7 Facts You May Not Know About Getting Married in Chicago

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear Brides and Bridegrooms,

Time to meet a couple more of my colleagues, this time based in Chicago. They are experienced wedding planners Lori Stephenson and Lauren Carter, and both belong to the consortium of Destination Wedding Planners accessible at www.ExtraOrdinaryDestinationWeddings.com.

To vary the format this time, I asked Lori to share with me some less well-known facts about getting married in Chicago. Here’s what she said:

  • Far from the industrial backwater of long ago, Chicago is now widely admired as the “Second City” of the US. And rightly so – it’s a world-class international destination with the very best in public buildings, hotels, restaurants, culture, popular shows and of course shopping.
  • Lying at mid-point between the East and West coast, and with two fine airports, Chicago is ideal for those wanting to make travel costs more affordable for their guests.
  • Chicago is a sophisticated city, home to such internationally respected institutions as The Museum of Modern Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Science and Industry, and a full range of orchestras, opera houses and theatres.
  • A long-standing centre of fine and avant-garde architecture, Chicago boasts hundreds of notable buildings by the likes of Daniel Burnham, Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, including the Willis Tower, the tallest in the country.
  • Chicago’s superb lake front embraces 24 miles of public parks and space that can be enjoyed year-round.
  • The nation’s oldest zoo continues to offer free admission; the museum campus includes the delightful Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium.  Soldier Field is home base to the Chicago Bears, while Navy Pier, the many public beaches and boating marinas can be reached by a cycle path that runs the length of the city.
  • Chicago’s great sporting events are not to be missed, even if you are not a follower. At the historic Wrigley Field you might take in a Cubs Game, in the summer.  Or you might sample Sox Baseball, Bears Football, Blackhawks hockey, Bulls Basketball, and Fire Soccer.
  • And here are some of my favourite Chicago movies – to put you in the mood to start planning your wedding in “Sweet Home Chicago”:
    The Blues Brothers
  • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • High Fidelity
  • The Fugitive
  • The Dark Knight
  • Public Enemies
  • My Best Friend’s Wedding – of course!


As you will know if you’ve been reading these blogs, the Consortium offers a service for those planning to marry abroad. There are two stages. Initially you and your partner make the preparatory arrangements under the guidance of a locally-based wedding planner. Then the focus moves to the proposed wedding destination, where a second planner takes over, working to ensure that all those carefully crafted dreams are made reality. At all times your planning team will be in communication with each other, and with you, to ensure that you really do enjoy the wedding you’ve always envisioned, one that is customised and personalised to reflect who you are as a couple.

So, if you are a bride or groom living in London, the UK or Ireland and wanting to get married in Chicago, why not drop me a line? We can discuss the ways in which I can help you lay the groundwork, and then put you in touch with Lori and Lauren in Chicago. They will help with further recommendations, sort out the paperwork and provide all the second-stage organisational services. My direct line is 0208 989 4886.

“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”
Posted in Bride & Groom, Destination Weddings, Luxury Weddings, Pain-free Weddings, Stress-free Weddings, Top Tips, Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Planner Role, Wedding Professionals | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

TABLE MANNERS & ETIQUETTE

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear readers,

Where has the year gone? I can hardly believe that we’re two days away from July. Here in the UK, wedding season is in full swing!

No one likes a perfectionist, but often, when I’m coordinating the wedding breakfast, I see that guests are either unaware of the correct table manners to use, or unsure of the best course of action when it comes to a matter of table etiquette.

OK, so what do I mean by ‘correct’? In one word, behaviour that is built in to the occasion, behaviour that doesn’t offend or let your hosts down. Obviously, we are talking here about the rather more formal type of celebration, but in truth every wedding is a consciously formal event.

The most common questions I have to field focus on the seating arrangements: Cousin Sally doesn’t want to sit next to Uncle Bob – can someone swap? But you would be surprised at just how often people also, sometimes very indirectly, and nearly always with embarrassment, ask about table etiquette.

In a short blog I clearly can’t begin to cover the whole field. So here are just a few of the more common points, as a guide to a much larger question.

