Trends, Tips, & Ideas For Your Next Big Event

Flowers can transform a wedding space into an enchanting paradise. The beauty and fragrance of carefully selected blooms can set the tone for the entire celebration. At Clevedon Hall, the charm of the venue coupled with the magic of floral arrangements is sure to leave a lasting impression. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of creating captivating floral arrangements for your big day, with insights into choosing flowers, considering the venue's architecture, and adding personal touches.

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1. Choose Seasonal Flowers

Selecting flowers that are in season during your wedding month is not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective. Seasonal flowers are fresher and more easily sourced, ensuring their vibrancy on your wedding day. Additionally, choosing seasonal flowers is a wonderful way to add a touch of the time of year to your wedding décor. Whether it's the bright, bold colours of summer or the rich, warm tones of autumn, seasonal flowers can truly embody the essence of your wedding day.

How to Utilise: Discuss with your florist what flowers are in season for your wedding month and consider incorporating them into your arrangements. For example, if your wedding is in July, delphiniums, hydrangeas, and sunflowers are excellent choices.

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2. Reflect Your Wedding Theme

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Your floral arrangements should reflect the overall theme of your wedding, be it rustic, elegant, or vintage. The choice of flowers, their colours, and how they are arranged should all be in harmony with your chosen theme. It’s important to remember that your wedding theme is an expression of your personality and style as a couple, and your floral arrangements are an extension of this. Consider how different flowers and arrangements can evoke different atmospheres and emotions.

How to Utilise: For a rustic theme, consider loose arrangements with greenery and wildflowers. For an elegant theme, roses and orchids in classic arrangements might be more fitting.

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3. Enhance Clevedon Hall’s Beauty

Clevedon Hall is a venue with its own distinct charm. Your floral arrangements should enhance the venue's beauty without overpowering it. Clevedon Hall’s stunning architecture and picturesque gardens offer an array of opportunities to incorporate floral elements. Whether it’s garlands gracing the grand staircase or elegant centrepieces in the Great Hall, your floral décor should work in tandem with the beauty that Clevedon Hall naturally possesses.

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How to Utilise: Focus on arrangements that complement Clevedon Hall's architectural elements. For instance, use trailing greenery for the grand staircase, and elegant centerpieces for the ballroom.

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4. Consider the Colour Palette

The colour palette of your floral arrangement should complement your wedding theme and décor. It’s important to have a balance, ensuring that the colours are in harmony with not only each other but also with the surroundings. The colours you choose can set the mood for your wedding; softer colours often evoke a romantic atmosphere, while bolder colours can be more lively and festive.

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How to Utilise: Use a colour wheel to find colours that complement each other. If your décor is in shades of blue, an arrangement with whites and soft pinks can add a romantic touch.

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5. Scale and Proportion

The scale and proportion of your floral arrangements should be in harmony with the space. Large spaces like Clevedon Hall's ballroom might need grander arrangements, while smaller spaces can be adorned with more delicate pieces. Clevedon Hall has a range of spaces, each with its own character, and it’s important to consider how your floral arrangements can best complement and enhance these spaces without overwhelming them.

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How to Utilise: Collaborate with your florist to create designs that are proportionate to the spaces within Clevedon Hall. This might include large centerpieces for the main room and smaller, more detailed arrangements for tables.

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6. Scented Blooms for a Sensory Experience

The fragrance of your flowers can add another dimension to your wedding. A subtle floral scent can make the atmosphere even more enchanting. Imagine as you make your entrance, not only the sight of beautiful flowers but the delicate fragrance that fills the air, adding to the emotion and joy of the moment.

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How to Utilise: Choose flowers such as roses, lilies, or jasmine that have a natural fragrance to add a sensory layer to your décor.

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7. Personal Touches

Incorporating personal elements into your floral arrangements can make them more meaningful. This could be a flower that has sentimental value or an heirloom integrated into the bouquet. Personal touches can make your floral arrangements not just beautiful, but deeply significant, adding to the memories you are creating on your wedding day.

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How to Utilise: Share stories or elements that are significant to you and your partner with your florist, and work together to integrate these into your arrangements.

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8. Long-lasting Arrangements

For arrangements that need to last throughout the day, it’s crucial to select flowers that won’t wilt easily. The last thing you want is for your beautiful floral arrangements to look tired or droopy as the day progresses. This is particularly important for elements like the bridal bouquet, which will be featured in photographs throughout the day.

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How to Utilise: Opt for flowers known for their durability like orchids, chrysanthemums, or alstroemerias. Ask your florist for advice on the hardiest blooms.

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9. Multi-functional Arrangements

Maximise your floral budget by creating arrangements that can be used in multiple settings throughout the day. Thisis not only a cost-effective approach but also ensures that the beauty of your flowers can be enjoyed throughout your entire celebration.

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How to Utilise: Design arrangements that can be easily transported and repurposed. For example, use the flowers from the ceremony as table centerpieces during the reception or repurpose bouquets as decoration for the cake table.

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In Conclusion

The floral arrangements at your wedding play a pivotal role in setting the atmosphere and creating a visually stunning experience for you and your guests. By considering seasonal flowers, reflecting your wedding theme, enhancing Clevedon Hall’s beauty, considering the colour palette, scaling and proportion, including scented blooms, adding personal touches, ensuring long-lasting arrangements and thinking multi-functionally, your floral décor can be both enchanting and deeply meaningful. Clevedon Hall, with its timeless elegance and charm, provides the perfect canvas for your floral masterpiece. May your wedding day be as breathtaking as the blooms that adorn it.

