The expert way to plan your big day

DKNOW WHAT YOU WANT

GUESTIMATE

O YOU dream of a wedding by the sea? In an Israeli garden? In Jerusalem? Whatever you want, think ahead, says event planner Victoria Rosen. Choose a beach, garden, desert view or hotel venue. Agree priorities early.

Estimate the number of guests.

HIRE AN EVENT PLANNER

Wedding planners can make the most of your budget and minimise stress.

CHECK THE CALENDAR

Select a date that fits the Jewish calendar, school holidays and family work schedules to avoid disappointment because people can’t come.

TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS

Go with good recommendations for all suppliers, especially hair and make-up, and have a trial session.

VISIT BEFORE THE WEDDING

You can arrange an Israel wedding without a pre-visit. But if you can, go a few months beforehand, to see the venue, choose flowers, taste the food.

BE PREPARED

The wedding file cannot be opened with the Israeli rabbinate until three months before you are due to get married — but have all the relevant documents ready, to speed up the process.

STICK TO A BUDGET

You may have decided it will all be lowkey, just close family. Until… “Darling,

you know my mum’s rellies in LA — that family with six kids — we can’t not invite them.” Or: “I promised your niece a frilly pink bridesmaid’s dress — I know it means we have to get all five of them matching dresses.” But, says Mish Toszeghi of KP Events, you can stop things spiralling.

FOOD

A non-meat menu will reduce the bill. and can be just as creative. A buffet may not cost less than sit-down (staff costs are less but prep is labour-intensive).

BAND OR DJ?

An effective compromise is “the live DJ” — DJ plus two or three instrumentalists. Another option is to find a couple of great singers who can sing to track.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Don’t be tempted by packages of services/productsyoudon’tneed.Some photographers provide reportagestyle imagery that is lightly edited, to print as you wish. Internet-based firms can make quality prints competitively but the originals must be professional high-resolution files, so don’t leave the actual photography to a friend.

DRINKS

Serve sparkling wine not champagne. Have bottles on the dinner table, as people usually pour only what they can drink. If staff pour, people often accept top-ups they’re not likely to drink.

INVITATIONS

Environmental concerns have made it acceptable to invite guests by email. You can still design something creative and personalise each email.

FLOWERS

Flowers in season are cheaper than imported ones; DIY or ask a friend, who will feel flattered. As a halfway option, have a florist for buttonholes and bouquets but do table centres yourself.

CAKE

More often than not, no one has room for cake and it becomes an expensive photo-prop. If you’re going to have a cheese board, why not have a tiered one? Or serve the cake as dessert.

CARS

If it is part of the princess dream, hire a car for the bride; ask friends with smart or interesting cars to take the rest.

DÉCOR

Lighting is good value for money. It can change a space into something spectacular and create different moods. Props for themed events are expensive but you can do a lot with table numbers, seating plans and place cards. www.victoriarosenevents.com www.kpevents.co.uk