Tis the season to get engaged!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas one and all! hope you've

I actually,

Christmas day.

we hope so. I've got my Christmas jumper on.

Oh,

No, it's got cats on it.

I've just gone full scum. I'm in my old jumper.

As you do at Christmas. Right, guys, full disclosure. Obviously we're not recording this on Boxing Day. Or even, even other two days leading up to Boxing Day. Because normally we'd record literally like two days before it goes out. Like, this is, we are currently, Not actually at Christmas yet, and we've

you from the past.

we're coming to you. Oh, yeah, the ghost of the Christmas Oh, I need to watch that the Muppet Christmas Carol. That's one of my favorites

love that as

Yeah, oh my god. I bet Lily bear would like that cause all the singing and stuff. Oh, there you go

they do like a some Muppets thing on a Saturday morning. She seems to quite like it. Oh

There you go, crack it on Hayley, crack it on.

times.

Shall we get started?

do it.

Hi, I'm Hannah,

Hayley,

and we are your wedding planning experts!

here to spill the tea on the inside of wedding planning and everything that goes with it,

Expect our honest opinions, the real juice on what happens on a wedding day,

tips thrown in between.

and also just a chat between friends.

of course, make sure you hit that subscribe button, and

let's get you

Woo!

Well, well hopefully we'll have lots of lovely new listeners who got engaged this Christmas day.

the season!

know, engagement season is upon us. Honestly, listeners, all we hear about in the wedding industry is engagement season, isn't it? I

literally. Engagement season.

actually read a stat though, that, that, yes it's the biggest time percentage wise, but it's actually like 25 percent at couples or something. They actually get married

really?

because it's like one day of the year, this obviously, it's the most popular date. So that's why they're like, well, you know, a lot of couples will be getting engaged.

engaged on Christmas?

Yeah,

don't mind

no, I would like a Christmas engagement, but

than Valentine's Day.

yeah, yeah,

is a bit too cliche, you know?

yeah. Also, I'll come back to you on that one. My Christmas one is, not if it's my Christmas gift.

Oh.

I want a Christmas gift and

the

the ring. Is that really

Christ!

Is that really, really bad? Like, just a couple of little bits, but you know what I mean?

Just a few token bits in my stocking mate, don't worry about it. No, I agree, but surely like your engagement wouldn't be a gift. Yeah, that's not your Christmas

I've heard of people doing that as a present. The ring is the present. But I'm like, if you proposed to me in the summer, you'd still get me a Christmas present. You know?

I see the

Like, I don't, it doesn't have to be anything big, but I want to open something, you're not opening a ring, are you? They're presenting it to you. I want to wrap the paper off. That we've just been ranting about, saying how we've had got,

didn't get engaged

know, bless them. I know, I'm so high maintenance. And then the Valentine's one. Very good point, but I know people that I've worked with previously that got engaged on Valentine's Day. So it's Valentine's Day, it's just a normal day, right? It's not like a public holiday, so they've still had to go to work.

Oh,

And I actually see this thing on Instagram, and it's funny that you just mentioned that because I literally saw it this morning where there was a video and it was like this woman at her desk like, ah, look at my ring, and she was like, oh, when you get engaged in the morning, so you're part of family, Your partner throws you off by proposing in the morning, then you've got work an hour later.

be able to

And she was excited, it was like a positive post, and I was like, no!

no!

Oh, I don't, I'm not for that.

no, I I wouldn't want to go to work. I feel like you'd be, well, actually saying that, I got engaged and went to work the next day.

Yeah, the next day, not the same day, like they've literally got up in the morning, proposed, like this physically happened with a woman that I worked with. He proposed in the morning, with their Valentine's breakfast, and then she went to work.

oh, yeah.

I'm not for that.

know. I mean, I personally wouldn't want to go to work after getting engaged. I'd want to celebrate at home and stuff.

Yeah, exactly.

to go and share it with all your, like, work friends and

Yeah, who cares about them?

Oh, savage.

I think holidays like the best one or like weekend away day out kind of thing so you get to actually Celebrate it. But yeah, anyway, and also

are we to judge, you know?

yeah also

get engaged. I hope you had the day off work. Especially if it was Christmas Day, I should

Well, well, this is a good thing about christmas and then you're chilling and then you've got time off work to talk about your wedding Plan. So yeah, I think I think christmas is a good one. Everyone's in the festive spirit. Everyone's excited

good time of year, I always find, like, because I'm really busy at Christmas with work, like, nice when I'm going out and delivering and everyone's just in a good mood.

Yeah

everyone's like festive. Even though you all like run off your feet and stuff, it's just, there's just a good attitude about it. I

This is a good vibe.

vibes all around.

Good vibes. So anyway guys, hopefully there'll be lots of new, newly engaged Christmas couples, we'll finally get to it. Welcome, I am Hannah, this is Hayley.

me.

LAUGHS Never. Just a couple of little admin bits. We are planning our live podcast. It's on the 29th of January. So if you're a new listener, you're just engaged. It's based in Northamptonshire in the Midlands. So you can grab tickets. The link will be in our show description.

yes.

yeah, come along. It's going to be an evening of basically us doing a live record chatting all things wedding. So yeah, come and join us.

join us. There'll be

How exciting. Also, if you have just joined us, at the end of this episode, please make sure you go on and give us a five star review.

