[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":2865},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-autumn-weddings-warm-tones-and-cosy-details":3,"blog-related-autumn-weddings-warm-tones-and-cosy-details":197,"$ftIEU77gxmG7oFo0LZT45yMWloEbquGkJkVV4tJ5PCNE":2786,"$fRPgg2xVnttuQpDEg_4PZ9no1solULoS5AaZrI4wSSSM":2839},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":177,"date":178,"description":179,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":182,"imageAlt":183,"imageCredit":184,"imageCreditUrl":185,"meta":186,"navigation":187,"path":188,"readTime":189,"seo":190,"stem":191,"tags":192,"__hash__":196},"blog/blog/autumn-weddings-warm-tones-and-cosy-details.md","Autumn Weddings: Warm Tones and Cosy Details","The Build The Day Team",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":168},"minimark",[10,14,17,22,25,28,44,47,51,54,57,61,64,142,145,149,152,155,159,162,165],[11,12,13],"p",{},"There's a reason so many couples fall for an autumn wedding. The light goes golden by late afternoon, the venues that were booked out all summer suddenly have dates, and nobody is sweating through their suit during the speeches. If you've landed on September, October or early November, you've picked a season that does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.",[11,15,16],{},"The trick is leaning into what the season already offers rather than fighting it. Here's how to make an autumn day feel warm and gathered, without tipping into pumpkin-spice cliché.",[18,19,21],"h2",{"id":20},"get-the-colour-palette-right-first","Get the colour palette right first",[11,23,24],{},"Autumn is generous with colour, which is also the trap. Throw every shade of orange, rust, burgundy and gold at a room and it starts to look like a garden centre in October. Pick three or four tones and let them carry everything: flowers, table linen, bridesmaid dresses, stationery.",[11,26,27],{},"A few combinations that hold up well:",[29,30,31,35,38,41],"ul",{},[32,33,34],"li",{},"Burgundy, blush and warm cream for something soft and romantic",[32,36,37],{},"Deep teal, copper and ivory if you want richness without going full pumpkin",[32,39,40],{},"Mustard, sage and terracotta for a relaxed, earthy feel",[32,42,43],{},"Plum, gold and charcoal for an evening that leans formal",[11,45,46],{},"The neutral in your palette matters more than people think. Cream, oatmeal or soft taupe stops the warm shades from overwhelming the room and gives your photos somewhere to breathe.",[18,48,50],{"id":49},"flowers-that-are-actually-in-season","Flowers that are actually in season",[11,52,53],{},"Seasonal flowers cost less and look fresher because they haven't been flown halfway round the world. In a British autumn, you've got dahlias at their absolute peak, chrysanthemums (far chicer than their reputation suggests), hydrangeas going papery and antique, plus berries, seed heads and trailing foliage that bring texture for very little money.",[11,55,56],{},"Ask your florist what they can get from UK growers in your month. Tell them the feeling you're after, warm and gathered, slightly wild, rather than naming specific stems. A good florist will build something better than anything you'd pick from a Pinterest board, and it'll suit what's genuinely available the week of your wedding.",[18,58,60],{"id":59},"lean-into-layers-and-texture","Lean into layers and texture",[11,62,63],{},"Summer weddings get away with bare arms and open marquees. Autumn rewards a bit more. Think velvet runners instead of cotton, chunky knit wraps draped over chair backs for the women in your party, candles absolutely everywhere. Texture is what makes a room feel cosy rather than just decorated.",[65,66,67,83],"table",{},[68,69,70],"thead",{},[71,72,73,77,80],"tr",{},[74,75,76],"th",{},"Detail",[74,78,79],{},"Summer version",[74,81,82],{},"Autumn version",[84,85,86,98,109,120,131],"tbody",{},[71,87,88,92,95],{},[89,90,91],"td",{},"Table linen",[89,93,94],{},"Light cotton, pale tones",[89,96,97],{},"Velvet runners, deeper colour",[71,99,100,103,106],{},[89,101,102],{},"Lighting",[89,104,105],{},"Daylight, fairy lights",[89,107,108],{},"Candles, festoons, warm bulbs",[71,110,111,114,117],{},[89,112,113],{},"Guest comfort",[89,115,116],{},"Fans, shade, cold drinks",[89,118,119],{},"Wraps, blankets, hot toddies",[71,121,122,125,128],{},[89,123,124],{},"Bar",[89,126,127],{},"Spritzes, cold fizz",[89,129,130],{},"Mulled wine, spiced cider, whisky",[71,132,133,136,139],{},[89,134,135],{},"Favours",[89,137,138],{},"Seed packets, sweets",[89,140,141],{},"Small candles, honey, spiced biscuits",[11,143,144],{},"A basket of blankets by the door for an outdoor ceremony or drinks reception costs almost nothing and tells every guest you thought about them.",[18,146,148],{"id":147},"plan-around-the-early-dark","Plan around the early dark",[11,150,151],{},"This is the one autumn detail couples forget, and it changes your whole running order. The clocks go back at the end of October, and even before that the sun is gone by half six in early autumn. If you want golden-hour couple photos, your photographer needs you out at the right moment, which might be straight after the ceremony rather than between courses.",[11,153,154],{},"Talk to your photographer early about timings. Then make sure your venue is lit for the dark half of the day: festoon lights, candles, uplighting in corners. A room that looked lovely in daylight can feel flat once it's pitch black outside if nobody planned the lighting.",[18,156,158],{"id":157},"the-cosy-details-guests-remember","The cosy details guests remember",[11,160,161],{},"The big stuff (flowers, food, the dress) matters, but it's the small warm touches that people talk about afterwards. A welcome drink of spiced cider as guests arrive in the cold. A late-night bacon roll or chip cone after dancing. A fire pit with marshmallows. Hot water bottles tucked into the order of service for an outdoor ceremony.",[11,163,164],{},"If you're sharing the day's details ahead of time, a wedding website is the easy way to tell guests it'll be chilly outside and to bring a warm coat. On your Build The Day site you can add a short note about the weather and what to wear alongside the timings, so nobody turns up in a thin summer outfit and shivers through your vows.",[11,166,167],{},"Autumn does warmth better than any other season. Give it a clear palette, real seasonal flowers, proper lighting and a handful of cosy touches, and the day looks after itself.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":171},"",2,[172,173,174,175,176],{"id":20,"depth":170,"text":21},{"id":49,"depth":170,"text":50},{"id":59,"depth":170,"text":60},{"id":147,"depth":170,"text":148},{"id":157,"depth":170,"text":158},"Seasonal Weddings","2024-06-20","How to plan an autumn wedding in the UK, from rich colour palettes and seasonal flowers to lighting, layering and the cosy details guests remember.",false,"md","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1677677403344-029c7fcd7300?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxvdXRkb29yJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlcmVtb255fGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTQ0OTl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","An outdoor ceremony set up with chairs and rugs","Sergio Butko","https://unsplash.com/@sbutko?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},true,"/blog/autumn-weddings-warm-tones-and-cosy-details",6,{"title":5,"description":179},"blog/autumn-weddings-warm-tones-and-cosy-details",[193,194,195],"autumn","seasonal","decor","DEX4eJDC0-EA9iQBMDXuJLRnmCGgpl7cBs8xKB0b7rY",[198,386,562,750,962,1127,1314,1517,1748,1863,2122,2303,2473,2650],{"id":199,"title":200,"author":6,"body":201,"category":177,"date":371,"description":372,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":373,"imageAlt":374,"imageCredit":375,"imageCreditUrl":376,"meta":377,"navigation":187,"path":378,"readTime":189,"seo":379,"stem":380,"tags":381,"__hash__":385},"blog/blog/bank-holiday-and-long-weekend-weddings.md","Bank Holiday and Long-Weekend Weddings",{"type":8,"value":202,"toc":364},[203,206,209,213,216,219,222,226,229,232,235,246,249,253,256,259,335,339,342,345,348,352,355,358,361],[11,204,205],{},"A bank holiday wedding sounds clever on paper. Nobody has to book the Monday off, the celebration can stretch into the next day, and everyone arrives a bit more relaxed. But there's a flip side that catches a lot of couples out, and it's worth weighing up properly before you fall in love with a date.",[11,207,208],{},"So here's an honest look at what a long-weekend wedding actually gives you, and what it quietly costs.",[18,210,212],{"id":211},"the-case-for-a-bank-holiday-date","The case for a bank holiday date",[11,214,215],{},"The big one is time. Most guests get the Monday as part of the package, which means they can travel on the Friday, settle in, and not feel like they're racing back for work on Sunday night. For a wedding with people coming from across the country, or from abroad, that extra day makes a genuine difference to who can actually come.",[11,217,218],{},"It also changes the mood. People relax differently when they know they've got a spare day to recover. The dance floor tends to stay fuller for longer when nobody's checking their watch for the last train.",[11,220,221],{},"And if you fancy more than one event, a long weekend gives you room. A casual welcome drinks on the Friday, the wedding on the Saturday, a lazy brunch on the Sunday or Monday. You don't have to do all three, but the option is there without anyone burning their annual leave.",[18,223,225],{"id":224},"the-case-against-and-its-a-real-one","The case against (and it's a real one)",[11,227,228],{},"Here's where it gets less rosy. Bank holidays are the busiest dates in the wedding calendar, and suppliers know it. Photographers, bands and venues often charge a premium for those weekends, and the best ones book up the furthest in advance.",[11,230,231],{},"According to Bridebook's UK Wedding Report, the average UK wedding has been running well over £20,000 in recent years, and choosing a peak date is one of the easiest ways to push your own total towards the top of that range rather than the bottom.",[11,233,234],{},"Travel and accommodation also get harder, not easier. Everyone else has the same idea about a weekend away, so:",[29,236,237,240,243],{},[32,238,239],{},"Hotels near your venue fill up and put their prices up",[32,241,242],{},"Trains run reduced bank-holiday timetables, sometimes with engineering works",[32,244,245],{},"Roads to popular areas (think Cornwall, the Lakes, the Cotswolds) get clogged",[11,247,248],{},"There's also the guest-cost question. A long weekend is lovely, but it asks more of people. Two or three nights away, meals out, maybe a dog-sitter at home. For some guests, a single Saturday is the easy yes and a full weekend is the polite decline.",[18,250,252],{"id":251},"when-a-long-weekend-really-shines","When a long weekend really shines",[11,254,255],{},"Some weddings are made for this. If you're having a marquee or a tipi on private land, the extra day is brilliant for setting up on the Friday and packing down on the Monday without rushing. Self-catering or a venue you have exclusive use of? Same thing. The buffer days earn their keep.",[11,257,258],{},"It also works beautifully when most of your guests already travel to reach you. If half the room is coming from overseas or the other end of the country anyway, the bank holiday turns a stressful flying visit into a proper trip.",[65,260,261,277],{},[68,262,263],{},[71,264,265,268,271,274],{},[74,266,267],{},"Date type",[74,269,270],{},"Typical supplier cost",[74,272,273],{},"Guest travel",[74,275,276],{},"Best for",[84,278,279,293,307,321],{},[71,280,281,284,287,290],{},[89,282,283],{},"Bank holiday Saturday",[89,285,286],{},"Higher (peak demand)",[89,288,289],{},"Easier time off, busier roads",[89,291,292],{},"Far-flung guests, multi-day plans",[71,294,295,298,301,304],{},[89,296,297],{},"Bank holiday Sunday",[89,299,300],{},"Often slightly lower",[89,302,303],{},"Monday to recover",[89,305,306],{},"Couples wanting a calmer Saturday rate",[71,308,309,312,315,318],{},[89,310,311],{},"Standard Saturday",[89,313,314],{},"Standard peak",[89,316,317],{},"One day only",[89,319,320],{},"Local guests, single-day budgets",[71,322,323,326,329,332],{},[89,324,325],{},"Off-season weekday",[89,327,328],{},"Lowest",[89,330,331],{},"Hardest to get time off",[89,333,334],{},"Tight budgets, flexible guest lists",[18,336,338],{"id":337},"telling-guests-early-and-telling-them-well","Telling guests early, and telling them well",[11,340,341],{},"If you go for a bank holiday, your guests need a long run-up. People plan getaways and mini-breaks around those dates months ahead, so a save-the-date a good 8 to 12 months out is sensible, even more for an overseas crowd.",[11,343,344],{},"Be clear about the shape of the weekend, too. If there's a Friday welcome drinks or a Sunday brunch, say whether it's optional, what to wear, and whether they need to book their own room. Vagueness here leads to a flurry of texts you'll be answering for weeks.",[11,346,347],{},"This is exactly the kind of thing a wedding website handles well. Build The Day lets you list the running order across the whole weekend, link to local hotels and travel routes, and collect RSVPs for each part separately, so you know whether someone's coming to the wedding only or staying the full three days. That last detail matters enormously for catering and room blocks.",[18,349,351],{"id":350},"a-few-practical-nudges","A few practical nudges",[11,353,354],{},"Book the headline suppliers first. On a bank holiday, the photographer or band you really want can be gone a year out, so lock those in before you fuss over favours.",[11,356,357],{},"Sort accommodation early and share it fast. Reserve a block of rooms if you can, or at least scout out two or three options at different price points and put them on your site. Guests who book in good time get the better rates, and they'll thank you for the heads-up.",[11,359,360],{},"And think about the people doing the heavy lifting. Your nearest and dearest, the ones setting up and tidying away, are giving up their long weekend too. A spare day is lovely, but it's still a big ask. Feed them well, and don't expect them to be on their feet for three days straight.",[11,362,363],{},"A bank holiday wedding can be the warmest, most unhurried kind of celebration there is. Just go in with your eyes open about the cost and the logistics, give your guests plenty of notice, and the extra day becomes a gift rather than a strain.