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The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a wedding planner – here's the five things I'd skip on my own big day, it could save you thousands
GETTING married is one of the happiest times of your life - but planning a wedding can be as stressful and expensive. Your dream big day can cost thousands of pounds, and wedding budgets can very quickly start to spiral out of control. 3 3 There are so many different things to consider - from the venue and the guest lists to the menus, cars, flowers, and much more. So it's no wonder that brides and grooms can quickly find it becoming overwhelming - both financially and mentally. Luckily, one expert is on hand to help engaged couples celebrate their special day in style, but without breaking the bank. Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings has urged couples not to include every trend they see on social media, no matter how tempting. The wedding planner has spent years helping couples create their perfect day and has learned what elements truly matter and which ones simply aren't worth the investment (or should just be outright avoided). And he even revealed the five things he would never do for his own wedding - and why other couples should think twice before adding them to their plans. Nick said: 'After organising hundreds of weddings, I've learned that the most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. "They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests, rather than trying to tick every box they'd seen on Pinterest. 'The wedding industry is brilliant at making couples feel like they need everything to be perfect, but perfection often comes at the cost of personality and genuine enjoyment. "Some of my favourite weddings have been the ones where couples said no to half the extras and instead invested in great food, good music, and making sure their guests felt welcome. Your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, not what magazines tell you it should look like." Stunning coastal wedding venue in Scotland with spectacular views reveals major £750k revamp 1. Hiring an expensive photographer without seeing their full portfolio It's a common belief that the best suppliers are the most expensive, but this isn't always the case. Just because a photographer charges premium rates, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will deliver the best results. Wedding photography can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £5,000, but those on the higher end of the scale could be basing their price on their marketing rather than their actual skill. Nick explains: 'I've seen couples spend £4,000 on a photographer who promised the world, only to receive bland, cookie-cutter shots that looked identical to every other wedding they'd shot that year. "Price doesn't guarantee creativity or the ability to capture your unique story." Instead, he suggests meeting potential photographers in person and reviewing complete wedding galleries, not just highlight reels. The most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests Nick Bramerfrom Country House Weddings 2. Booking entertainment that doesn't match the crowd One of the biggest mistakes that Nick says couples make when planning their wedding is booking the wrong style of entertainment. The wedding planner said he often sees too many couples choosing entertainment based on what looks impressive rather than what their guests will actually enjoy. And this can actually throw off the whole vibe of the day. He suggested considering the guest list carefully before booking any kind of evening entertainment. For example, if most attendees are over 50, a classic covers band might work better than a DJ spinning the latest hits. He said: "I once saw a couple hire a string quartet for a crowd that clearly wanted to party. 'By 9pm, half the guests had left because there was nothing to keep them engaged". 3 3. Splurging on designer wedding favours Wedding favours are, in theory, very sweet reminders of your big day and a lovely treat for your guests. However, most guests actually leave them behind or throw them away within weeks. And considering that couples often spend hours planning to get their perfect thing and often spend hundreds of pounds on them, Nick says they're just not worth it. He explains that he has seen couples stress over personalised candles, miniature photo frames, and custom sweets that end up sadly forgotten on tables. Instead, he suggests that couples opt for something they can enjoy on the day, like a high-quality treat like chocolate. Or even put the money they'd spend on favours towards something else, like a couple of hundred pounds on better food or drinks at the bar. Nick explains that this is something guests would probably appreciate more - and you'd get more value for money. He explains: "Couples spend an average of £3-5 per guest on favours, which adds up to £300-500 for a typical wedding. "I've never seen guests genuinely excited about taking home a miniature jam jar with the couple's names on it". 