Why do Weddings Cost So Much?

Weddings can cost a lot. OK, we know that. You know that if you are in the midst of planning one, but I thought it would be useful to talk about what you are really paying for when you plan your wedding.

So often I hear people say “Say the word ‘wedding’ and they will add lots of zeros”. But that is, generally, not the case. The industry is not out to scam you, but to charge a fair price for the services offered.

I have gathered some thoughts from my fellow wedding industry friends so you can get an idea of why we charge what we charge and that we are not just adding zeros to quotes because it is for a wedding.

Photographer having fun at a photoshoot

Photographers

I’ve told many couples during first consultation meetings that the areas they should never skimp on is their wedding rings & their photography. At the end of the day, you’ll wear your rings forever, if what you do for a living allows that of course, and your photos are the only physical memories of your day, so they need to be really good!

Things to consider

Your photographer will be with you for a good number of hours on the day itself.. depending on the level of package you’ve booked them for. But the work they’re doing for you doesn’t end when they pop their camera and lens back in their snazzy carry case.

Before the wedding there is, of course, a lot of prep, a lot of conversations and time with you to really talk through what you are looking for plus all the admin around the booking itself. Then after the wedding there are hours of editing plus some photoshopping to open the odd closed eye or two and make the photos as sharp as possible.

And then, if you’ve opted for a package with a beautifully curated album, they’ve got to get that designed, uploaded, printed & delivered to you all whilst delivering an amazing client experience.

Of course, what you pay covers and should cover that but you are not just paying for a couple of hours of your photographer taking photos, the quote covers all of the pieces to give you the experience you rightly expect.

Florist attaching garlands to an arch

Florists

Flowers usually play a huge part in a wedding. Recent issues with supply chains, poor growing seasons across the world, Brexit and the dreaded ‘C’ word have lead to huge increases in costs. Even opting for silk in place of fresh isn’t a cheap option, as good silks aren’t cheap & cheap silks aren’t good! So we have seen a general increase in the cost of buying the flowers, without adding in any of the skill or advice that we have around creating the desired floral displays.

Aside from the cost of the flowers themselves, there’s a lot of work involved in getting blooms from truck to table. Each flower or stem of foliage needs to be conditioned, so they’re at their optimum for your wedding day, then there’s the wiring, defoliating and arranging of each centrepiece, bouquets and buttonholes. All things that you don’t need to know about or see as a customer but trust us, more goes into keeping your flowers as fresh as possible than just chopping the ends off and popping in a vase.

Then, there’s the transportation, final tweaking and onsite construction to consider too, making the display as perfect as it can be. And don’t forget about the next day, collecting any hired items the day after your wedding. So there is a lot more than just popping a bunch of flowers into some vases and off you go.

Yours Truly tweaking an Iced & Spliced Wedding Cake

Venue Dressers and Cake Designers

OK, so this one is close to my heart because it is what we do to help you have your dream day. If you decide to have an Iced and Spliced wedding cake, or fall in love with the way we dress chairs, arrange ruffles in table runners, or the flare we have for artfully arranging props and other things you just can’t have your wedding day without, that’s not ALL you’re getting.

Each wedding cake is made with love by us, Pete and I. We don’t subcontract to anyone else, it is all done by us, every small part. I’ve mentioned that as I was asked that very thing recently. Every leaf, rose or filler flower is created by me. Every ruffle is handmade and the name on each home baked cookie is piped freehand. This has taken many years of training, skills development and experimenting to get it just perfect.

So, yes, you are paying for the physical ingredients of the cake (which have increased in price drastically), the quality of those ingredients, the time and the skill that it takes to put it all together into the final masterpiece.

Plus, of course, the dedicated time we give each of our couples as part of the Iced and Spliced Experience, the consultations, phone calls, design time and all the things that go into us helping you create that perfect cake.

Iced & Spliced 4 Tier Wedding Cake

Semi Naked wedding cakes are extremely popular as a style, but their simple look takes time and skill to create. It takes more buttercream than you think to coat a cake.. even more for a thicker covering.

By their nature, semi naked cakes need to be baked as late as possible to ensure freshness because of the cake that is “on show” and not protected by a layer of icing, that means a late night the night before the wedding and a very early start on the day itself.

These things are all considerations for us when providing our quotes and that is why we will cost more because of the attention to detail and care we give to each of our creations.

