by Michael | Aug 8, 2022 | Blog
I can save you reading the whole blog!
My spoiler is to tell you that the answer to the question “should I use a wedding planner, or not?” is that it is your choice! However, things are not necessarily so cut and dried.
To start you thinking, I suggest the following:
Reasons NOT to hire a Wedding Planner
- Budget is an issue; hiring a planner even for on-the-day management would mean no funds available for wedding essentials
- You have the time and desire to source and hire all suppliers independently
- You haven’t clicked with any Wedding Planner, as they may not share your vision
- The venue has an amazing co-ordinator whom you trust, or you have a family member happy to take on the role of planner.
Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner
- You have booked a dry-hire or a marquee wedding. It’s a much greater challenge than a hotel or standard venue because you have to organise everything from scratch.
- A Wedding Planner (WP) may be an outsider, but they can look at issues objectively, and make time-saving and money-saving suggestions. The fact that they have opinions does not imply that the process will be more complicated. it may even be the opposite.
- A WP is not necessarily more expensive than doing it all yourself. The WP is likely to have professional contacts who may offer a better price than those on the open market. Moreover, if your budget is tight, you can usually engage a WP for just a day or a week, although that obviously limits the offering.
- A Wedding Planner has a database of tried-and-tested wedding suppliers, ensuring you have a fabulous team working in synergy on the wedding day. And they can often negotiate discounts due to the repeat business.
- A good WP will work in an advisory role, and not impose their ideas on you! Their experience will allow them to make informed suggestions, but they know that the ultimate decision is down to you. Having said that, the WP may well be able to offer ideas for something unique. The ultimate decision is the couple’s, but the planner will showcase NEW ideas to them.
- Most importantly, perhaps, the WP offers the route to peace of mind, which is invaluable. The WP has that all-important check-list (on paper or in their head) and it is down to them to organise and confirm that everything is in order. This covers a huge range (from caterers to décor, from celebrant to photographer, from florist to make-up artist, and so on).
- The WP pre-empts issues and resolves disasters that might arise due to reasons beyond anyone’s control (and sometimes due to reasons within suppliers’ control too!).
- You might not be the most organised couple in the world and could be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to put in to finalise the plans. The thought of organising a wedding is bringing you out in hot sweats!
- In some cases, couples organise a wedding themselves, but do need support co-ordinating all the suppliers. In these situations, a planner might come on board a few months beforehand to assist the couple.
Conclusion
As I said at the beginning, the final decision has to be down to you,
There may well be justification for arranging things yourself (or with the help of friends and family). In the majority of cases, though, as you’ll guess, I recommend using a WP, if for no other reason than the fact that they will take the weight of worry off your shoulders, not just on the big day but, potentially, for weeks in advance.
You can find reputable Wedding Planners at https://www.ukawp.com/directory-uk-wedding-suppliers/
You might find this article helpful: https://www.ukawp,com/should-i-hire-a-wedding-day-coordinator-
And this one:
Do I need a wedding planner, and what do wedding planners do?
Image: www.elwoodphotography.co.uk
by Michael | Jun 27, 2022 | Blog
With all the (justified!) obsessive talk about inflation, the short piece in Saturday’s “Money” section of the “Daily Telegraph” may have gone unnoticed. However, the report (with statistics furnished by American Express) contains some horrifying revelations about how much wedding costs have risen since pre-COVID.
Apparently, it used to cost guests an average of £391 in 2019 to attend a wedding. (That’s quite surprising in itself!) Now, they say, this figure has risen to £883. And we’re not talking destination weddings!
It appears that, across the population, £15.6 billion is spent on outgoings such as accommodation, clothes, grooming and travel.
We learn that hair and beauty costs have jumped up 41% per wedding. Spending on outfits have gone up by more than a fifth to £159. This had accounted for £130 in 2019. Accommodation costs have gone up 31%.
Costs are always going to rise, of course, but it really makes accepting a wedding invitation something to think carefully about. And we aren’t even taking gifts into account!
I don’t think there is much we can do about it. As far as inflation goes, we mostly have to grin and bear it, so the same must go for wedding guest costs. I can’t wave a magic wand (I wish I could!) and resolve things. Mutual awareness, empathy and understanding are important.
Couples will have to consider the circumstances for their guests and be accepting if their guests have to duck out or can’t afford the Maserati that might be on the Wedding List! Just as guests may have to make a sacrifice or two to attend the wedding, so the couple must make sure (without going to extremes) that they show their appreciation to those guests who add so much to the whole affair.
A wedding is still a wonderful, memorable event (especially, with a great celebrant conducting the ceremony!).
But welcome to the new tomorrow!
Photo: www.elwoodphotography.co.uk
by Michael | Jun 13, 2022 | Blog
It’s not always necessary to spend an arm and a leg on a wedding. Some short cuts may be possible. But pros and cons need to be weighed up carefully.
Wedding Planners
A wedding planner is a pretty essential team-player for an elaborate or large affair. However, you can sometimes manage without one, especially if the ceremony is going to be straight-forward. There will still be a lot of work and responsibility on your shoulders – you may have to source the best suppliers and co-ordinate everything on the day yourself. You may be leaving yourself open to worry and anxiety in the lead-up to, and on, the big day. So think it through first.