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":365},[366,367,368,369,370],{"id":211,"depth":170,"text":212},{"id":224,"depth":170,"text":225},{"id":251,"depth":170,"text":252},{"id":337,"depth":170,"text":338},{"id":350,"depth":170,"text":351},"2026-04-25","The real pros and cons of marrying on a UK bank holiday or long weekend, from guest travel and venue prices to what to put on your wedding website.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1511285560929-80b456fea0bc?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx3ZWVrZW5kJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlbGVicmF0aW9ufGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTU4NjV8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Photo of a man and woman newly wedding holding a balloons","Álvaro CvG","https://unsplash.com/@alvarocvg?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/bank-holiday-and-long-weekend-weddings",{"title":200,"description":372},"blog/bank-holiday-and-long-weekend-weddings",[382,383,384],"bank holiday","planning","guests","WPI1r80xab6RRu_-gl_QIGQ2owCz34Ul07mtcOMWuaA",{"id":387,"title":388,"author":389,"body":390,"category":177,"date":547,"description":548,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":549,"imageAlt":550,"imageCredit":551,"imageCreditUrl":552,"meta":553,"navigation":187,"path":554,"readTime":189,"seo":555,"stem":556,"tags":557,"__hash__":561},"blog/blog/heatwave-wedding-survival-guide.md","Heatwave Wedding Survival Guide","Editorial Team",{"type":8,"value":391,"toc":539},[392,395,399,402,405,408,412,415,418,432,435,439,442,445,449,452,513,516,520,523,526,529,533,536],[11,393,394],{},"British summers used to mean planning around rain. Now you also have to plan around 32 degrees and a cloudless sky, because heatwaves have become a genuine feature of June, July and August rather than a freak event. A hot day is lovely until it isn't, and there's nothing romantic about a guest fainting during your vows or your buttercream sliding off the cake. So if there's any chance your day could be a scorcher, build a few sensible plans now.",[18,396,398],{"id":397},"shade-is-the-single-most-important-thing","Shade is the single most important thing",[11,400,401],{},"Heat plus direct sun is what does people in. If your ceremony or drinks reception is outdoors, you need somewhere for guests to get out of the sun, and you need it before the day, not improvised on the morning.",[11,403,404],{},"Talk to your venue about what shade exists naturally: trees, a covered terrace, the side of a building that's shadowed by mid-afternoon. If there isn't enough, hire it. A few large parasols, a stretch tent or a pergola can transform an exposed lawn. For the ceremony itself, consider angling the seating so guests aren't squinting into the sun for twenty minutes, and offer paper fans or parasols on the chairs.",[11,406,407],{},"One small mercy: an outdoor ceremony in genuine heat is better kept short. Nobody wants forty minutes of readings when it's 30 degrees. Trim it.",[18,409,411],{"id":410},"water-everywhere-all-day","Water, everywhere, all day",[11,413,414],{},"This is the cheapest and most effective thing you can do, and couples still forget it. People drink fizz and cocktails at weddings and quietly dehydrate in the heat without noticing.",[11,416,417],{},"Set out water properly:",[29,419,420,423,426,429],{},[32,421,422],{},"A self-serve water station with cucumber or lemon, refilled through the day",[32,424,425],{},"Jugs of water on every table, not just wine",[32,427,428],{},"A bottle of water at each place setting during the ceremony if it's really hot",[32,430,431],{},"A nod from your toastmaster or MC reminding people to drink",[11,433,434],{},"If you can stretch to it, a few simple non-alcoholic options at the bar (an alcohol-free spritz, iced tea, lemonade) give people something to reach for that isn't another prosecco in the sun.",[18,436,438],{"id":437},"dress-for-the-weather-and-tell-your-wedding-party-to","Dress for the weather, and tell your wedding party to",[11,440,441],{},"A three-piece wool suit at 31 degrees is a punishment. If you suspect heat, steer your wedding party towards lighter fabrics: linen, cotton blends, an unlined or half-lined jacket. Groomsmen can lose the jacket and waistcoat for the reception without anyone minding. For the couple, a heavy structured gown might look incredible and feel unbearable by 4pm, so factor comfort into your fittings.",[11,443,444],{},"Tell guests too. A line on your wedding website like \"the day will be largely outdoors, so dress for sunshine and bring a hat\" genuinely helps people pack. Build The Day lets you add weather and what-to-wear notes alongside the venue details, so guests aren't guessing.",[18,446,448],{"id":447},"a-timeline-that-dodges-the-worst-of-the-heat","A timeline that dodges the worst of the heat",[11,450,451],{},"Across most of the UK, the hottest stretch of a summer day runs from roughly 1pm to 4pm. If you've got flexibility, you can work with that.",[65,453,454,467],{},[68,455,456],{},[71,457,458,461,464],{},[74,459,460],{},"Time",[74,462,463],{},"What's happening",[74,465,466],{},"Heat strategy",[84,468,469,480,491,502],{},[71,470,471,474,477],{},[89,472,473],{},"Late morning",[89,475,476],{},"Getting ready",[89,478,479],{},"Air-con or a cool room, hydrate the wedding party",[71,481,482,485,488],{},[89,483,484],{},"Early afternoon",[89,486,487],{},"Ceremony",[89,489,490],{},"Shade or indoors, keep it short",[71,492,493,496,499],{},[89,494,495],{},"2pm to 4pm",[89,497,498],{},"Drinks & photos",[89,500,501],{},"Shaded reception, water station, slow pace",[71,503,504,507,510],{},[89,505,506],{},"Evening",[89,508,509],{},"Dinner & dancing",[89,511,512],{},"Doors open as it cools, fans in the room",[11,514,515],{},"Pushing the ceremony slightly later or moving the bulk of photos to the softer light of early evening kills two birds: more comfortable guests and better photographs.",[18,517,519],{"id":518},"the-bits-that-physically-melt","The bits that physically melt",[11,521,522],{},"Heat is hard on the details. Flowers wilt, candles bow over, and buttercream and chocolate ganache do not survive a warm marquee. Talk to your suppliers honestly about the forecast.",[11,524,525],{},"Florists can choose hardier blooms and keep arrangements cool until the last moment. For the cake, ask your baker about heat-stable options: fondant and ganache hold up better than soft buttercream, and you can keep the cake somewhere cool until it's cut. Don't leave it sitting in a sunny window for the photos.",[11,527,528],{},"Makeup needs a different approach in heat too, so flag it at your trial. A setting spray and a longwear base make the difference between glowing and sliding.",[18,530,532],{"id":531},"look-after-the-vulnerable-guests","Look after the vulnerable guests",[11,534,535],{},"Heat hits some people much harder. Keep an eye on elderly relatives, anyone pregnant, and the children, who'll happily run around in full sun until they overheat. Reserve the shaded seats for the people who need them most, have sun cream available, and put a small bottle of factor 50 and a few plasters in your wedding-day kit. A quiet, cool indoor room people can retreat to is worth its weight in gold.",[11,537,538],{},"A hot wedding can be glorious, all long golden evenings and bare shoulders and cold drinks. The couples who pull it off aren't lucky, they just planned for the heat the way previous generations planned for the rain. Sort the shade, the water and the timeline, and the sunshine becomes the gift it should be.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":540},[541,542,543,544,545,546],{"id":397,"depth":170,"text":398},{"id":410,"depth":170,"text":411},{"id":437,"depth":170,"text":438},{"id":447,"depth":170,"text":448},{"id":518,"depth":170,"text":519},{"id":531,"depth":170,"text":532},"2026-04-18","How to keep guests cool and comfortable when your wedding lands on a scorching day, from shade and water to suit fabrics and a melting cake.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1601902131603-2783aadb4c17?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzdW1tZXIlMjB3ZWRkaW5nJTIwc3VufGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE2MDAzOTB8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Pink and white roses in white ceramic vase","Sara Budhwani","https://unsplash.com/@sarabudhwani?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/heatwave-wedding-survival-guide",{"title":388,"description":548},"blog/heatwave-wedding-survival-guide",[558,559,560],"summer","weather","guest comfort","r1vQyLknqX7Tux0u-pHvf2aPXnd-sTdOoIq0t3h9wP0",{"id":563,"title":564,"author":6,"body":565,"category":177,"date":736,"description":737,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":738,"imageAlt":739,"imageCredit":740,"imageCreditUrl":741,"meta":742,"navigation":187,"path":743,"readTime":189,"seo":744,"stem":745,"tags":746,"__hash__":749},"blog/blog/new-years-eve-weddings-a-celebration-to-remember.md","New Year's Eve Weddings: A Celebration to Remember",{"type":8,"value":566,"toc":729},[567,570,574,577,580,583,587,590,601,604,607,611,614,617,620,703,706,710,713,716,720,723,726],[11,568,569],{},"There's something about marrying on the last night of the year. You get the wedding and the party of the year rolled into one, and your anniversary will forever come wrapped in fireworks. It's a glorious idea. It also comes with a handful of quirks that a June Saturday simply doesn't, so it pays to go in with your eyes open.",[18,571,573],{"id":572},"why-couples-fall-for-it","Why couples fall for it",[11,575,576],{},"A New Year's Eve wedding has built-in atmosphere before you've spent a penny on decor. Everyone is already in the mood to celebrate, the venue is probably dressed for the season, and there's a natural, electric moment at midnight that no amount of planning could buy you on an ordinary Saturday.",[11,578,579],{},"It also solves the \"what next\" question that haunts a lot of evening receptions. Nobody drifts off early on New Year's Eve. The countdown gives the whole night a shape and a destination, and the dance floor tends to look after itself once the clock gets close.",[11,581,582],{},"And there's the practical romance of it: your anniversary is a date nobody forgets, the country throws a party with you every year, and you'll always have an excuse to dig out a nice bottle of fizz on 31 December.",[18,584,586],{"id":585},"the-honest-trade-offs","The honest trade-offs",[11,588,589],{},"Now the bits people don't put on the mood board.",[11,591,592,593,600],{},"NYE is a premium date. Venues, bands and photographers know it's one of the busiest nights of their year, and some charge a surcharge to match. According to ",[594,595,599],"a",{"href":596,"rel":597},"https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/the-average-wedding-cost-in-the-uk-revealed/",[598],"nofollow","Hitched's 2024 National Wedding Survey",", the average UK wedding came in at around £20,700, and a peak-date New Year's booking can sit at the higher end of whatever a supplier quotes. Book early, because the good people go fast for that night.",[11,602,603],{},"Guest availability is the other big one. Some friends will have their own NYE traditions, family in other parts of the country, or small children and no babysitter on the one night sitters are impossible to find. Expect a few more apologies than you'd get for a summer date. It's not a reason to abandon the plan, just a reason to send save-the-dates early and not take it personally.",[11,605,606],{},"Travel and accommodation need real thought. Public transport thins out, taxis are gold dust, and anyone driving home won't be drinking. Build your plan around people staying over or having lifts sorted well in advance.",[18,608,610],{"id":609},"getting-the-timings-right","Getting the timings right",[11,612,613],{},"The midnight moment is the whole point, so work backwards from it rather than treating it like an afterthought.",[11,615,616],{},"A common mistake is front-loading the day with an early ceremony and then leaving a long, flat gap before the countdown. You don't want guests peaking at 9pm. Aim to keep energy building toward twelve. A later ceremony, an unhurried dinner and a dance floor that opens with a couple of hours still to run tends to land better than an afternoon start.",[11,618,619],{},"Here's a running order that keeps things moving without rushing the good bits:",[65,621,622,630],{},[68,623,624],{},[71,625,626,628],{},[74,627,460],{},[74,629,463],{},[84,631,632,639,647,655,663,671,679,687,695],{},[71,633,634,637],{},[89,635,636],{},"3:00pm",[89,638,487],{},[71,640,641,644],{},[89,642,643],{},"3:45pm",[89,645,646],{},"Drinks, photos, canapés",[71,648,649,652],{},[89,650,651],{},"5:30pm",[89,653,654],{},"Guests seated for dinner",[71,656,657,660],{},[89,658,659],{},"7:30pm",[89,661,662],{},"Speeches",[71,664,665,668],{},[89,666,667],{},"8:30pm",[89,669,670],{},"First dance, dance floor opens",[71,672,673,676],{},[89,674,675],{},"10:00pm",[89,677,678],{},"Evening guests arrive, food refresh",[71,680,681,684],{},[89,682,683],{},"11:45pm",[89,685,686],{},"Gather everyone for the countdown",[71,688,689,692],{},[89,690,691],{},"12:00am",[89,693,694],{},"Midnight, fizz, the lot",[71,696,697,700],{},[89,698,699],{},"12:30am",[89,701,702],{},"Second wind, late-night snacks",[11,704,705],{},"Two details make a big difference. First, make sure everyone has a glass charged and is in the room a good ten minutes before midnight, because herding people in from the smoking area at 11:58 never goes well. Second, plan a proper kick after the bells: a crowd-pleaser of a song, a fresh round of bacon rolls, something to carry the night into the small hours rather than letting it sag.",[18,707,709],{"id":708},"telling-guests-what-they-need-to-know","Telling guests what they need to know",[11,711,712],{},"Because an NYE wedding asks a bit more of people, clear information is a kindness. Spell out timings, dress code, whether you're providing transport, and your suggestions for where to stay. The earlier guests can sort childcare and a bed for the night, the more likely they are to say yes.",[11,714,715],{},"A wedding website does the heavy lifting here. You can keep the schedule, your travel notes and a list of nearby places to stay in one spot, collect RSVPs online so you know your numbers, and update everyone in a moment if the plan shifts. Build The Day lets you put all of that on a single page and add accommodation and travel details guests can check from their phones on the way over.",[18,717,719],{"id":718},"dressing-the-day-for-the-season","Dressing the day for the season",[11,721,722],{},"Lean into winter rather than fighting it. Candlelight does most of the work, and a cold, dark evening makes warm light look incredible. Deep colours, plenty of greenery, metallics that catch the flames, and far more candles than you think you need.",[11,724,725],{},"Keep guests comfortable: somewhere to leave coats, a warm route between any outdoor spaces, and maybe blankets if there's a chilly courtyard people will want to step into. A small thing, but cold guests leave early, and you want everyone there at midnight.",[11,727,728],{},"A few practical extras worth sorting: sparklers or party poppers for the countdown, a stash of paracetamol and water near the late-night food, and a clear plan for getting people home or to their rooms once the bells have rung. Get those right and a New Year's Eve wedding gives you the best night of the year, on a date you'll never have to look up.