Only

And subscribe! Yeah, and it only

than that.

No, exactly. And as you can see, as you're listening to us on Boxing Day, of course, we do release episodes every week throughout the whole year, including Boxing Day and New Year.

don't break here.

No breaks here. I was thinking about this the other day. We did have one break this, we did a one, there was a one week where we didn't do one, but I don't think that was even to do with you having Lily. I think that that was a technical error.

Oh.

Can you remember? I'm sure there was one week where we couldn't do one and I put out a little thing to say, I'm really sorry guys, there's no episode this week. But I don't think that was because you had the baby. I think that was

there was, there was technical issues with the platform we

with the system. Yeah.

I'm pretty sure I was also doing a wedding or something like that, so it was just a

Yeah, so we couldn't,

couldn't

couldn't really record it. Yeah, but I feel like we recorded the whole way through you having the baby, didn't we?

We did.

Jesus.

host that'll do that.

Exactly.

This is, this is what's the word? Commitment.

Yes, we are. Why are you asking me what the word is? I'm the worst with words. Anyway, how has your week been? Of

week's been good, still very busy, obviously with that run up to Christmas it does get very busy for me, especially towards like Christmas Eve,

Yeah.

everybody wants their table arrangements

Everybody wants ya?

arrangement

the Christmas day? Oh, nice. People go all out, don't they? I wouldn't even think of that.

and then I do a lot of gift bouquets for people.

Nice.

I had a bit of a rush with like, obviously when the kids leave school for the term. For teacher's bouquets and things like

Right, yeah, yeah, yeah. The old teachers.

so have to, don't forget those. teachers people

Yeah.

but yeah, so it's just been doing bits like that really so it has been manic and then it's just that and then juggling with obviously and then also freelanced so freelancing at the savoy so that's that's that's that's that's that's that's

Oh, stunning. Oh, wait, what, you've got that this weekend?

well, obviously I'm talking to you from in the past, so

Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But

freelancing. Yeah,

of today, it's gonna be Oh, incredible. I love the Savos so much.

but it'll be a long one. I think it's 7am, gotta be there, and then we'll be back for like midnight, collect,

Oh God. Are you gonna go home and go back again?

yeah. It didn't take me long to get

It's not far from London for you, is it?

probably an hour and 15 if there's

Yeah. It's not bad.

I'll

Yeah.

whiz through so It's not too bad. Actually. I don't mind it.

Oh, that's so exciting. Yeah.

I'm really i'm really excited for that. So you're

Nice.

So yeah quite floristry related Lately, which is nice obviously i'm a florist, but sometimes I do lots of other different things So

Yeah, she has many

focusing on that

bows to her arrow, is that the saying? I don't know. She said she has many bows to her arrow, is that the saying? Strings to the

to the bow.

bow? There you go. What's the what's the colour scheme of the Savoy?

I think it's all whites. I

Oh, nice.

with you, I don't know,

Because you're freelance and you just rock up and,

gonna be going I'm doing a full day on Friday, which will be doing like fresh flowers and stuff, so I say that but last time it was around this time of year,

Hmm,

January, I worked there, it was all reds. I don't know.

okay, because their ballroom's like a pale blue.

so

Yeah. On what room they use actually, because there's another room that's more like neutral tones.

I

But yeah, whites,

yeah, I

always look nice in the ballroom.

to be honest with

Yeah Ah, exciting!

but yeah, so that's been good, I'm excited to work there. And

Yeah. Oh,

I've got a couple that are getting married in January, so I just had the final, final meeting with them. So they're 11th of January, so they're quite early on

God,

So,

yeah.

just a note to anyone that is getting, gonna get married. so much. In January obviously after Christmas, there's like a bit of a, because you have all the bank holidays here and also where we get, I get flowers like through Holland and obviously all over the world. There's a lot of bank holidays, so you have to be just, just make sure that

Right.

it with your florist,

Yeah.

just about like, it's availability and stuff, but they'll, they should guide you on what's available and what's not, because some things take longer to come in, so they might have to pre order it and stuff like

Yeah, and I suppose it's making decisions in advance, isn't it? Like, how many tables you have in and

so normally I do like a sort of a four week before meeting But I did do it like six weeks prior this

Yeah.

we're all on the same page and then any like last minute changes Kind of like if it's a big check not that that happens very often But you they'll just

Yeah, like, guests drop out,

might you

change, yeah. Don't you think though, like, when you've got a January February wedding, you're like, Oh, it's alright, it's next year.

yeah.

but actually, you count down the weeks, you're like, Oh my god, like, I've got one in February and it's actually in, like, six weeks. And I'm like,

Oh,

Oh, but it's alright, it's next year.

Yeah, yeah, totally. This is like in two weeks time. So yeah

Yeah.

But

Geez.

be nice one though. They're having like quite they've gone for They've not gone for like reds and whites or anything like that

Yep.

They've gone like jewel tones, but wintery so I'm

Oh nice. Yes. Beautiful.

it'd be really nice And I'm looking forward to it.

Ah, it's a funny time of year to get married though,

Yeah,

don't you think?

I've never done like a, we've done end of January haven't we, but we've, I've never

Yeah,

after Christmas, I've done

but saying that actually is it actually a nice time of year because I always like, I always like to do something in January. 'cause I always think it's one of those dull months that nobody does anything. So it's something to like look forward to.

