Our Guide to Finding the Right Wedding Suppliers

We've put together some top tips to think about when choosing suppliers who will help you on the way to building your perfect wedding day. It may seem like there's a lot to think about, but these are the things which make your special day full of personality - so sit back, enjoy the process, and let your unique style shine through!

Choosing Your Beautiful Bouquets

When it comes to their wedding day, most engaged couples like to add an abundance of flowers and foliage which can help express emotion and add to the charm and romance of their setting.  You might be lucky and have helpful and artistic family and friends who are only too willing to give a hand with flower arrangements both in the church and/or at the reception venue.  Most of us, however, have to go to the expense of hiring a florist and relying on their knowledge, ideas and creative flair to help us get the look we are keen to achieve.

Remember to be realistic about flowers that are in season – if you are determined to have tulips in October then you will have to bump up the budget.  Decide on the style you want and select a florist accordingly – some specialise in ultra modern arrangements whilst others are more conservative and classic.  Be sure to make a shortlist of florists you would like to see and make appointments well ahead of your wedding date to avoid the disappointment of finding they are already booked up.

Here is a checklist of flowers that may be required:

• Bride's bouquet
• Bride's floral crown or hair flowers
• Bridesmaids' bouquets
• Boutonniere for groom
• Corsages for mother of the bride and mother of the groom
• Boutonnieres for father of the bride and father of the groom
• Tossing bouquet (for the bouquet toss at the reception)
• Flower girl's bouquet (or basket of petals, floral crown, or pomander)
• Groomsmen's boutonnieres
• Ring bearer's boutonniere
• Church/Civil ceremony flowers including altar arrangements and aisle decorations.
• Tossing petals for guest confetti
• Reception flowers such as table centerpieces, flowers for wedding cake, chair decorations, bar arrangements, getaway car flowers.

Snapping up the Best Wedding
Photographer & Videographer

There are simply thousands of wedding photographers out there so how do you get it right when choosing the best one for your wedding?  Firstly, decide on the style of photos you want.  Do you like mega creative with all sorts of lighting effects and props used, or would you prefer a more journalistic approach which documents the day exactly as it was.  Many people like a classic style (especially parents) with traditional groups of people clustered together for the usual group pics.  Look online at their work and decide which style works for you.  Don’t just check their websites, but also look up on line reviews from past weddings and ask to see whole wedding albums from past jobs they have done, not just the highlights they would like you to see.

Bear in mind that you will be spending quite a bit of time with your photographer on the day so when you meet them, ensure you like them and get on with them.  Are they a people person able to take control of groups of people and stick to deadlines in a fun and interactive way? This will make for a much more enjoyable experience all round.

Finally, do they have a back-up plan should they be ill or unavoidably detained on the day?  Many photographers have friends in the profession who they can call on (should they have to) if something unforeseeable occurs at the last minute.

We have a whole other blog which goes in to much more detail on 'snapping up the right wedding photographer', check it out here!

Finding the Dream Wedding Dress

With so many wedding dress suppliers out there, it can seem overwhelming at first trying to decide which dress to go for.  Follow these helpful tips to give you a head start:

• Think of the style you naturally prefer. If you are someone who normally dresses in a very casual way, you will probably need a more casual styled dress rather than an extremely formal one
• Think of your body shape and ask advice from bridal store staff as to what will suit your figure the best. In this way, you can immediately disregard many of the dresses that are simply the wrong style for your shape
• Hold a number of dresses up against you which are all different shades eg pure white, cream, rose coloured etc. You will soon see that one shade flatters your face and skin much more than others
• Book an appointment early in the day. This means that the wedding dress advisors will be bright and fresh and full of enthusiasm to help you choose the perfect dress
• Try on lots of dresses! Some may not look so good on a hangar but might look fantastic on your body – so keep trying them on
• Ask one or two family/friends along for their opinions but don’t ask too many! Too many contradicting thoughts and opinions will only confuse you
• Wear some lovely underwear when trying on dresses. As  you will be looking in the mirror a lot seeing your figure between dresses, it will raise your spirits to see a lovely bra rather than an old one you’ve had for years
• Make sure the dress is suitable for the activities of the day. Ensure you can dance in it and not worried about feeling trapped or stiff.  If you are getting in to a low sports car for example, make sure you can do so in the dress you choose
• Know your budget! Don’t forget that you will need to factor in your accessories such as veils, shoes and jewellery

