Q & A

Below are some questions commonly asked by prospective clients. For further useful resources see our web links.

Which month is best to get married?

This will depend on personal preference. It is important to remember that certain weddings suit certain seasons. For example if you want to cruise around the Caribbean you will need to have a winter wedding to ensure you get sunshine and not hurricanes; if you love Peonies and want these in your bouquet these are only available from April to July; bank holidays are great but be aware that some venues may have different stipulations and may also increase their prices. Finally the idea of getting married at Christmas, Valentine's Day or on Mothering Sunday may be romanitic but it may also result in increased flower costs.

At my friends' wedding last year the florist let her down. What would you do about this?

We only use suppliers who we know and trust. The beauty of using a professional wedding planner is that We can exert our influence in the industry to ensure every supplier meets or exceeds your expectations. We can honestly say that we have never had a supplier not meet their contractual obligations.

I want a marquee but I am not sure that I can afford to decorate it. Can you give me some tips on how to keep the costs down but to also have a fantastic venue?

Marquees are fantastic as they are a blank canvas, enabling you to put your own mark on the venue. An idea that really works is the use of chair covers, which has a great impact and if you have covers with bows to suit your colour scheme it can really make a huge difference to the overall effect of the marquee. Keeping it simple and not introducing too many different colours will give a greater impact and will create a simple yet elegant setting for your reception and wedding breakfast.

What do you do if it rains and I am planning to walk to the church?

This is something that has actually happened to us. We always have a wet weather plan in place and, nearer the time, we will assess the likelihood of rain and can supply large umbrellas, held by our staff to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. The most important thing is that you arrive at the church looking and feeling beautiful and not bedraggled! In the unfortunate event of torrential rain, we would suggest using some form of transport to get you as close as possible to the church and then we will walk you from the car to the door using the umbrellas.

Do I need to wear my dress for my hair and make up trial?

Yes definitely, your hair and make up can take on a different look when you team them up with your wedding dress. This is also a great time to experiment with jewellery and see what will compliment your overall look.

If I am paying you direct how can I tell that I am getting the best deal on each supplier?

As we use the suppliers on a regular basis we are in a position to negotiate preferential rates with them. If you contacted our suppliers direct you will be quoted a higher rate than if we went to them with the same quote. This way we can ensure that you are getting the best service at the best rate possible and we assure you that you will not pay more by coming through Inspire.

Do I need a pre wedding photo shoot with my photographers?

This is always a great idea as you can get to know the photographer and how he/she works. The photographer also gets an opportunitity to assess the venue and think about the shots that he/she will take. The photographer will also get a feel for you and your personality and this means you are more likely to get the photographs that best reflect you.

I am really organised and want to set up the tables etc myself on the day. Is this going to be too much?

Definitely; although you are a highly organised person you will be very hard pushed to get the church/ceremony room, the tables and yourself ready in the run up to the wedding. Our advice is to not give yourself any tasks to do in the morning of your wedding. If you then feel that you want to do something, it is because you want to and not because you have to. As hard as it is for someone who has been so organised and in control throughout the whole planning process, we would suggest not going in to the rooms before the ceremony as it will add to the anticipation of the day.

I have booked my venue, when do I need to think about suppliers?

I would suggest that you do this right away, if you are getting married on a Saturday in the summer you may have a fight to get the suppliers you want. If you already know who you want, set up a meeting immediately. Once they have been booked you can relax and follow their lead. If you have no idea who you want to use, start your research straight away and then you can compile a short list and meet with them. This can take a long time as you have to find florists, photographers, caterers, transport, jewellery, dress, cake maker amongst many more.

How can I ensure that I get the right supplier for me?

I can not tell you how important it is to get the right people working for you on your day. The only thing that I can say is ask the supplier if you are able to call some of their previous clients to get some feedback from them directly and have a chat to them about the service they received. I always get 3 quotes and then select the one that I feel is right for the occasion. This can take a long time meeting with 3 suppliers for each area but it will definitely make the organising more enjoyable as you will be dealing with these people from now until you get married. In some cases this can be as long as 2 years.

I have 6 adult bridesmaids but they are all different shapes and sizes. What style of dress can I choose to ensure that they all feel good in what they are wearing?

I am sure that each of your friends are different and would like to wear something that suits them but this will not be the same for each of them. My advice is to set your colours and then let each bridesmaid choose their own style of dress, either straight, empire line, princess style, off the shoulder, shoe string straps, sleeves etc. This way they will all feel comfortable and relaxed but also compliment the theme of the wedding using the colours that you have chosen. If they are not comfortable in their dresses it will show on the day and also in the pictures.

Band VS DJ, what is the best music to have during the party?

This varies. If you are having a band it is important that you have heard them play either a demo or live is better. A band can be fantastic in getting the crowd involved. It's important that they play the right music for the audience. DJs also vary in style. If you are specific about what you want to play ask the DJ for his play list. Event better: write your own list of songs that you love, and a list of those that you definitely do not want to hear on the night!

Should I invite kids to my wedding?

This is the most frequently asked question! I think children at a wedding are absolutely fine as long as you entertain them. I would suggest having a completely separate room for them to be entertained, fed and looked after, the entertainment will all depend on the ages that you are going to invite. The key is to hire some nannies to keep them in control and also have fun with them. This way you will not have a room full of kids running about and the parents also get to enjoy their day. They need to be able to have fun!