We are in sunny Barcelona relaxing after a busy weekend but I couldn't take my mind off weddings completely so here's a Catalan wedding tradition that I thought you might enjoy...

When Catalans get engaged, they wear their engagement ring on their right hand. On their wedding day, the engagement ring becomes their wedding ring and is moved over to their left hand to 'seal the deal' so to speak. So, you can tell your single friends that just because that sparkly diamond isn't on that beautiful Spanish woman's left hand, it doesn't mean she hasn't already met the man of her dreams!

You know how much we love finding people in the wedding industry who are as committed as we are to helping couples plan the day they want, not the one everyone else thinks they should have. With this in mind, I wanted to introduce you to a website called Credit Card Pundit which has recently published a great piece about how to save money on your wedding. You can read it below but do also visit the site and have a browse as their advice is solid and definitely of the moment.

Weddings are (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you want to do everything you can to make the day a memorable one. When the economy was racing along, spending on weddings got out of control.

The good news is that it is possible to have a wonderful day without breaking the bank.

Here are some suggestions to help you keep costs down:

1. Go Back to Basics

When you get down to it, all you really need for your wedding is your beloved and yourself, a couple of rings, someone to officiate at the ceremony, and two witnesses. Anything else is really just window dressing. Do you really need to have a full formal wedding with a large wedding party? Make a list of the things that you 'must' have and be flexible about the parts of the day that would be 'nice to have'.

2. Think Out of Season Dates

The prime wedding season runs from Easter to September. If you are prepared to be flexible about the date, you can make your wedding budget go further if you decide to get married in the fall or winter. (The slowest time for weddings is January, by the way, and holding the ceremony then is one way to get your New Year off to a great start.)

3. Keep the Guest List Small

If you haven't seen or heard from someone in five years or more, then don't think that you are obligated to invite them to your wedding. The same rule applies to your boss, your co-workers, and the bowling team. You get the idea here. Invite only your nearest and dearest to share your wedding day with you; it will help to keep costs down.

4. Rethink the Formal Reception Idea

While your dream wedding may include a reception at a hotel for a few hundred guests and a multi-course sit-down dinner, that may not be in your budget. No problem; you just need to be a bit creative. When you are looking at possible wedding reception locations, ask to see a range of options for the meal. A buffet may be less expensive than a sit-down dinner, or you may choose to have an evening wedding with a cocktail reception afterward.

You may want to re-think the idea of an open bar all evening, too. One option is to have an open bar before dinner and serve a wine of your choosing with the meal. You could choose to serve beer and wine only if the alcohol will be on your tab to keep costs reasonable.

A wedding reception doesn't necessarily have to take place in the evening. You can also choose to have the ceremony earlier in the day with a brunch or luncheon following. Menu prices will be lower with this option.

5. Avoid the Words 'Wedding Cake'

Here's a way to save on the cost of the cake for your wedding. If you plan to serve the cake at the reception, buy a sheet cake instead of a formal wedding cake. Those two words tend to drive up the price. If you want a cake for show and will be serving a different dessert at the reception, then order a small one or ask about the cost of having one or more layers being fake.

There are many ways that you can save money but still have a lovely wedding. With a little creativity, you can have a wonderful celebration and keep some green in your pocket.

Until next week, happy planning!

Labels: budget, guest-blogger, tips

Wow, wedding season really is in full swing now - Bank Holidays? What Bank Holidays? We've had a great week, from fun-filled 'Girls Night In' wedding planning sessions, to venue searches and decoration proposals, interspersed with some wonderful one-to-ones with our Mentoring Programme members.

Not only that, we've also uncovered a couple of real gems that I just have to share with you. If knowing about either of these suppliers makes just one couple stress a little bit less during their wedding planning, then I'll be happy!

If you're looking for a special place to get married and hold your reception in a spectacular part of Northern Ireland, or simply want somewhere beautiful to stop for wedding photos after a church ceremony, look no further. Not only is Glendarragh House completely stunning, it's only 5 minutes from the City of Derry and, better still, it's owned and run by a very dear friend of a friend who doesn't give out recommendations easily. I know the glowing report I've had is thoroughly deserved and I urge you to contact them for one of their beautiful brochures which perfectly showcases this hidden gem.

