What is your first dance for your London wedding?

The tradition of the first dance goes back many years. The first dance signifies that the ball is officially open, or that it what it used to signify. This is the couples first dance as husband and wife and as a wedding planner in London,  I love it when the couple comes up with something different, something that I haven't heard before.

You may choose a song that has always been your song, or it might be something that was playing when you met or it might just be a song you really like.

The most popular song is still "Amazed" by Lonestar and it has been for a couple of years. A classic with beautiful words but I've also heard this year, songs by The Stereophonics, Ottis Reading, Labrinth, Bryan Adams and Luther Vandross. Here is a little snippet of London wedding band, One Foot in the Groove playing some of the first dances they have played over the last 12 months

Save the Date

I am currently searching for save the date cards for a client's wedding in Buckinghamshire next year. It made me ask the question do you need save the date cards? can't you just email and save on paper?
NO, NO, NO. Your save the date card will be the first thing your guests see in relation to your big day. When you are planning your London wedding, you need to picture the overall look and feel to the wedding and its starts with that save the date card. The only acception to this would be if it was really last minute.
The amount of brides in Essex that literally just buy and book things at random isn't true. You have to see the end result and then work towards that and don't get distracted by every little thing you see at you local wedding show. This will also save you money as you only book and buy the things that will give you that lovely picture you have in your mind about your wedding day. Never loose that picture and its starts with the save the date. What do you think of these

Thank you to:
www.avintagewedding.co.uk
www.beforethebigday.co.uk
www.weddingsbylily.com
www.wedding-news.co.uk
www.noths.com

Heart FM wedding fayre

Wedding fayres are a great way of meeting suppliers face to face and getting loads of ideas for your wedding in Essex. Live Essex wedding duo, Unforgettable played live last weekend at the Heart FM wedding fayre in Brentwood. Working closely with some of my favourite suppliers, Vicarage Marquees, MD Entertainments and Fuud ltd.

Wonderful wedding suppliers in Essex who are a joy to work with and with whom I have personally worked with on many occasions. As a wedding planner in Essex, its so important that you trust all of your suppliers and know that the job will get done perfectly everytime. Those types of suppliers are invaluable.

Vicarage Marquees

Vicarage Marquees

Unforgettable

Vicarage Marquees

Wedding flowers in hertfordshire - April Showers

I love to feature suppliers and their work and this week we are focussing on, April Showers. A bespoke wedding florist based in Hertfordshire and serving brides across Essex, Herts and London. Have a look at Gina's website, she is passionate about what she does and you only have to look at the beautiful photos here to see her gorgeous work. I love the fact that she offers free consultations and spends time with her brides to get a real feel of their style. Here's what Gina has to say.

"April Showers is a bespoke Floral Design company specialising in Wedding and Celebration flowers we are based in Stanstead Abbotts near Ware, Hertfordshire.  Our work takes us to venues all over Herts, Essex and London.
We are passionate about our work and use only the freshest and top quality flowers to create your designs, we offer a truly personal service, and do our utmost to create everything on your ‘wish list’ within your budget. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than to see how amazed and delighted our clients are when they see their Wedding Bouquets or walk into a room full of flowers.
We were honoured to be nominated by two couples for The Wedding Industry Awards 2013 and were shortlisted as best Wedding Florist –London and South East."

Review of the Year 2012

2012 was a big year for me as it was the first year of trading as EC Wedding Design. I helped plan two big weddings, assited a colleague with one of hers and planned the music for numerous weddings throughout the year, with my wedding band in London, One Foot in the Groove

As the Summer ended I decided that I really needed to take the business to the next level and I felt that my original website wasn't really saying anything about the sort of weddings that I helped to plan and didn't appeal to the brides I felt I should be helping. As the year comes to a close I have just launched my rebranded site ready for 2013, Louise Perry Weddings. With some beautiful images of last years weddings

www.louiseperryweddings.com

As I look back at what my little company achieved I am very proud of the work we have done and the lovely couples I was able to work with on their big days. I look forwward to building the business and working some more fabulous clients in 2013. Happy New year x

Renewal of vows and 40th birthday

Lighting/Live wedding band at The Dorcester

A Summer Marquee wedding in Essex

My favourite image of 2012

Louise and Denny's Wedding

At the end of July I had the pleasure in organising the Essex wedding of Louise and Denny. The ceremony was to be held at Bentley St Paul's church and the reception at the grooms mum's house in Stapleford Abbotts.

Here are just a couple of pictures of the day. More to come with full details of their special day.

Lighting

I had the pleasure of assisting with a wedding at The Dorcester Hotel in the Orchid Room earlier this month. The couple has chosen a white theme with hints of pink and the following pictures show you what lighting can do in your venue. Even if your venue is very plain, clever lighting can make all the difference.

Blake Hall

I have some favourite venue's across London and the South East and I thought I'd share one with you, Blake Hall near Ongar in Essex. If you are looking for a barn style venue then look no further that this little gem.

I very well laid out barn with the bar and dance floor all in the same room and the gorgeous outside terrace area for drinks. They are licensed for civil ceremonies and weatehr permitting have renovated the saddlery to hold wedding ceremonies.

Plenty of photo opportunites exist around the barn and in the beautiful gardens at Blake Hall but the reason why this venue is so fabulous is the staff. They couldn't be nicer and more helpful, nothing is too much trouble for the team at Blake Hall. Every wedding is completely bespoke and unique, which is exactly how it should be.

Flowers in Church

If you are getting married in church or even if you are having a civil ceremony, what sort of flowers are you going to have? I have met many brides that choose not to decorate the church mainly because of cost. However if you have a got a good florist she will move your flowers from the church to your reception venue afterwards. That way not only do you save some money but you also get to look at the beautiful flowers they have made for you all day.

I recently helped a fellow wedding planner with a large wedding she had coordinated and the florist did just that. I have to say she moved pretty quick to get them out of the church and to the bride's parent's house where the wedding was being held but they looked absolutely stunning.

 Flowers by Jade's Flowers www.jadesflowers.co.uk
wedding planner Essex www.just-bespoke.com