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.
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.
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”.
When it comes to our blog page, we’re aware that we focus on the brides and grooms that attend our country house wedding venue and of course, why not? After all, they are the ones who’ll choose our venue in which to marry. Let’s not forget however, they aren’t the only ones attending the wedding so this blog is dedicated to you, the wedding guest and the biggest conundrum facing most wedding guests very year – what to wear to a wedding?
We all walk a fine line when it comes to deciding what to wear to a wedding. You want to look striking but not too striking in that you drag attention from the most important people of the day and let’s not forget, you too want to be remembered, if only as one of the best dressed guests.
Luckily for you, there are a few ground rules to stick to in order to ensure you’ve got everything covered. We’ve got the ultimate do’s and don’ts to ensure you’re the best dressed guest at all manner of wedding ceremonies this side of Essex and beyond.
A dress is a safe choice – struggling to come up with the perfect feminine tux a-la Victoria Beckham? Then reach for the trusty statement dress. Add some fabulous heels, a little lippie and you’re good to go.
No short hemlines – this isn’t just out of respect for the bride but the ideal way to ooze a little conservative sexiness. Irregular hemlines are great for keeping things appropriate while still allowing you to flash a little leg. Just remember ladies, keep it on the classy side.
Try bold lace – lace is the ultimate statement right now but white or cream lace and embroidery are major no-no’s. Instead opt for coloured lace and clever layering with a few sequins thrown in.
Black isn’t a total no – for years, the colour black would never been seen at a wedding as it once marked the doom and gloom of grievance but recent times have brought a change. Black is now considered chic so wear it to weddings with pride.
Carry a small clutch or bag – large shoulder bags or totes will not only ruin your look but will become quite cumbersome to carry; and let’s face it, they don’t exactly scream “special occasion” do they? Think minimal and cut loose from your usual heavy accessories. Think of it as a detox of your usual essentials.
Wear comfortable heels – there’s nothing worse than wearing a pair of heels that look fabulous but cripple you within five minutes, especially when you consider the fact that you have an entire day ahead of you and the bare foot look just isn’t in. Whether it’s a chunkier heel or a comfier sole, find that perfect pair of shoes to take you through the day with ease.
Just ask the bride or groom – if you’re really not sure, then we suggest you just ask the bride or groom. We know they’ll have a million and one things to think about but we doubt they’ll mind you sending a quick message to ask for any guidelines, colours advice etc. It’s their big day after all. Just remember to keep it all in good time, not an hour before they’re about to walk down the aisle.
NEVER WEAR WHITE – despite changes in modern day formal wear it will never be ok to wear white, or off-white or even cream. In short, never make it look like you’re trying to over-shadow the bride.
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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