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How to choose a Wedding Photographer
Recently engaged, I can completely relate to the fear of choosing the right Wedding Photographer for you and your Wedding Budget. Hopefully I can help you by sharing my Wedding Planning knowledge and my personal experience with you.
So, where do you start? Well, I should admit to jumping straight in myself and searching like mad without thinking what was important to us and not considering the budget, but like all, I was excited and wanted to see what was out there.
After being brought back down to earth, we needed to set our budget and find out what services would be covered. Also, we needed to decide whether the quality of the photography or the budget was more important. I always advise my clients that you only get married once and going with a budget photographer might be risky business. Just ensure you do you research, ask around for recommended, tried and tested photographers and view their portfolio. Ensure it includes photos of the entire wedding not just their best shots.
From there, we decided what parts of the wedding we wanted to capture. Most Wedding Photographers basic packages will cover the brides preparations right through to the first dance. I personally wanted to capture the boys too! We also thought that some of the best shots could be taken in the evening when everyone’s….how do I put it….a little more relaxed.
So let the search begin…..we researched Wedding Photographers from all over the UK to identify the perfect style for us.
We now had our budget, style, idea of what service we wanted, so we whittled it down to a few Wedding Photographers and made contact to obtain quotes. Once we received those we scheduled meetings with them. It’s important you not only love their work but you get on with them and they get on with you. To help you ask the right questions, I caught up with Lee from Lee Allison Photography who kindly suggested some questions:
– Ask to meet them in person to build a relationship (one of the most important things to get the best possible photographs)
– Do they have a professional camera body x2! In case something goes wrong
– Do they have professional lenses?
– Do they have flashes to use inside if its raining?
– Do they have insurance?
– Will they spend time planning the day in every detail?
– Will they visit the venue beforehand
– Do they have professional editing software?
– Do they understand light in order to get the best possible photographs?
Considering a Wedding Marquee?
Over the past few years Wedding Marquees and alternative Tents are becoming extremely popular. Many couples are opting to host their weddings at home or to hire land so they can be flexible with their arrangements.
Traditional Wedding Marquees, typically in white or cream, offer an elegant blank canvas for your Wedding. They have wooden internal support poles that could act as a feature when decoratednatural canvas coverings and guy ropes, they need to be positions on grass. If it’s a nice day, you can remove all or some of the sides to bring the outside in.
Rectory Farm, Cambridge 
Rectory Farm, Cambridge 
Rectory Farm, Cambridge 
Credit: D&D Marquee Hire & Sarah Vivienne Photography
Credit: D&D Marquee Hire 
Credit: D&D Marquee Hire
Credit: D&D Marquee Hire 
Credit: D&D Marquee Hire
Cheryl Cole Announces Shes Married
Cheryl Cole announced her marriage to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, her French boyfriend of three months.
She posted the image of her amazing platinum princess cut diamond engagement ring today on twitter “I usually do not discuss my personal life but to stop speculation I want to share my happy news….Jean-Bernard married on 7/7/14… we are very happy and excited to move forward with our lives together…”.
It has been reported the couple married on a beach on the island of Mustique with just four guests in attendance including Cheryl’s mother Joan Callaghan, but the singer did not give any details about the ceremony.
Creating your own Wedding Website
With most people being computer savvy and more and more with access to the internet, the popularity of using Wedding websites is ever growing. Wedding websites come in a wide variety of designs for free or you can pay to add additional services and make it extra unique to you.
Wedding websites are a great way of sharing important information, especially if you have a lot of guests travelling from a far, as you can detail travel and accommodation in advance, ensuring your guests can plan their trip.
It is very simple to set up your own site and you can make use of the RSVP management system feature to save further money, allow guests to upload their photos from your special day, guest book and much more. Most sites should also allow you keep it private but setting up a unique password so that only your friends and family can view your website.
Some of my favourite sites:
Www.weddingwindow.com
Offers a free and premium service.
www.weddingjojo.com
Free – $14.99 per month
Www.appycouple.com
One off payment – $35
Get your very own app and matching website.
www.mywedding.com
Offering over 600 designs for free.
http://en.wordpress.com/weddings/
Offering a range of free and a range of priced templates.
What to include on your wedding website
- You can decide what information you do and don’t include, but I thought it would be helpful to provide a list of everything I can think of, here goes:
A welcome message for your guests.
