Wedding Fair Survival Guide

Wedding Fair Survival Guide

As you have probably realised Wedding Season is now in full swing with many Wedding fairs being held locally and nationally. From my experience of being a bride wedding fairs are a great place to get ideas and they offer the opportunity to speak to many different suppliers under one roof.

The downside is that they can seem a bit overwhelming by the choice available and the pressure to make decisions – especially the larger events but do not worry Loving Invitations are here to help with our quick survival guide.

1. Wear comfortable shoes – it maybe a long day
2. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water – hydration is key
3. Be organised – before you attend make a list of suppliers that you have not yet booked so you do not get bogged down speaking to suppliers who you have already booked. Make a list of questions to ask vendors so to not to forget anything important for example is my wedding date free ?
4. A girls day out – I am sure your Mom and Bridesmaids would only love to tag along to offer their opinions and inspiration. A glass of sparkly and some scrumptious wedding cake samples also help to sweeten the deal.
5. Money talks. If you think you may want to book a supplier then be sure to have cash in your pocket. Money talks and at most of these events suppliers are offering a 10% discount for booking with them on the day.
6. Have Fun – Try to relax and enjoy the day out. This is your day, and planning it should be fun and exciting. Soak up everything the day has to offer and
7. Most importantly don’t forget about your wedding invitations

For further tips have a look at our earlier blog “getting the most of out of a wedding fair“

5 Things no one tells you about getting engaged

The realities of becoming engaged 

You may have been a bridesmaid a few times, attended many of your close friends Irish weddings but until you actually get engaged yourself you will never know the reality of being engaged.

You cannot stop gazing at your ring finger. As soon as you put that engagement ring on your finger you will not be able to stop staring at it. I remember many a time being beeped in traffic by cars behind me because the lights had gone green and I had failed to move as I was too busy gazing at my hand. P.S don’t forget that allot of people will want to see your engagement ring so be sure to have your nails looking well – you might even treat yourself to a manicure to have them extra sparkly. Have a read of our earlier blog how to enjoy being newly engaged

Your wedding date and wedding location. The minute you announce your engagement. Nearly the first question out of everyones mouth will be “when is the big day” I would recommend to set a date or have a month in mind before you announce your engagement as to make your life a little easier. If you want to get ahead of the posse you could post save the date cards to family abroad to let them know your chosen date. In regards to the location this can be a little harder to have prepared for friends and family but even if you have a few locations and venues in mind you can put peoples inquisitive minds at ease.

Engagement story. Start practicing your engagement story right now as you will be telling it allot over the next couple of weeks. You may want to write it down and edit a few bits so to make it as concise as possible.

Not everyone close to you will be happy. Do not be shocked if someone close to you is not as happy as you thought they would be. Don’t let it upset you – their negative reaction is all about them not you. Hopefully you will not experience such negative feedback.

Everyone is a wedding planning expert. Friends and family who are already married will offer allot of advice – some really helpful and some not so helpful. My advice is to listen to it all as to not insult anyone. At the end of the day everyone just wants the best for you on your wedding day. If you don’t agree just forget it as soon as you leave.

Ultimate guide to Humanist wedding ceremony

Following on from last weeks piece on having a Spiritualist wedding. I decided to look at Humanist weddings in Ireland. As Humanist weddings are now legally binding in Ireland it has offered couples a very attractive option to a Church or Civil ceremony. Humanist wedding ceremonies are non-religious occasions with no mention of god as opposed to spiritual weddings that we discussed last week. A Humanist wedding ceremony can be almost anything you want it to be and offers couple the freedom to design their own ceremony.

To give you a little background, Humanism is a secular philosophy which values human freedom as opposed to a devine being. A humanist is a non religious ceremony therefore it maybe a good option for a couple who have no religious belief or are from different religious backgrounds.

So what exactly does a humanist ceremony consist of.

This is really up to the couple as you are free to design your own ceremony. To give you an idea here are elements that are popular in most humanist wedding ceremonies. Exchanging of vows, personal statements of commitment, exchanging of rings, hand-fasting, readings, poems, lighting of candles and music etc.

How to get started

Ensure that a Humanist Ceremony is what you both want

Meet with celebrants in your area to get clarity on the ceremony they provide.

Discuss with your Fiancé what you both want from your ceremony to ensure that you are both on the same page

Register your marriage with the HSE Registrars office at least 3 months before you get married.

When you have chosen the style of ceremony that is right for you don’t forget to invest in a wedding ceremony pamphlet for your wedding guests. For guests who have never been to a Spiritual wedding ceremony before, it’ll give them an idea of what to expect. It is also a lovely souvenir for wedding guests to take away with them.

Rocking your Dancefloor – Guide to Wedding Bands

Wedding Bands in Ireland   When the ceremony is finished, vows taken, speeches made and dinner enjoyed, it is time to get the celebrations in full swing. One of the most important elements to your evening reception will be your wedding band. From attending many weddings I can definitely say that the right band can have your dance floor rocking and the wrong band can have your guests rolling out the door to the bar. So if you are currently in the middle of booking your wedding band here are some things to consider.

Before you Book   Before your book your band be sure to hear them live. Before I booked my wedding band I asked them what local weddings they were playing and we made it our business to gatecrash a wedding – stand at the back for twenty minutes and listen to one or two songs just to see how they perform for a crowd. If the first option doesn’t work your chosen band maybe performing at a local wedding fair (soon to be coming up in January and February 2017) this is great for seeing bands in action. Do not forget to ask friends and family for recommendations – along with hearing the band yourselves at a prior event this is probably the best way to find a band that is the perfect fit for you both.

Price   Let price and dates be one of the first things you discuss with your band. If you pay a deposit – ensure it is refundable if the band cancels. If the band has to travel ask is theirs a travel fee. Discuss when the final payment is due and don’t forget to ask is there a discount for cash payments. Remember Cash is King.

Packages   If you want to have music in a few elements of your wedding then maybe choosing one provider instead of two or three may work out more cost effective. If you would like music at your arrivals, dinner, evening reception and DJ. Then maybe you could ask for a package. Besides it being cost effective it will will be allot easier to deal with one person verses three.

First Dance   Your first dance is a really important time for you and your husband on your wedding day. Whatever song you choose, ensure that the band can play the song correctly. There are two options, it can be played from a CD or the band can perform it live. If you are not happy with their cover of your song do not be afraid to ask them to play it directly from a CD (its your day and your paying)

How long do they play   Most bands will play for around 2-3 hours with intervals, be sure to ask if they are late setting up due to a hold up on your side will they still play for the hours. agreed or will they finish at a certain time no matter what. Also if they are being the D.J also what time will they play until.

When we were getting married our band told us that the bride and groom lead the way. If you are on the dance floor then your guests will follow and this is very true. You set the tone for your wedding so do not be afraid to get your dancing shoes on and show your guests how to have a good time.

If you’re still in the process of organising your wedding invitations, why not check out our superb range today?