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Wedding planning advice and inspiration

Wedding ideas & inspiration
7 ways to rock a veil at your wedding
Wedding veils are one tradition it's worth considering, whatever style of wedding you're having.
Whether it's matched with a cocktail dress, a three piece suit, a puffy white dress, or a jumpsuit, a veil marks you out as the person getting married and elevates your entire ensemble into something more special and less every day.
And they're versatile. There are a lot of ways to put your own spin on wedding traditions, but veils (for all their weird history) don't come with set ideas or rules on how they should look.
There are dozens of styles, lengths, and ways to rock a veil at your wedding — whatever else you're wearing.
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Wedding ideas & inspiration
Modern poems for wedding ceremony readings (that aren't cheesy)
Your wedding ceremony should be a reflection of you — fun, unique, and anything but cheesy.
But it can be hard to find a reading that fits your day and your relationship. Classical poems often feel stuffy and outdated, like homework assignments. But we've got some suggestions for modern poems that fit modern relationships.
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Stress-free wedding planning
Plan a stress-free wedding with save the dates
There's so much you need to organise for your wedding.
Before you can even invite your guests, you'll need to work out the venue, the head count, the registrar to help sort the timings of the day, and the caterers and wedding suppliers you're using, to ensure everything is within your budget.
(You don't want to invite a hundred people to the day then realise you can only afford to feed fifty of them!)
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Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
I want to walk down the aisle to something unconventional… and I'm worried people will judge me!
I want to walk down the aisle to something that will make people laugh. I'm not a serious person and I'd much prefer to walk down to the Imperial March from Star Wars and make my friends giggle than something stuffy and serious like Here Comes the Bride or Greensleeves.
I also don't like being the center of attention. I know it's a bit unavoidable at a wedding, but I feel like playing something funny will make me feel better about the whole thing!
The problem is, when I mentioned entering to a funny song to my mum, she immediately shot it down. She said it would be all anyone would remember of the day, and if I was worried about drawing attention, an unconventional song would draw more scrutiny than something traditional.
My boyfriend thinks the Imperial March idea is funny and he's happy for me to walk to whatever I want, but he did agree with my mum that people will talk about it and judge it because it's not traditional, while they probably won't notice a traditional song.
I'm not sure what to do. I don't like the idea of my mum's family judging my wedding right from the entrance music but I do want to hear something that means something to me rather than something generic as I walk down the aisle.
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Wedding ideas & inspiration , Stress-free wedding planning
What is on-the-day wedding stationery?
What does 'on-the-day wedding stationery' mean?
You come across a lot of jargon when you're planning a wedding.
People bang on about wedding breakfasts when they mean dinner, favours when they mean gifts, and cummerbunds which… who even knows what that means?
But on-the-day stationery is one of the worst offenders; you know what on-the-day means, you understand what stationery is, but together it's utterly nonsensical.
Are you giving everyone wedding-themed pencil cases? Or tiny notepads with the date on them, like hotels keep by the phone?!
It's not quite that sensible. On-the-day wedding stationery refers to signs and paper pieces used at the wedding itself, as opposed to save the date cards and invitations, which are needed before, and thank you cards, which are sent after.
Things like…
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Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Our friends sent invitations out for our wedding date before we could!
Hi Problem Pal. My partner and I could really use some advice on what to do.
We're planning to marry on the 17th of April at our dream venue; we were lucky to get the date with all of the 2020 weddings being moved, and we put down a non-refundable 50% deposit right away to secure it.
We've been getting things organised but we haven't sent out our invitations yet; we were planning to print them next week after we confirmed the timings with the church.
This week, we received a wedding invitation in the post from some friends who got engaged last year — for a wedding on the 17th of April!
We're not the closest of friends with them; this is probably just bad luck rather than anything deliberate. But we do have a lot of mutual friends in common who we really want to be at our wedding.
I haven't said anything to our friend circle yet. One close friend suggested splitting the day between weddings or asking half the friends to go to one wedding and half to the other, but I don't think that would feel right.
I'd be fine re-scheduling our day so everyone could come to both weddings, but there's no dates available at our venue for the rest of the year. We'd need to find a new venue, which we don't want to do, and lose the 50% deposit, which we can't afford, or delay our wedding even longer.
We've also paid deposits for the car, the band, and pre-booked the church; all the contracts say we'd have to pay a fee to move the dates, or lose the deposits if we cancel all together. It adds up to a lot of money!
We'd hugely appreciate any suggestions on what we can do.
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Stress-free wedding planning
When do I need to book my wedding suppliers?
The early bird catches the worm — but does the early couple capture the supplier?
If you’re wondering how far in advance you should be booking your suppliers, we’ve got the insider info you need to know!
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Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Everyone asks the same questions about my wedding — and I'm sick of talking about it!
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Modern twists on wedding traditions
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
My in-laws HATE everything about my wedding — and me!
Stress-free wedding planning
Why you should give a speech at your wedding — even if you’re shy
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
How can I ask my friends to be involved in my wedding without accidentally pressuring them to say yes?