Christmas, yeah,

Yeah.

New

Yeah.

I quite

Yeah.

it's quite nice,

Why not? You just gotta be, you gotta be an organised person.

do need

You want that all sorted for Christmas.

was, to to

Be bloody organised.

and I went to see Wicked. The

Oh, yeah, I have a bone to pick with you about this.

Oh. I'm

to me, oh yeah, you can come and see Wicked with me and my sister in law, and then I saw the notes, I went to see Wicked, I was like, oh. No, it's fine. Honestly, it's

Oh.

to be fair, try it, yeah, and that's really far for me, and to, like, actually sort our diaries so we can both do something is difficult, so it's fine.

okay. That was my payback after you went to someone else's reef workshop.

Oh yeah, okay, fine, fine, fine.

I'm joking.

I didn't book it!

Oh, I didn't even bit this, I just did this, I lied. I'm joking. No, it was, I've used this so you've not seen it yet. I mean,

No, I've not.

if you want.

Do you know what? I feel like I need to go on my own. I said to one of my other friends about it, but I will be one of those really annoying people that is singing along

no.

no, none of my friends are like me. Like,

Oh.

would be very embarrassed of going to see Wicked with me. So I feel like it's an on my own. I said, Martin said, Oh, well, oh yeah, I'll come with you if you want me to. And I was like, no, it's fine. I'm going to go. So I'm probably going to go like between Christmas and new year where Martin's. Decorate in the house and I might just go

why not?

I feel like I'd be one of them things or maybe just in January I'm like a Tuesday when I'm just like, you know what? I'm gonna go cinema

it. Yeah, no

Yeah, I feel like I want to eat. I want to go when it's a bit quieter. I hate going when it's really busy

quite busy when we were wasn't too bad But then it wasn't even it was like an evening show. We went to but it

Yeah, and it's still really popular, isn't it? So yeah, oh, was it good though?

it was it was do you know what? I'm not I've never seen I don't really know the story and I've never seen

Oh, right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,

it obviously and I'm not not massively into musicals either

what?

am, I like them, but I'm not like a massive fan.

Not like me

I was like, oh, I was kind of indifferent, I guess is the right word

Yeah

feel like if you are a fan of Wicked, then you would absolutely love it.

Yeah, I love it, but i'm actually quite worried that so I saw it in new york for my 30th And i'm quite worried Not worried, but like, I feel like the film's gonna be, it's gonna be nowhere near as good as the stage show. The stage show is, is everything. But I've always loved that music. Back in the day when I was a musical theatre gal, one of the songs from that was like, my audition song.

Oh,

So yeah, I'm a, I'm a,

I'm

I like it. And I, and I love the Wizard of Oz as well. Obviously, Wizard of Oz is like a tiny element of the story of the Wiz. Wiz. Sorry, not the Wiz. I love the Wiz as well, which is a 1960s version of the Wizard of Oz. But yeah, Wicked is the whole period, I suppose.

It's good, it's good really, because they're all books, aren't they?

Yeah. Yeah.

I bet the books are pretty good I feel like the books always they go more in detail don't like in

Yeah, 100%.

the book. But yeah,

Yeah.

it's really good. It's really well done like it's it's

The thing I'm confused about is it's based on the stage show, but the stage show is half of the like, they've only done one half of the so the film is one half of the stage show. So I'm like,

hours long

if you add it in?

a lot of singing

There's already a lot of singing in it!

Oh I don't know you're asking the wrong person. It's really it's good it's really like like I said, it's really well done like the whole everything like the outfits and like

yeah, it's incredible. Yeah.

lush,

I mean, the PR behind it has been insane.

yeah,

Like, what the hell.

about it, I

I know, them girls interviewing. They must be sick of having interviews, surely. Yeah.

be it must be hard to just constantly talk about the same thing and repeat yourself constantly

Yeah.

they'll be doing

Yeah. Well, there we go. Well, hopefully I'll get to see it soon.

How is

Oh!

week been?

Yeah, good. Just, like I say, finishing up for Christmas. This actually becomes Oh, we were just talking about this before we come in here, but This becomes like a busier time for me because Couples are now going they're now slowing down at work. They're gonna be spending Christmas with their families. They're like, very conscious that their wedding is coming up. Is next year which is in like two weeks and they You know that there's a lot of things they want to get wrapped up.

I

I, who is? But for me, Christmas starts this Saturday because, well, no, my birthday starts this Saturday. My birthday's on Sunday, so we go back to Norfolk for a couple of days for my birthday and for Christmas.

try and like, give you Christmas and birthday present together? Or have

not

been

really, but When I was a kid, my mum did, but that was because if I wanted something, it was actually a pro, because I could get something bigger, because I'd be like, well, I'll have it for Christmas and birthday, so. Yeah, no, not really. But yeah, so, just to get I've really realised that I'm just one of those people that just really struggles in my personal life, I don't know about you listeners, but, to tie things up.

the same and I'm, I'll start like a million tasks and then don't finish them.

Yeah.

I'm

Or I'll like, I'll have a list. Like, I don't even know what happened to me yesterday. I have a list of little bits that I need to get. Like, you know like the car like the money wallet that you could like, my nephew obviously want money but I need something to put it in. And like, I need a couple of cards and for birthdays and stuff like that. I went to a supermarket yesterday. Why did I not get my phone out and look at my list and get those?

like that,

While I was there.

these lists but I don't check them.