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Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life. As the day unfolds, it's the love and joy shared with friends and family that make it truly special. One of the cherished keepsakes from your wedding is the guest book, where loved ones leave messages and well-wishes. To make this memento even more unforgettable, let's explore creative guest book ideas that will capture the essence of your big day.

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1. Wishing Stones

A rustic and symbolic option, wishing stones allow your guests to write their wishes on smooth pebbles. This idea is especially charming if you are having an outdoor or beach wedding.

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How to Incorporate: Provide smooth stones and markers on a designated table, and after the wedding, keep them in a beautiful glass vase as a decorative keepsake.

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2. Polaroid Photo Guest Book

There's something timeless about Polaroid photos. Your guests can capture candid moments and attach them to the guest book with their messages.

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How to Incorporate: Set up a Polaroid camera station with fun props, a blank scrapbook, glue sticks and colourful pens.

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3. Puzzle Pieces

This creative idea involves guests signing individual puzzle pieces. Once complete, it becomes a keepsake you can piece together again and again.

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How to Incorporate: Buy or customise a large wooden puzzle. Display the pieces on a table with markers for guests to write their messages.

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4. Vintage Postcards

Perfect for the couple who loves to travel, vintage postcards are an elegant and fun option for a guest book.

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How to Incorporate: Collect postcards and lay them out with pens on a table. After the wedding, bind them into a book or keep them in a keepsake box.

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5. Vinyl Records

For music-loving couples, using vinyl records as your guest book gives a retro vibe and a nod to your shared passion.

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How to Incorporate: Choose a few records that are special to you, and let guests sign them. Later, frame them as unique wall art.

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6. A ‘Bucket List’ Suggestion Book

Have your guests contribute ideas for your bucket list. This adds an interactive and meaningful aspect to your guest book.

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How to Incorporate: Set up a station with a book titled “Our Bucket List” and invite guests to add their suggestions.

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7. Fingerprints Tree

An artistic and whimsical idea where guests leave their fingerprints on a tree print, creating the effect of leaves.

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How to Incorporate: Have a tree print on a canvas and set it up with ink pads and markers for guests to add their fingerprint and sign their name.

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8. Quilt Squares

For a cosy, handmade memento, have guests sign quilt squares which can later be sewn into a keepsake quilt.

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How to Incorporate: Provide fabric squares and fabric markers, and after the wedding, sew the squares into a quilt.

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9. Personalised Jenga Blocks

Turn a classic game into a cherished memory by having your guests sign Jenga blocks.

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How to Incorporate: Simply place Jenga blocks with markers on a table, and after the wedding, enjoy playing with your personalised set.

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10. A Globe for the Wanderlust Couple

A globe makes for a stunning guest book for couples who love to travel. It also doubles as a beautiful decorative piece for your home.

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How to Incorporate: Place a beautiful globe with metallic markers on a table and let guests sign away.

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In Conclusion

Your wedding guest book can be as traditional or as out-of-the-box as you like. These creative guest book ideas not only engage your loved ones but also serve as a lasting reminder of the people who shared in the joy of your special day

Don’t forget to put someone in charge of guiding the guests and ensuring everyone signs. So, which idea captured your heart? Whichever you choose, it’s bound to be a keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come.

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Gone are the days when your only option was a one-day celebration, with more and more couples choosing to extend the festivities over an entire weekend.

It's no secret that your wedding day flies by, in the lead-up to my own wedding I was frequently told to 'enjoy every second', 'you won't get to talk to everyone' and 'find a few moments for the two of you', how right each piece of advice was. The following day I remember us commenting how 'I would give anything to do it all again'.  Ten years ago a 2-3 day wedding wasn't even an option; outside of American movies or the pages of Hello.

Needless to say, I love the growing trend of extending your day, with it offering the opportunity to spend more time with your loved ones who have often travelled from afar. I would encourage every engaged couple to look at this option.

Don't worry...I hear you, not all couples have the budget for an entire weekend in a private mansion house, but there are options that may mean your budget may go a little further than you imagined including; late deals, low session offerings and mid-week dates. Or why not speak to our Wedding Coordinators about a bespoke option, for example, dinner the night before your big day?

At the Hall, we offer 'Treasured Weekend' and 'Signature Weekend' packages' which although include different food and drink options, do follow the same overall itinerary:

Day one - Arrival from 3pm with a three-course evening meal

Day two - Wedding day (The number of canapes and courses for your wedding breakfast will vary depending on the package)

Day three - Barbecue or two-course roast meal, with departure by 5pm

Both packages also include 25 bedrooms for two nights with breakfast and our cosy Cottage for two nights.

The luxury of time allows couples to really think outside the box and add personality to their weekend, from quiz nights to masked balls, we have seen an array of exciting variations. It also allows time to relax and really savour the moment, sitting back and enjoying a BBQ with a cocktail in hand, a game of rounders, or family space hopper race sounds like a great way to finish the weekend!

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A classic, roaring twenties inspired wedding, jam packed from start to finish with the most amazing details, entertainment, love and laughter.

