Whilst it might be great to allocate a little more towards the decoration of the lavish venue you've just hired, remember that even though aesthetic decorations may look pleasing to the eye on the day,  your guests don't just need to be well fed and watered!  The most important aspect of the reception is the entertainment!

The reception isn't just the the last order of the day - it is remembered the most by those invited and can determine the whole success of the occasion or declare the day a disaster!

When you plan to have a  great celebration from the early evening into the early hours of the morning, take the gamble out of the equation and book a wedding entertainment professional!

Wedding days can be rather long and gaps in the program will undoubtedly place unnecessary stress and tension on toddlers.

Consider allocating budget to keep the toddles happy and amused by engaging professional services with supervision. 

Follow-up references and confirm suitability of service (i.e. Police check) if you have booked a separate 'kids fun room' to the main reception room.

Budget Advice Guide

Everyone will have an idea of what they would like to spend on their Wedding but in reality, the actual costs may exceed the allocated budget.  When it looks like too many compromises have to be made to fit your budget, it simply might be easier to start the process again!

Naturally, brides focus on the important things for the day such as the dress, the bridesmaids and of course the cake.  Grooms focus on their best man, the ushers and other important factors such as organising the honeymoon, etc.

Although a face to face meeting is recommended at every opportunity with your wedding supplier, from experience, not all services will be able to attend a meeting at short notice.  As a rule, allow plenty of time to book an appointment with your intended supplier.

The internet has been a great saving grace when it is awkward for couples to source wedding services in person, but considering that the Wedding Day is one of a kind in that you will not get a second chance on the day to get it right, do take the time to source your professional wedding service!

For sure, wedding photography and bespoke video services are obviously important as they capture moments for a lasting memory of the wedding day.  From the initial preparation of the bride getting ready for the wedding day caught on camera, right through to the video and

 photography of the Ceremony and photo shoot, and then later, moments of the first duties of the newly wed couple captured during the traditional first dance will reflect a budget between 15 - 20% of a £10,000 wedding budget, £1,500 to £2,000 respectively allocated.

Equally important is budgeting for the right entertainment to ensure your whole reception celebration is a success.  Naturally, the entertainment is the last integral part of your day which brings conclusion for everyone.

American bridal magazines and services suggest to initially allocate between 10 - 15% of the wedding budget towards wedding entertainment as it is the most important requirement for the reception celebration!

UK bridal forums and magazines suggest allocating between £500 and £1,200 towards your wedding disco entertainment.

Based on fees charged by established professionals, top Vocalists and duos are a little higher in price.  By example, a fee of £840 and £1,400 respectively is only allocating 6 - 10% of a £12,000 wedding budget.

Typically, a top tribute-band may charge up to £2,500 per night and a former popular chart band can easily be three to four times this fee.

On reflection, sourcing a cheap wedding service provider is not always a guarantee of success but there are times when 'luck' is in your favour.

If you don't want to take a gamble,  seek a professional quality service for what is going to be your special day - you won't get a second chance on the day!

An unavoidable fact is that when you book a professional, there will be a price but you are guaranteed satisfaction and importantly, peace of mind. 

Pimlico Entertainment Team