A different ceremony - the world is waiting

In the UK to get married under civil licence you have to exchange your vows within the boundaries of a licensed room, venue or space, this space must be of permanent structure so in other words you cannot marry legally in an unlicensed venue, outside or in the open air .... Or can you.



In many other countries like America it is the celebrant who is licensed not the venue, so as long as you have one of those he or she may marry you wherever and whenever you wish (I was married in California in a garden for this exact reason). In the UK we don't have this luxury, not that we would want it sometimes with our unpredictable weather and wet summers.



However it is now a totally possible thing thanks to independent celebrants offering freedom of choice and a chance to take our nuptials outside (or in the forest, up a mountain, down by a lake ...). How does this work? There are 3 important factors you must consider before deciding to get married outside in the UK....

1) You MUST do the legal bit! Your ceremony with an independent celebrant will not be legal no matter how authentic. However this is simple, simply pop along to your local registry office (appointments etc are of course needed) and sign the legal paperwork, there is no need to dress up, exchange rings, say vows or anything that would make it feel like a real ceremony, you can wear jeans, take just your witnesses (these can even be the staff at the office!) and as long as you say one particular sentence and sign in the right place you are then legally married!

This lasts around 15 minutes and is very informal, you can do this before or after your ceremony and totally in secret so your family and friends don't feel like the service has already happened - it hasn't, it's just signing of papers.

Alternatively if you find a lovely licensed venue that perhaps isn't big enough or suitable for your wedding ceremony, you can have the legal part carried out within the licensed area inside and take your actual ceremony outside, making the most of the venue!



2) You should have somewhere indoors or under cover should the great British weather play unfair. In other words if you want to get married on the beach, have somewhere nearby indoors or have wet weather gear lined up for you and your guests (and your celebrant) just in case. A row of gorgeous umbrellas look fab in the photos!



Remember also to always gain permission from the person/company/organisation that own the land you wish to marry on.


3) Find a good independent celebrant. These should come recommended by someone you know well (we happily recommend the following two) and meet with them to chat through your day. The freedom of choice is wonderful, they will talk you through your options (of which there are loads!) help to design a service that looks and feels just like the real thing. You will still be pronounced husband and wife and you can have readings, songs, traditions etc anything that you wish to include is usually no trouble.

We love Orchid ceremonies and have worked with them in one of our venues in Alresford, Hampshire. They are so accommodating and experienced registrars so they know exactly how a ceremony can be performed to ensure you have the day of your dreams.
http://www.orchidceremonies.co.uk


Also Tailor Made ceremonies are excellent at understanding a couples needs and helping them to achieve a truly wonderful ceremony for themselves and their guests.
http://www.tailormadeceremonies.co.uk



These guys (and there are more and more now) will also be able to offer baby naming ceremonies, funeral services and renewal of vows plus much more.

So if you are struggling to find a venue, a fan of the outdoors and secretly wish you could be a little different, why not have an independent celebrant and get married at a place of your choosing! That stunning house, castle, gallery, mountain ... That you wish were licensed can now be a reality for your dream wedding.

At Isabella Weddings we have lots of experience of organising unique and unusual weddings using independent celebrants so why not meet us for a coffee soon to find your perfect location.



www.isabellaweddings.co.uk
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Move over cake pops!

There's a new pop in town.



As a Wedding Planner I am always thinking of new and unique ways to treat your guests or make your wedding memorable. A subtle touch here and there goes a long way and your guests will remember the love you have for each other and the way you express that love for your family and friends.

It doesn't have to cost a fortune and usually home made touches don't, so why not get together with some friends and think about how you can make your wedding a true reflection of you as a couple and the things you love.

The latest in cake treats are cake pops, something like these gorgeous little sweet nibbles ...




But the 'pops' don't have to stop at cakes, I had a look around to see if there were any other pops that could be used as something a little different throughout your day, these are some of the gorgeous treats I found (all of them easy to make too!)