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":730},[731,732,733,734,735],{"id":572,"depth":170,"text":573},{"id":585,"depth":170,"text":586},{"id":609,"depth":170,"text":610},{"id":708,"depth":170,"text":709},{"id":718,"depth":170,"text":719},"2026-04-12","Planning a New Year's Eve wedding in the UK: the appeal, the costs, timings around midnight, what to tell guests, and a few honest things to watch.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1703934915711-439a6d16a1f3?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxuZXclMjB5ZWFycyUyMGV2ZSUyMGNlbGVicmF0aW9ufGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE2MDA0MDR8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Happy new year spelled with scrabbles on a red background","Natalie Kinnear","https://unsplash.com/@nataliekinnear?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/new-years-eve-weddings-a-celebration-to-remember",{"title":564,"description":737},"blog/new-years-eve-weddings-a-celebration-to-remember",[747,748,194,383],"new year","winter","LIFCweOmGNRj_Ib0yax8Q2xCW5pJyxJB_A586L6Wx0s",{"id":751,"title":752,"author":389,"body":753,"category":177,"date":948,"description":949,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":950,"imageAlt":951,"imageCredit":952,"imageCreditUrl":953,"meta":954,"navigation":187,"path":955,"readTime":189,"seo":956,"stem":957,"tags":958,"__hash__":961},"blog/blog/wet-weather-wedding-plans-that-still-look-good.md","Wet-Weather Wedding Plans That Still Look Good",{"type":8,"value":754,"toc":940},[755,758,761,765,768,771,774,778,781,784,805,808,812,815,887,890,894,897,900,903,907,910,913,927,930,934,937],[11,756,757],{},"If you're marrying in Britain, rain isn't a worst-case scenario. It's a Tuesday. The couples who stay relaxed about it are the ones who sorted a wet-weather plan early and stopped treating it as a disaster waiting to happen. A good plan B doesn't ruin the day. Done well, it can be the bit people talk about.",[11,759,760],{},"The trick is to design your rain plan so it looks intentional, not like a soggy retreat. Here's how to get there.",[18,762,764],{"id":763},"make-peace-with-the-odds-first","Make peace with the odds first",[11,766,767],{},"Before you spend a penny, accept the maths. The Met Office reckons it rains on roughly half the days in an average UK year, and summer is no exception thanks to showers. So if you've a garden ceremony in July, there's a decent chance of a downpour at some point in the day, even if it's only for ten minutes.",[11,769,770],{},"That doesn't mean cancel the outdoor dream. It means have somewhere to go. The couples who panic are the ones checking the forecast obsessively the week before with no fallback. The couples who don't are the ones who already know exactly what happens if the heavens open at 2pm.",[11,772,773],{},"So have the awkward conversation with your venue early. Ask the direct question: \"If it rains, where does the ceremony happen, and how long does it take you to switch it over?\" If they hesitate, that tells you something.",[18,775,777],{"id":776},"build-a-plan-b-youd-actually-be-happy-with","Build a plan B you'd actually be happy with",[11,779,780],{},"The mistake is treating the indoor option as a punishment. A draughty function room with stacked chairs is not a plan, it's a threat. Put real effort into the alternative so that, on the day, choosing it doesn't feel like a loss.",[11,782,783],{},"A few things that lift an indoor or covered ceremony:",[29,785,786,793,799],{},[32,787,788,792],{},[789,790,791],"strong",{},"Move the same flowers."," Your arch, your aisle blooms, your candles all travel. The setting changes; the styling doesn't.",[32,794,795,798],{},[789,796,797],{},"Lean into candlelight."," A grey day outside makes a warm, low-lit room indoors feel even cosier by contrast.",[32,800,801,804],{},[789,802,803],{},"Cluster guests close."," A tight, full room reads as intimate. Spread thin, it reads as empty.",[11,806,807],{},"If your venue has a barn, an orangery or even a big bay window, scope those out as the rain ceremony spot well in advance. Walk it. Imagine it full. Decide it's lovely now, not at noon on the day.",[18,809,811],{"id":810},"kit-that-earns-its-place","Kit that earns its place",[11,813,814],{},"Some props genuinely transform wet weather from a problem into a look. These are worth the spend.",[65,816,817,830],{},[68,818,819],{},[71,820,821,824,827],{},[74,822,823],{},"Item",[74,825,826],{},"Why it works",[74,828,829],{},"Rough cost",[84,831,832,843,854,865,876],{},[71,833,834,837,840],{},[89,835,836],{},"Clear dome umbrellas (x10)",[89,838,839],{},"Photos stay bright; faces stay visible",[89,841,842],{},"£8–12 each",[71,844,845,848,851],{},[89,846,847],{},"Wellies for the couple",[89,849,850],{},"The classic muddy-field shot, and dry feet",[89,852,853],{},"£25–40",[71,855,856,859,862],{},[89,857,858],{},"Marquee with clear or lined roof",[89,860,861],{},"Keeps the party going whatever falls",[89,863,864],{},"Hire-dependent",[71,866,867,870,873],{},[89,868,869],{},"Pashminas / blankets basket",[89,871,872],{},"Warmth for chilly, damp evenings",[89,874,875],{},"£4–8 each",[71,877,878,881,884],{},[89,879,880],{},"Heavy-duty matting",[89,882,883],{},"Stops the lawn-to-mud problem at entrances",[89,885,886],{},"Hire £30–60",[11,888,889],{},"Clear umbrellas are the single best buy. They keep your photographer's shots full of light and let everyone see your faces, where a dark golf brolly turns the group photo into a row of black mushrooms. Buy ten, keep them by the door, hand them out as guests dash between buildings.",[18,891,893],{"id":892},"tell-guests-so-they-come-prepared","Tell guests so they come prepared",[11,895,896],{},"Half the stress of a wet wedding is guests turning up in the wrong shoes and ruining their suede on a sodden lawn. A quick heads-up solves it. If your ceremony or drinks reception is outdoors and the forecast is iffy, say so a few days before.",[11,898,899],{},"A short, warm line does the job: \"We'll be outside for the ceremony, so do pack a brolly and sensible shoes just in case the British summer does its thing.\" Nobody minds being told. Everybody minds a £200 pair of heels sinking into wet grass.",[11,901,902],{},"This is exactly the sort of update that's easier sent once, to everyone, rather than texted to forty people individually. Your wedding website is the place for it. Build The Day lets you post a weather note and the final timings on your site, and email it round to your guest list in one go, so the message lands the same way for everyone.",[18,904,906],{"id":905},"marquees-tipis-and-the-outdoor-but-covered-middle-ground","Marquees, tipis and the outdoor-but-covered middle ground",[11,908,909],{},"If staying outside matters to you, the answer is often a cover rather than a building. A lined marquee, a clear-roof structure or a tipi gives you the open-air feel with a roof for when it's needed. Walls can roll down if it turns, and roll up again if the sun comes back.",[11,911,912],{},"Two things to check before you book:",[29,914,915,921],{},[32,916,917,920],{},[789,918,919],{},"Drainage and ground."," A marquee on a field that floods is no plan at all. Ask about the surface and what happens after heavy rain.",[32,922,923,926],{},[789,924,925],{},"Heating."," Even in July, a wet evening under canvas gets cold fast. Patio heaters or a marquee heater keep the dancing going.",[11,928,929],{},"The bonus with a covered outdoor space is that rain on canvas is genuinely atmospheric. Add fairy lights and the sound of a downpour overhead, and a lot of guests will tell you it felt magical rather than unlucky.",[18,931,933],{"id":932},"reframe-it-before-the-day-not-on-it","Reframe it before the day, not on it",[11,935,936],{},"Here's the thing worth landing well ahead of time: rain on your wedding is only ruinous if you've decided it is. Once the plan is in place, the umbrellas are bought and the room is styled, the weather genuinely stops mattering to the success of the day. You'll be married either way, and a bit of drizzle has never once dimmed a good party.",[11,938,939],{},"Sort the plan early, make it one you'd happily choose, and then put the forecast app away. Whatever the sky does, you've got it covered, literally.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":941},[942,943,944,945,946,947],{"id":763,"depth":170,"text":764},{"id":776,"depth":170,"text":777},{"id":810,"depth":170,"text":811},{"id":892,"depth":170,"text":893},{"id":905,"depth":170,"text":906},{"id":932,"depth":170,"text":933},"2025-07-15","A practical UK guide to wet-weather wedding plans, from clear umbrellas and marquee linings to a plan B that feels like a plan A rather than a fallback.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518104593124-ac2e82a5eb9d?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxyYWlueSUyMHdlZGRpbmclMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwxfDB8fHwxNzgxNjAwNDE3fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","A bride and groom kiss in the rain under an umbrella","Joel Overbeck","https://unsplash.com/@wenutius?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/wet-weather-wedding-plans-that-still-look-good",{"title":752,"description":949},"blog/wet-weather-wedding-plans-that-still-look-good",[959,559,960],"rain plan","outdoor weddings","PN6d9nYtmxsYQM6IztFrV2hmBp_RSZ_-K0K-ThaHaJo",{"id":963,"title":964,"author":389,"body":965,"category":177,"date":1113,"description":1114,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":1115,"imageAlt":1116,"imageCredit":1117,"imageCreditUrl":1118,"meta":1119,"navigation":187,"path":1120,"readTime":189,"seo":1121,"stem":1122,"tags":1123,"__hash__":1126},"blog/blog/dressing-your-wedding-party-for-the-season.md","Dressing Your Wedding Party for the Season",{"type":8,"value":966,"toc":1105},[967,970,974,977,980,1041,1044,1048,1051,1054,1065,1068,1072,1075,1078,1081,1085,1088,1091,1095,1098,1102],[11,968,969],{},"Your wedding party will be standing, hugging, carrying things and dancing for twelve hours straight. So the kindest thing you can do when you choose their outfits is think about the weather first and the photos second. A shivering bridesmaid or a groomsman melting in unlined wool ruins more pictures than any colour clash ever will.",[18,971,973],{"id":972},"start-with-the-conditions-not-the-colour-swatch","Start with the conditions, not the colour swatch",[11,975,976],{},"It is tempting to pick a palette you love and order everything in it. But a deep velvet bridesmaid dress that looks rich and autumnal will have your friends fanning themselves through a July ceremony. Before you commit, pin down the basics: the month, whether the venue is heated or air-conditioned, and how much time everyone spends outdoors.",[11,978,979],{},"Then choose fabric to suit. Here is the quick version for the wedding party:",[65,981,982,995],{},[68,983,984],{},[71,985,986,989,992],{},[74,987,988],{},"Season",[74,990,991],{},"Bridesmaids",[74,993,994],{},"Suits",[84,996,997,1008,1019,1030],{},[71,998,999,1002,1005],{},[89,1000,1001],{},"Spring",[89,1003,1004],{},"Crepe, chiffon, light satin, with a wrap for cool mornings",[89,1006,1007],{},"Mid-weight wool, lighter greys and blues",[71,1009,1010,1013,1016],{},[89,1011,1012],{},"Summer",[89,1014,1015],{},"Chiffon, linen-blend, cotton, breathable midi shapes",[89,1017,1018],{},"Linen, cotton, unlined or half-lined jackets",[71,1020,1021,1024,1027],{},[89,1022,1023],{},"Autumn",[89,1025,1026],{},"Velvet, satin, heavier crepe, longer sleeves",[89,1028,1029],{},"Tweed, flannel, richer browns and greens",[71,1031,1032,1035,1038],{},[89,1033,1034],{},"Winter",[89,1036,1037],{},"Velvet, long sleeves, full-length, plus shawls",[89,1039,1040],{},"Three-piece wool, darker tones, overcoats",[11,1042,1043],{},"You do not need everyone in identical fabric. Mixing a chiffon skirt with a structured bodice, for instance, gives summer movement with a bit of shape.",[18,1045,1047],{"id":1046},"bridesmaids-comfort-buys-you-better-photos","Bridesmaids: comfort buys you better photos",[11,1049,1050],{},"The trend towards mismatched bridesmaid dresses is partly an aesthetic choice and partly a practical gift. Letting each person pick a neckline and shape within an agreed colour means the one who hates her arms gets sleeves, and the one who is always cold gets coverage. You set the palette and the fabric; they choose what they will actually relax in.",[11,1052,1053],{},"A few seasonal kindnesses go a long way:",[29,1055,1056,1059,1062],{},[32,1057,1058],{},"For cool or breezy venues, sort out matching wraps, faux-fur stoles or fine cardigans in advance, not on the morning.",[32,1060,1061],{},"For summer, avoid heavy lining and structured boning that traps heat. Midi and maxi shapes in light cloth photograph beautifully and let people sit down comfortably.",[32,1063,1064],{},"For outdoor ground, check the shoes. Block heels and wedges survive grass and gravel; stilettos sink.",[11,1066,1067],{},"If anyone in the party is pregnant, breastfeeding, or