Lacey & Jake took us way back to the 1920’s with a very clear vision for their special day. Ditching traditional wedding details such as fresh flowers and white table cloths, the couple opted instead for statement feather table arrangements, black cloths, gold cutlery and the cutest little black tie napkins.

Lacey absolutely blew us away with her Hollywood glamour inspired wedding dress with custom collar and puff sleeves, cathedral veil and pearl headpiece…  as did the bridesmaids in their black satin dresses and matching opera gloves, and of course it was black tie for the boys!

Lacey’s evening dress was just as special and unique, handmade using the offcuts from her day dress and her mum’s wedding dress.

The ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt as Lacey made her entrance to “blinded by your grace”, with dad by her side. The orders of service were vogue style magazines, not only informative but in keeping with their theme, a clever touch.

The wedding breakfast kicked off with a live stream of the Cheltenham gold cup horse race with betting slips placed on each table as wedding favours, creating a real buzz.

But the entertainment didn’t stop there. After the speeches, the couple toasted to shots of baby Guinness in honour of St Patrick's Day and guests were treated to singing waiters, a saxophonist, handpicked-bespoke cocktails from the cocktail bar and late night partying until 2am.

Photo credits: https://www.laurenameliaphoto.co.uk/

Film credits: https://weddingvideosolutions.co.uk/about-us/

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A romantic, floral extravaganza!

Kinjan and Gareth had a clear vision for their July wedding and the attention to detail did not go unnoticed.

Making the most of the summer heat, their outdoor ceremony was the perfect choice. A pure white runner carefully framed with flowers and candles created a dreamy asile to the flower draped gazebo.  

After the vows, drinks flowed and music filled the air. As the couple surprised their guests with a champagne tower and canapes, to be enjoyed around the Hebe Fountain and accompanied by the sounds of their string quartet, 'Sundrea, Strings'.

Throughout the afternoon and evening the food took centre stage.

With Kinjan and Gareth wanting a Michelin star inspired menu for their wedding breakfast, our Head Chef Alex, rose to the occasion and treated their guests to a flawless five course menu featuring a Liquid Caesar Salad appetiser and Trio of Lamb as their main course.

The Orangery offered the perfect setting and was a wash of white, from linen, chair sashes, grand floral displays, to the personalised iced cookie favours. Wanting the personal touch, the couple hand picked their table and glassware, to ensure their elegant taste was reflected throughout.

As the sun set the party started with the couples first dance complete with confetti drop, got family and friends up onto the dancefloor to tunes from their seven piece band. Treated to cocktails and pizza from the Pizza Monkey van, the night ended with a bang, as the couple and their guests enjoyed a beautiful firework display overlooking the lake.

Photo credits: https://christinasarah.com/

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Ruchel & Dan's three day summer wedding was a show stopper, with no expense spared, the entire wedding was meticulously planned by 'Katrina Otter Weddings'.
This well travelled couple wanted to bring culture and excitement to their celebrations, from a quiz night, champagne tower, photobooth, 7 piece band and disco, cocktail bar, singing bridesmaids, to multiple elegant outfit changes.
Their family and friends were treated to an opulent sit down banquet in our Grand Library on their wedding day, surrounded by flowers, candles and bespoke table styling.
Sunday saw the grounds be transformed into a Moroccan paradise with a breath-taking marquee so elegantly staged with lanterns, flowers, sofas in soft linens.

We were absolutely blown away by not only the detail and elegance of this wedding, but by how much love and laughter filled the entire weekend.

Photo credits: https://www.emma-janephotography.co.uk/

Marquee photo credits: https://www.elenahaydonphotography.co.uk/

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A beautiful April Wedding captured in video and photos by the amazing White Villa Photography

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Concentrate on cashflow

One of the main reasons businesses fail is poor cashflow management – if you reach a point where you have insufficient available cash to pay bills and wages Then the business will be declared insolvent.  So, assess your likely cashflow for the next 12 months and try and anticipate any times where your expenses may be especially high, your income particularly low, or both are likely to coincide.  Paradoxically you may be at most risk when things are going well – if you pick up a big contract and have to hire more staff, move to bigger premises of invest in extra equipment this will drain your cash but there is likely to be a delay before the income catches up.  

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Make sure you have access to expert help and advice

There will be some aspects of your business that fall outside your core competencies and you need to find capable and experienced people to help you with them.  First of all explore free sources of advice and help.  However, in some instances you’ll have to pay for professional assistance.  Don’t be tempted to tackle these things yourself as your time is better spent doing the stuff you are good at – it’s a false economy!  You’ll almost certainly need to hire an accountant, and possibly a book-keeper.  An IT expert to keep your computer systems operational, a web designer to take care of your online presence and possibly a marketing expert are also must-haves.  

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Keep your cost down

Analyse every expense and review your arrangements at regular intervals.  Survival sometimes means having to take tough decisions so be ruthless with anything that’s not an absolute necessity.  Try to negotiate better deals with all of your suppliers and explore alternatives.

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Tighten up your credit control

The quicker you get paid the healthier your cashflow.  So, generate invoices at the earliest opportunity and make your payment terms clear.  When payment becomes due send a reminder and follow up if that doesn’t do the trick.  If you get a bad debt don’t be afraid to hire a debt collection agency – people usually pay up when they realise you are serious about getting your money!  Monitor your cashflow situation on a regular basis.   If it is always a worry you might do well to look at some kind of invoice finance solution.

