A boring topic, but one I think is worthwhile having! You insure your car, home, and pets so why not your wedding? Insurance is there for those 'what if' moments and hopefully you will never have to claim, but its better to be safe than out of pocket. The point of insurance is basically a backup if something were to go wrong during the lead up to your big day.
DO I NEED INSURANCE? This depends on how much you are spending on your wedding and whether you believe you need added protection over and above any existing cover you might have. Venue cancellation and supplier failure are the two main reasons people buy wedding insurance. Insurance usually covers venue or supplier failure, key people falling ill, NOT cold feet! WHEN SHOULD I GET IT? Add it to your wedding to-do list from the beginning, or as soon as you start spending money on your big day. WHAT DOES IT COVER? Always check the small print first, as the price you pay will depend on what you want covered. 1. If the venue goes bust or cancels on you - If the venue for your wedding or reception were to flood, burn down, go bankrupt or have to cancel your booking, then you should be covered. 2. If a supplier lets you down - If one of your pre-booked suppliers, such as those supplying your flowers, cake, transport, photos or music, lets you down (ie, you don't get the item/service, or it's damaged) you'll be covered for any deposits you've paid out and any additional costs you incur. This only works if you've got a written agreement or contract with the supplier – and not all insurers cover the same suppliers, so check. 3. Death/ illness - You will be covered if you have to cancel or rearrange your wedding because of illness, death or accident to the couple getting married or someone in the wedding party (close family, the bridesmaids or best man) as long as the illness wasn't caused by a pre-existing condition. 4. Lost, stolen or damaged items - Depends on the item Ring - These should be covered if you lose, damage or have them stolen, but only usually from a week before the wedding and up to 24 hours afterwards, although this can vary by a day or two so always check the small print. Engagement rings, which are often more expensive, will not be covered so you should add these to your home insurance. Cake - Usually covered up until the start of the wedding reception if it's lost, stolen or accidentally damaged. If you pick it up from the shop but it isn't packed properly while transported to the wedding and is ruined, it won't be covered. Similarly, if it's stolen from an unattended car and it's in sight you won't be covered. Flowers - Covered until the start of the reception. They need to be packed properly while they're being taken to the wedding and if they're stolen when left unattended, it's unlikely you'll be able to claim. Wedding Attire - You'll be covered if the wedding attire – the wedding dress, suits and other outfits – is lost or damaged beyond repair while in your possession. The items are usually covered from the date you buy the policy if you have bought them, or 24 hours before if they're being hired. The insurer should pay for repair or replacement clothes, plus hire and alteration charges. Gifts - If your gifts are lost, stolen or accidentally damaged during the wedding – either those brought by guests for you or presents you've bought for those at your wedding – they will be covered as long as they haven't been left unattended. WHAT'S NOT COVERED? Honeymoons are not covered as standard, although some providers will bundle yours in (at extra cost, of course). So bear in mind that you might have to buy separate honeymoon cover or take out a travel insurance policy. Having that peace of mind can make all the difference and it's one less thing to worry about. Shop around for the best deals. Work out how much you are going to spend on each wedding item, then find a policy that covers everything on your list at the right amount for each individual item.
0 Comments
Probably one of the most exciting elements of planning a wedding is the dress shopping! Back in the day when I was a bridal consultant, it was always interesting to watch the bride to be and her family/friends embark on the store in their droves! Saturdays were the busiest and the only time you could get everyone together! Guaranteed there were always tears of happiness from someone (usually the mums!) or tears from a bridesmaid that didn’t like the dress that she had to wear!
