Wedding Dress dilemma - use our Personal Finder Service

Here at Premier Wedding Planners Scotland we strive to provide an exceptional service for our clients that is innovative and original. We are continually evaluating our service and developing it further to offer the best service possible.

Now we we can help you with what could be argued to be one of the most important aspects of your day - helping you find the perfect dress.

This involves us identifying suitable dresses, based initially on information from you about the desired dress shape/cut, your likes and dislikes, colour and fabric preferences, and even your theme for the wedding. We then use this information with our expert knowledge and experience of what will work on the certain body shapes (whether you are an athletic build, more pear-shaped, or hour-glass, etc), along with considering your budget, to pick out a selection of 'dream' dresses.

By chatting with you, asking specific questions, and using a look-book of designs; we gain a full understanding and grasp the vision of what it is you are looking for and what will suit you. Therefore ensuring you look "Stunning" on your big day - just the way you have dreamt it.

Being constantly exposed to wedding dress designers we understand wedding dress trends and are in the perfect position to compile a list of dresses that will suit you.

Teaming this with our knowledge of what Bridal Boutiques stock which designers, we can then set up appointments at specific Bridal Boutiques (local to you) to try the recommended dresses.

Furthermore, we can also help your to find the perfect pair of 'Cinderella slippers', and accessories such as veils and tiaras.

The options are limitless - contact Premier Wedding Planners Scotland today for a free consultation and let us discuss your perfect wedding dress - another service to help turn your dream day into a reality.

Lucy

Cheryl and Andy's perfect day......

Ever since she was a little girl Cheryl dreamed of marrying at Blair Castle, which sits spectacularly within the Perthshire countryside. Her dream came true this summer, when she married Andy in the grand white castle. White and ivory classic colours were used to dispel a crisp clean romantic theme within the castle venue, using hydrangeas, peonies, pearls and candles, as well as a monogram theme to portray a regal element.The champagne reception took place in the glass fronted Banvie hall, which was kitted out in a casino theme to keep guests entertained. Pink champagne and a string quartet accompanied this.The religious ceremony and meal were held in the huge dramatic ballroom, which then hosted ceilidh dancing late into the evening. The night ended with the bride tossing her bouquet and the newlyweds escaping off on their honeymoon...

Their breathtaking day was chosen to be featured in the Scottish Wedding Directory's Real Life Weddings supplement. To read more about it .....

http://www.reallifeweddings.co.uk/PDFs/RLWw09/084_RLWw09.pdf

Lucy
Destination Wedding Planner Scotland

No kids Allowed? How to tactfully not invite them....

Cheryl and I are noticing that more and more of our clients are saying ‘no’ to children at their wedding. It can be a very difficult situation to be in. I happen to love children at events, they add a fun and carefree dynamic to the day, but couples can have different, and legitimate, reasons for not wanting kids at their weddings. For some, it can be numbers - the venue doesn't hold enough. For others, it is cost - paying for meals that most probably wont be finished. And for some, it can be behaviour. Children can potentially cry through your vows or be skidding across the floor of your sophisticated champagne reception. This is not necessarily ‘bad’ behaviour - it is just kids! Yet this is not to say that you would like this behaviour at your wedding. It’s okay to agree with any of the above reasons for not having them at your wedding though - it is ‘your’ day! Just as your guests appreciate your decision on the type of ceremony, the venue or the catering, they should appreciate your decision on inviting children. If people feel that they are unable to go places where their children are not invited, then those people are free to decline the invitation.


Having said that, it can be awkward to broach the subject. Usually, the way to not invite certain people is..... just not invite them! Wedding invite etiquette insists that every guest must be invited by their name, even tiny infants. Therefore, if there name isn't on the invite, the haven't got an invite.


