So, your one true love has finally popped the question and you’ve never felt so happy in your entire life; the question is, you’re engaged, so what now?
Well first and foremost, it’s time to take a breath. This is a huge moment in anyone’s life, agreeing to spend the rest of your life with just one person and no doubt something that won’t necessarily hit you straight away. You need to give this time to sink in. Grab your friends, family or even your dog and take some time away from the engagement train. Grab a manicure, enjoy a lunch or simply take Fido for a few extended walks in your favourite place. Try not to worry about your wedding planning and instead, simply indulge in the moment. Then of course, it’s on to who to tell first and how to tell them. Are you the sort of person who likes to make announcements or would you rather tell your loved ones in a more intimate manner? Don’t forget, you could, like many, use this as a way of holding that much needed family gathering and telling everyone at the same time.
Marriage, (that’s the part after the wedding) takes two people and of course, a lot of big decisions along the way so it’s worth discussing your wants and needs from the day itself with each other. What are you both searching for on your big day? We’re talking absolutely everything from general feel and look to the specifics such as location, venue and even the food. Try brainstorming sessions together, making the wedding planning much more exciting and importantly, collaborative.
Budget is another area in which struggles can arise and as such, after an adequate amount of time of indulging in the glory of your engagement, budgets need to be discussed. This should be discussed first and foremost. While some may have saved for their big day, others may have to start saving from the day they say “yes” so budgets will always be a topic of discussion worth taking some time over. With this often awkward subject out of the way however, you can get back to enjoying those super special moments that come with a new engagement.
Last but most certainly not least, we suggest you keep an open mind, when it comes to all aspects of your big day. From the venue to the budget, your guest list and of course, the big day itself; things can change and as such, it’s important to remember the reason you’re doing it. It’s not a day for show and tell, it’s a day to declare your love for one another and really, when all’s said and done, that’s the most important thing right? For more information on our country house wedding venue, and how we can help you not only enjoy your engagement, but enjoy a wedding day you never thought possible, contact us today.
The end of 2017 is fast approaching which means not only another year of weddings behind, but another year of weddings ahead of us and with a new year, comes new trends that we need to keep on top of. While there will of course be a wonderful array of wedding traditions we’ll always want to stick to, they’ll also be some fabulously new trends to take note of so let’s take a look.
Floral trends – next year’s focus looks to be about the vessels as well as the flowers themselves. From vintage to new pieces, coloured glass to geometric shapes and even concrete vessels. Remember, the bolder the better, so think pastel colours with a punch of colour, that’s if you want to play it safe anyway. 2018 will also be seeing a whole new take on romantic flowers too with flowers adorning more minimal gowns and veils. Think whimsical and you’re half way there. Last but not least, we’ll be seeing a rise in wedding wreaths as their popularity soars, becoming the alternative decoration of the year. Wispy grasses, eucalyptus and even wild flowers will make a lasting impression on your guests.
New food – modern couples are choosing to avoid the traditional three-course set menu and are instead opting for foods they love from sharing platters to food vans and even things such as portable pizza ovens. It’s safe to say that wedding food is certainly changing and will see an even bigger change in the year ahead. We also believe you’ll see a huge rise in alternative options such as Japanese, Indian and even Mexican inspired foods; think sushi, curries and burritos.
Invitations – invitations will certainly be getting a lot more creative as the year evolves, with designs becoming more elaborate. From the choice of material used such as fabric, Perspex and even more natural choices such as stone and wood. Then it lies in the designs that sit upon the new materials.
Black accents – for some, the idea of incorporating black into your big day seems almost sinful but black accents will most definitely be making a more prominent appearance this year and for good reason to. From a monochrome twist in terms of ribbon on your flowers to black accents on your wedding dress, there are so many ways in which you can incorporate a black accent. If you’re struggling however, take inspiration from the amazing Vera Wang.
Shorten the guest list – weddings used to be a very large affair but 2018 weddings will see a shrinkage in the size of guests. Weddings are undoubtedly becoming smaller with many couples opting to leave off distant relatives they haven’t seen for years. Intimate gatherings are taking the lead because not only does it mean the budget stretches further but you get to spend the cash on the areas you really want to instead of catering for extra seats.
If you’d like more information on our intimate weddings simply jump online today.
Unlike other aspects of your wedding, a wedding photographer isn’t something you can hear, smell or taste beforehand which makes picking the perfect photographer all the more daunting. It’s for this reason that careful research and selectiveness when it comes to skills and artistic style are hugely important when picking a wedding photographer. To make things easier, we thought we’d share our top tips…we hope this helps.
