It doesn’t matter how much you get organised or how much you think you won’t, weddings will always cause you to get a little stressed at times. Regardless of whether you get a little stressed or a lot, there are ways to help alleviate the stress and reduce its impact. From recognising the symptoms to seeing the bigger picture, here’s our ultimate guide to dealing with wedding stress.
Realise the symptoms – stress is something that people deal with on a daily basis and this is only accelerated when a wedding is involved. Recognising the warning signs is therefore incredibly important in the steps to being able to control and/or treat the symptoms. Whether it’s a lack of sleep, becoming more snappy or even forgetful, recognising your own symptoms of stress will help you to deal with them much better and in some cases, allow those closest to you to recognise the fact that you may be suffering from a little stress.
To do lists – as they say, there’s nothing like a good to do list to help you get things done. They can also prove to be incredibly helpful when it comes to preventing stress. Having something to look at in front of you, especially a list that you’re able to tick off as and when each task is completed can prove to be incredibly therapeutic. So make that list and tick off each task as you go.
Honesty is always the best policy – when working with suppliers, it’s always best to be considerate and of course polite but more-importantly, it’s best to be honest at all times. Remain honest and upfront at all times with suppliers with regards to what you want, when you want it and how you want it. If your budget won’t stretch to their suggestions, just let them know. Tell them your budget, what you can and can’t afford and when you need it by. You never know, you may even find the supplier is able to make you a deal after all, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Recognise a small problem is exactly that, small – there are times in life when we just need to let things go and during wedding planning, that couldn’t be more important. Being prepared to let the little things go will not only ensure your focus remains on the bigger things but will stop you becoming stressed over the smallest detail. You’ll soon realise, on the big day itself, that those little things really didn’t matter that much in the end.
While these tips may not be able to completely eradicate every ounce of stress leading up to your big day, they’ll certainly help. Is there really an answer to coping with wedding stress entirely? Perhaps not but humour, patience and intuition are the best qualities to help you battle stress as much as possible; that and of course the fabulous Angie right here at That Amazing Place who’ll be on hand every step of the way to help you as much you need on the lead up to your big day. For more information, simply contact us today.
While the wedding ceremony may be the most important aspect of your day, your wedding reception is probably the part of your big day that your guests are looking forward to the most; getting it right, therefore is vitally important and one way to ensure it’s perfect is to make sure it’s fun. Here are some top tips to ensure you have a fun wedding reception from beginning to end.
Arrange your seating thoughtfully – this may sound like a very obvious notion but it’s important to ensure decent and solid seating arrangement. Ensure each guest is with someone they know and people they get along with. While it may seem a great idea to play matchmaker, it never is. Just remember, while they’re there for you, they’re also there to catch up with friends too so let them enjoy themselves as much as possible. In other words, sit your younger cousins with other kids their age and let your school friends sit next to each other too.
Give out amazing wedding favours – show your guests just how much you appreciate them with amazing wedding favours from take home treats such as donuts, coffee beans and mini bottles of prosecco to a cute plant, a pair of sunglasses or even a key ring with your wedding date and initials as a sweet memento.
Don’t overrun on the toasts – we all love toasts, especially when they’re funny. We all love to relive amusing stories but they can become an issue when they start to drag on somewhat. Anything longer than five minutes and you’ll start to lose their attention.
Keep the little ones entertained – having children at your wedding is a debate that’s often revisited on many a wedding forum but for those who’ve decided to invite the little ones, it’s important to ensure they’re entertained. Give them a designated area in which to play and have fun. You could even arrange for a children’s entertainer to set up movies, games and arts and crafts in a separate room to keep them entertained. A little extra time spent on the kids entertainment will ensure a fun and enjoyable wedding reception for you.
Keep your first dance fun and unique – it’s always fun to shake things up and that’s especially so during your first dance. All eyes will be on you so it’s the perfect opportunity to really wow your guests with a little something special. Anything from jazzing up a romantic start with a classic dance song, welcoming everyone onto the dance floor to a group dance that gets everyone involved; whatever you feel suits you most and makes it something fun to remember.
Offer the chance to change – we all love dressing up but there’s something we all love even more and that’s taking off those restrictive clothes and putting on something more comfortable. From a basket of flip flops for tired feet to giving everyone the opportunity to change into their comfy clothes for the remainder of the evening; ensuring your guests are comfy is a great way of ensuring everyone enjoys themselves even more.
Do you have some more tips for a fun and exciting wedding reception? Then let us know in the comments below!! Better yet, check out our suppliers page and find some fab entertainers to keep things fun and fresh at your upcoming wedding reception.