If you are worried this is not clear enough and are worried that guests may take their children along, you must be more to the point. Be nice, yet firm and to the point. A separate note inside the invitation can be a good idea of doing this, saying something along the lines of ‘We love your children, but our wedding is an adult only event. Thank you for understanding!’ There is nothing incorrect about inviting some children and not inviting others. You follow that same rules as for inviting adults: invite those you know and care about and do not invite those you do not know and do not care about (harsh, but true). Of course you have to be careful not to exclude children in such as way that hostility will be created between you and their parent(s). If you invite your Aunt Marge, Uncle Homer, and cousins Lisa and Maggie, it would be inconsiderate to not invite Lisa's and Maggie's brother Bart. Just try to make sure your policy is fair if you do decide to invite some and not others i.e. family only, only over 12s, etc.


Try not to worry too much though - some parents will in fact enjoy an evening where they can let their hair down without worrying about what their child is doing. Consider carefully the pros and cons of inviting children to be a part of your big day before making your decision as a couple.


Lucy

Scottish Wedding Planners

What your Groom is REALLY thinking....

Whilst flicking through one of my favourite glossy magazines last week, I came across a feature called ‘What he’s really thinking on your wedding day’, and it got me thinking.......what ARE grooms really thinking on their wedding day??


Stereotypically, the groom doesn’t appear to have to do much with regard to the wedding except turn up on time and say ‘I do’ - well, he might have to arrange the honeymoon maybe, or handle one aspect of the wedding his fiancee has delegated, while she usually agonises over every minor detail. Surely stress free, no?


The reason for this, it could be argued, is that ‘the wedding’ has been designed for women. The ring, the dress, the flowers, the cake.....it’s a girl thing really. Yet, throughout this girl-orientated day, there are a number of scary scary scary elements that grooms have to face. The author of the feature I read appropriately named these as ‘The Four Tests of a Bridegroom’. These are listed below, with some possible thoughts from a mans' perspective:


Test One: The Vows

Managing to say them, not shout or squeak them. In fact just managing to speak at all. Managing to not mess up the words, managing to say something sincere & heartfelt. The kiss - peck, long, which direction to put his head? Managing to contain his emotions so he doesn't cry like a girl....


Test Two: The Speech

As above, except this time he has the eyes of all the guests on him. And potentially still beaming from embarrassment from the Best Man’s speech....


Test Three: Leading the Dance

Even for the most confident John Travolta’s this is intimidating - all eyes on him again. Not stepping on her toes/dress. Managing to deviate from the safe ‘side to side sway’ to something a bit more impressive - without looking like a fool....


Test Four: ‘Consummating’ the marriage.....too tired? Too much alcohol?....


So Brides, have some sympathy for your Bridegrooms....yes they (frustratingly) might not have as much work to do in the lead up to the wedding as you do, but they do have an awful lot to live up to on the day. And remember, they are marrying you because they want to spend the rest of their life with you......and all this ‘the wedding’ scary stuff? That’s all because they love you and want you to have ‘your’ perfect day.....


Lucy

Wedding Planning for the ultimate Wedding in Scotland

Why get married in Scotland?

Gossip columns are currently abuzz with rumours that Take That’s Mark Owen is going to marry in Cawdor Castle in the Highlands of Scotland. If he does, he wont be the first celebrity......Madonna, Stella McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Ashley Judd, even Phillip Schofield, all chose to hold their nuptials in Scotland. And it’s not just celebrities - couples from all over the world are drawn here like these newlyweds at Edinburgh Castle - but what is the appeal of getting married in Scotland?


First and foremost, Scotland is a beautiful and historic place. It has long been known as a romantic venue for a wedding - imagine exchanging your vows in an ancient chapel, a candle-lit vault, a castle by a Loch or a beautiful ruin. With its beautiful countryside and abundance of stunning castles, Scotland offers one of the most romantic settings in the world. It’s weather, yes, can be dubious, but it can be beautiful, and our four distinctive seasons make for beautiful scenery - Flowers starting to bud in the Spring, Summer flowers blooming, leaves turning every shade of yellow, red, orange and brown in Autumn, and a snowy and frosty magical wonderland in the Winter.


