It’s a truth universally acknowledged that your wedding day may well be the best day of your life. Making the jump from love to the rush of an engagement, crescendoing to the matrimonial event, though joyful, brings unique challenges and choppy logistical waters to navigate. This is where Quintessentially Weddings comes in.
Quintessentially Weddings circumnavigates the globe, bringing high-voltage luxury to a wedding for 300 on an Athenean clifftop, or arranging a ceremony next to a watering hole in Serengeti National Park. With a global network of in-house specialists, their little black address book runneth over; Quintessentially has an ecosystem of in-the-know contacts that can source the best-of-the-best locals-only suppliers wherever in the world you may be dreaming about.
The offering is end-to-end; Quintessentially Weddings will use an expert eye—informed by twenty years in the business—to guide you through the wedding planning process. And with an entirely personalised service, the lifeblood of the couple is infused into the spirit of the celebration and tailored to the smallest of moments, from commissioning bespoke invites that come with a houseplant native to the wedding destination, to bee-friendly bouquets or a ten-minute fireworks display set to the couple’s favourite song. Then, there is the magic: a bespoke wine list with a master sommelier, a Michelin-starred chef for the wedding breakfast—the sky’s the limit with Quintessentially Weddings in your back pocket.
Timeline
So, you’re engaged. Hoorah! Congratulations. Now, a year or so out from your wedding day, it’s all systems go. Organisation, commence!
12 months and before
It’s time to re-download Pinterest. This visualisation top-note will inform everything from tablescaping to floristry; use it to build a picture of the unique dynamic of your coupling, reflecting exactly that kind of bride or groom you would like to be.
If a wedding planner is a viable choice for you, setting the wheels in motion to bring them into the process is advisable. It is they who will be your collaborator, interpreter (literally, in the case of destination weddings), and spiritual guide to ensure that your wedding is kept as ‘you’ as possible. At this point, Quintessentially Weddings would begin consultations to build an intimate picture of the couple in question, understanding their vision, preferences, and cultural heritage. If not, speaking to a friend who has been through the process of wedding planning will give you a sense of what comes next.
And then there is the guest list. Crucially one of the first things to think about, drafting a rough list will give you a jumping-off point that may inform your choice of venue (are we talking micro or macro or somewhere in between), budget, and more.
If you are using a planner, they will create a shortlist of ceremony and reception venues that, once found, should be booked as soon as possible. If the venue has accommodation, think about who you will be inviting to stay. Otherwise, start setting the wheels in motion for alternate guest accommodation.
In the spirit of big-picture decisions, consider seasonality as early as possible, and more specifically, your wedding date. Once this is settled, a save the date card can be sent out, which offers guests of destination weddings the opportunity to book flights and plan annual leave in very good time.
8-10 months
Now, the dress. A wedding planner can shortlist designers––envy the Quintessentially little black book here––that embody the spirit of the sort of bride you are, and talk to you about any additional requests you may have, from commissioning a bespoke dress to show-stopping couture. For a Bianca-Jagger style trouser suit, Quintessentially Weddings would point you to Acra, Savannah Miller, and Whistles; as for the bohemians, the Quintessentially choice would be Marchesa or Reem Acra.
6-8 months
A particularly fun stage of the process, consider entertainment. Keep in mind that bands, DJs, and musicians should all be seen performing before you book. You may want to integrate a surprise element into the offering; we have it on good authority that Craig David surprised delighted guests at a Quintessentially wedding on a Cheltenham private estate.
Select hair stylists and makeup artists now—referring back to the trusty Pinterest board—and schedule a trial for two months before your wedding date. It is also the moment to tackle the bridesmaids’ dresses and ushers’ suits. The florist should also be booked, and if not using a planner, use mood boards and inspiration sources to inform their design proposal. And, best yet, start planning your honeymoon, a process hugely facilitated by Quintessentially’s in-the-know luxury travel expertise.
3-6 months
6 months out, lock in the decor. Any rental furniture should be discussed—and confirmed—with the venue and caterer, and any additional props that need to be put on hold should be looked at now. Otherwise, commission your rings, select shoes and accessories, and discuss your order of service with a vicar or celebrant.
Perhaps most fun of all, researching wedding cake designers and arranging a test of the cake should be done now. While the offer of baking is wonderful and generous from family or friends, successfully executing a wedding cake to the tune of 200 people may be better delegated to the professionals.
Around the 3-month mark, wedding invitations can be sent out, menus and wine tastings can be enjoyed and consulted on, and transport confirmed.
