Expert wedding planning tips & inspiration
As your wedding day at Bilsington Priory draws near, excitement and nerves are usual. To ensure your special day unfolds seamlessly and you can fully savour every moment without the stress, here are some essential practicalities and tips to consider:
On the build-up to your wedding
- Accept Encouragement and Compliments. It’s not always easy to accept their kind words and compliments, but on the build-up to your wedding at Bilsington Priory, we recommend that you embrace the love and support from your friends and family.
- Setting Boundaries with Guests. Team Bilsington Priory always recommends that you communicate your expectations to guests. These should include arrival and departure times, photography guidelines during the ceremony or even throughout the day, and other considerations to maintain a joyful and stress-free atmosphere.
- Consider Backup Plans for Rainy Weather. Prepare for the possibility of rain by having umbrellas or alternative footwear arrangements in place.
- Smile Naturally for Photos. Don’t forget to practice smiling as naturally as possible to enjoy genuine moments throughout your big day.
- Master the Art of Tying a Tie or a Black Tie Bow-Tie. Make sure to practise tying your tie or bow tie before the big day to ensure a polished look on the day without the stress!
- Master the Art of Shaking a Champagne Bottle. If planning a champagne shower, we recommend practising shaking a bottle to perfection – go on, you don’t need any excuses. It’s your big day.
- Rehearse Your Speech. We strongly advise that you practise your speech beforehand to ensure it flows smoothly and comes from the heart. Give your Besties and loved ones the freedom to express themselves in their speeches, coordinating any specific points they should cover. And importantly, don’t forget to agree on who will do what when it comes to thank yous.
- When putting your Order of the Day Together. Allocate time for the cake-cutting moment; after all, if Serena of Cobi and Coco has designed and made it, you will want everyone to witness this moment. Consider timing it after the arrival of additional evening guests so your evening guests get to share in a traditional element of your big day. In addition, don’t forget to put together a timeline for everything to match your order of the day.
- Practise your first dance. The first dance is a cherished tradition in many cultures, symbolising the couple’s unity and love. So, if you plan on having a first dance, it’s a great idea to practice a few moves beforehand to feel comfortable and confident on the dance floor. Take a leaf out of our on-site Wedding Planner, Sam Lloyd, The Wedding Owl; she and her partner enjoyed wedding date nights learning Ballroom Dancing, ensuring they could gracefully take to the floor with their respective parents.
- Dance the Night Away. Don’t forget to request your favourite track or tracks to ensure memorable moments on the chequered board dance floor in the Cloisters!