Decide on a style – before you start researching wedding photographers, it’s certainly worth thinking about the style you’re going for. This will help narrow down the search hugely and make things so much easier for you. So, what styles do we have? Well there’s documentary that offers a more candid and spontaneous insight. Instead of a series of posed photographs, you’ll receive more raw photos of guests digging into their food, laughing at the bar and dancing the night away on the dance floor with champagne in hand. These photos capture the moments as they happen, exactly as they happened too and they’ll tell a real time story. Then we have portraiture for those who prefer a classic portrait. This is much more traditional and ideal for those wanting posed shots against various backdrops. There is however, a little room for creativity within this style and the photographer will generally pick some fab spots during the ceremony or afterward for a few more relaxed shots, captured off guard to compliment the more formal shots. If you want something really different then we suggest you take a peek at some edgy and bold photography. Think of photos outside of the box, tilted angles and less than conventional framing; so instead of straight on shots of you saying “I do”, they may be tilted and offer a different angle entirely with a particular object such as a candle or flower taking centre stage.
Paul Grace Photography
Do your homework – it always pays to start your search by looking at previous interviews from recent happy couples as well as browsing local listings. Carefully review their websites and of course their previous work, as this will not only give you a greater insight into their style but their level of expertise too. You might also be able to pick up a few hints about their personality through the layout and choice of photos on their website. Is there feedback from clients on their Facebook page? What are their responses like? All of this is very telling and worth noting down.
Set up interviews – it’s hugely important to meet in person as a decision as important as this cannot be made on looks alone. If you like their website and their previous work then ask if they’re available on your wedding date and if so, meet for an interview. Be prepared to chat about the venue, its location, the greatest aspects of the venue and what you envision for your photos. Can they achieve the look? Are they happy to travel to your location etc. All of this is incredibly important.
Now of course, these are just a few hints and tips. We could quite literally chatter all day about what to consider but at the end of it all, it’s about how you feel. Do you get on with the photographer? Do you like their work and of course, are they available to attend your venue on your date? For our own recommendations of photographers, simply take a peek at our list of suppliers where you’ll find photographers who’ve not only worked at our venue before but have created some fabulous memories for happy couples too.
If you’d have asked yourself when you were younger what your favourite season was, no doubt you’d have chosen summer. Everyone loved the bright colours that inevitably came out, the warmer weather and of course let’s not forget school holidays. Fast forward to adulthood however, and we guarantee a fair few of you may have a different answer. It seems as we get older, our love of seasons can often change and we’re finding more and more, it’s reflected in the months people choose to say “I do”. Summer weddings will of course always be popular as people do their best to pin their hopes on the fickle British weather and let’s not forget a winter wedding; can we guarantee some snow? Here at That Amazing Place however, we’re starting to see that many are now opting for spring weddings. The pastel colours that we once disliked as a child appear to take on an entirely new appeal and what’s more, the cool air and refreshing sunlight that begins to peek out after a bleak winter looks all the more special. Which brings us to today’s piece in which we thought we’d focus on Spring Wedding Ideas (without those 90’s flashbacks) for your nuptials this spring at That Amazing Place.
Go Green – while spring is of course Peony season, flowers like this can often prove quite expensive so opting for arrangements that are mostly greenery can often be more affordable. They tend to look a lot more modern too. If you really want a glimpse of seasonal flowers, perhaps take a look at anemones, ranunculus and even tulips. Simple yet elegant.
Try Brunch – obviously you can host a brunch style wedding at any time of year but spring and brunch do very much go together. You’ll also find brunch foods are slightly more affordable too but don’t just take our word for it. Check out the fabulous lot at Magpie Catering or Premier Crew Hospitality.
Get Exciting With Your Pastels – we don’t mean you need to start dressing like an Easter basket! Think about spicing things up a little so stick with muted colours such as greyish purples instead of bright lavender and perhaps avoid the obvious yellows. You can also give yourself and your bridesmaids a much edgier appeal with rougher hair and flowers.
Flowers, Flowers Everywhere – it’s hard to avoid flowers when having a spring wedding and let’s face it, they are beautiful but that doesn’t mean you have to be obvious with it. Try placing your flowers in unexpected places that are really high-impact like the aisle runner during the ceremony and even the windows, at the bar. The options are endless. You could even try placing edible flowers on your desserts because let’s face it, flowers turn absolutely anything in décor.
Spring weddings really are a thing of beauty, as the cold weather starts to take a warmer turn and flowers begin to bloom; there’s nothing quite like it. For more information on our Spring wedding availability, simply contact us today.
