Responsibilities of the Best Man and Best Man Gifts

September 16th, 2011

Best Man Duties!

Best Man Duties!

Yesterday we discussed the Ushers. Now it is the turn of the best man. If you have been lucky enough to be asked to be bestman at a wedding, then that really is a great honour. Not only is it a great honour but it is also a lot of responsibility too.  There are certai duties that you will have as the best man that you will have no choice to perform, there are other however that you should do, because it is just helpful. Below is a list of duties that you will need to perform as the best man:

6 months before the wedding:

Discuss the wedding plans with the bride and groom and help choose the ushers. You will need to choose responsible people that you can rely on to help make the day go smoothly.

About 4 months before the wedding:

- Attend the suit fitting with the groom and the ushers.

Tip! As mentioned in our Usher’s post, try not to lose or gain much weight in between the fittings, it makes the job of the tailors a lot harder.

- Organise the stag party. It is good to get this planned in advance to ensure that you get everyone the groom would want there to attend.
- Prepare your speech for the reception. As the best man it is tradition for you to say a speech at the wedding reception. It is good again to plan this early as you will need plenty of time to practise this. It is suggested that you test out the speech on a few people beforehand, to make sure that it runs smoothly and that the bits that you as the best man think are funny, are actually funny!
- Compile a list of close family members who should have special seating arrangements at the ceremony and share the information with the ushers.
- Visit the ceremony and the reception venues with the bride and groom to check on timings, parking arrangements and any other details about both venues.

One week before the wedding day:

Best Man Speech

Best Man Speech

- Check the groom has all the necessary documents for the ceremony and the honeymoon. Double check their passports and visas. (If the couple is going on honeymoon straight after the wedding then all of this information needs to be up to date).
- Attend the wedding rehearsal.
- Liaise with the ushers on the final arrangements. The are your army – you need to ensure they know what they are doing.
- Check for roadworks, diversions, carnivals etc taking place on the wedding day that may effect timings or the route. If there are any problems, then inform the bride and groom. You will need to speak to the transport as well and discuss with them an alternative route.
- Arrange transport for the groom, ushers and yourself to ceremony – a car hire service is usually the best option. It would be a good idea to use the same company to arrange the brides transportation to the ceremony and reception.
- Arrange transport to for the groom, ushers and yourself and from the reception.
- Arrange going away car for the bride and groom from the reception if required – you can be a bit imaginitve with the going away car – some people like to use VW Campervan, a motorbike or a super car. You can choose whatever you would like though!
- Make a note of details and availability of emergency taxi companies. It the transportation fails – then you need a back up!
- Finalise speech. Make sure you have practised your speech a few times. Not only this test it out on an objective audience – you really don’t want to insult the bride or groom the speech!
- Have your hair cut – it’s important to look smart for the big day!

The day before the wedding ceremony:

- Collect any hired clothing and accessories. Ensure that all clothing is accounted for. You do not want to be missing a tie or cufflinks!
- Wash car if driving to the ceremony.
- Organise decorations for the going away car. Be imaginitive. Give the bride and groom a good send off!

On the day of the wedding:

- Check final arrangements for the ushers, buttonholes, order of service sheets and rings. The ushers should have collected the buttonholes from the brides home.
- Collect telemessages, cards and emails to be read at the reception. This can be done the day before. However it is important to check in case any last messages have come through.
- Keep the rings safe until the required time in the service. If a ring bearer is being used for the wedding, then the following tact should be used to ensure that a scene is not caused! The Best Man has the responsibility of carrying the bride’s wedding ring. We recommend that the “real” ring be kept safe in the pocket of the Best Man.  Why? Some young boys may get stage fright and never make it down the aisle, they may drop the ring…or even better, the ring bearer may argue with the Best Man as he tries to remove the ring and then the ring bearer may cry his eyes out when the Best Man takes the ring away!
- Help the groom get ready (so be ready before him).
- Ensure the groom gets to the church on time, which we advise is at least 20 minutes before the ceremony is due to start. The ushers should arrive half an hour before the ceremony is due to start.

At the church/ceremony venue:

- Check on the ushers. Make sure that they carry out their duties responsibily.
- Sit on the right hand front pew with the groom.
- Witness the signing of the register, if required.
- Ensure all fees are paid to the church or registrar. It is best to find out this information about a week before the wedding, you can then arrange the finances with the bride and groom.
- Escort the chief bridesmaid out of the church.
- Assist the photographer in organising the guests for the photographs. The ushers can be very useful at this!
- Ensure everyone has transportation to the reception venue.