QUESTION: If I need to leave the table during the meal, where do I put my napkin?
ANSWER: Good thinking– it looks a bit messy left on the table. Some may disagree with this advice, for hygiene reasons, but I would be inclined to leave it in the centre of your chair – and remember to pick it up again when you return!

QUESTION: At the end of the main course, where do I place my knife and fork?
ANSWER: The most common practice is to place your knife and fork side by side on your plate, at 12 o’clock, with the blade of the knife facing inwards. This is a courtesy to the catering staff, as well as your hosts – and has one practical benefit: we’ve all had a half-finished plate whisked away from under our eyes by confused, or over-eager, waiters. However, if you notice that those around you are following some other guideline, say, setting them out at 10 to 4, you’d better follow suit. This ‘watch-and-conform’ tip should set you straight in many other situations too.

QUESTION: Is there a ‘correct’ way to butter a bread roll?
ANSWER: Believe it or not, there is. Break the bread with your fingers into small piece so that you can eat it in small bites. Butter a small piece and then eat it. Never butter the whole roll. Doing so implies a kind of unseemly desperation – like tucking into your food as soon as it arrives, and not waiting for those around you to receive theirs.

QUESTION: When serving port, is it passed to the left or the right?
ANSWER: Simple, Port is always served from right to the left. So the person on your left will receive the bottle next. This makes sense, at least for right-handers.

So these are just a few of the more common questions I’ve been asked recently. More importantly, knowing about them will alert you to the larger need to behave just a touch more formally and considerately than you might in the comfort of your own home. The display of courtesy to those around you is all part of the nature of the event. A wedding is nothing if not a public celebration of private feelings, and etiquette is our way of reassuring one another that we all share the same values.

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in Wedding Celebrations, Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Etiquette | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Destination Wedding: Top five reasons to get married in Israel

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear Brides and Bridegrooms,

In this week’s blog I would like to introduce you to another of my colleagues. She is Joan Summerfield, a wedding planner who works in Israel. Joan is a fellow member of the consortium of Destination Wedding Planners accessible at ExtraOrdinary Destination Weddings.
As you will know if you’ve been reading these blogs, the Consortium offers a service for those planning to marry abroad. There are two stages. Initially you and your partner make the preparatory arrangements under the guidance of a locally-based wedding planner. Then the focus moves to the proposed wedding destination, where a second planner takes over, working to ensure that all those carefully crafted dreams are made reality. At all times your planning team will be in communication with each other, and with you, to ensure that you really do enjoy the wedding you’ve always envisioned, one that is customised and personalised to reflect who you are as a couple.

To give you a flavour of what Joan has to offer, and a sense of Israel as a place to be married in, I asked Joan to give me her top five reasons to get married there. Joan’s response was as follows:-

1. Historical (and religious) associations
With its immense and venerable antiquity, Israel attracts a wide range of visitors – Jewish, Muslim, Christian and others. Those wanting to build a religious dimension into their wedding will find a wealth of material to hand. It includes an unrivalled spread of sacred locations (Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias (The Sea of Galilee) and elsewhere) complemented by hundreds of ancient historical sites (Jewish, Greek, Roman, Crusader and Ottoman), and surrounded by desert landscapes soaked in biblical history.

2. Fine Climate
Israel, like the rest of the Mediterranean, is blessed with sunny and warm weather. From the start of May to the end of September you can be pretty confident your big day will NOT be ruined by rain.
The winters too are mild, and even in the cooler months it is usually possible to have the wedding ceremony outside.

3. Awe-inspiring locations
Israel offers a huge variety of stunning locations, ranging from the archaeological to the geological. The Dead Sea, for example, is the lowest place on Earth, and one of its great wonders. Most of these attractions can be enjoyed from luxury hotels, including those overlooking the Mediterranean or the Red Sea, which enjoy year-round sunshine, sandy beaches, luxurious hotels, coral reefs and dolphins.

4. Gourmet Food
Israeli cuisine today is on par with the best found anywhere in the world. With international influences in menus, an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit, incredible cheeses, world class wines and 5-star kosher catering Israel is quickly becoming a recognised gourmet destination.

5. Competitive prices
Weddings in Israel can be much less expensive than in other parts of the world. There is a well-established infrastructure, connected to a thriving tourist industry and able to cater to the widest range of aspirations, tastes and budgets.