simply between sizes, give them the longest possible runway and an outfit with a forgiving fit. A wrap dress or an adjustable tie waist saves a panic the week before.",[18,1069,1071],{"id":1070},"groomsmen-and-suits-the-fabric-does-the-work","Groomsmen and suits: the fabric does the work",[11,1073,1074],{},"Grooms and groomsmen suffer in silence more than they should. A three-piece wool suit is gorgeous in November and genuinely uncomfortable in August. The fix is fabric, not willpower.",[11,1076,1077],{},"For warm weather, linen and cotton blends breathe, and an unlined or half-lined jacket makes a real difference under the arms. You can keep the formality with the cut and the accessories while dropping the weight of the cloth. For winter, lean into it: heavier wool, a waistcoat, perhaps a smart overcoat for the outdoor photos. Tweed and flannel read warm and seasonal at once.",[11,1079,1080],{},"Let the men take their jackets off for the evening. Braces and a crisp shirt look intentional and keep everyone dancing rather than wilting. If you want a uniform look in formal pictures, agree that jackets stay on for the ceremony and the group shots, then come off.",[18,1082,1084],{"id":1083},"children-and-older-guests-in-the-party","Children and older guests in the party",[11,1086,1087],{},"Flower girls and page boys have no patience for scratchy collars or stiff fabrics. Natural, soft cloth and a shape they can run in keeps them happy, which keeps the aisle calm. Have a spare, simpler outfit for the reception so they can play without a meltdown over a stain.",[11,1089,1090],{},"For parents and any older members of the party, warmth and steady footing matter most. A cosy wrap for the mothers and sensible, attractive shoes for everyone walking across an old venue floor are quiet courtesies that make the day easier on the people who will be on their feet a lot.",[18,1092,1094],{"id":1093},"keep-the-details-in-one-place","Keep the details in one place",[11,1096,1097],{},"Coordinating sizes, fittings, colours and who is buying what across six or eight people gets messy fast in a group chat. It helps to hold the wedding party's outfit notes, measurements and deadlines somewhere central, alongside the rest of your planning, so nobody turns up in the wrong shade or misses a fitting. Your wedding website's guest list and notes can do that job, keeping the party details next to everything else for the day.",[18,1099,1101],{"id":1100},"the-honest-test","The honest test",[11,1103,1104],{},"When you are unsure about an outfit choice for the party, imagine them in it at the two extremes of your day: the cold portrait session and the sweaty dance floor at midnight. If the outfit works at both, you have chosen well. People who are comfortable look happy, and happy is the look you actually want in every photo.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":1106},[1107,1108,1109,1110,1111,1112],{"id":972,"depth":170,"text":973},{"id":1046,"depth":170,"text":1047},{"id":1070,"depth":170,"text":1071},{"id":1083,"depth":170,"text":1084},{"id":1093,"depth":170,"text":1094},{"id":1100,"depth":170,"text":1101},"2024-08-07","How to dress bridesmaids, groomsmen and the whole wedding party for the weather and venue, with fabric, colour and comfort tips for every season.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1571268373914-e888c6dafeff?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxvdXRkb29yJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlcmVtb255fGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTQ0OTl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Green leafy plant near pool","Keenan Barber","https://unsplash.com/@keebarber?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/dressing-your-wedding-party-for-the-season",{"title":964,"description":1114},"blog/dressing-your-wedding-party-for-the-season",[194,1124,1125],"bridesmaids","groomsmen","rpJYCoB9jWRUiQCZzg-947An9Po2ZOg1lkORwkvKGSs",{"id":1128,"title":1129,"author":6,"body":1130,"category":177,"date":1300,"description":1301,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":1302,"imageAlt":1303,"imageCredit":1304,"imageCreditUrl":1305,"meta":1306,"navigation":187,"path":1307,"readTime":189,"seo":1308,"stem":1309,"tags":1310,"__hash__":1313},"blog/blog/how-to-plan-an-outdoor-wedding-with-a-weather-plan-b.md","How to Plan an Outdoor Wedding (with a Weather Plan B)",{"type":8,"value":1131,"toc":1292},[1132,1135,1139,1142,1145,1148,1152,1155,1158,1218,1221,1225,1228,1231,1242,1245,1249,1252,1255,1269,1272,1276,1279,1282,1286,1289],[11,1133,1134],{},"An outdoor wedding in Britain is a wonderful idea right up until the forecast turns. The trick is not to gamble on a perfect day. It's to plan as if the weather might do anything, then be pleasantly surprised when the sun turns up. Get the backup right early and you'll spend the morning of your wedding excited rather than refreshing a weather app every ten minutes.",[18,1136,1138],{"id":1137},"start-with-an-honest-look-at-the-weather","Start with an honest look at the weather",[11,1140,1141],{},"We all know the British summer is not exactly reliable. Even July and August, the two most popular months, can hand you a downpour or a heatwave with equal cheer. So the first job is to be realistic about what your chosen month tends to do, and to never assume \"it'll be fine on the day\".",[11,1143,1144],{},"Look at the venue's own history. A good outdoor venue will tell you, plainly, how often couples end up using the indoor option and what that actually looks like. If they get cagey about it, that tells you something too. Ask whether the lawn floods, whether there's shade for an afternoon ceremony, and where guests go if a storm rolls in mid-canapés.",[11,1146,1147],{},"It's also worth knowing that \"outdoor\" can mean three quite different things: fully exposed, partly covered (a pergola, a veranda), or a marquee. Each comes with a different level of weather risk, and your Plan B changes accordingly.",[18,1149,1151],{"id":1150},"build-the-plan-b-before-you-fall-in-love-with-plan-a","Build the Plan B before you fall in love with Plan A",[11,1153,1154],{},"Here is the rule that saves marriages and friendships: decide your backup before you book anything. If the only wet-weather option is cramming 90 guests into a barn that holds 60, that's not a Plan B, that's a problem you've agreed to ignore.",[11,1156,1157],{},"A genuine backup means a space that's ready, big enough, and quick to switch into. The best venues let you make the call on the morning without penalty. Some need 24 or 48 hours' notice, which is harder, because the British forecast at that range is a coin toss.",[65,1159,1160,1173],{},[68,1161,1162],{},[71,1163,1164,1167,1170],{},[74,1165,1166],{},"Part of the day",[74,1168,1169],{},"The risk outdoors",[74,1171,1172],{},"A workable Plan B",[84,1174,1175,1185,1196,1207],{},[71,1176,1177,1179,1182],{},[89,1178,487],{},[89,1180,1181],{},"Rain, wind taking your readings away",[89,1183,1184],{},"Covered structure, indoor room, or a clear-sided marquee",[71,1186,1187,1190,1193],{},[89,1188,1189],{},"Drinks reception",[89,1191,1192],{},"A sudden shower, no shade in heat",[89,1194,1195],{},"Veranda, large umbrellas, a covered terrace",[71,1197,1198,1201,1204],{},[89,1199,1200],{},"Wedding breakfast",[89,1202,1203],{},"Wind, cold evening, insects",[89,1205,1206],{},"Marquee with sides, or move fully indoors",[71,1208,1209,1212,1215],{},[89,1210,1211],{},"Evening party",[89,1213,1214],{},"Cold once the sun drops",[89,1216,1217],{},"Indoor space with the dance floor, patio heaters",[11,1219,1220],{},"Notice that the meal and evening almost always want a roof. Sitting 80 people down to dinner with nowhere to retreat is the part couples most regret skipping.",[18,1222,1224],{"id":1223},"marquees-tipis-and-what-they-actually-cost-you","Marquees, tipis and what they actually cost you",[11,1226,1227],{},"A marquee is the classic answer, and a brilliant one, because it gives you the open-field feeling with a roof over your head. But it's rarely the cheap option people imagine. By the time you add flooring, lighting, heating, a generator, loos and the furniture, the bill climbs fast. Get clear, itemised quotes so nothing ambushes you later.",[11,1229,1230],{},"A few things to insist on:",[29,1232,1233,1236,1239],{},[32,1234,1235],{},"Sides that can be rolled up if it's glorious and dropped if it isn't.",[32,1237,1238],{},"Proper flooring. Wet grass and heels do not mix, and one good downpour turns a field into a bog.",[32,1240,1241],{},"Heating, even in summer. A clear July night can drop to single figures, and guests in linen feel it.",[11,1243,1244],{},"Tipis and stretch tents give a more relaxed, festival feel, but they're more exposed at the edges. Lovely for a warm day, less forgiving in horizontal rain.",[18,1246,1248],{"id":1247},"keep-guests-comfortable-come-rain-or-shine","Keep guests comfortable, come rain or shine",[11,1250,1251],{},"The weather you have to plan for isn't only rain. Heat catches couples out just as often. According to the Met Office, the UK's record temperature of 40.3°C was set in July 2022, and warm spells have become more common since. If your ceremony faces the afternoon sun with no shade, older guests and small children will struggle.",[11,1253,1254],{},"So plan for both ends:",[29,1256,1257,1263],{},[32,1258,1259,1262],{},[789,1260,1261],{},"If it's hot:"," shade, water stations, a basket of fans, and sun cream by the entrance. Avoid seating guests facing direct sun for a long ceremony.",[32,1264,1265,1268],{},[789,1266,1267],{},"If it's cold or wet:"," a basket of cheap umbrellas, blankets for the evening, a few pairs of wellies in common sizes for muddy walks to the marquee.",[11,1270,1271],{},"These cost very little and guests genuinely remember the thought. Nobody ever complained about a blanket appearing the moment they got chilly.",[18,1273,1275],{"id":1274},"tell-your-guests-what-to-expect","Tell your guests what to expect",[11,1277,1278],{},"Outdoor weddings ask a bit more of guests, so warn them in advance. A line about \"the ceremony is on the lawn, so bring a wrap and sensible shoes\" stops a friend turning up in stilettos that vanish into the grass. If parking is a field, say so. If there's a walk between the ceremony and reception, mention it for anyone with mobility needs.",[11,1280,1281],{},"Your wedding website is the easiest place to keep all of this current. With Build The Day you can update the weather note, the dress hint and the wet-weather arrangements right up to the day, so guests always see the latest plan rather than whatever was printed on an invitation six months ago.",[18,1283,1285],{"id":1284},"make-the-decision-early-then-let-it-go","Make the decision early, then let it go",[11,1287,1288],{},"On the day itself, hand the weather call to someone else. Your planner, your venue coordinator, or a level-headed friend who isn't getting married. Give them the cut-off time and the criteria, and then step away from the forecast entirely.",[11,1290,1291],{},"Because the truth is that rain on a wedding day, once you've planned for it, becomes a story rather than a disaster. The couples who cope best are the ones who decided months ago that a bit of weather wouldn't touch the actual point of the day. Plan the backup, brief your guests, and trust that the people you love won't mind sharing an umbrella.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":1293},[1294,1295,1296,1297,1298,1299],{"id":1137,"depth":170,"text":1138},{"id":1150,"depth":170,"text":1151},{"id":1223,"depth":170,"text":1224},{"id":1247,"depth":170,"text":1248},{"id":1274,"depth":170,"text":1275},{"id":1284,"depth":170,"text":1285},"2024-07-17","Plan a UK outdoor wedding without losing sleep over rain. Practical advice on marquees, timing, comfort and a solid wet-weather backup for every part of the day.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758810411905-04fb6f9396e1?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxvdXRkb29yJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlcmVtb255fGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTQ0OTl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Wedding ceremony with guests seated outdoors under umbrellas.","Pedro Pulido","https://unsplash.com/@pedropulidophotography?