The village of Gretna Green in the south of Scotland is has a long historic connection with weddings. It is one of the most popular places in the world to get married, with more than 5000 couples per year doing so. Gretna's famous runaway marriages began in 1753 when an Act of Parliament was passed in England which stated that if both parties to a marriage were not at least 21 years old, then consent to the marriage had to be given by the parents. This Act did not apply in Scotland, where it was possible for boys to get married at 14 and girls at 12 years old with or without parental consent. Therefore couples headed just over the border from England into Scotland so they could get married legally.


Our deep rooted wedding traditions are something that proves popular with couples. From the moving melody of the bagpipes, to our traditional Scottish dress of the Kilt, to our renowned reputation of throwing a great party, couples like to embrace Scottish customs. Couples often opt for a traditional Ceilidh band so they can dance all night to customary dances such as the Gay Gordons and The Dashing White Sergeant.
Getting married?

Why not contact Premier Wedding Planners Scotland to see if we can help you plan your dream day?


Lucy

Choosing 'The Rings....'

The exchange of rings at a wedding is one, if not the most meaningful parts to the whole day, and has long been a tradition of marriage. Although not legally important, wearing a wedding ring is one way of showing your love and commitment to your partner (it’s also a nice subtle way to let people know you are off the market!) The shape ring itself is of course a circle, and circles are said to symbolise eternity, therefore wedding rings are said to represent an everlasting circle of love. They are said to be worn on the third finger of the left hand as the vein of this finger travels directly to the heart (cute!). Originally they were made from grass, plants and hair!! Fortunately a wider range of ring materials are now available....

Like the engagement ring, you have to love it, as you’ll be wearing it everyday for the rest of your life. As discussed in the previous blog, make sure your engagement and wedding rings complement one another – having them in the same metal is a good way to help them correlate. Of late, white gold and platinum are most popular, but the choices are endless!

Many men choose a wedding ring made from platinum due to its strength and durability. However if this is an important factor for your Groom he should also consider titanium, as this metal is not only strong but also holds less weight than other metals, making the ring lighter and easy to wear.

Many couples choose ‘plain’ bands, but rings with diamonds and/or gemstones are also widely available. You don’t have to go blingtastic like Peter Andre & Katie Price did for their rings, a few subtle stones can be beautiful

Or why not consider a personal touch by having your rings engraved? This could be on the outside or inside of the band. Your partner’s name or initials, date of marriage, small quote? Or what about having your partner’s fingerprint engraved into your ring? Andrew English specialises in ring engraving

If none of that takes your fancy then why not consider something bespoke? Jewellery designers can make a unique design for you & your partner. Sometimes this can be more expensive, but not always - visit a few jewellers who offer this service for a consultation - you might be pleasantly surprised.

Lucy

Oh, and another thing – remember to adjust your home contents insurance to cover your new rings!

Having the wedding you really want….

Last week a distraught bride-to-be contacted me in floods of tears…..’I don’t know what to do, it’s gone too far now, I can’t say no, it’ll upset them and cause an argument.…’ She and her fiancé had wanted a small civil ceremony, yet pressure to please everyone had led them to book a Priest & a Cathedral. You might not think this could happen to you, but from the amount of couples I have worked with I know how frequently and easily this happens.…….your cousin assumes she’s a bridesmaid, your Mother wants you to wear her wedding dress, your in-laws want you to have a huge wedding inviting all their friends (most of whom you have never even met. It is important that right from the start you have the wedding that you and your partner want.
It can be easy to get bulldozed into having a particular kind of wedding just to suit your parents/in-laws, even friends. To help this from happening to you, make sure you state the ground rules clearly. Problems often occur when people ‘assume’ you are ‘having this’ or ‘doing that’. Getting everything out in the open and making your intentions clear from the beginning will get any thorny issues discussed at an early stage and cleared up so to minimise any conflict, disappointment - or even resentment - further down the line. It is important to understand and respect the views of others, especially your parents. However, it is equally important that they should respect yours. If parents are contributing, it can be difficult. Let them know what you would like, and start to compromise. Also consider a compromise if it is your partner that you are having disagreement with. A willingness to work together is what marriage is all about! Consider what is really important.

