4.  All about the glow.  No, we don’t mean a bride who looks as if she’s just been tangoed – that fake tan bridal look is so over!  We are talking about soft and dewy make-up, with a foundation base which makes them look as thought they’re not wearing foundation at all.  The aim is to make a bride look like she has perfect skin, a completely flawless complexion and gentle eyes, peachy lips – a modern day Disney Princess!  These soft colours often come in the form of pastel shades and can also be used on all; of your wedding stationery – looking especially wonderful on larger items such  as your wedding table plans.  Give your wedding table plans a hint of peachy, pink and lilac tones to set a calm mood for your wedding day.  Don’t forget to match the flowers too in similar tones and you will have a colour scheme which will flow effortlessly from your make-up, through your flowers, and even to your wedding tables plans and table decor.

Next up:  The Side Bun

The average cost of a wedding has increased by a whopping 22.9% from 2009 to 2010, official statistics have shown.  Brides and grooms were spending an average of £12,606 in 2009 and this jumped to £15,494 last year.

Fifty specific products and services saw an increase in spending with wedding planning services outperforming all other categories.  Accessories also saw a big jump in taking its fair share of the bridal budget, as did beauty (including spa treatments) and stationery (including wedding table plans and general wedding stationery).

While stationery such as wedding table plans might not seem like huge business, remember that most wedding parties will order several to be placed around the function room, have a couple as back-up plans and have them reprinted several times before they are finalised.  Multiply that by every bride-to-be about to tie the knot and it’s a booming business.

Traditionally, wedding table plans are placed at the entrance to the reception venue so that everyone can turn up and see where they are going to be sitting.

But have the ever seen the crowd that gathers as everybody is ushered into the dining hall all at the same time?  It can be chaos – especially if you have a lot of guests.

There are a few ways to get round this:

1 – Send the guests through in batches so there isn’t a ‘bottle neck’ of everyone trying to get to view the wedding table plans at once.

2 – Make several copies of your wedding table plans (or purchase more sets) and have them in several locations across the room.

3 – Don’t display it at the entrance to your venue.  Consider having it at the back of the room or off to one side where there is plenty of room.

4 – Give your guests a bit more of a heads-up and print out little copies of your wedding table plans that you can give out at the end of your ceremony – or even with your invites if you’re that organised!