Debrett's Wedding Handbook

Lucy Hume

Description

Debrett's revised and updated Wedding Handbook is the definitive guide to planning your wedding day. It provides practical and expert advice on all aspects of the planning process, from announcing the engagement, to drawing up a guest list, budgeting, recruiting a wedding team, finding a venue and choosing food, drink and entertainment. The Wedding Handbook is an essential tool to smooth the planning and organisation stages and ensure you and your spouse-to-be are fully versed in what to expect from the day itself. It also includes a checklist of tasks and a timetable of events for the day to ensure that nothing is forgotten in the run-up to your wedding day. The revised edition features advice and information on the traditional British wedding, while also advocating ways in which such traditions can be adapted to honour your vision and incorporate elements personal to you.

Sujets

• Weddings

Informations

• Publié par: Debrett's Ltd
• Date de parution: 13 juin 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781999767044
• Langue: English

Extrait

P REFACE
First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! A very special and exciting time lies ahead.
Debrett’s Wedding Guide was first published ten years ago, and much has changed in the last decade: bridal blogs, Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards have grown out of and supported an ever-expanding wedding industry. Information and inspiration are now available at the touch of a button, and venues, dress-makers, florists and caterers can all be researched, sourced and booked in front of a computer screen.
Many of the brides and grooms who come to Debrett’s for advice are seeking information and reassurance for conundrums that are not so easily solved, however. How much say should parents have over the guest list? Is it acceptable not to invite children? How can you ensure that both your father and your stepfather feel involved on the day?
Our revised Wedding Handbook continues to answer these queries, while also incorporating up-to-date advice on marriage rules and regulations, invitation wording, budgeting, drawing up a guest list, choosing the wedding team and planning the day itself – from getting dressed to hitting the dance floor.
Much of this information remains focused on a traditional British wedding – a church ceremony followed by a sit-down dinner and dance. Our intention is not to advocate a traditional wedding, or to imply that this is the only ‘correct’ approach. Many of the most fun and successful celebrations deviate from the traditional formula in imaginative and thoughtful ways. Above all, your wedding should be personal and meaningful to you, the couple at the heart of it.
Whatever style of wedding you choose, Debrett’s Wedding
Handbook can assist in the planning process, prompting consid-eration of the finer details of the day and offering solutions to common minefields. With sufficient preparation and forethought, the comfort of guests, good relations between family and friends, and your happiness and peace of mind, can remain priorities on this most important and memorable of days.
Congratulations again, and enjoy every minute.
The Debrett’s Wedding Team
F IRST T HINGS F IRST
T HE A NNOUNCEMENT
Spreading the News
Formal Announcements
Parental Meetings
Letters and Presents
Engagement Photographs

E NGAGEMENT P ARTY
Considerations

T HE R INGS
Diamonds
The Wedding Rings

M ONEY M ANAGEMENT
Clever Budgeting
Budget Priorities
Preparing the Budget
Quotations and Costs
The ‘W’ Word
Tipping

W HO P AYS FOR W HAT ?
Attire
Bridal Beauty
Transportation
Photography
Flowers
Ceremony
Reception
Honeymoon
Stationery
Presents
Other

W HO D OES W HAT ?
Joint Responsibilities
The Responsibilities of the Bride
The Responsibilities of the Groom

W EDDING P LANNERS
Project Management
Choosing and Hiring
Communication
Suppliers
Part-time Planners
Support
Fees

P RE-NUPTIALS AND I NSURANCE
Legalities
Pros
Cons
The Future
Wedding Insurance
Basic Cover

T HE G UEST L IST
Practicalities
Compiling the List
Guest Etiquette

S ETTING THE D ATE
The Couple’s Choice
Limiting Factors
Securing the Venue

S TATIONERY B ASICS
Suggested Stationery
Choosing the Style
Ordering

I NVITATIONS : C ORRECT F ORM
Traditional Format
Second and Subsequent Marriages

I NFORMATION , R EPLIES , C ANCELLATIONS
Further Information
Replies
Websites
Postponements and Cancellations

