penelopesweddings.com

It has been a while since I last wrote on my blog. This year’s weddings where very popular and they kept us very busy.

Today’s post is for those couples that have just got engaged and are trying to find a suitable date and time of the year to get married. This decision is of course one of the first that the couples should make since it determines the remaining planning process, from the choice of the wedding dress, the choice of the venue to the style and theme of the wedding.

When you choose your wedding date you may want to consider a date that has special meaning for both of you or simply a date that all your guests (or at least most of them) will be able to attend.

If your choice is to get married abroad consider the high season factor; that is between May and September. During these months the flight and accommodation costs are higher. Other factors include the school holidays and public holidays.

If you decide to have your wedding in the UK then getting married during a week day between the months of October and February will be a cheaper option than getting married during a weekend. Also dates like Christmas and Valentines tend to be very popular and therefore more expensive.

Other things to take under consideration are the time and location as both determine the attire and the style of the wedding. A morning wedding will have a more relaxed atmosphere and therefore the choice of the bridal dress  and the attire of the groom should be different than an evening celebration. Location is also a very important factor since it determines all the basic planning and affects the guests greatly. You could also consider choosing a venue that is easily accessible by public transport.

Our First Steps service helps couples to take the first steps towards their wedding planning. With a two hour consultation we are able to give you guidelines, ideas and tips on how to begin planning your wedding, what to consider and what to avoid. For more information on our First Steps service please visit this link or contact us.

The style of your wedding dress should be the number one factor for your bouquet choice. Even though choosing the bouquet style and type of flowers is extremely personal, the choice of the style should be based entirely on the type of the wedding dress.

For example:

• For full-skirted wedding dresses  and dresses with a train, choose a shower bouquet;
• For A-line, ballerina or princess skirts, long and flowing trains, the trailing bouquet will be ideal;
• For short or calf-length skirts, 1950’s halter neck styles, choose a pomander bouquet;
• For an understated, modern look choose the hand-tied bouquet
• For traditional dress shapes, A-line skirts which flare from the waist, choose the tear-drop bouquet
• An overarm bouquet is ideal for outfits with lots of detailing, long and silky styles.

For more information on how we can help you to choose the right florist please contact us.

As a wedding planner I am responsible for almost every aspect of the wedding with one exception, the table plan.

This is the couple’s responsibility, which must not be taken lightly. What follows are a few tips on how to create a successful table plan while keeping all your guests happy:

• Seat people at a table who know each other; they will mix easier and conversation will flow.
• Divorced parents with new partners can be a challenge. It might be easier to suggest having each set of parents sitting/hosting a table instead of having them all on the head table.
• Place guests near the dancing floor that enjoy dancing.
• Seat young people who don’t mind loud music nearest to the speakers.
• If you are having children, place them together on tables especially decorated for them. An idea is to provide them with a  centerpiece with marshmallows and flowers, ‘gift bags’ with different toys and activities to keep them occupied.  You can even hire a child minder to keep them occupied.

For more further information click here

The choice of the photographer must not be taken lightly. You must make sure that you get the right person to suit your style.

Booking the photographer should be on top of your ‘to do’ list and you must book them as soon as you have decided and booked the wedding venue. Good photographers are snapped up at least 12 months in advance, therefore you wouldn’t want leave it to the last minute.

You can find a good photographer by asking your friends and family for suggestions. Talk with your married friends and have a look at their photos. If you like what you see, make a note and call the photographer to book an appointment and view their work. If you have already booked the venue, maybe they could give you information about the photographers they are co-operate with.

Go through the professional bodies such as, SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photography), MPA (Master Photographer Association) and BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography) to locate the photographers near you.

Before you arrange the appointment do some research on the Internet. Gather as much information as you can about their work, if they are available on the date you have set for your wedding and most of all their prices and their price policy. One thing is for sure . . . you don’t want to fall in love with someone’s work and at the end to find out that they are very expensive and you cannot afford to hire them.

Once you have chosen the photographer it is very important to arrange a meeting. It’s vital that you feel comfortable with them; after all you are going to spend most of your wedding day with them around and you would like to feel relaxed with their presence.

During the meeting, ask to see previous jobs. If possible ask to see the entire album, not only a selection of single images from each wedding. By viewing the whole wedding album you will get an idea on their work and if they are consistent.

Ask them if they are familiar with the venue that you’ve chosen, and if not ask for a rehearsal before the wedding day. This will help you choose the best locations and backdrops for the photo shoot.

Once you’ve decided on the photographer, you will need to sort out the money and the repayment schedule. Find out what is included in the price you are given and be very careful of hidden costs, such as traveling and overtime. Ask if they have professional indemnity insurance. Most of all, before you sign anything, confirm everything agreed in writing.

For more information on how to find the right photographer, please contact us.

Guide to finding the best wedding venues.

Finding the right venue may be one of the toughest decisions the couple have to make when they are planning for their wedding.

There are lots of factors to take under consideration before you decide on the venue; factors like the style of your wedding, the season, is it going to be an indoors or an outdoors event and most importantly is the ceremony and reception going to be held at the same place?

Nowadays with more and more couples getting married abroad the choice of having their ceremony and reception at the same place seems to be the most popular since it saves time and money.

Increasingly couples are getting married aboard to take advantage of weather and lower cost.Although this  provides a great many benefits it also adds to the stress in finding a good venue. However, with the right support structure this can be avoided. A wedding planner with knowledge of the area and venues will prove to be a good investment since they will help you find the best venues, with the best services, to meet your requirements and budget.

If you need help on choosing the right venue we have specific packages to do just this, please contact us.

As this is the first time I am writing for this blog, I thought it might be a good idea to share with you my story and how I decided to become a wedding planner.

Back in 2006 I was organising my wedding in my home country, Cyprus. I was living in London and I had to organise everything mostly by the phone. Our guest list included 250 people. Being born and raised in Ayia Napa area I knew exactly were I wanted the ceremony to take place and how the wedding to look like.

We wanted a romantic wedding that’s why we chose to have the ceremony at a chapel by the sea just outside Ayia Napa. The scenery was breathtaking; all our guests and especially those that flew from the UK specifically for our wedding were mesmerized by the tranquility and the beauty of the area.

The reception took place at a hotel by the beach. We wanted a private wedding so we decided to have the reception inside. The venue was decorated with lots of flowers and candles to create the romantic atmosphere. Flowers play a vital role when organising a wedding. Choosing the right flowers and finding a good florist is just as important as finding the right dress, photographer and venue.

We had a fantastic time and all of our guests had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

The idea of creating Penelope’s Exclusive Weddings hit me a few days after the wedding during our honeymoon. Everybody was telling us how fantastic and well organised the wedding was. My husband told me that if he had to re-live the day, he wouldn’t change anything! I wanted to use my experience to help other brides to have their dream wedding as I did.

I have always loved organising events; I used to organise gala dinners for charity purposes and even though it was stressful and tiring at times, I enjoyed every single moment.

If you want to have the wedding of your dreams, you need the right suppliers. The venue plays a vital role but without a good florist and a good caterer, the venue won’t stand on its own. The same applies for the photographer and videographer. After all you want your photos to be perfect and stay the course of time for your children and grandchildren to see.

If you would like to talk to me about how we might be able to help you find a supplier or a venue, co-ordinate the day or help you organise the wedding of your dreams from the beginning to the end, please contact us.

Penelope