Yeah, look what!

What's wrong with me?

It was just so, I just wanted to get in and out because this is what annoys me about Christmas is everywhere is so busy, and I just can't cope.

it

So I'm trying to do as much as possible online, but some things you just can't do online. Like, well, I suppose you can do a moon pick card, but they're like three times the price of

I

going to a shop.

cards done yesterday. I basically went into Boots and you know they've got like the things at the, the booths there that you

Did you get lily bear cards done?

so I had made them into like little postcards and then I've stuck them on some, like a mount, like a card

Nice. Yeah.

on the back. So I'm waiting for my bigger envelopes to come today because I had a right nightmare, right? Trying to get cards printed. So, I used company online to start with that I was recommended by

Yeah.

because she obviously does all the stationery

yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I I sent all my I did artwork on canva and I sent it off paid for them Whatever lovely like three days later when it's like getting close to like they need to be Posted them

Yeah.

to send them out before the first class dates end and

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What?

Not big enough. We need to make it bigger and I was like, okay Okay, well, can you make it bigger? And they were an extra 25 quid to make it

Oh my god.

that, I already

Yeah.

for the

You can literally just resize in Canva.

so I was like,

Yeah.

and also you've let me know the day you need to post

Yeah!

there was the

That's annoying.

so I was like, nah, I'll just have a refund.

Yeah.

I went to a print shop, and you'd think, right, a print shop specifically for printing, right, would

Yeah.

a decent quality Well, it was all like, it had all lines in it, and it was on that

What?

and

Oh no.

not very good, and I was like I don't think this is a very good story, and like, he was like, oh, my print is not very, doing very well, and I was like, you're a print

What? Did you get a refund?

he literally did one to show me,

Oh.

I had to pay for

What?

the, the three

Do you know what this just highlights, isn't it? That, imagine having to stress for your own wedding as you use a stationer.

Yeah, totally. Let someone else worry about that for you.

What about, have you ever used free prints? Well they do, they've got different apps, they've got prints, they've got tiles and they've got cards.

I don't think so.

Oh, they're great, so you can get, you get so many for free, so you literally pay the postage. I did it the other day actually so you get like 40 prints free a month and you just pay postage of like 3 quid. And there's, there's an app that does cards and then one that does tiles. I'll send you it to you later. There you

oh, fair

go, probably a bit late now but,

the end

Yeah.

Boots and design it myself on the machine and then

Oh my God, that was a chore.

it was, like, I literally did a better job doing that than I did

Wow.

professional

a printer. There you go then. Yeah.

But,

Yeah, and these local independent people want us to use them. But the big players do it easier. Yeah. Annoying, innit?

Yes.

Well, I'm sure you've all also seen in the press that Selena Gomez got engaged. Have you seen it?

have, yes. Do you know what, I for some reason thought they were already engaged. They've been together for ages, haven't they, her and

Yeah, I don't really know a lot about her, I'm not gonna lie.

she's

I don't know.

like that? I don't know.

I just know she got engaged, she had a lovely rock in her finger, and I'm sure the wedding is going to be insane. I wonder if she'll get married next year. Yeah. Yeah,

because I presume they've got, like, decent amount of money. Then, like,

they can do it, but it depends on their schedules probably.

true.

Are they too busy?

too busy to get married to you mate. Sorry, you'll have

The other thing I've got to mention, which obviously everybody by this time is going to be fulfilled, because it's Boxing Day,

it

but it's, it's what all Christmas is about for this year, and it's Gavin and Stacey finale. I cannot wait, I cannot wait. So I had to bring up, the other day I'm doing the thing where you re watch everyone, you know, an episode a day up until Christmas.

watch, gonna watch it,

Are you watching them all?

gonna start again and watch 'em. And then I won. Probably won't, I won't watch the one on Christmas day. I'll

I What?!

We haven't had a chance yet.

You could binge on I mean, they're only half an hour long, there's like six per episode.

we,

could probably bash it all out on Christmas Eve.

the evenings, like, to be honest with you, like if we're not doing nothing, then

You could probably bash four out in an evening.

We're pretty good at binge watching stuff.

Yeah. So, I had to bring up Gavin and Stacey's wedding. I was watching it and I was like, wow.

Oh wow, this is of it's time.

This is Of It's Time. So there's a few things I've listed out that we're just gonna discuss. So this was filmed, this was, I think it was 2006, so it was like 18 years ago, right? Yeah, so, number one, Stacey's hair updo. So it's like a pineapple on her head, where they'd like, really thinly curled it with the thinnest wand in the world, with the veil underneath the hair up. Can you remember when you used to put the veil underneath?

in the bottom.

you imagine in the bottom?

Do

Oh.

done a few weddings where they've had that though.

Oh yeah, definitely. 100%. Yeah.

stick it in the bottom. It's like, no, that's so 2006.

it's the pineapple on the top. The pineapple, like, Jesus.

my goodness.

hotel venue, I mean, are still going strong, but They're getting less and less, they're not, they're not as, you know, yeah, they're still, no, hotel weddings are still busy, but if you look, watch the episode, you'll, you'll see what I mean.

upped their game though, haven't they? Like

But in 20 years, that'll be old style. Yeah, that's the thing with hotels. Next up I've got the bouquet. It's one of those ones where it's like a stick, and it, you'll tell me what it's called, but you know it's fat and it goes to thin like that.

a teardrop. Shower

Yeah, shower bouquet. And she's literally holding it like this, really, really thick like this, and then goes thin at the bottom like a teardrop.

yeah.

