Wedding fairs can be a useful way to gather information and inspiration for your celebration but make sure you're prepared. Here are a few tips for making the most of your wedding fair trips...



We hope you enjoyed this week's Wedding Tip Wednesday and look forward to seeing you back here next week!

Until then,

Labels: budget, supplier, tips

Kenton & Jen not only planned the wedding day they really wanted, but were also determined to ensure that they treated their guests to a fantastic party. The piece de resistance was a fireworks finale that we managed to keep a complete secret from all the guests, even whilst ushering them all outside at 10.30pm - the lure of bacon & sausage butties certainly helped at this point!

The logistics of keeping this secret, given the huge amount of preparation that was involved, was thanks in no small part to the fabulous work of MDL Fireworks. Rather than seeing this 'surprise' as an inconvenience or something to complain about, they took it completely in their stride. Arriving in an unmarked van they managed to slip past the guests completely unnoticed and went about their set-up without making their presence known.

Dealing with Elaine, from MDL, to synchronise the start of the display was easily arranged and effortlessly achieved and the 'oohs' and 'aaahs' of all the guests were all we needed to hear to know that this really was the grand finale that Kenton & Jen had wanted.

I'd like to personally thank Elaine & Phil of MDL Fireworks for being an absolute joy to work with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend their services!

Until tomorrow,

Labels: supplier, testimonial, tips

We love it when couples use their personalities, not just their bank accounts, to personalise their wedding day. Kenton & Jen became experts at this as they planned every aspect of their celebration to reflect their lives, their love and their shared interests. I was particularly excited to talk to them in the run up to their wedding about the wedding cake made of cheese that they had ordered. We have seen these at a number of weddings over the past couple of years and they are always a great talking, as well as focal, point.

Churchmouse Cheeses are based in Kirkby Lonsdale and have produced wedding cake cheeses since they opened in 2002. I had the pleasure of speaking with Julie in the weeks before the wedding, and to meeting and watching John at work on Saturday. They can and do deliver their cheeses across the country and so were understandably delighted that they could see their cheeses in situ for this wedding, less than 3 miles away from their gorgeous little shop.

Planned to tie in perfectly with the black and white theme, the combination of cheeses looked stunning as a simple tower, with 3 heart-shaped bries alongside. At this point John really got to work and produced a work of art. Super-shiny, almost black aubergines, whole garlic bulbs, sunflower seeds, blackberries, blueberries and strategically placed white stocks adorned the tower and the table it stood on. Within a very short space of time, John created a focal point that literally stopped guests in their tracks throughout the day, and delighted Kenton & Jen.

The staff at Hipping Hall then transformed the tower into delicious cheeseboards, delivered to guests on local slate tiles with the names of the individual cheeses chalked on. Their attention to detail was, as ever, exemplary and ensured this fantastic idea played a suitably important part at the wedding feast.

Now, I'm off to Churchmouse Cheeses website to indulge my own love of cheese!

Until tomorrow and the grand finale that lit up the night sky,

Labels: budget, caterer, decoration, style, supplier, testimonial, tips

It's Wedding Tip Wednesday time and this week I've got some advice for people thinking about getting married in France, including news of a fabulous venue.



Don't forget, if you have a burning question about wedding planning that you would like me to answer in a future Wedding Tip Wednesday video, please do contact us - we're here to help!

Labels: style, supplier, venue, wedding-tip-video

Sometimes, just sometimes, you work with suppliers who make you wish you never had to work with anyone but them ever again! Jill Thorning-Jensen, a documentary-style photographer based in Nantwich, Cheshire but working across the country, most definitely fits into this category.

From the moment I first spoke to Jill, in the run up to Kenton & Jen's wedding last weekend, I had a feeling that working with her was going to be a joy. It's this gut instinct that I suggest couples planning their weddings listen to when they're speaking to suppliers for the first time. First impressions are rarely too far off the mark and, if you speak to someone who makes you feel confident in their ability and relaxed enough to know that you can trust them to deliver, you won't go wrong.

