Wedding Planning Tips From The Experts ~ BCME Vendors
Written by on April 23, 2014.
Tagged under: BCME Vendors, Bride Club ME, Vendor Club, WEDDING PLANNING TIPS, Wedding Planning Tips from the experts, Wedding advice, wedding tips
Wedding Planning Tips From The Experts
Wedding planning tips from the experts themselves. Here at Bride Club ME, we are lucky to work closely with many exceptionally talented and passionate wedding vendors in the UAE and beyond.
We often receive questions from brides in the region, seeking advice and information, so we thought we’d come to the rescue by putting together a feature packed full of indispensable planning secrets, tips and advice from the experts themselves, our wonderful vendor club members. Enjoy!
Choose Your Wedding Date Wisely
If you’re looking to have an outdoor wedding in the UAE, avoid the summer season, when temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees. The hot months are June through to September, but even in the high/cool season, it is worth having a contingency plan in place for rain or a sandstorm. These can happen at any time of the year and you don’t want to panic on your wedding day!In terms of dates to steer clear of, check the Islamic Calendar for any celebrations and public holidays (which could result in a ‘dry night’ and could also mean no live music).
Clare Ebbs – Wedding planner, The Perfect Moment Dubai
Remember To Budget In The Details
Don’t forget to account for the little things, like transportation for the wedding party, valet parking, gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen, furniture (if needed) sound and lighting (if needed). Sometimes these can be overlooked and then you will find yourself having to find an additional few thousand dirhams to cover costs.
Abeer Safa – Event Planner & Co-Founder of Touche D’or by Al Wazzan L.L.C.
Choose Upbeat Music For Your Wedding Reception
It’s a happy occasion, so choose upbeat music. Older music is fun, tunes from Chuck Berry, Micheal Jackson, Wham, Candi Staton and current tunes from the likes of Lady Gaga and Black Eyes Peas bring every generation onto the dance floor.
Ananda Shakespeare – AKA DJ Sister Rock
The First Look
Traditionally, the groom doesn’t see the bride until she walks down the aisle. However, it’s advised that the bride and groom-to-be meet before the ceremony begins. This helps to elevate the intimacy between the two and the results are truly awesome and romantic photographs.This sacred, special time spent talking and being together before the ceremony often ends up being one of the couple’s favourite moments of the day.
Gul Hassan – Wedding photographer at Gul Photography
The First Aid Beauty Kit
Ask your Maid of Honour or one of your friends to carry a ‘first aid beauty kit’ for you. This could include blotting tissues, lipstick/lip-gloss and translucent powder. These tools will come in handy when quick touch-ups are required.
Lidia – Makeup artist at Lidia Make Up Art
Seek Opinions From Those You Trust
Searching for your perfect dress can be a fun, enjoyable experience, but can also fill brides with dread. Do you go strapless, vintage, long, short, lacey or Disney princess? There are so many options. At the end of the day, the choice is yours and you should feel a million dollars wearing the dress of your dreams.Our tip is to take people with you who you trust, are receptive and will give you a non-biased, honest opinion. What looks ‘just okay’ on the hanger could be your perfect dress – you’ll never know if you don’t try it on. Use the opportunity to explore all sorts of options so that on your special day you’re wearing the dress you dreamed of.
Barbaranne – Designer and founder of Moirai Style
Re-Use Your Ceremony Flowers
Ceremony aisle flowers can become additions to your the buffet table or reception. A typical ceremony usually only lasts about half an hour to 45 minutes — it’s a shame to see so many flowers only being used for for a short period, when they could easily be incorporated into the reception decor!
Hana – Florist at Vintage Bloom
DSLR Vs Camcorders
When choosing a wedding cinematographer, make sure they use DSLR cameras and not camcorders for shooting your film as this will ensure the quality is amazing and crispy sharp. It is a paradox, but photo cameras provide better video quality than professional camcorders.
Denis – Wedding videographer at Deneemotion Boutique Wedding Cinema+Photo.
Look After Your Key Wedding Suppliers
Take care of your key wedding suppliers (planner, photographer, videographer, DJ). If the wedding is in the evening or going on all day, make sure you provide them with a meal, water and soft drinks.
Masha Cane – Wedding planner and founder of Fabulous Day Weddings & Events
Pin it
Create a Pinterest board for your wedding inspirations. This helps you to visualise your big day creatively and is also useful to show suppliers, such as wedding planners and florists, your ideas. It’s certainly helping me in the lead up to my wedding.
Rio – Founder of Bride Club ME
Be Open Minded When Choosing Your Gown
When searching for your wedding gown, try on various styles of dress. You may find that a style you think won’t suit you, actually looks great! We have had a few brides at Contessa change their minds, when trying on a different style to the one they are focused on.
Mohammed Al-Haj – CONTESSA Dubai
Organise Your Wedding Play List Ahead Of Time
Try to organise your playlist ahead of time, you don’t want to be trying to scramble at the last minute to make sure “your song” is included in the wedding procession. Giving plenty of song selection time, also allows your DJ to ensure they have your favourite songs available during your wedding.
Sarah Lawrence – Wedding DJ
Trust The Experts
If you hire a planner, your job as the bride is to relax and let the planner figure everything out. Micro-managing will not only get you more stressed, but will defeat the purpose of using a planner. Do not forget that your planner is your friend; you need to be able to trust that they can take care of everything before hiring them.
Kameliya – Wedding planner and co-founder of The Event Factory
Set Up An Online Gift Registry
Save your travelling guests the hassle of packing and flying with wedding gifts by setting up your very own wedding gift registry. This can also save you from having to lug home wedding gifts if you are flying back home for your wedding. Better yet, you can pick and choose gifts you and your fiancé actually want and avoid duplications.
Julie Leblan – Founder of Mylist.ae
Get To Know Your Wedding Photographer
Make sure you are comfortable with your photographer; don’t be afraid to collaborate with them, add your own ideas and talk them through what you want. Goldfish offer a pre-wedding shoot with most of their wedding packages; this is a great way to get to know your photographer so that you are comfortable in front of the camera on your big day.
Claire Riley – Managing partner and business development manager at Goldfish Photography & Video
Get Crafty
If you are a budget bride, consider DIYing some of your projects. Brides are personalising their receptions with fabulous handmade details. These projects are a great way to cut costs and give your reception a real sense of individuality. Check the DIY section of Bride Club ME for ideas and inspiration.
Rio – Founder of Bride Club ME
Personalise Your Wedding Vows
For a really personal wedding ceremony be prepared to share some of your relationship history and your vision for your future together with your Celebrant. The extra time this takes is well worth while as it helps them to get a feel for you as a couple and to tailor your ceremony script to you. It also helps you develop a rapport with them so that on the day you don’t feel like your ceremony is being conducted by a stranger.
Toni Bloodworth-Barker – Civil Celebrant
One for the Destination Brides – Research local marriage requirements
If you are planning a destination wedding, make sure you have all the required notice forms, relevant documents and fees by getting all the necessary information from the relevant government institutions. Some countries have a “residency requirement” before the wedding date, meaning you and your fiance must be in the country you wish to marry for a set amount of time. This is usually just a couple of days, but it can be longer dependent on the country you wish to marry in.
Diane Kiameh – Destination wedding planner and founder of Lily of the Valley
Looking for more wedding planning tips and advice? Click here.
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