Are you getting married this coming spring? Then we’re guessing you’ll be enjoying your bridal hair trial sometime soon and what better way to stay prepared as a spring bride than to have a few ideas in your back pocket. Here are just a few fab spring wedding hairstyle ideas for the perfect inspiration…
Straight, smooth and sleek – the greatest thing about spring is that the weather remains pretty mild, neither too hot or too cold and that always gives you so much more wiggle room when it comes to your hair. Straight and sleek hairstyles are the ideal choice during a season when there’s far less chance of frizz so enjoy it while you can. If you’d like to jazz it up then perhaps look at sparkly silver tiaras or even sparkly fascinators to take it from an everyday look to something really special.
Keep it floral – when you think of spring, flowers in bloom will always “spring” to mind (pardon the pun) so if you’re looking for a thoroughly spring filled theme, think flowers. Keep it seasonal to really feel the airs of spring and keep costs down too. You could even extend this to your bridal look too. You could even match your wedding hairstyle to your floral bouquet to really keep things looking together. This look is particularly good for those who choose a simple wedding dress.
Pretty curls – whether you’re naturally curly or not, a curly ‘do’ on your wedding day is nothing short of perfect for a spring wedding. Taking into consideration the low chance of frizz and of course, the versatility of curly hair and it’s easy to see just why it’s such a popular choice. Being so versatile means you also have the ability to make it as dramatic as you want too.
Bohemian beauty – if you’re leaning toward a bohemian style wedding dress then you’ll need the ultimate bohemian hairstyle to match and there’s more than one way to unleash your inner hippy. Think messy waves, think flowers and of course, think plaits. Fishtail plaits are incredibly popular at the moment, along with ombre hair. This is where baylage hair makes a big impact too. Make the most of your unique hair colour and nail the boho vibe with those all-important accessories.
Non committal hair – not sure whether you want an updo or long flowing tresses? Then enjoy the best of both worlds and opt for half up and half down. This is such a classic do it was even selected by the amazing Kate Middleton back in 2011. One of the greatest things about this hairstyle is that you can make it as glamorous or as simplistic as possible. Plaits can be added, or simply a wedding veil for a more traditional appearance.
If you’d like more information on bridal hair and make-up or if you’d like to find a tried and tested make-up and hair stylist for your big day, check out our list of suppliers for the best professionals out there.
Thinking of ways to arrive at your wedding in style? Want something different to the run of the mill limousine or classic car? Then check out this awesome list of suggestions we’ve compiled thanks to our own experience with some seriously happy, and might we add, creative couples who’ve said “I do” right here at That Amazing Place.
Horse and Carriage – while this may sound like a traditional option, it’s one that’s not chosen as much as people think. Horse and carriage is a hugely grand way to make an entrance and can be as traditional or as contemporary as you like. From the breed of horse you select, to your carriage. It can be created to your own bespoke desires (to an extent), to reflect your wedding style and your own personality and let’s face it, there’s nothing quite as breath taking as the sight and sound of horses bringing a bride to her big day.
Vintage Bikes – vintage bikes are an incredibly fun way to arrive on your big day. Not only are they super fun and the perfect choice for the more active couple, but they also happen to make a pretty fab prop once you’re done with them. Rest them against your venue or better still, use them in the background for added fun in your wedding photos. You might want to ensure your journey to your big day isn’t up hill though.
Bus – the bus is a great British tradition but once again, it’s one that can be made to be as traditional or as contemporary as you wish with the help of a few decorations and of course, your choice of make and model. It’s also great for saving a few pennies here and there as it has the ability to transport all of your guests too. Is the groom feeling nervous about arriving on his own? Then have him accompanied by all of his guests. Buses are a great way to keep it fun and whether you opt for something modern or a classic Routemaster is totally down to you.
Tractor – are you a lover of your rural roots or do you want to fit in with the countryside theme of your wedding venue? Then why not try something totally different like an awesome and might we add, seriously powerful looking Tractor. Try asking a local Farmer. Let’s not forget the amazing photo opportunities and be sure to grab a pair of “weddingtons” (wedding wellies) to really complete the rural look.
Helicopter – if you’re lucky enough to have the budget then why not opt for a James Bond style entrance with the help of a helicopter? Do bear in mind you’ll have to gain consent of the venue and quite possibly surrounding residences/farmers but my goodness, what an entrance to your big day. Just be sure not to get your veil caught in the blades!
Stay At Your Venue The Night Before – here at That Amazing Place, we have a number of happy couples opting to stay at our venue the night before the big day for so many reasons. From the savings you’ll make not having to pay out for transport to your wedding venue to the fact that you’ll be free of a lot of stress the morning of your nuptials. There’s no worry about whether your transport will turn up, nor whether traffic will make you late. You’ll be there bright and early and able to get ready at a leisurely pace.
