I help brides plan their own weddings step by step, stress free and with oodles of confidence!
Tune in here in 5 minutes at 12:00 BST today when I'll be talking about various ways in which you might consider cutting down your wedding costs.
I'll look at the costs which can be cut by reducing your guest list, asking friends and family to gift you their talents instead of buying a gift and a whole lot more.
Image Credit: Karoline Grabowska via Pexels
https://www.facebook.com/events/1499730887235727
Many couples struggle with the cost of their wedding.
Regardless of budget, wedding are expensive animals and it's important you don't start married life with a huge financial burden.
Tune in here at 12:00 BST Thursday when I'll be talking about various ways in which you might consider cutting down your wedding costs.
I'll look at the costs which can be cut by reducing your guest list, asking friends and family to gift you their talents instead of buying a gift and a whole lot more.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1499730887235727
Having trouble working out your guest list?
Others pushing you to invite people you're unsure about?
I'll talk through some ways to approach your decisions and why.
Join the Livestream here in 5 minutes all about ways to approach pulling your wedding guest list together without inviting everyone you've ever met....
Image with thanks to Anete Lusina via Pexels
Getting the Guest List right (for you)...
Are you struggling to get a grip on your guest list?
Is it running away with itself and seeming to include everyone you've ever met?
Are well meaning friends and family making suggestions, or assumptions, about who you're inviting?
Many, indeed I'd go as far as to say most, couples have issues with their guest list - honest!
Join me here on Thursday at 12:00 BST when I'll be talking all about what I describe as 'Guest List Games'.
I'll give practical advice, based on 20 years of experience working with couples and their friends and families, about ways in which you can approach who does, and doesn't, feature on your list, and most importantly why.
Do you have lots of friends and family offering to help?
I'll talk about how to decide who to have on 'team wedding' without offending others.
Don't forget to tune into my Livestream in here in 5 mins at 12:00 where I'll be talking all about kicking off your wedding planning and how to stay on track.
You can download your FREE Timeline Template from the event too.
Where to start with your planning, and why.
How to keep on track and ensure nothing gets forgotten.
Are you a fairly newly engaged bride thinking ‘I don’t know where to start!’ when it comes to planning your wedding?
Well this is completely usual so please don't feel overwhelmed.
When I work with my students and members I start by getting them to think really carefully about their overall vision for their wedding.
The big stuff ….. things like what sort of ceremony they want, where in the world they want it to be and what the vibe is, be that super laid back, highly sophisticated or anything in between.
Some can visualise everything just as they want in their heads, others like to doodle or pin ideas to get an overall picture.
Starting with this means that once you begin to consider venues and vendors, you’ll easily be able to dismiss those whose work doesn’t meet your vision – it can really save you time.
This Thursday I'm doing a Livestream here all about where to start and why, plus how to keep on track with your planning.
There's also a FREE Timeline Template for you.
https://www.facebook.com/events/855591389230228
Make sure someone has these docs with them on the day to ensure you and all your suppliers are on the same page.
This week I've been talking all about choosing your wedding catering.
Join my Livestream in ten minutes at 10:00 when I'll be discussing:
- different catering options
- various service options
- working with your caterer
... and much more.
There's also a checklist of what to ask your caterer.
Link to join: https://www.facebook.com/events/275125884991702
Image credit: Fu Zhichao from Pexels
This week's topic is choosing your wedding catering.
Join my Livestream on Thursday at 10:00 when I'll be discussing:
- different catering options
- various service options
- working with your caterer
... and much more.
There's also a checklist of what to ask your caterer.
Link to join: https://www.facebook.com/events/275125884991702
Do you have lots of friends and family wanting to help you plan your wedding?
Do they - perhaps inevitably - have ideas which conflict with each other and you?
Is it hard to know who to ask for help and what to say to others?
I will run through simple ways to choose wisely and not offend anyone.
Join me in ten minutes at 11:00 to discover how to choose the right people to help you plan your wedding without upsetting those you don't choose.
https://www.facebook.com/events/820408782379351
Image credit: RF._.studio via Pexels
Sometimes it can be hard to decide who you want to help you plan your wedding.
