Top tips for before and after the wedding

Top tips from the bride and groom, Malin and Oscar

Malin and Oscar got married at Balingsholms Herrgård in the summer of 2024. On a warm summer’s day with blue skies, they were married at the rear of the manor house, overlooking the water. The weather gods were on their side all day, and the occasion was like something out of a fairy tale.

PHOTO: WEDDINGS BY MALIN

01. Plan your wedding exactly as you want it

If it feels right in your gut – go for it! If something feels wrong or not quite right, scrap it. You should plan for a day exactly as you want it; that way, you’ll have the best day ever.

02. We loved the first look!

If you’re torn between having it or not, go for it. It was so incredibly lovely to get a sense of each other’s feelings ahead of everything and to share that moment together. You’ll feel so lovely and get so incredibly excited about the rest of the day. It also calmed our nerves a little. An unbeatable combination! We really didn’t want to miss out on the reception to go off and take photos after the ceremony, but at the same time we really wanted all the photos – and that’s where the first look is the best solution. Find your photographer here

03. Choose your toastmaster with care

What sort of dinner do you want? What sort of atmosphere do you want around you? Choose people who you think will create the vibe you’re after. Our fantastic toastmasters delivered the best dinner ever and we’re so grateful for the memories we’ve gained thanks to them.

Top tips for the planning stage?

01. Share the tasks

If, like us, you choose to handle the planning yourselves, our advice is to split the tasks. Base this on what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at. Find a way that works for you. Is one of you used to being in charge of the budget? Is one of you a fountain of ideas? Who handles all contact with suppliers? Who enjoys finding the perfect shade between white and ivory for the invitations, haha!

02. Have wedding planning meetings together

Make it cosy and set aside time to spend together. The planning really goes in waves; sometimes there are lots of decisions to be made in a short space of time, and sometimes weeks go by without anything needing to be reviewed.

03. Plan for breaks during the dinner

Perhaps our best tip! We had two of them, and almost all the guests have said afterwards that it was so very much appreciated. We had one break so that Malin could have time to change her outfit, and another to fit in the evening photos. It also meant that all the guests could visit the loo without having to rush about during dinner, everyone could step outside to enjoy the evening sun, everyone had time to chat to more guests than just those at their own table, and anyone who wanted to could pop to the bar for an extra round. Make it clear to your guests that there will be breaks as soon as you sit down – that way, you’ll have laid the foundations for a great dinner.

The best tip for the day?

Ask your bridal party or those closest to you to remind you to live in the moment – that everything you’ve planned is happening right here and now. And remind each other! At the ceremony, during the reception, over dinner, at the after-party. The day goes by so quickly and all the emotions are so intense that you might find it hard to stay present. I don’t know how many times we whispered “just think, it’s our wedding day” and “just think, all our friends and family are here together – look, look!”.

Any do’s and don’ts you’d like to share?

Do’s:

01. Ask your toastmasters or the officiant to let everyone know that you have a photographer on hand who’ll be taking lovely photos that you can share with everyone afterwards, and that guests should therefore keep their mobiles in their pockets or bags. Guests might also need a reminder to live in the moment.

02. Eat whenever you can! Eat, eat and have a few snacks. If nerves get the better of you before the ceremony, make sure you have a drinkable yoghurt or something else to hand to have afterwards.

Don’ts:

Don’t leave too much unplanned time before the ceremony. We had an hour in the schedule between the photoshoot and the ceremony to allow for any delays or if things came up during the day, which felt great in the run-up to the day. But it was the longest hour in living memory! Time has never passed so slowly. You don’t want to have to hide away for that long, and it certainly didn’t help to calm the nerves, haha. Allow time – but not too much time.

Best tip after the wedding as a married couple?

01. We went on our honeymoon straight away and it was the best feeling. We were completely immersed in the wedding bubble over the weekend and then got to stay in it for as long as we wanted. It was so lovely to settle into married life together and talk about the wedding over and over again. Book your trip here

02. Savour the photos! Create a photo book, print them out, share pictures of the guests with them – do whatever suits you best. The photos from the day are priceless.

03. We received some truly lovely wedding presents and really wanted to write personalised thank-you cards to all our guests. We therefore made sure to note down who had given what. It’s also great fun to get in touch with everyone again, as you’ll be reminded of the wedding every now and then when you use the gifts you’ve received. For example, we received several bottles of wine and champagne and have been able to send photos of us opening them. It’s such fun!