Wedding Planning #4

[QueenRoe]

Hey! Does anyone have any experience or advice for getting married abroad?
Just starting the planning process for our wedding in Barbados and I’ve heard hiring a planner is the way to go, but they are sooo expensive! I’ve been quoted between £1000-£4000. I’ve found a lot of vendors myself online so I am wondering if there is any point in the expense? Am I missing anything I need to consider arranging in Barbados on my below list?

Venue (ceremony and reception)
Flowers
Cake
Photographer
Hair
Make up
Music

I’m getting married in Barbados also
I honestly think you may be okay without a planner depending on where you’re getting married. If it’s within a resort they’ll have someone you can link up with who will help with some things anyway!
Your list looks good though, we are getting a videographer which you may want to add to your list.

 

[Mamacita]

Hey! Does anyone have any experience or advice for getting married abroad?
Just starting the planning process for our wedding in Barbados and I’ve heard hiring a planner is the way to go, but they are sooo expensive! I’ve been quoted between £1000-£4000. I’ve found a lot of vendors myself online so I am wondering if there is any point in the expense? Am I missing anything I need to consider arranging in Barbados on my below list?

Venue (ceremony and reception)
Flowers
Cake
Photographer
Hair
Make up
Music

I got married abroad and didn't use a planner but the hotel venue basically had a planner included in the package price and they sorted out all of those things. Also not sure if you're actually planning to have the legal ceremony there or just a symbolic one. We just got married back home and then had the ceremony abroad but otherwise need to consider the legalities of it of course

 

[Pinhead Larry]

I’m getting married in Barbados also ☺
I honestly think you may be okay without a planner depending on where you’re getting married. If it’s within a resort they’ll have someone you can link up with who will help with some things anyway!
Your list looks good though, we are getting a videographer which you may want to add to your list.

ahh amazing! Which venue are you looking at? I’ve enquired at the Lone Star and Fairmont so far, but will start looking properly now I know I don’t want to pay a planner videographer is a good shout!
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I got married abroad and didn't use a planner but the hotel venue basically had a planner included in the package price and they sorted out all of those things. Also not sure if you're actually planning to have the legal ceremony there or just a symbolic one. We just got married back home and then had the ceremony abroad but otherwise need to consider the legalities of it of course

thank you! I think the legal ceremony is quite easy to do in Barbados, so we might as well just do it all over there

 

[QueenRoe]

ahh amazing! Which venue are you looking at? I’ve enquired at the Lone Star and Fairmont so far, but will start looking properly now I know I don’t want to pay a planner videographer is a good shout!
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thank you! I think the legal ceremony is quite easy to do in Barbados, so we might as well just do it all over there ❤

Lone Star would be amazing I know someone whose niece got married there a couple of months ago and they said it was gorgeous!
we are doing it at The Crane!
I can recommend a photographer for you - her name is Ana Paola. She shot our engagement and she’s so kind, we booked her for our wedding straight away ahah
Enjoy your planning !

 

[Leo100]

We got married abroad and would 100% reccomend a videographer to show family and friends back home who can't make it

 

[noseybirdxo]

Hey! Does anyone have any experience or advice for getting married abroad?
Just starting the planning process for our wedding in Barbados and I’ve heard hiring a planner is the way to go, but they are sooo expensive! I’ve been quoted between £1000-£4000. I’ve found a lot of vendors myself online so I am wondering if there is any point in the expense? Am I missing anything I need to consider arranging in Barbados on my below list?

Venue (ceremony and reception)
Flowers
Cake
Photographer
Hair
Make up
Music

I can make a recommendation for hair (i think she does make up too) if you need one

 

[Pinhead Larry]

I can make a recommendation for hair (i think she does make up too) if you need one

Ooh yes please!

 

[Tinkerbell cat]

Bridesmaid dress help.

I feel like I’ve left it too late - my wedding is in march but I’d always planned to just order them and wanted to do it now. However some of the girls want to go to a shop to try them on as they are worried about what some from online might be like and I understand that but it’s just not in my budget for bridal shop bridesmaid dresses.
I did contact quite a few shops and they either didn’t have the colour, or they were starting from £400 and that was without alterations.
We all live quite far from one another too.
I just don’t want to pay a crazy amount of money on 3 dresses when there are other options out there.
I feel a bit deflated as any dresses I send into the group chat they don’t like, so I’ve said they can pick whatever style they want.
I want everyone to be comfortable and happy but its hard when everyone has different styles etc.

What or how did you go about sorting dresses with your girls? I hate all this tbh as im a big people pleaser.

 

[Britters]

Wed 2 be have bridesmaid dresses and have stores all over the uk I took my bridesmaids the shop to try and then ordered them online there’s about a 16week turn around or you can pay for express delivery, it’s where I have had mine from prices are reasonable starting from £100 hope this helps x

 

[Hamburglar]

Bridesmaid dress help.