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/how-to-plan-an-outdoor-wedding-with-a-weather-plan-b",{"title":1129,"description":1301},"blog/how-to-plan-an-outdoor-wedding-with-a-weather-plan-b",[1311,559,383,1312],"outdoor","marquee","aO6vmBQKTVrC08F5wEPlg_L-OoiHwcn3xrL4aGknxoQ",{"id":1315,"title":1316,"author":6,"body":1317,"category":177,"date":1504,"description":1505,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":1506,"imageAlt":1507,"imageCredit":1508,"imageCreditUrl":1509,"meta":1510,"navigation":187,"path":1511,"readTime":189,"seo":1512,"stem":1513,"tags":1514,"__hash__":1516},"blog/blog/bank-holiday-weddings-worth-it-or-not.md","Bank Holiday Weddings: Worth It or Not?",{"type":8,"value":1318,"toc":1494},[1319,1322,1325,1329,1332,1335,1343,1346,1357,1361,1364,1367,1370,1373,1377,1380,1463,1467,1470,1473,1476,1481,1484,1488,1491],[11,1320,1321],{},"Picture it: a Sunday wedding, everyone slightly merry by midnight, and not a single guest checking their watch because nobody has work in the morning. That is the dream a bank holiday wedding sells you. The reality is a bit more nuanced, and whether it pays off depends almost entirely on which guests you are inviting and how much you are willing to pay for the privilege.",[11,1323,1324],{},"Let's weigh it up properly, because this is one of those decisions that feels obvious until you start reading the small print on your venue quote.",[18,1326,1328],{"id":1327},"the-case-for-the-long-weekend","The case for the long weekend",[11,1330,1331],{},"The headline benefit is time. A bank holiday means your guests get an extra day off, which changes the whole shape of the event.",[11,1333,1334],{},"People relax differently when they know Monday is free. They stay later, they drink a little more cheerfully, and they are far more likely to travel from further afield for a Saturday do when there is no early start looming. If half your guest list lives a few hours away, that buffer day is genuinely valuable. It turns a logistical headache into a mini-break.",[11,1336,1337,1338,1342],{},"It also gives ",[1339,1340,1341],"em",{},"you"," room to breathe. Plenty of couples get married on the Saturday or Sunday of a bank holiday and use the Monday to nurse a happy hangover, open cards, and have a slow brunch with whoever stayed over. After months of planning, that decompression day is worth more than you'd think.",[11,1344,1345],{},"A few practical wins:",[29,1347,1348,1351,1354],{},[32,1349,1350],{},"Guests travelling from abroad can make the trip count without burning extra annual leave.",[32,1352,1353],{},"Sunday weddings often come in cheaper than peak Saturdays, even on a bank holiday weekend.",[32,1355,1356],{},"Evening guests are less likely to leave early to beat the work alarm.",[18,1358,1360],{"id":1359},"the-case-against","The case against",[11,1362,1363],{},"Now the awkward bits. The biggest one is cost. Bank holidays are prime dates, and venues and suppliers know it.",[11,1365,1366],{},"Many venues charge a premium for the Saturday of a long weekend, sometimes treating it like a peak-summer date even in spring or autumn. Photographers, bands and caterers can do the same. So while a Sunday might save you money, the Saturday could quietly cost you more than an ordinary weekend in the same month.",[11,1368,1369],{},"Travel is the other catch, and it cuts both ways. Yes, guests have time. But bank holidays are when the entire country decides to drive somewhere at once. The M5 on a Friday afternoon of a bank holiday is not a place of joy. Trains often run reduced timetables or schedule engineering works, and that one rail replacement bus can turn a simple trip into a saga. If lots of guests rely on public transport, check the lines before you commit to the date.",[11,1371,1372],{},"Accommodation gets tight too. Popular spots book up early on long weekends, and prices climb. Your out-of-towners may find the nearby B&B is full or charging a small fortune.",[18,1374,1376],{"id":1375},"a-quick-comparison","A quick comparison",[11,1378,1379],{},"Here is the rough trade-off, laid out plainly.",[65,1381,1382,1395],{},[68,1383,1384],{},[71,1385,1386,1389,1392],{},[74,1387,1388],{},"Factor",[74,1390,1391],{},"Bank holiday weekend",[74,1393,1394],{},"Ordinary weekend",[84,1396,1397,1408,1419,1430,1441,1452],{},[71,1398,1399,1402,1405],{},[89,1400,1401],{},"Guest recovery time",[89,1403,1404],{},"Extra day off, less rush",[89,1406,1407],{},"Work looms on Monday",[71,1409,1410,1413,1416],{},[89,1411,1412],{},"Venue cost (Saturday)",[89,1414,1415],{},"Often premium-priced",[89,1417,1418],{},"Standard weekend rate",[71,1420,1421,1424,1427],{},[89,1422,1423],{},"Sunday saving",[89,1425,1426],{},"Frequently cheaper",[89,1428,1429],{},"Sunday saving too, but no Monday off",[71,1431,1432,1435,1438],{},[89,1433,1434],{},"Travel",[89,1436,1437],{},"More time, but heavier traffic",[89,1439,1440],{},"Quieter roads, normal timetables",[71,1442,1443,1446,1449],{},[89,1444,1445],{},"Accommodation",[89,1447,1448],{},"Books up fast, prices rise",[89,1450,1451],{},"Easier to find, often cheaper",[71,1453,1454,1457,1460],{},[89,1455,1456],{},"Supplier availability",[89,1458,1459],{},"Booked early, competitive",[89,1461,1462],{},"More choice further out",[18,1464,1466],{"id":1465},"who-it-actually-suits","Who it actually suits",[11,1468,1469],{},"Bank holiday weddings work brilliantly for some couples and poorly for others. The deciding factor is usually your guest list.",[11,1471,1472],{},"If you have lots of people travelling long distances, friends scattered across the country, or relatives flying in, the extra day is a gift and the higher cost may be worth it. If your guests are mostly local and could roll home in twenty minutes anyway, you are paying a premium for a benefit they don't really need.",[11,1474,1475],{},"Think too about timing within the year. The early May and late August bank holidays land in lovely weather windows, which is part of why they get booked up so far ahead. If you have your heart set on one, get the venue locked in early, ideally a good 18 months out for the popular dates.",[1477,1478,1480],"h3",{"id":1479},"one-thing-worth-doing-either-way","One thing worth doing either way",[11,1482,1483],{},"Whatever you decide, make the travel and timing crystal clear to guests. A long weekend changes how people plan their trip, so spell out arrival suggestions, parking, the nearest stations and a few accommodation options. Your wedding website is the natural home for all of it, and Build The Day lets you keep travel and stay details in one tidy place that guests can check from their phones, so nobody is texting you the week before asking which train to get.",[18,1485,1487],{"id":1486},"the-honest-verdict","The honest verdict",[11,1489,1490],{},"A bank holiday wedding is not automatically better or worse. It is a swap: you trade a higher price tag and busier roads for a more relaxed, travel-friendly celebration with a built-in recovery day.",[11,1492,1493],{},"If your people are coming from far and wide, that swap usually pays off. If they're all down the road, save your money and pick a quieter date. Either way, decide early, because the good bank holiday slots vanish faster than almost any other date in the calendar.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":1495},[1496,1497,1498,1499,1503],{"id":1327,"depth":170,"text":1328},{"id":1359,"depth":170,"text":1360},{"id":1375,"depth":170,"text":1376},{"id":1465,"depth":170,"text":1466,"children":1500},[1501],{"id":1479,"depth":1502,"text":1480},3,{"id":1486,"depth":170,"text":1487},"2024-07-10","The real pros and cons of a UK bank holiday wedding, from guest travel and supplier costs to the long-weekend recovery time everyone secretly loves.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1696271026740-4c0c1a367f03?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxvdXRkb29yJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlcmVtb255fGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTQ0OTl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","A couple of white chairs sitting next to each other","Brittney Weng","https://unsplash.com/@brittneyweng?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/bank-holiday-weddings-worth-it-or-not",{"title":1316,"description":1505},"blog/bank-holiday-weddings-worth-it-or-not",[382,194,383,1515],"budget","ZKkjDYpwbXSKo0WRQDRdKRIJ_-zBfJhEcGWB1_EohOA",{"id":1518,"title":1519,"author":389,"body":1520,"category":177,"date":1735,"description":1736,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":1737,"imageAlt":1738,"imageCredit":1739,"imageCreditUrl":1740,"meta":1741,"navigation":187,"path":1742,"readTime":189,"seo":1743,"stem":1744,"tags":1745,"__hash__":1747},"blog/blog/the-best-month-to-get-married-by-priority.md","The Best Month to Get Married, by Priority",{"type":8,"value":1521,"toc":1728},[1522,1525,1529,1532,1535,1538,1542,1545,1548,1552,1555,1558,1562,1565,1685,1688,1692,1695,1715,1718,1721],[11,1523,1524],{},"There's no single best month to get married. There's only the best month for what you care about most, and those things pull in different directions. The warmest months are the dearest and the busiest. The cheapest months are dark and cold. So the honest way to pick a date is to decide your top priority first, then let the month follow from that.",[18,1526,1528],{"id":1527},"if-your-priority-is-weather-and-long-evenings","If your priority is weather and long evenings",[11,1530,1531],{},"June, July and August give you the best shot at warmth and light. Midsummer in the UK means the sun doesn't set until past nine, which is glorious for an outdoor drinks reception and golden-hour photos that go on forever.",[11,1533,1534],{},"The catch is that British summer is a gamble whatever the forecast says, and these are the priciest, most booked-up months. According to the ONS, August is the single most popular month for weddings in England and Wales, so the best venues and photographers get snapped up first and charge a premium for it.",[11,1536,1537],{},"If summer weather matters most to you, book early and never plan an outdoor wedding without a proper wet-weather plan. A marquee with sides that can come down, or a venue with a beautiful indoor backup, turns a rained-on day from a disaster into a non-event.",[18,1539,1541],{"id":1540},"if-your-priority-is-keeping-costs-down","If your priority is keeping costs down",[11,1543,1544],{},"The quiet season runs roughly from November to March, Christmas and New Year aside. Venues that are fully booked at £8,000 for a July Saturday will often do a January Friday for a good deal less, and they're far more willing to be flexible on the little things.",[11,1546,1547],{},"Off-season weddings have a real charm too. Candlelight reads beautifully against an early dark, log fires and mulled wine feel like a treat, and your photographer isn't rushing to fit three weddings into one weekend. The trade-off is short daylight, so build your timeline around getting the ceremony and key photos done before the light goes, which can mean an earlier start.",[18,1549,1551],{"id":1550},"if-your-priority-is-availability-and-choice","If your priority is availability and choice",[11,1553,1554],{},"Spring and autumn (April, May, September, October) are the sweet spot for getting the people you actually want. The big-name suppliers aren't quite as stretched as in high summer, the weather is often kinder than people expect, and the light in autumn especially is soft and flattering.",[11,1556,1557],{},"May and September have quietly become favourites for exactly this reason. You get a decent chance of dry weather, a fuller choice of dates, and prices that sit below the July and August peak without dropping into the bare-branches months.",[18,1559,1561],{"id":1560},"a-quick-month-by-month-at-a-glance","A quick month-by-month at a glance",[11,1563,1564],{},"Here's the rough shape of the year, weighing the things most couples balance:",[65,1566,1567,1586],{},[68,1568,1569],{},[71,1570,1571,1574,1577,1580,1583],{},[74,1572,1573],{},"Month",[74,1575,1576],{},"Weather odds",[74,1578,1579],{},"Cost",[74,1581,1582],{},"Daylight",[74,1584,1585],{},"Availability",[84,1587,1588,1604,1621,1637,1654,1669],{},[71,1589,1590,1593,1596,1598,1601],{},[89,1591,1592],{},"Jan to Feb",[89,1594,1595],{},"Cold, often wet",[89,1597,328],{},[89,1599,1600],{},"Very short",[89,1602,1603],{},"Excellent",[71,1605,1606,1609,1612,1615,1618],{},[89,1607,1608],{},"Mar to Apr",[89,1610,1611],{},"Mixed, improving",[89,1613,1614],{},"Lower",[89,1616,1617],{},"Lengthening",[89,1619,1620],{},"Good",[71,1622,1623,1626,1629,1632,1635],{},[89,1624,1625],{},"May",[89,1627,1628],{},"Often lovely",[89,1630,1631],{},"Mid",[89,1633,1634],{},"Long",[89,1636,1620],{},[71,1638,1639,1642,1645,1648,1651],{},[89,1640,1641],{},"Jun to Aug",[89,1643,1644],{},"Warmest",[89,1646,1647],{},"Highest",[89,1649,1650],{},"Longest",[89,1652,1653],{},"Tight",[71,1655,1656,1659,1662,1664,1667],{},[89,1657,1658],{},"Sep to Oct",[89,1660,1661],{},"Mild, golden",[89,1663,1631],{},[89,1665,1666],{},"Shortening",[89,1668,1620],{},[71,1670,1671,1674,1677,1680,1683],{},[89,1672,1673],{},"Nov to Dec",[89,1675,1676],{},"Cold, cosy",[89,1678,1679],{},"Low (not festive dates)",[89,1681,1682],{},"Short",[89,1684,1620],{},[11,1686,1687],{},"These are tendencies, not promises. A May wedding can be washed out and a February one can be crisp and bright. But the pattern holds often enough to plan around.",[18,1689,1691],{"id":1690},"things-that-quietly-tip-the-decision","Things that quietly tip the decision",[11,1693,1694],{},"A few practical points that don't show up in the weather forecast:",[29,1696,1697,1703,1709],{},[32,1698,1699,1702],{},[789,1700,1701],{},"Bank holidays"," give guests a built-in lie-in the next day, but venues charge more and traffic is heavier.",[32,1704,1705,1708],{},[789,1706,1707],{},"School holidays"," matter if lots of guests have children, both for attendance and for honeymoon prices.",[32,1710,1711,1714],{},[789,1712,1713],{},"Your anniversary"," will land on this date forever, so a depths-of-January date is cheaper but you'll be braving the cold for it every year.",[11,1716,1717],{},"Once you've narrowed it down, a wedding website earns its keep here. Sharing the date, the season's quirks and a few travel notes up front means guests can plan around the weather and book accommodation early. With Build The Day you can collect RSVPs and meal choices through the site too, so a winter date with tricky travel doesn't leave you chasing replies in the post.",[11,1719,1720],{},"Pick your priority, accept the trade-off that comes with it, and you'll have a date you can plan around with confidence rather than second-guessing the long-range forecast for the next year.",[11,1722,1723],{},[594,1724,1727],{"href":1725,"rel":1726},"https://www.statista.com/statistics/933431/most-popular-wedding-months-in-uk/",[598],"Most popular wedding months in England and Wales, Statista",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":1729},[1730,1731,1732,1733,1734],{"id":1527,"depth":170,"text":1528},{"id":1540,"depth":170,"text":1541},{"id":1550,"depth":170,"text":1551},{"id":1560,"depth":170,"text":1561},{"id":1690,"depth":170,"text":1691},"2024-07-03","Choosing a wedding month in the UK by what matters most to you: weather, cost, daylight or venue availability. A practical month-by-month guide for couples.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1780340309081-eb5eeca87ba5?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxvdXRkb29yJTIwd2VkZGluZyUyMGNlcmVtb255fGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE1OTQ0OTl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","A rustic wedding arch with flowers and fabric outdoors.","Dori  Drabek","https://unsplash.com/@ddrabek?