For many couples, so many friends and family members put their hands up to help you can be left wondering how to whittle it down to those you know will step up to the plate and follow your brief.
Join my Livestream at 11:00 on Thursday to hear my experienced take on how to choose and, importantly, how not to upset those you don't want to help you plan.
https://www.facebook.com/events/820408782379351
This week I've been talking about ways in which to ensure you only invite the people you want to come to your wedding.
I talked about some simple strategies and setting rules around, for example:
- children
- plus ones
- family members you've not seen for years
- exes
- those who just assume they're invited
Are you having problems deciding on your guest list?
Are friends and family trying to get you to invite people you'd prefer not to?
I'd love to hear.
Image credit: Dasa Wharton
Many couples struggle with how to keep their guest lists at a sensible (affordable) level and/ or with inviting only those people they really want at the wedding.
Tune in to hear my thoughts and guidance about guest lists.
Guest List are one of a number of issues which come up time and again in wedding planning and can be a real struggle for some couples.
Join me here in an hour at 11:00 BST when I'll be doing a Livestream talking all about guest lists:
- why you might need to limit yours?
- how to come up with some rules to avoid huge numbers
- working through the real reason you don't want someone there
- avoiding 'inviting without realising'
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204734123550029
Do you worry about who you're inviting to your wedding?
Are people trying to cajole you into inviting people you'd prefer not to?
This is just one of many reasons why a lot of couples struggle with pulling together their wedding guest list ...... indeed I've known a few simply give up and either elope, or go abroad with just their 10 favourite folks.
Understandable, when this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life and you're concerned you might be pushed into sharing it with people who didn't even make the B list in your head.
Join me tomorrow at 11:00 BST when I'll be doing a Livestream talking all about guest lists:
- why you might need to limit yours?
- how to come up with some rules to avoid huge numbers
- working through the real reason you don't want someone there
- avoiding 'inviting without realising'
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204734123550029
Image Credit: Jonathan Nenemann via Pexels
Are you visiting possible venues, trawling through T&Cs and unsure you're asking the right questions before signing on the dotted line?
Tune in and I'll talk you through what to ask - and you can download a free checklist of everything you need to ask!
Want to arrive at your wedding day knowing you've planned it perfectly, forgotten nothing and it's all just as you dreamed?
Join The Emboldened Bride Members' Club for just £1 for the first month - just until midnight on 15th April.
https://theemboldenedbride.com/the-emboldened-bride-programme-trial-2/
If you want to plan your wedding stress free, with step by step modules, worksheets, templates and checklists, this is the Club for you!
What Members say.....
“Sandy, thank you for everything you helped with during the run up to our wedding that happened on Wednesday!
We had such an amazing day and a lot of it wouldn’t have happened without your masterclasses!
So thank you from the bottom of my heart! You really did help more than you’ll ever know!”
----------
“I feel much more confident. I have a plan now and a better idea of what I want.”
I also keep remembering Sandy’s advice about “turning nerves into excitement”. That has been a great help!.”
-----------
“Thank you for listening to me, supporting me and getting my wedding mojo back.”
-----------
So what do you get in the membership? ...
Core modules covering all elements of planning your wedding
Weekly Q&A, coaching and chat - turn up live or watch the replays
Beautiful workbooks to fill in
Checklists and templates to ensure nothing gets forgottten
Regular new bonus modules
Private Members-only Community - a safe space to share, ask questions and get support
Co-Planning sessions - hop in and smash a specific planning task along with other brides
As a thank you for following me here you can hop into the Club for a month for £1 to see if it's a good fit for you.
If it's not you can leave before you pay anything else.
If you love it, your £12 pm subscription will kick in after 30 days.
Simple!
https://theemboldenedbride.com/the-emboldened-bride-programme-trial-2/
I do hope you had a lovely Easter weekend?
