There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic brought many industries – including the UK wedding industry – to their knees during 2020.
The dream weddings of brides and grooms up and down the country were shattered as the pandemic took hold, and we all went into lockdown, meaning that large gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, were banned. Now, as we start to see a relaxation in the social distancing regulations, we’re all hoping to see the 2021 wedding season come back with a vengeance! After all, we love a good wedding….
But what are the main factors that contribute to the success of a wedding? Well, perhaps our short guide below will help…
Set a budget, and stick to it
This is the first point…and perhaps the most important. Planning a wedding is exciting, though it’s easy to get carried away! Identify what is important to you and set your budget. This is also a great time to get your negotiating hat on and drive down a few prices – after all, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Invite who you want to be there, not who you think SHOULD be there
Of course, you’ll need to invite your immediate family, but having the people around you on your wedding day who have been there for you and who will be there in the future to support your marriage always makes for a great ambience and vibe. Those people closest to you will enjoy celebrating your love with you, and not just be there because you thought you should invite them.
Choose your venue carefully
The choice of venue is an important factor for a variety of reasons. The location of it is vital, of course, as you’re asking lots of people to attend, so make it accessible for the majority. Secondly, what sort of venue is it? It is a marquee, or a stately home? Choose a venue that fits your plans best. Thirdly, is there sufficient accommodation to house those people who are travelling from afar. Then there’s the indoor and outdoor available space. Especially for summer weddings, the outdoor area is as important as the indoor area, so this is well worth consideration. And finally, price. Yes, the cost of laying on the wedding in the first place, but also the cost of accommodation and also the bar prices!
Plan with personality
Look on Instagram or in bridal magazines, and you’ll be forgiven for thinking that all weddings should follow the same ‘design’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, we all have a classic white wedding picture in our minds, but it’s true to say that the most memorable weddings are those where the bride and groom have made in highly personal to them. This includes anything from the personalized invitations through to table names and centrepieces through to choice of music for the disco! Don’t be afraid to be different!
Choose your suppliers carefully
As well as being exciting, working with the wrong suppliers can lead to headaches. Ask any friends who have recently got married which companies thy used, for example – word of mouth is a valuable asset! If you need wedding furniture hire for your venue then choose an event furniture hire company that can provide what you need, in the quantities you need, and that will reliably arrive on time! The last thing you need in the lead up to your wedding is to be encountering issues with suppliers. And if your venue does have outdoor space, utilize it with outdoor wedding furniture hire such as rattan sets, outdoor tables and chairs, patio heaters and other outdoor furniture hire. With the range of choice online when it comes to outdoor furniture hire for weddings, you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Choose entertainment for everyone
Whether this is garden games on the lawn as everyone gathers before the wedding reception starts or whether it’s the live band or disco after the formalities, be aware that not everyone likes to do the same thing. The chances are the most important entertainment for your guests will be having a chat and a laugh between friends and family. Don’t expect everyone to take part in all your activities!
Food & drink
Hopefully you’ve chosen a venue with reasonable bar prices, which always adds to the ambience! When it comes to the wedding breakfast or buffet in the evening, try to provide something for everyone, taking into account individual guests’ dietary requirements. Gather this information when people RSVP to your wedding invitations, and cater accordingly. You can be sure that this will be appreciated!
Have a relaxed (and flexible!) schedule
Whatever timings you have put in place, be prepared for these to slip. If you know that this is going to happen, you won’t get uptight when they do! Just go with the flow and immerse yourself into the fact that you are surrounded by your closest friends and family and simply enjoy the day.
Create the right atmosphere
Whilst there’s a number of ways you can do this, the obvious way is to produce a seating plan for your wedding breakfast, and by the use of round banqueting tables. Round tables mean that people can socialize more easily because they are all facing one another. If many of your friends are still yet to meet one another, consider who you think will get on with whom, and put them together on the same table!
End the festivities on a high
Too many weddings seem to end with the bride and groom heading off into the night, with the guests then left to their own devices. Our suggestion would be to have a definitive end to the wedding celebrations with a small firework display or a speech by the bride and groom. Go out on a high, and it’s also a final photo opportunity!
Hopefully this guide will have provided you with some useful information that you can take away and use during your wedding planning. But for now, the message is simple: Enjoy it…because your wedding day will be over before you know it!
