New Zealand Weddings Planner

Five Top Tips

Planning a wedding is no easy feat, but the profession­als at Liquor King ( lk. co. nz) want to help make the process as smooth as possible. Experts at creating and catering for unforgetta­ble events on a daily basis, here the team shares its best insights.

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01. WATCH FOR HIDDEN COSTS

Always read the fine print before signing vendor contracts, and come prepared with questions about what the quote covers. For example, there’s bound to be a broken glass or two. Keep this in mind when hiring glassware, understand­ing how much it’ll cost to cover.

02. THINK AHEAD

Consider ways you can make life easier for yourself further into planning. For instance, when you’re sending out invitation­s, insert an additional line asking guests to inform you of any dietary requiremen­ts – you (and your caterers!) will be ever- grateful.

03. MIND THE GAP

While you and the bridal party are off taking photos post- ceremony, make sure your guests are occupied during that gap before the reception begins. Providing nibbles and drinks is a given, but you could also consider hiring a photo booth or setting up lawn games for a bit of fun. If your date is set for a summer celebratio­n, ensure there’s plenty of shady spots available for guests to keep cool in.

04. FIND SMART WAYS TO SAVE

Catering is one of the biggest costs, but by bringing your own booze you can save yourself some serious coin. If you’ve chosen to take this route, it’s best to start planning three to six months ahead of the day. Wait until you have a firm idea of guest numbers so you can calculate how many people you need to cater for. You also need to think about keeping your drinks cool and transporti­ng them to the venue; chiller trailers are an easy and cost- efficient way to do this. It’s advisable to secure your chiller trailer with Liquor King early, as they get booked out fast. While BYO is a great cost- cutting solution, some venues charge high corkage fees, so check what this might add to your bill before making any final venue decisions.

05. SEATING PLANS

A seating plan is a great way of navigating tricky tensions between guests, or grouping like-minded people together to ensure everyone has fun. However, creating a seating plan can be a timeconsum­ing aspect of planning. So if you don’t feel the need for one, ditch it, and let guests go with the flow on the day. W

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