Would you like to arrive at your wedding day knowing you've planned it perfectly, forgotten nothing and it's all just as you dreamed?
If so, read on...
You can join The Emboldened Bride Members' Club for just £1 for the first month - just until midnight on 15th April.
https://theemboldenedbride.com/the-emboldened-bride-programme-trial-2/
If you want to plan your wedding stress free, with step by step modules, worksheets, templates and checklists, this is the Club for you!
What Members say.....
“Sandy, thank you for everything you helped with during the run up to our wedding that happened on Wednesday!
We had such an amazing day and a lot of it wouldn’t have happened without your masterclasses!
So thank you from the bottom of my heart! You really did help more than you’ll ever know!”
----------
“I feel much more confident. I have a plan now and a better idea of what I want.”
I also keep remembering Sandy’s advice about “turning nerves into excitement”. That has been a great help!.”
-----------
“Thank you for listening to me, supporting me and getting my wedding mojo back.”
-----------
So what do you get in the membership? ...
Core modules covering all elements of planning your wedding
Weekly Q&A, coaching and chat - turn up live or watch the replays
Beautiful workbooks to fill in
Checklists and templates to ensure nothing gets forgottten
Regular new bonus modules
Private Members-only Community - a safe space to share, ask questions and get support
Co-Planning sessions - hop in and smash a specific planning task along with other brides
As a thank you for following me here you can hop into the Club for a month for £1 to see if it's a good fit for you.
If it's not you can leave before you pay anything else.
If you love it, your £12 pm subscription will kick in after 30 days.
Simple!
https://theemboldenedbride.com/the-emboldened-bride-programme-trial-2/
Newly engaged bride to be?
Not sure where to begin with your wedding planning?
Tune in to get some tips to get you started.
Friends and family giving you unsolicited advice about planning your wedding? Listen in for a few, kind but firm, strategies to tackle this.
Why does everyone think they know better than me?
Planning your wedding is meant to be fun.
However, for some it can be really worrisome, especially if people seem to be interfering in your plans or have expectations you feel you either can’t, or don’t wish to, fulfil.
Even for the most harmonious of families and friendship groups, others’ ideas, expectations and objections can crop up along the way.
In my experience, if friends and family are questioning your decisions, it almost always stems from fear of some sort and can best be addressed via clear, honest communication.
It’s also really important to let people know if they’re upsetting or stressing you as they are very likely simply trying to help and don’t realise the impact they’re having.
Since launching as a wedding planner in 2002 I have been a party to countless couples having to deal with issues raised, and unsolicited suggestions made, by family and friends, many of which they never saw coming, because these are exactly the people they hold most dear.
Frequently Arising Expectations & Objections
Who’s involved in your wedding planning?
Ceremony type
Overall style
Using particular suppliers
Guest List
Involvement on the wedding day
Have any of these come up for you?
Are people questioning, or dismissing, your choices?
Keep your Big Vision in mind
Whether or not you have a vision board, Pinterest boards, scribbled notes or a picture in your head, you will know what your vision for your big day is.
It might be an intimate affair in a local restaurant with limited speeches and wonderful food.
Perhaps you’re picturing a laid back festival style day with food stations and hay bale seats.
Whatever it is for you, let it act as a constant reminder not only of what you decided, but most importantly why.
Your ‘why’ is what will help you explain to others. For example, ‘I know my sister had 200 people in a marquee with an all night band, but I am quieter and want a smaller, simpler wedding because that’s my style’.
Strategies for Managing Expectations & Handling Objections
To me pretty much everything comes down to Communication: how we do it, when we do it, with whom we do it and what we aim to achieve by it.
Let’s take a look at that along with some examples.
Stop talking about it
This world of communication overload is far from specific to wedding planning, but pretty widespread here.
Whether you ‘re sharing your plans via social media, or simply over the weekend with friends, if people are opposing your decisions, suppliers or colour scheme, don’t share them.
Set boundaries and make your position clear
If you’ve decided on no children at your wedding and a good friend with a 5 year old keeps on at you about the decision, let her say her piece, then, gently (ie nobody’s children are invited, not just hers) reassert that the decision is made and you don’t wish to discuss it any more.
