Thursday 31 March 2011

Wedding A-Z: F is for Food

Deciding what to serve your guests to eat is a tough decision.  Do you go for something you like? Or, do you try to please all of your guests by choosing a menu that will (hopefully) suit everyone? 

 

 
Here's a few things to think about when choosing the food for your wedding:

 
  • What time is the wedding ceremony?  If you are getting married at 3pm most guests will likely have lunch before they leave home, however if the wedding is at 1pm they may not have time to eat beforehand.
  • Will you serve a formal sit down meal or a more informal buffet style?
  • How many times will you feed your guests? Will you have a sit down meal in the afternoon followed by a buffet in the evening?
  • Will you be serving anything else? i.e. canapes?

 
Here's a few ideas to 'mix it up' when it comes to food:

 
  • Why not have a candy bar?  Guests can help themselves to your very own pick n' mix sweets, the candy bar can easily be themed to match your wedding colours, or simply to include the sweets you like.
  • Serve bacon rolls at around 11pm - we did this at a wedding I planned last year and they went down a treat!
  • To keep the costs of a 3-course meal down, serve canape's with the reception drinks and follow it with a main and dessert course.

 

What will you serve at your wedding?

 

 
Picture credit: Talbooth Catering

 
 

Thursday 24 March 2011

Endless Love in the Press - A Royal Wedding in Suffolk

Have you seen the latest issue of Pure Weddings magazine?  It features an article I have written about the royal wedding - here's the article:


Prince William and Kate Middleton will be married at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April, followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace – but how would I plan the wedding if it were to take place in Suffolk?


Venue
One of my favourite venues in Suffolk is Hengrave Hall near Bury St Edmunds. I think it would be perfect for a Royal Wedding in Suffolk. There is a private church in the grounds and the main house is just a stones throw away. With sumptuous accommodation and a great selection of rooms which would be exclusively yours on the day – it’s the perfect location for a royal wedding in Suffolk.



Food
I think a traditional drinks reception would suit Kate and William with champagne and canapés served on the west Terrace – maybe with a great duo act like Mango Acoustic providing some background music, accompanied by garden games on the lawn.
This would then be followed by a traditional sit down wedding breakfast. Talbooth Catering do all of the catering at Hengrave Hall and I think they could create a bespoke menu fit for a Prince!.

Transport
It has already been announced that Kate will be going against royal tradition and will be travelling to her wedding in a car, rather than the glass carriage. The great thing about the venue I have chosen is that the bride and groom can get ready there as well (in separate rooms of course), so would be able to walk through the beautiful grounds of Hengrave Hall straight to the church.

Dress
For Kate it has to be a bespoke gown made just for her. We are very lucky to have a fabulous designer here in Suffolk who has made dresses for royalty before, Clare Perkins from Silk Rose. Clare’s design for Kate is a high regal lace neckline with long finely beaded lace sleeves, a bias cut silk bodice that flares out at the thigh. With lace godets inserted all around the bottom of the dress and a cathedral length train at the back this dress would make anyone feel like a Princess.
I would love to see her bridesmaids in shorter gowns with some fabulous shoes, maybe in a gentle spring lemon colour.

Suits
I think the men should go for something traditional, perhaps black or charcoal morning suits for William, Harry and their father, Prince Charles. It would great to see the groomsmen taking on the colour of the bridesmaids too.

Design
I think the overall design of the wedding should be traditional with a modern twist. There will be certain things with a royal wedding that can’t be compromised, like the guest list for example, but there are lots of areas where Kate can have the freedom to choose what she wants.


If you would like help planning your wedding, visit our website to find out how Endless Love can help. We offer a range of services from a bespoke hourly advice session to full wedding planning, including on the day co-ordination. Contact Caroline Gould on 01473 681201 or 07906 705191 for more information.

Thursday 17 March 2011

Wedding A-Z: E is for Emergency!

In the past you may have heard me talk about my wedding day emergency kit.  This is my box of tricks that contains everything I might need on a wedding day to resolve any kind of problem that may crop up.  This is something I naturally bring along if you hire me for On the Day Co-ordination, to ensure I am well prepared for any eventuality.

Now I don't expect all Brides to have quite as extensive a kit as I do, but there are certainly a few essentials I would recommend throwing in a bag and leaving at the venue 'just in case'.


  • baby wipes (great stain removers)
  • chocolate
  • deodorant
  • hair grips
  • hairspray
  • hand held mini fan
  • hankerchiefs
  • mints/breath spray
  • paracetamol/asprin
  • party feet
  • plasters
  • safety pins
  • scissors
  • sellotape
  • sewing kit
  • stain remover
  • sting relief
  • tampons, panty liners etc.
  • tissues
  • white chalk

What's the one essential thing you have in your emergency kit?

Thursday 10 March 2011

Guest Book Cheat Sheet

Are you one of those people who knows exactly what to write when the guest book lands in front of you?  Or are you like me?  You really want to write a meaningful and memorable message for the bride and groom but as soon as you have the pen in your hand you go completely blank!


Why not give your guests a steer in the right direction with a cheat sheet to get them started, here are some message inspirations:

The time is .......... and I'm feeling ..........
In three words I see the bride and groom as ..........
The highlight of the day so far for me has been ..........
My favourite memory of these two together is ..........
My crystal ball tells me that in five years time these two are ..........
To guarantee they live happily ever after, the best marriage survival tip I can offer is ..........
A personal message to the bride and groom from me ..........
My name is .......... and my relationship to the bride and groom is ..........


What did you last write in a wedding guest book?


Photo: UK Greeting Cards
   

Thursday 3 March 2011

Wedding A-Z: D is for Dance

Your first dance as a married couple is an opportunity to show your personality and love for one another and traditionally gets the party started.

So what will you do for your first dance?  Do you have a 'song'?  Some couples have a particular song that means something to them and their relationship together.  Whilst a slow love song might seem the most obvious choice it is perfectly acceptable to choose a more upbeat number.  If you want to you can even take lessons beforehand and hire a professional to choreograph a routine for you.

Take a look at Best Wedding Dances for some great examples of first dances.  However, make sure you get a cuppa before you visit - you will be on this site for hours!!

For song suggestions, you can check out sites like You and Your Wedding or First Dance UK for 'top ten' lists.  I decided to do a poll of my family and friends and this is their list of first dance songs:

Marylin Monroe - I Wanna Be Loved By You

Elton John - Your Song
The Beatles - I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Lonestar - Baby I'm Amazed By You
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Bon jovi - Always
Delta Goodrem - Fortune & Love
Texas - So In Love With You
Tom Baxter - Better
Ronan Keating - Superman
Frank Sinatra - Fly me to the Moon
Extreme - More Than Words
Take That - A Million Love Songs
My first dance was 'The Way You Look Tonight' by Frank Sinatra.  My husband and I took dance lessons and we did a Foxtrot.



What will you do for your first dance?