4. Choosing a venue based on Instagram photos Social media doesn't often reflect real life, and something that might look magical online might not look that great in person. As a result, Nick has warned couples against booking a venue based on their filtered photos on social media. Lighting, angles, and editing can hide serious flaws that will all become obvious on your wedding day. Instead, he suggests always visiting potential venues in person - preferably at the same time of day as your planned celebration. Nick says: 'I've seen couples fall in love with venues online, only to arrive and discover the 'spacious' room is actually cramped. 'Photos rarely show practical issues like poor acoustics or limited parking.' Expert's seven tips to keep wedding costs down IN a bid to help couples save some cash, one expert has revealed their seven tips to keep costs down for the big day. Claudia Postigo, founder and Head Wedding Planner at The Planner Co, reveals how couples can save significant money on wedding aspects that many go overboard on. Choose off-season dates - "By choosing to have your wedding during the off-season, such as winter or early spring, when demand is lower, you can save a considerable amount of money on venues, caterers, and other services.' Leverage DIY décor - "DIY projects help to add a personal touch to your wedding, while having the added bonus of saving you a lot of money." Book non-traditional venues - "Non-traditional venues tend to be more affordable and provide a unique and memorable wedding experience." Reduce the guest list - "This both cuts down on catering costs and creates a more intimate and meaningful atmosphere for your special day.' Go digital - "In an era where most things are digital, it makes sense to go paperless for your wedding invitations and save-the-date cards." Recycle, Reduce, Reuse - "When it comes to wedding décor, why not try recycling and reusing items from previous weddings or events?" Consider a smaller wedding cake - "To save some money, opt for a smaller wedding cake for the ceremonial cutting and a larger sheet cake for guests to enjoy.2 5. Going overboard with unnecessary extras that add no real value It's so easy to get carried away when planning a wedding and want to do everything and buy everything. But Nick says that there are so many unnecessary extras that couples often spend a fortune on but don't add any real value. Wedding vendors excel at selling add-ons that sound amazing but provide little actual benefit. Things like chair covers, upgraded linens, and premium flower arrangements can quickly double your costs. However, they don't significantly improve your guests' experience. Nick has urged couples to think carefully about little extras and if they're really needed. This might help keep costs down and give you fewer things to stress about on the big day. He said: 'I've seen people spend £800 on chair covers when the venue's chairs were perfectly fine. "Focus your budget on elements that directly impact your guests' comfort: good food, decent drinks, and reliable sound systems.'
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Wedding Decor Trends That Will Dominate In 2025, According To An Expert
getty Wedding season in full swing, and many of us will be celebrating our nearest and dearest as they tie the knot. Whether it's a meticulously planned ceremony and reception or a laid back gathering, decor plays a huge role in all parts. While some people opt for traditional wedding designs, experts say that decor trends have taken a turn and it's time to expect the unexpected as couples approach their wedding design with a new outlook. 'What's exciting is that 'unexpected' doesn't have to mean over-the-top,' explained Christine Ferguson, Founder of Christine Ferguson Events. 'Sometimes it's the smallest shift, such as a sensory detail, an untraditional material, a new use of space, that completely transforms the guest experience,' Couples are leaning toward lived-in aisles that resemble an enchanting forest — a fresh take on the much-loved boho trend. Expect layered foliage, potted blooms, herbs and small trees to create depth and movement. 'A living aisle is more than beautiful; it's immersive. Guests feel like they're stepping into the story with you,' Ferguson said. 'As an added bonus, many of the elements can be replanted or donated, adding meaning beyond the moment,' getty Ferguson said that she has recently worked with many couples who wanted to create a signature scent for their nuptials. Scent is the most powerful of the five scenes, and a great way to incorporate a signature fragrance into a wedding is through custom candles, floral notes that carry through the event or subtle scenting at entryways. It's a unique way to tie the entire celebration together. Lighting is an important design element that will set the ambience and set the tone of a wedding. Incorporating sculptural chandeliers, uplighting that dances across textured walls, and layered candlelight will transform a venue. 