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/the-best-month-to-get-married-by-priority",{"title":1519,"description":1736},"blog/the-best-month-to-get-married-by-priority",[194,383,1746],"dates","UjQznDmLqUEDSsbjUGdSSIckDozW_qwt0tZcsA__kC0",{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":1749,"category":177,"date":178,"description":179,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":182,"imageAlt":183,"imageCredit":184,"imageCreditUrl":185,"meta":1860,"navigation":187,"path":188,"readTime":189,"seo":1861,"stem":191,"tags":1862,"__hash__":196},{"type":8,"value":1750,"toc":1853},[1751,1753,1755,1757,1759,1761,1771,1773,1775,1777,1779,1781,1783,1837,1839,1841,1843,1845,1847,1849,1851],[11,1752,13],{},[11,1754,16],{},[18,1756,21],{"id":20},[11,1758,24],{},[11,1760,27],{},[29,1762,1763,1765,1767,1769],{},[32,1764,34],{},[32,1766,37],{},[32,1768,40],{},[32,1770,43],{},[11,1772,46],{},[18,1774,50],{"id":49},[11,1776,53],{},[11,1778,56],{},[18,1780,60],{"id":59},[11,1782,63],{},[65,1784,1785,1795],{},[68,1786,1787],{},[71,1788,1789,1791,1793],{},[74,1790,76],{},[74,1792,79],{},[74,1794,82],{},[84,1796,1797,1805,1813,1821,1829],{},[71,1798,1799,1801,1803],{},[89,1800,91],{},[89,1802,94],{},[89,1804,97],{},[71,1806,1807,1809,1811],{},[89,1808,102],{},[89,1810,105],{},[89,1812,108],{},[71,1814,1815,1817,1819],{},[89,1816,113],{},[89,1818,116],{},[89,1820,119],{},[71,1822,1823,1825,1827],{},[89,1824,124],{},[89,1826,127],{},[89,1828,130],{},[71,1830,1831,1833,1835],{},[89,1832,135],{},[89,1834,138],{},[89,1836,141],{},[11,1838,144],{},[18,1840,148],{"id":147},[11,1842,151],{},[11,1844,154],{},[18,1846,158],{"id":157},[11,1848,161],{},[11,1850,164],{},[11,1852,167],{},{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":1854},[1855,1856,1857,1858,1859],{"id":20,"depth":170,"text":21},{"id":49,"depth":170,"text":50},{"id":59,"depth":170,"text":60},{"id":147,"depth":170,"text":148},{"id":157,"depth":170,"text":158},{},{"title":5,"description":179},[193,194,195],{"id":1864,"title":1865,"author":6,"body":1866,"category":177,"date":2108,"description":2109,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":2110,"imageAlt":2111,"imageCredit":2112,"imageCreditUrl":2113,"meta":2114,"navigation":187,"path":2115,"readTime":189,"seo":2116,"stem":2117,"tags":2118,"__hash__":2121},"blog/blog/seasonal-flowers-whats-in-bloom-when.md","Seasonal Flowers: What’s in Bloom When",{"type":8,"value":1867,"toc":2097},[1868,1871,1874,1878,1881,1884,1888,1891,2038,2042,2045,2049,2052,2056,2059,2063,2066,2070,2073,2084,2088,2091,2094],[11,1869,1870],{},"Flowers are one of the few wedding decisions where the calendar does most of the work for you. Pick blooms that are naturally in season and local, and you get fresher flowers, better prices, and arrangements that look like they belong to the day rather than fighting against it. Out-of-season imports are possible, but they cost more and rarely look as good by the time the speeches start.",[11,1872,1873],{},"Here's a plain guide to what British growers actually have in flower across the year, plus a few honest notes on making your choices last.",[18,1875,1877],{"id":1876},"why-seasonal-beats-imported","Why seasonal beats imported",[11,1879,1880],{},"A peony flown in from the other side of the world in November has already had a hard week before it reaches your table. It's been cut early, chilled, boxed and shipped, and it will open fast and tire faster. The same peony cut from a Cornish field in early June will sit happily through a long reception.",[11,1882,1883],{},"There's a money angle too. When a flower is abundant, it's cheaper. Florists buy seasonal stems at sensible prices and pass that on. Ask for January peonies or July tulips and you're paying a premium for the logistics, not the flower. So the kindest thing you can do for both your budget and your blooms is to ask your florist a simple question early on: what's at its best around my date?",[18,1885,1887],{"id":1886},"a-month-by-month-guide","A month-by-month guide",[11,1889,1890],{},"This is a rough British growing calendar. Weather shifts things by a fortnight either way, and a good florist will know their local supply, but it's a reliable starting point.",[65,1892,1893,1905],{},[68,1894,1895],{},[71,1896,1897,1899,1902],{},[74,1898,1573],{},[74,1900,1901],{},"In season",[74,1903,1904],{},"Good for",[84,1906,1907,1918,1929,1940,1951,1961,1972,1983,1994,2005,2016,2027],{},[71,1908,1909,1912,1915],{},[89,1910,1911],{},"January",[89,1913,1914],{},"Anemones, ranunculus, hellebores, hyacinths",[89,1916,1917],{},"Moody, structural winter arrangements",[71,1919,1920,1923,1926],{},[89,1921,1922],{},"February",[89,1924,1925],{},"Tulips, narcissi, mimosa, early ranunculus",[89,1927,1928],{},"Soft early-spring palettes",[71,1930,1931,1934,1937],{},[89,1932,1933],{},"March",[89,1935,1936],{},"Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, blossom branches",[89,1938,1939],{},"Bright, fresh, hopeful displays",[71,1941,1942,1945,1948],{},[89,1943,1944],{},"April",[89,1946,1947],{},"Tulips, ranunculus, blossom, fritillaria, lilac",[89,1949,1950],{},"Loose, romantic spring bouquets",[71,1952,1953,1955,1958],{},[89,1954,1625],{},[89,1956,1957],{},"Peonies (late May), lily of the valley, alliums, sweet rocket",[89,1959,1960],{},"The classic English-garden look",[71,1962,1963,1966,1969],{},[89,1964,1965],{},"June",[89,1967,1968],{},"Peonies, roses, foxgloves, delphiniums, sweet peas",[89,1970,1971],{},"Abundant, scented summer arrangements",[71,1973,1974,1977,1980],{},[89,1975,1976],{},"July",[89,1978,1979],{},"Garden roses, sweet peas, scabious, cosmos, dahlias (late)",[89,1981,1982],{},"Relaxed, full-bodied bouquets",[71,1984,1985,1988,1991],{},[89,1986,1987],{},"August",[89,1989,1990],{},"Dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias, hydrangeas, gladioli",[89,1992,1993],{},"Bold colour and big, generous blooms",[71,1995,1996,1999,2002],{},[89,1997,1998],{},"September",[89,2000,2001],{},"Dahlias, chrysanthemums, asters, hydrangeas, sedum",[89,2003,2004],{},"Rich, late-summer-into-autumn tones",[71,2006,2007,2010,2013],{},[89,2008,2009],{},"October",[89,2011,2012],{},"Chrysanthemums, dahlias (early), berries, seed heads",[89,2014,2015],{},"Russet, textural autumn styling",[71,2017,2018,2021,2024],{},[89,2019,2020],{},"November",[89,2022,2023],{},"Chrysanthemums, berries, foliage, hellebores (late)",[89,2025,2026],{},"Greenery-led, evergreen displays",[71,2028,2029,2032,2035],{},[89,2030,2031],{},"December",[89,2033,2034],{},"Amaryllis, anemones, ranunculus, evergreens, hellebores",[89,2036,2037],{},"Wintry whites and deep festive reds",[1477,2039,2041],{"id":2040},"spring-tulips-blossom-and-that-fresh-start-feeling","Spring: tulips, blossom and that fresh-start feeling",[11,2043,2044],{},"Spring is the easiest season for value, because so much is coming up at once. Tulips are wildly underrated for weddings: they come in every shade, they cost very little, and the way they keep growing and bending in the vase gives an arrangement real life. Pair them with blossom branches for height and you've a hero display for not much money.",[1477,2046,2048],{"id":2047},"summer-peonies-roses-and-scent","Summer: peonies, roses and scent",[11,2050,2051],{},"This is peak season and the choice is enormous. Peonies are the headline act, but their window is short, roughly mid-May to late June, so don't build your whole scheme around them if you're marrying in August. Sweet peas are the unsung heroes here, mostly for the smell. A buttonhole or a bedside posy of sweet peas does more for the atmosphere than people expect.",[1477,2053,2055],{"id":2054},"autumn-dahlias-and-deeper-tones","Autumn: dahlias and deeper tones",[11,2057,2058],{},"If you love colour, autumn is your season. Dahlias do an extraordinary amount of work, from dinner-plate blooms the size of a saucer to neat little pompons. Add berries, seed heads and some russet foliage and the whole thing feels rich without trying too hard.",[1477,2060,2062],{"id":2061},"winter-structure-evergreens-and-a-few-stars","Winter: structure, evergreens and a few stars",[11,2064,2065],{},"Winter takes more thought because the choice narrows, but it can be the most striking of the lot. Anemones with their inky centres, ranunculus packed with petals, and amaryllis for drama, all set against real evergreen foliage. Lean into candlelight and texture rather than trying to recreate a summer meadow.",[18,2067,2069],{"id":2068},"making-blooms-last-the-day","Making blooms last the day",[11,2071,2072],{},"A few practical things help your flowers survive from the morning to the last dance.",[29,2074,2075,2078,2081],{},[32,2076,2077],{},"Keep bouquets in water for as long as possible. They can sit in a vase until you walk down the aisle.",[32,2079,2080],{},"Mind the heat. A sunny windowsill or a warm marquee will wilt soft-stemmed flowers fast, so ask for somewhere cool to store them.",[32,2082,2083],{},"Some flowers are tougher than others. Roses, chrysanthemums, alliums and hydrangeas hold up well; sweet peas and poppies are gorgeous but fade quicker, so use them where they'll be admired early.",[18,2085,2087],{"id":2086},"talking-it-through-with-your-florist","Talking it through with your florist",[11,2089,2090],{},"Bring two or three reference photos, your colour palette, and your date. Then let your florist steer you towards what's genuinely good that week. The best ones will gently talk you out of a flower that won't perform and offer something better. A useful trick: tell them your budget honestly and ask them to design to it, rather than choosing every stem yourself and getting a nasty surprise on the invoice.",[11,2092,2093],{},"If you're building a wedding website to share details with guests, it's worth keeping a private note of your final flower choices, supplier contact and delivery times somewhere alongside your other plans, so nothing gets lost between the venue, the florist and the morning rush.",[11,2095,2096],{},"Whatever month you marry in, there's a beautiful, sensible flower waiting to do the job. Work with the season and it'll repay you.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":2098},[2099,2100,2106,2107],{"id":1876,"depth":170,"text":1877},{"id":1886,"depth":170,"text":1887,"children":2101},[2102,2103,2104,2105],{"id":2040,"depth":1502,"text":2041},{"id":2047,"depth":1502,"text":2048},{"id":2054,"depth":1502,"text":2055},{"id":2061,"depth":1502,"text":2062},{"id":2068,"depth":170,"text":2069},{"id":2086,"depth":170,"text":2087},"2023-08-18","A month-by-month guide to British seasonal wedding flowers, what's in bloom each season and how to choose blooms that stay fresh and keep costs sensible.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568010967378-b92ea68220c5?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzZWFzb25hbCUyMHdlZGRpbmclMjBmbG93ZXJzfGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE2MTM3NDF8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","Variety of flowers bouquet","Max Williams","https://unsplash.com/@max_williams?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/seasonal-flowers-whats-in-bloom-when",{"title":1865,"description":2109},"blog/seasonal-flowers-whats-in-bloom-when",[2119,194,195,2120],"flowers","budgeting","dU1_QZ93La3FbXjVZhceSmI80uBSVmw7I_pHk8RPtcI",{"id":2123,"title":2124,"author":6,"body":2125,"category":177,"date":2289,"description":2290,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":2291,"imageAlt":2292,"imageCredit":2293,"imageCreditUrl":2294,"meta":2295,"navigation":187,"path":2296,"readTime":189,"seo":2297,"stem":2298,"tags":2299,"__hash__":2302},"blog/blog/off-season-weddings-beauty-and-better-value.md","Off-Season Weddings: Beauty and Better Value",{"type":8,"value":2126,"toc":2281},[2127,2130,2134,2143,2146,2150,2153,2156,2209,2212,2216,2219,2222,2225,2229,2232,2258,2261,2265,2268,2271,2275,2278],[11,2128,2129],{},"Most couples picture a sunny Saturday in July. And there is nothing wrong with that, except half the country is picturing the same thing, which is exactly why those dates cost the most and book out first. Move your wedding to November, January or a quiet Wednesday in March and you change the whole equation. Cheaper, calmer, and often more beautiful than you would expect.",[18,2131,2133],{"id":2132},"what-counts-as-off-season-in-the-uk","What counts as off-season in the UK",[11,2135,2136,2137,2142],{},"Peak wedding season runs roughly May to September, with August the busiest month of the lot. According to ",[594,2138,2141],{"href":2139,"rel":2140},"https://bridebook.com/uk/article/how-much-does-a-wedding-cost-the-uk-average",[598],"Bridebook's UK wedding report",", the average UK wedding now comes in around £20,604, and a big chunk of that is driven by the premium on those summer Saturday slots.",[11,2144,2145],{},"Off-season is everything outside that window: late autumn, winter, and the early spring months before the rush starts. Throw in a weekday rather than a weekend and you are firmly in the cheapest, easiest-to-book territory there is.",[18,2147,2149],{"id":2148},"where-the-savings-actually-show-up","Where the savings actually show up",[11,2151,2152],{},"The discount isn't imaginary, and it isn't small. Venues that charge a premium for a July Saturday will often drop their hire fee significantly for a January Friday. Some quote off-peak rates that are 20 to 40% lower than peak. The same logic ripples out to almost every supplier you book.",[11,2154,2155],{},"Here is roughly how it breaks down:",[65,2157,2158,2168],{},[68,2159,2160],{},[71,2161,2162,2165],{},[74,2163,2164],{},"Supplier",[74,2166,2167],{},"Why off-season is cheaper",[84,2169,2170,2178,2186,2194,2202],{},[71,2171,2172,2175],{},[89,2173,2174],{},"Venue hire",[89,2176,2177],{},"Lower demand, midweek and winter slots discounted",[71,2179,2180,2183],{},[89,2181,2182],{},"Photographer",[89,2184,2185],{},"More availability, some offer off-peak packages",[71,2187,2188,2191],{},[89,2189,2190],{},"Florist",[89,2192,2193],{},"Seasonal blooms cost less than out-of-season imports",[71,2195,2196,2199],{},[89,2197,2198],{},"Band or DJ",[89,2200,2201],{},"Easier to book, occasional weekday rates",[71,2203,2204,2206],{},[89,2205,1445],{},[89,2207,2208],{},"Hotels quieter, better group rates for guests",[11,2210,2211],{},"The other quiet win is choice. In peak season your favourite photographer might already be booked 18 months out. In February, they are far more likely to have your date free, which means you actually get the people you want rather than whoever is left.",[18,2213,2215],{"id":2214},"the-beauty-nobody-talks-about","The beauty nobody talks about",[11,2217,2218],{},"Off-season weddings have a look you simply cannot recreate in summer. A winter wedding leans into candlelight, deep greenery, a roaring fire and guests in proper coats and scarves. Photos taken at 3pm in December have a soft, golden quality because the sun never climbs high. Bare trees, frost on the ground, maybe even snow if you are lucky.",[11,2220,2221],{},"Autumn brings rust, amber and burgundy without you having to buy a single flower in those tones, because nature has done it for you. And early spring gives