Trends, Tips, & Ideas For Your Next Big Event

Why do people use jargon?

Most of us do it unconsciously.  We just become so familiar with certain phrases that we constantly hear in meetings, or read in emails, that we adopt them ourselves.  Plus we want to fit in with colleagues and be accepted.  But then we use the expression at home, or down the pub, and realise it’s a buzzword that only makes sense in the office.  

Jargon, it must be said, can be useful as a kind of shorthand.  When everyone understands the phrase “let’s not boil the ocean on this one” it’s a very quick and graphic way of saying “I think this task is too big and pointless to undertake”.

Having said that, some people use jargon in a way that’s more intentional and purposeful.  For example, it’s a very useful way to disguise the true meaning of a statement.  “Let’s not boil the ocean on this one” is actually an oblique way of saying “that’s a stupid suggestion because it would be a complete waste of time and resources”.  So when the subject of making redundancies comes up it’s much less painful to talk in terms of “downsizing” or “rightsizing” than “job cuts” or “laying off workers”.  In December 2018, General Motors took this to a whole new level when they referred to the closure of five plants in the US and Canada, with a loss of up to 14,000 jobs, as “resources being unallocated”.   Taken to extremes the use of jargon comes pretty close to lying and some employ it to hide the truth.

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Other people use jargon with the intention of confusing their colleagues or clients.  It’s a way of suggesting “I’m smarter than you are”.  Someone who uses phrases like “congruent synergies”, “holistic solutions” or “paradigm shift” tends to come across as sophisticated, knowledgeable and intelligent.  Listeners who struggle to understand these terms feel correspondingly inadequate.  If you are a client it’ll probably make you think “Woa, this is way more complicated than I thought, and they sound like they understand it, so I’d better hire them!”  If you are a colleague it will likely have a similar effect and you’ll look up to that person as some kind of authority.  In reality, however, the speaker may be using jargon to cover for the fact that the opposite is true - they’re actually the least smart person in the room and talking complete BS!  

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Pick of the bunch

“Peanut butter approach”.  This means applying the same strategy to all aspects of a business. For instance, your business might need to cut 10% of its workforce. Under the peanut butter approach concept, you’d reduce your workforce evenly across all the different departments.

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“Let’s circle back on this”.  We have been talking about this for way too long and we’re not getting anywhere.  Let’s put it on the agenda for another meeting and get the hell out of here….

“In my wheelhouse”.  This refers to someone’s area of expertise or comfort zone.  So, “public speaking is well within my wheelhouse”.

“Let’s double-click on this”.  Don’t take this literally – it has nothing to do with your mouse.  It means “let’s explore this topic/issue/problem in greater depth and more detail”.

“Drink from a firehose”.  To take on more than one can handle or be inundated with too much information.  As in “my first day was like drinking from a fire hose—they threw so much at me that I can barely remember a thing!”

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“Throw it over the wall”.  This refers to completing your part of a project and then passing it on to the next group.  It is usually used where the two teams have little or no communication!  It can also be used in the context of sharing information with clients.

“Jumping the shark”.  Refers to a company, product or idea that is struggling to stay relevant to its consumers and is resorting to desperate measures to disguise the fact it is well beyond its sell by date.  For example "I can’t see how that new feature is useful.   It feels the company has really jumped the shark."

“It is what it is”.  Refers to a situation which is not ideal but which we’ll just have to live with.  A polite way of saying something is bad, but not so bad we have to fix it.

“Thought shower”.  Group discussion or meeting to generate lots of fresh ideas. Basically the same as 'brainstorming' or ‘ideation session’.

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“Tiger team”.  A group of individuals who share a set of core competencies, assembled by a business or organization to develop an action plan for a specific problem or challenge.

"Core competency".  Refers to a company's or individual's main skill or area of expertise.  As in “software development is not one of our core competencies and is way outside our wheelhouse”.

“Out of pocket”.  Nothing to do with expenses or finance.  It means I will be unavailable at that time or out of the office that day.

“Trim the fat”.  The act of removing unnecessary details, resources or individuals from a company or project.  As in "We need to trim the fat. Can we combine the research and marketing departments for this project?"

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Hospitality is in our wheelhouse

Hopefully you are now on the same page as your colleagues after this deep dive into the jargon topic, in the loop and ready to move the needle on your mission critical KPIs….  Joking aside, good communication is essential to business and jargon has a part to play in that – so we hope you found this article useful.  Our core competency is event management so next time you need to arrange a conference, training session, office party or off-site meeting we’d love to hear from you.  The team here are always happy to share their knowledge and expertise – without using jargon for all the wrong reasons!

You’ll have certain expectations about what is acceptable behaviour at a wedding – and what is not.  But some of your family and friends will have a very different take on correct wedding etiquette.  This means that you’ll inevitably find that one or two guests who act in a way you feel is inappropriate, make requests that you consider unreasonable or simply (and shamelessly) do something you’d never dream of.  It’s going to happen, so you’d best be prepared.  In this post we list the most common ways in which wedding guests unintentionally upset the bride and groom – then suggest how best to handle the situation.

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Neglecting to send a RSVP‍

Posting the RSVP by return…it’s not a lot to ask, is it?  A prompt reply is not only good manners but makes your life so much easier.  How can you create a seating plan or give the caterers a final headcount if half a dozen guests leave you guessing?  

How to handle:  Leave it a week then give them a call.  If you are really busy, or a lot of people need chasing up, get your maid of honour to help.  Or send out a group email (use a blind CC) to request confirmation by a specific date.  Keep it light and friendly, but the tone also needs to be firm.  Hopefully this should be sufficient to round up most of the stragglers and mean you only have a couple of really inconsiderate/disfunctional people to phone!

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Sending RSVPs with an uninvited partner

You sent them just one invite but they reply that they’d love to come and will be bringing their latest date/their child/their best friend.  This is bang out of line but it does put you in an awkward position.  

How to handle:  Anticipate the problem by establishing a no-exceptions guest policy and communicating that clearly amongst family and friends, as well as spelling it out on your wedding website (for instance, no children under 18 and no significant other unless you live together or are engaged).  Also make it very clear on the invitation who it includes.

If someone still takes this kind of liberty don’t do anything immediately (give yourself 24 hours to calm down!).  Then call and apologise for any confusion you may have caused (even though you are not to blame!).  Explain that budget and venue restrictions mean that you’ve got to be very strict on numbers and have to stick to the guest policy.  

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Bombarding you with questions

The moment they receive your invite they start bombarding you with questions about directions, timings, accommodation, menu options, your registry…as if you have nothing better to do than act as their personal concierge!

How to handle:  Create your own personal wedding website, put all the information on there and direct your guests to it on the invitation.  If you get calls just refer them to the website.  If you’d like a bit of advice about how to set up your website and what to include read our earlier post on this topic.

In all likelihood, however, there will be a few guests on your list that are complete technophobes – there is no way they’ll be visiting your website.  For these guests print off a copy of all your website content and post it to them.

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They buy a gift that’s not on your registry list

Some guests feel that sticking to your registry is a little impersonal and insist on being more imaginative.  The result may be a wonderful surprise.  But worst case scenario is you receive something truly cringeworthy which you cannot possibly live with.

How to handle:  Accept the gift graciously and thank them profusely – then check whether they’ve included the receipt.  If there’s a receipt they probably realise that the gift may not be quite your style – in this case it’s acceptable to return the present.  If there’s no receipt just keep the gift as long as you can stand to have it around (in the garage?) before discreetly selling it on.

One way to head off this problem is to include a slightly off-beat store to your registry list (like a local museum or a boutique homewares shop).  That way guests who want to buy you something a bit more unusual and characterful are provided with a useful starting point.

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Arriving late

Some people just have a problem with punctuality – you can rely on them to be late, no matter what (and they always have a great excuse!)…even when it’s for your wedding ceremony!