At the reception:

- Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests. If this is required of you. Speak to the bride and groom about how they would like this to work.
- Announce the speeches and cake cutting, if there is no Master of Ceremonies or Toastmaster.
- Read any cards, emails and telemessages, before your speech.
- Give the third and final speech and reply on behalf of the bridesmaids. Speak to the bride and groom and find out the order that they want the speeches to go in.
- Dance with the chief bridesmaid once the bride and groom have completed their first dance. If you aren’t dancing then why should the other guests?
- Decorate the going away car- as mentioned before be imaginitive!
- Put any luggage required in the going away car – the groom will have his attentions elsewhere.
- Make sure the bride and groom go and change on time and announce to the guests that they are about to depart.
- Take charge of the groom’s wedding clothes, if required.

After the wedding

- Ensure the wedding presents are safely stored.
- Return any hired clothing and accessories.

From the list above you can see that there are a lot of responsibilities for the best man. It is a good idea to write out a check list of duties and tick them off as each one is done.

From the bride and groom’s point of view you need to acknowledge the pressure that the best man is under to ensure that you wedding goes as smoothly as possible. If you don’t have a wedding planner then you are going to rely on the bestman alot. As mentioned in yesterday’s usher post, it is important thank the bestman for all this hard work.  The best way to do this is firstly in a speech at the reception where you thank the wedding party directly but also, by giving a bestman gift as a thank you wedding gift. You can give anything that you believe the bestman would like as a best man gift, however remember you are trying to show your gratitude to him, so make sure the gift that you give conveys this.

Here are some of our favourite best man gifts:

1) Engraved Wedding Cufflinks: You could give these to the best man before the wedding, as a special gift for him to wear on the big day. Or you could have them engraved with a special thank you message and give them to him as a thank you gift after the wedding. This is a very good gift idea for those people who wear suits on a regular basis, as it is likely they will get a lot of use.

2) Engraved Pens – Give an engraved pen set with a special message of thanks. It’s a simple gift, that is sentimental yet practical as it could be used on a regular basis.

3) Engraved Hip Flask Gift – A fun gift with a lot of personality!

These are just a few of the best man gifts that we recommend. There are lots more to choose from. Have a look at our range of best man gifts and see if we have the gift you are looking for. If you can’t find it online, then not to worry – we have access to 30,000 gifts. Give us a call on01775 640788 and tell us about the gift you are trying to find. We will do our best to source this gift for you.

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Usher Duties and Usher Gifts

September 15th, 2011

The Ushers - (photo thanks to debretts.com)

The Ushers - (photo thanks to debretts.com)

When you get married there will be many people involved in your wedding. One special set of people will be the Ushers. The Ushers are traditionally chosen by the groom and the best man, usually because when they both put their heads together they will be able to think of the most reliable people to fulfil the role of Usher. The Ushers are more often than not brothers of the bride or groom, close relatives or friends. As a general guide it is suggested that you have at least one usher per 50 guests. The best man is the head of the groomsmen and it is his job to ensure that all the ushers know their duties well in advance of the wedding.

If you have been asked to be an Usher at a wedding and you are wondering what your main duties are then have a look at the list below as it will give you a basic idea, usually things start coming together about 4 months before the wedding. Weddings are usually planned over 6-12 months, however this list will need to be revised slightly depending on the planning time allocated for the wedding:

Approximately 4 months before the wedding:

- Arrange to purchase or hire clothes and agree who will pay for them. The suits for all the groomsmen will be usually sorted out together along with the suit of the best man.

Tip! Try not to lose or gain weight.

1 week before the wedding:

- Confirm final travel arrangements with the best man and any other ushers, including the time of arrival at the church or register office. You should not be late!
- Obtain from the best man a list of family and guests who should be personally escorted to their seats.
- Attend the wedding rehearsal if it is required of you.
- Have your hair cut, you want to look as smart as possible for the big day.
- Obtain large umbrellas, you never know what the weather is going to be like on the big day!

The day before the wedding:

- Collect any hired clothing and accessories. Ensure that you check through everythinig thoroughly to make sure that nothing is missing.

On the day of the wedding:

- Collect buttonholes and order of service sheets from the brides home. This can be done the day before if everything is ready, be sure to ask the bride when she would like you to collect this information.
- Arrive at the church at least half an hour before the ceremony is due to start. As mentioned before you do not want to be late! Guests could start arriving about half an hour before so you need to make sure you are completely ready to greet them as soon as you arrive at the church.

