Table Plan with a Twist?

This week I thought I'd share with you our bespoke wedding table plan, designed by yours truly. (If you can't see the images clearly, then double click to see them at full size.)

I wanted our table plan to be different – a point of interest with which our guests could engage, instead of rushing straight past in search of much-needed refreshments. I wanted the table plan to tell our love story – the tale of how hubby and I came to be, despite the enormous odds.

I was inspired by funky infographic stationery I'd spied on my favourite wedding website. (If you're looking for alternative wedding ideas this website is definitely for you!) I fell in love with the modern diagrammatic approach to stationery design, and began to think about how it could be applied to our table plan, while still fitting in with our vintage theme. Matthew (yep, here's a link if you're wondering what my husband looks like) is an author and playwright, and I used to teach primary English, so I came up with a concept that suited us both: a table plan, structured like a diagram, that explains how to write a love story.

I positioned the story plot diagram at the bottom of the table plan, with an introduction (our first date); a build-up (our blossoming love affair); a dilemma (our tricky long-distance spell); a resolution (our eventual reunion) and, finally, a happy ending (our wedding day). At the top of the plan, I organised our guests into book chapters (tables) representing the fact that they'd all played a part in our love story. And finally, on the right, I added character profiles for the personality-clashing protagonists (Mat and I), just for humorous effect!

I designed the whole table plan in Word and added clip-art illustrations to jazz things up a bit. Once I was happy with the design, I got it printed professionally on cream A1-sized foam-backed card, which cost around £40. I was very pleased with the end result, and our guests seemed to like it too! I think it offered them the chance to gain a few amusing insights into our relationship, as well as giving them something interesting to do during the drinks reception.

Designing and making your own table plan is so much cheaper than getting someone to do it for you and, if you have the time, it's a lovely way of expressing yourself at your wedding. Make sure you don't print your DIY masterpiece too far in advance of your wedding though, as there's likely to be one or two guests who'll make their excuses at the very last minute.

Are You Sure the Kids Are Invited?

We all know screaming kids are not welcome news at weddings, particularly during the vows or the groom’s heartfelt speech. But with a little thought and careful planning, both you and your little guests can enjoy the big day without shedding unwanted tears. Here are my golden rules for organising a successful kid-friendly wedding:

1: Be realistic

If you decide to invite children to your wedding, you’ll need to accept there'll inevitably be a few noisy interruptions and some little people running around during the proceedings. If this will cause you to smile not frown on your special day then read on.

2: Plan ahead

It’s crucial to write a list of all the children you’re inviting, and to find out the number of kids and their ages. This will help you to plan age-appropriate activities, food and any other necessary resources such as high chairs. If you’re unsure about anything, talk to the kids’ parents. They’ll happily tell you all you need to know.

3: Consider venues 

Assess whether your potential venues are suitable for young guests. Ask staff about  access to toilets, baby-changing or crèche facilities. Will the children have space to let off steam during the reception? Are there safe outdoor play areas? As a very rough guide a child can sit attentively for three minutes plus their age so, at some point, they'll need to get up and move. Although it's a lovely idea, a quirky cave venue may not seem as great when you've got 20 or so under eights running around in the dark, over jagged rocks. Our reception venue had oodles of space, indoors and out, so it was perfect for the 25 youngsters we'd invited.

Especially at the start of the wedding ceremony, make sure your ushers tell parents about the location of toilets etc so they can have quick and easy access. (Note: some families may choose to sit at the back of the venue with their kids, to avoid disturbances. Let them as they probably know best!)

4: Remember the three Fs

Most importantly, remember that most children love the three Fs: food, fun and fascination. Stick to this mantra as much as you can, and you won’t go wrong! 

In future blogs, I'll give you some tried and tested practical ideas for the three Fs which won't break the bank!

The Post-Wedding Hurricane

I've now been married for exactly three months, 21 days, 12 hours and 29 minutes and, thankfully, we haven't killed each other yet, despite the fact that we both work from home and breathe in the same air almost 24/7.

I'm blissfully happy, especially as hubby and I are now 'official', but in truth I haven't had much time to fully appreciate our married life. This is because I've been completely inundated with what I can only describe as the post-wedding hurricane – basically a tonne of stuff that needs to be done NOW – and the worst is, it's all necessary! How come nobody warned me of this beforehand? There's so much to do after the event and you can't really escape any of it!

For those brides who haven't yet considered the post-wedding hurricane, here's an abridged version of the list of 'fun' tasks:

• Make the obligatory engaged-to-married status change on Facebook, before friends bombard you with wall posts;
• Source a cleaner for your wedding dress (can be pricey so you should shop around); 
• Dry clean your never-to-be-worn-again dress (an urgent job as stains may set in, if left)
• Arrange delivery and user-test zillions of gifts (note: immediate user-testing is essential due to the likelihood of the odd damaged item); 
• Write and post thank-you cards (takes forever, particularly if your cards are homemade);
• Send thank-you emails to suppliers; 
• Write testimonials for suppliers (only if they ask nicely);
• Inflict photo viewings on everyone that dares to knock on your front door post-wedding (including strangers);  
• Video viewings as above;
• And finally, don't forget the arduous administrative task of the 'name change', if that's your bag. (I'm still in a strange interchangeable-surname limbo.)

Believe it or not, it's taken a whole three months to do all this stuff, and there's been little time (except during our honeymoon) for much newly-wed yumminess! But I'm relieved to say the storm has nearly passed, and our lives are almost back to normal, with the added bonus of being Mr and Mrs. 

If the thought of the post-wedding hurricane fills you with dread, just do a little preparation to limber up before the wedding. If I'd done this I wouldn't have been so stunned by the unyielding post-wedding workload and I may have planned our honeymoon for later in the year rather than two days after we were married. 

This is all with hindsight of course and, in fact, there were many elements of the hurricane that I enjoyed being caught up in. So don't fret. You'll get through it. Just remember it's coming and pace yourself when it arrives!