2024 Weddings - Public Service Announcement!
Our weddings are pretty much flawless, even if we do say so ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t always thinking of new ways to help our couples create & plan their most perfect day, making things even more amazing!
We make mental notes all year of things we need to update our couples on, or new ideas we might have, so here’s your round up of need-to-knows before we enter another amazing year of stunning weddings!
Music
Your Ceremony Exit Song - some songs can be quite slow to start, then really kick in half-way through. Have a listen and let us know if there’s a moment we should play it at - if not, we’ll do it for you.
Musicians - we love live music, it really adds to your ceremony, drinks reception or evening. Due to our licensing, we aren’t permitted to position musicians outside. If you have small guest numbers (50 and below) you can position them in the bar area, otherwise, they work perfectly in the lounge.
Playlists - wherever posible, please make your playlist on Apple Music. Apple music can be played from one account across multiple devices, meaning we can play the same playlist in different areas of the house at the same time. Spotify doesn’t allow us to do this, so we have to turn your playlist off in order to switch it over. If you don’t have Apple Music, perhaps ask a member of your bridal party to help!
Guests & Housekeeping
Guest Arrival - We’ve had increasing numbers of guests arriving super early to the venue. We know how excited everyone is and that some guests travel a long way, but sometimes, we’re still in the midst of ensuring the venue looks absolutely perfect. On the morning of every wedding, we blow the leaves from the front and back of the house with a petrol leaf blower - this is incredibly noisy - so isn’t ideal if we have guests arriving over an hour early for your ceremony! The ideal time to arrive is 30 minutes before your ceremony time - there’s no need to be here any earlier. This gives guests enough time to enjoy a drink at the bar, before heading to the ceremony room around 10 minutes before.
Lost Property - All lost property will be kept for 28 days; after which it will be desposed of. We will do our best to contact any couple if we know we have your belongings.
Guest bedtime/Carriages - nobody wants the best day ever to come to an end which we completely understand. However, even if we don’t have a wedding the day after yours, our team still work through the night to clean and prepare the venue for your breakfast in the morning and also the week or wedding ahead. For this reason, it’s really important that guests go up to bed at the agreed time on your event sheet and that guests not staying order their taxis promptly. One of the team can book a taxi at reception if you are struggling!
Little Things We LOVE
Top Up Drinks Reception - the only thing better than a glass of prosecco is someone coming to top up your glass for you! It’s a lovely way to elevate your drinks reception and makes guests feel that ‘wow factor’.
Cocktail Hour - Walking out of the wedding breakfast to a selection of cocktails waiting for you? Yes. Please. It’s a lovely surprise for guests and a brilliant way to start your evening reception. We’ll have them ready and waiting for guests to help themselves to as they make their way back to the lounge for that bit between your wedding breakfast and evening reception!
Baby sitters - This has been a new thing for this year and we can definitely see it continuing. Wedding Babysitters come to your wedding to look after your little one(s) whilst you and your family enjoy the day. Some couples have opted for their childminder or baby sitter to sit with their guests and attend the wedding, others have had them in a bedroom with the little ones from wedding breakfast onwards and we can 100% recommend!
Organisation
Speeches - Practice your speech time! We take this information at your final meeting and on the day so that we can ensure your food is ready right on time. If your speeches are much shorter than what you say, it means there’ll be a slight delay between your speeches finishing and your starters being served. If your speeches are longer than what you tell us, this can have an effect of the food - some dishes need to be served right away. We can always adjust timings on the day if we need to, so ask everyone doing a speech to time themselves whilst practicing to get an accurate time!
Setting Up - If you’re setting up for your wedding yourself, be as organised as possible. Have everything in boxes and load your car up the day before. The last thing you need to do is multiple trips because you’ve forgotten something important. Have all your name cards in order, ready to go out, have things built up/made, get everything as ready as possible. This means more time for you to enjoy the evening before in the Garden Apartment!
Suppliers - If you have suppliers bringing things like napkins, table runners, cutlery or charger plates, these need to be with us before we set up for your wedding which will either be the night before or the week before, just ask your wedding coordinator when we need the items by. As we don’t flip the room from ceremony to wedding breakfast, your tables are all set up during the night after the last wedding we had - so we need those items to be able to set your tables properly. If suppliers aren’t able to deliver those items in advance, but only on the day, then the supplier will be required to put the items out themselves on the day.
On The Day
Canapés - We’ve said it once and we will say it again: canapés are ALWAYS appreciated. Not only does it give your drinks reception an elevated feel, it stops guests nipping to the local shop for a packet of crisps! We have SO many to pick from, with something for all tastes and styles and they keep your guests going until wedding breakfast - your money is never wasted on canapés!
Confetti - We’ve always asked that the confetti our couples use be biodegradeable, but now we will request that all confetti used is the petal type - not paper. Paper discs blow everywhere in the wind, they stick to your shoes and make the most mess. Petal confetti falls a lot better, and once on the ground on Confetti Lane it stays there. We know your photographers might suggest otherwise, but make sure you get the large stuff and you’ll still get an amazing shot! We love Dollz Confetti
Phew! We know that was a long one with lots of information - but it’s all with making your wedding day as seamless and amazing as possible in mind. We can’t wait for our gorgeous 2024 weddings!
As always, we’re here if you need anything.
Love Olivia, Katie & Emma xxx
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