Merry Christmas

A big merry Christmas to everyone from Weddings by Rachel.

I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and a great New Year.

I look forward to working with you in 2013!

Rachel x

Top Tips for Your Perfect Church Wedding

Here are some top tips to having an amazing church wedding from Wedding Ideas!

Get in Touch Early

This isn’t just about getting your chosen date for your church wedding. Banns (a declaration of your marriage) have to be read in church for three Sundays before your day, and sometimes you might need a licence that can take time to get hold of. Before your wedding, your Vicar may also ask you to an event to help prepare you for married life. It’s a no-obligation invitation, but one that many couples appreciate.

Check your Connections

You need to have a connection to a church, like living in the parish, to marry there.

Get Visiting

Go along to a Sunday service if you don’t already. You can pick up useful tips for readings you might like to incorporate into your church wedding, and how to best use the space for floral arrangements and decoration.

Perfect Readings

You will need to have one reading from the bible in your service but otherwise the choice is yours. If you’re feeling creative, why not pen something yourself?

Heavenly Music

Churches have instruments like organs built for them that fill the space with sound. Consider using these alongside your chosen music to really make the most of the acoustics in the building.

Absent Friends

If you are missing an important person on your big day you could light a candle in their memory to burn during your service.

Nooks and Crannies

Look for beautiful detail in the church that you can enhance. Decorate window sills with candles or line an entrance arch with flowers for a real wow factor.

Learn your Words!

Ask the Vicar for a copy of the service words and vows. This makes a great keepsake, but will also allow you to practice, practice, practice before the big day!

A Musical Interlude

The signing of the register is the perfect opportunity for some different music. Most churches have CD players but perhaps you could ask a friend or family member to sing a favourite song that you have chosen?

Think about Parking

Most churches were built before parking for lots of cars was an issue! Check where your guests are most likely to find a space to avoid latecomers stressing out and interrupting the service.

To help pull together your perfect church wedding, contact Weddings by Rachel today!

Favourite Item Of The Week

At Weddings by Rachel we LOVE this ‘Dress to impress’ cookie idea as a gift for your bridesmaids or flower girls.

These ones are from Fancy Nancy in London.

Find Your Dream Wedding Theme

Here are some great tips of finding and achieving your dream wedding theme! We’ve picked a couple of the more popular theme’s (and one’s we LOVE at Weddings by Rachel) to get you started!

Village fête

This works well in a village hall or marquee. Think of bunting and balloons and fabric hearts and garlands. Even add in a few deck chairs for good luck!

Go for trestle tables instead of round and make fabric runners for them. Use daisies, sunflowers and bluebells in jars that you’ve collected to help decorate.

You can even go as far as having your own cake stall or beer tent!

Art deco

Art Deco themes are still popular and to achieve this think of flapper girls, beads and fascinators and bow ties!

Go for blacks and whites on mirrored plates and aim for bold and dramatic with calla lilies, peacock feathers and Charleston music!

Winter Wonderland

Glitter balls, roses and mistletoe teamed with candles and fireplaces can help create a truly perfect winter wonderland themed wedding.

Serve mulled wine and mince pies and decorate with plenty of fairylights and sparkles!

Keep it cost effective with paper snowflakes and lots of Christmas baubles.

English country garden

Pimm’s on the lawn, strawberries and cream and a string quartet make the perfect English Country Garden wedding.

Use classic roses and peonies in vases and use lanterns to decorate gardens.

Fragrance is key here – use herb for favours and springs of rosemary as place settings!

Fairytale

Every little girl dreams of a fairytale wedding. Go all the way with a huge ball gown, elbow-length gloves and a horse and carriage.

Opt for a manor house venue and use plenty of roses. Hire a harpist to create the perfect fairytale atmosphere and have a wedding cake in the shape of a castle.

For help putting all of your dreams together, contact Weddings by Rachel today.