by Hanami Dream | 14, February, 2018 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 14th February 2018
As well as general wedding planning chat, this week we’re feeling romantic – so share your proposal story for Valentine’s Day inspiration #UKWedLunch
PROPOSAL IDEA 1: Say it with chocolates – put the ring inside a kinda egg! #UKWedLunch
PROPOSAL IDEA 2: Keep then guessing – good things come to those who wait! #UKWedLunch
PROPOSAL IDEA 3: Spell it out – in vegetable seeds and watch the message grow! #UKWedLunch
PROPOSAL IDEA 4: Whisk them away for a romantic weekend – just be careful with the ring in airport security #UKWedLunch
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s day. Please do share your proposal stories #UKWedLunch
This week’s proposal stories are taken from ‘Real life proposal stories‘ #UKWedLunch
Thank you for all the RTs, follows and likes! Hope to see you again next Wednesday 1-2pm for more wedding planning chat #UKWedLunch
As well as general wedding planning chat, next week will be about local marriage requirements #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 17, January, 2018 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 17th January 2018
As well as general wedding planning chat, today there will be about bridesmaids’ duties #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
- Bridesmaid = a girl or woman (usually one of several) who accompanied a bride on her wedding day
- Chief bridesmaid / Maid of honour = principle unmarried attendant
- Matron of honour = married female attendant #UKWedLunch
Bridesmaids are the support network for the bride, headed up by the maid of honour, and help her to plan her big day #UKWedLunch
Chief bridesmaid acts as advisor, messenger and personal assistant to bride offering moral support more than anything else #UKWedLunch
Bridesmaids help choose their own outfits, attend fittings, form part of bridal procession, welcome guests, offer cake to guests #UKWedLunch
Chief bridesmaid organises hen party, holds bride’s bouquet during vows, arrange bride’s veil or train, helps with planning, provides advice and emotional support #UKWedLunch
Other duties could include acting as a witness if necessary, joining the receiving line, looking after the wedding dress during honeymoon, doing a reading #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips were about bridesmaids’ duties #UKWedLunch
As well as general wedding planning chat, next week will be about networking #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 10, January, 2018 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 10th January 2018
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about the role of the bridal party #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
MATRON OF HONOUR / CHIEF BRIDESMAID: organises hen party, holds bride’s bouquet during vows, arrange bride’s veil or train, helps with planning, provides advice and emotional support #UKWedLunch
BEST MAN: getting groom to church on time, holding rings, toast and speech #UKWedLunch
USHER: parking attendants, escort guests to their seats, moving furniture, handing out order of service #UKWedLunch
FLOWERGIRL / PAGE: look cute, scatter petals, hold train #UKWedLunch
RING BEARER: carries a pillow down the aisle with the rings tied to it #UKWedLunch
FATHER OF THE BRIDE: walk the bride down the aisle, toast and speech, father/daughter dance #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips were about the role of the bridal party #UKWedLunch
As well as general wedding planning chat, next week will be about bridesmaids’ duties #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 27, December, 2017 | news
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. At this between and betwixt time, I often take the time to reflect on the past year. And what a fantastic year it’s been for Hanami Dream weddings and special occasions in 2017.
This year, my focus has been on developing the blog commercially, as well as providing inspiration to brides and grooms in the Cotswolds. Plus I’ve continued to combine my marketing experience, with my local knowledge, in the scope of the wedding industry. It has been great to provide marketing consultation to some local, independent wedding businesses in and around Witney, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. I’ve been affectionately titled the Wedding Inspector – a bit like the Alex Polizzi of the local wedding industry!
I’ve also organised a festival style wedding open day, along with three styled bridal shoots with some amazing local suppliers this year. These have included The Secret Garden, Festival and Journey to the Centre of the Earth themes (look out for images from the latter of these coming soon). I was chuffed to have these shoots featured on Bride Magazine online and SoGlosWedding too.
#UKWedLunch has been going over a year now and attracts new followers every week. This is a great Twitter hour for wedding planning in your lunch break with other brides to be, grooms to be and wedding professionals in the UK.
I’m delighted to have enquiries for different aspects of the business including venue styling and consultancy, as well as such lovely testimonials from happy couples and suppliers I’ve worked with in 2017.
The blog featured posts on different elements of wedding planning, local wedding venue reviews, wedding fairs, wedding transport, favours, alternatives to bouquets, wedding cakes and some wonderful guest posts from local wedding professionals (with top tips and an insight in to different elements of wedding planning from their area of the wedding industry). Plus my series titled ‘the holy trinity of wedding planning’ looked at wedding budgets. See the top posts of 2017.
My blog has had an exciting year and continues to go from strength to strength. The highlights of 2017, were being a finalist in the UK Blog Awards in April again, having one of mood boards picked as finalist again in the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning SS18 Pantone® colour trend challenge, plus I was proud to win Theo Paphitis’s Small Business Sunday #SBS recently.
