Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life and you will possibly have spent months and even years making the plans.
With all the planning etc that goes on it is very easy for what should be an enjoyable fun occasion to become very stressful.
However a little bit of planning and common sense can help ensure everything runs smoothly and as stress free as possible.
Bottom line is dont worry, the hotel,wedding photographer , florist, drivers etc are paid to do that for you.!!
Budget:
It is important to have a rough idea of your budget in mind and work out what you expect to spend in each area.Often this will change significantly but it is a good starting point. There is no point is looking at wonderful exotic flower arrangements for the entire bridal party if it would blow 90% of your entire budget.
Planning your guest list
At the initial planning stage try and work out a rough list of guests. This gives you an idea of approximate numbers attending the ceremony and the reception , this may be a deciding factor on where you have your reception.
Visit your venues and meet with the hotel to discuss your menu options and approximate numbers also agree the costs for each menu to ensure you are remaining within the budget.
Decide on your bridal party bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls etc..
This can often be an area of some contention as you dont want to leave some out for fear of offending etc. However you must know who will be on your bridal party before you can start considering the outfits.
The Girls
Dresses can be bought for very little or as much as you’re willing to pay , there are also plenty of places to hire on a limited budget.
Consider the style of the dress as it is important that it suits the bride in particular, however you should also what will look good on your bridesmaids etc.
Not all styles and colours will suit everyone. In all cases the bridesmaid’s dresses complement the brides dress but the brides dress is the most important.
Make-up
I would suggest that you get a professional make up artist for the day , no matter how confident you are it is one less thing to worry about .
A professional will be much more aware of what works and does not for wedding photographs and various skin tones .
It is important that the makeup does not look shiny or this will show up in the photographs. Arrange for someone to carry a small portion of makeup to
allow you to touch it up throughout the day
Hair
Your hairdresser or stylist will be able to make recommendation on a suitable style for you hair for the wedding this wmay also be impacted by the dress you have chosen.
It is worth having a couple of 'trial runs' to ensure you are comfortable with any style.
The Boys
Clothing the men is not really that difficult. Normall the men hire the suits in a sytle agreed with the bride and groom. Sot it is just a case of ensuring htat the correct sizes etc are
got and that the colours are appropriate. If you have decided on special outfits e.g. Highland wear ask the outfitters to demonstrate how it shoudl be worn etc
unless you are confident in this area yourself.
Insurance
I am often asked about my own professional insurance and can confirm that I am fully insured. However it is also worth you considering taking out wedding insurance, it is relatively inexpensive and will protect you in the case of any disasters, which may affect your wedding plans. Many people find it reassuring to have this insurance and there are many different providers who can arrange cover for you.
Colin Turtle
Northern Ireland Photographer
Colin Turtle Photography