F ORMS OF A DDRESS
F UNDAMENTALS
T ONE AND S TYLE OF THE D AY
Ceremony
Season
Location
Numbers
Colours
Consistency
Personal Touch
Budget

P HOTOGRAPHY
Style
Making a Choice
Back-up
Costs
The Final Cut
Considerations and Planning

E SSENTIAL P HOTOGRAPHS
Key Moments
Suggested Formal Photographs

O N F ILM
Professional
Non-professional

T RANSPORT
Practicalities
How Many?
Transport for Guests
Signs and Directions
Going Away

C HILDREN
Child Friendly
Adults Only
Children from Previous Relationships

W EDDING L IST
Setting up a List
Compiling a List
Informing Guests
On or Off the List
C EREMONIES
P RELIMINARIES
How Much Does it Cost to Get Married?
Civil Preliminaries

T HE C HURCH OF E NGLAND
Preparations
Second Marriages
Banns
The Ceremony
Arrival of Guests
Sample Running Order
How Late is Fashionably Late?
The Vows: To Love, Honour and ‘Obey’
The Order of Service
Music

C IVIL C EREMONIES
Preparations
The Ceremony: Register Office
The Ceremony: Approved Venue
A Humanist Ceremony
Order of the Day
Music
A Church Blessing
Same-sex Marriage
Civil Partnerships

R OMAN C ATHOLIC
Preparations
Second Marriages
The Ceremony

O THER F AITHS AND D ENOMINATIONS
Church of Scotland Wedding
Non-Conformist Church Wedding
Quaker Marriage
Muslim Marriage
Hindu Marriage
Sikh Marriage
Jewish Marriage
Mixed Faith Weddings
T HE W EDDING T EAM
C HOOSING THE T EAM
Team Leaders
Preparing the Team

T HE B EST M AN
Responsibilities
Event Management
Best Women
Duties Before the Day
Duties on the Day

T HE C HIEF B RIDESMAID
Duties Before the Day
Duties on the Day

A DULT B RIDESMAIDS
B ABY B RIDESMAIDS AND P AGE B OYS
Things to Consider

T HE U SHERS
On the Day
Duties on the Day

S TAG AND H EN P ARTIES
The Basics
Timing
Guests
Finances
Hen Party Ideas
Stag Party Ideas

T HE R OLES OF THE P ARENTS
The Mother of the Bride
The Father of the Bride
The Groom’s Parents
Divorced Parents

T HE B RIDE TO B E
C HOOSING THE W EDDING D RESS
Buying the Dress

T HE S TYLE OF THE D RESS
Practicalities
Styles and Body Shapes
Trains

E XTRAS AND A CCESSORIES
Underwear
Shoes
Jewellery
Headdresses
Traditions
Veils
Cover-ups

H AIR
Style
Professionals
Rehearsal
Preparation

G ROOMING AND M AKE-UP
Practice
Looking Natural
Nails
Facials and Eyebrows
Fake Tan
Touch Up

T HE B RIDE’S B OUQUET
Choices
Holding the Bouquet
Confetti
Seasonal Flowers
Afterwards

W HAT TO W EAR
G ROOM , B EST M AN AND U SHERS
Morning Dress
Accessories
To Hire or to Buy?
Kilts
Uniforms

B RIDESMAIDS
Couture or High Street?
Flowers
Shoes
Hair and Make-up
Considerations

B ABY B RIDESMAIDS AND P AGEBOYS
Finding the Perfect Outfit
Shoes
Flowers
Considerations

T HE P ARENTS
Mothers
Fathers

T HE P ARTY
H IRED V ENUES
Deciding Factors
Restrictions
Food and Drink
Parking
Amenities

M ARQUEES AND T IPIS
Type and Size
Floors
Lining and Sides
Power
Furniture
Safety and Access
Amenities
Catering
Back-up
Quotes

