Molly Winters Wedding & Events Blog Page
Welcome to the MW Wedding & Events blog – a space for wedding planning tips, inspiration, and expert tips. Here you’ll find helpful guides on wedding coordination, timelines, styling decisions, and planning insights to support you at every stage of your wedding journey. Scroll down to see some of my blogs!
TIPS & TRICKS
Tip 1
When planning your hair and makeup schedule, make sure you’re placed in the middle of the order. For a 2pm ceremony, aim to have your hair and makeup finished by 12pm. This gives you time to relax before getting dressed and ensures that if anything runs behind, you’re not the one delayed.
Tip 2
Plan a little time just for you and your partner. The day flies by and everyone will want a moment with you. Taking the last 15 minutes of your drinks reception for some alone time is a lovely way to catch up on the morning, soak in the excitement and enjoy a quiet moment together. If you change your mind on the day, that’s completely fine – simply stay and enjoy your drinks reception.
Tip 3
Those cute handheld fans you see couples leaving on ceremony seats are worth every penny. Guests get warm while waiting for the aisle moment, especially at a summer ceremony in the midday sun, and these always get used.
Tip 4
Check your venue’s confetti policy. Some only allow dried or fresh petals for eco-friendly reasons or to protect the grounds. If you’re worried dried petals won’t give you enough impact, add a couple of dried flower confetti cannons for your wedding party to use during the confetti shot for an extra pop.
Tip 5
Appoint a confident friend or family member to help with group photos. Your photographer won’t know who everyone is, so having someone who can call people over or recognise who’s needed will speed up the process and give you more time to enjoy your drinks reception.
Tip 6
Choose a photographer who understands your priorities. You may not want to spend most of your drinks reception taking group photos or endless couple portraits. Talk to your photographer beforehand so they know exactly what you want. The right photographer will capture the day as it unfolds, without making it feel staged or taking you away from the celebration for too long.
Top 10 Wedding Must-Haves Every Couple Should Consider (UK Wedding Guide)
1. Steamer
Steam all dresses the day before your wedding, but keep a steamer on hand in case anything is missed. Pop a clean white sock over the head to prevent water droplets from marking the fabric. Remember not to steam dresses once your hair is done, the steam will cause your curls to drop!
2. Nylon Invisible Thread
It’s a one-in-a-thousand situation, but you’ll be grateful you have it if something tears or needs a quick stitch. Pack a good needle too. You probably won’t need it, but if you do, it’s a lifesaver.
3. Tissues
You’ll assume tissues or toilet paper will be nearby, but they’re never where you need them. Ask a bridesmaid or parent to carry a small packet for those emotional moments.
4. Rechargeable Handheld Fan
With the excitement, bridesmaids, and freshly done hair and makeup, the room gets warm quickly. Keep a small fan nearby to stay cool and prevent curls from dropping.
5. Dry Snacks
You will almost definitely forget to eat, and canapés won’t keep you full. You also can’t pop to the shop. Keep pretzels or other dry snacks in your room or with a bridesmaid for when hunger hits. Even I forgot to eat on my own wedding morning, so these are essential!
6. Heel Stoppers
You may not need them for the aisle, but if you’re having photos on the lawn, your heels will sink into the grass. Heel stoppers are clear plastic, so they’re hardly noticeable, and you’ll be glad you brought them.
7. Seam Ripper
If someone is wearing a suit, don’t forget to unpick the threads holding the pockets closed or the tacking stitches at the back. Groomsmen often forget this, so assign someone to bring a seam ripper and check.
8. Pins for Buttonholes
Your florist should supply them, but sometimes pins go missing. Have a small pack ready to reattach any buttonholes that need a little extra help.
9. A Details Box
If you want your photographer to capture your jewellery, invitations or any special keepsakes, place them all in a dedicated box. Hand it over when they arrive so nothing gets forgotten and they instantly know what matters most to you.
10. Fun
The most important thing of all. You’ve planned this day for so long, so don’t forget to enjoy every moment!
11. A wedding co-ordinator
All jokes aside, a wedding coordinator truly is one of the most valuable must-haves for your day. They are your peace of mind, the person you can turn to and trust to handle every detail without asking a friend or family member to step away and miss a moment. A coordinator brings your vision to life, keeps everything flowing smoothly and supports you from start to finish. You’ll be forever grateful you had one!
Wedding Seating Plan Tips - Should You Have Reserved Seating?
The debate over whether reserved seating is necessary is a big one, but here’s the truth: it absolutely helps. You might assume your close family will naturally take the front row or that Auntie Jill, who you’ve met once before, won’t end up in the second row… but trust me, it happens.
Reserved seating is always a win and never goes to waste. You can reserve full rows and make sure those guests know ahead of time (with someone there on the day to gently remind them), or you can reserve specific seats. This is also a lovely way to tie in your colour scheme with a small ribbon or tag, which doubles as a sweet keepsake for them to take home.
You don’t need reserved seating for everyone, but you should reserve enough to ensure your bridesmaids have seats saved together after walking down the aisle and your most important loved ones get those front-row spots.
An event coordinator is also a great help here, making sure seats stay reserved, people sit where they should, and that anyone involved in walking down the aisle has somewhere to return to afterwards.