At the church:

- Help with car parking facilities. It would be a good idea to check out the parking area before hand so you know how much parking is available. Also find alternative parking areas in case the allocated parking becomes full.
- Greet the guests and hand out the buttonholes, order of service sheets and maps showing the route to the reception.
- Ensure the officiant has order of service sheets for the bride and groom.
- Seat couples with young babies and children near the exit.
- Escort the brides mother and appropriate guests to their seats.
- Assist the photographer with anything that they require. It is their job to capture the important moments of the big day for the bride and groom.
- Ensure the church is left tidy and check for any left property and unused order of service sheets.
- Ensure all guests have transport to the reception.

At the reception:

- Assist with car parking facilities.
- Offer drinks to the guests as they arrive if appropriate.
- Assist any elderly or infirm guests.

After the wedding:

- Return any hired clothing and accessories.

From this list you can see that the ushers have a number of duties both on the run up to the wedding and on the big day itself. It is important therefore as the bride and groom to take this into account and thank your ushers properly. The perfect way to do this is firstly to say thank you, usually in the wedding speech and secondly by giving Usher Gifts. You will most likely be giving thank you wedding gifts to the best man and maid of honour, but the ushers and bridesmaids are just as important. They have accepted the honour of being part of your wedding, but not only this they will have had to give up time out of their own lives to go to dress or suit fittings, the wedding rehersal and more. This needs to be appreciated. So here are some of our favourite usher gifts:

1) Engraved Wedding Cufflinks: You could give the ushers a special set of cufflinks that you would like them to wear on the

Engraved Cufflinks - a great usher gift.

Engraved Cufflinks - a great usher gift.

wedding day, or you could give a set of engraved cufflinks with a special message, or just the initials of the ushers on them. They are a small but valuable gift, especially for those men who wear suits on a regular basis.

2) Personalised Whisky or Engraved Whisky: Depending on your budget you could give a bottle of tipple to the ushers, each with a special message of thanks. If your ushers are not a fan of whisky then there is the choice of personalised vodka/engraved vodka, personalised wine/engraved wine or even personalised sambuca/engraved sambuca. If you are feeling really generous and have the budget for it you could possibly give personalised champagne/engraved champagne! If you hadn’t guessed we are suggesting a personalised bottle gift or some sort!

3) Engraved Pens: Everyone writes, so why not give an engraved pen set with a special thank you message. This is a sentimental gift that the ushers are likely to use quite regularly.

If you don’t like the sound of those then not to worry, there are lots of other usher gifts available for you to choose from. Have a look at our usher gifts page and why not see if the usher gift you are looking for is there! If not, then we have access to 30,000 gifts – give us a call on 01775 640788 and hopefully we will be able to help you.

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Wedding Present Ideas

September 14th, 2011

Wedding Gift Ideas

Wedding Gift Ideas

Wedding Present Ideas

Have you been invited to a wedding that is coming up in the next few months? If you have then it is time for you to start thinking about the wedding gift that you are going to give the happy couple. If you haven’t bought a wedding present before and are really unsure where to start when looking for a wedding present then not to worry, here are a few tips to help you find the perfect gift. But not only this, we’ve given you some of our favourite weddings as suggestions as well!

1) Think about your budget. Before you go and choose the most lavish gift that you can possibly think of… you need to consider your budget. If you can only afford something in a particular price bracket, there is nothing wrong with that. All you need to do is think outside the box and you’ll be able to come up with a really wonderful and unique wedding gift. Sometimes it’s the gifts that are the most inexpensive that are the most valuable. For example, an album of photos collected from friends and family showcasing the couple as they have grown together until finally reaching their wedding day. People that know the happy couple will have lots of photos that could be put in the album. Although it is an inexpensive gift, it is thoughtful and would have taken a lot of time to create. This is something that will stand out and be remembered.

2) How well do you know the couple? If you are close friends or even relatives of the couple, then the type of gift you give should reflect this. Personalised wedding gifts are a wonderful idea if you want to give something sentimental but a bit different as well. If you know the couple quite well then you will be aware of their likes and dislikes, bear that in mind when you choose the wedding gift. If you aren’t that close to the couple then as mentioned before a personalised wedding gift is perfect gift idea for the couple. There are so many personalised gifts that you can choose from, for example: engraved champagne, personalised champagne flutes, a wedding photo frame or even a bottle of fine wine, like Barolo or Chateauneuf du Pape. Are the couple quite traditional or do they have a modern twist – this insider knowledge will help influence your choice of gift.