There was always that bride that knew what they wanted and weren’t going to be swayed in changing their mind, and then you had the bride that was open to ideas and didn’t know what suited them best. I learnt a few tricks of the trade and useful tips on what to do when deciding on the dream dress: Shopping too early Many couples are opting for longer engagements these days, but don’t start shopping more than 12 months in advance. Styles change and so can your taste. Don't be in a rush to buy the first dress you see. If the store allows, take pictures so that you can look at them later and decide. Entourage As tempting as it is to bring everyone dress shopping or to your fittings, the best thing to do is book a few appointments at different stores and take various members from the bridal party. As I said before Saturdays tend to be the busiest day for most, so expect the shop to be full with other brides and their families. Most stores do late nights, so if you can take advantage of that do so. Once you have found the dress of your dreams, take no more than 2 people to your first proper fitting (mum and maid of honour) that way there is an element of surprise on the big day for every one else! Bridesmaids There is nothing worse than being forced to wear something you don't like, doesn't suit or fit right. As much as its your big day, your bridesmaids are on show too and want to look their best. Consult with them on styles and colours and have a day or two when you all go dress shopping.....for them! What suits one may not suit the other! When my bestie got engaged, us bridesmaids tried on numerous dresses. We were all different shapes and sizes and had different taste. I remember trying on what could only be described as a banana yellow dress........I looked horrific! Safe to say we didn't end up with that one, but it is important to include your BM’s throughout, especially if they are paying for it themselves. Being a bridesmaid didn't come cheap, so I made sure I got my monies worth from my dress and shoes! Ordering I still come across brides that think they can order a dress at the last minute. You can......if you want it straight off the peg! Depending on the designer and the store, dresses can take anywhere between 6-9 months to be made. Check with the consultants in store just so that you have an idea of timescales. You want to be totally happy with the end result so leave enough time for alterations and dress fittings. Size If I remember correctly it was always best to order your dress 2 sizes bigger. This is because the dresses typically run one or two sizes smaller than your normal clothes, so try not to get hung up on the number. Play it safe and order a size that fits your current body shape. Any dress can be taken in, typically up to four sizes without affecting the look of the dress, but most can only be let out one full size. So chose wisely! Style Take in pictures of what you like. You may have an idea in your head what you what, but when you try it on, it may not be what you expected. Don’t be afraid to try different styles and colours, you never know you may surprise yourself! Also don’t forget that whatever you choose, you might want to make sure that the rest of the immediate bridal party coordinate with your look. Price Have an idea of what your budget is. Dresses can vary dramatically in price so if you have an idea of what you want to spend then stick with it. Don’t forget to account for alterations, your undergarments, shoes, a veil and/or hair accessories, jewellery, and any other accessories. The costs can soon add up, so take these into consideration otherwise you could end up going well over your budget. As the title suggests I became a florist quite by accident. After 13 years as a teacher, I decided to have a hobby and go to night-school. I quite fancied graduating from cutting the cellophane off supermarket flowers and popping them in a vase (I also like gardening), so I chose floristry. What I found was that it was a bit like learning magic when you didn’t realise that magic existed! A world of colours and textures, add a bit of this to a bit of that and boom, something beautiful appears! It was a pleasing surprise when Ella asked me to write a piece for her blog, as I still ask myself ‘does this look as if a florist made it?’ when I finish an order. I’m still learning the trade, but after 2 years and 100's of hours working with flowers, I do have some insight to share. An average wedding will see me spending 10 hours resourcing, sourcing and messaging; 3 hours at the wholesalers; 3 hours travelling to the venue and setting up; 3 hours preparing and soaking the flower and then anything from 10 - 30 hours actually arranging the wedding flowers. So here are my top tips. 1. Remember that ‘A picture paints a thousand words’ You may not know a daffodil from a dahlia from a dianthus, but your florist will. As you approach planning your wedding flowers, send your florist a picture of what you like and it should be everything that they need to know. Once I’ve seen what a bride likes, I can make suggestions (such as excellent seasonal flowers or other flowers that will work well) or simply make an identical bouquet. 2. Trust the expert Flowers are expensive - we are not driving in a Rolls Royce or buying designer hand bags. It’s just the cost of a beautiful, high quality product. Flowers from the wholesale Dutch market or even tea roses from Colombia, are a premium product and worth every penny. That said, we can tailor our choices to suit your budget (If you want to give me £100 and send me to the local supermarket I’m happy to do that). But first, we can try some cost saving measures such as smaller, leafier arrangements or just choosing cheaper flower options. 