Blog Archives

Although wedding planning should be fun and exciting, there are  absolutely times when the whole process can become stressful. Many couples might become worried that they’re “supposed” to be happy and enjoying the planning process, but this just isn’t the case for everyone.

There may be times when the stress becomes too much. I’ve written this post that tells you exactly how to deal with wedding planning stress to keep you calm and content.

 

Don’t Worry About Other People

A lot of couples spend their time worrying about what other people might want on the day. It can be easy to get caught up too much with what others want so you forget what you want. It’s your day, so try not to get too bogged down about pleasing other people.

 

Take a Break

Sometimes, you and your partner may forget that the whole point of your wedding is to demonstrate your love for each other. It might be worthwhile to go on a short getaway to spend some quality time together and get away from table plans, invitations and cake designs.

 

Try to Avoid Drama

You might have a guest who’s stressing because they couldn’t book a room at your recommended hotel, or two of your friends bought the same dress for the day and both are refusing to return it. Your mum doesn’t like the idea of an outdoor ceremony (at all) and your dad is adamant that your dress should have sleeves.

You should try to avoid any drama that surrounds your big day like the examples above. People will need to sort their own problems out themselves without getting you involved, particularly when it’s issues like booking a room. It may feel like you’re responsible for the issue, but you’re not.

 

Ask Others for Help

You won’t be able to cope with all of the planning yourself – this is why you have bridesmaids and groomsmen. You should ask them to get involved to help you out with certain decisions or appointments.

If you’re DIYing a lot of aspects of the wedding, such as your invitations, you could organise a girls’ night. Get your ‘maids over, crack open a bottle of wine (or two) and do it as a fun task together. Not only is it a way for you to de-stress, but you’re also being productive which is a bonus!

If you’re worried about certain tasks that need to be done on the day, such as handing confetti out or taking the flowers from the church to your venue, you can always ask friends and family members for help. Tell them what they need to do on the day and they’ll do it, leaving you completely stress free.

 

Be Organised

For some people, organisation doesn’t come easily. However, the more organised you are, the more likely it is that your stress levels will reduce. You should keep track of any appointments in a diary. Make a to-do list to ensure that you’re staying on track. There are tonnes of wedding to-do list templates, like this one from Bride Magazine, that you can use for free. It’s also a good idea to keep a list of all of your supplies and their contact details in case you need to phone them.

 

Take a Step Back

Occasionally, the wedding planning process can become too much and it’s more than okay to take a step back when you need to. If you find that you’re becoming overwhelmed, take a week off planning and instead, focus on doing some fun activities. If you enjoy walking, you could organise a hike with your partner. You may want to go on a spa weekend with your mum or even just go out for a drink with the lads.

 

Looking to cut costs and build your own photo booth? Here’s how you can do it.

Entertaining your guests can become expensive – bands can cost hundreds of pounds, as can DJs, and what about the cost of a magician? Whether you’re trying to save the pennies or you want to do something fun for your guests, creating your own photo booth could be the answer.

 

How to make a photo booth

First, you’ll need a camera or a smartphone with a good quality camera, and a tripod to put it on.

You’ll need a mixture of props. Think hats, glasses, masks, inflatables, false beards, wigs, etc. The crazier the better! To make it easier, you can buy ready-made sets of photo booth props. Just take a look at somewhere like Hobbycraft for ideas.

 

Where should I put the photo booth?

Now that you’ve figured out what props you want, you need to find a place for your photo booth.

It would be a good idea to have it close to the dance floor or in the same room where the main reception is. You don’t want to set it up in a place where your guests won’t be able to find it.

You should also consider the backdrop and the lighting. Are there any curtains around a window that can be closed to create a backdrop? You may be able to find a blank wall that can be used.  You don’t want the background to detract from the guests in the photo, so choose something plain. Remember that the camera flash could reflect on a shiny background so, to avoid glare, make sure the wall doesn’t have shimmery wallpaper.

If you wanted to, you could create your own backdrop. You could hang chiffon like this incredible setup:

 

Backdrop with white fabric and pallets

This backdrop would be incredible for an Autumn wedding!

Or, you could create a colourful ribbon backdrop. For a more simple backdrop, you could hang a bedsheet in your choice of colour. Just be sure to confirm with the venue how you can hang it to prevent any damage.

If you want to push the boat out, you could have a flower wall created. The wall could be used throughout the day, and then moved to the photo booth location for the evening.

 

How will the photo booth work?

Now that you’ve got all your props and equipment together, you need to make sure the system will work flawlessly on the day.

First, you’ll need to set the camera or the phone on a timer. If you’re unsure how to do this, either check the manual or Google it. A 5- or 10-second timer should be enough. You should also make sure that there’s plenty of storage on the device. You may have to buy an additional memory card. You don’t want the device to stop taking photos because it’s got full memory.

Then, you might want to put a sign out that advises your guests of how to use the photo booth. It could say something like

Press the button and strike a pose!

This lets your guests know to push the button on the camera themselves.

When the day is over, you’ll have plenty of fun looking at all the ridiculous photos of your guests. Don’t forget to add them somewhere so your guests can see them. Facebook might be a good place to do this. That way, you can tag them in the photos!

 

If you want to take the hassle out of making your own photo booth, there are plenty of companies out there who can take care of everything for you!

 

Your wedding photographs are the one thing that remain once the wedding day is over to show all the little moments – your first dance, getting into your dress, and your first meal as a married couple.

But taking the perfect photos takes time, especially when you and your new husband or wife disappear off to have your photo shoot together.

No matter what part of the day you have your couple’s photo shoot, there may be a significant amount of time where you and your partner, the main stars of the show, disappear for an hour. But what are your guests going to do during this time?

I’ve had a think and have come up with some ideas on how to keep your wedding guests entertained during your photos.

 

If you’re having your photos during the drinks reception…

Lots of couples choose to have their photos during the drinks reception. This seems like a natural time. If you’re getting married at a church, people will be gradually arriving at your reception venue and receiving their welcome drinks and canapés. If you get married at a venue, it’s likely that they’ll want to turn the room around for your wedding breakfast.

So, if you want to have your photos taken during this time, there are a couple of entertainment options you can have.

The first is music. Hiring a string quartet, a pianist, a flautist, or even a singer to perform during your drinks reception is a great idea. Your guests won’t even notice that you’ve disappeared!

The second is games. If your venue has an outdoor space, you could hire some lawn games for your guests, particularly the children.

Finally, you could hire some bartenders who specialise in performance. Otherwise known as flair bar-tending, they can entertain your guests and throw glasses around while creating special cocktails for your guests.

 

Bride and groom posing outside amongst the grass

 

If you’re having your photos after your meal…

Some couples prefer to have their photos later on in the day. There’s usually a natural break between your wedding breakfast/speeches and the evening reception.

Say your wedding breakfast finishes at 5.30 but your evening guests aren’t arriving until 7, you have an hour and a half to have your photo shoot. This can be a beautiful time to have photos in spring or autumn as the sun usually sets around this time.

This would be an excellent time to have a photo booth set up for your guests or even something a little more quirky such as a caricaturist to draw people while they’re enjoying tea and coffee.

 

If you’re having your photos after your first dance…

This would be an unusual time to have your photos, but in the summer, it can still be light outside after 9pm. Make the most of the warm summer evenings and get some beautiful sunset photos.

But your guests need entertaining in the evening. DJs are still very popular so your guests can have a dance. Bands are also becoming increasingly popular. Although they’re more expensive, nothing equals the sound of a live band to create some amazing music.

 

Bride and groom dancing at sunset