CHESHIRE: Experts share wedding advice ahead of Bride the Wedding Show at Tatton Park this weekend
| 30th January 2020
Recently engaged? Excited about planning the wedding of your dreams but not quite sure where to begin? There’s no better way to kickstart your plans and immerse yourself in the world of weddings than at a wedding show and this weekend Tatton Park will host Bride: The Wedding Show on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd Frebruary 2020.
Ahead of the show, we’ve asked some of our exhibitors for their top tips on getting wedding ready:
The Venue
“Take your time when it comes to planning,” says Megan Slade, Senior Events Coordinator at The Mere. “There’s a lot for couples to decide on from venues, outfits and décor. Look for inspiration and meet with suppliers before making rash decisions to make sure everything on your day is the way you really want it.”
Abigail Beddows, Senior Wedding & Events Coordinator at Standon Hall says: “Picking a venue is similar to how you will pick your dress or how you picked the person you want to marry, it is the feeling you will get when you walk in and know that this is the one.”
“When you go for your show rounds, look out for the little details, because it is the little details that make the big day. Ask questions – does the venue have exclusive use or is it also a hotel where you share public spaces? Are there any sound limits for your evening entertainment? Can you bring your own suppliers as some venues will have preferred suppliers.”
Charlie, Wedding & Events Coordinator at Cottons Hotel & Spa, has a great tip that really works for lots of couples: “Create a wedding email address which can be used for planning stages of the wedding. As part of this email I would create folders for each supplier and venue used to help keep a clear record of emails and be as organised as possible.”
The dress
“Ideally start to shop nine to 12 months in advance,” advises Judy Holmes from J&J Designs Bridal. “Gowns typically take anywhere from 4-10 months to be made and it is worth factoring in shipping times if your dress is made in Paris or Milan. Pinterest and Instagram are brilliant for ideas and inspiration on wedding dresses. Follow your favourite blogs, designers and bridal salons to discover new collections.”
The team at Cheshire Bridal Boutique suggest that you really make the most of your boutique appointment: “Do your research and don’t be afraid to make requests ahead of your appointment; think carefully about who you bring with you as they can make or break the day and, of course, don’t forget to have fun!”
Photography:
James Jebson, photographer, says: “It’s very important that a couple does their research and identifies the photography that will best represent them as a couple and their personalities. I would always advise meeting your photographer beforehand, they will be with you throughout the whole day, from preparation through to the dancefloor and you’ve got to like them as an individual as well as for their photos. Go with your gut instinct.
“I’d also look at a full body of work, from start to end, to make sure there skills aren’t focused on one particular area. If it’s a story you want to be told then you need to look at a documentary style or if it’s big and bold images then that’s a different type of photographer.”
The cake
“For your cake to have maximum wow factor, give consideration to how and where it will be displayed. This could include having a fabulous stand, a floral arrangement to perfectly frame the design, or even to include it as the focal piece of a dessert table.” – Nicola Thomas of Boutique Bakery.
Entertainment
“When it comes to your band or entertainment, most good entertainers will be booked many months in advance, so if you find someone you like make sure you book them as soon as possible”, says Tom of The Pedal Tones
Tom, from The Six15 Group, adds: “Weddings are a time for celebrating and there’s no better chance to party with all your friends and family under one roof, so think carefully about the kind of entertainment you want and whether it’s a DJ, live music or a combination of both, make sure you are happy because you want to be able to relax and everyone wants a full dance floor!”.
Chris Hyde from UTC Events adds, “Every venue has different dimensions when it comes to their available space so make sure to check dimensions before booking. A 12-piece band would look far too big in a small function room, much like a string trio would look much too small in a castle hall.”
Mother of the bride / groom
“When it comes to outfits for the mothers of the bride and groom, fit is everything. Very few of us are stock sizes and mass produced clothes rarely flatter as well as they should. A fully made to measure service, like ours, means everyone, including petites and plus sizes, will look their very best. Be confident and don’t compromise.” – Maria Morris from Maria Morris Couture.
Something fun
“Attending a wedding can be a long day and there are times when the happy couple will be busy with photos so you might want to think about fun ways to keep your guests busy. Having a pop up crazy golf course is one way of bringing everyone together from both , suitable for all ages you can treat the winners to a special prize.” – Phil Butler from Crazy 9 Golf.
Flowers
“Make sure your flowers reflect your personality and don’t be afraid to be bold!”, says Mat Hepplestone, from Red Floral Architecture.
Décor
“Go for decorations that last and take a piece of your wedding day home with you! Neon signs that can be used on your wedding day and then be used in the home afterwards are a big trend for 2020.” – Suzy & Ollie Pearson from The Word Is Love and Wildfire Neon.
Honeymoon
And the romance experts at Sandals Resorts suggest the hot new trend for destination weddings: “Island-hopping proving to be a popular trend in the Caribbean – particularly twin centre wedding-moons, which offer the option to have a ceremony in one location and honeymoon in another. This way, couples don’t have to choose just one resort or island and can experience the best of both worlds.”
Bride: The Wedding Show takes place at Tatton Park on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 2020 from 10am to 5pm. Tickets are £10 each or £36 for a group of four in advance (plus booking fee), and £15 each on the day. VIP tickets are £15 each in advance and includes a glass of fizz and guaranteed seat at one of the catwalk shows. Children under 16 are free.
Catwalk show times: 11.15am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit www.bridetheweddingshow.co.uk/show/cheshire.