Walking in a....

...Winter Wedding Wonderland

Crisp mornings, rich autumnal colours, endless blue skies….Winter is a beautiful time of year and yet is so often overlooked when it comes to planning your wedding day.

There are many positive aspects to having your special day during our coldest months and with a few small changes you can make sure everyone has a truly memorable (and warm!) day.

Purse Friendly

Most venues find the months between November – March to be the quietest of the year, so this gives you more opportunities to get a great deal and have the pick of the dates.  A lot of wedding suppliers will be able to be much more flexible with costs and packages, so don’t be afraid to ask.

A winter wedding can save you a small fortune, so drive a hard bargain

Weather Woes

When planning a wedding during the most popular Summer months, the emphasis on good weather can create a lot of unwanted pressure and should it turn out to wet and windy, it can ruin all of your plans. At least with a winter wedding you know it will be cold whatever happens and you can tailor your wardrobe well in advance, I’m thinking faux fur shawls, long elegant gloves, feathers and heaps of luxury fabrics and materials. Buy some beautiful white umbrellas in case of rain, these look fabulous in photo’s. It may be a good idea to purchase some nice wellies beforehand and put a fun spin on your photo’s should it be wet, the brighter the better of course!

Bright wellies will help to make light of any bad weather

Warming Treats

Swap the usual celebratory drink after the ceremony for some warming mulled wine, it will be a welcome treat for your guests. For children and non-drinkers, try warm apple and blackcurrant squash or a delicious hot chocolate.  

Photographs tend to take a while at the best of times and in the winter months your guests will get cold. Why not give out some hand warmers or scarves to your guests whilst they are waiting? You can get some excellent prices for gifts such as this online (and personalised)  and it will also serve as a lovely memento for your guests to take home.

Extra Touches

Here at Crowhurst Park we are lucky to have a huge 17^th century inglenook fireplace, which not only heats the rooms but also provides a fabulous backdrop for indoor photographs. There is nothing quite like warming your hands by an open fire after a day out in the cold. Ask your venue if they have a fireplace and if they do make sure it is lit and fully stocked with logs for your wedding day.  I always recommend this as a ‘Plan B’ should the weather really be dreadful.

With long dark evenings during the winter months, light becomes ever important. Candles and tea lights add a romantic cosy feel to any room, just be sure to check with your venue that they allow them. Or why not treat your guests to a firework display before or after dinner? You should be able to get a good display done professionally for under £500.00 and with it being dark by 5pm it doesn’t have to be late. Or for a more purse friendly option, hand out sparklers, children and adults alike will love them.

Food

Finally, the all-important food. During a winter wedding, I recommend comfort food all the way. Think chunky vegetable soups, cottage pie or even a traditional roast with something such as sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce for dessert – Yum! If the menu your venue has supplied doesn’t look very winter friendly, it’s probably because they do so few in those months. Don’t be afraid to make suggestions and ask if you can tailor your menu, it’s a reasonable request.

By using the above tips, you can create a truly memorable winter wedding on an impressively thrifty budget, whatever the weather.

Love & Mittens,

Julie BBF
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If Your Name Isn't Down....

...You Aren't Coming In!

 Do you really want moany old Aunty Margret at your special day? You haven’t seen her for two decades yet somehow she’s hanging on the ‘maybes’ list….Or how about your second cousin John, who always gets absolutely slaughtered and invariably causes a huge family bust up..?

Separating the people you WANT to be at your wedding from the people you feel you HAVE to invite  can make the difference between a day you will never forget and a day you will always want to forget….(and could pack a financial burden to boot).

I always advise my brides that compiling the Guest Lists and drawing up Table Plans are one of the most difficult parts of wedding organisation. With family politics and dynamics as they often are these days, it’s not as straightforward as it once was. Follow my simple tips to help you glide through this potentially lethal social assault course:

Peer Pressure

You will find a lot of pressure actually comes from those closest to you such as parents, friends and even your fiancée. It’s important you set them straight right from the word 'GO'. Don’t let others influence your big day…It is supposed to be a celebration of your love for each other and such a personal thing deserves to have guests who genuinely want to be there to share it.

Don't feel forced to invite someone just because they invited you to their wedding. That was their choice, this is yours...

"Back in my day..." Yeah, yeah...shut it Grandma.

A Shot in the Foot

Do you dream of your wedding reception being all jagerbombs and drunken shenanigans? If not then you will find some people on your guests lists who are unable to contain their inner party animal. I like to call these guests ‘questionable’ but some would call them ‘Trouble’….