Ask kindly why people have certain expectations
Rather than argue about someone’s expectations, face them.
Ask kindly and honestly why they have this particular expectation when you have always explained that x, y or z is your plan.
Write it down
Writing down our thoughts, worries and feelings about the subject someone’s questioning us allows us to do it:
- slowly, in our own time, returning to it, or sleeping on it, if necessary;
- fully, ensuring we get down all the points we want to make, in the order we choose;
- without shouting or bursting into tears.
This can be particularly effective if the person is unused to us being so contained, organised and thoughtful.
Receiving a well constructed, logical email, text or even letter gives them a full explanation and might make them realise their unsolicited advice is in fact upsetting you.
After a while you can have a conversation with them and hopefully move forward constructively.
Fade Out
Sometimes when people are telling us things which are contrary to what we want, or what we want to feel, it can become overwhelming.
One simple way of not dismissing their opinion, but giving it less weight in your mind, is to fade it out.
Imagine them saying whatever it is that’s annoying or upsetting you, then slowly in your mind make the image black & white instead of colour. Take care and remember this is only an image: you are not making the person less so by fading them to black & white, rather lessening the effect that these particular words are having on you.
And finally…..
Work at being on the same page as one another
Make sure the two of you are on the same page and backing each other up.
Once you have agreed your overall vision at the outset, this will help you support one another in terms of others’ interference and expectation management.
Those nearest to us can find the shift in their perceived importance hard to accept.
Sticking together from the outset and working kindly and objectively to overcome the disapproval or disagreement of those who, up to now, have been our ‘go to’ person or people is a great way to start a marriage.
Join me Thursday at 1200 live when I'll be delving into this in more detail. https://www.facebook.com/events/207160248597023
Image Credit: Andrea Picquadio via Pexwls
What to ask your wedding suppliers...
Wondering what to get your Mum for Mother's Day?
If you're in Jersey the lovely Helen Morton and Kathryn Filleul are running this fab afternoon tea event at The Royal Yacht Hotel on the afternoon of Saturday 25th March.
They'll be covering styles and colours for Spring/Summer 2023.
I've worked with, and bought from, both of these ladies - experts in their fields - and would highly recommend them.
Although it's advertised as a Mother's Day gift, it's open to anyone who wants to have a fun afternoon.
https://lnkd.in/eEwN8vvs
Not sure what to ask your wedding suppliers?
One of the things I often get asked in my community is what to ask your wedding suppliers.
Makes sense. You’ve probably not planned a wedding before, so why would you know everything that you need to ask?
For many brides it’s a question of ‘I don’t know what I don’t know, so where to start?’
Well I believe that we as wedding suppliers should make planning as easy as possible for you.
So, although of course you will doubtless go to meetings with potential wedding suppliers armed with a list of questions, I would also throw the ball into their courts and ask what you might have forgotten.
Good suppliers will take you through a process which will hopefully answer things you’ve thought of, and questions you hadn’t.
Good questions to pose to each supplier you believe you want to work with, are:
- Can you think of anything we’ve forgotten to ask?
- Is there anything which other brides have been surprised by
which you could run us through?
- Have you had any feedback from brides who wish they’d known
something they didn’t?
Click here to read full post.:
https://theemboldenedbride.com/not-sure-what-to-ask-your-wedding-suppliers/
Image credit: Mentadgt from Pexels
The Emboldened Bride’s Mindset
I talk a lot in my community about the importance of having a big overall vision of exactly the wedding day you want to create, before diving into booking venues and suppliers.
Only when you have that vision can you shortlist vendors which meet it.
But there’s something which comes even before that.
In order to allow yourself to dream, or envision, your perfect day, whatever that looks and feels like, you need to be in the right mindset.
Mindset is important for every part of life – be it starting a business, believing you can run that marathon, walking into a room full of people you don’t know, or for some just getting up and out of a morning.