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Credit check new customers

It’s great getting new clients and customers – but only if they pay on time.  Do some basic due diligence before you put yourself in a position where they owe you money.

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Enhance your business offering

Are there any inexpensive ways improve your existing products and services to offer better value for money and attract more clients?  Or could you add new products and services to broaden your appeal and open up fresh income streams?  The more diversified your offering and revenue sources the more you spread the risk if the economic situation changes.

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Back up your data

If you lose your data, either through a system failure or because you’ve been hacked, the business will struggle to recover.  Make sure everything is backed up on the cloud and put the necessary security measures in place – this is an absolute must!

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Can you raise prices?

Even a small increase in your charges can make a big difference to your bottom line.  And right now, with inflation a big issue, your customers and clients won’t be surprised!

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Can you sell more to your current customers?

It’s easy to overlook them but if you can encourage them to buy more it’s cheaper than acquiring new customers (eight times less expensive by some estimates!).  Can you offer them additional products and services, or encourage them to buy more by offering bulk discounts?  Another idea is to offer them rewards for recommending your business to others.

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Review your marketing efforts

Try and identify which marketing channels and activities are producing the best sales results.  If you haven't already done so, explore no-cost and low-cost ways to publicise your business, including social media websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.  Also look at ways to make your website more effective – do you need to improve SEO, rewrite the home page to make it more engaging or add fresh content?

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Focus on improving productivity and profitability

Are you and your employees wasting time on tasks that don’t produce revenue?  It may be that you suspend certain activities in the short term, or you look at outsourcing jobs that would then free up your people to concentrate on things that actually make a positive impact on the bottom line.

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Stay on top of compliance

Make sure your business compliant with current laws and regulations in the UK.  Check that all your employment contracts up to date?  Have you got all of your important documents filed and accessible.  Staying on top of this stuff puts you in a much stronger position if things get tough – you don’t need an employment tribunal, a fine or a dispute on top of everything else!

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Build a tight team

If your business hits turbulence survival is a team effort.  Do all you can to get full buy-in from your employees.  Make them feel valued and communicate with them – ask them for ideas on how to make the business work more effectively and what steps you can take to boost morale.

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Stay strong

We hope you find these tips helpful – and if you want to celebrate your business survival later in the year we’d love to host you and your team at Clevedon Hall!

It’s so easy to get totally focussed on wedding planning that you forget to plan what comes next – married life.  The first is important, the biggest day of your life.  But the second, the rest of your life, is even more so.  Every couple discusses dates, venues, themes, dresses, cakes and seating plans.  But how many make the time to ask the less immediate questions which will shape their relationship for years to come?  A lot less than plan their ceremony and celebration in minute detail.  

What kind of questions are we talking about?  Not the kind you get asked when playing Mr & Mrs!  Serious questions that are less fun than “what flavour wedding cake takes your fancy?”.  Potentially awkward questions that you’d perhaps rather avoid.  But vital questions you’ll be glad you asked each other before tying the knot.  In this post we list some of the most essential ones.

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Starting a family

It’s important to find out if you are both on the same page when it comes to having children.  It’s not just a question of “shall we, shan’t we?”.   How many would you like, and when?  Do you want them so badly you’d consider IVF or adoption if things don’t happen as expected?  How do you plan to work parenting duties around your respective careers?  How were you brought up and do you want to maintain the same parenting style with your own kids?  What kind of education would you like for them?  Are there any religious issues that need to be discussed?

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Managing money

Arguments about money are a major cause of marital breakups – so it’s best to check your views are not too far apart.  What’s your attitude to money?  Do you like to spend most or all of your income and live for today or save and invest for the future.  How do you feel about borrowing money and carrying a certain amount of debt?  Shall we keep our incomes and finances totally separate or put everything in a joint account?  If one of you gets paid a lot more, or comes from a much wealthier background, how are you going handle that?   Are we going to split all of our expenses equally or is one of us going to take on more of the bills?  Should we get a prenuptial agreement?

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Sex life

Your sexual compatibility is probably pretty good – otherwise it’s unlikely that you’d be getting married.  However, it’s important to talk about the subject.  Sex is the barometer of the relationship so exploring it with your partner will bring you closer together.  Was sex something that was openly discussed in your family as you were growing up or was it a no-go area?  Do you have religious beliefs that will have a bearing on our sex life? What does sex mean to you? How often do you like to have sex? Do you have expectations about sex? Do you feel comfortable and safe talking about your needs?  How do you feel when I talk about my needs?  

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Family background

If your backgrounds are similar then this is likely to make married life easier.  But what if you come from very different cultures, ethnic groups, religions, social classes, financial situations?  It’s hard to be prescriptive about what questions to ask as your situation is likely to be unique – but identify issues that are likely to prove awkward and discuss these with your intended.

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Values and beliefs

It’s true that opposites attract but you’ll probably find you’ll get along a lot better if you hold similar views on things like honesty, integrity, family, work, politics and religion.  Discussing them now could spare you a few surprises down the road!

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Work/life balance

Do you live to work or work to lo live?  Are you super ambitious and very goal orientated with regard to your career or is family, friends and enjoying each day as it comes your priority?  If my career required me to locate, and I wanted to take that opportunity, how would you feel about moving?  Would you prefer a modest lifestyle where we had plenty of time to enjoy life outside of work and not too many responsibilities or will you be happier having a demanding career that gives you a lot of money and status?