*********************************

So, if you are a bride or groom living in London, the UK or Ireland and wanting to get married in Israel, why not drop me a line? We can discuss the ways in which I can help you lay the groundwork, and then put you in touch with Joan in Israel. She’ll help with further recommendations, sort out the paperwork and provide all the second stage organisational services. My direct line is 0208 989 4886.

Shalom!

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in Bride & Groom, Destination Weddings, London Wedding Planner, Marriage & Relationships, Pain-free Weddings, Top Tips, Wedding Professionals | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Top Reasons To Get Married In Tuscany

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear Brides,
Are you thinking of getting married abroad? Have you heard about ExtraOrdinaryDestinationWeddings.com? Over the last few weeks I have been writing about a consortium of Destination Wedding Planners being developed by Terri Altergott in Boston, USA.

The Consortium consists of wedding planners from around the world. It will be a partnership of 40 wedding planners across the globe and the web site will showcase some of our favourite wedding venues in each wedding destination.

For more information you can visit www.extraordinarydestinationweddings.com.

This week, I would like to introduce my fellow wedding planner, DANIELLE WISKOW BANDINI, in beautiful Tuscany. I have asked Danielle to give me some of her top reasons to get married in Tuscany. As follows:-

1) Great regional Tuscan food

2) Some of the world’s finest wines – Chianti, Brunello, Nobile di Montepulciano, Vernaccia di San, Gimignano to name just a few

3) Breathtaking scenery, sea, lakes, mountains, countryside

4) Cities of Art such as Florence, Siena, Volterra, Arezzo, San Gimignano etc

5) Picturesque hillside villages and hamlets

6) Extraordinary thermal spa locations

7) Outstanding quality and choice of castles and prestigious villas to rent

8) Unrivalled selection of churches and town hall locations for wedding ceremonies

9) Pervasive Italian design and décor, and, last but not least …

10) The Italian love of family and the spontaneous public participation in the wedding event!

So, do you want to get married in Tuscany? To contact Danielle, visit www.extraordinarydestinationweddings.com.Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Ps – did you know that we have the Italians to thank for diamond rings? In 1400s they believed the precious gem was created in the flames of love, making them the perfect choice as a token of desire!

Posted in Destination Weddings, Luxury Weddings, Top Tips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Destination Wedding: 7 Reasons to Get Married in Dubrovnik

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear Brides,

I recently announced that I have joined an emerging consortium of Destination Wedding Planners around the world. I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to work with some top wedding planners.

Over the coming months, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to my colleagues at ExtraOrdinaryDestinationWeddings.com. I’ll be putting the question to them: “What makes their wedding destination so appealing, and why do they think you should get married there. I will start with Ines Nanic in the historic Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

Ines replies:

1. Dubrovnik’s beauty has long been recognised, even by the curmudgeonly George Bernard Shaw. He wrote: ‘Those who seek Paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik,’ and the force of that can only be felt by a visit to savour the endlessly charming and picturesque sites in the town. You will be enchanted by its ancient walls, its maze of winding streets, the lovely harbour, clear blue sea, pristine beaches, the hospitality of the locals – and that rare feeling that you have somehow ‘come home’.

2. As the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik as is an ideal holiday destination. It has become a favoured vacation getaway destination for celebrities like Beyoncé, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke, Nick Nolte, Steve Buschemi and Roger Moore, to name just a few.

3. Dubrovnik is easily accessible, whether for your wedding or a holiday, from most European and world cities, including New York (from 2011). This will increase the desire of your guests to attend, and perhaps stay on for an extended vacation.

4. They will find plenty of things to see and do. For example, Dubrovnik has staged its Summer Festival for over 60 years, with concerts under the starry skies, theatrical plays in stunning locations, and (medieval) costumed festivals on every second cobbled corner.

5. Besides the rich cultural and historic attractions, there are more active pastimes – such as paragliding, water sports, diving, kayaking, or simply sunbathing with an occasional swim in the sparkling blue ocean. It is so clear you won’t have to look very closely to see the shoals of fish swimming around you.