Photos of the happy couple.
Information and you, your love story, habits, likes, dislikes etc.
Contact information.
Basic information such as date, time and location.
The bridal party.
What will happen on the day, a mini schedule of the day.
Travel and accommodation information, you could think about local hotels (sometimes your wedding venues may offer a discount for guests attending your wedding and perhaps discounted rates), maps, directions, where to park, public transport and taxi numbers. You could even create a travel pack including all this information, so guests can download and print.
Gift list, provide links to places you have registered, charities and or a money poem.
Dress code.
Seating plan.
Menu.
RSVP management, including dietary requirements and the deadline.
Guest book.
Photo upload.
Further information for example babysitting services, if there a free bar or should they bring money or a message to inform guests that it is an adult only wedding or music requests.
You could also use a website to show engagement party and hen/stag do information.
Don’t forget to add your wedding website address and password to your save the date cards and wedding invitations.
Unique Edible Wedding Favours
Wedding favours are a small gift given to guests by the bride and grooms to show their appreciation during a wedding. They come in many forms and vary in price. It is believed that the first wedding favour was a small trinket box, known as a bonbonniere, made of crystal, porcelain and or precious stones. They were traditionally filled with sugar cubes, which showed wealth and royalty. As the price of sugar deflated throughout the centuries, the idea of provided guests with a gift became the modern thing to do and Almonds quickly became the in thing. These than transformed into what we know today as sugared almonds.
Here are some of my favourite, unique edible wedding favours:
Chocolate Wedding Favours
Yummy chocolate truffles in vintage styled tins, Ferrero Roche chocolates, white chocolate buttons with sprinkles in a small jar and a hot chocolate sachet with two heart shaped marshmallows all make the perfect chocolate wedding favour. Most of them are easy to create yourself and if you fancy it, why not try to make your own chocolate truffles!
Chocolate Wedding Favours
Sweet Wedding Favours
Cake pops doubling up as place name cards and easy to fit within your throne colour. Candy gloss and love hearts in small jars with cute material over the lid, heart shaped fudge and ice cream in a jar kept cool by placing in ice.
Sweet Wedding Favours
Cake Wedding Favours
The new wedding trend 2014 is cupcakes in a jar making the perfect wedding favour. Mini muffins in cellophane, tied with a ribbon is a cute addition to your wedding guests place setting. Danish parties in tins and cookies and milkshake also make for amazing Cake Wedding Favours.
Cake Wedding Favours
Sauce Wedding Favours
There are many different sauces you could buy or create yourself and bottle up for unique edible wedding favours. BBQ sauce, sweet chilli sauce and hot sauce are just some of the ones you could create. The mini Heinz Ketchup are so sweet and who doesn’t like ketchup? Oil infused with Rosemary and other herbs are great for earthy wedding themes. If you are a dab hand at making jam, get creating different types and jar it up for your wedding guests.
Sauce Wedding Favours
Fruit Wedding Favours
Who said edible wedding favours need to be unhealthy? All fruit can double up as a wedding favour. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes and much more, can all be displayed in different ways from mini tin buckets, fruit baskets, paper bags etc.
organs, apples and pears are all great to use for that added touch to your place setting and can be used as a place name card a swell as fruit wedding favours.
Fruit Wedding Favours
What edible wedding favours did you have at your wedding?
Top 10 Wedding Venues in Cambridgeshire
1. Chilford Hall, Linton
Chilford Hall is one of the oldest vineyards, set within 15 acres of Cambridgeshire’s beautiful rolling country side. The Garden rooms, their new semi-permanent glass frontage marquee, offers the perfect place to celebrate your wedding day with up to 150 guests. You can choose to hold your ceremony in the marquee or under their licensed oak gazebo in the gardens.
Glen and team are happy to work with your budget and needs, to ensure everything is exactly what you wanted.
If you have already booked your venue; why not check out the wine tasting hen or stag parties they offer.
For further information go to Chilford Hall’s website: www.chilfordhall.co.uk
2. Longstowe Hall, Longstowe, Cambridge
Longstowe Hall, a family home, is an elegant venue set within pretty English gardens that sweep down to the lake and will be exclusive to you.
