceremony in 2020 and beginning of 2021 abiding by the restrictions in place at the time, are now planning to host their restriction free reception on or near their first wedding anniversary.

Some couples are planning to include a church or celebrant lead blessing following a traditional wedding day structure, whilst others are jumping straight into the evening celebration and inviting their friends to party the night away with them celebrating their first wedding anniversary in style.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts and ideas on what will be popular with couples planning their weddings in the coming months. If you would like further ideas, inspiration and planning advice head over to the blog page on my website where you will find a whole host of posts talking all things weddings. And if you would like to discuss the planning services I offer please do contact me to see how I can help you.

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Image Credit: Terri & Lori Fine Art Photography & Film

Many engaged couples consider hiring a wedding planner to be an expensive luxury, well, that’s until they hire one and realise they are worth every penny and probably more.

Some couples also dismiss the idea of working with a planner as they fear they will lose control of their wedding plans, decisions will be taken away from them, their team of suppliers will be made up of their planners recommended suppliers and their budget will spiral out of control.

Of course, all of the above is untrue and in fact what you actually gain is a wedding professional who is an expert in all things weddings. You will benefit from their knowledge, their expertise, their extensive wedding supplier contacts and above all you will have someone who cares about your wedding day as much as you do.

Still unsure if working with a wedding planner is for you. Take a look below.

You don’t know where to start

Most of the couples who contact me regarding my Full Planning service either say they just don’t know where to start, or they have no time spare to plan a wedding, (more about the latter below).

It’s not unusual to feel like this, as for most couples this will be the first time they have planned a wedding, or even an event with more than a handful of guests.

When working with a wedding planner they will talk you through the stages of planning a wedding, letting you know the order in which you should confirm your suppliers, and create a bespoke wedding planning timeline for you. They will also prepare a budget breakdown, which will help you to identify the venues and suppliers you should be considering.

Once you have the above you then have the foundations to plan your wedding, which will immediately put any overwhelmed couples minds at rest.

You’re time poor

As mentioned above, I have lost count of the number of times couples tell me they just do not have the spare time to plan a wedding, which isn’t surprising when you consider it takes couples on average 250 hours to plan their wedding. Therefore, you will be pleased to know that hiring a wedding planner will save you time, and lots of it.

When you hire a wedding planner on a full plan basis you will basically have your very own wedding PA, who will ensure that every element of your wedding is planned to perfection.

Of course you will still need to attend venue visits, supplier meetings, tastings and final planning meetings, but these are the fun parts of planning a wedding. Your wedding planner would have taken care of the research, endless emails, timelines and schedules, leaving you to enjoy your wedding planning journey rather than feeling overworked and overwhelmed.

You lack inspiration

Some couples choose to work with a wedding planner as they are lacking in inspiration for their big day, or, have an idea of what they would like their wedding day to look like but have no idea how to achieve it.

You will be pleased to know that wedding planners aren’t just there to offer assistance with the logistics of your wedding, but also the pretty too.  Many of us love to create mood boards offering styling inspiration and we also have a big black book full of creatives that we can recommend to help bring your vision to life.

You don’t want to miss a thing

With so much to plan and to remember, it’s no wonder couples fear missing a detail which could seem small, but turns out to have a huge impact on their big day. Imagine forgetting to inform your make up artist that bridal prep will now be at your house, rather than your venue, or forgetting to pass on a last minute revised wedding day schedule to the musician who is due to perform throughout your wedding breakfast and they arrive half an hour in to dinner service.

Assumptions can be made and timings change, so it is important that you are alive to the nitty gritty and ensure that every final detail has been confirmed, checked and re-checked, which is normal practice for wedding planners. In fact, I have a huge checklist detailing the smallest of detail for each wedding that I work on so I can be sure every last detail has been addressed.

You want to relax and enjoy your day

This request is most common for couples who are looking to book my On the Day Co-ordination service, as having planned their own wedding day they are fully aware of how much will be going on behind the scenes once their big day arrives. They therefore want to relax and enjoy the day they have planned rather than addressing the days timings & logistics.

