12 Aug Wedding Planning Tips from Susan, our Wedding Planning Expert!
My Top Tips to consider when you are planning your Wedding.
Enjoy being Engaged! It is such a special time for couples; you feel like you are walking on air due to the excitement of it all, there are non stop celebrations with friends and family and you are bursting with love for your Partner. The next stage is where to begin so take a breath and take things one step at a time. With over 20 years experience working in the hospitality industry including 12 years as a wedding executive in a leading 5 star resort property in County Clare, I know it can all seem overwhelming at first, not knowing where to start planning but trust me it will all work out.
Over the years I have seen everything from elopements of 2 to weddings up to 300 guests. A groom sending the bride a handwritten love note and gift on the morning of the wedding to spectacular fireworks at the end of the evening. The mother of the groom getting lost driving to the church and delaying the ceremony by 50 minutes to a beautiful outdoor ceremony where the hawk flew past with the rings for the couple and decided to keep flying (he came back eventually!!)
But all of the weddings I have planned share the same themes; the couples love for one another and memorable celebrations with their family and friends.
The Irish Weather
Braving the Weather on Doolin Pier
It is time to think about when you would like to get married and my one piece of advice is do not plan for the weather no matter which season you choose. It is the only thing that you cannot do anything about! In Ireland we can get four seasons in one day.
Spring
Spring is a beautiful time of year to get married, the weather (dare I say it) can be milder and there is an abundance of fresh floral spring pastel colours around. During Spring time, we have brighter evenings allowing for more options for photographs. Think of elaborate oyster stations and having a second day option with picnic baskets and sumptuous platters of locally sourced products from County Clare.
We have had many weddings in April over the past few years and the sun never failed to shine.
Summer
Daylight hours stretching to late in the evening allows for more flexibility for planning your ceremony later on in the day. There is no rush on time or pressure to have all of your photographs taken in a short space of time. It can be an easier time of year for your guests to travel as they may incorporate a mini break or holiday around your wedding depending on where they are travelling from. If you are thinking of an outdoor ceremony or drinks reception your venue may have stunning walled gardens or manicured lawns to choose from with beautiful Summer flowers or a cliff side ceremony surrounded by wild flowers and the ocean crashing underneath.
Autumn
There are plenty of advantages in having an Autumn wedding as the weather may be a little milder. The colours on the landscape can create beautiful tones. Everyone loves the colours in Autumn, consider golds, browns and orange as your colour scheme for your flowers and table decorations. If you are having your ceremony on site, you could plan for an outdoor celebration, but make sure your venue has a viable plan B in case you need to move indoors on the day. What about surprise fireworks at the end of the evening? Clara’s parents organised this as a surprise for her wedding and the guests still talk about it!
Winter
When you think of a Winter wedding, there are open fires, warm surroundings, relaxed atmosphere and delicious hearty food. It can also be a time over Christmas when friends and family are home from abroad and what better way to tie in your big day with your nearest and dearest. There is also the added advantage that most venues will have their Christmas décor in place which will allow you to put your décor budget towards another element of your day. It may be worth thinking about having your first look photograph before your ceremony, I have found this works really well for couples and they tend to relax more during the ceremony knowing that the majority of photos have been taken earlier in the day. This way you will also be able to spend more time with your guests!
The Budget
This is the tricky part. I am a believer in lists and this is the time to write down everything that you will need on the day and set aside a realistic budget of where to allocate your money. Write down your top two items that are important to you both and start from there. Do you have parents or relatives that have offered to contribute? If so, then you need to have a conversation with them as you will need to know how much you are being given to spend on your wedding day before starting your planning.
Celebrations at Hotel Doolin
Wedding Venue
I strongly advise writing out your potential guest list so that you are aware of your guest numbers. This is more important than ever at present due to Covid 19 guidelines which as we know can change very quickly. This will allow you to think about the style of venue you would like. It is important to find a venue that suits your wedding party size. Ask yourselves what is important to you; would you like a romantic outdoor ceremony at the Cliffs of Moher followed by a relaxed dinner in a local pub with traditional Irish music and dancing. Or perhaps an exclusive private venue with stunning sea views and fine dining restaurant. There are locations and venues to suit all wedding party size.
Elopement at Hags Head on the Cliffs of Moher.
Photographer
There are so many amazing wedding photographers in County Clare and I always advise couples to look at their websites for previous wedding shots and testimonials from clients. This way you will get to see their style and you will know if it is what you are looking for. You may prefer traditional style photographs or documentary style which is also very popular. Choosing your photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make as you will be spending a lot of your time on your wedding day with this person and it is so important that there is a connection and that they share the same vision for your wedding day and that they have a genuine love and passion for what they do.
Videographer
I get asked this question a lot, should we hire a videographer? This is such a personal choice and it can be quite an outlay but there are several videographers offering unique options. My own personal opinion which may be worth considering, is to think about the moments they will capture, the bits that you did not see and will remind you how special your wedding day was. There will be guests at your wedding that in years to come may no longer be with you and so for nostalgic reasons I would recommend a videographer.
These are just some of my tips when planning your wedding, obviously there is a lot to do but just take it one step at a time and everything will fall into place. It’s not an easy time at the moment as Covid has affected so many plans, but venues and suppliers are being incredibly flexible and memorable and fun weddings are still going ahead within the guidelines.
If it seems daunting then why not enlist the help of a professional planner, even if it is just for on the day co-ordination. Contact Susan for more details on how I can help at susan@coastalceremonies.ie or you can view our packages here.
Happy Wedding Planning!