How to handle:  Arrange for one of you ushers to stand just outside the entrance to your ceremony.  It’s their job to ensure that a late arrival does not get mixed up with your procession and that those who roll up even later are quietly directed to a seat.

To minimise the problem plan on walking down the aisle about 15 minutes after the ceremony start time you print on your invitations and feature on your website.  Giving yourself that buffer should ensure that everyone is seated before you walk down the aisle.

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Turning up with a big and heavy gift

Thanks…but how am I supposed to get this home?!  It’s great that some guests bring gifts to the reception but not so great when they take up a lot of space or weigh a ton.  

How to handle:  Ask one of your groomsmen or bridesmaids to store all the gifts in one place (preferably a locked, separate room in your reception space) so nothing gets left behind. At the end of the evening get them to take all the gifts to the most convenient location (probably someone's home rather than your honeymoon suite).

You can make life much easier for everyone by prominently featuring the links to your gift registries on your website and encouraging them to use their delivery services.

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Surprising you with an unexpected toast

Emotions run high at weddings (helped by a glass too many of bubbly).  Sometimes an otherwise sensible guest cannot resist the urge to raise a glass, accompanied by an embarrassing story, an inappropriate anecdote or a rambling reminiscence.

How to handle:  There’s not a lot you can do, so just grin and bear it.  To reduce the chances of this happening make sure that whoever is acting as master of ceremonies has a list of the approved toast-givers.  Tell them not to pass the microphone to anyone who has not been approved in advance.

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Requesting songs

Obviously you have a certain taste in music and you’ll work with your DJ or band to compile the perfect playlist.  So why the heck are they now playing “Y.M.C.A”?!  The answer is one of your friends or relatives requested it….

How to handle:  You have to accept that requests are inevitable and that the DJ or band will probably have to accommodate them if they feel the track is vaguely appropriate.  Planning ahead, give your DJ or band a list of songs you don’t want to hear and ask them to politely decline should the request occur.

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Drinking to excess

Alcohol and weddings go together and there’s nothing like a few drinks to get everyone loosened up.  But a couple of cocktails/beers/glasses of bubbly too many can swiftly turn the life and soul of the party into an embarrassing accident waiting to happen.

How to handle:  It’s not your responsibility to make sure everyone stays just the right side of legless.  Having said that you can’t ignore a guest who is starting to upset others or likely to be ill or injure themselves.  The best course of action is to find somebody sober to help them to their room (if they are staying the night at the venue) or get them a ride home.  You can head these situations off by asking the bar staff to keep an eye out for anyone that’s downing drinks too fast – give them permission to have a word with anyone they think is heading for too much of a hangover.

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Crashing your party

You’ll almost certainly have guests on your list that you’ve never met (friends of your parents, significant others…).  But if your venue hosts a number of different events on the same night chances are that you might get a few uninvited individuals helping themselves to your free hospitality.  Best advice is to ignore them but if they are causing a nuisance have a word with someone from the venue and get them discreetly removed.

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Anything else we can help you with?

Not everyone is going to be on the same page as you when it comes to wedding etiquette and appropriate behaviour.  But if you follow the advice we’ve given here, and you resist the temptation to overreact, it shouldn’t prove too much of a problem.  Perhaps there are some areas of wedding planning we could help you with?  Just get in touch with the experienced team at Clevedon Hall and we’ll happily share our experience with you.  

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It takes two to tie the knot – but traditionally it was the bride that took the lead as far as the planning was concerned (and her parents who were expected to pay for pretty much everything!).  These days, however, such an approach is well past its sell-by date and in today’s era of equality the roles and responsibilities are less well defined.  This means that that the groom probably plays more of a part now than in the past – and that can create some awkward dilemmas.  If the bride takes control and the groom does nothing then she may become resentful that her partner is not sharing the load.  On the other hand the groom may be irritated that he’s not being included and consulted.  In this post we suggest some ways to approach this potential minefield!

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Play to your strengths

It’s usually the case that opposites attract.  So, most couples tend to be very different, with one complementing the other.  For instance, if one of you naturally likes to take charge then the other probably feels more comfortable in a supporting role.  When it comes to planning your wedding it’s important to understand these differences and play to one another’s strengths.  

Reading the small print of a contract is a job best left to the one who is most task and detail orientated.  If one of you is more artistically inclined then they should probably take the lead with things like the invitations, the look of the website and the decorations – and this could be the groom.  Sit down at the earliest opportunity and discuss your relative strengths and weaknesses. Then make a list of all the things that need sorting.  Next, divide them into a his, hers and together columns, based on which of you is most suitable for that task.

Having said that, some things really are best left to the bride and others to the groom.  Plus there are certain aspects of the wedding where you really need to share the responsibility.

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Joint decisions

Certain issues, like the date of your wedding, the guest list, the type of ceremony you want, the overall theme and style of the event, the venue and the seating plan, cannot be decided by one person without reference to the other.  Bride and groom have an equal say and it’s important to be sensitive to the other’s preferences, tastes and needs.

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Decisions for the bride

Other things, like choosing the dress, anything to do with bridesmaids, the hen party, hair and beauty, are almost certainly the bride’s domain.  She should take the lead but check with the groom that he’s happy with her decisions.  For instance, if he hates a particular dress then it’s probably unwise to ignore his feelings!

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Decisions for the groom

Some things are probably best left to the groom.  He should certainly pick the best man and the groomsmen.  Buying a gift for the best man and each of the groomsmen is also a task that naturally falls to the groom.

When it comes to the purchase of rings the groom will already have taken the lead on the engagement ring (it wouldn’t work the other way round!).  He should also take the lead with the wedding band for the bride, but obviously she will have a big say in the final choice.  By the same token she should reciprocate with the groom’s wedding band.  Having said this, in practice the two of you will probably make the purchases together and who pays for what will shortly become academic as you’ll soon (if not already) have joint finances.

Who deciding what the groom will wear on the big day?  Technically this is his  decision, but in practice this will need to be discussed with the bride well in advance.  She will certainly have her own ideas and this is particularly important if bright colours are being considered.  If he favours a bright tie or waistcoat it’s important to make sure this will be in keeping with her dress and the overall design theme of the wedding.

Sometimes the groom will provide a gift for the bride to open on the morning of the wedding. This is a lovely touch idea - but it’s not advisable to buy her an item of jewellery to wear on the day as she will already have made this choice and you are just putting her in an awkward spot!  Flowers, or a romantic note to read while she’s getting ready, will definitely be appreciated.  Another romantic idea is for the groom to take a moment with the videographer early on at the reception to record a special message for his new wife.

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Then there’s the groom’s speech – something he definitely has to prepare and deliver himself.  Writing this, and rehearsing it thoroughly, should be done well in advance – leaving it until the last moment then and then jotting down a few notes in a fit of panic is an absolute no-no!

Finally, it used to be traditional for the groom to make all the honeymoon arrangements without consulting the bride – that way it was all a lovely surprise for her.  These days most couples tend to share this (very enjoyable) task.  

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Decisions for one or other of you (or both)

This leaves a long list of other decisions that don’t naturally fall into the list of the bride’s or the groom’s responsibilities.  For instance, selecting the wines, picking a photographer, choosing the style and flavour of the cake, managing the invitations and RSVPs, or selecting table linens.

Bride and groom need to share out these tasks as appropriate, taking into account their relative temperaments, interests and skill sets.  If one of you is foodie then it’s sensible for you to take charge of this side of things.  If the other is more business-minded then it makes sense for them to negotiate with the vendors and venue.

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Be aware of how your partner is feeling

Although you will be working independently on different tasks it’s important to keep each other in the loop about what each of you is doing.  You also need to be sensitive.  Don’t overwhelm your partner with too much information if they are reluctant to engage with certain aspects of the planning.  By the same token if they are showing interest welcome their input and make sure their opinion is valued.  If you ask for their thoughts and continually shoot their ideas down in flames, they will soon lose interest in contributing to the planning process. So be sure to encourage your partner’s ideas and find ways to incorporate them.

