Marriott wedding coordinators share their top six tips for planning a wedding in six weeks.
It may already be November, but it’s not too late to tie the knot before Christmas. With the festive season offering the perfect setting for a beautiful Big Day, there’s no better time to start the planning process.
Here, five wedding coordinators from Marriott hotels in the UK combine their 40 years of expertise to reveal their top tips for turning a wedding round in time for Christmas 2016.
Rita Nistri, wedding coordinator at London Marriott Hotel County Hall:
Invest in a wedding planner – Hiring a wedding planner is highly recommended when trying to organise your special day in six weeks. It’s the wedding planner’s job to ensure everything runs smoothly and they can assist with all of the aspects for the day including menus, timings, layout, decoration, guest bedrooms and supplier information, helping you to envisage exactly what your special day will be like. This ensures that you have a stress-free planning process.
Sharon Gordon, wedding coordinator at Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County:
Don’t lose sight of your budget – Don’t panic because of the short notice. If you’re on a tight budget, take a minute to state exactly how much you can afford for a fee and resolve to stick to it. Your wedding coordinator will be able to negotiate discounts and special rates for you and is more likely to be able to come up with some amazing last-minute solutions.
Kate Chetland, wedding coordinator at Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel:
Remember, a festive wedding doesn’t necessarily mean a Christmas theme – Consider the Christmas decorations that are going to be used in the venue and how these may, or may not, fit in with your theme. There are plenty of great winter wedding ideas out there that don’t necessarily have to revolve around Christmas, so do a bit of research about your options before deciding.
Natasha Wadhams, wedding coordinator at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club:
Research venue offers and promotions – Scope out promotional offers and take advantage of deals. Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club is currently offering a ‘book 10 pay for nine’ promotion as well as a ‘top table goes free’ deal. These kinds of promotions save time and ensure that everything can be organised under one roof. The majority of venues can also provide catering and some will offer a list of recommended external suppliers, photographers, florists and so on. Utilising this knowledge will save you time and stress when trying to turn a wedding around quickly.
Lisa Emmings wedding coordinator at St Pierre Marriott Hotel & Country Club:
Take a moment to enjoy the big day – Whether you’ve planned your wedding in six years or six weeks, it will fly by. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the wedding of your dreams, so don’t make any unnecessary compromises for other people. Make sure that all aspects of the wedding reflect you as a couple and the things you enjoy doing. Then take a minute to just sit back and enjoy the happiest moment of your life.
The most crucial consideration
When asked to identify the most important factor during the planning process of a six week wedding, all the coordinators were in agreement that time is of the essence.
Identifying time lines – Planning a wedding in the space of six weeks means you need to be clever with your timing. The first thing you should do is identify key pit-stops along the way. You should mark out exactly what’s needed and when, so you can plan accordingly. It might be best to work backwards so you can determine the crucial steps in the lead up to the wedding. For example, when will menu choices need to be confirmed? When will table plans need to be submitted? At what point do you need to decide on the theme? This also prevents any stress throughout the six weeks, leaving you free to enjoy the planning process and look forward to your Big Day.
