Believe it or not the inspiration for this post came to me on a recent spa visit.

As I often tell my clients it's so important to take time out to relax and catch up with yourself. Inspiration and ideas often come when you allow yourself to experience and enjoy a break from your normal routine. I decided to take my own advice and booked myself into my favourite spa, Ragdale Hall. I'll be writing a little review post about my visit soon but for now....
Whilst sitting in one of the beautiful lounge areas I overheard a couple of women sharing their experiences of attending lots of friends and family weddings. Specifically, they seemed quite animated about one thing in particular - the various weddings they had attended where no or very little information was given to guests about the timing of the food.
One of the women said that she had been a guest at a wedding last year with a relatively early ceremony - 11am. The ceremony was followed by a champagne and canapé reception whilst what seemed like a never ending period of time for photographs. Those guests not involved in the formal staged photographs were left to entertain themselves for what seemed like an age and the wedding breakfast was not served until shortly before 4pm. This meant that many of the guests had only really managed to grab a light breakfast before the ceremony, perhaps expecting that the wedding breakfast would be around lunchtime. Some of the younger guests grew very restless and by the time they sat down for the wedding breakfast, had perhaps started to feel unwell due to having to wait for such an extended period without anything to eat.

Having 'listened in' to my fellow day spa guests' conversation, it struck me that this unfortunate situation could easily have been avoided.
Handy Tip: Provide your guests with an idea of what to expect in terms of the timings for the day by including an outline of the day with your invitations and a wedding timeline on the day that they can follow.
Until next time...
Val x
Image source: Charis Design Studio and Designs by DVB
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Val Mattinson is the founder and Head Planner at Benessamy, specialising in luxury weddings and beautifully curated celebrations across the UK and the Caribbean. With over 15 years of experience, Val is known for her calm, reassuring approach and meticulous attention to detail — supporting couples and hosts who want an unforgettable experience without the overwhelm.
If you’re beginning your planning journey and would like expert guidance, get in touch to arrange an introductory call. Val would love to help you create a celebration that feels thoughtful, joyful and effortlessly seamless.
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