I feel like I’ve left it too late - my wedding is in march but I’d always planned to just order them and wanted to do it now. However some of the girls want to go to a shop to try them on as they are worried about what some from online might be like and I understand that but it’s just not in my budget for bridal shop bridesmaid dresses.
I did contact quite a few shops and they either didn’t have the colour, or they were starting from £400 and that was without alterations.
We all live quite far from one another too.
I just don’t want to pay a crazy amount of money on 3 dresses when there are other options out there.
I feel a bit deflated as any dresses I send into the group chat they don’t like, so I’ve said they can pick whatever style they want.
I want everyone to be comfortable and happy but its hard when everyone has different styles etc.

What or how did you go about sorting dresses with your girls? I hate all this tbh as im a big people pleaser.

Not at all! I think I got mine about 2 months before the wedding.

Im a people pleaser too so said I would choose 3 styles in the colour I wanted and let them decide which one but I ended up just finding 1 dress that I loved and luckily it was super flattering on all of them.

I’ve been a bridesmaid before and been told what I’m wearing and that was fine.

You might need to be a bit firmer with them, it’s YOUR day after all and if you’re paying for the dress it’s a bit unfair of them to expect you to pay bridal shop prices if that’s not in your budget.

I actually got mine from Club L London if you’ve not looked on there that might give you some more options!

 

[Tinkerbell cat]

Wed 2 be have bridesmaid dresses and have stores all over the uk I took my bridesmaids the shop to try and then ordered them online there’s about a 16week turn around or you can pay for express delivery, it’s where I have had mine from prices are reasonable starting from £100 hope this helps x

Thank you, I did think of here but unfortunately they haven’t got the colour I’m after I will maybe go in though and have a look incase they have stuff in store that they don’t have online. Thanks lovely xx
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Not at all! I think I got mine about 2 months before the wedding.

Im a people pleaser too so said I would choose 3 styles in the colour I wanted and let them decide which one but I ended up just finding 1 dress that I loved and luckily it was super flattering on all of them.

I’ve been a bridesmaid before and been told what I’m wearing and that was fine.

You might need to be a bit firmer with them, it’s YOUR day after all and if you’re paying for the dress it’s a bit unfair of them to expect you to pay bridal shop prices if that’s not in your budget.

I actually got mine from Club L London if you’ve not looked on there that might give you some more options!

Thank you so much.
That’s helpful to know as one of the girls had said she was stressed as I’d left it so late which made me panic!
I’m paying for the dress, any alterations and probably shoes etc too so it really just isn’t in the budget to do that 3 times over with some of the bridal shops I’ve tried and even if I had the budget I wouldn’t be happy with spending those prices when there is some lovely stuff out there for half the price.

Thank you I never thought of club L will have a look now. I also never thought of picking 3. I probably overwhelmed them with too much choice and have therefore made them pickier.

I will have to build a bit of a backbone I think as it’s just not extra stress that’s needed. Thank you for your help xx

 

[Kandy floss]

Bridesmaid dress help.

I feel like I’ve left it too late - my wedding is in march but I’d always planned to just order them and wanted to do it now. However some of the girls want to go to a shop to try them on as they are worried about what some from online might be like and I understand that but it’s just not in my budget for bridal shop bridesmaid dresses.
I did contact quite a few shops and they either didn’t have the colour, or they were starting from £400 and that was without alterations.
We all live quite far from one another too.
I just don’t want to pay a crazy amount of money on 3 dresses when there are other options out there.
I feel a bit deflated as any dresses I send into the group chat they don’t like, so I’ve said they can pick whatever style they want.
I want everyone to be comfortable and happy but its hard when everyone has different styles etc.

What or how did you go about sorting dresses with your girls? I hate all this tbh as im a big people pleaser.

What colour are you after? Just asking as I’m having champagne and I struggled to find affordable options for this whereas you seem to be able to get pink or blue etc easily on asos and stuff! Two of my bridesmaids are plus size so needed ones to flatter everyone and I struggled for ages too!

Ended up getting mine from TH&TH which seem similar to Six Stories but having ordered both the TH&TH ones are much better quality. I got them on the early access Black Friday and a 10% code on top so they’ve ended up being £90 a dress which I’m happy with because the quality is great, but I’m lucky that my bridesmaids are paying for their dresses and I’m just paying for hair/makeup etc. and gifting them jewellery etc. on the day!

 

[Hamburglar]

Thank you so much.
That’s helpful to know as one of the girls had said she was stressed as I’d left it so late which made me panic!
I’m paying for the dress, any alterations and probably shoes etc too so it really just isn’t in the budget to do that 3 times over with some of the bridal shops I’ve tried and even if I had the budget I wouldn’t be happy with spending those prices when there is some lovely stuff out there for half the price.