Stress-free wedding planning
How to plan a STRESS-FREE wedding
Stress-free wedding planning
Everything you need to know about wedding celebrants — and if they're right for you
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Help! I HATE my engagement ring
Stress-free wedding planning
How to find the right suppliers for your wedding (and the 37 best wedding suppliers in London)
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
My grandmother died 30 days before my wedding — what should I do?
Stress-free wedding planning
5 sustainable ideas for an eco-friendly wedding
Stress-free wedding planning
How to postpone your wedding: a practical guide to delaying your wedding for Coronavirus
Wedding ideas & inspiration
5 things to do if your wedding is postponed
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: what to do when other people invite guests to YOUR wedding
Stress-free wedding planning
The 6 things you NEED to have on your wedding website
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: how to ask for cash for your wedding — without seeming greedy
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Floral hoop bouquets: an alternative to wedding bouquets
Stress-free wedding planning
Yes, you DO have to write thank you cards: wedding thank you card wording examples and tips
Wedding ideas & inspiration
The weird history behind 5 wedding traditions (and why you SHOULDN'T follow them)
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: I've finally found the right venue, but there's no right date
Stress-free wedding planning
You’re WRONG about wedding fairs: 6 reasons why it’s worth going to wedding shows
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: what to do when your friend breaks up with their plus one
The best and worst ideas from my wedding , Stress-free wedding planning , Wedding ideas & inspiration
The best ideas you should steal from my wedding — and what to avoid!
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: how do I pick a best man without hurting anyone's feelings?!
Stress-free wedding planning
7 reasons why you'll regret not getting a professional wedding photographer
New stationery range , Bits and bobs
Will you be my MATE of honour? Introducing our gender-neutral proposal cards
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: my friend didn't RSVP to my wedding — but still expects to come!
Stress-free wedding planning
The BIGGEST mistake you can make planning your wedding
New stationery range , Bits and bobs
New tropical wedding website design, in collaboration with Pen & Fold
The best and worst ideas from my wedding , Stress-free wedding planning , Wedding ideas & inspiration
The best ideas you should steal from my wedding – and what to avoid
Stress-free wedding planning , Problem Pal
Problem Pal: Everyone else is arguing about how to throw MY wedding
Bits and bobs
Meet the maker: why I started Gettin' Hitched Rocks
New stationery range , Bits and bobs
New wedding website and invitation set design: Pemberley
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: short (and not overly sweet) wedding readings
The best and worst ideas from my wedding , Stress-free wedding planning , Wedding ideas & inspiration
The best ideas you should steal from my wedding — and what to avoid
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: long readings for your wedding that DON'T suck
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: cute (but not too cute) wedding readings from children's books
Wedding ideas & inspiration
5 table name ideas for your wedding that don't suck
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: geeky wedding readings with personality (and also zombies)
Stress-free wedding planning , Bits and bobs
Why a destination wedding website will SAVE your sanity
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: romantic wedding readings that AREN'T cheesy
The best and worst ideas from my wedding , Stress-free wedding planning , Wedding ideas & inspiration
The best ideas you should steal from my wedding — and what to avoid
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: diamonds are whatever — 42 ideas for engagement rings that sparkle like a diamond (but, crucially, aren't)
Stress-free wedding planning
Unexpected problems you can run into planning a destination wedding — and how to avoid them
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: diamonds are whatever — 48 cool and colourful ideas for engagement ring alternatives
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: eco-friendly alternatives to confetti for your wedding send-off
Stress-free wedding planning
The trick to getting a perfect group photo at your wedding
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: confetti alternatives for an Insta-worthy wedding send-off
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: bouquet alternatives to fit your wedding theme
Bits and bobs
Sneak peek at the shiny new Gettin' Hitched Rocks
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: 18 button holes that are cuter than a button
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: table plans to be proud of
Stress-free wedding planning
How to word your wedding invitations (and why you shouldn't stress about it)
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: guest books you'll actually want to look at
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: untoppable cake toppers
Stress-free wedding planning
The mistake most couples make at their wedding — and how to avoid it
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Wednesday Wedspiration: pin-perfect wedding cakes decorated with fresh flowers
Stress-free wedding planning
7 reasons why you NEED a wedding website
Stress-free wedding planning
Throwing a classy stag do — not necessarily a contradiction in terms
Stress-free wedding planning
Washi tape: the secret to getting your wedding guests to re-use their drinking glasses
Wedding ideas & inspiration
Little details, big impact: 3 small touches that will wow your wedding guests
New stationery range
New wedding and stationery range: Bolan
Stress-free wedding planning
Selfie sticks — the new disposable camera
New stationery range
New wedding stationery and website range: Fleetwood
Bits and bobs
How to make custom tote bags for your wedding party: a totes awesome tutorial with free downloads
Stress-free wedding planning
Your mum hates flowers: gift ideas for the mother of the bride or groom
Stress-free wedding planning
Your wedding speech isn’t an Oscar speech: it shouldn’t be a list of thank yous
Bits and bobs
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