'Think beyond the floral budget. Lighting creates depth, mood, and atmosphere, and it dramatically transforms how everything looks in person and on camera,' Ferguson commented. getty A wedding meal should be a multi-sensory experience, and a wonderful way to add a unique touch to the visuals is with texture-forward tablescapes. Rather than solely focusing on color, Ferguson recommends incorporating rich, tactile moments like handmade ceramics, stone charger plates, velvet napkins, embroidered menus and layered linens. 'Color fades in memory, but texture leaves an impression,' she noted. 'A refined table doesn't need to be loud — it needs to feel intentional,' When planning a wedding and choosing a decor scheme, it's important to remember that there are no rules. 'The most memorable weddings aren't the ones that follow a formula, they're the ones that reflect the couple's unique point of view while embracing beauty, intentionality and a sense of wonder,' Ferguson said.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Now even WEDDINGS are gripped by Labubu fever! Brides are throwing £50 toys instead of bouquets amid shopper brawls over the popular items
Brides in 2025 are updating the 'bouquet toss' ritual by throwing Labubu dolls at their single female friends in yet another sign of the growing obsession with these plush toys. The long-held wedding ritual sees the bride throw her bouquet towards the women in attendance, with whoever catches it said to be the next to get married. However, some newlyweds - presumably lucky enough to have a Labubu or two to spare - are ditching the flowers in favour of the viral bag charms that adult women can't seem to get enough of. For instance, one Melbourne-based bride threw a Labubu keychain at her waiting friends at her wedding reception, as footage of the woman riling up the crowd before chucking the mystery box at them was shared online. The video, posted on TikTok by one of the guests, showed them scrambling to get their hands on the toy while screaming in delight. 'Is it a 2025 wedding if there isn't a Labubu toss?' the caption read. This isn't the only wedding that's featured a 'Labubu toss' in recent times; in fact, 3,235 miles away in Jakarta, another newlywed couple did the exact same. In a video shared on TikTok, the pair can be seen throwing the tiny box into a sea of guests who all rushed to claim the Labubu doll. The crowd at the Australian wedding went wild as they had the chance of winning a Labubu toy The clip was posted by the bride's sister, who goes by the username @sellarmoonnn, as she revealed her 'boyfriend caught the Labubu toss' in the caption. 'Bouquet toss < Labubu toss,' she added. Elsewhere, another bride seemingly decided to attach the lavender-coloured figurine to her wedding bouquet - before clarifying 'it's for the video'. Krish Parathan, from Toronto, shared a video of a woman getting ready to tie the knot and captioned the clip: 'Your Labubu is the main character of your wedding bouquet.' But the woman believed to be the bride later told people to 'calm down' while explaining that she did not walk down the aisle with the Labubu but simply posed with it for the video. She wrote: 'Everyone calm down it's for video I didn't walk down the aisle with it.' Not only have Labubus been thrown at guests and fastened onto bouquets, but guests have also offered the keyrings as a wedding gift to the bride and groom. One such person, TikToker @babybalut, who attended a wedding in San Jose filmed herself running over to the happy couple with two mystery boxes as they each picked one. 'POV: You give Labubus as a wedding gift,' the caption read. She was filmed running over to the happy couple with two mystery boxes as the bride and groom said which ones they wanted Labubu dolls, first created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, are described as having a playful yet fierce look thanks to their wide eyes, sharp teeth, and pointed ears. Labubu fever has gripped the younger generations in recent months, with fans often spending hundreds to complete their collections. These dolls are currently only being produced and distributed by Pop Mart after Lung signed an exclusive worldwide licensing deal with the Chinese toy company in 2019. However, demand for these dolls has surged after Labubus went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram - meaning they are almost always sold out at Pop Mart stores. It comes after shocking footage of several men hurling punches at one another to secure Labubu dolls surfaced on social media. The group had supposedly been trying to purchase some Labubu dolls at an outlet for Pop Mart, which makes the gremlin-like bag charms, in Stratford's Westfield shopping centre when the brawl ensued. It is not the first time the Labubu