Finding a wedding photographer can be a stressful ordeal. It’s an extremely important part of your big day, as you want the special moments captured correctly. Before you select a photographer, here’s three suggestions we think you should take on board.

First we recommend you set up an interview with potential photographers. Discuss fees, dates, tell them what you envision for your photos and see if they match said photographers style.

You should also look at the photographers portfolio, so you get a good idea of what your images will look like. Don’t just settle looking at one photo album, ask to see a handful and look for consistency.

Compare package prices and work out the overall cost. Also discuss the rights to your images and post-production. How long will the images take to be developed and sent?

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the most happiest days of your life, but it’s also one of the most costliest. Here’s a few tips below which may help you save on the cost.

Have you ever considered a second-hand ring? Kate Moss and Scarlet Johansson both have second-hand rings, so vintage is in? Go to an antique shop and see what’s available, you may find one of a kind pieces.

If you’re spending a lot of money on wedding day shopping, then consider using a cashback credit card. If you’re lucky enough to have a good credit score, you can 5% cashback on your card and then payback the full amount spent in a month so it’s interest-free.

When deciding on when to hold your big day, consider an unpopular date as you can save a LOT of money. This could also help as few guests may be able to make it, which means food costs will be lower!

Wedding budgets hardly ever get stuck to. There’s loads of hidden costs which are never actually budgeted, so to help you out, below are a few reminders of what’s coming up!

Crazy to think, but brides do budget for hair and makeup, but they hardly ever remember to budget their beauty treatments. Everybody wants to feel amazing on their special day, so don’t ponder over it.

Postage for wedding invites is something which is never budgeted for. May seem like a small cost, but it still all counts and if you’re sending over100 invites then the stamps may add up.

Hotel room for the night before is also never budgeted for, especially for two days. Don’t forget hotels have early check-out times, hardly leaving time for you to get ready. Make sure to reserve your room for two nights, then there’s nothing to worry about.

Lovely flower arrangements can be found in Northampton and the surrounding areas, yet they can also be delivered to your home or place of business the same day you place an order.

Your arrangement will be prepared by hand by a professional florist and handed to you in person. Just explain what you want and that will be exactly what you can expect to receive. Arrangements can be prepared for special themes or occasions, and in a variety of colours and colour combinations. Whether you order a simple bouquet, a stunning arrangement, or flowers in a basket makes no difference. You are guaranteed to be pleased with the flowers you receive.

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The wedding dress… arguably the most important purchase for your big day! Have a read of our DON’TS whilst looking for that perfect dress!

Say no to an entourage!

Yes it’s the most important purchase you’ve ever made, but having 15 different opinions makes it so much harder to decide on that special dress. We recommend your top 3 picks, so usually; mother, sister and best friend.

Don’t try on too many dresses

Avoid trying on more than 10 gowns as you’ll just end up feeling confused! The average is between four and seven, so stick to that!

Early shopping

Longer engagements seem to be the in-thing nowadays, but that doesn’t mean you should shop for your dress more than 12 months in advance! Have everything else in place before you make that big purchase. Do not visit the bridal store until you’re ready to buy.

Get the correct size

No matter what you say, do not purchase a wedding dress based on you losing weight before the big day! Everyone says it. Just play it safe with the correct size. Dresses can be taken in but letting them out one size is a whole other task.

Why not go for a mixture? This is where having cupcakes can put you at a massive advantage.  You could go for something not traditionally ‘wedding cake’ like a carrot or coffee flavour, or you could stick to a more traditional fruit or Victoria sponge! The options for flavours really are vast, so we suggest you shop around for your cake maker and look into different flavours… Here is a list for you to consider:

• Traditional dark fruitcake
• Mud cakes come in many flavours, you could try cherry, caramel, mango and of course white, milk or dark chocolate.
• Carrot cake
• Flourless orange and almond
• Orange and poppy seed
• Red velvet
• Sticky Date
• Marble Cake
• Croqembouche
• Butterscotch
• Lemon
• Caramel – Butter Pecan
• Old Fashioned Peppermint Fudge Cake
• Orange Juice Cake
• Orange Marmalade Cake
• Maple Walnut
• Cinnamon Cake
• Praline Pecan Cake
• Cookie Cake
• Jamaican Chocolate
• Gingerbread Layer Cake

The benefit of researching cakes and trying all the flavours is simply that – all the tasting opportunities you’re going to have! ENJOY!!!

People seem to be getting more and more creative when it comes to their ‘wedding cake’. You can stick to the signature tiered cake design or you can go for cupcakes, or even a Cheese cake… We actually do mean cheese! Cheese stores have come into the wedding scene with their tiered cake of cheese. With wax on or off you can create a vibrant and rather different take on the original wedding cake design! Great for cheese lovers!

However, we do rather like a combination of traditional cake combined with cupcakes. Dainty little cakes for people to admire and tuck into – this seems to be a beautifully popular miniature option at the moment! The designs can be just as elaborate as your main cake – there really are some amazing cake makers/decorators out there!

Flavours… this is where it can be tricky, do you go for ones that you like, or ones you know everyone else will like?

Not everyone gets married din their back garden or a nearby church and if you’re planning a wedding that involves a reasonable amount of travel then it’s important to consider the car, especially the car the bride will be getting out of.

A car can make a big statement, and if you turn up in your own vehicle then it can represent a lack of care or attention, and this shouldn’t’ be the case on a wedding day. Ideally the car should match the couple’s personality, especially if they’re going out for a ride after their wedding ceremony.

You may want to take a ride in a muscle car if you’re an American car enthusiast or perhaps even a tractor if you want a wedding with a countryside feel. There is also the opportunity to take a ride in a traditional British car, but whatever you decide on it’s important to make sure it’s clean and in superb running condition, otherwise you could wind up in a lay-by with a vehicle recovery van.

The bride and groom may be rather nervous on the day of their wedding, while the best man may be anxious about reading out the speech; however, guests are likely to be anxious about where they’re seated and who they’re placed next to.

The seating at a wedding is always a topic for conversation, and you’re always bound to have a few people who are disappointed with their spot. Perhaps they have a restricted view, or they’re seated don a table with an individual that they’re not keen on. Both ways the seating plan should always be thoroughly organised and you have to consider the needs of the guests when you’re creating this plan.

The main thing is to seat people so that they’re comfortable and ready to socialise. Think about who would get well with whom, who should be closer to the front and who should be further away. These are things you should consider and it’s always important for the bride, groom and the wedding planner to take the time to create an ideal seating plan for your guests.

Save the date cards are definitely more used today than they were in the past and that’s because they’re crucial in the run up to a wedding. People have very hectic lifestyles today and there is more and more need to make sure they remember your date, and store it.

Some people say that with the use of social media people can see your wedding date on their profile calendar, and while that may be true, Facebook should never be relied upon. It’s also rather important to provide a formal card, rather than merely sending out an even on social media networks or sending out a text message. Some people have even take this idea a step further and created save the date fridge magnets.

This is particularly clever because it means that whenever an individual opens their fridge door they’ll see the date, and eventually remember it. Every couple planning a wedding should get a save the date card out there early and then there are likely to be less problems for guests when the actual initiations are sent out.