Get inspiration for your big day by hearing from one of our previous customers, Ben Grindley, about his wedding and what advice he’d 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. We’ll be sharing stories from some of our most recent couples to give you inspiration for your big day and advice from couples who have been in your shoes.
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 Ben and his partner’s traditional winter wedding.
Before They Said ‘I Do’
Ben and his partner met on Tinder and were together for a few years before deciding to get married. They spent less than 12 months planning their wedding.
We’re seeing a rising trend of couples getting engaged and saying ‘I do’ within a year. The average time it takes couples to plan their wedding in the UK now sets between 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of wedding you’re going for. Couples who want a more elaborate – or have other commitments to consider – may want to choose an 18-month or longer timeline when planning their big day.
Wedding Details and Planning
While this couple had a winter wedding, they choose a more vivid colour palette for their big day with pink and turquoise. It’s a perfect example of how you shouldn’t feel tied down by seasonal colour palettes and tones. It’s easy to think a winter wedding means you have to go with green and red!
Ben 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. They choose their venue as it fits with the traditional aesthetic that they wanted for their big day.
Civil ceremonies are quickly becoming the go-to choice for couples across the UK. While it’s easy to assume that civil ceremonies are more simplistic, there are plenty of opportunities to add a personalised touch to your ceremony, whether you’re getting married in a hotel or registry office.
Fall down the Pinterest and TikTok rabbit hole to look for inspiration for how to create a wedding aisle for your bridal entrance. There are lots of opportunities for DIY projects or to support small businesses with flower arches, welcome signs, and candles. Don’t forget that you can personalise your civil ceremony with readings and song choices.
How Their Wedding Day Unfolded
The couple chose a limo for their wedding transport, one of our most popular options for ceremonies and receptions. Limos are an ideal option if you want to provide transportation for your whole bridal party, and they add a touch of Hollywood glamour to your wedding photos.
One of the benefits of choosing a limo for your wedding transport is the comfort factor. You can lean back and relax as your chauffeur handles the rest. While vintage cars are a popular choice for wedding car hire in Shropshire, navigating getting in and out of one in a wedding dress isn’t always easy! Brides with more elaborate dresses may want to choose a limo to accommodate their dresses and for extra comfort.
You can get the party started early by kitting your limo out with drinks and snacks when you’re heading from the ceremony to the reception. Add an extra touch of class and elegance to your big day by getting in touch with our team to find out more about our wedding limousine packages.
Wedding Planning Advice for Newly Engaged Couples
Ben and his partner got married in the UK with a winter wedding that had less than 100 guests. They choose to stick to traditional elements into their big day, hosting their reception at a hotel.
This couple also 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 – and one you’ll hear more about in upcoming wedding profiles.
Thankfully, choosing your bridesmaid and groom wear outfits is becoming easier. Gone are the days when everyone was expected to wear the same thing – though uniformity of some type is still a must-have to keep your photos and look cohesive.
We recommend choosing the bride’s dress before searching for bridesmaids’ dresses, considering the style and comfort of each member of your bridal party. It’s a growing trend to choose dresses with different silhouettes in the same hue or shade, giving your bridesmaids the freedom to pick a dress that works for them.
Don’t forget to consider time for getting alterations made to get your outfits picture-perfect. Working with a tailor is an easy way to elevate the look of your bridesmaid and groomsmen’s outfits and make high-street pieces look designer.
While they say they don’t have any regrets or things they wished they did differently, they did point to one useful tool for couples planning their big day. Social media is a tool that puts the wedding industry at your fingertips.
Facebook Groups are an easy way for you to get ideas for your wedding day and to hear directly from other couples in your area who are getting married. It’s the perfect way to get recommendations for vendors, explore reviews about venues, and get ideas for DIY projects that can help you stay within your wedding budget. 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.