If hunting for the perfect wedding dress is getting you down or you simply want to try on a few more before making your decision, check out Tickled Pink. Based in Maidenhead and with a private showroom that is open by appointment only, Debbie offers a very personal and attentive service. At the moment she has some wedding dresses in stock that are ridiculously affordable, and they're not all on her website so do feel free to call if you're looking for something in particular or just want a chat with someone who's friendly, professional and passionate about what she does.

We're excited about running another Wedding Planners Master Class Course tomorrow in London and meeting 7 more people who are considering a new career as wedding planners. If you're interested in finding out more about this fabulous career, what it takes to be successful and how to avoid the pitfalls, and want to do all this in a single, information-packed day, get in touch and we'll happily talk to you about the dates we have available over the next few months. What's more, you won't have to spend a fortune to gain the inspiration and motivation that has driven many of our Master Class graduates to take their wedding planning dreams to the next level - you could be next!

Until next week, happy planning!

Labels: becoming-a-wedding-planner, supplier, venue

Way back in September 2007 I first spoke with Diana - she was the very excited winner of a competition we ran with Grazia magazine and Kirsten Goss jewellery!

Eighteen months, numerous emails, meetings & telephone calls later, I pulled up in front of Clearwell Castle on Saturday, thrilled to be stepping out into glorious sunshine. Thanks to an incredibly organised bride and an On The Day wedding coordinator service that is second to none, I was confident that everyone at the wedding would need to worry about nothing except having a wonderful time.

I had very comfortable shoes on (still pretty ones though!) and was more than prepared for anything that might need a quick response. Admittedly, most of our hard work had been done in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Contacting every supplier involved in the wedding to double-check, then triple-check, details of the bookings, ensure that everybody knew exactly what was expected of them and when, and then deal with the few last-minute issues that arose. All the while keeping Diana in the loop so that she could truly relax and enjoy the last few days of being engaged, knowing that someone who plans and co-ordinates weddings for a living, was in control of everything.

So, it was relatively easy to appear relaxed and happy during the wedding. After all, what newly-married couple wants to be surrounded by fussy, frantic people when they can instead chat with someone they've grown close to over a number of months and who they trust to ensure that they have the day they have meticulously planned, not just the one that is easiest for their suppliers to provide?

We did had a couple of last minute 'issues' and this is what we thrive on - spotting potential problems early enough to make them disappear without ever troubling the bride and groom, or any of their guests. My reward on Saturday was seeing a couple who didn't stop smiling and who took time out of their day to come and thank me for all my help, before I slipped away. When bridesmaids and parents of the happy couple also sought me out to thank me, I was the one smiling like a Cheshire cat and I drove home buzzing with happiness. See, it really is the best job in the world!

It may be Easter weekend, and believe me I did manage to eat the obligatory truck-load of chocolate yesterday, but later today I'm off to North London to meet a newly-engaged couple who have booked one of our very popular 'Girls Night In' wedding planner sessions.

This is the opposite end of the wedding planning timeline to 'On The Day Co-ordination' and I am looking forward to showing Catherine & Ronan how to approach their wedding planning in an organised, methodical way in order to ensure they suffer as little pre-wedding stress as possible, and manage to plan a day that reflects their personalities without emptying their bank account.

If you would like to talk to me about how we can kick-start your wedding plans and help you enjoy the planning of your wedding, please get in touch. We'll happily chat to you, with no obligations, about our services and if we leave you feeling confident and capable of planning the day of your dreams (not anyone else's), that is our reward!

Until next week,

Labels: jewellery, supplier, venue

There is no such thing as a perfect wedding! Things will always go wrong, because you have so many people and emotions involved.

People arrive late at ceremonies; the ring bearer ran the opposite direction as he got scared, you woke up with a pimple on your nose, just to name a few.

Of course you can never predict the elements of the weather. We all would love to have the perfect blue sky, not too hot or too cold or any gale force winds taking our veil for a ride!

Hire the best and most talented service providers you can afford, communicate well with everyone and then step back. When you wake up in the morning, take a deep breath and fully enjoy your wedding day. Tell yourself that you worked so hart to put it all together, so nothing will take your joy away. If the limousine driver doesn’t turn up and you had to take a taxi to the church, it may not what you had in mind, but it surely will give you and your husband a good laugh on your anniversary.

Cathrin D'Entremont - CD Weddings (Australia)

Labels: guest-blogger, tips