3) Have the couple registered a gift list? If the couple have a registered list of gifts that they would like, then this makes your life a whole lot easier. It’s a good idea when you get the list to choose and make your gift purchase as quickly as possible. You don’t want to leave it until the last minute and find the gift you wanted to give has already been snapped up by someone else, although the registered gift system makes your job as a guest much easier, a little forward planning will ensure that you give the gift that you want off that list.

4) Contribute towards the honeymoon? Some couples would prefer to have the honeymoon of their dreams rather than an array of wedding gifts, if that is the case for the couple whose wedding your attending then ensure that you do contribute.

5) Give a personalised gift. I’ve mentioned a few times already about personalised gifts. But I do think that a wedding is one of the perfect times to give a personalised gift, one of my favourite personalised gifts is a set of engraved flutes. You can engrave each flute with the couple’s name and the date of the wedding. It is something that can not only be used on a regular basis, but it is also a type of keepsake.

Here are my top five wedding present ideas:

1) As mentioned above I love engraved champagne flutes. They are a unique gift and rather sentimental as well. There are lots of personalised champagne flutes available on the market to choose from. If you look at this range here: Engraved Champagne Flutes, you’ll see that there are glass flutes, metal flutes and handmade flutes as well. Think about the couple, their likes and dislikes, your budget and also the message that you want to appear on the flutes when you choose the flutes that you are going to purchase.

2) Engraved Champagne. Champagne is synonymous with celebration and want better time to celebrate than at a wedding. If you have the budget for it you could give a bottle of vintage engraved champagne. The couple can either drink the champagne straight after the wedding, or they can keep the bottle for their first anniversary. It is entirely up to them, they may never open it because they may class it as a really special present.

3) Wedding Certificate Holder. This is a simple idea. The wedding certificate is that special piece of paper that binds the couple together. A wedding certificate holder will keep the wedding certificate safe and once again depending on the style of wedding certificate that you choose you can get the wedding certificate holder engraved with the couple’s names or a special message.

4) Wedding Frames. The couple will want to display their wedding photo in a special place in their home. Most likely on the mantlepiece or in their bedroom. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could display their wedding photo in an engraved photo frame that was given to them by one of their guests?

5) Wedding Photo Albums – just like the photo frame the couple will want to keep a record of their photos. A wedding photo album from one of the guests would be the perfect place!

Those are just some of the suggestions that I have, what would you give as a wedding gift?

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Wedding Reception Ideas

September 13th, 2011

Wedding Reception Ideas

Wedding Reception Ideas

When planning your wedding, you will need to think about the wedding reception quite early on. Here are a few points that you should consider when choosing when and where to have your wedding reception:

1) Even if you have a small and intimate wedding ceremony, the wedding reception allows you to invite more people. If you want a good party in the evening with music and dancing it’s a good idea to have more than 100 guests. If you have numbers less than this – once you have taken away the ones that have to leave early, the older ones that don’t want to or can’t join in and others that would rather just sit and chat – it can leave the atmosphere on the dance floor a little lacking.

2) Don’t hold your wedding ceremony too early especially if your wedding reception does not start until about 6 o’clock in the evening. Guests who would have attended the ceremony and the wedding breakfast will have to wait a long time in between the different points of your wedding day, especially if the wedding ceremony is in the morning, the wedding breakfast is at lunch and the reception is at around 6 o’clock. Not only this they will have had a lot of time to drink alcohol and may be a little worse for wear when the reception kicks off. If your wedding breakfast is early as well, then a second meal will need to be provided for guests who have attended for the whole day. This is an extra expense that could be avoided.

3) When you choose your wedding entertainment make sure you think about it carefully. Ceilidth bands are fun for a short while but people soon get tired of having to follow instructions for any length of time, bear in mind that at the end of what could have been a long day your guests are likely to want to just relax, chat and get up to dance when they feel like it. Discos or other types of live bands are a great idea if you want music that people can just dance. A singer is a great form of entertainment.

4) If you are trying to stick to a budget when planning your wedding then it might be an idea to think about having your wedding on any other day than a Saturday. Venues and other service providers are at a premium on Saturdays, but may offer discounts on other days. The same goes for the time of year. It is far easier to get a bargain in the off season/winter and you will have the pick of the suppliers. Most won’t be so heavily booked up.

