Get inspiration for your big day by hearing from one of our previous customers, Andrew Griffiths, about his wedding and what advice they want to share with our wedding community.
Planning your wedding can be stressful. Whether you’re going all out with a 3-day event or keeping it small and intimate, weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Our new wedding profile series gives you a sneak peek into the weddings of couples we’ve worked with in recent months.
You’ll hear about their wedding planning process and about anything they’d do differently – as well as getting advice and tips from our wedding planning experts. While every couple will use social media and bridal magazines for wedding planning ideas, nothing beats hearing from everyday couples who have recently tied the knot.
Read on to find out more about Andrew and his partner’s contemporary but traditional winter wedding.
Before They Said ‘I Do’
Some couples have a longer courtship than others before they decide to say, ‘I do’. This couple met while serving in the Army cadets and were together for over 10 years before deciding to get married.
They then spent more than 2 years planning their wedding after getting engaged. While most couples plan their wedding within 12 to 18 months after their engagement, a slightly longer engagement can give you time to tick off big life goals or simply enjoy being engaged.
Wedding Details and Planning
One of the first things any couple should do when planning their wedding is to decide on a colour scheme. Choosing this early on makes it easier to select flowers, decorations, and outfits for the bridal party.
This couple chose to use the bride’s favourite colours for their wedding theme. We think this is the perfect way to add a subtle touch of the couple’s personality to the big day.
Most wedding planners will recommend choosing one to two main colour hues with one or two secondary colours with one being a neutral to balance out your palette. You’ll want to choose your wedding colours ahead of sending out your invites or making any major decision on floral arrangements or cake designs.
One of the first practical decisions every engaged couple should make before they start wedding planning is to choose a budget. We believe you have the day of your dreams without breaking the bank, especially when you are looking to hire wedding cars in Warwickshire. There are examples of wedding budget breakdowns that you can use to determine your budget.
Andrew and his partner had a budget under £10,00 for a civil ceremony, typical of what most of our customers will stick to when planning a wedding with 100 guests or less.
How Their Wedding Day Unfolded
Wedding planning doesn’t always go to plan – especially in today’s economy where the wedding industry is navigating rising costs. This couple experienced it first-hand when the venue they originally booked closed a few weeks after they made their booking.
Thankfully, the story has a happy ending! Andrew and his fiancée managed to secure a similar package for the same price at Netly Hall Estate. This venue is described as a ‘countryside escape’ with its great hall having a seating capacity of 130 people. The property sits on 160 acres of private countryside, making it ideal for intimate weddings and those with a carnival atmosphere.
Netly Hall Estate also offers wedding parties access to its gardens for drinks receptions and has a large function room – The Hope Edwards Suite – that can accommodate up to 300 guests. You can find out more about this wedding venue in Shrewsbury by visiting its official website here.
While this couple choose a traditional venue for their big day, they added a contemporary feel with a luxury sports car for their wedding transport. It’s one of the most popular options for couples and gives a timeless look to your wedding photos. Our range of luxury wedding cars includes models from Bentley, Mercedes, Jaguar, and BMW. Arrive at your wedding in style with the sports car of your dreams.
Wedding Planning Advice for Newly Engaged Couples
While most weddings go off without a hitch, there’s always something that couples wish they had done differently. This wedding profile series offers our couples a chance to reflect on their big day and share their advice with newly engaged couples who are starting the process of planning their wedding.
Andrew and his wife got married in the UK with a winter wedding that had less than 100 guests. They choose to mix contemporary and traditional elements into their big day, an emerging trend that we’re seeing more of as couples incorporate tradition while curating weddings that are reflective of who they are as a couple.
This couple shared that the hardest part of their planning process was choosing the dress, bridesmaids’ outfits, and groomsmen’s wear. It’s a common pain point that we hear lots of couples talking about. Choosing your wedding colours early can make buying your outfits a little easier.
Most couples will purchase the bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s outfits about six months before the wedding. Bridal dresses are typically bought about six to eight months before the big day.
It’s recommended to start searching a few months earlier if your wedding gown needs to be ordered. High-street bridal collections are becoming more mainstream; however, these tend to release between March and June.
While our couple says that they thought their wedding was perfect, they pinpoint the number of guests and food as two areas where they wish they had spent less money on.
One of the best ways to avoid the disappointment of guests not being able to attend your reception is to send out ‘save the dates’ as soon as you have your wedding date confirmed. You can use websites like Papier to DIY your save the dates and create a unique wedding souvenir.
Check back soon for our next wedding profile to hear from more of our past couples to help you plan for your big day. Remember – every wedding should be as unique and special as the couple the day is celebrating.
