Welcome back everyone, with this week’s blog we are now stepping up a gear with all the wedding planning! From following my previous post’s you have said YES to the big question, found your dream venue and signed your name on the dotted line. Congratulations you have your wedding date & venue, however you are now likely wondering – what’s next?
Band & DJ!
What’s a party without some music? We all know the importance of a great band for a wedding. These are the guys that will entertain your guests once everyone is fed and watered and are essential to a great night! You will need a band that can play a little bit of everything from ‘The Old Time Waltz’ for Granny & the Aunts to ‘Thunderstruck’ for the lads hanging around the bar who will only grace the dancefloor once for this wedding classic – complete with tie’s around their heads and trousers rolled up to their knees. Irish men eh?
Ask your wedding venue about wedding bands – believe me they have seen and heard more than you can imagine and will likely have 3 – 4 bands they can happily and genuinely recommend. Most bands will offer you a chance to see them play live before you book and pay your deposit and weddings you are a guest at are a great opportunity to check out bands. It is important to remember that the best bands available dates go very quickly, especially in peak season, so booking a band should definitely be top of your list.
Photographer
A great wedding photographer is so important. This is the person you are entrusting to capture every moment of your perfect day and these are the photo’s you will always have to look back on. Picking a photographer is difficult, for someone’s idea of a fantastic photographer may not be yours as there are so many different styles and ideas behind the lens.
Asking your married friends who they had is a great start, as well as your wedding co-ordinator! Look each photographer up on Facebook and their websites to view their past work, if they are what you are looking for ensure they are available for your wedding date and within your wedding budget!
Videographer
Ah the poor videographer – a question often asked, will I? Won’t I? Should I? Will I regret it years later if I don’t? I can’t tell you if you will regret it, all I can offer is my opinion and personally I believe a videographer is essential for your day. It is something I would ensure I had!
Time is a very strange concept at the best of times, however on your wedding day all understanding of time flies out the window!! Your wedding day goes by so quickly and be it you’re a nervous Bride/Groom or an excited Bride/Groom believe me when I say it when you look back you will realise there is so much of the day a blur and there are parts that simply eclipse your memory. I believe it is so lovely to be able to sit down weeks, months and years later and watch back on the parts of your day that you don’t see.
Your guest’s laughing and enjoying themselves, you the Bride & Groom from a distance, your vows, your speeches, mammy’s tears and your first dance! These are things you will never see yourself, unless you have someone to capture these very special moments! However I completely understand that wedding budgets might escape a videographer and this is entirely your decision!
Ceremony Music
Ceremony music is so important and if you are planning on having live music rather than a CD with recordings it is best to book it sooner rather than later! Be it a church wedding or a civil ceremony, your ceremony music sets the mood and ambience for your big day. Ensure you pick something that is slow paced, soothing & relaxing – remember the Bride might be nervous walking down the aisle, but think of the groom waiting at the top!!!
Don’t be afraid of going down the non-traditional route but be certain that the songs you have picked fit in with what the day means to you both. Your first dance song is usually filled with emotion, remember this when you are selecting songs for your ceremony!
Décor
Be it for your ceremony or ballroom, the perfect décor can be an amazing focal point for your day and transform a church or venue– whatever your theme or colour scheme. Your wedding coordinator can help point you in the right direction when it comes to this as they will have seen numerous suppliers over their time and know which one will suit you best.
So much booking, so little time:
With all that is involved in planning your special day, it can be hard to find the time to fit everything in. After all – the world doesn’t stop, even when it is your wedding you are planning!! There is work, family, sport and other commitments that can make finding the time very difficult, that is why I highly recommend attending a Wedding Showcase in your chosen venue.
Here, not only will you see your future ballroom set up but all suppliers your venue highly recommends will be in attendance. The perfect way to tick all the boxes on your checklist in one relaxing afternoon!!
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa’s Wedding Showcase takes place on Sunday October 14th from 2pm-5pm. Where we will also be selecting one winner for our amazing competition with Rosewater Weddings to win your wedding stylist.
All entries must be pre-registered by contact me (Sally) on sbrogan@loughreahotelandspa.com or by calling 091 88 00 88. We will have the West of Irelands best suppliers in attendance as well as showcasing our stunning ballroom and rooftop garden!
Looking forward to seeing you then!
Love Sally X
‘There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on’