5) As with the rest of the wedding you will need to think about your wedding budget especially when planning the wedding reception. Make sure you know your exact budget. It’s not fun to make big plans and then have to cancel them because you can’t afford them. If you plan with your budget in mind, it will save on heartache in the long run.

6) Planning is key! You can spend thousands of pounds but without proper planning your reception could be

Wedding Reception Ideas

Wedding Reception Ideas

a disaster. Make sure you know what is going on well in advance, otherwise you could end up with too many surprises on the big day! It is true that nothing guarantees success, but a lack of planning can lead to great disappointment and upsets. The further ahead you plan the more options you will have. Write it all down and keep a clear check list of what you need to do. Make sure you have contingency plans and be ready for possible hitches. Try to plan how you will deal with and overcome any surprises should they happen.

7) Book all accomodation as early as possible. If friends and family have to travel from far away then make sure you book local hotels and B&B’s before they all get booked up.

8) Contracts with suppliers is a great way to make sure you get everything that you want. And if they don’t deliver then you have a signed document that will call them up on anything that gets forgotten or is not delivered as per your agreement. Arrange proper contracts with your suppliers – bands, DJ, florists, caterers etc. Make sure you have everything in writing from your suppliers and give them in return written confirmation. Make yourself aware of any additional costs that could be charged for such things as accommodation, travelling and meals; and ensure the details are in the contract.

9) It’s a good idea to find out what else is going on in the area during the time of your wedding! If there is a crucially important football match going on just around the corner then this could lead to traffic problems. Think about the time of year you are having your wedding, especially if you are getting married abroad. Peak travel times are during school holidays and this can make tickets very expensive.

10) When negotiating for wedding photography, tell your photographer that you want a very tight and efficient schedule for picture taking. Concentrate on photos. Put into the printed schedule when and where the photo sessions are to take place before and after the ceremony. Appeal firmly to the wedding party and relatives you want in the photos to go immediately to these locations so that you don’t waste precious time trying to round up everybody scattered all over the property. Your other guests will be waiting patiently for the photography to be finished. Also, remember that your caterer is depending on you keeping to schedule so the meal will not be spoilt.

11) INVOLVE THE GROOM! It is his wedding too!

12) When picking the venue for your wedding reception think about the following:

- how far is the venue in relation to where the wedding ceremony is taking place.
- would you prefer to have your ceremony and reception in the same place.
- the reputation of the venue – speak to other people who have had their wedding in the place that you are considering, get their feedback.

13) Alongside choosing the wedding reception venue you will also need to think about the decor, flowers, place settings, names cards as well as wedding favours. The wedding favour is something really special that the bride and groom can give to their guests to show how much they appreciate their attendence. Wedding Favours don’t have to be anything elaborate but they are something personal.

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Wedding Gifts For The Bride And Groom

June 29th, 2011

Beautiful Wedding Gifts!

Beautiful Wedding Gifts!

When it comes to special occasions, there is nothing more special than a wedding. When a couple decide that it is time to take the next big step and share their lives with one another, it is a big deal. When a couple decides to get married it is usually with the intention that they are only going to do it once, it’s their big day and they want to be as perfect as possible. Alongside the stresses and tensions that the bride and groom will be feeling during the run up to their big day, you yourself are probably feeling stressed because you have to find them a wedding gift! The bride and groom are very likely to receive a large array of gifts from well wishers, hoping that they will have a happy life together. Although the bride and groom will probably be very happy with any gift that you give to them, afterall you’ve taken the time and effort to buy them something for their wedding, it is likely that you yourself would want to give a gift that stands out of the crowd, something that is not generic or predictable like a food processor! It’s very likely that you would want to give a gift that the couple would either use regularly or something that they would display in their home, something that they would admire fondly as a memory of their wedding day. So here is a list of the top five wedding gifts that are sure to get you noticed:

1) Personalised Champagne – champagne in general is a popular gift to give as a wedding present, but if you want to give something really memorable then give a bottle of personalised champagne. A lot of website offers the ability to personalise champagne. On some sites you can design a champagne label yourself from scratch by uploading images and graphics as well as adding text to the label. It can take a bit of time to create the label, but once you’re happy with your design you’ve created something unique and special for the bride and groom, how many couples do you know that have their own personalised champagne? Many of these sites that offer personalised champagne also allow you to choose from a range of their own champagne labels that they have designed for you. These are particularly good if you are not that creative. Personalised champagne is a unique idea as a wedding gift. It’s something different and something that screams celebration, after all champagne is synonymous with celebrating!