3. A good florist (in my opinion) should start with your wish list. If it all adds up and you're happy, then go for it! If it doesn’t and you are still unsure, then don’t be afraid to ask about cost saving measures that will help you stick to a budget. Do be realistic though- there are 40-50 stems in a bridal bouquet and some flowers can be £3 a stem. 4. Research If you want to follow fashion and current trends, then the magazines are full of inspiration. From blush pink flowers, rose gold accessories, to horizontal/ oversized bouquets, even the classic cascade made famous by Princess Diana, has made a resurgence too. Personally, I’d say choose something that you love. Roses are always stunning and if you choose a neutral colour (cream, or pale pink) they tend to go with most colour schemes. Flowers are not necessary for a wedding day, but they do enhance your experience. They add to the décor, the sense of occasion. They heighten the atmosphere and lend an air of romance too. There will always be family members or friends who would be thrilled to be gifted a centrepiece or posy. They needn’t be ‘just for a day’, so why not use them as thank you gifts for those who have helped out (I remember the endless list of gifts from my own wedding). We want to thank those who help out, so why not have a dual purpose item? If budget is no barrier then the sky’s the limit. Pedestals, arches, runners, even whole walls of flowers can be made. Just indulge yourself on your special day. www.myfloralisa.co.uk lisafarmer79@hotmail.co.uk In a word, YES, but then this would be a pointless blog if that be the case! Every one is different and a common thread with some of my recent posts so far have been budget. Don’t think of a wedding coordinator as a luxury for the rich and famous, see it as more of a necessity! With the average wedding taking around 6 months to a year to plan, many are turning to Coordinators and Planners to help assist with the big day. Having a professional assist in the planning doesn’t mean you’re giving up total control of how you want your day to be planned. You decide on how much or how little you require them to be involved. The job of a Coordinator or Planner isn't to take over your day and bombard you with crazy ideas. Our main role is to oversee and liaise with suppliers and venues, make sure that your day runs like clock work and be that 'go to' person on the day. What are the benefits and is it a good investment? 1. Helps minimise the stress when dealing with suppliers 2. Instrumental in executing all details 3. They are able to negotiate on your behalf and get vendors to stay within your budget, avoiding any costly mistakes 4. Manages your event timeline to ensure everything stays on track 5. Having a Coordinator/Planner means you have more time to enjoy your engagement. Leave the boring stuff to us! Now that you've decided that you need one, the hard part is finding one you connect with. As with anything else, shop around, find out what is on offer, as some will provide bespoke packages, whilst others can work around your budget. We understand that some of you may have already started the planning, but just need that extra help and there will be some that need us from start to finish. Once you have found the right one for you, arrange to meet and have a chat about what you want and what you would like assistance with. Remember it's your day not ours so you have full control!
I thought I would share a few useful tips that are worthwhile knowing that could prove very useful whilst planning.
Style Tip No. 1– If you want to wow your guests with your colour theme/style, opt for colours that complement each other (3 maximum!) Too many colours that clash and your ideas may become lost. See my post 'A Pop of colour' on the latest colour trends for 2018. Style Tip No. 2 – Place conversation-starter or trivia cards on each guest’s place setting. Style the cards to suit your theme or even your guest. They’ll give people something to talk about and have all in good spirits until the food arrives. Budget Tip No.1 – If possible, book a weekday wedding, as these can be anything up to half the price of a wedding on a Saturday or Sunday. Budget Tip No.2 – If you can hire out certain items for your wedding and evening reception, do so. This will save you tons of cash and time. You wont have the worry about storage or buying multiples of anything. Useful Tip No.1 – Take out wedding insurance. It can protect you against any range of unfortunate events and help you make sure that you’re not out of pocket as a result i.e. loss or damage to wedding attire, such as the wedding dress, presents, wedding cake, rings, flowers etc. For peace of mind, it’s well worth having. Useful Tip No.2 – Don't under estimate how important your invitations are – they're the first impression of what your wedding will be like, so make them special. Useful Tip No. 3 – Secure a wedding photographer after you have confirmed the venue and wedding date. Photographers get booked up 2 years in advance; so don’t leave it till the last minute. For some, hiring makes perfect sense, others it seems like wasted money or you won't get the quality product you require. The Groom and his Ushers hire suits, so why not branch out further a field?! It all comes down to personal preference, what you need and that all important budget. There may be certain one off things you need, but when you've weighed up the cost, it probably works out cheaper to hire rather than purchasing something you may never use again. So why hire? Well my lovely friends at 'Something Hired' have come up with 3 main reasons: Save Money Hiring products for your event will ensure your budget goes further. Hiring from a single supplier keeps the transport costs to a minimum. Save Time Rather than having the hassle of searching through different companies for different products and then checking that they will deliver to your area, if you’re in the UK, we will deliver to you. Reduce Stress It’s already difficult enough planning a complicated event without the added stress of liaising with multiple suppliers. If you're venue doesn't provide all the linens, tables chairs, cutlery etc, then hiring is definitely the way forward. Shop around for quotes, find out the availability and quantity you need and most importantly if they deliver and collect after the event. Another good reason why you should hire is space. It would be nice to have space to store all the purchases you've made over the last 8 months, but we all don't have that luxury of extra storage. Some brides I've worked with have bought items they've seen and loved for the wedding, but not kept a list of what they already have. Before you know it, you've got 50 candle holders (various shapes and sizes), an array of table centre pieces (which none of them