Blog - wedding tips
Thursday, 10 May 2012
We like to think we're very sharing over here at Aimee Dunne, and more so this month with some of our 'Pearls of Wisdom' in Wedding Magazine. Flick to the back page and you'll find some of our helpful hints there!
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Suffering with a chest infection and no voice, but ever the professional, I was pleased as always to join in the discussion on BBC Radio Kent yesterday. Following on from the recent wedding of Bryan Ferry and Amanda Sheppard on the Turks and Caicos, Pat Marsh was having a lunchtime chat about destination weddings, and we were more than happy to offer some tips to anyone considering having their special day outside the UK. Here are some of our top tips.
1. Know the local marriage requirements. Every country has different requirements; some Caribbean islands require you to register with them and be there for three days before the wedding, while in Greece you must be there for two weeks before your intended wedding date. The documents you need and other formalities may also differ. Contact the local Consulate or Embassy and make sure you know what is needed and give yourself enough time to plan for this.
2. Be aware of the local weather. Many couples think of flying off in summer and marrying on a sunny Caribbean beach, but if you fly off in June you may be getting married in the middle of a hurricane. Be aware that summer in the UK may not be summer at your wedding destination.
3. Take anything special as hand luggage. If you are getting married on a beach, your dress may not be too large and it''s worth taking this as hand luggage if it will fit. If it's larger than your hand luggage allowance, talk to your airline and they may be understanding. No one wants to lose their luggage on any holiday but it's worth avoiding this if at all possible before your wedding! Also take as hand luggage any other items of importance or value that you may want on your wedding day; or ask your friends of family travelling with you to take them as their hand luggage.
4. Insurance. Many travel insurance companies offer extended or special insurance for couples marrying abroad. Make sure you take out something that covers all and everything that you need, don't spend an arm and a leg on your wedding and try and save with cheap insurance; it's not worth the risk.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
I've just picked up a copy of Your Kent Wedding magazine and lovely to see my own comments in there on wedding transport. Lovely to be involved in the great local wedding magazine that showcases all of the gorgeous wedding venues and suppliers, and more, right on our doorstep!
Friday, 27 August 2010
We're big fans of Cosmopolitan Bride here at Aimee Dunne and love feasting our eyes on all the pretty pictures and wedding features. This month we were delighted to be quoted in the 'Don't Stop The Party' feature...how to make your do last even longer with some crowd pleasing extras. It's in the shops now so go grab yourself a copy!
Monday, 10 May 2010
Ever so helpful as we always are here at Aimee Dunne, we recently helped provide some tips to Bridal Wave TV on how to plan a Marquee Wedding. From finding the right Marquee to ensuring guests aren't left queuing in the cold for a porta loo, read all our tips here!
Photos from White Canvas
Monday, 26 April 2010
I won't lie, I do like a nice big budget! But not everyone has a big budget, and even if you do you don't want to be wasting it especially in today's economy. Weddings are notoriously considered to be expensive, but they don't have to be. Your wedding is your day and you can make it as elaborate or as low key as you want, and however much money you chose to spend on it, it can still be the beautiful special day you'd hoped it would be. When planning there are some simple ways to save on your budget which I thought I'd share with you, these also apply to many other types of events.
1. Haggle. If you don’t ask for a discount, chances are you won’t get one. I do tend to think we’re not very good at this in the UK, compared to many cultures where it’s the norm, we’re a bit reserved. But there’s no need to be embarrassed, many businesses welcome people asking for a discount and don’t find it unusual. Once you’ve done it once or twice you may even start to enjoy it...especially when you see the savings!
2. Seasonal Blooms. Many brides have their heart set on a particular type of flower, and this is something which is clearly important to the whole theme. Most flowers however tend to be very seasonal and choosing some which are out of season may greatly impact your budget, especially considering that flowers typically take up about 10% of your wedding budget. Choosing something out of season may mean the flowers need to be imported which could greatly hike up your budget. Peonies for example, tend to be available only in May and June. Also, if you’re having your ceremony in a separate location to your reception, for example having your ceremony in a church and reception in a nearby hotel, see if the florist will move the flowers to the reception venue after the church service...quickly and discreetly of course!
3. Stationery Savings. Stationery can be a very expensive part of weddings. Why not save money by using a website such as gettingmarried.co.uk to keep guests fully informed and manage RSVP’s. You can also find your creative side and make some of your stationary such as the Order of Service and Menus, or contact a local printer and put some of those haggling skills into action!
4. Have Your Cake and Eat It. Cakes are both beautiful and delicious but can also be expensive. If you have a friend who makes cakes why not ask them to help out on the day and bake you a cake as a present. You can also pick up some great cakes from the high street, including waitrose.com and marksandspencer.com, which you can easily decorate yourself with fresh flowers and some ribbon. Also think about serving your cake as a desert or as part of the evening buffet.
5. Let them Send You Packing. Websites such as senduspacking.com are a fantastic way for your guests to contribute to your honeymoon, instead of having a traditional gift list. Many couples are moving away from traditional gift lists and most guests are unlikely to find this too unusual. Other good ways to save on your honeymoon are to avoid having your honeymoon during school holidays, Christmas or Easter, and to book with tour operators who specialise in honeymoons such as destinology.co.uk as they may well have special offers for couples.
6. Budget. Boring as it may seem, especially when all you want to do is plan your big day, it’s a simple way of ensuring you don’t waste your valuable wedding budget. Start by sitting down and making a budget of everything, and I mean everything! It’s often all the little extras that get forgotten and add up. Make a realistic budget and stick to it, going back to it every couple of weeks at least to see where you are and making sure you include everything on it that you spend. Websites such as weddingideasmag.com also have some great budgeting tools you can download for free.
7. Hire a Wedding Planner. Last but not least! Not one to blow my own trumpet, but us Planners have access to a huge source of suppliers, and are well placed to know what the typical costs are for most services. We are used to dealing with suppliers on a daily basis and it's part of our job to negotiate the best prices we can for our clients..and something I know I enjoy! Although the cost of a Planner may seem an added expense, the savings made from these reduced costs and use of tried and trusted suppliers can easily outweigh the initial expense.
Happy saving!!