Sausage rolls on sticks with chutney or pickle, perfect canapés!




Treats for the kids maybe, home made jam dodgers for favours or for adding colour to any dessert tables.




Hot cherry pie pops, perfect for a warming pudding at a winter wedding. Serve with mulled wine for a delicious Christmas reception.




Or the typical British apple pie pops, served here as treats on a cake table.




Easy to make marshmallow pops, melt some chocolate and make a hole in the mallow, then pop your melted chocolate into the hole and place a stick inside. Perfect! Ideal for favours, looking pretty on a sweet table or in the children's tent for a sweet offering.




How lovely are these truffles, ideal for after dinner or served with coffee. Ask your caterer if they can offer these in your colours or theme.




Why not involve the children and get them to help you decorate some heart shaped biscuits and then pop them out with your evening buffet or coffee.

One thing we do know is that your guests will love a treat, be it by supplying a few sweet jars of traditional sweets (remember we can supply these for you) or something like I have shown above, a sugar input to keep your guests up and dancing will be a happy result every time.

Happy treating!

Love is sweet

As some of you may know, Isabella Weddings now offer retro and modern style sweet buffets.


(pic by newenglandfineliving.com)

There are so many possibilities for these and they are hugely popular for your wedding or party, children's parties are having them and having more healthier treats and letting the children take a mix-up bags of sweets or treats home with them instead of the traditional party bags.



(pic by sweet-retreat.co.uk)

What better way to treat your guests than to offer them a pick and mix style sweet table, you could have this instead of favours (and save some money by doing so!) and add a little something extra to your day, candy buffets do become a great talking piece!

This is a lovely example of an Easter wedding favour or decoration



Or have a Christmas sweet table at your festive wedding or office party!



(pic by worldofstock.com)

Theme your sweet table by colour, era or simply to match your wedding theme. We can provide all you need so you and your guests can enjoy a sweet treat.


(pic from one of our weddings this weekend)

Do contact us today for your bespoke quote (as this is a new service for us we are offering some great discounts to anyone booking for this year!)

Have a great day :-)

www.isabellaweddings.co.uk
Marie@isabellaweddings.co.uk


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I'm the wedding planner!

Ask not what your bride can do for you but what you can do for your bride.


(picture from Ena's florist, Bournemouth)

Before I head off to my second wedding this bank holiday weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts with you. I am always asked (by suppliers and brides) what exactly a wedding planner does, I know I've spoken of this before and discussed the many wonderful ways a wedding co-ordinator can help you with your wedding plans, but more and more I come across situations - mainly with caterers or venue organisers I have to say - that leave me having to prove in many ways how a wedding planner can actually support them not work against them.

I think the fear that many couples have is that they might be doubling up if they have a great venue organiser AND a wedding planner, of course that also means double the expense so why bother?

Hmmm.

Many a venue organiser or caterer will have wonderful skills and are perfectly able to be your event organiser, they have tons of experience and will ensure the main part of your day will go as planned, job done then no?

No. Whilst they are making sure the food is prepared and served on time and perhaps your rooms and tables are as they should be and guests have something to drink. Who is going to chat to the bride at 7am when she is in tears having forgotten something, who will remind the bride gently to eat (and her mum!) who will help the groom with the button hole that he's put on upside down, who will give the father of the bride a helping hand with his speech at the last minute because nerves are taking over him. Who will spot a lost guest who is looking for somewhere to make a quiet phone call because her friends are lost, who will pass the groom a tissue because his emotions have gotten the better of him as his beautiful bride enters the room. Who will rock a baby to sleep because it has started crying during the ceremony and the mum is the brides best friend so doesn't want to miss the vows, who will help the photographer gather the lost guests because the ushers are a little to tipsy to help out.