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Lifestyle and interests

Are you a committed couch potato while your partner is a super active outdoor type?  Is your idea of a great Friday night curling up with a good book while his is a few pints with his mates down the pub?  Your tastes lean towards the antique and retro but he’s happy with IKEA?  He’s a mad foodie who loves to cook whereas you are happy with microwaved ready meals?  It’s important that you come to some agreement about your differences and how you handle them – otherwise a fewc arguments are likely to arise!

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Personality compatibility

Most couples have rather different personalities.  If one is outgoing the other is often a bit reserved.  If one is the kind of person who likes to take the lead the other is often more of a follower, someone who is happiest providing support.  People with exactly the same personality traits tend to clash (two people who are both very strong willed and like to take the lead will probably wind each other up).  Those with different personality traits tend to complement each other.  However, there will be times when these differences are a source of frustration.  What’s more, each personality type has a different way of communicating and this can make things extra difficult when issues arise.  On top of this, men and women are psychologically very different and react in ways that totally confuse their partners.  There are no simple answers here (as any married couple will tell you) but the more you explore your personality, communication and gender differences the better you are going to get along.

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Any other ways we can help?

We’re wedding organisers, not marriage counsellors.  However, our experience of all things wedding planning is pretty extensive - so in our posts we cover more issues and topics than you might expect!  Got any other questions about your forthcoming nuptials?  Then ask away!

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Everything goes on hold over Christmas – including wedding planning.  So, what’s a bride-to-be and her fiancé supposed to do when there are no cake tastings, dress fittings or vendor appointments to fill the schedule?  Apart from celebrating the festive season with family and friends (including those on your other half’s side of things) it’s a great opportunity to share a little time together – just the two of you, cuddled up in a blanket, in front of a roaring fire, with a bottle of wine, watching a classic, heart-warming, laugh-out-loud rom-com.  In this post we’ve listed half a dozen of our favourites.  You are bound to have seen a couple already but hopefully there are a few little gems you’ve not yet got around to watching yet.  Enjoy!

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There’s Something About Mary

Ben Stiller at his most cringeworthy and Cameron Diaz at her most ditzy.  It’s very silly but very funny with a “bad hair day” scene that has become the stuff of legend.  The course of true love definitely does not run smooth for our hero but suffice to say he gets his girl in the end.  Word of warning, however – not one to watch with your parents or the soon-to-be in-laws.

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10 Things I Hate About You

Set in a 1990’s Seattle high school it’s a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” – but don’t let that put you off!  Kat Stratford (spot the nod to Shakespeare’s hometown) is played by Julia Stiles – beautiful and smart but very stand-offish.  Fellow student Cameron wants to date her younger sister, Bianca.  But over-protective dad, knowing that Kat’s abrasive character makes her boyfriend-proof, rules that Bianca cannot date until older sister does.  Needless to say many strings are pulled and plots hatched to get Kat to drop her guard.  Enter bad boy Patrick and the stage is set for sparks.

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When Harry Met Sally

The two title characters meet in Chicago then share a car to New York.  During the journey he declares that men and women can never just be friends as the issue of sex gets in the way.  She disagrees and they part on unfriendly terms.  Over the course of the next twelve years they bump into each other unexpectedly and though the relationship develops they still find themselves on opposing sides of the same argument.  The closest they get to having sex is Sally’s faked orgasm in a diner to which a fellow customer remarks “I’ll have what she’s having!” – a line that has gone down in cinema history.  Released in 1989 it has been succeeded by a long line of great rom-coms, but probably never been bettered.  

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La La Land

It’s a well-worn story of struggling actress meets struggling musician in hard-hearted LA.   Despite their relationship getting off to a bad start love blossoms.  However, as their respective careers begin to take off they find that awkward decision threaten to unravel the dreams they’ve worked so hard to nurture.  It’s a well worn story but Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and writer/director Damien Chazelle tell it with so much charm, verve and style that one cannot help but fall in love with the two stars, the music and LA itself.  Watch it and you’ll see why it won an amazing 6 Oscars.

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Clueless

Another teen drama, again a retelling of a literary classic (Emma, by Jane Austen).  Cher, played to cute perfection by Alicia Silverstone, is a shallow, rich, materialistic and socially successful high school student with a heart of gold and a wardrobe to die for.  She also has a meddlesome streak.  After coaxing two teachers into dating each other she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover.  So successful are the results that Tai replaces Cher at the top of the pecking order – which gives our heroine pause for thought.  Realising that her disapproving ex-stepbrother Josh was right to criticise her past behaviour she resolves to become a better person.  In the process she realises she’s in love with him…but can he be persuaded to overcome his earlier antipathy?  

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How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Advertising executive Ben Barry is so cocky about his romantic prowess that he bets his workmates he can make any woman fall in love with him.  Unfortunately he meets advice columnist Andie Anderson.  She has a different agenda – to write a piece that highlights dating “don’ts” and get a man to dump her within 10 days.  It’s an unlikely situation but suspend your initial disbelief and you are in for a lot of laughs.  The outcome is predictable but there’s plenty of fun and games on the way.

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Need some more ideas?

If you’ve already seen all six of these movies then call us and we’ll suggest some more – we love rom-coms at Clevedon Hall!  

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A beautiful May wedding of Alice and Jordan. Captured by the amazing Jodie Hurd Photography and Video by White Villa

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What is co-working?

