 It's something none of us could have predicted and has caused major upheaval across the world... The pesky COVID-19 has not only had a huge impact on our health, work and lifestyles, it has also had a major impact on peoples plans and events, including, you guessed it, getting married!
We are still yet to discover how things will pan out over the forthcoming few months, but with the current strict ban on social gatherings of any kind, it's looking more and more unlikely that things will improve for a good few months... But have no fear, as we learn to adapt and become more resilient to some of the changes we will need to bring into our daily lives, we want to provide all wedding couples with some handy (both practical and creative) tips to keep your wedding plans on track. (That can all be done from the comfort of your home, in you pyjamas!) Tip 1 - Looking For An Alternative Date: It may seem obvious, but first and foremost, if your wedding is planned for anytime in the next couple of months, we suggest you speak directly with your chosen venue and suppliers to postpone your big day. This is such a special day you are planning, you and your partner are very much in love and you want to spend it safely with friends and family. Therefore, try not to get too down about the prospect of having to delay things a little. We are confident most suppliers and venues will be very happy to support you and work with you to find a new, more suitable date. Many suppliers will also be happy to transfer any booking fees. However, please don't forget this a very sensitive and difficult time for many suppliers too. With the events industry being up there with one of the hardest hit industries for the foreseeable, please remember to stay calm and kind. We're all in this together after all. Tip 2 - Be Flexible When It Comes To Planning: Postponing your wedding, but unsure about the nitty gritty? With everything being so up in the air, it's very difficult to get planning and the last thing you want to do is to re-plan for something then have to change it again at the last minute. So instead of printing and sending out a load of new invites, why not look into creating a bespoke wedding website? These can be created and updated very easily and there are so many great free website templates online if you're not hugely tech-savvy. Then you can invite all your guests to the website via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Email to keep an eye on your new wedding plans as they evolve. Tip 3 - Taking Care Of You: Self care is super important during this unsettling time... So be sure to take the pressure off. These times are unprecedented, but ultimately out of our control. So instead of taking on the pressure and stress of having to re-organise your big day, take it in your stride... Enjoy having the extra planning time, get creative with decor and favour making... You could even start planning speech amends and table planning if you haven't tackled that yet. However, if it all feels a bit much at the moment, just stop. Stop planning, stop thinking, just be. Things can often feel overwhelming during times of stress. So, why not take a bath? Lie in the sunshine? Read a book? Write? Draw? Mediate? Or again, just be. Tip 4 - Grow Your Own Flowers: Wedding flowers can cost hundreds of pounds, so now that you have a bit more time on your hands, why not look at growing your own? Whether you're Alan Titchmarsh or Alan Sugar, you can still grow filler flowers and foliage very easily and with a bit more time and skill, even big statement blooms. Depending on what season you plan to get married in, here are some of the easiest flowers to grow yourself: Spring – Wallflowers, Sweet William, Narcissi, Tulips, Anemones, Ranunculus. Summer – Sweet Peas, Roses, Ammi, Cornflowers, Nigella, Dahlias, Gladioli Autumn – Dahlias (will continue into autumn) Zinnias, Asters, Penstemon, Japanese Anemone, Phlox Winter – Hellebores, Snowdrops, Paperwhites, Heather, Pansies, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe Some of these you will need to sow the previous autumn (Wallflowers, Sweet William, cornflowers, bulbs etc) for the best results. All seed packets will come with instructions. As you can never quite predict the English weather, it is best to succession sow. For instance, start sowing your sweet peas in March and then sew in batches every few weeks to give you sweet peas over a longer period. Once you have seen that tiny seedling push through and your plants are big enough, you can plant them outside. You may also have some that you have direct sewn (plants like Zinnias prefer to be sewn directly in the ground) that are growing along nicely. You won’t need to do much to keep them going: feed, support and stop the weeds growing. Regularly chop off the dead flower heads. When you pick the flowers ready for the wedding, ensure you put them into scrupulously clean buckets and give them a long drink in a cool room. Cut stems at a 45 degree angle with a clean, sharp pair of scissors. Remove all the foliage from the bottom part of the stem, so it isn’t in the bucket. The best time to pick the flowers is in the morning when the flowers have little dew on them, but the sun still isn’t too hot. There are plenty more tips online and books you can purchase about growing your own flowers. Good luck and enjoy! Tip 5 - Get Creative With Brewing And Infusing: Ever wanted to start brewing your own beer? Infusing gin? Or even experiencing with such things as cider and Elderflower Champagne? Well, now is surely your time to shine? For our tried and tested version of Elderflower Gin, see below for our recipe:
Method:
Tip 6 - Enjoy Your ‘Wedding Day’ (Regardless To Whether It’s Your “Actual” Wedding Day… ): So, you might have to wait a little before you can officially say those vows and exchange rings, but there's no harm in celebrating your original wedding date. Why not consider it a pre-wedding warm up? You could cook your partner a a delicious breakfast with some Bucks Fizz on the side? Get dressed up all fancy for a party in the lounge? Practise your first dance? Or even, enjoy a glittery Zoom party with friends and family? But ultimately, have a day where you can enjoying spending time together and experiencing how much you love each other! Tip 7 - Bake Yourself A Wedding Cake: Now we're not suggesting you bake your wedding cake for your wedding that might be happening in 2021... More suggesting using this time as a chance to get creative in the kitchen. You could bake a simple sponge, but go to town on the decorating. Just have fun with it! Why not incorporate your wedding theme and colours into your bake? You could even have a go at making yourself and your partner out of icing sugar... And if it all goes wrong, nobody has to see it anyway, just eat it! Tip 8 - Design Your Wedding Rings: An idea for those of you who haven't purchased your wedding rings yet, why not design and make them yourself? Myself and my husband did this for our wedding rings and it was so much fun. The entire process felt really special and has meant our wedding rings are totally unique. Many independent jewellers will offer this service, you just need to ask. And don't worry, you don't need to have made jewellery before, you should get closely guided throughout the process. Check on sites such as Pinterest for lots of great inspiration. We made ours with the fabulous David Ayling Goldsmith in Corsham, Wiltshire. Tip 9 - Write Your Vows: Now this might flow really easily or take some time to create - Hopefully this period of downtime will allow you to think and get creative with what you really want to say. Will you keep it traditional? Or will you do something totally out of the box? Tip 10 - Create A Photo Book Of All Your Special Memories: You've got so much to look forward too, your wedding will be the most special time when you get the chance to have all your friends and family in one room (or marquee!) Why not start creating a special memories book of how you and your partner met and the journey you have taken up until your wedding day? It could feature photos, gig tickets, funny stories and so on... I'm sure there's lots of things even your closest friends and families don't know about you as a couple. It's a nice little addition for guests to take a look at on your special day. And there you have it, that concludes our top 10 tips that will hopefully keep you busy and entertained throughout lockdown 2020. Remember, if there's anything we can help plan your perfect wedding, please do get in touch. We are always happy to give free advice as well as no obligation quotes for any of our services. Stay safe and enjoy getting creative! Written by Thea Wise Wedding Coordinator & Event Producer
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