Semi Naked Wedding Cake at Shottle Hall

When it comes to dressing your wedding, we really care about the quality of the materials we use and take so much time and effort to ensure that each piece is like new for each and every wedding. Chair covers, sashes and drapes all need to be laundered and pressed before the wedding. Glass items are polished by hand to give it the maximum sparkle.

We use fresh candles for EVERY wedding, so you get the maximum benefit from the long burning candles we use. You are free to take any pillar candles home with you after the day, they won’t be used again by us & most of the time they have a lot of burning time remaining, so you may as well enjoy them for days after your event

And the styling of each piece takes time, skill and attention to detail. No wonky bows or uneven ruffles here – we perfect each and every piece to make sure it gives you the ‘wow’ which is why we dedicate focussed time to set up for each wedding. And of course the collection of the items the next day.

So when you see the final table centrepieces, the sashes and chair covers draping effortlessly and the room looking beautiful, you are not meant to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make it look so beautiful – that is what you pay us for but that is also why we have to charge what we do for the quality of work we do. We don’t just rock up and shove a candelabra on the table. There is A LOT more that goes into it!

Candles & Flowrs for a Rustic Centrepiece

Every wedding receives my undivided attention. From first contact to consultation, from creation of a bespoke quote to fully detailed paperwork, with constant guidance & problem solving (or avoidance) right up to the day itself, that’s all included in the costs we quote and that is why we have built the reputation we have as Iced and Spliced.

We are not the cheapest and we are proud of that because we know that the service we offer and the quality of what we do, is worth every single pound for the couples that choose to prioritise us as part of their wedding.

There are so many other considerations in the logistics of a wedding, which I won’t bore you with, as I think most of you know that it’s not just about us rocking up on the day, waving a wand and creating your dream wedding.

So when a supplier sends you their costs, consider what’s hidden from that list… it’s pretty surprising what’s included really.. We put our heart & soul into every part of your event, from the pressing of each drape to the sparkle of every centrepiece.

If you feel you need a little help with any part of your wedding planning, I’m here to help. It’s what I do and what I love. We’re booking dates in 2024 & 2025 pretty quickly, so if you’d like to know more about what we do and how we can help you create your dream wedding, then get in touch and let’s get planning together.

Smooth Wedding Day Part 2

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I said in a previous blog (linked here), your Wedding Day should be a time to relax and enjoy all the hard work you’ve put into its planning. As a massive control freak myself, I know how hard it can be to hand the reins over for someone else to do things for you but from my many years of supporting couples to create their dream day, I know that this HAS to be done if you’re to have and enjoy your dream wedding day, without the stress and the overwhelm.

I spend a lot of time talking to Coordinators at the venues we work at, it’s a great way to pass the time and to get their take on where couples can do to make their day run as smoothly as possible.

I did write about this subject recently, but I’m still noticing things that seem to be missed in couple’s last minute plans, so I’ve asked more of the lovely Coordinators we work with what tips I need to pass on to couples, to give them the smoothest day possible, along with what other advice they can give from watching so many other couples say ‘I Do’

.This is part two (read part one here), so here goes…

On the day stationery

Help those who are helping you!

This tip is the biggest one I want to pass on to you. It was mid way down the first part of this blog, so I’ve elevated it to the top…because it is a bigger

Please, please sort your place cards into table AND seating order

Pop them into little bags once you’ve got them in order, so they don’t slip and get mixed up. This is a HUGE part of your day and it needs to be spot on. Whoever is putting your place cards out doesn’t know your guests, or who can or can’t sit next to who… so pop them in the order you want them and save loads of time

I recently witnessed a coordinator having to sort 120 place cards into table and seating order.

I did offer to help, but she was adamant it wasn’t going to get the better of her, but 90 minutes later, she had to admit defeat. That’s a good hour that could have been spent sorting other things out.

It’s a small thing, but it helps a lot and it will also help to feel confident that the seating arrangements are just as you want them to be.

Still on the subject of place cards… let your Coordinator know if you’re using proper names on your table plan and nicknames on the cards themselves.

Again, they don’t know your guests, so giving them both titles will stop them from going mad. This relates to your parents as well… let your Coordinator know the names of your parents, so they can put the place card at the right setting. If you’re having a long top table arrangement

I’ll admit, it’s entertaining to watch, but they could be doing other things for you, without having to wait for one of you to arrive to check who ‘dimwit’ is, or if Mick is the Groom’s Dad, Bride’s Dad or Best man.