2) Still running with the theme of champagne we have engraved champagne. This again is another example of personalised champagne but it is that little bit more luxurious and perfect for a wedding gift. A number of websites offer the ability to engrave champagne with a unique message of your choice and create a special gift for the bride and groom.

3) Number three in the list is still a champagne gift – but this time it’s my favourite; personalised champagne flutes. If you think about it, once a bottle of champagne whether it is personalised or not is drunk… then it’s gone and it’s highly unlikely that a couple will want to keep an empty champagne bottle. That is why engraved champagne flutes are a perhaps a better option. The couple can drink champagne from the flutes and once the champagne is dried up, they can still keep and use the champagne flutes for years to come. Engraving the champagne flutes with a special message also adds to the value of the gift and give them that sentimental touch.

4) At number four we have another champagne related gift, but this time it combines both a bottle of champagne (whether it is personalised or engraved) and a set of engraved champagne flutes. A champagne gift set. This gift is a really special and luxurious gift that is sure to make the couple feel really loved. They can drink the champagne and enjoy every sip and once the champagne is drunk, they are left with the gorgeous champagne flutes that you have chosen for them. These flutes can be used over and over again for years to come.

5) Finally at number five, leaving the theme of champagne completely we have the engraved photo frame – The couple will have a hundreds of photos taken of them throughout the course of their wedding day, however there will be that one photo that they both love, the photo that they want to display in their home for all to see. Wouldn’t it be wonderful it they had a gift that had been given to them for their wedding which they could use to display this beautiful photo. An engraved photo frame is a very simple gift, but it is also a thoughtful gift especially if the frame has been engraved with a special message wishing the couple well on their new life together.

Whatever you choose to give the bride and groom as a wedding gift, remember that they are likely to only intend to get married once, therefore when you are choosing a gift for them, remember you are trying to show them that you wish them well for the future and want them to have a happy and joyous life ahead.

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What Happens After The Wedding?

June 20th, 2011

Wedding Thank You Cards

Wedding Thank You Cards

What happens after the wedding?

So the couple has just got married and they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together! I always find that the aftermath of a wedding is quite an anti-climax. You’ve spent all this time planning a wedding for it then to be over… you say “I do”, have the wedding reception.. in fact have a jolly good time and then it is all over and done with and it’s time to take the first steps into married life. Now… if you think about the couple do actually have quite a bit of sorting out to do after the wedding is over, for example… taking all the hired suits back to the tailors or getting the wedding dress dry cleaned so that it is brand new again. Another thing that the newlyweds have to do is open up all the wedding gifts that they have received. Opening the wedding presents is both exciting and fun as well as still involving a bit of paperwork. The wedding guests will have taken time and effort to find the perfect wedding gift for the newlyweds and so it is only fair that the couple take time and effort as well over the opening of the gifts.

There is no point diving in head first and unwrapping everything all at once, firstly you’ll make a huge mess and secondly you’ll not know who has given you what gift – if you don’t know what they bought you then how will you be able to thank them for the gift that they gave? In years to come you probably won’t remember who gave you what either! It’s always good form whether you are opening wedding gifts, birthday gifts or Christmas gifts to always make a note of who has bought you the gift, that way you can write thank you cards and send them out to the relevant people. It’s always a good idea to send out thank you cards anyway after a wedding to thank your guests for taking the time out of their day to help you celebrate your special day. Another reason to write out thank you cards is to also thank your guests for giving you a wedding gift. They didn’t have to buy you anything, they could have just given a card. A thank you card is also quite personal, it shows how much you appreciated the people who attended your wedding.

So… after the wedding, there will be a magical and wonderful life… but there will also be a few last bits and pieces to do to wrap things up!

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What would you give as a Wedding Gift?

June 2nd, 2011

So we’ve spent a lot of time blogging and writing about the types of gifts that you could give as a wedding gift, but now we want to know WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE AS A WEDDING GIFT?

It could be a gift that we have endorsed or something completely unique and different! Whatever you would choose to give, tell us about it! We’d love to know!

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Wedding Checklist

May 31st, 2011
Wedding Checklist

Wedding Checklist

For the past few posts we have been talking about how to plan your wedding and what you will need to remember and make sure that you do. In essence most of us know what we need to do, it’s all in our heads. But sometimes seeing it all down on paper makes your life a whole lot easier. There is a lot of remember when planning a wedding. Making a list ensures that you don’t forget anything, not only that it helps clear your head of unwanted noise and thoughts so that you’ll get a good nights sleep!

