You’re newly engaged and you’ve set the date….You may now start to look at every wedding you attend with different eyes, filing away the best creative ideas for possible future use and noting down the definite ‘no-no’s’ when it comes to your own special day.
If you’re stuck for ideas, it’s tempting to stick with the tried and trusted, adopting a ‘borrow the best and ditch the rest’ attitude. But increasingly, many couples aren’t content to settle for ‘safe’ – this is their special day, they want to aim for the stars and give their wedding guests something to talk about long after the date.
So how can you make your wedding stand out from the rest?
Pick a date that is different to everyone else
Don’t compete with every other summer wedding – be brave…there are more than five months in the year, so why not choose a date outside the typical May to September calendar choices?
You could go for a statement date – New Year’s Eve is a fantastic choice…everyone is naturally gearing up for a party, so why not make it yours?
Valentine’s Day, whenever it falls, is another great date – and who said a wedding had to be held on a Friday or Saturday?
December dates are magical, as everyone gets into the swing of the festive season, and a wedding in the week between Christmas and the New Year, when many people have time off work, extends the warmth, joy and excitement and finishes the year on a high.
In April the weather can be beautiful, spring is in full swing and the nights start to draw out, with the promise of summer on the way. And don’t rule out an October date – we’ve had a run of Indian Summers, with the warmth of summer extending well into autumn, your chosen venue is likely to have more available dates, plus costs tend to be cheaper so you get more bang for your buck!
Go against the traditional and do something different
In the 1970’s, the average age of the first-time bride was 22 – it’s now around eight years older – and as we age, we start to realise that our nearest and dearest won’t always be around to share our happy moments, so if family is important to you, why not include your grandparents in the bridal party? What could be more memorable – for you and for them – than walking down the aisle accompanied by your grandparents, alongside your bridesmaids and page boys…see how many generations you can get involved!
Get your guests involved
To keep the dance floor occupied, leave a space on the RSVP for your guests to suggest a song so that you can ensure the DJ plays a broad selection of music to suit everyone. The best weddings are the ones where everyone is up and dancing and no-one wants the music to stop or the night to end.
Other ideas to give it that extra special touch
Children’s choirs in the church make a special moment even more magical – and if your own son, daughter, nieces or nephews are involved, you can bet there won’t be a dry eye in the house!
Light a candle for the special people in your life who are no longer with you and take a poignant pause during your ceremony to reflect and include them in your thoughts.
If you have a musician or songstress in the family, ask them to play or sing for you as you walk down the aisle, or during the church service.
And trust your husband to pick the song that you walk out of the church to. Often times they do not have much say in the wedding arrangements but this way they can add their input on one of the smaller – but equally important – details.
Go for tall on the dining tables. Tall flower arrangements or decorations are far more impressive than low ones, which lose their impact as soon as everyone is seated.
Candles. Are. Romantic. Where they are concerned, more is definitely more, so use as many as you can! Lighting will help you set your scene, and an abundance of gently flickering candles will add a warmth that is hard to create with any other form of lighting.
Background music during dinner can be a way to bring something special to your day. Have a play list of all your favourite songs and have them played gently in the background while you dine.
Don’t dismiss colour when choosing table linen…while a crisp, white cloth looks effortlessly elegant, creams and pastel colours can look equally amazing and stronger colours can be stunning. And while we’re talking of tables, a padded cloth under the table linen gives a sumptuous feel and finish.
Coloured water glasses on the tables can add a quirky touch, especially pretty if you match them with pastel tablecloths, and if you want to inject a little drama, sparklers are a safer alternative to fireworks.
Paper bags weighted with sand and containing tea lights are a budget-friendly way to create a magical walkway, though if you are looking for something a little more exotic, an informal seating area complete with squashy sofas and herbal Sheesha is a lovely way for people to relax and take respite from the dance floor.
If you like the idea of a live band but don’t like the hefty price tag, why not book a saxophonist to play alongside the DJ? This adds a great ‘live’ feel to the music at a fraction of the cost, and you could even get them to play at the end of dinner, to get everyone in the mood for dancing.
Most importantly, keep everyone together – separate snug areas and bar areas sound great but in reality they split up your guests and make mixing more difficult. Keep everyone under the same roof and put the dance floor and the bar next to each other, that way you’ll create the best party atmosphere…just trust me on that one!
Phone: 01638 743 860
Email: info@thehighfieldgroup.co.uk