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Despite the fact that times have changed the bride will probably still take on most of the planning and organising.   The groom therefore needs to realise that there will be points along the way where she hits wedding overload.  If he’s smart he’ll spot the signs early and help by cooking the dinner, taking her out for the evening, or even arrange a weekend break - anything to show he appreciates her efforts and to keep the romance alive.

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All together now!

Planning a wedding is now very much a team effort with both partners sharing responsibilities equally.  If they are sensible they’ll also enlist the help of family and friends to lighten the load on themselves.  In addition we have a group of wedding planning experts here at Clevedon Hall that can be called on for advice and support – if you have any questions don’t be afraid to give us a call!

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What is our objective?

You need to know what you want your marketing to achieve.  Maybe you just want to increase awareness of your brand with a view to gaining more customers and increasing sales.  Or you might want to launch a new product or service.  Perhaps you want to improve the image of your brand so you can increase prices.  Or maybe you want to emphasise your low prices in order to undercut competitors.  If you don’t know what you are aiming at you are unlikely to hit it!  

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What is our offering?

You have a rough idea of what you offer.  But your potential customers/clients don’t.  So, for your own benefit, and theirs, you need to make it very clear exactly what you do.  It’s not enough to just say “we sell outdoor clothing”, or “I offer landscape gardening services” or “we’re a wedding venue.”  You need to list everything that your business does and offers.  And you then have to write down reasons why customers might find each of these things interesting.

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The time-honoured way to do this is by listing what’s known as your business features and benefits.  A feature is a fact about your business and a benefit is a description of how that feature helps a customer.  Taking the wedding venue example, “We have 25 bedrooms” is a feature and “this means guests can fall straight into bed once the party is over – no taxis” is the benefit.

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It's important you do this.  Otherwise you may leave some key sales points out of your marketing.  And, you features will prove much more appealing to potential customers if you present I conjunction with the benefit.

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Who are we talking to?

It’s important to be clear on this – for two reasons.  If you don’t clearly define your target audience how do you know which media will prove most effective at reaching them?  If you are selling expensive men’s watches the target audience will be wealthy men.  It therefore makes sense to advertise in magazines with a lot of readers from that demographic - The Economist and Financial Times, not Woman’s Weekly!  

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Secondly, if you don’t know who you are selling to how can you decide which of your features and benefits will prove most appealing to them? You need to understand what kind of promise your target consumer wants to hear.  Start by writing a brief description of the kind of customer you are trying to attract.  For instance, “owner managers of SMEs employing 1-20 people within 50 miles of Bristol” or “mums aged 20-45 with household income of £40,000-£80,000 a year”.  

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Next, flesh out those descriptions by asking questions like “what problems do they have that we can solve?”, “what are their hopes and fears, needs and wants?” and “what are they most concerned with – price, quality, convenience, service, advice, peace of mind?”  

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The better you understand the mentality of your target audience the easier it is to create marketing messages that they’ll find engaging and persuasive.  

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Who are we competing against?

The whole point of marketing is to help your business stand out from the crowd – so it helps to get a picture of where you fit in.  Make a list of your nearest competitors – those businesses operating in the same geographic area and business sector as yourselves whose offerings are similar to your own.  Now compare your features and benefits against theirs.  One way to approach this exercise is to conduct a SWOT exercise – ask “what are our Strengths and Weaknesses, and when we compare these against our competitors what Opportunities can we see and what Threats do we face?”  

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The point of this exercise is to find some  meaningful points of difference between you and your competitors – some things that only you offer and which your target audience is likely to find appealing.  

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What message should we be communicating?

So far you have been gathering information.  Now you need to start distilling it.  The idea is to boil off everything that is superfluous until you are left with just the essence, a powerful message that is very much to the taste of your target audience and which they find intoxicating.  

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First of all, align your features and benefits with what you know your target audience wants.  Now add in what you know about your competitors and your meaningful points of difference.  Hopefully there should be some small area of overlap where you not only offer something that your potential customers want but which your competitors are failing to provide.  For example, your fruit juices are natural, organic and free from preservatives, health-conscious consumers are actively seeking this kind of beverage, but not many drink brands are focusing on this niche.

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What is our proposition?

Now you need to take this distilled information and package it in the form of an effective selling proposition.  A great selling proposition should tick three boxes.  Firstly, it must make just one point.  That’s because simple messages go into the mind quicker and stay there longer.  Secondly it must be something you can genuinely deliver and which your audience wants.  Thirdly, it must be as differentiating as possible.   So, taking the concentrated information left after the distillation process, ask “what is the single most motivating and differentiating thing we can say to get our target audience to buy?”

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What media should we use?

This should become clearer once you have defined your target audience.  It will also be influenced by the size of your marketing budget.  Basically you want to concentrate your efforts and spend on those channels that do the most cost effective means of delivering your message to the right people.

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Action!

If you go through the process of asking and answering these questions it should become pretty clear what you need to be doing.  Now develop this into an action plan broken down by months, quarters and a year so you know what needs to be done when.  For example, you may decide you need to add a new post to Facebook twice a week, prepare a new case study by the end of the month and produce a series of videos over the next six months to showcase your product range.  

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Final thoughts

Creating a marketing plan, as you can see from this article, is quite a time-consuming undertaking – and one that requires a lot of thought.  Don’t be tempted, however, to put it off or to rush it.  Without a clear plan you are certain to be wasting a lot of effort and money saying the wrong things to the wrong people – a recipe for disaster!

Credibility, credibility, credibility

Sharing helpful content that showcases your knowledge and capabilities on the likes of LinkedIn, Medium, Reddit or your own blog is absolutely the right thing to do.  You will get noticed, you will build your network and create a following.  But you’ll just be one of many others in your field just doing the same.  Not only will your message only reach a limited number of people but, doing the same as everyone else, you’ll be less of a thought leader and more of a thought follower!  

Sharing the same content in a book, however, is a different thing altogether.  For starters, very few of your colleagues and competitors will go to the effort required – so you immediately stand out from the crowd.  You are not just someone with an opinion, but someone with a book!  Secondly, it shows that a publisher thinks enough of your content to invest their money and resources to get you into print (even if you’ve self-published – few people will spot the difference).  It’s a big third-party endorsement, an independent person who believes you have something valuable to say.  This gives your credibility an enormous boost – and credibility counts for a lot in a world where trust is a rare commodity that is highly valued.  Suddenly you go from being just another name in a crowd to a respected expert.  

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A book is tangible – and that matters

Once you’ve published your book you’ll probably create an ebook version as well.  But the crucial thing with the print edition is that it is tangible.  In a digital world this gives it greater weight and presence – it just counts for more.  You can physically show it to people you meet.  Whether it’s at a networking event, a conference or just when you sit down for a discussion with a potential client this immediately gives them extra confidence in you.  “Here’s a copy of my book” works much better than “I’ve written a few articles on LinkedIn”!  It physically sits on a desk and gets noticed, it gets passed around and discussed, plus people will refer back to it – over time it will get more attention than a social media post and prove far more memorable.

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A book is valuable for PR purposes

Once you have the finished book in your hands you and your publisher can host a book launch.  You can invite clients, colleagues, peers, journalists/media people and other influential individuals.  Without a book that’s not an event you can put together!  It may well lead to invitations from those journalists and media people to contribute articles, to be someone they ask for comment as a respected expert or to be the subject of interviews – all of which is priceless in terms of raising your profile and building your credibility.  You can also pitch the publication of your book to other media people who you didn’t invite to the launch – your book is a news story hook that they may well pick up on.  Your book may prove the crucial first step in you becoming a media personality yourself, someone journalists and editors regularly turn to when they want an expert view or an informed opinion.  