It means working in shared space that is not a home and where the occupants are not employees of single company.  The term co-working, used in this sense, was coined by Brad Neuberg, a programmer who opened the first official co-working space in San Francisco in 2005.  

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The concept has caught on big time across the United States with estimates suggesting that there were about 760 co-working spaces in 2011.  Co-working spaces have popped up in pretty much every major city around the globe (and quite a few smaller towns too).  There are at least half a dozen in Bristol.  Most co-working spaces are also fully equipped with the usual amenities like speedy internet access, audio and video equipment, printer/scanner, reserved desks, meeting spaces and somewhere to prepare teas, coffees and snacks.  

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Why is co-working becoming so popular?

Because it caters to the needs of a growing number of today’s workers.   Over recent years there has been a huge rise in the number of people becoming self-employed or working freelance – professionals setting up on their own, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs working alone to get start-ups off the ground, independent contractors, consultants.  The same is true for remote workers - the employee that travels a lot in the course of their work (a trainer or a salesperson for instance).

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All of these people could work from home, hire a small office or, in the case of the remote worker, work from their hotel room - but it’s a lonely existence and the home environment is full of distractions.  

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What are the benefits of a co-working space?

Sense of community

You are less isolated because you become part of a group of people with whom you probably have a lot in common.  Because all of you are working alone everyone is keen to make connections and support each other – it’s easy to build relationships.  This kind of social interaction is great for your mental wellbeing but it’s also really useful to have people to bounce ideas off and whose brains you can pick.

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A professional environment

Working from home can present a few challenges.  Lack of space may be one – unless you have a spare room you’ll end up in the living room, on the kitchen table or under the stairs, none of which are ideal.  Working from home can also mean that concentration is difficult – there are distractions like children, pets, a partner or the TV.  The flipside of this is the fact it can be hard to switch off at the end of the day – there’s no physical separation from work life and home life.  An added aspect of that is that it’s hard to feel “at work” when surrounded by laundry and dishes.  Likewise it’s hard to feel “at home” when there’s a laptop and piles of reports spread over the floor.  All of these issues are immediately resolved when you use a co-working space.  

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Networking opportunities

When you join a co-working group, and start building relationships, you’ll find that some of these people may be interested in your services, or know others that could use them – you’ll probably pick up some new clients, either directly, or through referrals.  You’ll also discover that some of these people have skills or connections you could use – you might become clients of theirs or become collaborators.  The bottom line is that new people represent new opportunities – how many great opportunities will you miss in a week, a month, a year if you work from home in isolation?

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A few questions for you

Have you tried using a co-working space?   What was the experience like and would you recommend it to others?  Do you have any tips on how to choose between co-working spaces and find the one that’s most appropriate your needs?

What is burnout?

It’s how you feel after burning the candle at both ends, giving 110% for weeks on end or going the extra mile too many times (choose your own metaphor).  OK, sometimes a situation arises where you have to really put in loads of hours and effort.  And in a crisis, or where you are chasing a short-term goal, adrenalin will get you through.  But eventually the stress means you’ll crash and burn.  On a physical level you are exhausted and can’t go on.  On an emotional one your enthusiasm has run out and you don’t care any longer.  In addition you feel inadequate, frustrated and depressed while you may experience headaches, stomach problems and trouble sleeping.

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How big a problem is it?

It depends which studies you read but it’s certainly an issue for a very large number of us.  According to the research conducted by Westfield Health in 2022, 46% of UK workers are close to burnout.  Another recent study by Glassdoor’s economic researchers revealed that the reports of burnout among British workers increased by 48% to record levels between 2021 and 2022.

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Business leaders, as you would expect, are even more prone to the problem.  A recent American Express survey reveals that 88% of small business leaders say work regularly interrupts their life outside of work and a scary 49% feel they are burnt out.

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How can you avoid burnout, or at least manage it?

Maintain a good work-life balance

Do everything you can to take time out, whether that’s short breaks during your day, a proper evening off and a weekend where you focus on family, sport, a hobby, socialising or just chilling out (anything but work!).  It’s also essential to take your full annual leave entitlement.  

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According to a Glassdoor survey, 72% of full-time employees in Britain in June 2022 regarded annual leave as an effective way to avoid burnout.  Despite that 40% of employees failed to use their full holiday allowance in the previous year.

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It’s important to set boundaries.  Monitor your hours and try to avoid doing more than you are contracted for.  When you work from home try to stick to normal hours and shut your computer down when the day ends.  Wear “work” clothes when working from home and change into “home” clothes once you finish.  Avoid checking your phone for messages and getting drawn into work mode when you should be relaxing.

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Get adequate sleep

When you’re super busy you may get up early or work late to make a dent in your to-do list.  The trouble is that this may prove counter-productive.  After 17 hours with no sleep your performance starts to suffer - your attention and cognitive control may be almost the same as if you were at the legal blood alcohol limit for driving.  What’s more, if you consistently fail to get enough sleep this can be very detrimental to your health.

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Try to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. And if you are struggling to switch off and suffer from insomnia then consider seeking help from a medical professional.

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Let’s get physical

When the pressure is on it can be hard to make time for exercise.  We probably don’t feel like it either – we’re too tired!   Numerous studies have found, however, that physical activity is a great way to improve your physical wellbeing, reduce stress and lift your mood.  Exercise can also help to stave off conditions like depression (one of the long-term consequences of burnout).  Get off you but (“but I’m too busy/tired”) and you’ll not only feel some physical benefits but mental ones too.