When you book a wedding planner to co-ordinate your wedding day, more often than not and certainly when you book me, you will receive support around 6 weeks before the big day, so your plans can be reviewed and complimented where required, your suppliers will be contacted to confirm the plans you have in place and finally your planner will be with you on your special day from morning set up until the last guest leaves, working discreetly behind the scenes ensuring all goes to plan, leaving you to relax and enjoy your wedding day.

I hope the above has helped you understand the various ways that working with a wedding planner can help you, and if you are considering working with a planner, or you would like to learn more about the wedding planning services I offer, please do get in touch I would love to hear from you.

I am a wedding planner based in Brentwood Essex and I specialise in planning relaxed, elegant and timeless celebrations with a particular passion for planning marquee weddings and weddings within dry hire venues.

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Image credit: Hannah Phipps Photography

If you’re planning your wedding and you are the proud owner of a fur baby, then I am sure you have considered ways you can include them within your wedding celebrations. Whether you own a dog, cat, horse or rabbit, (to name a few), there are lots of ways they can be included, with the obvious option being having them with you for part of your big day. But, if this is not possible fear not as there are many other creative ways you can include your pets within your nuptials without them actually being there on the big day.

Have them with you on your wedding day

As mentioned above the ultimate way to include your pets within your wedding day is to have them with you for part of the day. They could accompany you as your walking up the aisle, stand with the groom at he waits at the altar, have the all important job of being the ring bearer, be with you throughout your canapé reception as you relax and mingle with your family and friends and of course feature in a number of your wedding day photos. Whichever option you choose having your four legged friends with you on your big day does come with a number of challenges which should be considered before making your final decision.

Always check that your venue is pet friendly, and if they are what conditions they have in place should you choose for your pet to be present on your big day. If you will be asking any of your suppliers such as your photographer and videographer to work with your pet you should let them know your plans prior to your wedding day to make sure they are happy to work alongside your four legged friend, and very importantly if you are considering including your furry companion within your ceremony you should most definitely check with the person conducting this that they allow the inclusion of pets.

Assuming all is ok and you are given the go-ahead for your pet to attend your wedding day, you should also consider whether or not this will be a pleasant experience for them. Are they comfortable around large groups of people, are they able to easily travel to and from your venue, is your venue able to offer them a shaded area should your wedding day be blessed with sun and is there someone available to drop them off and collect them later in the day.

Bridal / groom preparations

As wonderful as it would be to have your pet with you on your special day this just may not be practical for some couples, but this doesn’t mean they need to be excluded from the days events. If your bridal and groom preparations are taking place at home or at a family members house why not ask your photographer to include them within a number of your bridal/ groom prep images. Could there be anything cuter than having your fur baby included in your photographs as you prepare for your big day?

Wedding cake

Including your pet into the design of your wedding cake is a fun way to include your pets in your big day. Ask your cake creator to design or source a cake topper that represents your furry friend, or better still ask that they are incorporated into the cake design by having a model of them on the top tier of your cake, climbing up the sides or peeping out from the icing. If you decide to do something along these lines remember to tell your photographer and videographer so they can capture this special detail.

Donation to an animal charity

This is a fabulous idea, especially if you found your own pet via a charity. You could make a donation in place of favors and simply let your guests know via a short poem or a card placed on each table. Alternatively, you could invite your guests to make donations to your chosen animal charity in place of gifts. Either way a charitable donation is the perfect way to express your love for animals on your special day.

Hopefully this blog post has given you a little inspiration on how to include your furry friends within your wedding day, and if you are looking for additional wedding planning advice please do take a look at my other blog posts which are packed full of top tips and useful information.

I am a wedding planner based in Essex, I primarily plan weddings within Essex, Suffolk, Kent, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, however, I am able to travel a little further afield if required. If you are considering working with a wedding planner please do get in touch to discuss the wedding planning services I offer, I would love to hear from you.

Image Credit: Hannah Phipps Photography 

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