Barbaranne, our Real Bride Contributor, on ‘Wed’min’

Is planning your wedding sending your stress levels soaring? Do you feel like you’re drowning in wedding admin? If so, you are not alone! Our gorgeous real bride diary contributor, Barbaranne Heaton, has been busy making lists this past month, and has found her dream venue.

‘Wed’min’. Who made up that word? Is it not enough we have ‘life’min’ to deal with? I’m thinking I need a PA to organise this so-called ‘wed’min’. In fact, I need a PA to organise my life. Any volunteers?

The past few weeks have been crazy busy with weddings. Not my wedding, I may add. Lots of our lovely brides have been getting married and ending, in style, the journey that I’m currently embarking on. I know it’ll all be worth it – this I do keep telling myself and my partner. Especially when we look at our budget!

I can’t complain though – I’m in such a fortunate position. Being in the wedding business has some major perks and one of them is knowing lots of lovely, knowledgeable people. These are the people who are keeping me calm and contained when I start freaking out about venues, money, hotels for guests to stay at, flights, people not coming! (Thank you Rio!)

I decided to break it all down and write on a piece of paper everything we needed to do/book and I then put it into levels of priority. It helped us get a bit of clarity, and we want to just deal with one thing at a time at the moment. So, set the date. Check. Send Save the Dates. Check. Find a venue. There’s currently a big star next to this on the list!

Above: Via tipi-boho-weddings.com

Where to start? Make another list, of course. We listed the characteristics we were looking for in a venue. Quiet, private, nice outdoor area, nothing too ‘fancy shmancy’, room for a canvas and wood tipi. Yes, a tipi, my only request and boy am I going to fight for one! Although it’s currently way out of budget.

Above: Photography by Arkadiy Sukhanov

We made a decision very early on that we weren’t going to look at the big hotels. Our budget is pretty small and we just couldn’t work with their minimums – as amazing as these hotels are, we are being very realistic. We have a 22 month old who will be going to school before we know it, so blowing all our savings on our wedding just isn’t an option. As tempting as it is. (I love you, oh wonderful, magical, magnificent tipi! You will be mine, oh yes you will.)

We decided to spend a weekend doing viewings so we booked in to see three venues: The Dubai Creek Golf Club; The Address Montgomerie, also in Dubai; and Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – all beautiful locations.

A good friend of ours works at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and suggested we pop over for a look. We hadn’t even thought about searching further afield than Dubai. I can honestly say that, as soon as we pulled up into the drive, I got the most amazing feeling about it.

Image: Via Ominia.ae

 An excitement returned in my tummy and I couldn’t wait to see more. We pulled into the car park and were welcomed by 10 wild gazelles, just minding their own business and enjoying a leisurely Saturday stroll! Major tick.

We met our friend who introduced us to Adam and Bel, the events and F&B team, and instantly liked them. They could not have been more helpful, even when I suggested putting up my beloved tipi!

I was mentally signed up before we’d even looked around. Then we hopped on a golf buggy and were driven around the course to view where the ceremony would be – on the 17^th tee, overlooking the sea. I don’t need to say anymore, it was stunning! We are now just finalising a few things – we’ve requested mini Lancashire hotpots, so these things take time!

Hopefully by my next installment, I’ll be able to say we’ve booked the venue. Whoop!

Right, I’m off to carry on with some of my ‘life’min’. Till next time folks!

x B x

Don’t forget to log on next month to see B’s latest bridal diary post!