3 tier buttercream cake at Hazel Gap

Keep everyone in the loop

This part relates to suppliers working for you as a team.

From a wedding cake point of view, ALWAYS share the image you’ve given to your cake designer with your Florist, if they’re supplying fresh flowers for your wedding cakes decorations. There is nothing worse than having an image to work to, with oodles of flowers needed to create it, only for the Florist to hand you a wrap containing 3 blooms.

It’s a good idea to pass on supplier names and information to all your suppliers, so they know who to tap up for photographs (if they’re willing to give any that is), who needs to speak to whom about arrival times, styles, etc from a cake or venue styling point of view.

Another thing that is really important if you are having table runners. It is really frustrating when we arrive to put runners on to tables, only to find that the florist or venue have set the table centres up, thrown table confetti around the place like snow. This then means that everything has to either be gathered up again, or the Bride has to be told that the runners can’t happening. That’s a call I don’t want to have to make, but if the centre pieces are massive flower towers or vases, I can’t move them for fear of breakage

This one is from a Florist… let them know if you’re having more or less tables.

Even if it’s the night before the wedding, send them a message.. Social media works best here, to let them know things have changed and that they need to make more, or can use any excess in other parts of the venue. Panic sets in, I’ve witnessed this a few times and it causes unnecessary stress.

Elanor & Bonnie

Sometimes people just aren’t helpful

It may seem a good idea to get some of your entourage out of the room while you’re having your hair and makeup done, but give them a specific job to do. Something like setting out any garden games you’ve bought or making sure the guest book, cake topper, or photos for a memory table you’ve decided to include are in the right places…or even in the building.. People do forget to pack all sorts of bits into their cars

Asking your Bride Squad to check that things are ‘happening’ or that suppliers have arrived can be a huge hindrance. They don’t know how your venue, or how things work through your day, so having them asking questions and second guessing your conversations with your coordinator just adds stress to a situation.

If you want them out of the way so you can breathe deeply & calm your nerves, get creative and give them something they can actually do that won’t get them under the feet of people doing their jobs for you.

Plan B’s are a bonus

Wet weather didn’t dampen this couple’s day

If your venue gives you the opportunity for an outdoor ceremony, ALWAYS have a Plan B!

Mother Nature is known for throwing a spanner in a lot of English Summer outdoor plans, so ask suppliers how their items can be set up in an indoor location if the worst happens and your ceremony location has to move on the day.

Pack umbrellas & wellies in one of the cars. They’re handy to have available is the weather does a job on you. Make the most of it. There’s nothing any of us can do about the weather, so embrace the moment & get a little wet for your photos… they make some of the most stunning memories

Have fun!

Try to be as organised as you can in the lead up to the big day, but have fun on your wedding day itself. Once the formalities are over, you can relax and enjoy all the hours of pinterest surfing, shopping & list making. You’re married… it’s time to eat, drink and be merry.

If you feel you need a little help with this last part… the organising… I’m here to help

It’s what I do and what I love. We’re booking dates in 2024 & 2025 pretty quickly, so if you’d like to know more about what we do and how we can help you create your dream wedding, then get in touch and let’s get planning together.

With love

Jo x

Buttercream & semi naked wedding cake with fresh flower cascade

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On Trend (yet timeless) Chair Options

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Chairs are an integral part of any wedding, but where do we start when it comes to making them blend in?

I wrote a blog with helpful hints and tips and explanations of the differences between chair dressings styles a while back (read here) but with changes in trends and possibilities available I thought it was time for an update.. along with some new (and just a little bit fabulous) images to inspire you.

Banquet Style Chairs

Ok, let’s say your venue has banquet style chairs. These are the ones with heavy metal frames, & randomly patterned upholstery..what’s the best thing to do with these?

If your budget doesn’t push to hiring in the style of chairs you really like, then they’d ideally need to be covered. This way they form a blank canvas for your colour scheme to sit against, meaning your scheme is not dictated by patterns of the chairs.

Things have come on a lot in the past few years. Long gone are the Organza sashes, tied in a bow at the back of the chair. It’s all about Chiffon these days.

No matter what style of chair you’re dressing, Chiffon is the on trend, must have for any Instagram worthy wedding and they look so beautiful in pretty much every setting.