Another way to leverage the PR opportunities created by your book is to send copies to influential and respected authorities in your field.  At the very least this means you get noticed by people who matter (and can help you – there are a number of ways they can potentially lend you their support).  Even better, they may give your book a very favourable review which will further boost sales and raise your standing in the industry.

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A book works as a brilliant lead magnet

How many potential clients visit your website then disappear again?  Too many!  If you offer your book (or the ebook version, or maybe the first three chapters) as a free download a lot more visitors will leave their details.  You can then add them to your database and include them in your future email communications.  If just one of those visitors turns into a good client then the effort and expense of creating your book will be amply repaid.

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A book can be used in many other ways too

When you post an article on LinkedIn or some other social media platform how do you end it?  You want to maintain the contact and foster a relationship.  A line that says “If you found this article interesting then you might find my book of value…” is a gentle call to action that may encourage them to find out more about you and how you can help them.  

Another tip is to feature a thumbnail image of your book alongside your email signature, with a “To order a copy of my book go to…” line.  It lends credibility to your email and they might even buy a copy.

Once you have completed your book you can re-purpose the material in many different ways.  Each chapter could potentially become a separate post, article, video, podcast or talk.      

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The benefits of writing a book add up

It’s hard to predict how much of a positive impact writing a book will have on your business.  But it will certainly raise your profile amongst your industry peers and your target audience.  You’ll increase the number of sales enquiries.  More importantly, however, your enhanced credibility will open doors that were previously closed to you – you’ll attract a higher calibre of client.  This will translate into increased revenue and improved profitability – you can charge more for your services.   The investment of time, effort and money it requires is considerable, whether you get a publishing deal or self-publish.  But the returns make it more than worthwhile.  

One organiser or a committee?

Even if you book a venue like Clevedon Hall, where there’s an experienced team to provide support, there’s still a lot of organising you’ll have to do yourselves.  This may prove too much for one person to handle so a small committee could be a better option.  The only problem with this is that responsibilities will be split and you can land yourselves in  “I thought you were sorting that?!” situations.  In many instances it’s best to have just one capable and reliable person, or possibly two, taking care of everything – that way you don’t have a “too many cooks…” situation.

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Why are we doing this?

Is it just because the staff expect it and we don’t want to disappoint them?  Do we just want to have a bit of fun or do we have a more serious objective like boosting morale and increasing loyalty?  Maybe the work from home arrangements mean that we need a bonding session so that new team members can get to know those who are longer serving?  This is especially important in terms if you have to justify the expense and need to demonstrate a return on investment.  It will also help you with the next decision…

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Set a budget

Do not pass GO until you have decided how much money you have to spend (hopefully it’s more than £200!).  There’s no point in researching venues, exploring themes and mulling over mouth-watering menus that you really can’t afford.  

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Venue, venue, venue

In many ways this is the most important decision of all as it not only sets the tone for the whole event but will dictate the catering options and have a big bearing on costs.  You need to sort your priorities – do you want to spend most of the budget on a wow venue, or splurge more on catering and drinks, or hire some knockout entertainment?  

Make sure you start your search EARLY, otherwise you may find that you have a very limited choice of venues and dates.  Also check how early the venue can stay open – some have to shut quite early to satisfy noise restrictions.

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Overnight accommodation

If your team is spread far and wide you may need to think about providing overnight accommodation for them.  At Clevedon Hall we have twenty-five sumptuous bedroom to choose from, so that’s nice and easy!  

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Covid compliant

Nobody knows how things are likely to pan out regarding the pandemic this winter.  Lockdowns are unlikely now most of us are vaccinated but there are likely to be strict restrictions covering any form of group event or gathering.  Make certain that any venue you are considering has a Covid-Secure meetings & events safety strategy and that staff are fully trained to operate it.  At Clevedon Hall you can be confident that this is the case.

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Dining decisions

You need to consider this at a very early stage as it will  probably influence your choice of venue.  Do you want a formal sit down dinner, or a more informal buffet?  Maybe just have a selection of canapes and nibbles followed by sweet treats.  And (dependent on your theme, perhaps) are you going for a traditional Christmas approach to the food or going for pizzas, curry, Chinese, Mexican?  Furthermore, do you ask everyone their views or just take an “executive decision”?  If it’s to be a sit-down meal you’ll need to get menu choices and dietary requirements ahead of time – give them a deadline and bring the list with you on the night (as half the people will forget what they ordered!).

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Age aware

If everyone in your team is a similar age then many decisions are made easier – they’ll probably have similar ideas on what makes for a good party.  However, if you have a wide range of ages you’ll have to strike a balance between the generations when it comes to things like choice of venue, theme, menu and timings.

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What’s the theme?

A theme is not essential, but it does create more of a sense of occasion.  The default theme, obviously, is Christmas.  But you might want to add a twist.  If you have a very racially diverse team you might want to incorporate decorations, drinks and dishes that tap into Christmas traditions around the world.  Or you could include a terrible Christmas sweater competition….  Then discuss with the venue what they provide in the way of Christmas decorations, Christmas tree, Christmas crackers, Christmas table settings.  

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Drink and be merry

A Christmas party and drinks go together like Santa and Rudolf.  But you need to decide if you are going to provide an open bar (all the drinks are on the company) or free drinks up to a certain times, or put a certain amount of money behind the bar and get people to pay for their own drinks once the tab has reached the limit you set.  Issuing all guests with drinks vouchers is a very popular and sensible option – it makes budgeting easier and also encourages people to drink a little more responsibly.  Some venues make this whole aspect of the night a lot simpler by providing a drinks package – be sure to ask.

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Entertainment

You almost certainly need to reserve some of the budget for some entertainment.  The obvious option is for a DJ or band but you could surprise people with a comedian, a magician, a circus performer or a celebrity lookalike.  You really need some form of act to get the party really going, create a great atmosphere and break the ice between people normally only interact in a professional setting (or just on zoom!).

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Make everyone feel special

Don’t miss the opportunity for a short speech or presentation.  Reflect on the year just gone, thank everyone for their efforts and motivate them for the months to come.

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We’re here to help

Organising a really great Christmas party takes quite a bit of time and effort – and you’ve probably got a few other things to do, like running your business, managing your team or doing your job!   At Clevedon Hall our dedicated and experienced event managers can take much of that weight off your shoulders and provide lots of great inspiration too.  Contact us today and together we’ll make sure everyone has a great time…while you get the credit!

On your wedding day it’s important to be totally in the moment, savouring every single second.  Looking back, it will all seem a bit of a blur. Later, when the excitement has passed and your feet land back on the ground, you’ll have a jumble of memories, along with a giant file of shots from your photographer.  These need sorting into some kind of order to create a story you can share with everyone now and save for posterity.  The best way to do that is by creating a wedding album.  This is not quite as simple as it sounds - so in this post we give you some invaluable tips that’ll make the process, and the finished album, a joy!

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Isn’t the wedding album idea a bit old fashioned?

It’s certainly something that was popular in your grandma’s day, and a few generations before that too.  Film was expensive, every shot had to be developed by hand and the only way to display them was in an album.  Now everything has gone digital wedding photographers can take as many shots as they like without the costs mounting up – there’s no film, no negatives, no developing.  What’s more, hundreds of images will fit onto a tiny data stick and you can display them on your phone, your tablet or a digital photo frame.  Sharing them is easy too – it just takes a click or a tap.  

So why go to the bother of creating a book?  Partly because you’ll want to assemble a smaller “best of” collection.  You’ll almost certainly have too many to share with ease, some will be duplicates of the same moment and some will not be as good as others (someone blinked!).  Furthermore, you’ll want to weave them into some kind of narrative, a story that shows how the day progressed and which includes all the main characters and events – this works much better than a random selection of shots with no apparent order.  Last, but by no means least, you can’t beat having a physical book to display on a coffee table, something tangible you can go through with family and friends, a beautifully presented keepsake to bring out on your anniversaries.  Clicking through images on a screen is not nearly as satisfying and an album is so much easier to pass around in social situations.

