Marrying Abroad? 4 Top Tips To Remember

Marrying Abroad: 4 Top Tips to remember!

Getting married is an exciting time, which is why it is sometimes easy to forget the tiny details;

especially when marrying abroad! So here are some tips to make sure you don’t forget, giving

you time to focus on the fun parts of your special day like that delicious cake and that jaw-

dropping dress...

1. Visit First!

Lots of people have a dream destination for their perfect wedding day, however, it’s always a

good idea if your budget can allow you to visit the specific place you want your wedding to be in

advance. This will allow you to check out ceremony and reception venues first, as well as meet

suppliers, hairdressers and makeup stylists to give you peace of mind for your big day. Lots of

them allow you to do a trial before your wedding day too!

2.Climate

We all know marrying abroad is a beautiful way to spend your day, with picturesque backdrops

and beautiful weather, however, when marrying abroad, you should consider the climate in other

ways. For example, when choosing your wedding dress. Choosing dresses made of heavy or

thick materials such as satin may cause you discomfort if your destination is a warm country.

Lightweight materials such as chiffon could be perfect to keep you looking glamorous and keep

you cool at the same time. The same rule goes for your hair and makeup, avoid heavy products

and find anti-humidity makeup to help.

3. Important Documents

All of us would rather be focusing on the beautiful beaches or the sunny weather, but there are

lots of documents you will need when planning to marry abroad. These include; Birth

Certificates, Valid 10-year Passports, Affidavit/Statutory declarations, Confirmation of single

status (in case of previous divorce, Decree Absolute) and in some countries if you are of a

young age, parental consent (some destinations need you to be 21 and over without this). Also

check the length of time you have to be in the country before you are allowed to marry, as some

destinations require you to have a Visa. The best way to check is contacting the relevant

embassy with all your questions.

4.Vaccinations

It’s important to remember, for everyone traveling to your wedding, that some countries

recommend getting different vaccinations for your own safety. The further away and the more

tropical, the more likely you are to need boosters or new vaccinations. Common vaccinations

include Cholera, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Most common vaccinations are available free of

charge from the NHS, but be sure to check which are needed for your chosen destination by

visiting your GP, or use the helpful information displayed on the NHS website.

To help plan your wedding abroad, get in contact with the Serenity London Events team today! events@serenitylondon.co.uk 

Wedding Rehearsals Top Tips!

As Wedding Season is now upon us! We wonder how many of you have Wedding Rehearsals booked in?

Many may think what is required from your bridal and Groomsmen parties is pretty straight forward however you would be surprised with the little things you would be whispering on the day to get everyone on the same page.

So I thought I would put together a check list of things to cover and key elements to have during rehearsals:

1.       The key things to rehearse are; The Entrances to the Church, The Entrances to the Venue, Where everyone is sitting and Everyone’s jobs on the day if they have any.

2.       Have all music ready in order that they will play on the day

3.       Speak through the ceremony headings. Take a look at the ceremony draft and read through the headings aloud, so everyone knows roughly the order of the ceremony.

4.       When practising the church entrance be sure to cover all details such as step speed and end positions. Many people always end up walking to the inner spots rather than outer.

5.       For the venue entrance it is vital you go over the path with your party, it becomes daunting as the hit the stage therefore common sense may not be so common in that moment

6.       Ensure the music for the entrances has a little extra time as there may be some delays on the day and you would not want the music stopping before all your party is out.

7.       Allocate the last couple entering the church and hall to count everyone in.

8.       Run though the jobs of each person on the day, we highly encourage this as come 9am wedding day morning you the Bride and Groom will be thinking of everything else besides the small details that need to be done.

9.       If you can Brides practice a toilet run with your selected people in your dress. This may sound funny to some of you however with no run through on the day it could become a panic!

10.   Finally encourage questions from everyone! This way there are no questions on the day that you may find stressful to answer.

When booking a wedding with Serenity London Events there is not an element of your wedding we do not think about and cover. We pride ourselves on constantly thinking how to execute perfection.

Our books for 2018 & 19 are now open. 
We offer the full Wedding Planning service however we are also available for just décor enquires. 
Keep an eye out for the new Weddings page launching on our website in June! 

Cocktails in the City

There is always something exciting and glamourous about going for a few drinks (which tends to turn into a lot more than just a few) in the city of London but for most people the question is where do I even go?

There are so many parts of London that offer different drinking experiences, for the more relaxed Sunday afternoon beer garden atmosphere, Camden and Soho offer some unique pubs and cocktail bars.

One being Lockside in Camden which not only has a traditional open brickwork interior but it also has a terrace looking over the Lock - if you’re lucky enough to find a spot on a sunny day, then pairing it up with one of the many cocktails they offer (see the jam jar cocktail below) you have a perfect day planned.

For those who want to swap the Lock to their Louboutins, there also many cocktail bars on the other side of London which let you get all dolled up but are also in prime location for after work drinks.

One being Steam and Rye, this Bank based location makes it easy to not only get to but to also carry on the night wherever that might be. It is an American themed dining bar with live music and on the right night you can even find a rodeo bull. It is set up so that when you arrive you step into “New York’s Grand Central Station” in which there are tables that you can book for either drinks or enjoy a meal from their menu which offer American classics such as burgers and mac and cheese, but they also offer Lobster.

Although I have dined at Steam and Rye once before, in which my experience was one of the nicest I have received as all waitresses were willing to help you and the food exceeded my expectations ( I recommend the sirloin steak!) But what everybody really goes for are the amazing cocktails they offer!

After visiting multiple times I have managed to cut down to my top 5 cocktails; 1)“5$ Shake” - a vodka based cocktail with whipped cream, oreos and a fab ice lolly (what more could you want), 2)“Freedom Martini” - an alternative to a Pornstar Martini as this contains Lejay Blackberry and Pineapple, 3)“George Washington” - yes it is in fact served in a GW moulded cup! 4)“Juan Direction” - a tequila based cocktail that also has a proud ‘I love one direction’ flag in it (this is definitely one for the super fans) 5)”No Filter” - if you haven’t had a cocktail served in a camera lense before then where have you been, this gin cocktail contains Violette Bitters and bubblegum so it is the perfect balance of sharpness and sweetness.

Not only do they offer 20 of their own unique cocktails but the barmen are more than happy to make your favourite classic cocktail or to even make a cocktail up there and then. I would recommend this cocktail spot to everyone and anyone as the service is always to a top level - that includes the staff and cocktails! All cocktails are priced at a standard City price of £9-£12 which is what is expected but why not make the most of their happy hour which is half price cocktails and £4.50 beers between 5pm-7pm every day!

Whilst you are in the area, in fact it is only next door, Vodka Revolution is another bar which have classic cocktails with a twist on them such as a cherry mojito served in a bag gathered by a bow - I promise it worth the trip!

The real selling point for Vodka Revolution is the shot sticks, ranging from 1 shot to 10 shots. But these are not your normal flavours, there are 30 choices ranging from bubblegum and birthday cake to peanut butter & jelly and rhubarb and custard. I visited on a Thursday evening and although it wasn’t bombarded with city workers, there was still a relaxed yet upbeat atmosphere. Although it is only open during weekdays as the weekend offer private hire, I would definitely want to get a group of friends together to experience one of their cocktail making classes.

As the bank holiday begins, why not take a trip to the places I have suggested as you certainly won’t be disappointed!