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.
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.
As cliché as it may sound, there’s no doubting that your wedding day is one of, if not, the most important day of your life but as with anything in life, money is always a factor. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what you do for a living, everyone has a budget and while some may have what feels like a limitless budget, others may not be so limitless, in fact they may feel pretty limited indeed. This can be hugely disheartening for some but here at That Amazing Place, we want to tell you that it just isn’t the case at all, especially not when you take a peek at the fantastic prices of our Twilight Wedding Package in particular.
Our Twilight wedding package was created to offer you the option of a beautiful wedding without the usual price tag and what’s more, you get all that you ever dreamed of without having to compromise on the venue. Here at That Amazing Place, we know only too well just how much a venue can make or break your day. We have people wanting to marry here at our Essex wedding venue throughout the year and our Twilight wedding packages have only made us even more accessible.
Worried you won’t get everything you’d like with this particular wedding package? Think again! Our Twilight weddings offer a late afternoon civil ceremony, one of the most romantic times of day we might add, followed by a rather generous canapé and drinks reception but that’s not all. We also provide a generous sized buffet style evening meal too, allowing all your guests to fill their tummies while mingling and enjoying time on the dance floor. Our Twilight Weddings are perfect for those who want a less formal experience, moving away from the traditional seated wedding breakfast, instead choosing a more dynamic, informal setting that allows everyone to enjoy the moment with more freedom.
You’ll also be privy to exclusive use of our venue, something that not all wedding venues offer yet it’s one of the most common reasons people choose to marry here at That Amazing Place. We also provide two reception drinks per person as well as six canapés per person too, and that’s before the hot fork buffet. Your guests (and of course yourself) will also be privy to a glass of Prosecco for toasting the happy couple as well as a cake stand and knife, ready for you to cut the cake and celebrate your big day. Add to this table decorations, tables, chairs and table linen and you’ll see that it’s all starting to come together nicely. We’ll also provide a DJ for the evening reception as well as a dedicated event manager to help co-ordinate your day to perfection. Should you want any further help, you’ll not only be able to ask our events manager Angie but we also suggest you take a peek at our suppliers list where you’ll find quality suppliers from bridal gowns to florists who’ve all worked here at our venue already. Our Twilight packages start from just £6,265. For more information, simply contact us today.
When it comes to weddings, everyone’s favourite part, “I do’s” aside of course, are the wedding speeches. From funny to sentimental, they can take any route but for the person actually giving the speech, it can feel like any entirely different story. Traditionally, speeches tend to fall on to the groom, father of the bride and of course, the best man but regardless of who’s giving the speeches on your big day, here are some top tips to help yours go as smoothly as possible.
First things first, we cannot emphasise enough the importance of practicing your speech and at least, getting it a little familiar. While it’s totally acceptable to read your speech from note cards, it’s always a good idea to familiarise yourself with what you talk about and at which point. It’s the secret to a smooth sailing speech and that’s what we all want, right? It’s also a fantastic way to gauge the appropriateness of some of the funnier lines in your speech – just as important, if not invaluable. Next, it’s time to look at timing. We all like a speech, especially when it’s about the ones we love but no one likes to be listening to a speech that’s over ten minutes long and most certainly not over fifteen minutes so keep it short, sweet and to the point for maximum effect. Any longer than ten minutes and you’ll find people begin to drift away, no doubt wondering when the bar will open once more and the cake will be cut.
When you’re given the honour of giving a speech, it’s important to think about others. By this, we mean considering others may have some fantastic stories and anecdotes to tell. This will give your speech extra depth and make others in the room feel even more special when they’re mentioned. Don’t underestimate the value of the bride when it comes to gathering stories on the groom especially and vice versa as they’ll be the ones who know each other the most and will no doubt have a wealth of stories and funny anecdotes to share, for all to hear. From their first date to proposals and more.
While we aren’t suggesting putting on a full show, we do suggest the use of props such as photos and sometimes videos to add a little visual humour. They’re also great in terms of taking the focus off you when you start to feel nervous. Just ensure the props you use are appropriate too. Practice, practice and once again, practice. Wedding speeches are meant to be a source of fun, enjoyment and a way to really get everyone involved on the big day, remembering just why we all chose to join together to celebrate the happy couple.
There are a number of websites online that offer not only help but basic templates too, check out Confetti online for more inspiration and guide articles!
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.
Expression Photography
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.
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