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