Friday, 4 May 2012

Wedding flowers in Essex

Having attending many wedding fayres over the years, I am always drawn to the florists. I love flowers and there are so many gorgeous types of flowers. When you are looking at flowers for your wedding in Essex consider flowers that are in season. This is very important of you are working towards a budget as flowers out of season will cost substantially more.

I amazed at what florists can do these days to create stunning floral displays, whether for the table, the bride or bridesmaids. Hope you like some of these.
Elegant Stems



Elegant Stems
Jades Flowers



Stacey Stevens

(I have tried to credit all the work shown here. If I have missed your please do let me know)


Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Why Hire a wedding planner??

A very good question, surely a wedding planner is Herts or Essex is ridiculously expensive and only for the rich. That isn't true, most wedding planners in London can offer a variety of options to help you to fit in with most budgets. Always remember a good planner can often save you money, so lets list some of the ways a planner can help.

1. Budget
In the current climate unless you have a bottomless pit of cash you should set a budget and stick to it. A planner can help break this down and show you where you should spend and where you can save, giving you a few tricks you may not have thought about. They will also make sure you stick to that budget.

2. Time
Bride and grooms totally under estimate whats involved in planning a wedding. It can take 250 hours!! We are all so time poor these days, so a planner can give you her time to help plan your wedding when you're running short

3. Design
Chances are when you got engaged (and I'm talking to the brides here) you bought loads of magazines, scoured the web and started to collect ideas, but what works? what really does look great? what flowers would be best? will those colours go? and the questions go on. Its often helpful to have someone who doesn't know you give an objective opinion to help you achieve your dream day

4. Negotiating with suppliers
This is where the planner can earn her fee. She can help negotiate fees with the suppliers and remember a good planner will always pass on the discounts that she gets. As a member of UKAWP
I always abide by this.

5. On The Day
The big day is here and you arrive at your venue to find the co ordinator you have been working with the last eighteen months isn't there and its the banqueting manager who doesn't know you from Adam. This is common place at many wedding venues. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone working just for you, your own bridal PA in Essex?

If you need any help with you planning, here at EC Wedding Design we offer you a FREE no obligation quote so what have you got to loose?






Monday, 23 April 2012

Cake

Today I have had a terrible sweet tooth, well between you and I, I always have a sweet toooth. In a restaurant I 'm the one who checks out the desserts beofre I look at the starters!



With that in mind I thought I'd post you some lovely sweet treats, wedding cakes.

Monday, 16 April 2012

A Preview of Prested Hall

In my capacity as a wedding planner in Essex, I have had the pleasure of planning a couple of fabulous weddings at the very lovely Prested Hall. Both weddings fell in the Summer and fortunately the weather was on our side with both of them.
Prested Hall is an intimate venue but not too small and it does have the advantage of a marquee within the grounds for the wedding breakfast if you have a lot of guests. The lovely thing about the venue in my opinion is that apart from it being yours for the day, it feels very much like a large house, with a lounge and library, an orangery and bar area and there are rooms upstairs for guests to stay.
The gardens and the gazebo are beautiful and if the weather is nice, make a perfect setting for the wedding ceremony and drinks reception.
I have sampled the food on several occasions and its great and the staff are also very helpful. If you want an exclusive venue for less than 120 guests then you check out Prested Hall

The gazebo ready for the ceremony

The ceremony with toastmaster - Glen Mayes

The cake

Inside the marquee

The marquee ready for the wedding breakfast

One Foot in the Groove playing for the drinks reception

The orangery and the evening reception

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Wellington Barn

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of assiting in the orgnisation of a wedding at a Wiltshire wedding venue, Wellington Barn in Calstone. This barn is set in the most beautiful location with views to die for. The bride and groom were very specific about the music for their day as it was to play an important part. I worked closely with the couple to plan the ceremony, drinks reception and of course the party.

It was late September and a gloriously sunny day, which just showed off the venue to its full potential. A side area of the barn was laid out for the ceremony and the bride was accompanied down the aisle to 'Suddenly' from The Slipper and the Rose. Apparently she had dreamed of walking down the aisle to that piece of music her whole life. The recessional was to 'She's So Lovely' by Scouting for Girls.

As the sun shone down the guests moved outside for the drinks reception and Essex jazz band, The Jazz Collective, created a lovely atmosphere whilst the guests sipped champagne. The wedding breakfast was held in a separate part of the barn and whilst everyone enjoyed the food 7 piece Essex wedding band, One Foot in the Groove set up ready for the first dance.










The first dance was one of the most memorable I think I have seen in the eight years I have worked in the wedding industry. The couple danced to 'You Look Good on the Dancefloor' by the Artic Monkeys! and it wasn't long before they had everyone joining in.