Who will discreetly remove a guest who has had one too many champagnes, give him coffee and a place to nap them pop him back onto the table he came from before anyone notices he has been missing. Who will call every supplier in the morning to ensure they are on time and avoiding the accident that has happens ten minutes ago. Who will dim the lights in the evening when the band starts to make sure the ambiance is perfect. Who will quickly make a bow tie out of a waiters black tie because someone has forgotten the dress code. Who will repair the cake when the younger guest members decide to decorate it with table crystals, who will set your venue up in one hour (when the venue organiser has decided to call in sick) without anyone knowing, who will be there at midnight, every night for a week because you have such bad nerves and your life is a little stressful right now, who will take over any task if it is getting too much.

Who will watch everything and be your eyes and ears the entire day, before and during, and spot any problems before they happen and rectify them without you ever having to know. Who will ensure you don't have to worry about a thing.


I will. Whilst a venue organiser or a caterer can do so much, they won't do all the above, they won't be able to because they have plenty of other tasks to carry out. A wedding planner is there for you, not the venue, not the catering, not the flowers, but all of this and more. I have done all of the above and more and have plenty of reasons for you to hire a wedding planner.

Having a wedding planner there on your wedding day isn't something some all brides think they need, but what about if it is something you want? Have the day you want and book Isabella Weddings to be there on your wedding day.

Thanks for listening! Have a fab Sunday, I'm off to smash plates!

www.isabellaweddings.co.uk
marie@isabellaweddings.co.uk

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Venue Visuals

Ok so I'm engaged, how on earth do I pick a venue!?


(Old Alresford House, Hampshire)

When you are newly engaged you want to get out and visit some venues as soon as possible, but there are a few ground rules you should try and stick to so that your trips are not wasted or disappointing ones.

Before you step into the lobby of any gorgeous building offering to make your day perfect, have a think about the type of wedding you would like, the type if venue you see it being held in and how many people you wish to invite. Of course you must also try and think of a budget before making those viewing appointments too. After all, if you are looking at a low cost, small celebration then that wonderful stately home offering a grand ballroom housing 250 guests may not be suitable (even if it is fairytale worthy!).

So the trick is, do your research. Once you have decided on your budget allocation then try to aim for those venues offering packages within your price range. Think also about style and the feel for your day, do you want to have an afternoon tea or a modern jazz buffet, the style of venue can really set your theme for you so always have this in mind when you look around the venues you have chosen to view.

You may not have an ideal venue however, nor are you decided on a theme, in that case why not visit a few different areas and places so that you can begin to see what ticks your boxes for your day. Ask friends and family if they love a particular hotel or restaurant, maybe they know a good marquee company or caterer which may sway you toward a marquee venue.


(Cowdary ruins with a marquee by Alresford Marquees)

Of course when you fall in love with a venue (and you will!) take time to chat through your requirements with the event organiser. Can you see a wedding set up to help you visualise how your day will look, what suggestions do they have for your theme and style. We quite often visit venues with couples to help them ask all the questions they need to in order to go home with a clear understanding of what they can expect of their venue on their big day. An example of some suitable topics to cover might be:

* Food & Drink

* Room capacity and minimum numbers

* Minimum spend and requirements for any packages

* Booking terms and cancellation policy

* Bedrooms and if you are obliged to book any

* Event planner input, when can you see them to discuss and who runs the day of your wedding

* Can they breakdown the costs and what else do you need to pay for or provide

* What do they include in their packages and how flexible are they



(Hampton Court Palace with one of our gorgeous couples from 2010)

There are so many questions and we quite often supply a list of potential questions to ask you venue to ensure nothing is forgotten, however as you move through the months of planning, don't be afraid to ask those questions that pop up or write them down so that you are prepared when you next visit the venue.

So if you are thinking of a garden party in a marquee, a stately home for a country retreat, a hotel for that 'all-in-one' feel or something totally different, enjoy the search and if it gets too much then call someone to help get you on the right road.

Isabella Weddings offer a venue search from just £99 and we can stay with you until you find that perfect setting for your day. We can also spend a few hours with you helping you to find out what you really want for your day.

www.isabellaweddings.co.uk




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It's all in the detail

Venue dressing. ...


