It’s finally here. The big day. The day that has taken up every spare waking minute (and sometimes ones when you are asleep) for the last couple of years. It’s the MOST important day of your life and one that you’ve dreamed about for… forever! It’s the day that you and your partner have saved vigorously for. The carefully selected guest list has been agonised over - where do you seat people, what about the theme?, dress?, decorations?, cake? .. the list goes on. It’s not uncommon for a bride to be to have nightmares and wake up in a fluster of panic leading up to the big day.
Dressing the venue not as you expected, seating the wrong guests next to each other and choosing the wrong music can have a crucial impact on the day - there is nothing worse than sitting in a large room where there is no atmosphere or ambiance. Every bride wants their big day to go without a hitch. Going back to basics and working with our five senses can bring structure and ambience to your big day.
SEE - the visual impact of your venue will be the first impression that people will have and will set the tone for the day. Choose the best venue possible within your budget - but don’t over extend as even the most basic of venues can be dressed to be beautiful and opulent. A village hall can be draped and lit beautifully to be completely transformed as this before and after picture show from The Complete Chillout Company.
And any venue, whether it's a hotel, marquee in the garden or a community centre can be made to feel a much grander place just by adding some simple accessories, beautiful fresh flowers, sparkling table decorations and twinkling fairy lights.
HEAR - every wedding needs to have some kind of background music - there is nothing worse than sitting in a venue that is full of people talking and sounding like a large dining hall. Background music will soften the mood and lift the spirits. People become animated and when everyone is busy eating, the music will come to the forefront of the atmosphere. Choosing the appropriate music is also key. Make sure that you choose something that people can still hear themselves think over - also nothing too upbeat or loud (at the same time, you don’t want to send people to sleep!). Stay away from music that is personal to you - just because you like it - background music needs to help people feel relaxed and at ease so they enjoy just being there.
TASTE - what tastes good to one, could be the next person’s worst nightmare. Flavour depends on odour, texture and temperature. We have five basic tastes: sweet, bitter, sour, salty and umami. When choosing your catering - take into consideration how you want your guests to feel. In general, unless you are having a themed or cultural wedding, avoid lots of high spiced or fatty foods. Clean simple tastes will have a more elegant impact. A good venue or caterer will be able advise on menu choices. Consider that when catering for high numbers, there are certain types of dishes that will be more accessible. In principle, using fresh, organic and locally sourced produce should stand you in good stead.
SMELL - How often have you walked into a venue and immediately been put off by the smell? Smell is a chemical sense. We have hundreds of olfactory receptors - each of which, binds to a particular molecular feature. The receptors send messages to the brain, which is then received and makes up what we perceive as the molecules smell. House of Hud can scent your event with unique smells from cut grass, to Petrichor (the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil) to elegant scents of fig and cassis and Royal Oud for a sensual scent. There are hundreds of different scents that will reflect the tone and ambiance and link the memories of your big day to that particular smell. Start by choosing the theme of your day, then look at what is naturally around in the tent/ venue and choose items and scents that will enhance what is already there.
TOUCH – As the largest organ in our body our sense of touch acts when the nerve endings in the skin and in other parts of the body send information to the brain. There are four kinds of touch sensations that can be identified: cold, heat, contact, and pain. When considering your big day, make sure that the temperature
is not too cold or too hot. Consider air conditioning units (nothing is worse than being seated in the path of a unit that is blasting out cold air). Consider natural ventilation. The fabric that are used in the marquees – The Arabian Tent Company’s interiors are all made of cotton, as there is something about the feeling of cotton that can’t compare to polyester, and think about tactile fabrics such as velvet for the sofa covering and cushions. The chair coverings, table coverings and fabrics to dress the venue will all impact on how your guests interact and relax.
Now that we’ve considered and catered for the five key senses, all that is left to do is enjoy your day! For more information please contact www.houseofhud.com
Add new comment