When it comes to your wedding music, are you struggling to decide what would be best? Perhaps one of you wants a DJ and the other wants a band? Whichever the reason for your indecision, here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right music for your big day. There’s no doubt about it, music can quite simply make or break a wedding. We’ve all seen the famous scene in Love Actually when the wedding DJ solidifies his existence as the worst DJ in history with his last song choice. Music should be thought of as the heart and soul of a wedding; which makes hiring the right person the hardest thing to do. So how can a couple decide what it is they want? Well it all starts by asking yourselves a few simple questions such as what’s your budget? What space do you have to play with? What sort of wedding vibe are you going for? Let’s look at everything you need to consider…
What’s Your Wedding Vibe? As anyone no doubt knows, the type of music you pick will have a huge impact on the overall tone of your wedding and more often than not, it’s what most people will remember. Think about what you want your day to represent. How you want it to feel and go from there.
Do They Offer Variety? Whether you choose a DJ or a Band, you need to know that they offer variety. You’ll want a good mix of fast and slow songs as well as tunes from different eras. Can a band offer the variety you need? Likewise, will a DJ offer the mix of eras you’re after?
What’s Your Budget? Budget will always come into every aspect of your wedding, including your wedding music. Perhaps the band you always dreamt of are out of budget however, a DJ could play their songs for you? Or maybe just maybe, your favourite R&B music that you’d have expected a DJ to play could actually be played by a tribute band. Look at your budget before anything else, and then look at what’s available.
How Much Space Do They Have? This may sound like a silly question but it will certainly have an affect on your choice. If you have a limited amount of space, you’ll be unlikely to fit a whole band in without taking over vital dance floor space that your guests would want to enjoy. This is perhaps where a DJ would come in handy. Likewise, if you have a lot of space to play with, then that favourite band of yours could be the perfect choice after all.
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A Few Last Tips: Last but most certainly not least, whomever you choose, do make sure you see them live first. As heartbreaking as it is to believe, reviews can be written by friends, recommendations made by someone who has different taste or expectations to you. Going to see them live yourselves will be the best way to ensure they’re exactly what you’re looking for. Here at That Amazing Place, we’re honoured to have the fabulous Piano DJ as our house DJ offering live band style music and DJ spots. For more information on this amazing set-up or for more information on our country house wedding venue, simply contact us today.
When it comes to planning your wedding, before anything else, before you pick the venue, or even think of the dress, your wedding budget needs to be established. It’s no big secret that weddings are a costly event. Regardless of whether you’re trying to rein it in, or going all out and in spite of having the best of intentions, so many couples find themselves overstepping the initial agreed budget. Thankfully, here at That Amazing Place, we’ve seen enough weddings to know that there are some rather easy ways to ensure you stay in budget from the second you set it. So get your pens at the ready…you’re probably going to want to take notes.
Write Your Wedding Budget Down At Every Stage – This may sound rather tedious but your budget is there for a reason and must be adhered to. Write it down and just as you would with your taxes, make a note of what your budget is and what’s remaining at every step of the way. It’s not fun (unless you’re an accountant) but it’s necessary unless you want to spend your honeymoon worried up to your eyeballs about the debt you’ll be returning to. To make things super easy you could always simply jump online and check out wedding budget calculators and even download the odd app or two to help. Make a note of everything you spend from bridesmaid dresses to flower arrangements and as the budget begins to grow a little thin, you can adjust the budget for each area accordingly to ensure the things most important to you, get the biggest portion of the budget allocated to them.
Consider Extra Costs – Here at That Amazing Place, what you see is what you get however, there are some services out there that may charge an extra cost for a service you may have assumed is part of what you’re already paying for. Extra bridal gown alterations perhaps? Extra flower arrangements? Extra table decorations or even extra food within the catering budget. Ask about everything. A particularly good one to remember, that many forget, is that trials aren’t always free. Whether it’s a florists demo, or a cake tasting, even a hair style trial; these can all cost unexpected amounts, taking vital pennies from the budget that could be better spent elsewhere. Ensuring you’re aware of this will mean there are no scary surprises and that budget of yours stays on track.
Plan To Go Over – As crazy as this sounds, it’s always worth putting a little extra aside, should you need to go over budget because if you account for the overages, then you’ll never actually go over the budget. We’ve seen some couples decide on a budget and then aim to come in under the budget by one or two thousand, when they don’t, it’s no big deal as their original budget covered the cost anyway. Some areas that you may find yourself struggling to stay within budget are areas like flowers, any weather-related incidents (we are in Britain after all) and in case of any small hiccups such as gown alterations last minute.
For more hints and tips, simply contact us today. We’ll be more than happy to discuss our fabulous Twilight Wedding Package that gives you all the glamour of a wedding at That Amazing Place for a much lower the cost.
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