Remember, it is your wedding day. Be true to yourselves. And make it your perfect day.

Lucy.

Oh, and just to let you know, I have now helped that bride-to-be book a quaint venue and a Registrar for her special day….… just the way she wanted it!

First things first........When???

So you're engaged - yipee!!!! Your head will be buzzing with excitement - dreaming of how you'll look on your big day in your fabulous dress, who will be your bridesmaids, where you want to go on Honeymoon............STOP! Yes, these things are so exciting and most probably key factors in your wedding, however, without a venue and a date you haven't got anything! Please, ensure this is what you organise first. Obviously, this is where I step in and say you should enlist the help of a wedding planner! Many people think that hiring a professional is a luxury they just cannot afford. However, we can not only save you valuable time and take the stress out of the whole planning process, we can also help with ideas, recommend the best value & most reliable suppliers, and help smooth out any problems you may come across - remember - we have been there and seen it all before! We can also help pull in the reins when you are tempted to over-spend (& it is highly likely you will be, believe me!!!) When choosing a Wedding Planner the most important thing is finding someone you have a good rapport with & who shares your visions and dreams for your wedding. Cheryl and I believe we cater to everyone’s tastes - we are both highly motivated with an unfaltering attention to detail; yet while Cheryl is cool, calm and collected, I am super lively and bubbly!

Anyway - back to the date & venue. You probably have an idea of a possible date/month you would like, but you might need to be flexible on this. Firstly, if you are opting for a popular venue it might be booked (think Bride Wars - but it's not just The Plaza Hotel in New York that gets booked up years in advance!), especially if you are opting for one of the traditional wedding months. Consider your options.....do you really need to get married on a Saturday in August? Weekdays & Sundays are becoming more popular, and are definitely a cheaper option - as are out of season months. Remember to consider though those who work weekdays, or that a Sunday wedding might mean guest having to take Monday off.


As for choosing your month, winter weddings can be fabulous....snow, (fake) fur shrugs, fairy lights, glitter.... One of our clients got married between Christmas and New Year and had a 'Winter Wonderland' theme, one of the highlights being a Christmas tree decorated in favours that guests could choose from and take home. Every year I hang that favour on my tree and remember what a fantastic day it was (extra bonus - a favour that I can use/want to keep - but that's a story for another blog another time!!) Many of the guests spoke about how it was really nice to go to a wedding in the winter, as during the summer they felt that it had been a bit 'wedding-crazy' for them.


Time of the year can have a huge impact on the type of wedding you have. Many brides dream of a glorious summers day, flowers in bloom as she gets photographed on the lawn. However, just because you picked July this is not guaranteed!!! Please have a contingency plan at the ready for rain/hail/sleet/snow - just as Scotland can have beautiful weather, we can also have 4 seasons in 1 day. Also, try to take account of other events i.e. World Cup. You might not care much for football, yet you will be mighty upset if half the guests don't turn up, or sneak a radio into your ceremony to hear the scores! Another example of this is of a couple from the USA who wanted to get married in Edinburgh around the time of the military tattoo so their guests could spend a few days in the city after the ceremony to see it. It became, unfortunately, quite a costly decision, as flights and accommodation around this time is always more expensive. A bit of research at the beginning could save you a lot of grief in the long run. Discuss it with your partner and closest family & friends. Get your diaries out and pencil in a few potential dates. Take into consideration how long you would like/will need to plan your perfect day. Armed with these thought, start considering where you would like to say your vows