Hoods with tails and sparkly embellishments are a contemporary favourite of mine. So simple, but so elegantly symmetrical at the same time

If you fancy something a little more jaunty, maybe to match the one shoulder style of your Bridesmaids gowns, then the diagonally side tied drape is something for you to look in to.

Chivari Chairs

If your venue has the Marquee style chairs, then you’ve more options than you’ll know what to do with.

Their actual name is Chivari chairs… mostly available in a Lime Washed effect, but there are some venues that have them in different colours.. I’m sure you’ll pick them out in the images below.

This type of chair doesn’t necessarily need covering with a full cover, the Chiffon draping I mentioned before is all you really need to create a stylish, elegant look. We have our own names for each of the styles you can chose from too, to help when making your choice!

The Fan

The ‘Fan’ is the simplest way to dress a Chivari chair, although there are ways to add a little drama to the look if you want to turn it up a notch. Clips & Brooches add sparkle to the chairs, while securing the Fan nice & tightly in place.

If you’re not into the sparkle, then having ribbon to match your colour, or an accent shade, is really pretty & does the job too.

Both allow for the addition of fresh foliage which not only adds a natural colour to the chair, but also infuses the space with lovely aromas

The Double Drape

The Double Drape is one of my favourite ways to dress a Chivari chair. It takes 2 drapes to create the gathered look, again secured in place with either a clip, a brooch or ribbons

I always think of the back of a Grecian gown when I’m dressing chairs with this style.

It’s pure elegance in my eyes.

The Waterfall

There are a few names used in the Wedding Industry for this dressing style, but I prefer to use the term ‘Waterfall’. It’s so apt, as the fabric just tumbles to the floor, flowing between the spindles of the chair.

This is a beautiful chair dressing style, using a lot of fabric, creating an opulent feel for your wedding breakfast room & ceremony space.

Let’s talk spandex…

I forgot to mention, when we cover a chair completely, our covers are made to measure, from a high quality poly cotton twill fabric, which makes sitting on the covered chairs more comfortable for your guest. We don’t use (or like) the spandex type of chair cover.. you can find out why in the original blog about chair covers if you’d like (read here). I do bang on a lot about their pitfalls.. they’re a pet hate for me.

I could talk for hours about chair dressings… well, anything to do with weddings gets me going, so if there’s anything you’d like to chat about, please get in touch. Dates for 2023 & 2024 are filling fast, and with couples booking us for more than one service, our availability reduces very quickly.

I do have another blog about the benefits of using one key supplier, so you can see how working with one person helps to take away so much stress, giving you more time to enjoy the run up to your wedding doing fun things with your friends & family, you can read that here.

I can’t wait to start talking about your own wedding plans and being part of your love story if we are the right fit for you.

Iced and Spliced by Cakey Wakey Wedding Suppliers Nottingham, Derby. Leicester

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Some tips and advice on enjoying a smooth Wedding Day

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Your Wedding Day should be a time to relax and enjoy all the hard work you’ve put into its planning. As a control freak myself, I know how hard it can be to hand the reins over to someone else, but it has to be done if you’re to have your dream wedding day.

I spend a lot of time talking to Coordinators at the venues we work at. It’s a great way to get their take on where couples help or hinder them on the day.

So, during a recent wedding set up, I asked one very lovely lady, who is also planning her own wedding, what tips I should pass on to couples, to give them the smoothest day possible, and what advice she can give from watching so many other couples say ‘I Do’. I thought that these tips, coupled with my many years of experience in the wedding world (I will leave you to guess on that one…!), would make a super helpful blog so here it is!

Who’s taking the long walk with you?

Have you considered where the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids are to stand or walk to for the ceremony?It may be that this is the first time your bridal party have had this role and invariably, they won’t have a clue what to do, where they need to walk to or where to stand (if that’s what you want) once they’re at the end of the aisle.

Talk to your ceremony venue, ask them what works well normally in that space. Explain to your entourage where they’re to walk to and stand, or if there will be a seat reserved for them on the front row. Reserved seating is a great way to make sure that those escorting you down the aisle have a place to aim for, and won’t delay you making your own way down, if there’s a specific part of the music you want to start at (another thing to consider perhaps).

Ultimately, you want the walk down the aisle to be one where you are focusing on your partner to be, that first glance, not getting bothered by the fact that your bridesmaid has stood in the wrong spot!

Who are you marrying?