6. It helps that Dubrovnik has 2554 sunny hours per year on average. Not many wedding destinations can match that.

7. Dubrovnik’s accommodation, and its restaurants and bars, offer an enviable range of facilities. Your guests will be made welcome everywhere, from glossy 5-star hotels overlooking the beach to charming local B&BS up among the cobbled streets of the Old Town. Or maybe a Villa with a pool for your guests – there are plenty to choose from! Whatever their budget and preferences are, we assure you Dubrovnik has it all.

And when it comes to dining and wining in Dubrovnik, you are in for a treat! We will happily send you a list of must visit places to taste the very best of Dubrovnik.

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in Bride & Groom, Destination Weddings, Marriage & Relationships, Top Tips, Wedding Professionals | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Answer To Having The Perfect Destination Wedding Experience

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear friends,

At last I can reveal what’s been keeping me so busy! Last year, I was invited to join an emerging consortium of Destination Wedding Planners called ExtraOrdinary Destination Weddings. The consortium is currently being put together by Terri Altergott, a highly sought-after Wedding Planner and Travel Agent in Boston, New England. All the wedding planners in the consortium are currently being hand-picked by Terri herself, with the support of her founding team, including myself. Suffice to say, we have all been very busy behind the scenes.

When I was introduced to Terri last year, she explained that she was finding herself getting frustrated with the lack of care and concern some of her destination brides were experiencing when they left her care and were heading to resorts that had wedding packages available but no ‘real’ wedding planner to oversee the final details for that wedding.” This being her reason for forming the consortium, I felt was a truly compelling one and well worth pursuing.

Who and what is the consortium?

ExtraOrdinary Destination Weddings is a Consortium of wedding planners from around the world – it consists of some top notch wedding planners in Italy, Israel, and Vancouver, Canada with locations in those countries and Dubai, China, Mexico, France and the U.K. Soon to include Wedding Planners in Hawaii and Australia/Thailand. In a nutshell, the website will be showcasing luxury wedding properties around the world and a team of world class wedding planners.

How is the consortium different?

What makes the consortium different is that it will offer a complete wedding team. You (the Bride) will work closely with a local wedding planner that you’ll meet with to assist you with all of the pre-wedding planning and a second wedding planner in your destination wedding location who will ensure that all of your carefully crafted wedding details are executed to perfection. At all times, your wedding team will be in communication with each other and with you to ensure that you truly do have the wedding you’ve always envisioned, one that is customized and personalized so that it truly is a reflection of who you are as a couple.

If you are a bride living in the UK, thinking about getting married abroad, call me to see if I can help. If you are a Wedding Planner in Scotland, and would like to join the consortium, please call me. If you own a 5 star wedding venue which fits the profile, please get in touch on 0208 989 4886.

I would love to hear from you all.

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in Bride & Groom, Child-friendly Weddings, Civil Ceremonies, Civil Weddings, Creative Wedding Solutions, Destination Weddings, East London Wedding Planner, London Wedding Planner, London Wedding Venues, Luxury Weddings, Pain-free Weddings, Stress-free Weddings, Wedding Agreements & Contracts, Wedding Planner Role, Wedding Professionals, Wedding Roles and Duties | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

7 Signs You Can Be A Wedding Planner

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Kim Rix

Could you be a wedding planner?

“I helped organised my sister’s wedding, and now I want to be a wedding planner”. Every week, I receive a handful of emails asking what it takes to become a wedding planner.

On one level, it’s open to anyone. The industry isn’t regulated in the UK. You don’t need to pay a fee to become certified. On the other hand, as a wedding planner you are responsible for the 1001 details that underpin the most important day of a couple’s life. Can you handle that?
This is what you need:

1 Interpersonal skills ¬– to deal sensitively with the bride and groom, family and influential friends. This calls for real empathy, and patience in listening. Integrity is key – these are not qualities you can make up as you go along.

2 Negotiating skills – A wedding is a huge collaboration – with the couple and their families, venues managers, service contractors – and it requires both experience and trust. With time, you will develop your own wider team of contacts (so you will need to network constantly).