She had

of those, you know. I've done quite a few even in the last like couple of years, but I did the best one I did or a few I did

Okay.

became quite popular. I'd say sort of 2018 I did a few but they weren't like the teardrop shape They were a shower bouquet on a holder But they were really really like natural and full

Yeah, a bit more wild.

and everybody wanted it and I Don't must have done so many like proper

I know what you mean. Yeah. This one was like,

Surprised

this one was a structured, in,

teardrop.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She also had a yellow colour scheme, which I know is your favourite. She had a her dress was like strapless, which, I mean, 20 years ago,

god,

all you would see is strapless. Well, actually, even when I started in the industry 15 years ago, probably for 5 years, all you saw was strapless dresses. Like, and all you would see is the bride pulling their dress up all day,

That's

like this. And it goes all puffy, it's all layered at the bottom. So it's like,

gosh,

and then pffft,

a yeah

like a puff ball. Like, like a, like a, something you put on top of a toilet roll. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, literally. They had a balloon, in yellow by the way, a balloon heart shape behind the top table. So a heart shape made out of balloons, like the big, the big ones. Pfft.

been like, I want this for my wedding.

Oh yeah, when I started in the industry 15 years ago, everyone had balloons. Please, the balloons need to go. I hate balloons at weddings, they're for pies.

that's true, that's

And also, in all the pictures, the red curtains and the red chairs.

bleurgh,

with their yellow colour scheme. Guys, right, if you're getting married somewhere that's got, you know, certain colour carpets, certain colour curtains, it happens. Country houses have old carpets, like, that is the way it is. Please make sure you're matching your colour scheme in with it. If you've got, if they've got a red carpet, don't go for it. I'm

I've,

kind of,

before where

match it in.

White drapes put over the curtains.

Yeah, not surprised.

they've covered the curtains with

Yeah, I've had couples make the venue take curtains down. I'm like, just change the curtains!

Just do something about that. You gotta have a big budget for doing things like that, I feel.

You have, you have.

he's gonna bother you that much, you probably just not have your wedding there.

That is very true. It's a good point. Yeah. So yeah, that was the Gavin and Stacey wedding episode. I had to bring it up. It's very, it's on trend right now. And, yeah. And the other thing I had to mention was, right, when I got when I was getting married this year, listeners who are new, Got married this year myself in May and it was all about the two, it's a lucky year to get married because if it's two plus zero plus two plus four equals eight and it means like something magical, right?

Heh.

then I was on Instagram yesterday, and apparently 2 plus 0 plus 2 plus 5 also means something magical. So basically, it's just Instagram lying to you, and it's all a load of crap. It's not a magical year to get married, because they're saying it now about every year.

Oh,

I was like,

a

oh, this is really cool

Any year,

that I'm getting married in a

gets married is magical.

It's so true. Or lucky. It's lucky. It's like the year of luck. That's what they were saying about 2024. Now they're saying about 2025, so I'm like, well, you just lied to me, didn't you?

You're missold that information.

so,

annoying.

used that in my marketing for 2024. Well, I'm not doing it for 2025 because I am fuming.

Oh my god. Oh no.

it's been, hey?

has

2024.

mental year.

This is our last episode of the year,

Yeah, it is. Oh my gosh

literally.

yeah

what the hell?

on the year. We've had a little think about our weddings that we've done

Yeah, we have,

what did we like particularly and I and I had to had to really think Oh, there's been a lot of things that I like this year. I did a lot of people wanted loads of florals Like, they just

yeah,

like lots of flour, which was great for me,

definitely.

But it was like, more is more with the flours, and I think I, I did so much like with my asymmetrical columns

Yeah, nice. People want big and flowy, don't they? And like,

out there, like

yeah.

yeah, like statement pieces,

Yes. Although,

to.

right, I was gonna mention this to you. I was having a little browse on Instagram yesterday, as you do, and a, I was looking at a florist's Instagram, actually, and it looks, oh, it's very, very beautiful on the surface. Then when you go into the pictures, right, floristry is incredible. It's incredible.

Yeah.

budgets, but I'm like,

Is

did it need that much? And like, there was, there was a picture of a church at the front and I just thought, where is the, where did the vicar even stand? Where did the couple stand? Because it was just full. Yeah.

Yeah, no, I I know what you mean I sometimes do feel like it's a bit much just for like your ceremony No, it's not even the day right? It's not even the

Yeah, because you ain't moving that, are you? I'm guessing.

That's a more money than cents in some ways when they have things like that I feel

Yeah,

it's so much. I mean it looks incredible Like you say like the photo is insane, but it's a lot It's just so much, but

It's 45 minutes, you're gonna see those flowers, and actually the only one shot you're gonna get of those flowers is you two standing at the aisle with a shot straight down, because when she's walking in, or he, however you want to do it, that first shot is gonna be the opposite way of the church, or the whatever ceremony. Do you know what I mean? Like, the only shot you're gonna get is the

bit of Like, I like the columns that I do, because you can move them.