T HE S EATING P LAN
Choice of Tables
Layout and Planning
Displays
Paperwork

S TYLE AND D ÉCOR
Lighting
Outside
Flowers

T ABLE D ECORATIONS
Tables
Chairs
Table Settings

D ECORATIVE D ETAILS
Hats
Presents
Favours
Cameras

F OOD : T HE B ASICS
Choosing a Caterer
Expectations
Staff
The Options
Late Night Food
Don’t Forget

F OOD : B EGINNING TO E ND
Canapés
The Starter
The Main Course
Pudding
Coffee and Tea

D RINKS
Reception Drinks
The Meal
Toasts
Afterwards
Considerations

C HOOSING THE C AKE
Cake-Makers
Decoration
Type
Cake as Pudding
Considerations
Cake Table
Traditions
Leftovers

E NTERTAINMENT : T HE M USIC
Hiring a Band
Hiring a DJ
Equipment and Set-up
Drinks Reception Music
Specialist Music

E NTERTAINMENT : T HE E XTRAS
Casinos
Magicians
Other Suggestions
Considerations

G UIDING G UESTS
Information
Master of Ceremonies
Considerations

O RGANISING G UESTS
Transport
Accommodation
Parking

T HE B IG D AY
T HE N IGHT B EFORE
Dinners
Time Out?

S CHEDULE OF THE D AY
Ceremony
Photographs After the Ceremony
Drinks Reception
Seating Guests
The Wedding Breakfast
Speeches
Cake Cutting
Dancing
Going Away

T HE M ORNING
The Bride
The Groom and Best Man

P RACTICALITIES
Chief Bridesmaid
The Groom
The Best Man

A RRIVAL AND D UTIES
Ceremony Arrival Times
Ushers’ Duties

T HE L AST M OMENTS
The Groom and Best Man
The Bridal Party
Latecomers

C EREMONY H IGHLIGHTS
The Entrance of the Bride
Vows
The First Kiss
Recessional

T HE P ARTY B EGINS
Receiving Lines
Reception Drinks

T OASTS AND S PEECHES
Considerations

S PEECHES : T HE B IG T HREE
Father of the Bride (or alternative)
The Groom
The Best Man
Considerations

T HE F IRST D ANCE
P ERFECT H OSTS
G OING A WAY
Goodbyes
A FTERWARDS
T HE W EDDING N IGHT
Practicalities

T HE H ONEYMOON
Research
Choice of Trip
Timings
Schedule
Keeping a Record
Destinations

C OMING H OME AND T HANK Y OUS
Presents
Photographs
Thank Yous
Other Things to Remember

N EW N AMES
Documentation

T IMELINE

9 - 12 Months Before
6 - 9 Months Before
3 - 6 Months Before
1 - 3 Months Before
1 Week Before

I NDEX & N OTES
C OPYRIGHT


T HE A NNOUNCEMENT
E NGAGEMENT P ARTY
T HE R INGS
M ONEY M ANAGEMENT
W HO P AYS FOR W HAT ?
W HO D OES W HAT : T HE B RIDE AND G ROOM
W EDDING P LANNERS
P RENUPTIALS AND I NSURANCE
T HE G UEST L IST
G UEST E TIQUETTE
S TATIONERY B ASICS
I NFORMATION , R EPLIES AND C ANCELLATIONS
F ORMS OF A DDRESS

T HE A NNOUNCEMENT
Announcing an engagement is a momentous step in a couple’s life. The news will travel fast, so it's important to consider how to tell everyone at the right time.
Family should be prioritised, and both sets of parents should always be the first to hear of an engagement. Parental permission may have already been sought, so it may not come as a surprise. The news should be conveyed in person where possible or by telephone if not.
S PREADING T HE N EWS
Calls to the rest of the immediate family and close friends will follow; a group email or text announcing the news is fine for everyone else, but should precede a social media announcement. The traditional practice of sending a card to announce an engagement is less usual nowadays.
Following that, word may spread by the grapevine, but it’s best to make as many calls as