If your wedding plans have been put on hold, or affected by the latest government announcement, you may need some advice to help level out the emotions, and to put a plan of action into place.
This is where our amazing Wedding Planners listed on Unique Rebels Union comes into play. Today, Cherelle from Perfectly Planned 4 you, Ashleigh from Pink Palms, and Nikki from Knots and Kisses share with us their top tips and advice to help you get back on top of your wedding planning A-Game. At the end of the day, your wedding should be an enjoyable thing to organise… We understand that this might not be the case at the moment, so here is a little bit extra bit of support from some of my fav people in the know…
Cherelle from Perfectly Planned 4 You…
If you were planning your big day when the pandemic struck, there’s no question that your ideas may have seemed to hit a dead end. Global restrictions and local lockdowns mean there are fewer options available than before.
However, although it’s more challenging than before, you don’t need to give up on planning your wedding. Here are a few ideas whether you’re just engaged or have been planning your wedding for a while.
If you’re newly engaged, there is lots you can do virtually even if you’re subject to a total lockdown. As a couple you’ll have many decisions to make, such as whether you’re planning an intimate wedding or going all out with a huge London wedding.
Not being able to go out shouldn’t hamper you in the early stages as there’s lots of ways you can research online. Venues often post virtual tours so you can draw up a shortlist. You can also contact suppliers and ask for fabric or colour samples so you can choose your scheme.
Other early planning tasks include making a guest list, drawing up a budget, researching supplier costs and have fun on Pinterest.
In the middle stage of the planning process, you’d usually be visiting suppliers so it can feel a little frustrating. However, you can still push forward with your plans so you’re ready to roll when the world opens up again.
Using a Trello board or other organiser, create a list of tasks to be done. This could include handwriting welcome letters to your wedding guests, creating a table plan, purchasing gifts for key members of your wedding party and shopping for accessories such as underwear, jewellery and shoes.
If you enjoy crafts, use this time to create whatever you need. From handmade bunting to favours, table centrepieces and invites, you’ll have the time to enjoy putting together a truly creative wedding!
If you were due to get married very shortly and you’ve had to postpone the date it can feel like a huge disappointment. Although it’s undoubtedly difficult, the best thing is just to keep focused on the future. Life won’t be like this forever and you WILL get your big day. In the meantime, you can prepare for when the pandemic starts to subside and you can return to planning your wedding in earnest. You will have lots of suppliers that you had to cancel, so you’ll need to speak to each of them individually. Writing a list of the questions you will need to ask means you won’t forget anything when you’re ready to get started once more. Although it’s not technically part of the planning, a nice idea is to celebrate on the day you were due to get married. Perhaps hold a virtual Zoom celebration with your family and friends and share a toast to the future!
To visit Perfectly Planned 4 You website, click HERE
Ashleigh from Pink Palms…
Please be aware of the online spaces you are part of – you may think they help, but most often what happens is someone is in a panic, posts on the group and then the panic spreads. Putting yourself first right now is so important, and if you are finding yourself stressed out whilst wedding planning – stop and have a think about who you follow or what groups you are a part of and see if you can track the stress down – quite often, you’ll find it won’t be yours, but someone else’s panic that has passed on to you.
The wedding industry is not governed by a regulatory body, which is why each supplier is operating differently from the next (and also the reason why sharing your experience on a FB group doesn’t always help!) Please be patient with us, we know it’s a lot to get your head around having up to 10 different postponement policies – but we’re making the right choices for our business. We have wildly different overheads & running costs depending on what we do, and we don’t always break that down and explain to our clients (because it’s boring!) but right now, it’s important to know.
If you change your mind or postpone, you may have to pay more or you might not be eligible for a refund. Planners and designers reschedule fully planned & designed weddings to different seasons, and once it moves to have to plan & design again. We so desperately want to help our couples, which is why many of us did this work for free last year – but if you are postponing again, things may be different in 2021. Personally I’ve re-designed the same wedding, 3 times! So it’s obvious why we have to charge extra if your plans change.
Payments is a big one at the moment – I am strongly encouraging my couples to think about paying via card or PayPal currently. You have to think should the worst happen, how easy it will be for you to get your money back. Thinking this way and having those conversations with suppliers, means you will feel more comfortable in continuing to book and plan your wedding.
I’m so passionate about supporting as many couples as I possibly can, and bringing some positivity to the wedding space during the pandemic – which is why I set up Bungalow by Pink Palms (featured on URU directory!) – an online membership for modern couples to plan & design their weddings. One of our members said only last week ‘It is truly supportive and inspiring, which means so much more to me at the moment‘. I realised how stressed couples were, and unless you work 1:1 with a planner it was very difficult for couples to get information about postponing & planning in a pandemic. Bungalow has set out to change that – whilst still focusing on all the fun parts of wedding planning!
To visit Pink Palms website, click HERE
Nikki from Knots & Kisses…
It’s really difficult but try to stay positive. Whether you decide to postpone because you want the big wedding or you scale down and just get married when you can – the decision you make will be the right one for you!
Small weddings can be full and meaningful! If I learnt anything from styling and coordinating Micro Weddings in 2020 it was that even the smallest day can be full of joy and warmth and laughter … sometimes even more so! There was a really lovely family atmosphere at those weddings and they were all the more joyful because of it!
You can take advantage of the fact that your budget doesn’t have to stretch across 100 or so guests to make those elements you do decide to spend money on just that extra bit special. Who says you shouldn’t have a grand entrance display or an extravagant ceremony backdrop just because you’re only having 15 guests! Make a statement regardless!
One of the positives is that lots of companies, such as myself, have put together specific Micro Services which are perfect for those that are having to quickly downsize or think that a micro wedding is the way forward in uncertain times. Definitely take advantage of any Micro packages available.
Over the last year suppliers have become very used to being as flexible as possible, especially for those who have to postpone or downsize. Make sure you keep in contact with your existing suppliers and keep them in the loop before confirming anything … and in return they’ll be super flexible and helpful.
To visit Knots and Kisses website click HERE
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