Yeah.

that can be moved, because at least you're going to get, like, a

Yeah, urns. I'm a big fan of an urn. Flower meadows, as we know, down that aisle. Big fan.

Big fan.

Because we can move those, we can reuse, but I'm gonna have to send it to you because I just thought, I was like, oh my god, this is insane, like, on the surface level. And then I thought about it and I was like, because you know when you're trying to look at what you want to do and what you want to be and how you want your Instagram to look like? And I was like, why does my Instagram not look like this? And then I'm like, actually, no, that's not what I'm doing.

I ain't doing that.

I'm

like

that.

I feel like it I wouldn't want someone to look at my page and be like, I can't afford that at all. you know what I

Yeah.

of, I mean, obviously you want to encourage people with a decent budget because at the end of the day, if you're having, if you want decent flowers and you

Yeah.

to have that as your, like, main deco, which a lot of people do, generally you need to have, like, a pretty healthy budget

You do? Yeah, definitely. Yeah, agreed.

like if I was to go to a page where it was like, like what you've said, I would be like, that's way out of my, but then I suppose they might be attracting clients that have got that. So that's obviously

Well, yeah, exactly. That is, that is what they're doing.

what I personally want to

No.

If you

And do you know what? I think that's a, that's been a good thing for me this year, actually, is I've really learned.

Yeah,

Who I want to work with and I'm happy with that and actually a lot of people I think the wedding industry is very much built on let's just keep let's keep aspiring to push Further and further and get you know more and more and more and higher budgets, but actually I'm happy with the people I'm I love the people I'm working with and that's fine. You know, yeah, but I'll have to send it to you Anyway, cuz I just thought yeah Not for me, I don't think. I think, I think, I completely agree with you.

much.

So what are some other bits that you have been loving from this year other than your bigger is better weddings? More is more?

a lot of like blue tones, you know, this year, which I've actually quite liked. I've quite

Oh yeah, we did the wedding in, do you know what? That seems like a lifetime ago. We did a wedding in April that was Bridgerton themed.

ago.

Pale blue and white. Stunning, wasn't it?

lush, and I just, yeah, I, I, I'm, I've really enjoyed people choosing different colours other than white, to be honest with you. And I feel like the different, like, linen colours and stuff, people have been more confident and more out there with their choices of colour.

Yeah.

it sounds silly to think that someone might, I might think someone's chosen pink and I'm like, yeah, but like, obviously different tones of it. But, you'd be surprised how much white and green people have. It's,

Yeah.

it's timeless. And it's like it you look back in how many years you've had white and green it's not gonna go out of fashion

That is the, that is so true. Yeah, with white and green.

I've really enjoyed people going for different colors this

Yeah.

So like apricots blues and then mixing them

Yes, stunning.

go and I like it when people are like Oh, well, what do you think would go like this

Yeah.

They've told me their color scheme and then I've gone for something that they weren't even thinking of like color wise But Sort of thing to

Yeah, I like that.

like to match in what they've what they've gone for and I just I thought that's Really cool. Like it's nice to just have that freedom as a florist and not as a creative to just kind of Yeah,

as I always say, you're the expert at the end of the day.

you know

I always say that to when I'm working with florists. You're the expert. You, you, you understand it more than me, you know?

me to tell like at the

Yeah!

I was like, yeah,

So listen to your florists, people.

listen

your deco companies or whatever you're using, ask them for their advice. That's actually funny you said that because that's one of the things I've said is I've loved the colors.

Yes.

as part of my planning, I always do a mood board so they give me their ideas and then I put a mood board together that then gets sent to the florists and the caterers and the stationers and cake makers so they really get a vibe for the day and I've been genuinely excited when I've been doing mood boards this year and next year. I've got some immense colour schemes for next year, and I'm very excited.

when you stick it up on the grid on Instagram. a change, you

Thanks!

It's nice.

Ah, that's very kind. Thank you. I've actually got one of them going up over Christmas. Yeah, it's yeah, it's nice to see, isn't it? I kind of did that though, didn't I, for my wedding? So I kind of stuck with the greens. The bridesmaids were in greens, linen was green, but then I added the pink and red into the flowers.

oh see that was really nice. I

Yeah. You did such a good job. Stunning.

good. And they looked so lush at your wedding. Oh my god, your fireplace is incredible. I thought I'd say so

No, it was insane. I'd never get over it. I was looking through all the photos again the other day, because I wanted to get some pictures printed off and stuff, and I just, you know, when you look back, you're like, Oh, I forgot about that photo. I forgot about that photo. Like, oh,

just

so nice.

just looked so good. It looked so good in there. Oh

I love this year one of my couples had the massive wedding cake So it was like the one tear it was a meter wide Round cake with all the fruit on the top if anyone doesn't know what I mean go on my instagrams on there And I've seen lots of dessert stations as well, which I'm loving.

Oh yes, I love, do you know what, I would rather that over a cake.

Yeah hundred percent

like, I like the idea of growing up and choosing like a, what you, pick a mix of dessert, you know.

Yeah, like little bits but also if you are thinking I want a dessert station the benefit of a dessert station is you only have To seat people then for two courses.

but

done an eight one, eight tier one before. In the center and then you can still cut that if you want to do the cake cutting.

Yeah, it's

So yeah.

photo at the end of the day, isn't it? I feel like

Yeah, if that's what you want. We'll come back to that next episode. That's on my list.

if that's what you want.

