Lilly’s Delight: High-end wedding planners

What should you bear in mind when planning a wedding? The wedding coordinators at Lilly’s Delight answer your questions!

How do you start planning a wedding?

Start by booking a free consultation with our wedding coordinator to discuss your ideas and get professional guidance.

What does a wedding planner do?

A wedding coordinator helps you with everything you need for your big day. We’re usually involved from the very start, helping you find the right venue, set a budget and book all the necessary suppliers. Throughout the planning process, we maintain communication with the suppliers and manage key dates such as sending out invitations, wedding cake tastings and the guests’ final RSVP deadlines. We attend all key meetings, such as those with the florist or visits to your chosen wedding venue. We act as your pillars of support throughout the entire process and are always on hand to answer your questions and address any concerns. On the wedding day itself, we’ll be there to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

When should you start planning your wedding? 

We recommend starting to plan your wedding around 10–12 months in advance. It’s wise to start early, especially if you have your heart set on a specific wedding venue or other key suppliers, as these are often booked up well in advance. Starting well in advance can also help reduce the stress that many people feel in the run-up to such a big day.

Where do you start when planning a wedding? What is the first thing you should do?

When we’re contacted by a couple, we usually start by asking them to describe their dream wedding. I think that’s a good place to start. They just get to sit back and dream about what they want. After that, we need a budget and a rough idea of how many guests they’re expecting. We also like to start putting together a mood board so that we’re on the same page when it comes to the atmosphere and style.

PHOTO//EVELYN WALLIN

How long does it take to plan a wedding?

It varies a lot! Some want plenty of time and others want things to move more quickly. The important thing is to start well in advance so that the couple can secure the suppliers and venues they want. And that can vary depending on where in the country they want to get married and when. Summer always means longer lead times as many people get married and certain things get booked up quickly.

We recommend starting about 9–12 months in advance, but we’ve also organised weddings in as little as 12 weeks. Anything is possible!

The venue has a coordinator – should we book a wedding coordinator as well?

Most larger venues, manor houses and castles have their own coordinator. They can usually help with matters relating to the venue, food and drink. However, they don’t handle other aspects such as printed materials, design, décor, the website or transport logistics. That’s where we can step in and help with these elements.

How do you go about sorting out the budget and similar matters for the wedding? Any general tips?

The couple’s budget is absolutely central to the whole planning process. Without a budget, it’s very difficult to plan and prioritise. We help our couples set a budget if they don’t know in advance how much money they want to spend. We often need to set different priorities, as costs can easily spiral and end up being higher than they’d anticipated. Our best tip is to seek help. That way, the couple have someone to bounce different options off, which can otherwise be both difficult and time-consuming.

What are the classic mistakes people make on their wedding day? After all, things don’t always go exactly as planned, do they?

It never turns out exactly as you’d imagined – you need to have that mindset right from the start. Things happen during the planning process and even during the wedding itself. It could be anything from the weather, someone falling ill, technical glitches, to it turning out even better, even more beautiful and even more fun. Our advice is not to get too hung up on the small details, but to focus on the big picture and the atmosphere of the day. Then the experience will be magical and you’ll have that wonderful wedding day you’ve always dreamed of! https://www.westporttennisclub.com/contact

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