You want all of your guests to feel comfortable and at ease at your wedding, so any guests who have a certain habit of being inappropriate or causing a stir, need to be discussed before invitations go out. ...

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, Floor.

Be Ruthless

Every Guest List has a limit, so you need to mean business. You don’t really want a maybe list, do you absolutely want them there or not? In today’s economic climate everyone has a budget to stick to, so if that means you can’t afford to have ‘plus one’ invites for your single friends, then do not be embarrassed to just invite them alone. Chances are they will know other people there and you can sit them with likeminded friends. Otherwise you could end up scrimping and saving whilst a whole host of people you have never met enjoy your wedding day.

Table Woes

What you want: Likeminded guests bonding over intelligent conversation, constant chit chat and belly laughs. What often happens: Couples or families ignoring guests they don't know, stiff and disjointed conversations and fake polite laughter......

Fake laughter can be scary. Don't let it happen at your wedding.

There are a few points I can give you to help you create a successful table plan.

1. Shake it like a Polaroid picture

A lot of people make the mistake of sitting guests within their own family or friends, so that each table has its own pre-determined identity. One of the best things about weddings is meeting new people. All of your guests already have one thing in common - You two! So shake it up and let them mix. You will have a good idea of what your guests are like in general and try to mix them to bring out each person’s best qualities.

2. Less is more

The less tables you have in a room, the better it will generally look. Our Ballroom here at Crowhurst Park is recommended to have 6 round tables plus a top table. Can we fit 7? Yes. Does it look nice? No. I am always an advocate that round tables need to be full in order to look right. It is much easier to use spare space to lay out a room nicely than it is to try and make a half full round table look nice.

3. Liaise with your venue

Make sure you know exactly how your tables are numbered and where they are going within the room. This will enable you to successfully separate those pesky people who don't see eye to eye and make use of the room you know you will have to create the best ambience possible.

Remember - It is your day and it is just one day, so make it right!

Invites & Name Cards,

Julie

Your BBF

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Let Them Eat Cake!

The wedding cake - A thing of majestic beauty, symbolising your future together……Or a big fat catastrophic cakey disaster?

Wedding cakes are one of the few essential items for a wedding that you don’t necessarily get what you pay for and unlike a lot of other important items, you never really know until the day how it will pan out. But fear not! Here are some tips that can at least help to minimise potential sticky situations (of the bad variety):

You want people to like your cake....Ideally...

Preparation

Any cake maker worth their sponge will be able to show you their own past designs and even offer you a tasting. Make sure it is something you are really happy with and don’t be afraid to be petty over the detailing, it’s these little touches that make a good wedding cake.

Cake Highway

 Having a cake in the middle of a busy place is a double trouble recipe for a disaster. You want your cake somewhere where it will be seen throughout the day but out of harms way. It's far too easy for someone to stumble and then it's curtains for your cake. Make sure it has lots of space and isn't in a busy area and you should be safe from any crashes.

 Ooops

Heat and Light

 High temperatures of direct sunlight could spell a disaster for your icing. No one really likes sweaty anything, but sweaty cake is definitely something you will want to avoid…

Make sure you store your cake somewhere cool and dry on the lead up to the big day and be specific to your venue if they are storing it for you. Try and find a cool place for your cake on the day, if it’s by a window then leave the curtains firmly shut until it is absolutely necessary.

Likewise, too cold will also not be helpful for your iced friend, ideally cool room temperature would be best.

Display

We always ensure that the cake is on display for the entire day, you want to get your monies worth! Somewhere safe but central on its own very sturdy table (these things can weigh a tonne). Wibberly wobbly trestle / collapsible type tables may not be ideal.

If you follow these tips you should be in cakey heaven in no time.

Toppers & Ribbons

Julie

Your BBF

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When bad speeches happen to good people

Are you capable of an Oscar winning performance or are you more likely to pick up a 'Razzie' for worst supporting speech?

Don't let a bad speech ruin your wedding.

We've all seen or heard of dreadful speeches at weddings, one slip of the tongue and you are a laughing stock. From inappropriate jokes and stories, to private jokes that no-one can relate to, there are so many ways that your speech can go from good to bad to plain ugly in seconds.

The pressure of wedding speeches can turn even the most confident public speaker into a gibbering wreck. Use our helpful tips below to sidestep around any bloopers and emerge as a victorious public speaker.

Avoid a 'Wedding Singer' moment on your big day

Them's the rules
There are three main things to consider when you are writing a speech, whether you're the groom, best man or father of the bride – Same rules apply….