When you do reach the end of the aisle, whether you’re in Church, your Venue or in a Registry Office, remember who it is you’re marrying. When you exchange your vows, look at each other… not the Registrar or Vicar

Your partner is the one you’re exchanging those important words with

Take it from me, it means so much more when you’re looking into the eyes of the one you love while you say your vows, it’s a promise you make to each other and no one else.

In that moment it can feel like it is just the two of you, even though there may be 50 sets of eyes looking at you. This is a really special moment, THE special moment so absorb it all in. Every. Second.

Help everyone help you!

If you are planning to set the space up for yourself, rather than hiring them from a supplier (hint hint…us!), and you aren’t able to put your centrepieces, place cards & favours out as there’s a wedding at your venue the day before and the timings on the morning of your wedding just don’t allow it, here are some suggestions and requests that will help your venue and suppliers to help you

#1

Having everything packed into bags or boxes, one per table, so it’s easy for anyone taking responsibility for putting things out for you. This also helps you in checking you have everything you need too. There’s nothing worse than the mad panic of being a centre piece short on the day. No one wants to be that person, calling the bride & stressing her out with questions.

#2

Sort your place cards into table & seating order. It will help your venue out no end. Having to sort out names into table order takes time… time your coordinator could spend on more important on the day jobs.

#3

If you’ve decided to do the table centres yourself, help your coordinator by doing a mock up of what you want your table setting to look like. . Don’t worry if the table isn’t round, or if you don’t have a white cloth, just take some detailed photos of what you’d like where and how, put these images onto a document to print out, or email them to your coordinator so that they can make sure it is how you imagined. This is something we always do for our clients when we are setting up for them, to make sure the centrepieces on the day are just as they dreamed.

#4

Whatever pieces of decoration you’re supplying yourself, make sure you:

Check that there are no broken items. There won’t be any way to replace a chipped or broken item on the day
Take off all labels and tags and ensure the items are clean, streak free and ready to use
Put batteries into the little battery box… check things work while you do this too.. this is vital, in case the little battery pack needs the smallest screwdriver on earth to open it
Make sure the photographs you want for your memory table, if you’re having one, are in the frames. Honestly, I’m not kidding here.. forgetting to put the photos into the frame has happened more than once

I promise you, if you follow these guidelines, your venue will love you forever and your day will run smoothly. If all of this feels quite “faffy” and something that you just don’t want to do, then that is when you hire someone to do all these pieces for you.

To hire or to buy?

Planning a wedding is a very big deal. It takes months to find the perfect venue, then looking at the decor to see if the style or theme you have in your head will work. Depending on the direction your style will go in, is it better to buy or hire some of the decorations?

As there are so many different ways you can add decor to your tables, my tip would be to look at both options. You could think that buying will be budget friendly, but there are many pitfalls in this.

You need a lot of each item to create a specific look on every table.
There are different grades of glass available to buy, some of which won’t stand up to the heat of a candle (I’m talking glass cylinders here, which are currently very popular). The lower grade ones can explode!
What do you do with the pieces after the wedding? Selling on is an option, but it’s doubtful that you’d get your invested amount back
You have to check, de-tag & clean each piece so that they look just as you want them to. This all takes time.. time you could spend doing fun things with your entourage

It can often seem cheaper to buy than to hire, especially if the supplier you are using is including set up in the hire costs. We, for example, don’t hire out our pieces, we only provide them when we set them up because we want to keep the quality high and that is the business we have built. So when looking at first glance, it can seem more expensive to hire but this saves so much time and hassle for you before and on the day so you are paying for the admin, the set up and all the “faffy” bits as part of that hire cost. It is important to think about how you want to feel on your wedding day when thinking about doing the setup on your own – here are a couple of blogs that may be helpful: https://www.icedandspliced.com/thefeeling/ and https://www.icedandspliced.com/onesupplier/

Everything has a pro or a con, so my advice is to look into how much buying it yourself is going to cost, and then sorting and getting the items to your venue before the wedding, while asking if the Venus is willing to put the items out for you versus hiring from someone who has everything you need, will make sure it’s all clean and ready to go, and will deliver on the day and collect the day after

There’s a lot of information here, and I don’t mean to overwhelm you with advice and tips, but these ones really are worth their weight in gold when it comes to the day itself. Little snippets of advice that will help you have the day you’ve dreamed of and planned for so long.

