Wedding terminology debunked & Wedding planning tips
Just engaged and excited to plan your wedding, you expect lots of new experiences – but maybe learning a whole new language isn’t one of them.
Here at The Coed we’re all about making your south Wales wedding planning feel as effortless as possible. So we thought a pocket blog on demystifying the weird and wonderful world of wedding terminology might help, along with some things to think about and insider wedding planning tips along the way…
Your wedding ceremony – the legals
Civil Ceremony
When you get married in a non-religious setting, it’s known as a civil ceremony. You still need to choose a wedding venue that is specifically licensed for civil ceremonies, have your wedding licence all sorted and make sure you have booked an authorised registrar.
Wedding Licence
You can’t get married without a wedding licence! It provides the legal authorisation for a marriage ceremony to take place. The requirements and process depend on where you are marrying, so it's important to make sure you understand the legal arrangements well ahead of your wedding day.
Our wedding teams will, of course, help you understand what you need to arrange when you book your wedding with us.
Ceremony Room/Ceremony Space
The Coed is licensed for civil ceremonies, which means you can say ‘I do’ in your choice of ceremony room, our all-glass Folly or beautiful Hendre Suite before celebrating with your guests.
Top tip for your wedding showround: take a moment during your visit to imagine the space as it will feel on your wedding day. Picture your entrance and the moment your guests see you for the first time, walking down the aisle, saying your vows and taking those very first photographs as newlyweds.
Imagining these little moments help you know when you've found the right place for your dream wedding!
Registrar or Celebrant?
The registrar is officially authorised to conduct a civil marriage ceremony. Once you have decided on your wedding venue, you need to contact the local authority for a list of authorised registrars.
A celebrant is another type of professional who can conduct a highly personalised wedding ceremony with your own vows and readings. The difference is that a celebrant cannot legally marry you, so, if you choose this option, you will also need to undertake the legal marriage separately.
Top tip on making your wedding personal: While the professionals handle the formalities, think about the ways in which you want to make your ceremony really personal to you both. Your choice of readings, the special people who read them, the music and other meaningful details help create a ceremony that feels unmistakably yours. If you book with us, our team will help with this, making your wishes happen or providing fresh inspiration.
Choosing your wedding venue
Making the most of your showround
Top tip: Whether you're just beginning, arranging your ceremony, choosing your menu or working through the finer details of your reception, don't be afraid to ask questions. Your wedding team is there to guide you through the process and help you make decisions that are right for you.
Capacity
A venue will give you details of its spaces’ capacity – ie, the maximum number of guests it can accommodate for a particular room layout.
Top tip when viewing wedding venues: think not just maximum capacity but also how the space will feel with your guest numbers and what you have planned – the meal, dancing and any other elements of your celebration.
Exclusive Use
Exclusive use means having a venue reserved solely for your wedding and your guests. While we always make sure that your wedding spaces are entirely yours, for couples looking for a more private celebration, exclusive use ensures the entire venue is yours for the duration of your wedding.
Minimum spend and minimum guest numbers
A minimum spend is the minimum charge a wedding venue requires for a particular date, day of the week or season. Minimum guest numbers work in much the same way.
Top tip when choosing your date: Minimum spends can vary a lot depending on seasonality and day of the week, so it's always worth discussing the options. When we have a budget to work to with our couples, we’ll often suggest an autumn or winter wedding or a day other than Friday or Saturday.
Room turnaround
One of those other things you don’t necessarily think about until you plan your wedding, room turnaround refers to changing the layout of a space from one part of your wedding day to another.
For example, a room may be transformed from your ceremony setting into your wedding breakfast and reception space, or from the wedding breakfast to the evening party. An experienced venue team will carefully manage this behind the scenes so that your celebrations can continue seamlessly.
Personalised proposal
A proposal is an estimated price provided by the venue, depending on your wedding plan, as discussed with your wedding venue co-ordinator. Our couples like our proposal documents because they are totally interactive, so you can amend the component parts in the comfort of your own home to arrive at the plan and budget that works for you.
Paying a deposit
Paying your deposit usually secures your wedding date, subject to the terms and conditions of your contract with your venue.
Payment Schedule
A wedding is a major expense and your venue should understand you need to manage your payments over an agreed period of time. We prepare a detailed payment schedule for all our couples, clearly setting out when wedding payments are due.
Wedding planning – who’s who
Wedding Planner
A wedding planner is a professional who can help you plan and coordinate some or all of your wedding.
Depending on the service you choose, a wedding planner may assist with suppliers, styling, timelines, logistics and the many details involved in creating your perfect day.
Venue Coordinator
Your wedding venue is a big part of your day and so your venue coordinator helps organise your wedding from that perspective.
They'll be familiar with the property, the spaces, the timings and the practical details involved in bringing your day together, making them an invaluable point-of-contact throughout the planning process.
Our team works with couples as well as their wedding planners to plan everything to run beautifully and seamlessly on the day.
On-the-Day Coordinator
Our on-the-day coordinators manage the logistics and timings of your wedding day.
Their role is to make sure everything runs smoothly behind-the-scenes, so you can relax and enjoy every moment, not having to think about what happens next.
Planning your wedding reception
Drinks Reception / Post-Ceremony drinks and canapés
Following the ceremony, your guests will be thirsty and peckish as they move to your celebration space while your photos are being taken.
It's the perfect opportunity for your guests to enjoy a glass of something celebratory – that may be the traditional bubbles or an opportunity to add some of your personality with a signature cocktail – your favourite or a new concoction for the day - or perhaps a seasonal choice such as a chic seasonal spritz bar or warming mulled cider or wine.
Bite-size, beautifully presented savoury or sweet canapés can be a lovely way to keep your guests’ hunger at bay while your photographer capture those all-important newly-wed couple photographs.
Table Plan and Placecards
Letting your guests know where they'll be seated for the wedding breakfast is a wedding planning staple.
While the main purpose is practical (and potentially political!), your table plan and placecards should also be part of your wedding styling. Bespoke signage, gorgeous stationery, florals and calligraphy can add a beautifully considered welcome and finishing touch to your tablescape.
Wedding Breakfast
Despite its name, the wedding breakfast is the main meal served after the ceremony, so-called because it will be your first meal enjoyed as a married couple with your guests.
It’s a traditional name but what you eat doesn’t have to be the often expected elegant three-course menu; more and more couples are choosing alternatives such as a sharing feast, or something entirely bespoke that means a lot to them. Either way, the food sets the tone for your celebrations and is the social highlight of the day, bringing everyone together around the table to break bread.
Top table
The classic top table seats the newlyweds alongside members of their wedding party.
But modern weddings don't have to follow tradition, and you might prefer a sweetheart table for two or a more relaxed family-style arrangement - the best choice is simply the one that feels right for you.
Wedding favours
To thank your guests for celebrating with you, favours can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, from keepsakes to edible treats – another opportunity to add a personal touch to your wedding breakfast.
At The Coed, we believe your wedding should feel personal, considered and entirely yours. From the moment you begin planning to the final dance of the evening, our teams are here to make your dream wedding happen. Give us a call or email to book in your viewing – we’d love to show you around!