you snowdrops, daffodils and that first hint of light coming back, which feels rather lovely as a backdrop to starting a marriage.",[11,2223,2224],{},"Warm food does a lot of heavy lifting too. A winter wedding with a proper roast, mulled wine on arrival and a hot toddy nightcap feels generous in a way a summer buffet sometimes struggles to match.",[18,2226,2228],{"id":2227},"the-practical-bits-to-plan-for","The practical bits to plan for",[11,2230,2231],{},"It is not all upside, and pretending otherwise would be daft. A few things genuinely need more thought.",[29,2233,2234,2240,2246,2252],{},[32,2235,2236,2239],{},[789,2237,2238],{},"Daylight."," In December the light is gone by half four. If you want outdoor ceremony photos, you may be doing them before the ceremony, not after. Talk to your photographer early about timings.",[32,2241,2242,2245],{},[789,2243,2244],{},"Weather and travel."," Snow and ice are rare but real. Have a wet-weather plan for arrivals, and warn guests travelling long distances to leave a buffer.",[32,2247,2248,2251],{},[789,2249,2250],{},"Guest comfort."," Cold venues need to be properly heated. Ask about this directly rather than assuming. A few blankets in a basket by the door go a long way.",[32,2253,2254,2257],{},[789,2255,2256],{},"Shorter days."," A winter day often flows better if the ceremony is earlier, around midday or 1pm, so you are not rushing the whole thing in the dark.",[11,2259,2260],{},"None of this is hard to manage. It just needs deciding in advance rather than on the morning.",[18,2262,2264],{"id":2263},"telling-guests-it-is-worth-the-trip","Telling guests it is worth the trip",[11,2266,2267],{},"A midweek or winter date asks a little more of your guests, so make it easy for them to say yes. Give them as much notice as you can, and be clear and warm about the why: a smaller, cosier celebration on a date that meant you could afford the wedding you actually wanted.",[11,2269,2270],{},"It helps to have everything in one place: the date, the timings, where to stay, how to get there. A wedding website does this neatly, and Build The Day lets guests RSVP and see travel and accommodation details without you fielding 40 separate text messages. For an out-of-the-ordinary date, that clarity matters more than usual.",[18,2272,2274],{"id":2273},"is-it-right-for-you","Is it right for you?",[11,2276,2277],{},"Off-season suits couples who care more about the day feeling intimate and well-funded than about a particular month. If a summer wedding is woven into your story (you got engaged on a beach in June, say) then by all means pay the premium and have it. But if the date is flexible, shifting it a few months can free up thousands of pounds and hand you a venue you assumed was out of reach.",[11,2279,2280],{},"The cheapest wedding is rarely the one you remember least. Quite often it is the opposite, because the money you saved went on the things you actually cared about, and the day felt like yours rather than a slot on a conveyor belt.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":2282},[2283,2284,2285,2286,2287,2288],{"id":2132,"depth":170,"text":2133},{"id":2148,"depth":170,"text":2149},{"id":2214,"depth":170,"text":2215},{"id":2227,"depth":170,"text":2228},{"id":2263,"depth":170,"text":2264},{"id":2273,"depth":170,"text":2274},"2023-08-12","Why a quieter month can be the smartest choice for your wedding. The savings, the perks and the practical things to plan for an off-season UK date.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1698788260447-5462e1bfdebf?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxjb3N5JTIwd2ludGVyJTIwdmVudWV8ZW58MXwwfHx8MTc4MTYwMDQwNXww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","A building that has a lot of lights on it","EcoNaturalist.com","https://unsplash.com/@michael_steinman?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/off-season-weddings-beauty-and-better-value",{"title":2124,"description":2290},"blog/off-season-weddings-beauty-and-better-value",[2300,2120,2301],"off-season","venues","4SF-Nge9JJzrMyu7yMWW9U1NIZ_y-9H8m5EjXpDMjcc",{"id":2304,"title":2305,"author":389,"body":2306,"category":177,"date":2461,"description":2462,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":2463,"imageAlt":2464,"imageCredit":2465,"imageCreditUrl":2466,"meta":2467,"navigation":187,"path":2468,"readTime":189,"seo":2469,"stem":2470,"tags":2471,"__hash__":2472},"blog/blog/winter-weddings-candlelight-comfort-and-magic.md","Winter Weddings: Candlelight, Comfort and Magic",{"type":8,"value":2307,"toc":2454},[2308,2311,2315,2318,2321,2332,2335,2339,2342,2345,2348,2352,2355,2358,2362,2365,2424,2427,2431,2434,2448,2451],[11,2309,2310],{},"There's a particular kind of magic to a winter wedding that summer can't touch. Candlelight does half the styling for you, everyone's glad of a fire and a warm drink, and the early dark means your reception glows from four o'clock onwards. It does take a bit more planning than a July afternoon, but the payoff is a day that feels genuinely cosy rather than just pretty.",[18,2312,2314],{"id":2313},"lean-into-the-candlelight","Lean into the candlelight",[11,2316,2317],{},"Winter's best feature is the light, or rather the lack of it. By mid-afternoon in December the sun's already going, so build your day around warm, low light instead of fighting it. Clusters of pillar candles, fairy lights woven through greenery, lanterns lining the aisle. It reads as expensive and romantic, but candles are one of the cheapest decorations going.",[11,2319,2320],{},"A few things worth knowing:",[29,2322,2323,2326,2329],{},[32,2324,2325],{},"Check your venue's rules on real flames. Plenty allow them; some insist on LED, especially marquees and historic buildings.",[32,2327,2328],{},"Battery candles have come a long way and flicker convincingly. Mix them in where real flame isn't allowed.",[32,2330,2331],{},"Group candles in odd numbers and varying heights. Three is more interesting than a neat row.",[11,2333,2334],{},"Deep seasonal colours suit the season too: burgundy, forest green, plum, gold. They photograph beautifully against candlelight and feel right for the time of year in a way pastels don't.",[18,2336,2338],{"id":2337},"keep-your-guests-warm","Keep your guests warm",[11,2340,2341],{},"This is the one thing people get wrong, and it's the thing guests remember. Cold guests don't dance, don't linger and quietly count the minutes until they can leave. So treat warmth as a real budget line, not an afterthought.",[11,2343,2344],{},"Patio heaters for any outdoor moment, a cloakroom that actually works, and a basket of pashminas or blankets near the ceremony seats. If there's a gap between ceremony and reception, give people somewhere warm to be rather than herding them outside for photos in the cold.",[11,2346,2347],{},"Think about your bridal party too. A gorgeous faux-fur wrap or a smart wool coat over the dress isn't a compromise, it's a brilliant winter look in its own right. And flat boots for the walk between cars and doors will save more than one twisted ankle on an icy path.",[18,2349,2351],{"id":2350},"food-and-drink-that-suit-the-season","Food and drink that suit the season",[11,2353,2354],{},"Winter is the easiest season to feed people well. Nobody wants a delicate summer salad in January. They want something hot, generous and comforting.",[11,2356,2357],{},"A welcome drink does enormous work here. Mulled wine, hot cider or a spiced cocoa as guests arrive sets the tone instantly and warms cold hands. For the meal, lean into the season: rich braises, root vegetables, proper puddings. A late-night bacon roll or a cup of soup as people head into the cold is the kind of small touch that gets talked about for years.",[18,2359,2361],{"id":2360},"plan-around-the-short-days","Plan around the short days",[11,2363,2364],{},"The biggest practical difference with winter is daylight. You have far less of it, and your photographer needs some.",[65,2366,2367,2379],{},[68,2368,2369],{},[71,2370,2371,2373,2376],{},[74,2372,76],{},[74,2374,2375],{},"Why it matters",[74,2377,2378],{},"What to do",[84,2380,2381,2392,2402,2413],{},[71,2382,2383,2386,2389],{},[89,2384,2385],{},"Daylight hours",[89,2387,2388],{},"Sunset can be before 4pm in December",[89,2390,2391],{},"Hold the ceremony by early afternoon for natural-light photos",[71,2393,2394,2396,2399],{},[89,2395,1434],{},[89,2397,2398],{},"Ice, fog and early dark slow everyone down",[89,2400,2401],{},"Pad your timings and warn guests to leave extra time",[71,2403,2404,2407,2410],{},[89,2405,2406],{},"Photo light",[89,2408,2409],{},"Outdoor shots vanish quickly",[89,2411,2412],{},"Plan a golden-hour slot early, have a candlelit indoor backup",[71,2414,2415,2418,2421],{},[89,2416,2417],{},"Weather",[89,2419,2420],{},"Snow is rare but rain and wind aren't",[89,2422,2423],{},"Have a genuine indoor plan B you'd be happy with",[11,2425,2426],{},"Sharing this kind of detail with guests in advance saves a lot of confused texts on the day. A wedding website that holds your timings, the venue address and a parking note (handy when frost makes the lanes tricky) means everyone arrives on time and unflustered. Build The Day keeps all of that in one place, and you can update it if the forecast forces a change.",[18,2428,2430],{"id":2429},"the-little-touches-that-land-in-winter","The little touches that land in winter",[11,2432,2433],{},"Small comforts feel bigger when it's cold outside. A few that earn their place:",[29,2435,2436,2439,2442,2445],{},[32,2437,2438],{},"Blankets on chair backs at an evening ceremony",[32,2440,2441],{},"Hot water bottles or hand warmers tucked into welcome bags for guests staying nearby",[32,2443,2444],{},"Sparklers for the send-off, which look spectacular against an early dark sky",[32,2446,2447],{},"A roaring fire, even a fake one, as a gathering point",[11,2449,2450],{},"Winter dates also tend to come with better venue availability and, often, lower midweek or off-peak rates, which is no small thing.",[11,2452,2453],{},"A winter wedding asks you to think a little harder about warmth and timing. Sort those two and the season hands you everything else: the candlelight, the cosy rooms, the long dark evenings made for dancing. It's not the easy option, but for the right couple it's by far the most atmospheric one.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":2455},[2456,2457,2458,2459,2460],{"id":2313,"depth":170,"text":2314},{"id":2337,"depth":170,"text":2338},{"id":2350,"depth":170,"text":2351},{"id":2360,"depth":170,"text":2361},{"id":2429,"depth":170,"text":2430},"2023-07-17","How to plan a beautiful UK winter wedding: candlelight and cosy styling, keeping guests warm, seasonal food and the practical bits that make short days work.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605101600616-a8c6db5b98aa?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx3aW50ZXIlMjB3ZWRkaW5nJTIwY2FuZGxlc3xlbnwxfDB8fHwxNzgxNjAwNDIwfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","White pillar candle on brown wooden table","Sixteen Miles Out","https://unsplash.com/@sixteenmilesout?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/winter-weddings-candlelight-comfort-and-magic",{"title":2305,"description":2462},"blog/winter-weddings-candlelight-comfort-and-magic",[748,194,383],"T2Pddy9Msj9lJOkVhMAAmULLHr27QAXjoF7ZB4pnmwk",{"id":2474,"title":2475,"author":6,"body":2476,"category":177,"date":2638,"description":2639,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":2640,"imageAlt":2641,"imageCredit":2642,"imageCreditUrl":2643,"meta":2644,"navigation":187,"path":2645,"readTime":189,"seo":2646,"stem":2647,"tags":2648,"__hash__":2649},"blog/blog/summer-weddings-keeping-cool-and-looking-wonderful.md","Summer Weddings: Keeping Cool and Looking Wonderful",{"type":8,"value":2477,"toc":2627},[2478,2481,2485,2488,2491,2495,2498,2515,2518,2522,2525,2529,2532,2536,2539,2543,2546,2550,2553,2556,2560,2563,2624],[11,2479,2480],{},"A summer wedding sounds like the easy option, and in a lot of ways it is. Long evenings, warm light, the best chance of everyone being outside. But heat brings its own quiet challenges, and a bit of planning is what separates a glowing day from a sweaty, melting one. Here is how to keep everyone (and yourself) comfortable while still looking the part.",[18,2482,2484],{"id":2483},"plan-around-the-heat-of-the-day","Plan around the heat of the day",[11,2486,2487],{},"The hottest stretch in a British summer is usually between 1pm and 4pm. If you can, avoid asking guests to sit in full sun during that window. A late-morning or early-afternoon ceremony followed by drinks in the shade, then dinner as things cool off, works far better than a baking 2pm ceremony in an unshaded courtyard.",[11,2489,2490],{},"Think about where the sun actually falls at your venue at the times you'll be using each space. Walk it at the right hour if you can. South-facing terraces are lovely at 6pm and brutal at noon. Your guests will quietly thank you for getting this right and never mention it, which is rather the point.",[18,2492,2494],{"id":2493},"keep-your-guests-comfortable","Keep your guests comfortable",[11,2496,2497],{},"Comfort is the whole game in hot weather. Get this right and people relax; get it wrong and they spend the day fanning themselves with the order of service. A few things that genuinely help:",[29,2499,2500,2503,2506,2509,2512],{},[32,2501,2502],{},"Shade somewhere: a marquee, mature trees, or rented parasols and a few umbrellas",[32,2504,2505],{},"Cold water available from the start, not just wine and warm prosecco",[32,2507,2508],{},"A basket of fans, and sunscreen near the ceremony seating",[32,2510,2511],{},"Flat or floor options for the lawn, so heels don't sink and sandals are welcome",[32,2513,2514],{},"A heads-up on your wedding website about dress code and outdoor walking",[11,2516,2517],{},"That last one matters more than people think. If guests know the reception is on grass and the afternoon will be warm, they'll dress for it. Build The Day lets you add travel, timings and a \"what to expect\" note to your wedding website, so nobody turns up in a wool suit and stilettos expecting an air-conditioned ballroom.",[18,2519,2521],{"id":2520},"looking-wonderful-when-its-warm","Looking wonderful when it's warm",[11,2523,2524],{},"Heat is the enemy of a carefully done face and a stiff outfit. A few choices make a real difference.",[1477,2526,2528],{"id":2527},"fabrics-that-breathe","Fabrics