If you’d like more advice on how to have a magical day, or would like to know more about what we do at Iced and Spliced, then please get in touch

Let’s start your very own #icedandsplicedexperience journey

This is Jo from Iced & Spliced by Cakey Wakey

Iced and Spliced by Cakey Wakey Wedding Suppliers Nottingham, Derby. Leicester

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How do you want to FEEL on the morning of your wedding?

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I have a question to ask you… one you may not have been asked before

How do you want to FEEL on the morning of your wedding day?

Do you want to be running around with your team of helpers, trying to tie a bow on a chair, or unloading several cars, attempting to get table centres in place, all flustered as you know you’re short on time for the hair and make-up artists… you need to get this done.

But no one is listening to your instructions and you’re getting very stressed and emotional about the room not looking how you’ve dreamed it would since you were young.

Bridesmaids waiting for their Bride, Langar, Nottinghamshire

Or do you want to wake up, excited about what’s about to happen. Secure in the knowledge that everything you want to have as part of your day is under the watchful eye of someone who knows exactly how you want things to look or be placed?

You have confidence that that person has listened to your dreams and wishes, has the same vision in their head… YOUR vision, and that they are determined to transform your venue’s spaces into the wedding of your dreams?

I know it can be hard to visualise everything together at times.

Some visits to your venue will either find the spaces empty or filled with eager suppliers, all clamouring for your details & if you’re interested in their services. This doesn’t give you the right impression of the space. You need to visualise tables groaning under the weight of their table centres, cutlery & glassware, with swathes of fabric floating around your chairs & top table

The Orangery, Wedding Breakfast ready at Shottle Hall, Derbyshire

So many couples are time poor these days. Hectic lives, careers and family commitments leave little time for shopping for wedding decorations, let alone making trinkets and all the little touches couples think they need to have for their guests.

Being involved in the design side of your wedding makes sure that all your ideas for colours, textures and scents are covered, but handing the reins over to someone with the knowledge and expertise on how to breathe life into those ideas gives you so much time back AND still allows you to be involved in how you want it all to look and feel. Time to enjoy the fun parts of planning a wedding, like shopping for your gown and having a fabulous time on your stag and hen weekends.

I spoke to a Bride and her Mum recently about the wedding cake the couple wanted, Mum told me that she had wanted to make her Daughter’s wedding cake herself. It had been a dream of hers.

But, a friend had done this for her own Daughter and had said that she found it more stressful than she could have imagined. It prevented her from enjoying the morning of the wedding, missed a little of the reception before the meal too, so my Bride’s Mum decided she didn’t want to miss a moment of the day & passed the baton on to someone who could take all that stress away… me!

Your Wedding Day is a huge part of your love story. It’s a chapter in your life story that you’ll look back on for years to come

This day is the culmination of all that planning. The months of attending wedding shows, searching for the right suppliers, menu tastings and dress fittings

Cutting the wedding cake at Norwood Park, Nottinghamshire

Your wedding morning is meant to be relaxed, filled with an equal amounts of nerves and excitement, surrounded by those dearest to you, who are just as excited to be sharing these memories with you on the biggest day of your life

Those precious moments where they see you in your gown for the first time, or your florist arrives with your bouquets & you get the sense that today is really all about you

That’s the feeling you should have on the morning of your wedding.

The big grin as you arrive for the ceremony.

Seeing your ceremony & wedding breakfast spaces for the first time.

Being blown away by how one person has brought your hopes & dreams into reality.

Squealing with delight as it’s just how you imagined it would look… no, wait, it looks even better than the images in your head.

The long walk down the aisle, Stubton Hall, Nottinghamshire

That’s why we developed the Iced and Spliced Experience, created to give you the feeling you should have on your wedding day, from waking up until the last song of the night. A hand to hold during the planning process. Someone to place your trust in, who can make things easy & enjoyable. Who is as passionate about your wedding as you are and wants it to wow your guests, and you too!

I’m here to create your dream wedding. I’m here to make you squeal with excitement and joy when you open that wedding breakfast room for the first time, or when you see your cake for the first time.

Let’s walk the wedding planning path together.

Drop me a message here and let’s have a chat.

Happy Planning!

Some unusual things to include when planning your Wedding

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Planning your wedding leads to lots of questions, some that you may not even have really considered but just drop in when you are getting stuck into the planning. I thought it would be useful to share some of the questions that I get asked a lot in consultations with clients as the conversation normally goes wider than just talking cakes, cars and decor. I have been in the industry a long time (I will let you guess) so can answer most things with confidence!