Styling

You will need to book up your stylist and/or make up artist at least 6 months before your wedding as once you have decided on someone, you don’t want to find out they are already booked up.  Arrange to have a trial of hair and make up about 3 months before the wedding and have an appointment arranged to have your colour done no more than 2 weeks before the wedding so that it is looking fresh.  Depending on the style you opt for, the stylist may want you to have ‘dirty’ hair as a number of styles will hold their shape better with more texture, unlike with clean, slippery hair.

Canapes, Nibbles, Food & Drinks

Many wedding venues have in house caterers or preferred suppliers who they will suggest, which makes it much easier to decide. However, if you need to find your own caterer then always start by deciding on your budget. If you have a realistic budget in mind, any potential caterer will be able to accurately quote on the service they can provide, aiming it at a price within your means.  Budget can dictate the type of wedding breakfast you have, whether it be a buffet, silver service at tables, picnic style or finger food.  It also means you don’t waste valuable time looking at options you can’t afford! 

Begin the process of choosing your caterer with an informal chat on the phone which will enable them to understand what you are looking for, what you like and don’t like, whether they are available on the dates you have in mind and whether they can work with the budget you had planned for the number of guests you wish to invite.  Make sure you approach multiple catering companies and get several proposals and quotes. Once you’ve decided on the style of reception and number of guests, it is their job to tell you how many waiters, chefs, bartenders, canapes and courses you should need. 

When you have received several quotes you should decide on your top 3 choices and then make appointments to have tastings. Some caterers may charge for this but many will include this in the overall cost once they have been awarded the job.

Some caterers may let you buy the alcohol elsewhere which could save you quite a good sum of money, but others may want to include the alcohol as part of their deal.  If you plan to be selling the alcohol to your guests via a cash bar at any stage of the event, you will need advice from your venue and caterers about the license required. If the venue owner or the caterers are supplying the alcohol, they should also take care of any licensing requirements on your behalf.

Ensure that you read reviews and get references for anyone you are considering taking on and then read the contract thoroughly before signing once you’ve made your final decision.

'Baking' the Right Decision About Your Wedding Cake

It is no longer a simple decision when choosing which wedding cake to go for. Firstly, you will need to have a rough idea of the number of guests that will be coming as this may dictate the size of the cake.  Of course, the all important budget comes in to play as well, as cakes can cost anything from a few pounds if you have a creative relative to make it, to hundreds of pounds if you want something large and fancy. Think about the fact that the cake will appear in many of your wedding photos so you will be looking at it for years to come so you want to pick a design you are happy with. 

Decide which style of cake you would consider – you can go for any of the following:

• Traditional – covered in white fondant with a number of tiers and fancy decoration
• Naked – goes well with vintage vibes and is the healthier choice
• Novelty – cakes can be made up into all sorts of shapes and sizes
• Mini cakes – lots of little cakes can be easier to transport and can cater for allergies and special diets whilst still looking wonderful on a tiered stack
• Cheese – some people prefer cheese stacked up in tiers, decorated with flowers and fruit instead of the usual sweet offering

Remember that if you want to follow tradition and keep the top tier for the christening of future offspring, you will need to opt for the traditional fruit cake which can be kept for some years if required.

We have a whole other blog which goes in to much more detail on 'sweet bakes & wedding cakes', check it out here!

Selecting Your Signage & Stationery

Decide on your wedding style.  How formal or casual would you like the day to be?  This should be reflected in the style of signage and stationery you choose.  Don’t put too much information on the invitations which may confuse your guests and if you like a fancy font or sophisticated calligraphy, ensure it is legible and ask the advice of your stationer.  Consider the colours you want for your wedding as you may wish your stationery to lead the way in a coordinating shade.  Ensure your stationery supplier can produce all the items you want, not just the invitations! Don’t forget you may want to stretch to Save The Date cards, Evening Reception invitations, RSVP cards, Wedding Maps, Gift List cards, Menu cards, Order of Service cards, Table names/numbers, Place cards, Table plans and not forgetting the all-important ‘Thank you’ cards.