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Let’s start sorting…

As you take your first look at the images just enjoy the memories they recall.  Then, a little later, go through them with a more critical eye.  Any you don’t particularly like (it’s not very flattering, the composition is poor…) and which are very similar, can be put in an archive folder.  Next, review those that made the cut, placing your favourites in another file.

The next stage of the process involves group the images into categories: for instance, morning preparations, the ceremony, signing the register, group portraits, cocktail hour, reception, special moments (like cake cutting, speeches, portraits, dancing and the getaway).  You decide the categories you want and how many shots you include in each.  Just bear in mind that your finished album will probably only have room 50 to 100 photos.

Make sure you don’t leave out anyone important – people are easily offended!   Also include images that capture the emotion of the occasion – the album should not just be a factual record for posterity but a story full of laughter and tears, hugs and kisses.

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Once upon a time to happily ever after…

You are telling a story and the easiest way to do this is chronologically.  Also try to mix formal and posed shots with candid journalistic style images that capture fleeting moments and expressions – this makes the narrative more visually interesting.  Juxtaposing black-and-white or sepia with colour shots also works well.  Another great idea is to include a few close-up shots of a flower arrangement, of a mouth-watering dessert or of a glass of bubbly.

Ideally you want to achieve a smooth narrative flow so that one part of the story leads seamlessly into the next.  With this in mind include a few transition shots.  For instance, a picture of you both walking away from the ceremony, hand in hand, links nicely to the cocktail reception.

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Less is more

Resist the temptation to cram too many shots onto a single page.  Some particularly meaningful or beautiful images should have a whole page to themselves.  Others may look cluttered if you put more than a couple together.  Then again there may be three or four that sit comfortably side by side.  

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Selecting the album itself

This may be your hardest decision – there are so many different styles to choose from.  You’ll just have to go online and do some research.  Our only advice is to consult your own taste!

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Any other questions?

Hopefully this answers most of your wedding album related queries.  But maybe there are some other aspects of wedding planning where you could a little help?  The team at Clevedon Hall have a wealth of experience and knowledge that they are only too happy to share…so get in touch!

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Want to totally wow your wedding guests with some inspired, original and unforgettable ideas that makes your event the one everyone talks about for years to come?   We published a similar post a few months ago but simply didn’t have room to include them all – so here’s a second helping of food for thought!

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Grand Entrance

Make your arrival a little bit out of the ordinary.  Dropping in by helicopter will certainly do the trick – and works really well at Clevedon Hall!  But if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to this why not roll up in a classic car, a horse drawn carriage, a vintage VW camper or even a tuk tuk?

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DIY Cocktail Bar

Loads of fun and sure to get everyone into the party spirit!  This is probably a bit too complicated for your venue to manage but if are having your wedding in a field or garden then you can either hire a mobile bar service, with mixologist, or just set the bar up yourself and let everyone get creative!  This idea works best if you print off simple cocktail recipes for guests to follow and limit the choice of drinks.  You might just like to set up a “pimp your prosecco” bar with plenty of bubbly along with fruit juices, cordials and sodas, plus a few liqueurs.  Or the same basic idea but swopping out the prosecco for vodka (with recipes for a Cosmopolitan, Sea Breeze or Appletini) or rum (with recipes for a Pina Colada, Mai Tai or a Strawberry Daiquiri).

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Photo Booth

Not only is a photo booth bags of fun for everyone but it provides guests with wedding favours they'll cherish long after the big day.  Choose one that includes a variety of imaginative props and colourful backgrounds.  As an added twist include props and backgrounds that match your wedding theme

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Ceilidh

Instead of the usual rock/covers band or DJ why not throw a ceilidh?  Not only is it a bit different it’s a great way to get everyone, from grandparents to teenagers, up on their feet and joining in.  Even those with two left feet can have ball, and a few people going totally the wrong way is guaranteed to raise plenty of laughs.      

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Limbo Competition

It’s super easy to set up and sooo much fun for contestants and spectators alike.  The merrier your guests get the harder it is to stop themselves toppling over.  Makes for some great photos and videos too!

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Happy Memories Slideshow

Liven up your wedding breakfast with a video slideshow on screens in your venue. It’s a great way to tell the story of your relationship, keep people entertained between courses and get the conversations going.

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Glitter Bar

A glitter bar is a seriously cool idea – especially if you are putting on a festival-themed, boho-styled or glam-rock wedding celebration.  Guest will have a ball creating sparkly cheekbones, eyelids, brows, hair and even beards.   Shine on you crazy diamonds!

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Giant Jenga

Another easy and inexpensive game to set up – and one everybody, of all ages, loves to play.  Your hands are not quite as steady as you thought after your fifth cocktail!

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Music requests please!

Ask guests to note down their favourite song on the RSVP card and get your DJ to use it as their playlist.   That way at least one person is sure to get up and dance with every track!

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Hire a magician

You, the happy couple, will be centre of attention all day.  But for many of your guests there will be moments that involve little more than standing around, waiting for the next stage of the proceedings.  A magician is a great way to keep everyone, from little kids to elderly relatives, well and truly entertained.  

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Singing waiter

This has become something of a trend recently – and for good reason.  A waiter that suddenly bursts into song while serving the desserts is the kind of surprise that guests absolutely love.  Even better, hire three of them to provide a variety of songs from rock/pop to classic opera.  

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None of the above?

These are just a few ideas of great ways to liven up your big day and make sure the fun keeps on coming.  The team at Clevedon Hall have a few more up their sleeves so if this is not enough inspiration for you then just give them a call!  

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Not so great expectations

5,700 companies were surveyed for the latest Quarterly Economic Survey from the British Chambers of Commerce.  The findings show that business confidence, though quite buoyant, is weakening.  54% of firms expect an increase in turnover over the next 12 months - down from 63% in Q1 2022 and the lowest figure since Q4 2020.  43% of firms are predicting an increase in profitability, down from 50% in Q1 2022.  BCC director general Shevaun Haviland commented that "The red lights on our economic dashboard are starting to flash. Nearly every single indicator has seen a deterioration since our last survey in March.”

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Inflation taking the wind out of everyone’s sails

82% of companies surveyed by the BCC cite inflation as a growing concern for their business, a historical high level.  Just about everything it takes to run a business is getting more expensive.  Energy prices are going through the roof, which is a big worry as we head into winter – bills for running machinery and heating premises are rising frighteningly fast.  Transport costs are being driven up by the high price of oil.  This makes running your own vehicles more costly but it also drives up the price of materials.  Even the cost of borrowing is increasing as the Bank of England increases interest rates to combat this inflation.  All of these factors put pressure on profit margins and 65% of firms covered by the BCC survey expect to raise prices in the near future (a record high and a 23-percentage-point rise on a year ago).

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Worries about weakening consumer demand

Inflation, and the cost of living crisis it is creating, is also a major headache for consumers – as prices for essentials such as heating, fuel and food spiral upwards at an alarming rate people are watching every penny.  Firms are therefore very concerned about the effect on their sales.  In the BCC survey companies expecting an increase in turnover over the next twelve months dropped from 63% to 54% - the lowest figure since Q4 2020 when much of the UK was under some form of lockdown.  28% are now predicting a decrease in profits.

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Disappearing workers and higher wages

A third challenge for businesses is the shortage of workers.  Britain’s overseas workforce has shrunk by about 20% since Brexit.  What’s more, many workers have simply not returned after the various lockdowns - the number of people of working-age who are neither in work nor seeking employment is 400,000 higher than before the pandemic.

Many businesses, especially in manufacturing, airlines, retail and hospitality are struggling to recruit in the numbers they need.  Staff retention is also a major headache at present.  The cost of living crisis is putting pressure on wages.   Employees are demanding more pay and better benefits – companies are having to comply or face severe staff shortages.  

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Light at the end of the tunnel

All of this makes pretty dismal reading.  However, it’s likely that the government will be forced into measures that relieve the pressure on individuals and which encourage business growth – so things could get better quite soon.  