Here is our wedding checklist. You can download it. Print it off, use it to help you write your own checklist, or add notes to it so that you have everything all in one place!

One important tip that we can give you is to either buy a diary or a calendar – in fact buy both! Assign specific tasks specific dates… that way you’ll know that you’ll have them done in time!

We’ve suggested that you start looking for wedding thank you gifts about two months before the wedding, this will help spread the cost of buying gifts out over a few months. So will certainly help with the purse strings!

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Final Wedding Planning Tips

May 9th, 2011

So here’s what you’ve done so far:

1) Got engaged
2) Chosen the bestman and bridesmaid
3) Picked and booked the venue
4) Sorted the guestlist (sent out save the date cards)
5) Planned out your budget
6) Ordered the cake
7)Picked your colour scheme
8) Ordered your flowers
9) Booked the wedding photographer
10) Found the wedding transportation

…. so what comes next.

Wedding Invitations

Wedding Invitations

Now the point at which you send out your wedding invitations differs with every person that you speak to. For me personally… I think that you should get in there are soon as possible. You never know who is going to decide to plan a birthday party, holiday or their own wedding on the day of your wedding! The sooner you get your wedding invitations out, the sooner you are booked into the diary. It’s convention however to get the invites sent at least 6-8 weeks before the event. Once your invites are sent, you just have to wait for the RSVP’s!

Bridesmaid Dresses

Bridesmaid Dresses

In the meantime I hope you will have been looking for your wedding dress… because now we’re onto the fun part of the wedding … the clothes. Let’s start with the groomsmen and the brides male family members first. Once you have your colour scheme you’ll be able to easily pick your clothes, but first you need to decide on the style of clothing you would like. Is it a simple wedding as well as casual? Is it extremely formal so requiring top hat and tails? If you go to a reputable tailors who specialise in wedding garments, you’ll be able to explain exactly what you want and hopefully they’ll be able to create the exact look and style that you had in mind. Tip of day! – It’s good to have all the groomsmen matching, so that they look in keeping with the theme of the wedding. The bestman might have a slightly different coloured tie or top hat to show his role in the wedding. But a matching line up of the groom and the groomsmen will look lovely!

The bride may also want her Father and any brothers to wear matching clothes to the groomsmen or perhaps something similar with a dash of difference to show that

The Groomsmen's Wardrobe

The Groomsmen's Wardrobe

they are from the brides side! Variety is the spice of life. Just think clearly about what you want, ask to see photographs from weddings that the tailor has previously dressed or look in bridal magazines to find exactly what you are looking for.

Tip of the day! Make sure you clarify with the groomsmen if they are paying for their suits or if you will be footing the bill. Also allocate someone to collect all the suits on a designated date.

Now it’s onto the ladies.

The bride should have been looking for the perfect dress right from the start… that’s pretty much a given. I’m sure any newly engaged girl will start scouring through bridal magazines and the internet to see what styles are popular and in fashion. But now we’re at the point where we need to choose the bridesmaid dresses. It’s probably easiest to buy the dresses from the same shop that you intend to purchase your wedding dress. That way all the fittings can take place at the same time and you can see what the bridal line up is going to be like. Ensure that you clarify with the bridesmaids who will be paying for the dresses. Choose dresses that are simple, you don’t want them to detact from the wedding dress… also ensure that the colours of the dresses match your colour scheme. Now here is a little bit of advice…. some bridesmaid will moan and gripe about the dress and try and make you feel guilty. If you like a style of dress and think it works well… then stick to it. DO NOT GIVE IN TO YOUR BRIDESMAIDS. They are not the ones organising your wedding, it is your big day and you need to have it the way that you want it. Don’t be rude though and listen to their suggestions.

When you have chosen the dresses and the suits you need to get all the finishing touches. Like cufflinks, shoes for the groomsmen, hair clips and pins, jewellery and shoes for the bridesmaids. If you try and get this all sorted out around about the same time you’ll know that you’ll have everything sorted out and you can tick that off your list.

Along with the clothes you’ll need to sort out the catering. This may have already been covered when you booked the venue. If that is the case, then just reconfirm the

Wedding Caterers

Wedding Caterers

menu and it’s always good to have a taste test just to make sure that you are happy with the food that they are going to serve. If you have to arrange external caterers then get out the yellow pages and get in contact with at least five different companies in your local area. You don’t want the caterers to be arriving from Scotland if you live in Dorset… it’s going to cost you a fortune. First of all do a price comparison, then give them your proposed menu and do a taste test. Make sure you tell them if you require waiter service or if you will be having a buffet. Some caterers do not offer waiters so they should be crossed off the list straight away, you need to have some people at least serving the food or bringing it out to the buffet and dealing with refills!!