plushies have sparked violence among fans of the furry fashion accessory, with one woman also telling the BBC she witnessed a fight between a worker and a shopper in the same store. Pop Mart - a Chinese toy store for adults - has since announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June to 'prevent any potential safety issues'. The company told the BBC this was 'not the kind of customer experience it aimed to offer' and promised the dolls would 'return to physical stores' next month as they work on a 'new release mechanism'. But some devoted fans have reacted in fury to the company's decision to pull the toys, blaming them for causing 'hype' by only releasing a few dolls at a time. Others have also complained of re-sellers making it increasingly difficult to purchase the dolls, which can be bought in-store or online for as little as £13.50, by selling them on second-hand sites for up to £600. Ashley Bushey, 32, said she spent more than £1,000 on 13 Labubu toys and countless hours scrolling on TikTok Shop, Vinted and Facebook re-sale groups to expand her collection. Miss Bushey, a Northamptonshire-based coffee shop supervisor, said she predominantly tunes in to Pop Mart's regular TikTok livestreams, which showcase the toys for fans to purchase. 'It's a battlefield. (Pop Mart) are live every day from 2pm to 7pm and I sneak out at work, like I'm always trying to score one on the (livestream),' she said. She said she spends 'more time than I care to admit' finding Labubus, but added 'especially now, because they're so hard to get' after Pop Mart's decision to pause UK sales. 'I'm not even a big collector in the scheme of things. If you go into Facebook groups, I mean, some of them are insane,' she said. Miss Bushey said she collects the '90s and early 2000s toys and started buying Labubus from Pop Mart's The Monsters series in December, describing them as 'so ugly that they were cute'. All the Labubus in The Monsters collection are female, making male versions of the toys extremely rare. The toy collector said she managed to find a rare male toy named Zimomo, which she bought for £200, but added that she had seen some limited edition Labubus listed at £600 on Vinted and eBay.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wedding guests slam brides for the ‘tackiest' knot-tying trend yet: ‘A hard no for most people'
Forget wedding bells — all these brides are hearing is cha-ching. Attending weddings is a costly adventure in itself, but that only scratches the surface of what the bride's closest friends have to dish out. Between booking flights, staying in an Airbnb where everyone splits the bride's share, food, drinks, goodie bags and so on, bachelorette parties can cost someone hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars. Yet brides these days are expecting even more. In a new trend, the brides-to-be are now including their Venmo usernames on invitations, signage, merch and social media, asking people to 'Venmo the bride.' 'I'm sorry, Venmo the bride? Venmo the bride? Venmo my a–,' TikTok user @ complained in a now-viral video with 2.1 million views. 'I have to pay rent by myself. I have to pay 700 f–king dollars a month for insurance,' she continued. 'Venmo the bride? The bride has a person to split everything with. I am not Venmoing the bride.' People in the comments passionately agreed with the sentiment. 'The bride should be venmoing ME,' one person said. 'Venmo *request* the bride,' another quipped. 'THIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS,' someone exclaimed. 'Venmo every bridesmaid that had to skip their rent to help pay for your weekend vacation.' 'Venmo the single bridesmaids lmao,' one joked. 'Venmo the bride might be the TACKIEST trend at bachelorette parties,' a user declared. 'She's doubling her income – so no,' someone else noted. 'Venmo the bride when you went on a full vacation for an entire weekend for the bachelorette party alone,' one snarked. Experts seem to agree with the idea that asking people to send money to the bride is tacky and 'comes across as tactless, especially when the bride is the one asking.' 'That would be a hard no for most people, or at least, would leave a bad taste in their mouths if they felt pressured,' National etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, Diane Gottsman, told Delish. 'If one friend has suggested it and others chime in, they are free to send something by Venmo, but it's definitely not an obligation.' 'There will be some circumstances where friends will not have any issue with sending the bride a cocktail or Venmoing her some cash to buy something special,' Gottsman added. 'However, traditionally, after you spent money on destination, weddings, clothing for the wedding, babysitters, showers, gifts, wedding gifts, and potential bachelorette parties, most people are tapped out. If not financially strapped, often times people are emotionally tired of spending when they have other responsibilities. '