Today we’re looking at the wonderful wedding day of Hattie and Rhys, who said their “I do’s” on September 16th of this year right here at That Amazing Place. Hattie and Rhys has been together for eight years when they married after meeting randomly on a weekend where they were both enjoying company with friends. After hitting it off in a pub garden, and thanks to a rather persistent friend, Rhys and Hattie kept in touch and the rest as they say is history. So here’s a peek into their wonderful day…
The Venue
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
With family coming from afar, it was hugely important that Hattie and Rhys found somewhere that felt like a home from home. Hattie explained, “Being able to arrive on the Friday and relax and stay for the duration of the weekend was a great addition to what we were after. After our first visit to view That Amazing Place, we got in the car, both looked at each other and smiled; we knew it was the place for us.” The beautiful surroundings, impeccable décor and of course the staff, were huge advantages to Hattie and Rhys and convinced them quite easily that our Essex wedding venue was the one for them. They were also incredibly thankful for Paul, one of the venues owners, and event manager Angie, for making their family and friends on the day feel incredibly welcomed. Hattie describes them as being incredibly attentive throughout the whole weekend.
Theme and Entertainment
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
Hattie explained their aim was for their wedding day was simplicity; a relaxed social event and That Amazing Place became the perfect backdrop for it. This desire was reflected in the theme with simple white flowers housed in exquisite glass throughout. The colour theme was also reflected throughout the entire bridal party with adult bridesmaids wearing platinum and younger bridesmaids wearing navy. Hattie went on to explain, “The Groom and groomsmen also wore navy with navy ties and white polka dots. Rhys’s tie was navy with purple polka dots to match my shoes and bouquet.” In terms of entertainment, they enjoyed a live band called “The Money” from Nottingham. They’d seen them “perform quite a few years ago at a family’s wedding and loved the variety of their sets, so were keen to have them play at our wedding. They also did the DJ’ing in between sets and finished off our night with a requested garage half-hour!”
Catering
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
For their catering, Hattie and Rhys opted for one of our preferred suppliers, the fabulous Premier Crew Catering. Hattie said, “Sarah was fantastic throughout the process…we wanted a simple, relaxed and social day so we went for Afternoon Tea as our Wedding Breakfast; this was followed by a hog roast and BBQ in the early evening for all of our day and evening guests. The food was fantastic and Afternoon Tea looked beautiful on entering the room.”
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
From all of us here at That Amazing Place, we’d just like to thank Hattie and Rhys for choosing our venue and once again, say a huge congratulations! We hope to see you again soon, perhaps celebrating your anniversary in the same place you chose to say, “I do”.
There are a number of reasons to choose That Amazing Place as your wedding venue, as so many do, but perhaps the biggest pull of our country house wedding venue is that it’s an exclusive use wedding venue. With such exclusivity of course comes a myriad of benefits, many of which, couples won’t even realise until it’s brought to their attention and that’s why we thought we’d explain just why choosing an exclusive use wedding venue could be the best decision you’ve ever made.
Everyone knows that little girls (and boys) dream of their wedding day from day dot but very rarely does that dream include meeting another bride, groom and their guests in the same venue, or perhaps even regular attendees of that venue wanting to go about their regular business. Just look at Pippa Middleton’s big day, marred by the possibility of locals being able to attend the church and ceremony grounds while photos were being taken. We think we can speak for every bride and every groom out there when we say, no one wants this.
The Top 10 Benefits
From golfers teeing off, to other hotel guests reading the paper in the foyer while you prepare to walk down the aisle; a wedding day is meant to be spent with those you love most, not complete strangers. So, for this reason, our exclusive use wedding venue is quite simply perfect.
About to enjoy a Christmas inspired wedding? Then you’ll be pleased to know that no sneaky neighbours from next door will be making their way inside during your nuptials, helping themselves to your free bar.
Wherever you choose to get ready for the day, wherever you wish to escape, you can do without the worry of bumping into complete strangers watching over you.
An exclusive use wedding venue offers you so much more security as you know only those you hold nearest and dearest are in close proximity, meaning the little ones can run riot without the fear of upsetting someone.
You get to enjoy that real feeling of exclusivity, making your wedding venue feel like home for the day. What better feeling on your special day?
With the added privacy that exclusive use offers you, you’ll enjoy free rein to go mad with those personal touches without judgement from anyone not involved on your big day.
What could be worse than not only bumping into another bride but another person wearing a wedding dress? Thank goodness at That Amazing Place, that’ll never happen…unless of course you have some very unkind guests.
We’ve heard some real horror stories in the past from other wedding venues where happy couples have become quite unhappy thanks to their wedding gifts getting mixed up with the other couple saying their “I do” at that very same venue. A hideous thought, we’re sure you’ll agree.
With exclusive access to our wedding venue comes exclusive access to our accommodation too making it possible for more of your guests to stay with you the night of your big day.
Last but most certainly not least, you’ll have the undivided attention of our staff. With no-one else to think about, you’ll have our attention dedicated entirely to you and your party. What could be better?
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