(photo from one of this weekend's weddings)

Today I had the pleasure of realising a creative dream that our lovely Bride had put together over a year or more. Boxes behind sofas and bags of items just sat patiently waiting to be centre of attention.

Our Bride had planned her entire wedding herself, (no need for a Wedding Planner here!) and had everything detailed well in advance so that she was able to check and double check that everything she truly wanted for her perfect day was accounted for.

As the day drew nearer she began to think about who might set up her tables at her venue, who would nip over to put the centre pieces together? Who could set up her candy bar just as she had imagined? Who was best to spend the morning dressing tables instead of enjoying this important part of the day - the preparation!



(photo from sweet celebrations)

This is when she saw an advert for Isabella Weddings, venue dressing. We offer a service where you provide the items and we set everything up for you. There is no need for our involvement at any stage of your actual planning journey but think of it more as a last minute helping hand.

This service costs from just £50 and we really are your eyes and ears, leaving you with a venue just as you imagined it to be, only without you or your family having to lift a finger!

Do bear it in mind and maybe mention us to those engaged couples you have on your radar! After all every wedding deserves to be enjoyed to the full.

Isabella Weddings - here to take away the stress, not the control.



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How do I choose a photographer?

Photographers are one of the many over-populated supplier groups in the wedding world today. Together with florists and cup cake makers you will find yourself very quickly being inundated by many websites and leaflets of the 'best local photographer'. So below I have listed a few questions that I believe you could ask or things to look for maybe, to help you decide on who will fit you and your wedding. These are some thoughts I have picked up along the way, you will have more questions and some won't be relevant but I hope they offer a little guidance to the new bride to be.

1) When you first call them, are they happy to chat to you about your plans, how open are they about their work and how soon do they mention fees. First impressions start on this first call so listen carefully and make sure you put the phone down smiling.

2) Speak to colleagues and friends and when you call their recommended photographers ask them what they liked most about your friends/colleagues wedding and what, if anything, would they do differently.

3) Do they know your church/venue? If not will they do a recce before your wedding to get a feel for the day and meet the venue representative.

4) Can they offer you a choice of packages, are these flexible and do they fit your budget. Can you upgrade and will this cost different depending on when you upgrade (some will need to charge extra after your wedding as they will be tied to set requirements from their album suppliers etc)

5). Do they send the albums away to put together, if so where to and how long will this process take.

6) Will they offer a high resolution disc so that you can reproduce your images at a later stage, what costs will this entail.

7) Do the images they have on show suit your taste, are they more traditional or a little more 'creative'. Think about the type of images you want to see in your album or on your walls, do they have images in their studio to suit just this.

8) Do you like them?! It seems a little personal but it is vital to actually like the photographer you choose, and they you. You have to have a good, relaxed friendship where you are very comfortable to say how you feel and they in return understand your needs (good and bad). Not every bride is happy showing her garter!

9) Consult other suppliers, especially your wedding planner ( be aware some venues may promote suppliers without keeping in touch with them fully ) A recommendation from a trusted wedding provider is a home-run for a bride-to-be!

10) If you can ask to speak to (or email) a previous client, or current one. You will be able to voice any questions or concerns and maybe share the same thoughts and ideas. Plus the photographer will be able to share thoughts with you all, of course permission must be gained for this.

11) Do they have set hours for your wedding package, can they extend these and for what fee.

12) Will they meet you for an engagement shoot and is this included in the package fee you have chosen, can you have an album from this.

It may seem like a big list and more like an interview, but I truly believe that if you spend the time to research this vital supplier well you will have a wonderful experience during your engagement shoot, planning and on the actual day.

Remember we at Isabella Weddings offer a supplier finding service, having worked with many excellent photographers (and some not so!) we can help guide you through the maze and find you the perfect match and maybe save you some money in the process.

www.isabellaweddings.co.uk

Next week .... How to pick a great venue!

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