Jill is passionate about photography and you can tell by the way she works. Relaxed and focused, friendly and professional, it is this approach that makes her work so appealing. Not for this lady the shouting and bossiness of some wedding photographers, nor the commandeering of the newly-married couple for hours after the ceremony to capture untold posed shots. Instead, Jill moves quietly and effortlessly amongst the guests, chatting amiably, capturing moments and working hard to deliver the images that will delight the couple for years to come.

One look at her website, especially her blog, will show you more of her fabulous work than I can possibly do justice to with words. I am genuinely excited about seeing the results of her hard work at Kenton & Jen's wedding and would like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to meet, and work with, Jill. May our paths cross again soon!

Until tomorrow when it's all about cheese,

Labels: photographer, supplier, testimonial

It's no secret that we absolutely love our work - and we know how lucky we are to be able to say this. Every once in a while we have the privilege of working with a couple whose wedding plans literally take our breath away.

This is never about budget but is always about a couple who have prioritised early, chosen their suppliers carefully and understand that their best laid plans may go to waste without asking someone they trust, in this case Magic Dust, to ensure that everything goes to plan in the run up to, and on the wedding day itself.

Kenton & Jen's wedding this weekend was just such a celebration and has inspired me to devote a daily blog this week to tell you about some of the fabulous suppliers I had the pleasure of working with on Saturday. Do make a date with this blog tomorrow to read about a wonderful photographer, on Wednesday I'll be raving about cheese, Thursday a surprise planned by the bride and groom is made easy by an understanding, flexible supplier and on Friday I'll be summing up the things that Kenton & Jen did that made their day, in fact their entire wedding weekend, a truly wonderful celebration.

Today though, it's all about the venue. You know how important it is to choose the right venue and I've spoken in the past about the hard work that must go into finding it. The reward for taking your time and getting it right is that every other decision becomes easier as a result. Kenton & Jen chose Hipping Hall, a beautiful 17th century house nestled between the Yorkshire Dales & the Lake District near Kirkby Lonsdale.

Better known as a fantastic 'restaurant with rooms', the owners of Hipping Hall take bookings for a small number of weddings during the year. First and foremost this is an award-winning restaurant with spectacularly appointed rooms and is most definitely not a 'conveyor-belt style' wedding venue.

Long may this continue as it means there is flexibility for couples planning a small-ish celebration - usually less than 40 people - with Andrew Wildsmith, Hipping Hall's owner, taking personal responsibility for the management of the event. Exclusive use means a relaxed, informal atmosphere more like a very stylish house party than a traditional wedding venue and the opportunity to make a weekend of it.

In our experience it's the staff that can make or break otherwise fantastic venues and, at Hipping Hal, it's clear that every single member of staff not only thoroughly enjoys working there but is passionate about ensuring that guests have a wonderful experience. Without exception, everyone was flexible, approachable, friendly and focused on Kenton & Jen and their guests. I'd like to personally thank Andrew, Nicola, David & Jess for making my job thoroughly enjoyable and without a hint of stress, and to the wonderful people who worked so hard in the kitchen to produce delicious food on a seemingly never-ending basis. You have no idea just how rare your talents and excellent customer service are!

Before I started writing this post I was torn between telling you all about Hipping Hall and wanting to keep it a secret! I hope you've enjoyed reading about this gem of a venue and, if you get the chance, do visit for a meal, a weekend break or to discuss your wedding plans. I know you won't be disappointed!

Until tomorrow and a very special photographer,

Labels: budget, caterer, style, supplier, venue

It's Wedding Tip Wednesday and this week I've got some advice that is both green and credit crunch friendly. You won't have to compromise on style but you could end up saving significant amounts of money and that's something that always makes us smile!



Have a great week and look out for next week's Wedding Tip Wednesday video where we'll focus on weddings in France.