Now is also a great time to look forward to working with more local wedding professionals, services and venues in the brand new year ahead. #keepitlocal. And I can’t wait to produce more styled photo shoots and have opportunities to collaborate with local suppliers.
Please get in touch if you’d like to advertise on the blog, submit your own wedding details, would like to collaborate on a shoot, write a guest post or need some marketing advice and guidance. Together we can build the local wedding industry and inspire brides and grooms for their special day.
Many thanks for your support in 2017 and here’s to an exciting and very Happy New Year!
by Hanami Dream | 15, November, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 15th November 2017
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about different food service styles #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
STYLE 1: buffet – food is laid out on tables and guests collect a plate and then serve their own food on to their plates before going to find a seat elsewhere #UKWedLunch
STYLE 2: family style – platters of food are placed in the centre of a table and everyone around the table serves themselves #UKWedLunch
STYLE 3: plated – food is pre plated in the kitchen and brought out by servers to guests that are already sat at their tables #UKWedLunch
STYLE 4: silver service – a high end level of service where servers come around to each seated guest and serve them food #UKWedLunch
STYLE 5: a la carte – instead of a set meal where everyone has the same plated meal, this gives guests the choice to pick their meal from a menu which is then brought out to their table plated #UKWedLunch
STYLE 6: boxed meal – this is not plated but in a portable container so that the food could be eaten whilst on the move #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 8, November, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 8th November 2017
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about staying calm before the wedding day #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Take a deep breath – do yoga, listen to calming music or try some rescue remedy #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Get physical – go for a walk or get pampered. Remember to go braless to avoid strap marks #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Think positive and surround yourself with positive people. Remember to be yourself. #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Delegate tasks and brief your attendants. Remember good communication is key and pace yourself. Make sure to schedule breaks in the day. #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Be prepared for every emergency with a wedding day survival kit #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Don’t forget to eat – start the day with a good breakfast. Remember to avoid garlic and other smelly foods #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 11, October, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 11th October 2017
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about social media at weddings #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Don’t rely on social media for all your wedding communications – not everyone will have access and physical invite covers everyone #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Don’t overshare on social media – keep an element of surprise beforehand & don’t make uninvited people feel left out #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Create a hashtag or a personalised snapchat filter then collect images on a social media wall at reception or online wedding album #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Use Facebook live or periscope so those that can’t make it can still experience the day #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Etiquette tip – guests should wait until after the bride or groom have posted anything before putting up shots of happy couple #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Or if you feel like going tech free then have unplugged wedding – just make sure you set expectations with your guests early on #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm BST
Photography by Robin Smith
by Hanami Dream | 20, September, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 20th September 2017
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about wedding speeches #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
WHY: to thank guests, attendants and family; to remember absent friends; to toast to good health; & to intro couple to their new family #UKWedLunch
WHO: traditionally wedding speeches are by the father of the bride, groom, best man and then others #UKWedLunch
WHAT: toast to the couple (by father of bride), toast to the bridesmaids (by groom), messages (read by best man) #UKWedLunch
WHEN: traditionally speeches end the formalities of the wedding breakfast after everyone has finished eating before the party #UKWedLunch
HOW LONG: Depending on how many speeches you’re having, aim for between 5-8 mins for a good speech #UKWedLunch
ALTERNATIVES: video or slide show; audience participation; poem; song; open mic; sand ceremony; quiz #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm BST
by Hanami Dream | 13, September, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 13th September 2017
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about difficult wedding guests #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Think about your guest list from the start. Be specific on invite to avoid unexpected plus ones. #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Brief attendants & have them on stand by with a secret code word to intervene with difficult guests #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Seat difficult guests near the back or side at the reception & keep divorced people/exes apart #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Ensure guests are kept well fed (it helps soaks up alcohol) to avoid drunken antics #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Ask for any dietary requirements in advance so there’s no surprises on the day #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Keep the children entertained to stave off boredom & consider outside or addition room for them to play #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm BST
by Hanami Dream | 30, August, 2017 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 30th August 2017
WEDDING FAIR: ‘A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment.’ Where will you be attending soon?
TOP TIP 1: Choose a wedding fair that suits your style and fits the wedding theme ie rustic, glamorous, boho, gothic
TOP TIP 2: Consider the season of your wedding and visit fairs at same time of year to get an idea of flowers available etc
TOP TIP 3: Think about what you want to achieve- find suppliers, look around venue, get inspiration etc
TOP TIP 4: Pick an enthusiastic, honest & fun companion for a wedding fair -don’t drag anyone unwillingly along!
TOP TIP 5: Have a good idea of numbers so you know the venue can accommodate your guests
WEDDING FAIRS: Where is good to go for wedding planning inspiration near you? #weddingfair #weddingfayre #weddingvenue #openday
#Brides #Grooms have your questions ready to ask suppliers at #weddingfairs you visit – they love to talk weddings and help
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm BST