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It's good to talk

Spending too much time at work, whether in the office or at home, will eat into your social life.  On top of that you may feel too tired and “down” to make an effort to connect with family and friends.  We’re social creatures by nature so if we reduce our interactions with others our mental wellbeing begins to suffer.  

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Prioritise time with others, ideally with those that you find positive and uplifting.  Whether it’s going for a walk with a mate, or popping down the pub for a pint, the fact you are connecting with other human beings will help to release some pressure and lift your spirits.

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Find creative distraction

The thing with stress is that it preys on your mind – even when you are not actually engaged in work your mind can be preoccupied with it.  The way to tackle this is to break the cycle by becoming absorbed in some other form of activity.  The creative arts, such as art, literature, music, dance or drama.  There’s ample evidence that focusing in these areas can be very effective at reducing stress.  You could take an evening class, start a journal, go to a play or concert – even picking up a book for a few minutes is a great way to take your mind off the things that are stressing you out.

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Make the most of mindfulness

It’s easy, when we are really wrapped up in our work, to lost touch with what’s going on around us and inside of us.  That’s fine for a while but it’s not healthy, physically and mentally, for prolonged periods.  This is where mindfulness comes in.  We hear a lot about it these days – but what is it exactly?

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Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.  It’s flicking a mental switch from the work task that you are so preoccupied with and noticing the other stuff that’s going on in that moment – the fact the sun is shining, how good your coffee is tasting and that you feel a lot better after looking out the window and taking a couple of deep breaths.  Numerous studies suggest that the practice of mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety.  It is therefore a very useful therapy you should check out if you feel you may be approaching burnout.

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A good party will put you right!

We hope you find these six tips useful whenever you feel yourself working too hard for too long.  If that’s the case in the run up to Christmas maybe you and your team should book a table at our Christmas Party Night on Friday the 16th of December – nothing like a good night out as a stress buster!

Inflation, higher interest rates, real wages falling…the financial news has been pretty gloomy, hasn’t it?  Perhaps you need to tighten your belt a bit as you plan how to tie the knot?  In this post we give you a few suggestions that shouldn’t be too painful.

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Think smaller

Inviting fewer guests is the most effective way to reduce your cost.  We’re not suggesting you un-invite people after the invitations have gone out!   But if you’re still at the list-making stage then maybe the distant cousins you haven’t seen for years don’t need to be included.    If anyone takes umbrage at not getting an invite you can blame it on the economic situation.   You may even find that some people are actually glad to be missed off – nothing personal but they may be strapped for cash  and relieved they are spared the expense of a gift,  accommodation, travel, childcare…

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Crafty ways to save

Maybe it’s time to get acquainted with your inner DIY queen?  It's amazing how much money you can save when you get crafty – and there are plenty of ideas on the likes of Pinterest.  Also think about the collective talents and skills of family and friends.  Is there a graphic designer, a photographer, a joiner, a baker, a seamstress, florist or handicraft enthusiast on the list?    

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Wed on a weekday

Saturday is the most popular day to wed – and therefore the most expensive.  Many venues offer special deals for weekday weddings.    Give guests plenty of warning and nearly all of them should be able to get the required time off.  This is a great way to save a few pounds without it cramping your style in the slightest.  You may also be able to negotiate a slightly lower rate from the venue if you pick a winter date rather than a summer one.

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Location location

Pick a venue where you can have both the ceremony and the celebration.  Hiring one place rather than two will probably make quite a difference – only one set of fees to pay, only one place to decorate and fewer transport costs.

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You are e-invited

Printing and postage are super expensive for your save-the-date notes and invitations.  Email them instead and you’ll save a fortune.    

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Discounted dresses

Naturally you want to be wearing the dress of your dreams on the big day.  But with a bit of research you might be able to find a boutique that’s having a sale.  There’s also never any harm in asking about discounts, sample gowns, or any other available options.    The same goes for bridesmaids’ dresses – you can get some great pre-loved deals and renting is an option too.

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Buffets make the budget go further

It’s usually the case that a formal sit-down dinner will set you back rather more than a serve yourself buffet, food bar or grazing tables.  You may also find that many guests prefer the freedom to help themselves, as and when they get a case of the nibbles.

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Financial hangover cure

A full bar is expensive.  So why not restrict the drinks to just beer and wine – less heavy on your pocket than offering spirits.  Another idea is to give everyone a signature cocktail (a single drink, like a bellini, or mojito…not just a single glass!).  Or the signature cocktail option plus a bar where they can buy their own drinks once the cocktails have all gone.

Champagne does not come cheap - instead of serving all night long, provide each guests  with a single glass at the appropriate time to toast the bride and groom.  Or switch it out for Prosecco, which costs considerably less.

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Let them eat cake

Don’t have a separate dessert course - just present the wedding cake as dessert, with coffee and tea to end the meal.

Another smart money-saving idea is to order two cakes: a large sheet cake as well as a small fancy one for display and the cake-cutting ceremony. The sheet cake, which can be less elaborately decorated than the display one, gets sliced and dished up out of sight in the kitchen.