Research and Preparation
Chances are, if you decide to write your speech the day before or even the morning of the wedding (yes I have seen this happen more than once…) you are more likely to have people sobbing in desperation than in joy.

You need to be planning your speech weeks in advance, you will be amazed at how many things you omitted to put into the first draft and how much you tweak and change things in the interim period.

Think about your audience, there is nothing worse than the Best Man droning on and on about the Groom’s unacceptable behaviour on his stag weekend, taped up to a lamppost in just his pants or likewise the Father of The Bride gushing on for hours about his wonderful daughter and completely failing to mention the groom or his part in her life.

Don’t just rely on your own experiences with the people in question, ask friends and family for their input and liaise with other speakers. The last thing you want to do is cover old ground after following on from someone else who got in there first.

The best speeches I've seen have been personal but ones that all guests can relate to and laugh along with. Forget cheesy puns and lines you've seen on TV, they've all been done to death. You need funny, light-hearted memories to share and ones that won’t cause any upset…!

Timings
Having seen many, many speeches I’m still undecided as to what is worse – A person who waffles on too long and loses the interest of all the guests or someone who barely says a few words with everyone looking at them expectantly. On second thoughts, probably the latter is the better of the two….

After an hour, Brian was struggling to follow Great Grandpa's speech & wondering how we got on to the topic of WWII

Timing is key to making a successful speech. We usually allow up to 10 minutes per speaker, which doesn’t sound long but when you try and talk for 10 minutes straight, it is harder than most people realise. There is no ‘perfect’ style for a speech, but the key is keeping it simple. Stay away from long paragraphs in favour of short, punchy, deliverable sentences and don’t use overly long or difficult words when a short one will suffice. You could crack the best joke in the world but if only you understand it you could find the joke on you.

Easier said than done but try not to rush your speech. Pause for breath and look at your audience. Practise, practise and practise some more! You want to know your speech inside out and back to front so you only have to glance at a prompt sheet to know where you are going next.

Sobriety
It sounds simple, but stay clear of the boozing until you get your speech out of the way. One drink to help settle your nerves is all well and good, but I for one have seen far too many speeches cut short or totter into dangerous territory after one too many glasses of complimentary wine.

That bevvie will taste all that much better when everyone is congratulating you and toasting your amazing speech.

I’ll drink to that!



Canapés & Champers
BBF
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Bridemaids Vs Bridesmares

Is your Maid of Honour turning into a Maid of Horror? Avoid pre-nuptial pitfalls with our Bridesmaid guide!

Your Bridesmaids, in particular your Maid of Honour, should be a tower of strength and support during the planning and execution of your Big Day. However, with great power comes great responsibility and sometimes the stress and pressure becomes too much for a friendship to handle. To avoid a situation like this, make your choices very carefully.

Ideally, you need someone who knows you well but also someone who is able to cope under pressure, take responsibility and someone who has a level head. This person is there to help you make decisions and give you honest opinions, so you need someone you can trust.

Enthusiasm from the bridesmaids is key to them fulfilling their role within the wedding. They have to want to be involved and if you sense a lack of willingness to go to fittings or help, then don't be afraid to question them. By agreeing to taking on your offer of the role, they have agreed to offer this help and support.

When it comes to dresses, it is important to listen to feedback from the bridesmaids. It's become a bit of a running joke that most bridesmaids detest their dresses. I suggest an initial brainstorming session between you and the bridesmaids and start by telling them your ideas (colours, cuts, themes) and go from there together to come up with some solid ideas. It's important to understand they have to feel confident and happy in what you have chosen, and what suits one person / body shape won't necessarily work for others!

By making the right choice of person and involving them in decisions and listening to what they have to say, hopefully you will have all of the help you need and a stronger friendship to boot after it’s all over and done.

Lace & Lapels


Julie & Abi
Your BBF
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Sweet, Sweet Music....

...Or cringey crooning?

Now you can have an endless choice of music for your ceremony, it's no small task to choose the right piece for you.....And it can be an important decision!



The right music should have your guests instantly thinking 'wedding' and 'you' but more than that, you should tie it in to the season and into your theme if possible.

We really have seen it all in music choice but the best advice we can give is make it really personal to you as a couple. Most songs can be sourced with instrumental versions, so almost anything can be made suitable. One of our favourites was actually a song by the heavy metal band Metallica 'Nothing Else Matters'. Done with an instrumental version it sounded absolutely fantastic!

Classics such as Pachelbel's Canon never goes out of fashion and we feel it sets the scene perfectly. You can't hear it without thinking 'wedding' and again there are many different versions to choose from.

