How to DIY

“I love my job!” - Annabel, Weddings by Annabel

Our resident Wedding Manager, Annabel from Weddings by Annabel, shares some top tips on the DIY Wedding Process:

“For a wedding at Barn in the Fells you have a huge amount of freedom. Apart from amenities, drinks, and some furniture and lighting, the rest is a choice. This level of decision making can be relished but some find it slightly overwhelming. If you are more in the latter camp, this blog post is for you.

DIY weddings have grown in popularity as the pressure to sit tightly to traditions slackens. This wonderful opportunity can be heavenly for some couples, breezing through a ton of decisions and designing a celebration unique and beautiful. Often this is done easily because either the budget is high and flexible and/or their expectations are lower and therefore the pressure is lower.

Step One

First step in this process is to set your own budget and priorities. These helps then gauge your expectations. How upset or disappointed would you be if each idea didn’t quite happen the way you envisage? If you go over budget by 5%, are you going to be very stressed?

Step Two

“What style are you going for?”

Venue, venue, venue. Without this decision, nothing else should be booked. This element reflects on all other decisions. At the Barn in the Fells for example this means you don’t need to factor in a marriage licence or church. It means you have furniture for the ceremony and a bar with staff and glassware. You know the location and therefore a degree of accommodation for guests and you. You have help from the team there. You have flex to pick a caterer and the decor. Some items ticked off and some stay. A stage further already!

Step Three

Consult a pro. With every booking at Barn in the Fells you have meetings included with a team of professional event managers who will guide you through your plans and how to execute them. This at the beginning of the process is a secret weapon as you should then be armed with your key tasks, priorities and a healthy mindset. If you don’t have this, don’t worry. There are so many resources out there to help you design the event.

Step Four

Big ticket items are due next. Now you know what you would like and therefore need and the whole picture has been plotted, look to the high priority elements. The items that are taking most of your budget should be booked first. Often these include caterer, band, photographer, videographer, florist and accommodation. Each to their own though, you know your list!

Step Five

Sounds boring to many but logistics are next. This is the time plan and necessities that make the day work and flow. Time plan helps you define contracts with suppliers. How you break this down should revolve around guests stomachs. Think about when guests will need to eat first as a happy guest isnt ‘hangry’! Other important items are furniture, lighting and facilities. Walk through your plans step by step and picture the ‘what if’s’. If Granny needs to hang her coat or Auntie Joan needs a pee… you get the drift!

Step Six

Now to the pretty details. What style are you going for? Does it reflect on you and compliment the venue? What can you reuse around the day and what is actually going to make a difference? Stop, think, picture it, access its worth. This is where money can disappear! Always ask if each item effects the atmosphere, the flow of the day or the memories made. If it doesn’t, why are you spending time / money on it?!

Step Seven

Tighten it all up. The final stages of planning can be summarised in the final consultation with WBA (for BITF clients anyway). Go through the whole weekend bit by bit so you have the final plan and task list. Ensure all your suppliers have a copy and the details they need to know before the day arrives such as parking, staff seating, emergency details etc. You don’t handle this at Barn in the Fells but check who does for you at your venue. Not you or your guests please!

Obviously there is a lot more to this but we hope this gives you a level of comfort. This is all manageable! You got this!”

If you need any further help, pop through to the WBA website for the Podcast and Blog. Free advice from a seasoned professional!