So, here are some useful answers to some often asked questions!

1. Which suppliers do we need to feed?

I was asked during a chat with one of our couples what time I ate. It took a couple of seconds for that penny to drop to be honest, as it’s the first time in 25 years that anyone has asked if I would like them to order a meal for me too.

I think I actually blushed… but quickly explained that although it was a lovely gesture, I wouldn’t be on site when they sat down for their wedding breakfast.

There is a particular set of suppliers who you would expect to cater for… your Photography team. There can be a main and second shooter these days, which means they eat when you do. You don’t want them snapping away while you’re trying not to spill tomato soup down your gown or tie..lol. This gives them a break and a chance to review some shots and keeps them fueled during the long hours that they’re with you.

Some Photographers have a food clause in their contracts, but it’s nice to ask if they have any intolerances or dietary requirements first. You could include your Videographer too. Happy people give a brilliant service.

2. How many wedding invitations do I actually need to order?

I’m nosey by nature, but my honest interest in your wedding is all about me getting right down to the core of the vision you have in your head for your perfect day.. I often ask my clients about ‘on the day’ stationery and if it will match their invitations.

A number of times the reply is that the couple found bespoke invitations expensive, as they need 80 or so. As I’d have already touched on their daytime guest numbers, I know they wouldn’t actually need that many. It’s a common mistake, as everything else is based on exact numbers, like bums on seats for meals, but your invitations can be reduced, as you’d need one per couple or family group, so more often than not, the number of invitations that need to be ordered can be at least halved.

On the Day stationery, with Runner & Charger Plates at Shottle Hall, Derbyshire

On the day stationery relates to table numbers signs, place cards, seating plans, welcome signage and order of the day information. This all creates a lovely paper trail through your entire wedding and the design you choose can also help guide the style of the decor and the cake on your wedding day.

3. When do we get the welcome drink?

As the options of where and how you can marry have changed over the years, lots of things are still referred to by their old names. Welcome drinks were served to guests on their arrival at the reception venue after the church service. However, with so many couples opting to marry and celebrate in the same place, some couples think the welcome drinks are served to guests before the ceremony but this is not the case.

No alcohol in the ceremony room at all, so it’s a dry bar before the ceremony but nce you’ve tied the knot, it’s a different story.

Enjoying the wedding celebrations at Carriage Hall, Nottinghamshire

Guests are served for the drinks reception that follows the marriage ceremony but some venues may call them “welcome drinks” so it can be easily confusing! If you are not sure what the plan is for your day, ask your venue, there are no silly questions!

Bonnie from I Do Wedding Cars ready to whisk her happy couple

4. Will we get to eat any of our own Wedding Cake?

Obviously wedding cake is something close to my heart, and I have lots of tips for you when it comes to how to deal with any leftover morsels. What I wanted to concentrate on here is the number of times I hear that couples don’t get to have any of their own wedding cake. I have a solution, which helps to cut down on leftovers, but also helps you to continue your celebrations in the days after your wedding day.

2 tier wedding cake with ruffles & sugar roses

During your chat with your cake designer, why not request that your top tier is kept intact?

Have it boxed up when the other tiers are cut and served, so that you can take the complete top tier home with you the day after your wedding.

Having the top tier of your wedding cake to share with your parents and close family, while you open gifts and record what was given and by whom, extends the wedding fun and makes sure that everyone gets a piece of your wedding cake.

I’m still hearing it from my Mum that she didn’t get a piece of ours… 26 years on

Lots of couples choose their favourite flavour as the top tier, just so they know they’ll be able to have some and thoroughly enjoy it too.

Love Letters on the dance floor at Shottle Hall, Derbyshire

If you’d like more tips on how to best deal with wedding cake leftovers, or any other parts of the day that you’re having trouble getting to grips with, drop me an email or a message through our social media feeds and I can help you over any speed humps on your wedding planning journey.

There are no silly questions!

It is hugely important to us that our couples feel really comfortable with me so that they can ask those slightly random niggly questions that can pop up in consultations. There is honestly no silly question – you have not done this before so you are not supposed to know all the answers! Lean on me – I have many many years of experience in this industry and will have come across something the same or similar I am sure! If you are still to decide who to use for your wedding cake, decor or car then get in touch and let’s have a chat. I would love to hear your love story,

Love Jo x

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