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We’ve also got an idea for you that may help.  Whatever else is happening it’s important to stay positive – a case of “if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”.  What’s more, when life is hard for everyone on your team (at work and at home) it’s also vital that you show how much you appreciate them.  Thirdly, morale will be better if you give people something to look forward to.  With all this in mind it’s a particularly good time to organise an end of year party – it could be the best investment you can make right now!  Clevedon Hall is the idea venue and the team here are experts at creating memorable events that make the most of even the most modest budget.

Where did the five-day week come from?

For many thousands of years many worked a six-day week, with Sunday the “day of rest” (an idea that goes right back to the Book of Genesis).  However, in medieval times, there were numerous saint’s days (holy days that became known as holidays), feast days and festival days.  For instance, 12 days holiday at Christmas, 7 days holiday at Whitsuntide (Easter) and at least one other festival a month.

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During the industrial revolution, before labour laws were introduced and the Labour Movement began to negotiate better terms, unscrupulous employers demanded six or even seven days a week from employees, with 16 hour shifts not uncommon.  By the beginning of the 20th century six days was the norm, but shifts were shorter and workers had slightly more rights.  For example, workers at Ford Motor Company worked six eight-hour days.   However, in 1926, he introduced the five-day workweek, reasoning that productivity would benefit – exhausted and unhappy workers produce less per hour.  Before long most companies followed suit and the five-day 40-hour week became the norm.

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Why the five-day week is now being questioned

Most employers in Britain, and many other parts of the world, are struggling to recruit and retain staff.  A recent poll of 160 HR leaders by business consultancy Willis Towers Watson found that 77% have had problems finding and keeping employees.

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There are many reasons for this but one is the fact that the enforced disruption and break created by Covid caused many workers to re-evaluate their careers.  Many of the younger generation are less motivated by pay and keen to find employment that provides a good work/life balance.  Covid also made most people re-prioritise work, family, and health, realising that they wanted home, rather than the office, to be the hub of their life.  

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Huge numbers have simply decided to work less, or not at all, a trend that has been dubber “The Great Resignation”.  According to Reuters the UK workforce is about around 400,000 people smaller than before Covid.

Changing attitudes to work are a big part of this.  The study by NatWest Rapid Cash show that while health and wellbeing benefits continue to be valued by employees, it is flexible working arrangements that are most appreciated by workers and the idea of a four-day week at full pay is one of the most appealing perks of all.

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What kind of four-day week is being envisaged?

The most popular version of this idea involves employees working 20% less hours over four days but for the same pay they previously received.  However, employees are expected to maintain the previous level of productivity (ie get as much work done but in fewer hours – work harder but with more time off).  

This 100:80:100 model is being trialled 4 Day Week Global in partnership with UK think tank Autonomy.  More than 3,300 workers at 70 UK companies have started working a four-day week with no loss of pay. Similar trials are currently taking place in Ireland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  According to research by 4 Day Week Global, 63% of businesses find it easier to attract and retain talent with a four-day week.

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What are the benefits of a four-day week?

In theory employees will enjoy a better work/life balance with increased flexibility.  On the other hand employers hope they will find it easier to recruit and retain staff as well as improve productivity, but without increasing wages or other costs.  But will this actually happen in practice?

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A study by Work. Life has found that working less hours does make employees more productive and less stressed. Its analysis shows that working more than 50 hours per week harms productivity.  That the four-day working week has made 91% of employees happier. That 27% of employees say they have seen a reduction in workplace stress.  And that 79% of employees say the introduction of the four-day week has improved their mental health.  A big benefit for parents is one day less a week paying for childcare – which represents a significant saving each month.

Trials by individual companies tell a similar story. Microsoft Japan saw a 40% productivity boost and Buffer found that 91% of employees were happier and more productive with four-day weeks. However, the findings also show that 72% of employees admit that a four-day week results in working more hours on working days to make up for the lost day.

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Time to take care of your people

Will the four-day week become the norm?  Only time will tell.  But one thing is sure – employers are having to pay a lot more attention to meeting the needs and wishes of their workers.  At the very least they are having to make greater efforts to demonstrate that they value their staff.  So maybe it would be smart to organise a late summer party for your team?  If you like this idea (and your people will!) then get in touch – our experienced event management team will help you plan it all and ensure it’s a roaring success!

Apart from beaming proudly in the photographs what else is your dad expected to do on your big day?  He’s probably aware that he’ll be asked to walk you down the aisle and give a speech during the meal - but beyond that he may be a bit clueless (bless!).  In this post we give a full list of the ways he may be called upon to contribute.  We suggest we get him to read it at an early stage so he’s well prepared….

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Financial input

In days gone by the father of the bride was expected to pay for the wedding.  This tradition has died out gradually and now the expenditure is usually shared between the two families and the bride and groom.  

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Emotional rescue

Every bride will experience moments where they’ve had as much wedding planning stress as they can handle – you included.  Your bridesmaids, along with your mum, will probably the first to give you the support you need.  But dad can be a big help too – sometimes you need someone who is not so involved in the immediate situation that’s causing you the anxiety to step in.  A dad that stays cool, calm and collected when everyone else is “losing it” is a godsend.  His job is to encourage everyone to take a step back and remember what the wedding is really about – two people in love starting a life together.

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Make an appearance at the stag do

Depending on the type of stag do planned for the groom he may invite the father of the bride to join in, along with his own dad.  If this is the case the invitation should be accepted – even if he only stays for a couple of drinks at the start of the night.  It’s important for you dad and future husband to build a good relationship and it’ll be a great chance for him to get to know the groomsmen ahead of the big day.

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Travel with the bride to the ceremony

This is a tradition that still persists.  You’ll spend the early part of the day with your bridal party getting ready.  But when it’s time to head for the wedding ceremony dad should be with you.  It’s an opportunity for him to admire you in your dress and for the two of you to share a few heartfelt moments together.  His role is to tell you how proud he is and how beautiful you look!   On a more practical note it’s his job to make sure you arrive on time (!), calm your nerves and ensure the photographer gets plenty of shots of the two of you.

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Walk you down the aisle

This is the bit he has pictured ever since you were a little girl – and his proudest moment as he “gives you away”.  If possible rehearse the arrival and walk down the aisle with him so you get the speed right and he knows where to sit once you are beside your husband to be.  If you are wearing a veil and want your father to be the one lifting it, get him to practice this too – it can be a bit tricky!

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Welcome guests to the reception

A receiving line is a great way to greet guests as they enter the reception.  Your father and mother will start the line, followed by yourself and your husband, then his parents.

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Sit at the top table

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The parents of the bride usually sit next to her on the top table.  Your dad doesn’t have to do anything other than make sparkling conversation and enjoy himself!

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Deliver the father of the bride speech

Your father gives the first speech.  It doesn’t have to be long but he has to thank the guests for attending, welcome the groom into the family and share some amusing anecdotes about your childhood.  The tone should be emotional and heartfelt, expressing how much pride he feels for you as you enter this new stage of your life.  Having said that, a bit of humour does not go amiss – a few jokes about the groom are expected!  Get your dad to practice his speech and make sure he doesn’t have one too many proseccos before he performs this important duty!

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Accompany you for the father-daughter dance

This is a longstanding tradition and one of the most memorable moments of the celebrations.  Choose a song that you both find meaningful and be sure to practice the dance with your dad before the big day.  

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Wrap things up at the end of the night

The father of the bride should supervise proceedings as the reception comes to a close. This includes checking that vendors have been paid, that the gifts have been taken care of and saying goodbye to guests as they depart.

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A good time had by all

Last but not least, your dad needs to remember to enjoy himself!  He does have certain duties and roles to perform on the day but none of them are too onerous.  Perhaps the most important way he can contribute is by having a great time as that will help set the tone for everyone else.  