The Venue
Again, if the ceremony is going to be very simple, and if you have the space, you can consider holding your wedding in your home or back garden. Of course, hiring a venue means you are paying for convenience and simplicity. Otherwise, you’ve got to be very aware of health and safety when setting up, and will need a lot of support before, and on, the day.
Officiant
You can avoid using the services of a professional, and get somebody else to prepare and read the ceremony. As a celebrant, I may be biased, and don’t recommend this! A celebrant will put together a wonderful ceremony based on your wishes and beliefs. They will also deliver it professionally and beautifully, as they are experienced public speakers. Their presence will also afford you calm and peace of mind, which are so valuable at a stressful time.
Extras
Do you really need that owl bringing the rings to the bridegroom? Bear in mind, if you’re trying to save money, what is dispensable and take into consideration what is essential to you.
Catering
If it’s a very small do, you can get away with buying in, laying out, serving, and washing up/disposing of the food and drink, not to mention the crockery, serviettes and cutlery yourself. You’ll have to make sure that special requests (eg vegetarians, gluten-free, children’s food) are looked after. Are you sure the saving here is worthwhile?
Entertainment
You can certainly save money by skipping the entertainment altogether, or by keeping it amateur. If you go for a reception, then be aware that not everybody will like what you offer. (The grannies and grandpas may not like a disco, for example.)
Photographers/Videographers
I think it’s a false economy to do without a professional photographer and/or videographer. You’re going to want tangible memories of your big day, and they need to be of high quality. You may know someone who’s a dab hand at photography and will do it for you. It does mean that they will not be able to enjoy the day properly and – even worse – if they stuff up, then your friendship may risk being sacrificed.
The list could go on! But I hope it gives you something to start on, as you plan your big day – and, if you decide to use a civil celebrant, please have a chat with me!
by Michael | Jun 7, 2022 | Blog
Returning to day-to-day affairs seems a little mundane, after the weekend we’ve just had! It’s been even harder for me, as I celebrated my birthday right in the middle of the long weekend. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the Jubilee (and my birthday!).
A few weeks ago (I’m afraid I got distracted, and put it off!) The Daily Telegraph published an interesting article. Apparently, marriages in places of worship now (as of 2019) account for less than a fifth of all ceremonies. This is the first time such a drop has been recorded – and actually represents a record low.
Religious ceremonies accounted for 18.7% of opposite-sex marriages, and same-sex a mere 0.7%.
One reason suggested was that more couples are choosing to live together, rather than marry, but that doesn’t really explain the drop in the religious option. I wonder if it is more connected with the drop in active church-going.
Incidentally, I wonder if this will get worse before it recovers. Faced with all the uncertainty around Covid and social distancing, people prefer the greater flexibility of a civil celebrant to the rigidity of the Church.
I am not going to knock religious ceremonies (especially as I chose to marry in a full religious ceremony myself!). Obviously, they appeal to those religiously inclined, and can offer a personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful ceremony in a special setting.
Drawbacks could be perceived to be that they are rather one-size-fits-all. The basic liturgy is followed, and will be the same – or similar – for each couple. There is little flexibility in readings, texts, ritual etc., whereas a celebrant-led service can provide all these.
There can be complications, such as a mixed-marriage, which is no problem for a civil celebrant, but which may present difficulties for the priest. Moreover, a full-blown religious service can be a bit much for people who are only lukewarm towards religion, as it is.
The Church can be a lovely setting, but a civil venue can be chosen that is equally, or even more, spectacular and atmospheric.
So each to their own, of course. There is plenty to be said for religious weddings, but they are not everybody’s cup of tea. A personalised celebrant-led ceremony may well tick all the boxes.
To find out how, a chat with me may be all that you need!
by Michael | May 30, 2022 | Blog
As a wedding celebrant, “congratulations!” is very much part of my vocabulary. I was going to say “everyday vocabulary”, but there’s nothing everyday or mundane about a special occasion! Each one deserves to be celebrated to the full.
I know this is a little premature, but my usual blogging day is Tuesday and the following Tuesday would miss the Jubilee celebrations, However, I wouldn’t be the first to start early.
Obviously, I’m directing these particular congratulations to our monarch, Queen Elizabeth. I somehow doubt if she’ll be reading this (although I suspect she may be a secret subscriber!), but such an occasion cannot be ignored.
I’ve been in business as a celebrant for almost ten years; the Queen for 7 times as long. Even if she wasn’t still fulfilling a daunting workload in her nineties, the length of her service would be impressive. She may not have originally wanted to be queen, but she has certainly embraced the role and taken it seriously. She has totally devoted herself to it.
I don’t expect my business to go on as long as the Queen’s (perhaps I will double the present length of my service, if health allows), but I hope I can share her commitment and skills in some way.
I simply congratulate Her Majesty, and wish her continued good health so that she can continue to inspire others and to work on as long as she wishes to.
Congratulations, ma’am!