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Blooming smart

Ask your florist to only source flowers that are local and in season.  You can also suggest they mix berries, pinecones, and other economical non-floral embellishments among costlier blooms to fill out bouquets and displays.  

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Move the floral arrangements around to do double the work.   If you have an adequate number of ceremony flowers and they're a suitable size, they can serve as centrepieces at the reception.  Another option is to use them to decorate the guest-book table, the seating-card table and favour table. Bridesmaids' bouquets can be used to decorate the dessert table.

Instead of expensive floral presentations as centrepieces on your dining tables you can have bowls, vases or cake stands filled with seasonal fruits from a farmer's market.

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Save on wedding wheels

Use a personal car rather than a limousine to get to and from the reception.  So who do you know that has a really smart motor that they would be willing to let you use for a day?

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Want more cost saving ideas?

The team at Clevedon Hall are not short of experience when it comes to making your wedding budget go further.  All you have to do is call them and ask!

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Sustainability is very much on everyone’s mind as the world wrestles with the challenges of climate change.  It has even become an issue with wedding planning – especially if and eco-friendly lifestyle are important to you and your partner.  The inconvenient truth is that a wedding is a one-off event so, by definition, somewhat wasteful. Rather than cancel the whole thing (don’t do that!) here are some tips on how to minimise waste, lower carbon footprints, and recycle more.  You might think that you’ve got enough on your wedding planning plate already but there is one very good reason for reading on (apart from tying the knot with a clean environmental conscience) – many of these tips will make your budget go further.  

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Look for a venue with green credentials

This is a bit of a no-brainer.  It means you can lower the environmental impact of your wedding day without having to actually do anything yourselves!  At Clevedon Hall we take sustainability seriously.  We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods.  If you’d like full details of our environmental policy click the link in the panel at the bottom this page (and all our web pages).  We’re also members of the Green Tourism scheme, currently awaiting our grading.

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Keep it local

This one is kind of obvious too.  The more travelling involved to more emissions, it’s a simple as that.  So, if most of your guests are based in the West Country it makes sustainability sense to pick a venue in this region (as well as being more convenient and less costly for everyone).   That means a wedding abroad is not really an option if you are serious about sustainability – too many air miles.  Of course, if one of you is from overseas, with a lot of relatives on the other side of the world, it may make environmental sense to tie the knot over there – you’ll just have to work out where most guests are located.

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Limit the guest list

This is a tough one but the fact is fewer guests means a smaller carbon footprint.  The upside is it will reduce your expenditure as well.  And fewer guests will make the occasion more intimate.  

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Eco-friendly invites

Another obvious one…once you think about it.  Switching to digital stationery will save large amounts of paper, ink and energy. It’s probably cheaper too. Email your save the dates notes and your invitations.  Ask people to RSVP electronically too, either by email or through your wedding website.  

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Recycle and rent

Going vintage or pre-loved with your choice of dress is a great eco option.  The same goes for bridesmaids dresses.  Hiring suits for the groomsmen, rather than buying them, is also a smart (and popular) idea.  All of these ideas are also great for saving money too.  Trashing your dress by jumping in the sea or wearing it horse riding while capturing the moment with a photographer is a growing trend.   Resist the temptation - handing it down to the next generation, or selling it on, is a much more ethical and eco-responsible way to go.

Do you have any friends or family who are getting married around the same time as you?  Could you share bunting, fairy lights, name place/table number holders and signage?  

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Another way to cut wastage is to utilise the collective DIY skills of your family and friends.  Pinterest is full of great ideas when it comes to recycling/upcycling stuff for your wedding celebrations – much more eco-friendly than buying new.

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Make your menu eco-friendly

Whether your venue is providing all the food and drink, or you’re hiring caterers, try to find a team that prioritises sustainability.  At Clevedon Hall we make every effort to source ethical and fair-trade products from local suppliers (and there’s no shortage of the highest quality ingredients available in the West Country!).

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Choosing a vegetarian menu will also reduce the environmental impact of your wedding meal and any other food you provide.  Having a sit-down meal rather than a buffet gets the sustainability thumbs up too – there’s a lot less waste food left after the event.  

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Choose seasonal and local flowers

Ask your florist what flowers will be blooming around the time of your wedding in this country.  Many bouquets and displays are created with flowers that have been flown half-way around the world – and that’s very expensive, both to your pocket and the planet.

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Another increasingly popular option, for bouquets and decoration, is dried flowers.  The fact they last for years means you’ll have a memento to take home and cherish long after your wedding day.  On the other hand you could gift dried flowers to your wedding guests.

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Rethink your wedding favours

Choose your wedding favours with care to ensure they are eco-friendly.  For instance, give flower bombs.  These are little biodegradable boxes filled with wildflower seeds. When your guest gets home, they can simply throw the bomb on their garden and over the coming months, the box will completely decompose, the seeds will be released and the flowers will begin to grow! Every time your guests look at their garden, they will be reminded of their special day.

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Biodegradable confetti

In the past a lot of confetti was made from plastic but that’s definitely a no-no now!   Luckily there’s a wide choice of biodegradable confetti available (often made with real dried flower petals) so make sure you ask guests to use the eco-friendly sort.

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Any other questions?

Hopefully this article has given you some useful food for thought with regard to making your wedding day as ecologically friendly as possible.  If there are any other aspects of your wedding you are not sure about just give our team a call – if we haven’t got all the answers you need we probably know someone that has!

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