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Choosing your wedding rings can be a challenge – there are so many options that it can get very confusing (and you have a few other things to organise right now!).  In this post we give you some tips that you’ll hopefully find helpful.  Wedding bands for grooms tend to be simpler so we’ve mainly focused on the bride’s ring - but much of the advice applies to both.

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What’s your personal style?

Start the process by thinking about what jewellery you already own and what type of designs catch your eye when you're out shopping.  Do you favour white gold over yellow gold?  Is there a specific cut of diamond that particularly appeals to you?  Is your personal sense of style very contemporary or more traditional and timeless?  Over time this ring will become very much a part of you so it’s important you go for a style that you feel comfortable with.

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Have a budget in mind

Your love may know no bounds but it’s best to set a budget for your wedding rings.  That way you’ll avoid the disappointment of finding the perfect ring then discovering it’s way out of financial reach.  Jewellers can help you refine your search, and come up with some wonderful ideas, but it really helps if you can give them a figure to start with.  About 3% of your total wedding spend is the norm.  However, adding diamonds, or engraving the band, will obviously add to the cost.

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Start your search early

Ideally you should start your quest about six months before the big day.  It’s something you’ll be wearing on your finger for life so it’s not a decision to rush!  Research online and set aside a couple of days for visiting physical jewellery stores and getting expert advice.  If you’ve fallen in love with the idea of a custom wedding ring or band then you'll probably need to allow even more time.  Be aware that extras, like engraving, can also take up to a month.

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Shop as a couple

Since you'll probably be buying two rings, one for you and one for him, this is an activity you can enjoy together.  It’s also very useful to share opinions and ideas – this will really help you narrow the choices down.  

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Consider your lifestyle

Your wedding ring will become almost a part of you – so you want a design you’ll find easy to live with.  If you are sporty or play a musical instrument a slimmer ring with rounded edges is sensible.  If you work with your hands a simple solid metal ring may be most practical - gemstones can come loose and carvings can trap dirt.

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Tungsten and Titanium are both good choices if you do a lot of work with your hands as they don't scratch as easily as other metals.  If you want a sparkly ring, but have an active lifestyle, choose a wedding ring with small gemstones set in a channel to keep them secure (known as a pavé setting).  

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Personalizing your wedding rings

Many couple are now opting to have something engraved inside their wedding band – a message, their name, initials or their wedding date.  

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Size condiderations

It’s likely you’ll wear your wedding ring 24/7, for months on end, through summer and winter, year after year – and your finger won’t always be the same size.  When you exercise, if you get pregnant or put on weight, when your hands get hot and when they get cold your hands will swell or shrink.   You therefore need to bear these factors in mind when deciding on the right ring size.  We suggest you arrange your final ring fitting at a time when you're calm and your body temperature is normal.  Don’t book that appointment for first thing in the morning (you retain water from the night before), right after you've exercised (fingers swell) or when you're extremely hot or cold (which can cause your hands to expand and shrink).  Of course, if your finger changes permanently over the years you can always have your wedding ring re-sized by a jeweller.

Also be aware that your engagement ring can fit tighter when paired with one or more wedding bands.  A pair of rings can put more pressure on the blood vessels in the finger and this makes the rings fit tighter.

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Think two rings, not one

Keep your engagement ring in mind (and on your finger) while shopping for your wedding band.  You need to see how they look side by side.  If you have a very striking engagement ring you may want a simple, no-fuss wedding band.  However, a simple engagement ring may call for the added sparkle of a diamond pavé band.   It’s important, however, to avoid a wedding band that overshadows your engagement ring – they should complement eachother.

You also need to consider how they physically stack together.  If you're planning on wearing your engagement and wedding ring side by side every day, look for a contour or shadow band designed to interlock with the engagement ring.  If you're planning on wearing your wedding ring alone, you may want a more intricate style that will look great with or without your engagement ring.  

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Keep an open mind

While you may start out with a fixed idea of what style of wedding ring you’d like it’s important to be open to suggestions from jewellers.  They may come up with an inspired idea that you’d never have come up with on your own and it’s sensible to follow their expert advice.

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Give us a ring (as in call us)

Hopefully this article has given you some useful food for thought with regard to choosing your wedding ring.  If there are any other aspects of your wedding preparations you are not sure about you can always 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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Bridal showers have been a big part of any wedding preparations and celebrations in the US for many years – but now they are catching on over here.  In this post we answer all the most commonly asked questions we hear from brides when the topic comes up in conversation.

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What is a bridal shower?

A bridal shower is different from a hen do.  It’s a daytime event in which the close female relatives of the bride (and possibly of her fiancé) get together with her best friends to celebrate ahead of the wedding. It's a family-friendly event (unlike the hen party!) that involves the playing of games and the giving of gifts.  

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Who hosts the Bridal Shower?

Usually this is organised and hosted by the maid of honour with the bridesmaids in support.  Having said that it’s not unusual for the bride's mother, sister, aunt, grandmother or even future mother-in-law to do the honours.  As the bride you are not expected to get involved in organising the event but we suggest that whoever takes on the responsibility gets your input with regard to theme, venue, activities, date and who to invite.  

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What happens at a bridal shower?

There are no hard and fast rules – you play it the way you fancy.  In the US the couple may have bridal shower gift registry but in the UK the focus is less on gifts and more about activities and socialising.  It could be a low-key brunch at the maid of honour's home, or a spa day for some pampering, or a cake baking class, or lunch at a nice restaurant.  Party games could include charades, newlywed trivia quiz or wedding themed Pictionary.  Where gifts are given they tend to be relatively inexpensive.

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Any do’s and don’ts?

Having said the rules are relaxed guests should not bring a plus-one and they shouldn’t ignore the theme/dress code.  You, the bride, should make an effort to mingle with everyone and get to know those you haven’t met before.  Also, very important, don't invite anyone to your shower that you don’t plan on inviting to the wedding.

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Who pays for the bridal shower?

If the shower is hosted at someone’s home then that person is expected to cover the cost of things like decorations, games and prizes, plus food and drink.  However, others, like the bridesmaids or the bride's family will probably chip in too.  Thoughtful guests will also ask what they can do to help.  If the shower involved an activity or going out for a meal it’s usual to ask guests to pay their share – but make this clear on the invitation.

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Who to invite to your bridal shower?

The bride will traditionally invite close female family and close female friends, along with female members of her partners family as well.  However, we live in changing times and the bride may be accompanied by her fiancé, along with some male friends and relatives too.  Numbers are up to you – anything from an intimate gathering of a dozen up to a major celebration.

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Are gifts obligatory at a bridal shower?

In the US it's customary for all guests to bring a present but it’s not necessary in the UK.  What kind of gifts are appropriate?  Items for the home, lingerie or jewellery are all popular.  A card, at the very least, is expected, perhaps with flowers.  It’s also polite for guests to ask whoever is hosting whether they can bring food or drink.  If someone gives a gift at the shower this is not in place of their main wedding gift but in addition to it – that’s why shower gifts tend to be minor ones.  

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When to have your bridal shower?

Most bridal showers are hosted anywhere from two to six months before the main wedding date.  It usually comes a few weeks before your hen do.  Send out the invites well ahead of the date so guests have plenty of notice.

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What’s the dress code for a bridal shower?

That’s entirely up to you – as casual or formal as you like.  It’s generally dictated by the theme and venue.  If you are having a relaxed BBQ then it’s probably casual.  Dinner in a smart restaurant probably calls for something a bit more dressy.  Afternoon tea, smart casual, possibly?!  Some bridal showers have a colour theme, so the dress code should obviously fit with that.  Whatever you decide make it very clear on the invitation.

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Any other questions?

Hopefully this answers your main bridal shower questions.  But if you have more, or want input regarding any other aspect of your wedding planning, just ask away.  The team at Clevedon Hall have hosted so many wonderful weddings that we’ve probably got all the answers you need!