Longstowe Hall can accommodate up to 100 guests for a ceremony and you have the option of The Great Hall or the gazebo set on a small island within the gardens.
The marquee, with two clear sides, is an idyllic location for any wedding breakfast and the natural décor allows for any wedding theme. The controlled up-lighters and chandeliers allow you to create the perfect ambiance when the night draws in.
For further information, go to Longstowe Hall’s website: www.longstowehall.co.uk
3. Island Hall, Godmanchester
Island Hall is an attractive, riverside mansion and was built in the late 1740s. The gardens are enclosed with 18th century brick walls and mature trees, and are connected by a Chinese-style bridge to the island in the River Great Ouse from which the house takes its name. The Chinese bridge is a replica of the original 18thcentury bridge, long lost, but happily recorded in old photographs.
The family open their home to a handful of couples each year and the venue will be exclusive to you. They are licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 80 guests in the house. For the wedding breakfast they can offer a more intimate affair in the house or larger weddings of up to 250 guests in the marquee.
For further information, go to Island Hall’s website: www.islandhall.com
4. The Old Hall, Stuntney, Ely
The Old Hall is a Jacobean manor house set within 2000 acres providing stunning views across Ely and stunning Ely Cathedral. It is a 5 star gold Bed and Breakfast and is an exclusive wedding venue for you and your guests.
They are able to offer civil ceremonies under the oak gazebo, overlooking the impressive lake and the wedding breakfast would follow in the marquee, accommodating up to 150 guests. The marquee is ivory lined with pea lights in the ceiling and has two sides of glass highlighting the rolling countryside. The adjoining dance marquee, separated by curtains, is revealed to really start the celebration.
For further information, go to The Old Hall’s website: www.theoldhallhotelely.co.uk
5. Bassmead Manor Barns, Staploe, Eastern Socon
Bassmead Manor Barns are set within the medieval moat of an ancient manor house. The converted barn boasts a wonderful 300-year-old barn for weddings, a breathtaking, contemporary reception barn and overnight accommodation.
The beautiful, landscaped garden bordered by the moat has a secluded pergola and tranquil views across open countryside.
It is licensed to hold civil ceremonies of up to 150 guests and can accommodate the same numbers for a wedding breakfast.
For further information, visit Bassmean Manor Barn’s website: www.bassmeadmanorbarns-weddings.co.uk
6. Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is one of many colleges situated within Cambridge and dates back to 1584. It offers many beautiful areas for photographs to be taken. The Wren Chapel Cloister, The Paddock next to the duck pond or Chapman’s Gardens with Hobson’s Conduit, shaded by a weeping willow, are a wonderful backdrop.
The Wedding Breakfast, accommodating up to 150 guests, takes place within the magnificent Great Hall, with its elegant moulded plaster ceiling and panelled Wedgwood blue walls flooded with light from mullioned windows.
For the evening reception, The Old Library is available for dancing and other entertainment with the adjoining New Court for quiet drinks and conversation.
For further information, please visit Emmanuel College’s website: www.emma.cam.ac.uk/conferences/weddings
7. Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge
Madingley Hall is a 16th century country house situated within impressive grounds offering weddings of up to 110 guests within an abundance of rooms and are now licensed for civil ceremonies. They also offer 62 en-suite bedrooms with stunning views across the woods, gardens and courtyard.
For further information, visit Madingley Hall’s website: www.madingleyhall.co.uk
8. The Sheene Mill, Melbourn, Royston
The Sheene Mill has rested on the River Mel in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside of Melbourn for over 400 years. This 16 Century mill still offers original features, some of which include exposed beams, original mill grinding stones and not to forget the picturesque lake.
Civil ceremonies can up to 110 guests and take place in the Garden Conservatory, The Banqueting Hall, The Main Ceremony Hall or outdoors under the Wedding Pavilion. They are able to accommodate guest numbers of 20-180 for a wedding breakfast.
For further information, visit The Sheene Mill’s website: www.thesheenemill.com
9. Rectory Farm, Cambridge
Rectory Farm is situated amongst 50 acres of woodland and fields and is a short walk to the River Cam and Kings College.
The marquee can accommodate up to 150 guests and boosts venetian chandeliers, canopied reception area and large windows highlighting the stunning surroundings. It is set within secluded gardens, surrounded by willow trees and is lit for the perfect ambiance in the evening.
