5 common wedding questions couples ask
Over the years, we've had the pleasure of working with couples planning weddings of various sizes and styles, from intimate elopements to destination weddings. In this blog post, we'll address five of the most common questions couples ask us lately, drawing from our experience dealing with a diverse range of weddings. We hope these insights and tips will help you navigate this special time with confidence and ease, regardless of your wedding's size or style.
In no particular order, here are the top 5 questions our couples asked us lately:
Should we do a first look?
This all comes down to a personal choice. Some people believe that a first look takes away from the bridal reveal while others appreciate having the intimate time together to take in the day ahead. A good tip is to take into consideration how much time you have between ceremony and reception.
For example, if you have a morning ceremony and an evening reception, you would have ample time to take group and portrait photos in between. Bear in mind that if you do choose to have a first look, hair and makeup would have to start earlier. On the other hand, if your reception is directly followed by your ceremony, a first look is good opportunity to make sure you have enough couple portrait photos and that means you won’t be rushing getting all the group photos during canape hour. Ultimately, the decision should be based on what feels right for you and your partner. Discuss your preferences, consider your timeline and logistical needs, and consult with your photographer and wedding planner if you have one.
2. DO I NEED A STRICT COLOUR PALETTE?
Not necessarily. Every great wedding design is a reflection of you and your partners’ personality and style. As stylists, we consider different elements before coming up with a palette as part of your design. We consider your story at the forefront, the architecture of the venue, how the day will flow, season and traditions, to name a few. This is part of the discovery journey we take our couples on during styling.
Having a strict colour palette might be visually appealing but bear in mind that this can be limiting as well. For example, you may want an all white floral palette but you should also take in to consideration the shadows that the lights at the venue would cast on the florals. The florals might turn out more yellow than white.
Our best tip is to choose a general palette to start with and use this to coordinate bridal party dresses or florals but be open to using the colours in different shades as well. Keeping one tone of the colour can tend to be too much and will make the space look unbalanced. It’s also good to consult with your stylist to offer guidance and ideas on how to best use your ideal colours on your wedding day.
3. should we sit with our guests? should we have a bridal table?
This would highly depend on your floorplan and like any other elements in your wedding, this would come down to personal preference. Some couples prefer to be seated amongst guest for a more intimate vibe and they prefer to not be the centre of attention. Otherwise a bridal table is a good way to provide visibility for guests and allows you to spend time with your closest family and friends.
It’s best to think about the layout and size of your reception venue. Ensure that there is enough space for the bridal table and that it fits seamlessly into the overall design. Another consideration is your guests' comfort and experience. Depending on the size of your bridal party, having a large table may require more space, which could impact the seating arrangements and flow of the reception. Don’t forget to consult with the venue or your planner/stylist as they would have insights on what works best for your number of guests.
4. WHEN SHOULD I SEND OUT INVITES
By rule of thumb, it is best to send out invites no later than 8 weeks before the wedding whilst save the dates go out around 4-6 months before. It gives your guest enough time to plan ahead and make travel plans if need be. It is good to note that invitation for destination wedding should be send out 4 months before at the latest.
With that in mind, be sure to get in touch with your ideal stationer and understand how much lead time you would need to get things printed. Letterpress, for example, can take 6-8 weeks to finish depending on season. An easy reference is this post from one of our favourites Ivory and Stone to understand when to order your invitations and when to send them out.
5. do we have to do favours?
Nowadays, wedding favours are no longer a requirement. Gone are the days of being limited to give guests chocolates or cookies as favours. Most couples prefer to choose a more practical approach and offer interactive experiences to their guests instead. A photobooth is a great example for these experiences. Your guests have something interactive to do during the wedding and they also get to keep a memento afterr. We’ve had couples offer Instax cameras as an alternative as well.
Live guest paintings is another great way to give something special that your guests can keep. Artists like Adrienne Monteverde offer live paintings that captures what they’re wearing. Otherwise we’ve also had couples who have chosen to donate on behalf of the guests towards a charity that they are passionate about.
Remember that your guests are primarily attending your wedding to celebrate your special day with you, and wedding favors, while a nice gesture, are not the focal point of the event. If you decide not to have wedding favors, it's a perfectly acceptable choice. Your guests will likely appreciate the thought and effort you put into other aspects of the wedding, such as the ceremony, reception, and overall guest experience.
All photographs by Bianca Virtue Weddings
We hope you find the answers above helpful for your wedding planning. We’ll adding more questions like this soon so be sure to watch out for this.
Want to know more tips? We have shared more advice about wedding traditions and some modern takes approach them.
Ruffles and Bells Team xx