Labels: budget, style, tips, wedding-tip-video

Inviting children to a wedding should be a personal choice for the bride and groom. Children are often unpredictable and one can not expect them to behave perfectly. Think of how you might feel as you're reciting your vows with a baby, or three, crying in the background.

I see at the more formal wedding the bride and groom are often opting out of inviting children.

However at the more relaxed family type garden wedding children are plentiful.

Adults keep themselves occupied by catching up with family members, friends and having great conversations throughout the long day of the wedding. Children obviously need a different form of entertainment.

So why not provide them with a separate kids table scattered with toys, crayons, colouring in books and craft projects.

Give the girls some wings and fairy wands and the boys some swords and pirate hats.

Organize a tepee or a bouncy castle and if this is a budget-stretch too far, hire a professional from a child minding agency and they often will bring wonderful toys with them.

Spark the imagination of the children you do invite and ensure everyone enjoys the celebration!

Cathrin D'Entremont - Cathrin D'Entremont Weddings (Australia)

Labels: budget, guest-blogger, tips

It's Wedding Tip Wednesday again and this week I have a couple of tips to ease the common worry of whether or not your guests are going to enjoy themselves at your wedding!



The most important thing you can do is to make sure that you're prepared and have surrounded yourselves with people you trust to make sure that all the hard work you have put into planning your wedding day doesn't go to waste. This ensures that you can relax, concentrate solely on getting married and having fun, and create an atmosphere that your guests can't help but enjoy too!

Labels: tips, wedding-tip-video

Selecting the person who'll be responsible for capturing the official photographs (read memories) of your wedding day is a daunting task. Get it wrong and you'll always feel slightly disappointed when you look at your wedding photos. Get it right and opening your wedding album will bring all the memories of your wonderful day flooding back. Hmm, it's a tough call!

As a wedding photographer, I can recommend considering the following:

1) Look at lots of examples of your prospective photographer's work and ask to see at least one complete wedding they've shot. This will give you an idea of how consistent their work is, their photographic style and the experience they have. Beware of the photographers out there who tout themselves as the only snapper but have a fleet of other photographers working for them. Check who'll be taking your wedding photos and make sure it's the person you have met, not a student who'll be hired in for the day - it happens! You could also ask for references from previous clients, if a photographer has done a good job at previous weddings this won't be a problem.

2) Have an idea of the style of photography you want. If you like natural, informal photos that tell the story of your day, make sure your photographer works in a reportage style. If on the other hand you'd like lots of group photos and set up shots, make sure you book a photographer who can do this for you. I work somewhere in the middle, combining set up shots with reportage. I shoot 6 formal shots as standard after the wedding ceremony; all guests, friends, bride's family, groom's family, bridal party and parents. If clients require more than this, it's fine with me, but the opportunity to take candid shots is reduced by a large volume of set up shots, so please bear this in mind.

3) Ask about any qualifications or accreditations they may have. I'm a licentiate member of the Master Photographer Association which means I've been independently referenced as a full time photographer and that my work is of a professional standard. Your photographer should also hold indemnity insurance and public liability insurance, please check this out with them. It gives you some come back in the event of things going wrong!

4) Most of all choose someone you like. Your wedding photographer will be sharing your big day with you and your photos will be all the more pleasurable to look at if you remember the process of being photographed as fun. I, as many other photographers do, offer a pre-wedding shoot as part of all my wedding packages. It gives the couple getting married a chance to work with me before the big day so they know what to expect and I enjoy getting to know my clients better because it makes my job easier (and more enjoyable) on the big day.

Best of luck with your wedding planning, if you'd like any further information about what I do, please visit my website - www.lumierevrai.com

Emma O'Brien

Labels: guest-blogger, photographer, supplier, tips

Welcome to another Wedding Tip Wednesday video. If, like many people planning their weddings, you are doing so from a distance, we have some tips that will ensure you can manage the process with as little stress as possible. And with a bit of luck, you should enjoy the advantages of planning from a distance too!



Enjoy the sunshine and, until next time, happy planning!

Labels: tips, wedding-tip-video