They also offer accommodation for many guests with The Chalet, their latest expansion, consisting of 10 apartments and The Lodge, accommodating up to 6 people.
For further information, please visit the Rectory Farm’s website: www.rectoryweddings.net
10. The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Peterborough
The Haycock Hotel, a Macdonald associate Hotel, is set within the village of Wansford on the River Nene and boasts stunning English country gardens. The Haycock Ballroom can accommodate up to 200 guests for a wedding and can perform ceremonies in the adjoining Barnaby room.
They have plenty of room for guests to stay, offering 48 bedrooms.
For further information, please visit The Haycock’s website: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/the-haycock-hotel/weddings
Photo credits:
Some of the images above have been produced by Lee Allison Photography.
Top 5 reasons to hire a Wedding Planner
There are so many reasons why you should hire a wedding planner, but I have tried to put myself in my clients shoes and have written about my top 5 reasons to hire a Wedding Planner!
Unlike photographers or waiting staff, you don’t ‘need’ a wedding planner and it won’t be for everyone, but they can help you in so many different ways offering different packages for whatever stage you may be at in the planning process and accommodate budgets on all levels.
As more and more couples try to save money by hosting the wedding at their parents house, village halls or marquees on private land, they don’t realise that they are actually creating more tasks for them to complete. A wedding venue has everything you need from toilets to crockery and as silly as it sounds, electricity! Wedding Planners have the experience, knowledge and are highly organised so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your wedding day with friends and family.
If you are arranging a last minute wedding, a wedding planner will help save you time and keep you on track.
You should think about hiring a Wedding Planner if:
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1. You don’t have enough time
A wedding is estimated to take on average between 250-300 hours to plan, that’s the equivalent of taking on a part time role and this is on top of your full time occupation and time spent with friends and family. Would you have the time? Well if not, you could hire a Wedding Planner to do all or part of the planning, allowing you to pick out the fun parts and leave the boring stuff like emailing suppliers, set up meetings to the Wedding Planner.
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2. You are struggling to choose suppliers
On average a wedding will have around 22 suppliers and sourcing those suppliers is often the hardest task as you will be unsure of which ones are reliable. Wedding Planners build up good relationships with an array of suppliers and will be able to recommend the best ones for you and your wedding budget. All you will have to worry about is turning up to any meetings they arrange and enjoy tasting different cakes, smelling flowers and fight back the tears when trying wedding dresses on.
I often find that couples do too much research making it impossible to decide between suppliers and unfortunately the decision maker is usually the price. If you decide to go it alone please please please make sure you have checked the quality of the services first and ensure that quotes include everything you require.
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3. You don’t want to be stressed
Some couples flourish whilst planning their wedding, but for the majority, it can be a really stressful time. A Wedding Planner will help keep you on track by prioritising tasks and ensuring they are completed in a timely manner. They will source wedding venues and wedding suppliers and ensure they ask the right questions to ensure they are able to cater for your wedding, get quotes and arranging meetings. Most Wedding Planning packages will include the Wedding Planner being their on your Wedding day allowing you to focus on your big day and not worry about timings, supplier turning up, seating your guests………
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4. You need help with your budget
Most believe Wedding Planners are for couples with lots of money, but in fact Wedding Planners can help couples on any wedding budget. Wedding Planners know where to look for deals and some suppliers offer the Wedding Planners clients a discount for recommending them, this saving is then past onto you (Please note that not all Wedding Planners do this, so please ask).
Wedding Planners will help set your wedding budget from the word go and keep you on track. They know estimated cost of products and services and will inform you of what percentage of your wedding budget you need to allocate for each area.
Have you already viewed that really expensive venue? Be honest! Before you set a budget? Most couples get stuck in to the wedding planning process and the first thing they do is view potential wedding venues. STOP and set your budget first to avoid any disappointment.
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5. You need help turning your Vision into reality
By the time you start planning your wedding you will have lots of theme ideas and a focus colour or perhaps Pinterest has you a little confused as you have seen so many amazing things. A Wedding Planner will help define your theme by inspiring you and coming up with imaginative ideas. They will think up ideas that you wouldn’t have dreamt of or thought were possible and ensure that the theme is a true reflection of you.