3. Organisational skills. As a wedding planner, you are effectively a project manager. Don’t underestimate the scale of planning required—thinking, negotiating, balancing, talking, asking, and listening. Everything needs forethought. The potential for nasty surprises on the day is endless…

6. Problem solving and risk management – one role of wedding planner is to brainstorm possible risk factors, evaluate any potential threats, and find ways of mitigating or preventing them – all the ‘what ifs’. What if it rains, what if there’s a public event near the venue, what if the drinks don’t arrive, etc.

3. Attention to detail. Nothing is too small to consider. Guest numbers, precise timings, people’s names! A moment’s carelessness can cost you your reputation. You’ll need to check, and re-check, constantly.

4. Calmness under pressure / cool head in a crisis. Anger and panic are not options. You must remain courteous at all times, and ready to do whatever is necessary to make certain the day goes off without a hitch.

7. … and above all, creative flair! Your role is to transform your couple’s unformed dreams into a brilliant reality, and to suggest possibilities even beyond their imaginings.

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner

Posted in East London Wedding Planner, London Wedding Planner, Top Tips, Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Planner Career, Wedding Planner Role, Wedding Professionals, Wedding Roles and Duties | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Images of The Mall – Night Before The Royal Wedding

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear friends,
It was about 11pm, the night before The Royal Wedding and having just dined out with friends around the corner from Buckingham Palace, I felt compelled to walk up the Mall and talk to some people who had already reserved their viewing position for the much anticipated wedding of the century.

I observed people from all corners of the globe. There were families with young children sitting on blankets, retired couples parked in deckchairs, people wearing silly hats and fancy dress, musicians entertaining the passers-by, and, of course, there were plenty of people already trying to get a good night’s sleep buried in their sleeping bags. Regardless, there was no shortage of people who were delighted to stop and talk to me.

Being someone who appreciates her home comforts, I was curious to know what was motivating these people to sleep rough on what had become a chilly and slightly damp evening. So I asked the question. For the majority I spoke with, they wanted to be a part of this historical event. Others simply wanted to catch a glimpse of Catherine Middleton in her dress as well as the much anticipated kiss on the balcony. David Beckham’s name was mentioned once or twice too.

In particular, I chatted with a group of six women all dressed in pink who clearly couldn’t contain their excitement and amused me with their story of having been approached by an official and told not to move. Shortly afterwards, they were visited by David Cameron who chatted away with them for some time.

I also spoke to a couple who told me how they had met some fifty years ago on the Mall attending a Royal event, and subsequently were camping out for their third time together, having also camped out for the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. Aaahhh, how very romantic!

Even in the dark, it was a colourful sight with union jacks and messages from well-wishes adorning the safety barriers pretty much the full length of The Mall. Here are some images I took of the Mall between 11pm and midnight, the night before The Royal Wedding:

If you took an amazing image, and would like it featured on our blog, send it in to us – we’d love to see it!

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in Royal Weddings, Wedding Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Royal Wedding – What will be your favourite moment?

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Kim Rix

Dear friends,

The clock is ticking – less than 24 hours to go now to the wedding of the century! I’m personally very excited about The Royal Wedding.

Tonight, I’m attending a Royal Wedding Party being hosted by Hotel Rafayel in East London, where I hope to be able to take away some creative tips, in advance of hosting my own Royal soiree tomorrow. I’m expecting 22 guests to arrive by 10am, dressed in their finest wedding attire to share the grand occasion with me. This afternoon (weather permitting, of course), I’ll adorn the garden with union jack flags, and prepare the dining room for a quintessential royal buffet…although, it’s not an entirely British menu, I have to admit.

Also tomorrow, I’m delighted to have been asked, once again, to speak with the Big Media USA’s wedding expert Wayne Gurnick, to share notes on the day’s events and how I think this remarkable occasion will impact what ordinary couples do to celebrate, commemorate and create traditions for their own weddings. Do join us if you can: http://www.bmbc.tv/shows/152

One of the questions I’m anticipating being asked is my favourite moment , so I decided to put that very question to Jennie Bond, ex-BBC Royal Correspondent, when I attended a very intimate Royal Wedding Party in Covent Garden a couple of nights ago. When we spoke, Jennie thought her favourite moment would be the traditional post-wedding balcony kiss at Buckingham Palace. Personally speaking, I’m looking forward to seeing the expression on William’s face when he first sees Kate walking down the aisle towards him. But we shall see, I’m sure I’ll have many favourite moments throughout the day, it will be hard to choose just one defining moment to talk about.