For your signing music, it's not uncommon to try something a little different, tongue in cheek even. One of the best for this has to be Etta James, 'At Last' - Hint hint fellas. 

The leaving song after you have been announced tends to be a little more upbeat and we've had allsorts from the Traditional Wedding March (gets better the more you hear it!) to 'Dancing Queen' by Abba. For this moment, I think pretty much anything happy will be fine.

Happy listening and remember, class never goes out of fashion.

Jingles & Jewels,

Julie & Abi
Your BBF’s
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Centre of the universe...

Or centre of the table?

Choosing the right centrepieces for your tables can make the difference between your wedding looking HOT or NOT... With lots of things to consider, such as height, colour, practicality and cost, it's a lot to take on. Don't let your centre pieces take over your wedding with our helpful hints....

First things first - Ask your venue to recommend their favourite ideas and what they would chose if it were their wedding, they would have seen countless different displays in situ and their advice will undoubtedly be helpful. At Crowhurst Park we have our own large cocktail glass centrepieces which can be hired from us for a fraction of the cost they would be from venue dressers or florists, so you could save money too.

Secondly - Shop around and do your research! Wedding magazines, asking for photo's from your venues previous weddings and internet research are all excellent ways of thinking 'outside of the box' and discovering your perfect centrepiece. Rather than keeping it all one colour scheme, trying mixing a clashing colour in, you'd be surprised how good this can look especially with dark colours.

Thirdly - Make it personal. In our experience, the best centrepieces have a personal touch to them, it could be tying it in to your theme or adding something that means a lot to you as a couple.

Finally - Try it! Take it to your venue for a practise run, on their tables and in your room and see how it looks.

If you love it, your guests will love it.

Candles & Sprinkles

Julie & Abi
Your BBF's
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Chair Covers...

Hire or Buy?

Chair covers are absolutely essential for that 'WOW' wedding effect, transforming any room instantly into a nuptial haven. Like most lovely things, they don't come cheap. However, there is no need to blow your wedding budget just yet!

 U
nlike most venues, we include the use of our chair covers and sashes within our packages. Most venues want to charge you the earth for this or encourage you to hire them in from specialist companies.

The cost of hiring chair covers and sashes can actually be more than they cost to purchase but you do need to invest your time or the time of some helpers.

There are plenty of companies who will deliver next day a massive selection of sashes and covers. We recommend the spandex variety for ease of fitting (fit many different types of chairs) plus they are so easy to maintain with no ironing. They take less than a minute to fit to a chair with the sash tied and the effect on the overall aesthetic is amazing.

Once you have used them for your event you can achieve excellent prices if you decided to resell, lots of brides will be looking to do exactly as you have done! Or, why not hire them out yourself? If you have some spare time at weekends you could recoup your costs in no time.

Jewels and decorations to go on the sash bows look highly effective and you can find lots of affordable options on the internet.

Bowing marvellous!

Sparkles and Mirrors,

Julie & Abi, your BBF

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Food Talks...

So let's speak it's language!

If you aren't lucky enough to have us as a venue, it's worth asking your venue if you can offer a variety of dishes to your guests for them to choose from. Trying to cater for your entire guestlist with one dish is dated and unrealistic.

The easiest way to do this is to include a copy of your menu within your invitations with tick boxes for the menu options. As soon as you receive your RSVP's, you'll have a complete list of who wants what, meaning everyone gets something they will love. As long as your venue is informed about the choices in advance, it shouldn't create any issues for them and it takes the pressure off you as the hostess (with the mostess).

But remember, if you give your guests a choice it's likely they will forget what they have chosen by the time they come to eat it! The best thing to do is to jot down on each persons name card what they have chosen, this will also help the food service run quicker and smoother.

Food & flowers,

Julie & Abi

Your BBF

Welcome to Sussex Wedding Planning!

We are a team of events planners from Crowhurst Park, one of the most popular wedding venues in East Sussex.

Set in 120 acres of unspoilt 1066 country, our weddings take place in the beautiful 17th century manor house. We have 56 lodges, many with glorious costal views and private hot tubs, available to make a real relaxing weekend of your wedding day for you and your guests. With our top of the range leisure and spa facilities, you can sit back, relax and leave all the organising to us.

We pride ourselves on offering affordable all inclusive wedding packages, starting from just £2495! The fairytale wedding you always dreamed of at a price you never thought possible...

In this blog we will be sharing hints and tips on every aspect of your wedding day, from invites to colour schemes to menu choices to favours and table plans. We have years of experience we want to share with you!

Bows and favours,
Julie & Abi
Your new BBF (Brides Best Friends)