that breathe",[11,2530,2531],{},"Lean towards lighter, more breathable fabrics: chiffon, crepe, cotton, linen blends. Heavy satin and full ballgowns look stunning but can be punishing by hour six. For suits, a lighter wool or a linen-mix in a paler shade beats a heavy three-piece in navy that's been sitting in direct sun.",[1477,2533,2535],{"id":2534},"hair-and-make-up-that-lasts","Hair and make-up that lasts",[11,2537,2538],{},"Brief your stylist that it's a hot day. Long-wear, sweat-resistant make-up, a setting spray, and a hairstyle with some structure (a soft updo rather than loose waves that will droop by lunch) will hold up far better. Keep blotting papers and a powder in the emergency kit.",[1477,2540,2542],{"id":2541},"keep-yourself-watered","Keep yourself watered",[11,2544,2545],{},"It sounds obvious, but couples often forget to eat and drink on the day. Have water on hand from the morning, and don't let a glass of fizz on an empty stomach in the heat be your downfall before the speeches.",[18,2547,2549],{"id":2548},"flowers-and-food-that-survive-the-warmth","Flowers and food that survive the warmth",[11,2551,2552],{},"Summer flowers are gorgeous but some wilt fast once cut and left in the sun. Hardier choices like dahlias, zinnias, lisianthus and plenty of foliage cope better than delicate, thirsty blooms. Ask your florist what holds up, and keep arrangements out of direct sun until the last moment.",[11,2554,2555],{},"Food needs the same thought. Anything heavily mayonnaise-based or built around soft cheese and seafood needs proper chilling and shade. Lighter menus suit the weather anyway: sharing platters, salads, cold cuts, and a help-yourself ice cream cart or sorbet for pudding that feels like a treat rather than a slog.",[18,2557,2559],{"id":2558},"make-the-most-of-the-long-evenings","Make the most of the long evenings",[11,2561,2562],{},"The real gift of a UK summer wedding is the light. In June the sun doesn't set until close to 9.30pm in much of the country, which gives you a long golden hour for photos and a reception that can drift outside well into the evening.",[65,2564,2565,2578],{},[68,2566,2567],{},[71,2568,2569,2572,2575],{},[74,2570,2571],{},"Element",[74,2573,2574],{},"Summer advantage",[74,2576,2577],{},"One thing to watch",[84,2579,2580,2591,2602,2613],{},[71,2581,2582,2585,2588],{},[89,2583,2584],{},"Ceremony timing",[89,2586,2587],{},"Cooler late-afternoon slots available",[89,2589,2590],{},"Book early, peak dates go fast",[71,2592,2593,2596,2599],{},[89,2594,2595],{},"Photos",[89,2597,2598],{},"Long, soft golden-hour light",[89,2600,2601],{},"Midday sun is harsh, plan around it",[71,2603,2604,2607,2610],{},[89,2605,2606],{},"Reception",[89,2608,2609],{},"Can run outdoors late into the evening",[89,2611,2612],{},"Have warm layers ready for after dark",[71,2614,2615,2618,2621],{},[89,2616,2617],{},"Flowers",[89,2619,2620],{},"Wide seasonal choice, often cheaper",[89,2622,2623],{},"Some blooms wilt in heat",[11,2625,2626],{},"Build the day around that light rather than racing the clock, and a summer wedding gives you the most relaxed celebration of any season. Keep everyone cool, keep yourself fed and watered, and let those long evenings do the rest.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":2628},[2629,2630,2631,2636,2637],{"id":2483,"depth":170,"text":2484},{"id":2493,"depth":170,"text":2494},{"id":2520,"depth":170,"text":2521,"children":2632},[2633,2634,2635],{"id":2527,"depth":1502,"text":2528},{"id":2534,"depth":1502,"text":2535},{"id":2541,"depth":1502,"text":2542},{"id":2548,"depth":170,"text":2549},{"id":2558,"depth":170,"text":2559},"2023-07-04","A practical guide to summer weddings in the UK: handling the heat, planning around long light, keeping guests comfortable and looking your best in warm weather.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1665607437981-973dcd6a22bb?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxzdW1tZXIlMjBnYXJkZW4lMjB3ZWRkaW5nfGVufDF8MHx8fDE3ODE2MTM3NDZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","A large room with tables set for a wedding","Wedding Dreamz","https://unsplash.com/@wedding_dreamz?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/summer-weddings-keeping-cool-and-looking-wonderful",{"title":2475,"description":2639},"blog/summer-weddings-keeping-cool-and-looking-wonderful",[558,194,383],"FwWSCMwhwer7Xc4xwSvn00fg1PXJ7HtQ02RswV1w-EU",{"id":2651,"title":2652,"author":6,"body":2653,"category":177,"date":2773,"description":2774,"draft":180,"extension":181,"image":2775,"imageAlt":2776,"imageCredit":2777,"imageCreditUrl":2778,"meta":2779,"navigation":187,"path":2780,"readTime":189,"seo":2781,"stem":2782,"tags":2783,"__hash__":2785},"blog/blog/spring-weddings-blossom-light-and-fresh-ideas.md","Spring Weddings: Blossom, Light and Fresh Ideas",{"type":8,"value":2654,"toc":2766},[2655,2658,2662,2665,2668,2671,2682,2685,2687,2690,2724,2727,2730,2734,2737,2740,2744,2747,2750,2754,2757,2760,2763],[11,2656,2657],{},"Spring is the season everyone wants and nobody quite trusts. You picture blossom, soft light and a garden full of tulips, and you also know that a British April can throw hail, sun and a bracing wind at you all before lunch. The good news is that a spring wedding plays to a lot of strengths if you plan around the quirks rather than pretending they don't exist.",[18,2659,2661],{"id":2660},"the-weather-is-the-whole-game","The weather is the whole game",[11,2663,2664],{},"Let's be honest about the elephant in the marquee. Spring weather in the UK is genuinely all over the place. March can feel like deep winter, May can feel like summer, and any given Saturday in between is a coin toss. So the single best thing you can do is build a plan that works wet or dry.",[11,2666,2667],{},"That means a proper indoor backup for the ceremony, not a vague \"we'll move inside if it rains\" that nobody has actually thought through. Walk the wet-weather version of your day with your venue: where does the receiving line go, where do photos happen, where do guests stand with a drink. If both versions feel good, you've cracked it.",[11,2669,2670],{},"A few small things that pay off:",[29,2672,2673,2676,2679],{},[32,2674,2675],{},"A basket of large plain umbrellas by the door. Cheap, useful, and they look lovely in photos.",[32,2677,2678],{},"Pashminas or blankets for an outdoor ceremony. Even a \"warm\" spring day cools fast once the sun dips.",[32,2680,2681],{},"A clear cut-off time for the call on outdoor versus indoor, agreed with your coordinator the day before.",[11,2683,2684],{},"And keep an eye on the light. Spring evenings draw in earlier than summer ones, so golden hour comes sooner than you'd think. Ask your photographer when the good light lands and protect that window.",[18,2686,50],{"id":49},[11,2688,2689],{},"Spring is one of the best times of year for British-grown flowers, which usually means fresher blooms, lower cost and a smaller footprint than imported stems. Your florist will know what's peaking week to week, but here's a rough guide so you go in with a sense of it.",[65,2691,2692,2701],{},[68,2693,2694],{},[71,2695,2696,2698],{},[74,2697,1573],{},[74,2699,2700],{},"In season and lovely",[84,2702,2703,2710,2717],{},[71,2704,2705,2707],{},[89,2706,1933],{},[89,2708,2709],{},"Daffodils, narcissi, hellebores, early tulips, ranunculus, anemones",[71,2711,2712,2714],{},[89,2713,1944],{},[89,2715,2716],{},"Tulips, blossom branches, fritillaria, muscari, hyacinth, sweet rocket",[71,2718,2719,2721],{},[89,2720,1625],{},[89,2722,2723],{},"Peonies (late May), lilac, sweet peas, alliums, lily of the valley, foxgloves",[11,2725,2726],{},"A word on peonies, because everyone asks. They're the great spring crush, but UK-grown peonies tend to land from late May into June, so an early spring date may mean imported ones at a premium. If peonies are non-negotiable, talk dates with your florist before you book anything. If you're flexible, a late-May wedding gives you the best shot at them home-grown.",[11,2728,2729],{},"Blossom branches deserve a mention too. A few stems of cherry or apple blossom in tall vases do more for a room than a dozen tight little arrangements, and they cost very little. Spring is the one time you can get away with that loose, just-picked look without it reading as unfinished.",[18,2731,2733],{"id":2732},"colours-and-styling-that-suit-the-season","Colours and styling that suit the season",[11,2735,2736],{},"Spring colour can go two ways and both are good. There's the soft route: blush, butter yellow, dove grey, the palest green, with everything kept light and airy. And there's the brighter route, leaning into the season's energy with coral, fresh lemon, cornflower blue and proper grass green. What doesn't tend to work is forcing deep autumnal tones onto a spring day. Burgundy and rust can look heavy against blossom and bright leaves.",[11,2738,2739],{},"Think about texture rather than piling on more flowers. Linen napkins in a washed pastel, a bit of trailing greenery down the table, candles for when the light fades. Spring light is so flattering that you genuinely don't need to overdress a room.",[18,2741,2743],{"id":2742},"food-and-drink-with-a-lighter-touch","Food and drink with a lighter touch",[11,2745,2746],{},"Spring menus more or less write themselves if you cook with the season. Think asparagus, Jersey Royals, spring lamb, wild garlic, broad beans, and rhubarb for pudding. It tends to be lighter than a winter menu, which suits a long day on your feet, and a sharp seasonal pud is a welcome change from the usual heavy chocolate option.",[11,2748,2749],{},"Drinks-wise, an elderflower spritz or a rhubarb-based cocktail feels right and gives the non-drinkers something proper rather than a sad glass of orange juice. Serve something warm too, even in May. A late afternoon shower turns a cup of tea or a hot toddy into the most popular thing on the day.",[18,2751,2753],{"id":2752},"timings-and-a-few-practical-notes","Timings and a few practical notes",[11,2755,2756],{},"Because the light goes earlier than in summer, push your ceremony a touch earlier in the day if you can. A 1pm or 1:30pm ceremony leaves room for drinks, photos and a relaxed wander before you lose the good light. Cramming everything into a 3pm start in March can leave you doing key photos in the dark.",[11,2758,2759],{},"Spring also lands either side of school holidays and Easter, which affects guest availability and venue pricing. Easter weekend itself can be brilliant for a long bank-holiday celebration, or a headache if half your guests are away. Send the date out early so people can plan around it. If you're collecting RSVPs and meal choices online, a wedding website with a built-in RSVP page (the kind Build The Day puts together) saves you chasing replies by text in the weeks before.",[11,2761,2762],{},"One last thing: hay fever season starts in spring. If you or your partner suffer, mention it to your florist and lean towards lower-pollen choices, and pack antihistamines in your day-of kit. Nobody wants streaming eyes in the confetti shot.",[11,2764,2765],{},"A spring wedding rewards couples who plan for two versions of the day and then relax. Get the weather backup sorted, lean into seasonal flowers and food, and let that lovely bright light do most of the work.",{"title":169,"searchDepth":170,"depth":170,"links":2767},[2768,2769,2770,2771,2772],{"id":2660,"depth":170,"text":2661},{"id":49,"depth":170,"text":50},{"id":2732,"depth":170,"text":2733},{"id":2742,"depth":170,"text":2743},{"id":2752,"depth":170,"text":2753},"2023-06-27","A practical guide to planning a UK spring wedding, from the unpredictable weather and seasonal flowers to colour palettes, menus and timings that actually work.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1617183478585-c1000667ac73?ixid=M3w4NzI0OTN8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzcHJpbmclMjB3ZWRkaW5nJTIwYmxvc3NvbXxlbnwxfDB8fHwxNzgxNjEzNzQ0fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","White cherry blossom in close up photography","Kumiko SHIMIZU","https://unsplash.com/@shimikumi32?utm_source=buildtheday&utm_medium=referral",{},"/blog/spring-weddings-blossom-light-and-fresh-ideas",{"title":2652,"description":2774},"blog/spring-weddings-blossom-light-and-fresh-ideas",[2784,194,2119,383],"spring","PWcPcZVDtooqJsiX2htXQKWZfPwlNLh70CnpRWPXguY",{"nav":2787,"footer":2805},{"showLogo":187,"logo":2788,"links":2789,"ctaLabel":2802,"ctaUrl":2803,"loginLabel":2804,"loginUrl":2803},"Build The Day",[2790,2793,2796,2799],{"label":2791,"url":2792},"Features","/features",{"label":2794,"url":2795},"Pricing","/pricing",{"label":2797,"url":2798},"Blog","/blog",{"label":2800,"url":2801},"Learn","https://learn.buildtheday.com","Get Started Free","https://app.buildtheday.com/admin","Log in",{"brand":2788,"tagline":2806,"columns":2807,"copyright":2788},"Beautiful wedding websites that make planning effortless.",[2808,2815,2830],{"title":2809,"links":2810},"Product",[2811,2812,2813,2814],{"label":2791,"url":2792},{"label":2794,"url":2795},{"label":2797,"url":2798},{"label":2800,"url":2801},{"title":2816,"links":2817},"Popular Features",[2818,2821,2824,2827],{"label":2819,"url":2820},"RSVP Management","/features/rsvp-management",{"label":2822,"url":2823},"Seating Chart","/features/seating-chart",{"label":2825,"url":2826},"Photo Gallery","/features/photo-gallery",{"label":2828,"url":2829},"Budget Planner","/features/budget-planner",{"title":2831,"links":2832},"Get Started",[2833,2835,2836],{"label":2834,"url":2803},"Create your website",{"label":2804,"url":2803},{"label":2837,"url":2838},"Privacy Policy","/privacy-policy",{"nav":2840,"footer":2846},{"showLogo":187,"logo":2788,"links":2841,"ctaLabel":2802,"ctaUrl":2803,"loginLabel":2804,"loginUrl":2803},[2842,2843,2844,2845],{"label":2791,"url":2792},{"label":2794,"url":2795},{"label":2797,"url":2798},{"label":2800,"url":2801},{"brand":2788,"tagline":2806,"columns":2847,"copyright":2788},[2848,2854,2860],{"title":2809,"links":2849},[2850,2851,2852,2853],{"label":2791,"url":2792},{"label":2794,"url":2795},{"label":2797,"url":2798},{"label":2800,"url":2801},{"title":2816,"links":2855},[2856,2857,2858,2859],{"label":2819,"url":2820},{"label":2822,"url":2823},{"label":2825,"url":2826},{"label":2828,"url":2829},{"title":2831,"links":2861},[2862,2863,2864],{"label":2834,"url":2803},{"label":2804,"url":2803},{"label":2837,"url":2838},1781624705740]