Thank you I never thought of club L will have a look now. I also never thought of picking 3. I probably overwhelmed them with too much choice and have therefore made them pickier.

I will have to build a bit of a backbone I think as it’s just not extra stress that’s needed. Thank you for your help xx

Totally agree on the price thing, it’s ridiculous. Also the ones I got they can wear again as they’re more like evening gowns so better value for money

I said to mine they could wear their own shoes, most of them ended up buying new but paid themselves, that might save you a few quid unless you really want them all in the same ones (I really didn’t care about their shoes )

It’s sooo hard planning a wedding when you’re a people pleaser, everyone kept saying it’s your wedding do what you want but I’m happier knowing everyone else happy if that makes sense!!

 

[Gossip101xoxo]

Hi everyone, I’ve just got engaged (woo!) and started to think about the wedding. Is it normal for venues to require at least 50 guests for a Saturday? I am honestly struggling to think of 50 people to invite (bit sad but that’s the way it is). What do people think about getting married on a weekday or Friday? I am quite against it but don’t know if is normal now to get married on a weekday?

 

[LibraDee]

Hi everyone, I’ve just got engaged (woo!) and started to think about the wedding. Is it normal for venues to require at least 50 guests for a Saturday? I am honestly struggling to think of 50 people to invite (bit sad but that’s the way it is). What do people think about getting married on a weekday or Friday? I am quite against it but don’t know if is normal now to get married on a weekday?

I'd say it's becoming more popular now. I'm getting married next year and it's a Thursday and a few of our friends also married on a week day. It can be an inconvenience for some guests, depending on their jobs, but ultimately if given enough notice if they truly want to be there, they will, regardless of the day of the week. Congratulations on your engagement!

 

[Gossip101xoxo]

I'd say it's becoming more popular now. I'm getting married next year and it's a Thursday and a few of our friends also married on a week day. It can be an inconvenience for some guests, depending on their jobs, but ultimately if given enough notice if they truly want to be there, they will, regardless of the day of the week. Congratulations on your engagement!

Thank you!

The girl that does my nails also does a lot of makeup for weddings and she said so many people are getting married on weekdays these days.

I think because our guest list is so small anyway I wouldn’t want to have the wedding on a weekday when there’s a chance that the guest list would become even smaller, but I suppose I’ll just see what the venues say when we view!

 

[Tinkerbell cat]

congratulations

enjoy your engaged bubble!

I’m getting married on a Friday in march,
I went to a wedding last week which was on a Wednesday. My cousins wedding was a Thursday. It seems to be quite popular now and I guess the earlier in the week the better price you will get with some venues.
I wouldn’t worry about guests, those that matter will be there regardless of the day

It might also just depend on how big the venue is in regards to the minimum guests they require. Our venue doesn’t have a minimum but then it’s not a huge venue.

 

[Gossip101xoxo]

congratulations

enjoy your engaged bubble!

I’m getting married on a Friday in march,
I went to a wedding last week which was on a Wednesday. My cousins wedding was a Thursday. It seems to be quite popular now and I guess the earlier in the week the better price you will get with some venues.
I wouldn’t worry about guests, those that matter will be there regardless of the day

It might also just depend on how big the venue is in regards to the minimum guests they require. Our venue doesn’t have a minimum but then it’s not a huge venue.

Thank you! I was not expecting it so it was a nice surprise!

that’s a good point about venue size, I’ve only enquired about a couple so it may be different where we actually end upbooking!

 

[Ups27]

I’m not sure if anyone agrees with me, but I always think a weekday wedding is a different vibe to say a Friday or a Saturday. I completely agree that those who want to attend will, but I do think people don’t let their hair down as much! More people will say drive as to not take off 2 days of annual leave instead of 1 etc. I compeletly get why people do it, the money you can save is mad!

 

[_Laura]

I’m not sure if anyone agrees with me, but I always think a weekday wedding is a different vibe to say a Friday or a Saturday. I completely agree that those who want to attend will, but I do think people don’t let their hair down as much! More people will say drive as to not take off 2 days of annual leave instead of 1 etc. I compeletly get why people do it, the money you can save is mad!

I completely agree with you. All weddings do come with compromises and I guess for weekday weddings, the trade-off is usually fewer people attending or maybe less of a ‘party’ vibe because of things like annual leave and people driving home. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that at all btw. Weddings can be so bloody expensive, I completely understand why people do it and why it's becoming more and more common.

The one thing I'm not totally on board with the idea that ‘those who want to be there will be.’ It’s true for loads of people and I get the sentiment, but there are definitely some who’d love to come but just can’t take the time off or afford it. I'm sure it's only a minority and I definitely don't think it should be a reason not to have a weekday wedding, but I reckon it must be upsetting for them to have to miss out, so hearing something like that – even if it’s not ill-meaning – could feel a bit hurtful.