7 steps to planning your dream wedding

We’re well into wedding season and according to a recent study, the popularity of marriage in the UK is back on the rise after nearly 40 years of decline. So if you’ve got your special day in the diary, our 7-step checklist will help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

From finding the perfect dress to booking your ideal honeymoon, the unique businesses below will support you along your journey – just like your investments have supported their growth!

1. Choose the perfect dress

According to a recent survey, 74% of women are now choosing an ivory dress instead of the traditional white. This could be something to think about at your dress fitting at Froufrou Bridal, an award-winning boutique in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Founded with the aim to escape the boundaries of tradition, the bridal company will ensure that you leave with a dress that compliments your unique and original style. In order to furnish a new space, Froufrou Bridal borrowed finance from 255 investors in 2015.

Froufrou’s top wedding tip – get your guest list right
“It is very easy to get over excited and invite too many guests, or feel obliged to ask extended family who you may never otherwise see or speak to. It’s important to be realistic about who you invite. Weddings are a huge financial commitment and catering for your guests is what takes up at least 50% of your overall budget for the day. Be selective and keep it intimate.”

2. Find the right venue

On average, couples spend around 12 months planning their wedding. Finding the perfect location is pivotal for everything that follows, so it’s important to get it sorted early. Venues can book up quickly, so if you’re picturing an outdoor wedding, why not rent a marquee from Oakleaf Marquees and create your own celebration space? Get creative with fairy lights, flowers and decorations to create something truly special. After growing year-on-year, the family-run company in Dorset needed funds to keep building on their success, so have borrowed finance across three loans since 2014.

3. Decorate with flawless flowers

Brighten up any space with beautiful flowers from The Orange Pip, based in charming Somerset. Studies show that a popular wedding theme nowadays is rustic woodland, which includes soft yellow colours, pastel orange tones and earthy shades of green. We suggest displaying an arrangement on every table to create an exquisite atmosphere for your gathering. To help expand and take on more staff, the passionate team accessed finance through Funding Circle in November 2016.

4. Hire the right caterers

Our next step on the checklist is catering – arguably one of the most important staples at any celebration. A trend at the moment is gourmet grazing stations, so try filling tables with moreish canapes and nibbles. Figs Catering, a team of hugely talented chefs, offer a selection of tasty bowl food that would be perfect to include. You could even go for their delicious BBQ menu that is sure to be a winner with your guests. In order to refit their premises, the catering company borrowed £53,000 in March 2017.

5. Get bespoke sweet treats  

Findings from a recent poll show that more than one in five couples have started to think outside the box and choose cupcakes as their wedding cake. If that sounds like something for you, take a trip to The Chelsea Cake Shop, in Central London. With over 30 years of experience, the bakers produce cupcakes that taste just as good as they look – they’ll even design bespoke treats for your special occasion. To help renovate their shop, the cake shop used Funding Circle to access finance in January 2017.

6. Capture the moment

Make sure you hire a photographer to capture the moment with stunning photos. Eliza Claire is a leading vintage and alternative photographer in the UK, specialising in weddings. Her candid and fun photography comes straight from the heart and will allow you to cherish your special day with photographs that last forever. To help do a national wedding show, Eliza Claire borrowed through Funding Circle in September 2016. 

7. Embark on your dream honeymoon

Finally, after all of the excitement from your wedding, you’ll be ready to unwind and relax on your honeymoon. To help plan the perfect getaway, check out Oliver’s Travel for stunning holiday villa packages. Whether you want some time on the beach in Spain, or prefer the countryside in Ireland, Oliver’s Travel will make sure you don’t settle for anything less than exceptional. In order to branch out into Croatian villas, the company borrowed £200,000 in July 2016.

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