What about you? What will you be doing to celebrate tomorrow? Do please write and tell me what was your favourite moment – I’d love to hear from you!

Best wishes,

Kim Rix
Your London Wedding Planner
“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in London Wedding Planner, Royal Weddings, Wedding Traditions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Top Tips For Personal Safety At The Royal Wedding

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Kim Rix

Are you one of the thousands of visitors coming to London to celebrate the Royal Wedding on Friday?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement – after all, it’s a time for celebration and to be joyous. But let’s not forget, London is a city like any other– neither more nor less dangerous than most – but it does have its fair share of accidents, crime, racism and natural disasters. I don’t want to put you off but, as a visitor, you might be at greater risk than a local – even more so if you’re a woman. So, to avoid unnecessary trouble and heart-ache, please, before you set off on your travels to London, do give a thought to your own personal safety.

Since 9/11, and as London is also preparing for the Olympics, security in the capital has been stepped up. Guests of the Royal Wedding itself will have to undergo nine separate security checks, including three at gunpoint. The whole event will be watched by police snipers on rooftops, with a team of 35 sniffer dogs and an SAS team held in reserve. Not even Royal Wedding guests certainly will be allowed to carry mobile phones or cameras. That naturally won’t apply to the general public, but don’t be surprised if you’re asked to turn out your pockets, or find yourself being screened by a metal-detector. The Police will be on look-out for ‘trouble-makers’, and we are told bad behaviour will ‘not be tolerated’.

With this in mind, I would like to offer some advice to those who will be visiting London on 29th April. Especially if you plan to attend parties, events and public celebrations, some forethought is necessary.

The usual personal safety rules will of course apply, so protect your belongings from pickpockets. As a visitor (you’ve no idea how obvious that is!) thieves may well target you. Wear a money-belt, or one of those little wallets that hang inside your shirt, rather than carry a handbag. Don’t carry all your ID, cards and cash in the same handy place. I’ve been mugged myself. It’s unpleasant and very inconvenient.

If you suffer from a weak bladder, remember that public toilets and suitable places like pubs do always present themselves at the critical moment, so think about the problem in advance, bearing in mind that public conveniences too can be places to be wary in. Information bureaux (like the one opposite St Paul’s Cathedral) will be very helpful here. You will certainly need advice if there is a wheelchair or other mobility issue complicating the picture.

So far so general, but on a huge public occasion like a royal wedding additional constraints apply. Don’t carry any objects on your person that could be construed as dangerous weapons, not even your favourite Swiss army knife. When a mere rucksack can bring you under suspicion, don’t leave cases and parcels unattended anywhere. Think airport, here. One mislaid package can paralyse a whole transport network. And if you really must have that laptop or state-of-the-art iPad with you, keep your data fully protected, and do a thorough back-up before you venture out.

While you’re on the streets, remember that some places are much dodgier than others, that everyone is at risk (even – or perhaps especially, hunky blokes), and that there really is safety in numbers.

Finally, as you won’t need reminding, children pose a whole other set of issues. It’s surprisingly easy to lose them in a large crowd, especially if they can’t see much that interests them and they get restless. Reins, now supplemented with a range of call devices and alarms, were invented for a purpose. Make sure the little ones know what to expect and how to protect themselves – even in such circumstances as finding themselves trapped in a heaving crowd. If you can organise regular little amusements specifically for them, it will be a happier day for everyone concerned.

All this is of course simple common sense, and my list is by no means exhaustive. But sometimes, in the excitement of the moment, common sense gets forgotten. I do want your visit to be both memorable and joyous, so please give some thought to the whole question of what might possibly go to spoil it.

And after that, have a wonderful day!

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

“Freeing up your time and delivering the personal service”

Posted in London Wedding Planner, Pain-free Weddings, Royal Weddings, Stress-free Weddings, Top Tips | Tagged , | 1 Comment