Q&A With Lauren, Our Wedding Coordinator

Here at the Bull Hotel, we aim to make every wedding we host a spectacular event whilst keeping our lovely wedding couple’s stress levels to a minimum! That’s where Lauren comes in, as our in house Wedding Coordinator she is on hand to help with all the finer details of the big day. We’ve been quizzing Lauren for her best advice and most frequently asked questions:

1. What is the number one area to skimp on if you are planning a wedding with a tight budget? And one area you should NEVER skimp on?

   One area never to skimp on with your wedding is entertainment. The right way to get a crowd going till the early hours is having a lively reception with great entertainment that has your guests laughing, dancing and generally having a really good time. The entertainment in any function makes or breaks the day – So after a fantastic day which you would have just had, there is nothing better than continuing your evening with some timeless tunes setting your guests back through the decades. One thing, I would say you can be flexible with is your decorations. As a bride, you will want lovely dressed tables with pretty flowers and candles but these items become so expensive for your big day. Get yourself onto Pinterest and start jotting down some ideas of things that have caught your eye. There are many shops, such as The Range, Country Baskets and even B&M Bargains that sell beautiful trinkets, vases and artificial flowers so you can make your own centrepieces at a much discounted price.

2. How early should a wedding couple start planning their big day?

   Planning your wedding takes time. You can be the most organised bride in the world but you will find yourself sucked into this wedding whirlwind of chasing guests for their RSVP’s and menus, trying on dresses, sorting out invitations and so many other factors that wouldn’t have even come into your mind when you began your venue search. A healthy time to plan is between 12-18 months. This allows time for multiple shopping trips, looking at lots of venues and seeing different suppliers to see what suits you and your groom. My biggest piece of advice with your wedding planning is to book one thing at a time. As if wedding planning isn’t stressful enough, the last thing you want is to be juggling the different elements to your wedding day as well as living your day to day life.

3. What’s better, band or DJ?

   This really is something that is down to the couple’s preference. I personally think there is nothing better than a Wedding DJ! They can be a little cheesy, play all the songs through the eras and even engage your crowd through the night. That’s not to say I don’t like bands. If you have a venue with a large space to fit a band, then absolutely get one booked in! Be certain to make sure though they are happy to play music during their interval sets – You don’t want that anti-climax of little to no music when they are not performing.

4. What are your last minute tips for a bride a week before her wedding?

   Sit back, have a glass of wine and enjoy your last single woman week! You have worked so hard in your wedding planning and now all your efforts are coming to show. There is nothing more that can be changed or altered at this point, so don’t get yourself in a stress over little things that can easily be overlooked. Work on packing your bags to take to your venue and just double check all the items you are taking also, whether this be the table centrepieces, sweets for your sweet table or even something simple such as the new champagne flutes you were bought as an engagement gift. In just seven days, your special day is here and you need to remember to enjoy every moment.

5. What was the most unique wedding you have been involved with?

   Well, there is 1 wedding in particular that stands out to me for multiple reasons. From the moment I met the wedding couple I could see how important this day was for them. There was no show, no one to compare to or impress, just pure love and passion for each other, they were so excited to get married. Unique? Maybe not so much in the respect of having ‘different’ things at their wedding, but this one was special in its own way. The room was dressed beautifully – They had cream candle arbra’s with crimson red roses draping down in vines with lime wash chiavari chairs too. The bride had booked Singing Waiters as a surprise for the groom and all the guests which was received in such excitement when they were performing during the wedding breakfast. Going into their reception, this couple had everything – I mean, no expense was spared here for entertainment for their guests. They had a photobooth, chocolate fountain, casino tables and an open bar all night. Don’t panic – Not all weddings have this much entertainment nor do they all sub the bar all night, but for the reasons above and many more this one I will always remember.

7. How important do you think it is to have a wedding theme?

   I don’t think it’s too important to have a theme for your wedding, but I do think each couple should incorporate things they like to be shared with their friends and family on the day. This could be in the form of their table plan, some table identifiers which could be pictures of places they have been together or wedding favours to be their choice of chocolate. There are so many ways you can bring your own style into your big day.

8. As The Bull’s Wedding Coordinator, what will you help with in the wedding planning process?

   Throughout your process of wedding planning, I will not only be your planner but I will become your friend. With 5 years of wedding planning experience I will give you all the information to the best of my knowledge and provide you with my own personal advice and tips on how to plan your day. I have built over this time a very good working relationship with certain suppliers who will likewise look favourably when quoting for any services you require from them. I will work with you right up until the day of your wedding where we together will see all the hard work carried out.

If you would like to find out more about the Bull Hotel as a venue for your wedding, then book a show round with Lauren by calling 01753 202919 or email [email protected].