I also, we did lots of at home weddings this year, which I love doing at home weddings. Oh,

isn't

so personal.

meet, I suppose for you as well, you get to like meet the couple, meet the family, and then it's

Oh, yes, so nice. Honestly, I've had some incredible dads this year, like, dads that, like, this one particular dad, I'll always, I'll never forget him. His daughter was getting married on their land and he just did everything he possibly could to make that wedding incredible. Like, when we were setting up, I'd be like, oh, I kind of need this. Yeah, I'll sort it for you. Done. It was like, done yesterday. Kind of fine. Like, that lawn was mowed every day for a week. Like,

that's

just, just beautiful. And I actually saw this meme come up on my Instagram one day where it was like, oh, when, when Dad's getting ready for the wedding and there's like this dad on a lawnmower and I, I know I forwarded it to her and she was like, oh my god, I'm gonna send this to Dad, he'll love it. It's just like, I know, and I know as well it can be like, If anyone that's listening that's doing an at home wedding, there's a lot involved.

that's

you know?

it. guess it's like having lots of different suppliers there and,

yeah, exactly, and guests, and

they're going to park and all sorts of things like that. You

that, yes.

to.

You've hit the nail on the head there. It's the utilities. So it's like power, water, you know, parking. It's the things like that that you have to think about that are just standard in a venue. You don't even think about it. Toilets, you know.

yeah.

Okay, so question for you. What was your favorite moment of the year, business wise first?

That's a really good question. Ha ha! My favorite moment of this year has been, I think doing bigger weddings. I know it's not a moment, but it is. It's a moment for the big weddings. Okay.

Yeah, 100%, yeah, yeah,

I've

yeah,

lot of like biggest scale weddings where they've had, like I was saying, like more flowers and it's just been so nice to kind of let loose, like creatively and do some big installations.

yeah,

and yeah. it really fills me with like, I feel quite proud of myself when I do a wedding like

yeah,

pulled it off and it all looks amazing, it all comes together and then seeing it at the end and you're like, oh, that looks, that looks, I did that, you know,

yeah,

that. So yeah, for me, it's that. What

loves.

you?

Mine probably has to be my Kensington Palace wedding. Just incredible. Loved it.

that's so cool.

That was probably a highlight for me, but I actually, I loved all my couples this year. They were all lovely. We had a great time with all of them. And I felt like all my couples were a lot more chilled on the day this year. Like, we always normally have a couple. A couple of couples. A

Couple of

of brides, sorry to say it. But they're a little, still a little bit stressed on the day. They can't let go, they're struggling to enjoy it. They're still thinking about what's happening behind the scenes. Whereas all of them just let loose this year. Like, they were just like, whatever. Which, just loved. So yeah. And what what have you got coming up next year that you're excited about? Yeah.

have got again a couple more, well a few more big weddings. I'm doing a lot more freelancing next year so I think I sort of said I've kind of changed a little bit of what I'm doing in terms of like my business just to kind of around obviously having Lily so. But I've, I've got a lot of inquiries for next year and a lot of exciting inquiries. So people that want like big installations and things like that,

Nice. Yeah. Yeah!

you know, they come with something. You never know when you have an inquiry until it's booked. But I think, yeah, it's like my, my Instagram looks great at the moment, which I like.

Yeah, buddy! Don't you just love it when you get an inquiry that you're excited about and like a couple when you meet them and you're just like, oh my god, I really like these people. Yeah.

Basically, what I'm trying to do for next year is I really want to go into doing a few more London weddings.

Yes. Nice.

going. I'm angling

That's your goal.

that is

Right, well let's put that as a goal

Yes.

now and we've put it out to the listeners. You're gonna have to do it now.

so I want to

Yes.

some London weddings. I just want to do a big wedding in London. That's my goal for

Nice. Yeah.

So

Nice. Goals.

What about you?

Mine is, I've got some amazing venues next year I'm really excited to work in Eden Project. I'm doing a wedding there next to August and that's like a proper childhood memory of mine. 'cause we went when I was a kid to watch it being built.

my god, that's so cool!

Quite random, but yeah. Yeah. So I remember being there as a kid and just being like, wow, this is like crazy, like how big this is. And now I'm doing a wedding there and it's like, yeah.

Aw,

yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited for it. So yeah, it's all coming. It's all going 2025.

though as well. That's such an amazing venue to like, have on your list of like, where you've worked

I know.

That's

though, like, I never knew that you could do a wedding there. Like, people don't realize.

Away by what you said about the florist last, when you

I know. Yeah.

they have to check everything

Yeah, check all the stems. It's nuts, isn't it?

crazy.

yeah, so if you're newly engaged, congrats. It's going to be, I know it's going to be, you're probably going to be in two minds. You're either going to feel overwhelmed or you're going to feel excited. We'll be touching all those bits and bobs in our next episode. If you've got any questions, you can write in to us. If there's any worries or anything, things you're not sure about. But I would just say at this time, you've just got to be, just enjoy life.

There's

the

rush.

of December. Enjoy your engagement. Worry about the wedding plans next week on our next episode.

And get get listening to what all our episodes stuff in

Yes!

I

Go and binge listen.

so many tips, so

We do. Should we go on to the listener's questions?

Yeah, so we had a we've had a messaging on Instagram. So they say, Hey, I've listened to nearly all of your podcasts. So

Woohoo!