Planning a wedding often brings up all sorts of worries and uncertainties.
It can reignite self worth issues we had growing up, make us anxious or make us feel incapable of making a good decision.
This can become wildly overinflated if we’re also getting criticism from others with bigger, or louder, personalities or perceived knowledge or experience.
Read full blog post here.. https://theemboldenedbride.com/the-emboldened-brides-mindset/
Image credit: Jonathan Andrew via Pexels
The more you have with you on the day (not you the bride or groom, but rather a friend or family member) the better.
You don't need to cut down trees, it can all be digital - just easily accessible should any issues arise....
How and when to put your Wedding Schedule together...
Your Wedding Schedule takes over from your Timeline or Project Plan, however this doesn’t mean that you don’t start creating it until a week before the wedding – absolutely the opposite.
When I am working on clients’ weddings I start the Schedule as soon as we begin working together.
It may change, but there are certain parts of the day which can be entered early, such as the time of the Ceremony, assuming that has been agreed, and an overall outline of timings for the day.
Generally you’ll have an idea of when you want to sit down to eat, when dancing will begin and, importantly, any timings set by your Venue, such as the time amplified music must go off, the time all music must cease and the time by which guests must leave.
I find starting the Schedule from the outset means I can add to it slowly and it doesn’t become a mammoth task later in the planning period.
One thing to look out for is anything major happening on your wedding day, especially if it is a Summer Saturday. National sports fixtures like Wimbledon in the UK you will know well in advance, but you may not know if your local football team has a match at their home ground until nearer the time.
Such events can greatly affect traffic and therefore transportation times.
In terms of how to put it together, I use a simple spreadsheet, but you can use whatever works for you which might be a Word document, some sort of table or a notebook.
Some brides find it beneficial to colour code different parts of the Schedule, for example food and drink related items in blue, photography items in green, transportation in yellow, etc.
Have you started a Schedule of any sort yet? What are you using?
Image Credit: Ekaterina Bolovtsova via Pexels
Doors are open to WedPlan Together - my 12 week course for brides planning their weddings.
Join me to hear all about it.
Enjoying the Wedding Planathon? Great - don't forget we have our Budget Workshop at 6pm.
Not in yet and want to get the Replays so far and join in now - do so here! xoxo
http://theemboldenedbride.com/join-the-wedding-planathon-2/
We kicked off the FREE Wedding Planathon yesterday and there's a really great bunch of brides-to-be who've joined already and comments suggest people really enjoyed the first Workshop and the downloads they're receiving.
If you'd like to join in it's not too late - join from the link above and I'll send you the replay of yesterday's Workshop along with your Timeline Template and your Planathon Workbook.
| Monday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
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Having trouble working out your guest list? Others pushing you to invite people you're unsure about? I'll talk through some ways to approach your decisions and why.
Do you have lots of friends and family offering to help? I'll talk about how to decide who to have on 'team wedding' without offending others.
Where to start with your planning, and why. How to keep on track and ensure nothing gets forgotten.
Make sure someone has these docs with them on the day to ensure you and all your suppliers are on the same page.
Do you have lots of friends and family wanting to help you plan your wedding? Do they - perhaps inevitably - have ideas which conflict with each other and you? Is it hard to know who to ask for help and what to say to others? I will run through simple ways to choose wisely and not offend anyone.
Many couples struggle with how to keep their guest lists at a sensible (affordable) level and/ or with inviting only those people they really want at the wedding. Tune in to hear my thoughts and guidance about guest lists.
Are you visiting possible venues, trawling through T&Cs and unsure you're asking the right questions before signing on the dotted line? Tune in and I'll talk you through what to ask - and you can download a free checklist of everything you need to ask!
Newly engaged bride to be? Not sure where to begin with your wedding planning? Tune in to get some tips to get you started.
Friends and family giving you unsolicited advice about planning your wedding? Listen in for a few, kind but firm, strategies to tackle this.