1-2 months
As the date inches closer, start putting pen to paper for your vows, allowing yourself the space to reflect on your love story and for creativity to bubble up. If in doubt, though, you can always hire a professional vow writer to help the task along.
Hair and makeup trials happen now, and crucially, it’s time to send a sample of the ceremony and menu copy to the stationer to confirm the design.
2 weeks
With but 2 weeks to go, the ceremony rehearsal will go ahead, making sure the bridal party knows where to be and when. Confirm the guest list, and then have a look at special dietary requirements, also accommodating suppliers, like photographers, who will need a staff meal.
Pre-wedding pampering is also in order for bride and groom alike. Treatments that make you glow are the order of the day; go to Quintessentially-recommended Dr. Maryam Zamani for an ‘aquagold’ treatment.
1 week
Eek! One week to go. Let the excitement commence!
Time to tackle the table plan, and once finished, placement cards can also be drawn up. Guest placement cards (by table) can then be transferred to the caterer or venue manager, who will place them alongside any gifts or tokens you may like to pop down.
Even amidst the hive of activity, take some time out for pre-wedding pampering. Perhaps it’s lash extensions with Quintessentially-favourite Edyta Kurowska in Fitzrovia, or a manicure and pedicure at Quintessentially-approved Townhouse at Harrods. Either way, refreshing yourself away from the hubbub ensures you will be fully present for a wonderful day with all of your friends and family, looking and feeling your very best.
The Need-To-Know
Destination Weddings
A celebration of all things maximalist, destination weddings offer a unique opportunity for a show-stopping multi-day event. Perhaps it’s a four-day, six-event weekend atop the Athens Riviera, complete with a taverna takeover, a vibrant Mehndi ceremony by the water, a black tie dinner in the hills, and a recovery beach brunch the following day? Or say your “I dos” on an Amalfi clifftop, eating, drinking, and being merry amongst hundred-year-old olive groves at the legendary Belmond Hotel. And kick off the honeymoon in style with a zooming car rally from Positano to Monaco the next day, a full expression of Quintessentially Weddings skys-the-limit approach to wedding planning.
Next, for an unforgettable voyage into married life, Quintessentially Weddings can work with you to create honeymoons with a guaranteed wow factor. There is little more special than the transportative experience of lodging in the Agafay Desert outside Marrakech, learning the unique traditions of Berber culture in the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. For a different tone, Quintessentially recommends the remote tranquillity offered by Deplar Farm, nestled in the Fljót Valley of Northern Iceland; think expansive views of the northern lights and all manner of outdoor adventures, from heliskiing in the winter to salmon-fishing in the summer.
Alas, there are less fantastical considerations to make for destination weddings too; a dress box to be bought and packing lists assembled. Then there is the bigger picture: any language barrier must be kept in mind, though planners like Quintessentially Weddings, with an international reach, ensure proper communication with local partners who can accordingly interpret and execute the brief in the spirit it was intended. There is also the opportunity to enrich and root your destination celebration in local customs and traditions, creating an implicit sense of authenticity and meaning to the day. As for the admin, Quintessentially Weddings can also facilitate understanding and compliance with thorny local regulations, avoiding any unexpected roadblocks.
Sustainability
Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it’s an ethos that can be integrated into the fabric of your day. Emphasising local, seasonal produce grounds your day in its environment and context, creating a memorable and meaningful sense of time and place. Every aspect of the menu can be considered, from locally sourced food in a five-mile radius of the venue to carbon-neutral wines through to the eventual disposal.
This through-line can continue all the way to your honeymoon; escape to Kisawa Sanctuary on the Benguerra Island off of Mozambique, the world’s first 3D-printed retreat, seamlessly integrated into the natural ecosystem. Kisawa offers mindful experiences too, with guided hikes through the mangroves and a local menu to boot.
Wedding planners
All that has been discussed is smoothed by the reciprocal collaboration of a wedding planner. With a thorough and dimensional understanding of the couple built over a year, planners like Quintessentially Weddings act on their behalf, leaving contractual negotiation to those with the experience to execute the business end. And then there is the painstaking logistical coordination—particularly significant for multi day or destination weddings—to iron out details like responsibility for delivery, access times, and the coordination of vendors.
But ultimately, your wedding planner is your eyes and ears on the day. You can stay present for every moment because they will juggle the schedule, encourage the flow of guests, and put out any last-minute fires that may arise. With a well-briefed, experienced team on the ground––fairy godmothers with clipboards––your dream celebration will go off without a hitch.
Start your wedding planning here: www.quintessentially.com/weddings / www.quintessentially.com/weddings/contact-us
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