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As you plan and organise your wedding you are going to run into some tricky situations that involve a few awkward conversations.  Many of these are surprisingly common – most couple find themselves facing these dilemmas at some point.  In this post we flag up them up so that you are prepared – and suggests ways to resolve everything amicably.

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Families and finances

Unless you plan to sneak off to the registry office without telling anyone there’s going to be some celebrations to organise – and pay for.  Do you wait for your parents to offer some help, do you drop some heavy hints, ask them right out for a contribution or refuse any financial help whatsoever?  If they do help us out does that mean we’ll lose control and not be able to have the kind of day we’d really like?  What if one set of parents is more affluent than the other?  Should we accept the money as a gift or treat it as a loan we’ll pay off over time?  What’s the best time to start having these discussions?

We suggest you initiate the money talk with both sets of parents really early on.  Be open and frank about what kind of day you have in mind, what you can afford and whether they’d like to help out.

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Guest list dilemmas

Depending on your budget there will be a maximum number of guests you can afford to invite.  This will probably mean you have to do some kind of a trade-off between friends and family.  Do you invite your distant cousins and leave off some old school mates?  Should you disappoint a few relatives you barely know in favour of some longstanding pals?  Also, to complicate matters further, your proud parents are keen to share the occasion with their friends – you’ll have to oblige them to an extent (especially if they are paying a big part of the bill – see previous point!).  

Start by agreeing a total number of guests that’s within the overall budget then allocate a certain number of invites to yourselves and your parents, striking a balance between both your families.  Once you’ve done that create a list of “must invite” and another of “nice to invite” and see where that gets you.

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Perfectionist or pragmatist?

You’ll almost certainly have a mental picture of your perfect wedding.  But achieving it may be too costly or impractical for other reasons.  For instance, you’ve fallen in love with a dress that’s more than you can afford.  Or your preferred venue is not available on any of your dates.  How do you respond?  Do you strive for perfection or do you adopt a more pragmatic attitude and accept a compromise?  We suggest that you stop obsessing over perfect – it just sets you up for stress, arguments and disappointment.  Try and strike a happy medium between the two extremes.

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Uh, oh, I’m pregnant!

You won’t be the first bride with a bump – and these days it’s something to be pleased about, not ashamed of.  But do you hide it or share the happy news?  Do you get a bespoke design to match your expanding figure or do you pick something off the peg that’s loose and floaty?  Luckily there’s no shortage of suppliers that specialise in affordable gowns for bride who are expecting.

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The plus-one dilemma

Allow plus-ones you’re asking for problems – too many guests (plenty of whom you’ve never met before) and a financial headache.  On the other hand a complete ban on them can seem a bit harsh.  You could send plus-one invites to some guests and not to others – but you are bound to upset someone.  The simplest solution is to explain on the invitation that your wedding will be an intimate celebration, allowing you to spend quality time with each guest, and for this reason you are only extending your invitations to partners you know really well.

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Grown-ups only?

Flower girls and toddlers in tuxes are undeniably cute but kids can also create a few headaches for parents and guests alike.  It’s your call but as with the plus-one issue you need to be consistent – if one couple can bring their kids then the same goes for all of them.  

If kids are invited let people know from the start so they can make the necessary arrangements for accommodation, baby sitting and so on.   You could also consider providing a wedding crèche so the parents can relax.  If you don’t like that option you could at least fill children's activities boxes with colouring books, small toys or even games to keep them entertained and out of trouble.  

If, on the other hand, you want your big day to be kid-free then just make that clear on the invitation.  Many parents will thank you for it!

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Relax - it’ll all be fine!

These are the most common dilemmas that you’ll probably encounter as you plan your wedding.  You can’t avoid them – but with the right attitude they can be sorted.   All it takes is a bit of common sense and creativity you’ll find a way to make the right choices and have a fabulous day.  And remember, the team at Clevedon Hall have plenty of experience at helping people overcome exactly these challenges – so if you are struggling just give them a call!

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There’s a trend towards teetotal wedding receptions - the latest survey by Hitched magazines reports that 10% of couples in 2021 decided to go alcohol-free.  But for the rest of us tying the knot without a couple of glasses of whatever you fancy is unthinkable.  And the idea of a dry engagement, stag or hen party holds no appeal whatsoever.   What’s more, the choices are getting more creative – cocktails are in!  Read on for some intoxicating inspiration….

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Aperol Spritz

Prosecco is the go-to wedding drink, especially in the summer months.  But if you want to give it a colourful and refreshing twist add 50ml of Aperol to a stemmed gin glass with ice then pour the prosecco over the top.  For some extra give it a splash of soda then garnish with fresh or dried orange to the rim of the glass.

You will need:

50ml Aperol

75ml prosecco

Soda to taste

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Mojito

Punchy and refreshing, a Mojito is arguably the most refreshing cocktail in the world and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.  With its tropical origins it’s perfect for serving on a hot sunny day.  Mix the lime juice, sugar and mint and crush it all together (use the end of a rolling pin) before pouring into a tall glass along with some crushed ice. Pour the rum over the top and stir before adding soda water to taste. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

You will need:

Juice of 1 lime

1tsp granulated sugar

A handful of mint leaves

60ml white rum

Soda water

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Kir Royale

Delicious, decadent and ever so easy to make.  All you need is some blackberry liqueur topped up with some bubbly.  Garnish with a fresh blackberry.

You will need:

1 tbsp of Crème de cassis

1 glass of Champagne or sparkling wine

1 blackberry to garnish

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Pimm’s

You can’t go wrong with this British classic – ever so refreshing but surprisingly powerful!   Fill a jug with ice and pour in the Pimm’s followed by the lemonade. Mix it together and then throw in the fruit.

You will need:

200ml Pimm’s No. 1

600ml lemonade

Mint, cucumber, orange and strawberries

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Negroni

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Eminently sophisticated but with a terrific alcoholic kick (one is not enough but two is too many!), this is a cocktail with year-round appeal.  Mix the gin, vermouth and Campari together along with ice. Strain the mix into a tumbler and add a couple of large ice cubes. Garnish with a slice of orange.

You will need:

25ml gin

25ml vermouth

25ml Campari

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Blushing Bride

A classic wedding tipple – it’s basically bubbly that’s been pimped.  It works equally well with Champagne or Prosecco.  There are various versions of this popular cocktail but this is the basic one.

You will need:

1 ounce peach schnapps

1 ounce grenadine

4 ounces chilled Champagne/Prosecco

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English Garden

As the name suggests it’s perfect for serving outdoors on a balmy summer’s day on the lawn (at Clevedon Hall, of course!).

Mix the mint leaves, gin, cordial and lemon juice together. Add ice and then top up with apple juice before stirring and dropping in a strip of cucumber.

You will need:

Handful of mint leaves

30ml gin

2tsp elderflower cordial

2tsp lemon juice

Cloudy apple juice

Cucumber strip

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Porn Star Martini  

Made with Prosecco it’s a natural for serving at a wedding.  Just refer to it as a passionfruit martini when your granny asks!

Put the vodka, passionfruit liqueur, syrup and pulp from the passion fruit into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain the mixture into a glass and top up with Prosecco. Garnish with a sprinkle of passionfruit seeds.

You will need:

35ml vodka

1tbsp passion fruit liqueur

2tsp vanilla syrup

1 passionfruit

50ml Prosecco

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Espresso Martini

Great for serving at the start of the evening’s festivities to give guests a shot of energy ready for a night on the dancefloor.  Pour a teaspoon of sugar syrup over ice in a cocktail shaker then add the vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur. Shake and strain over a chilled glass before adding coffee beans.

You will need:

1tsp sugar syrup

50ml vodka

25ml espresso coffee

25ml coffee liqueur

Coffee beans to garnish

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Need more inspiration?

The team at Clevedon Hall have enjoyed their fair share of cocktails over the years (all part of the job!) so if you’d like any more ideas or advice on the drinks front just get in touch.

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