What to ask your wedding suppliers... #weddingcourse #engaged #weddingplanning #engagement #love #2023wedding #wedding2023 #2024wedding #wedding2024 #theemboldenedbride #trainingforbrides #courseforbrides #weddingplan #gettingmarried #diybride #weddingideas #weddingsuppliers #wedding #weddingplanningtools #theweddingyouwant #weddingplanningwheretostart #weddingschedule #theweddingcourse
Doors are open to WedPlan Together - my 12 week course for brides planning their weddings. Join me to hear all about it.
Enjoying the Wedding Planathon? Great - don't forget we have our Budget Workshop at 6pm. Not in yet and want to get the Replays so far and join in now - do so here! xoxo
FREE Wedding Planathon starts today for brides planning their own weddings. I will explain how to sign up, what to expect and where to find all you need.
I'll be talking all about my upcoming FREE Wedding Planathon 24-29 January. What to expect What I will cover How to sign up totally FREE
Did you get engaged over the holidays? If so huge congrats! Whether you recently became engaged or have been for some time it can be hard easing into planning mode after the hols. We'll look at: - easing in slowly in January - what to do first if you're new to this - how to continue getting planning advice See you soon lovely xoxo
Not sure how long each element of your day will take? Tune in and I'll talk you through scheduling your day.
Not sure how to go about choosing your wedding caterer? I'll discuss what to consider and what to ask when talking to possible caterers.
Wedding Guest Lists can be fraught with peril. Hopefully you're having no trouble pulling yours together, but if not, I will discuss: - sticking to your vision for the day, including who you want there - defining some rules - inviting specific types of guests - dealing with those who just assume they're invited
If you're planning your wedding with nobody giving you unsolicited advice or trying to change your plans, I'm really pleased for you. For so many couples handling others' interference can be a problem. I'll discuss why this tends to happen and provide some simple strategies for managing expectations and handling objections without falling out with your loved ones.
How to go about choosing suppliers. What to ask them. Which ones do you really need to get on with?
How to choose. What to ask. FREE Checklist of questions for your site visits.
The importance of choosing the right people to help you plan your wedding.
Why is it so important to map out your vision for your wedding?
Sandy shares weekly top tips to help with your wedding on Tuesdays.
This week my topic is Tools & Templates Join my Livestream 1200 Thursday to discuss
Wedding Planning is not a solo sport. I talk about why it's good to have a team, how to choose them and what they can help you with.
Weekly short, sharp tips to help with your wedding planning.
This week in The Emboldened Bride we are talking all about the importance of having a team around you to plan your wedding. Join me at 5pm BST Thursday 19th May to discuss why it's important, who to choose and what to give them to do.
This week my topic is the importance of doing your wedding your way. In this Livestream I will cover.... Why it's important. Getting in the right Mindset. How to achieve it without upsetting others.
This week my topic is the importance of doing your wedding your way. Why it's important. Getting in the right Mindset. How to achieve it without upsetting others.
Want your business to be the top-listed Event Planning Service?
Having been a wedding and event planner since 2003, in two different locations, I decided I wanted to be able to help more brides to be than I was.
As I specialised in Full Planning, my clients tended to have healthy budgets but were time poor.
I also co-owned The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners for 12 of those years where I trained and coached hundreds of planners.
Over the years many brides had contacted me wanting advice and guidance but didn’t want to hire a planner for one, or sometimes both, of two reasons:
After conducting some online research into what exactly brides needed, and with my background in training and coaching, I launched The Emboldened Bride alongside my 121 Wedding Planning services.
Initially it was launched as a course, but in January 2020 I launched The Emboldened Bride Members’ Club which I love running and get great feedback from.
It’s a very low cost option, with a small monthly fee and, importantly, you can join for a month and decide to leave whenever you wish - you’re not tied to any minimum period.
Your monthly fee never increases, but the value does, as I upload a new Module every single month.
If you’d like to plan your wedding stress free, with oodles of confidence, every template and checklist you need and weekly live Q&A and coaching with me and your fellow members, please check out The Emboldened Bride Members’ Club or message me with any questions.