Now plan out the seating chart. Some people don’t like seating charts, they just reserve a few tables at the front of the venue for the immediate family and close friends. Everyone else can then sit where they want to. I personally think that is the best idea. It’s less hassle and people are not likely to get offended.

A lot of people will be involved with the planning process whether it is the parents of the bride and groom, the bestman, the vicar, the caterers, the bridesmaids and ushers to name a few… each of these people will be taking time out of their day to ensure that you have the wedding of your dreams. If that is that case then you should certainly remember to thank them. WeddingGifts2U offers a huge range of thank you wedding gifts for you to choose from. They are unique wedding gifts, something a little bit different to show your appreciation. Whether you are looking for a thank you best man gifts or bridesmaid gifts.. there is a lovely selection to choose from.

In our next post we will be providing you with a wedding checklist… it will help with the stress of the big day!

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Wedding Planning Tips

May 6th, 2011

Before we get back to discussing your wedding and how to plan it so there is almost zero stress for you… here are a few tips and tricks of the trade that you might want to jot down or remember. They will help you no end and will certainly make your life a lot easier on the big day! Why are we giving away these secrets I hear you ask?! Because we want you to have the best and most wonderful day imaginable!

Wedding Hair - you wouldn't want to ruin this!

Wedding Hair - you wouldn't want to ruin this!

1) When you’re having your hair styled on your wedding day, you’ll usually have this done before you put your dress on, so as to protect the dress! Wear a shirt. Many brides wear a t-shirt, then struggle to get it over their newly coiffeured head. If you wear a shirt it can be unbuttoned and will not damage your hairdo.

2) Dress the bride first. Lots of people dress the bride last so everyone is ready to help, but if plans start to run behind it will be the bride who is in a rush to get dressed. If you dress the bride first she can get ready at her own pace, feel relaxed and have time to make any adjustments to her dress for maximum comfort. It is not the bride’s job to dress the bridesmaids or any children – make sure you have plenty of helpers to do this so that she can enjoy her wedding day.

Essential Wedding Planning Tips!

Essential Wedding Planning Tips!

3) For the groom and the groomsmen, this may seem obvious, but remember your socks! Far too many grooms get married without socks and it can sometimes be seen on photographs.

4) If your dress has laces or buttons, ask a friend to come and help you dress. Often a bridesmaid or family member will be there for bridal preparations, but it is likely that they may also have false nails for the occasion. If you have a friend present who isn’t in the bridal party they will be able to help the bride to get dressed.

5) Make sure that the mobile phones of the bridesmaids are fully charged in case there are any emergencies. However TURN them OFF during the ceremony.

6) Ideally you should try to go for small heels or flat shoes, you’re going to be on your feet for most of the day and your feet will ache a whole lot. It might even ruin your big day slightly if your feet are in agony.

7) Find a “handyman” – someone who can fix everything and anything. He should be about throughout the wedding and reception just in case something goes wrong. He might not be part of the wedding party but this guy will certainly deserve a thank you wedding gift!

8) If you have any niggling problems that have been bothering you for a while – problem skin, discoloured teeth, excess weight – start tackling them at least six months before the wedding. A quick trip to your doctor or dentist could give you the solution you need to feel confident on your wedding day and on into your married life. This may even be the perfect time to give out your bridesmaid gifts by taking them to a spa to show them just how much you appreciate them!

10) All eyes will be on your hands when it comes to the exchanging of the rings, so don’t forget look after them (or your feet for when you kick off your heels at the reception later). Go for a manicure and pedicure every few weeks for about six months before the wedding and remember to moisturise at least every morning and night when you’re at home. Better still, keep your favourite hand cream in your desk at work and top up whenever your hands start to feel dry.

11) There may be a lot of planning to fit in before the big day, but making sure you get at least eight hours of sleep every night will banish dark circles and eye bags and do wonders for the rest of your skin. It will boost your energy levels and decrease your stress levels too.

12) Your wedding party will be heaviliy involved in your wedding. It’s important to remember the bridesmaid gifts, bestman gifts and other thank you wedding gifts. You want to show your wedding party that you appreciate them.

Can you think of any important tips that the bride and groom might need to remember before the big day?? Add your comments below!

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