Thanks so much.

Yeah, buddy. Thank you for writing them.

Please leave us a five star review.

Yes!

We got engaged in October, in Cappadocia. I dunno if I

Cappadocia. Oh my god, I really want to go here. It's in Turkey. It's, you fly to Istanbul. It looks insane.

Oh.

for all the hot air balloons.

god,

You know where, yeah.

know you mean.

Really want to go.

I

Yeah.

Friend's been there, actually.

There you go.

Already booked the venue, and it was the first one they went to.

You've got, you've got the feels. Nice.

Band and photographer. Anyway, I was looking at the recommended supplies list for our venue, and the hair and makeup vary so much in

Yeah, it does. Yeah.

One is 75 for hair, 75 for makeup, and another is 500 just for hair. And then 225 for a

That's a lot. That is a lot. Yeah.

swap. So she rang me and asked if I was interested and when I said it was considerably over what I was expecting to pay, she said you get what you pay for.

I mean that's true.

True, but, I mean, what are you getting for that?

Yeah,

should I be worried 150 is too cheap for hair and makeup? Thanks in advance.

so I would say 150 is about out of what?

well yeah, I paid, I think I paid 200 for hair and makeup

Yeah, I think that's, I do think that's cheap for a bride. Yeah, but So normally bridesmaids are between 100 and 150 for hair and makeup. Maybe that's what you're getting confused with because yours is definitely more than that. I'm sure it was, because I know your hair.

just for myself.

Yeah, just for you, but you're, was it?

yeah, all

For the day, not for the trial.

For, just for the, for the day, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, normally I would say the bride is about 250 for the day. Yeah, so maybe yeah, that's about right. Bridesmaids are between 100 and 150.

so I think they were all 90, my bridesmaids, and Everyone was

I mean, Hayley did get married, how many years ago? Yeah.

ago. I didn't

Maybe that's why.

don't worry.

I actually split, I had my hairdresser do my hair and then, so I think it was like, 70 quid per bridesmaid and my, I can't even remember, I can't remember, but what I would say is 500.

That's

is a lot. I do a lot of London weddings and like, You know, higher end of the scale weddings, and I would say that's a lot of money. Also, it does depend, because it probably depends on your wedding day. Is it a real peak date? How many bridesmaids have you got? Because if you've only got like one or two bridesmaids, or no bridesmaids, it is gonna inflate your cost, because they have obviously got to make a certain amount of money for that day.

They

is too cheap, because that's all they're earning all day, like, you know? Does that make sense?

day rate, isn't it?

Yeah, but if you've, like,

Yeah.

it's you and six bridesmaids Then 500 is crazy money, and 250 for a trial. Trials are normally about 50 percent of the cost of your day mate. So say it's 300 on the day, it's like 150, 200 for your trial. But yeah, that does make a difference. If it's a Saturday in June, for example, and there's only you and two bridesmaids, they normally have a minimum spend. So that might be why she's maybe quoted that. But she is right. What they've said, you do get what you pay for. But I think

to a certain extent, I feel.

Yeah, I do think with hair and makeup, you've got to kind of half ignore the prices and just look on their Instagram and really like zoom in on the pictures and go, is that my vibe? Is that what I like? Another tip I gave one of my brides the other day was, if you've ever had your hair and makeup done before send them pictures of stuff that you liked and they will soon tell If that's their style or not. And then, don't forget, you do go for a trial.

Yeah.

And then they change it. I think it's about getting the right style, more than worrying about the cost as much.

Yeah. That's true. Well,

Does that

that

anything you want to add to that?

No, no, I completely agree. I think, I do think 500 pounds is a lot of money.

do.

with that. But

Unless it's just for her, then, makes sense.

yeah, exactly.

500 quid for the day, yes, about peak season, you know, yeah.

So

Obviously she's not with you for the day, but what you need to remember is you, fitting in two weddings in a day is probably quite difficult, because, to get, to fit two weddings in one day, you know, the travelling, and the time,

wise, everyone

yeah,

ready in the morning for like a one,

yeah, exactly.

since they're not

Yeah,

to go and be doing another wedding on the

exactly. So you've got around, you've got around, you choose, you've got to pay your mortgage at the end of the day. So yeah, I think it really does. And please come back to us on Instagram again if, if you want to give us more context or if you want to send us any quotes to look at or whatever, happy to help. How did you choose your hair and makeup artist?

I, I also went on Instagram.

Did you? Yeah.

on

The Grammin.

what I did, yeah. Went on Instagram, I found a couple it was like this model couple and I think they'd had a style shoot.

Oh, okay.

the photos, I found the photographer. Then through looking at the photographer's photos, I then found the hair and

Styled shoots do work then.

they do.

Wow! That's the first time I've heard that.

yes,

Nice.

yeah, so hopefully that helps anyway and thank you for writing in to us

Yeah, thank you so much. It's nice to hear from you. And you know where you can write in to us? We are letsgetyouwebpodcast. gmail. com and at letsgetyouwebpodcast. tiktok. com Instagram, so you can write to us, write your questions, say hello. Hey to

Don't

us.

tickets 29th of January and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and

Merry Christmas, guys. Happy New Year, it'll be!

Yeah.

God,

my

2025.

Oh,

Well, we'll see you all next week then guys!

week.

Bye!

Bye.