match), mirrored plates, (too many to count) and reams of fabric that you thought would come in handy for something! Solution to all the above is make a list of the things you require, what can to be bought, hired and borrowed. Before you hit the shop, see what you can get online first, as it may be cheaper, then when shopping take your list with you and some one who will stop you from splurging on the 8ft bird cage! Also ask friends, they may have items from their wedding that are currently living in the garage that they may be to see the back of! If you're still not 100% convinced then, check out these suppliers who I've worked with and who offer a fantastic hire service. SOMETHING HIRED We hire beautiful things for special occasions. Whatever your requirement, from a small intimate wedding to a large corporate event, we supply products from teaspoons to fairy-lit grottoes and a whole lot in between. We deliver throughout the UK and have no minimum order value. www.somethinghired.co.uk ALL THINGS BORROWED
We are a family-run business. Small but perfectly formed, we offer vintage industrial-style furniture, original hand-crafted place settings and beautiful floral prettiness.Take a look at our fab collection to hire for your event. If you have something else in mind, which you haven’t seen on our website, don’t worry. Just get in touch and we will create what you are looking for. www.allthingsborrowed.co.uk " A circle has no beginning or end and is therefore a symbol of infinity. It is endless, eternal, just the way love should be." Are you looking to pop the question or have you already said yes? Either way ring shopping is no simple task. Depending on your preference and personality, engagement and wedding rings can vary in style, from a simple plain band to a huge enormous rock! You want to make sure that the ring is right for you, so it doesn't hurt to do your research first! STYLES & CUT Solitaires, which are rings that feature one center diamond, are the most popular style for engagement rings. The shape refers to the appearance of the stone, and the cut to the diamond's ability to reflect light. Most diamond shapes are round, square (cushion), rectangular (princess, Asscher, emerald, radiant), heart-shaped, pear-shaped, oval, or marquise (like a pear but pointed on both ends) PRICE TAG There are various myths surrounding how much an engagement ring should cost. There’s the three-month’s salary rule, the one-month salary rule and even the split-the-difference rule. It really all comes down to personal taste and budget at the end of the day . Over the last 5 years the average a UK couple spent on an engagement ring was £1080. Thats a pretty big price tag, but you can still get beautiful stunning rings without breaking the bank! It's all about shopping around for the right one. DO'S & DON'TS DO choose a ring that's the same metal as your engagement ring Platinum and white gold look pretty much the same when they're brand new, but metals wear differently, so you could wind up with two very different looking rings in just a few years. DON'T pick a wedding ring that overpowers your engagement ring Your rings will look best together if the bands are similar in width. DO make sure the rings have something in common Your don't have to have matching wedding and engagement rings, but make sure there's one repeated element: same-shaped stones, a channel-set band, or similar engraving. DON'T worry about your ring matching your partners Your wedding rings should reflect your personal styles, not each others. DO remember THIS and THIS if you want an eternity band If it has diamonds (or gemstones) all the way around, your wedding ring will be hard to resize if you gain or lose weight. BUT, your wedding ring will probably spin around your finger a lot (since there's no center stone to hold it in place) so if you don't get stones all the way around, you might be constantly adjusting it to keep the stones right-side up. DON'T solder the rings together You might eventually want to wear your rings on different hands, upgrade one of the rings, or leave one ring at home when you travel. Once you solder together, there's no going back! As Spring is nearly upon us and many will be looking for ideas , I thought it would be an idea to see what the latest colour trends are for this year and also pick out my faves! BLUE I must admit I'm not a big fan of blue on its own, but after seeing it in various shades I am slowly converting! Depending on the shade of blue you choose, you can play around and experiment. Remember though no more than 4 colours and that goes for any colour you choose. Too much colour or variation and become a bit too in your face and you can lose your theme very quickly amongst the colour explosion. VIOLET/PURPLE/LILAC/LAVENDAR Whatever colour you want to call it, this family of purple is a big hit with brides for 2018. Expect to see plenty floral inspiration, table décor, invitations and dessert (macaroons!) With a colour this regal, it has to be complemented well and why not with a dash of gold accents to give it that extra wow factor. DUSTY ROSE & GREEN These colours may work if you're going for a particular look. Think country manor house vintage! You don't need to go to the extreme with either colour, but I do think subtle hints of green foliage/ accents would be perfect! BLACK, WHITE & GOLD You can never go wrong with black and white and they will never go out of style. Some may not opt for this option and I've heard people say that its boring or reminds them of a funeral (!) but sometimes it just needs an additional colour to set it off and why not with gold! To be honest gold can complement pretty much any colour as long as it’s done well and not too OTT. From mini's to midi's, hemlines took things up a notch this season. The one that stood out for me has to be Viktor & Rolf. Their collection is simple yet daring, especially their mini dresses that look like they’ve been transported straight from the 60’s.
Probably one of my fave trends of all time is the tailored jumpsuit. The jumpsuit is so versatile and can transform from day wear to night wear, just by changing a few accessories. What ever your fancy Pantsuits, jumpsuits or tailored trousers , designers ensured that this trend was a show stopper for 2018.
|