A warm reception for Scottish weddings? Our second part to planning your big/bijous day in the current climate…

• Date: 16th June 2021
• Author: Blair & Sheridan
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Traditionally known as ‘peak’ wedding season for many couples and businesses across Scotland, summer has arrived!  While in normal circumstances hotels,  venues and churches across the land would be scheduling in packed ceremonies and receptions catering for an array of couples  –  2021 is a little different and while not what you may have planned for there is still much to celebrate.  Read on for the second part of our guide to planning your day mid-pandemic as the Scottish Wedding Industry 2021 takes off.

It doesn’t have to end in tiers

While the whole of Scotland looks forward to be moving into Level 1 in coming weeks,  all being well,  weddings will see the biggest advancement in change yet with guest numbers increasing to 100  –  and potentially a move to level 0 later in the summer.  While some restrictions regarding dancing,  music and licensing will still be in place;  this long awaited increase in numbers is receiving a resounding sigh of relief from couples and wedding suppliers alike.

As uncertainty has tainted much of the last 12 months on the wedding front,  it is with cautious steps that many brides and grooms are moving forward in 2021.  Lace Buds florist,  Jan Rooney encourages couples to  ‘Enjoy it, the process can be daunting especially within this current situation,  but the main objective is to enjoy the process of planning and working with different suppliers to bring your special day to reality. Let your suppliers do the hard work as that’s what we are here for’.  Most suppliers will be in agreement that flexibility is key!  Andrea Mickel of Studio A recommends;  ‘To avoid stress,  be prepared for a bit of flexibility with your plans,  and seek advice from those  ‘in the know’  (like us!)  to support you and help you navigate the ever-changing Covid wedding rules.’

Small yet perfectly formed

A small gathering may not have been your initial plan, however,  a so-called ‘micro wedding’ needn’t hinder your magical day.  Andrea Mickel continues:  ‘The number of guests doesn’t change the end result for us.  We specialise in micro-weddings and work with couples to create a unique personal style for an intimate and memorable day for all’.  Photographer Craig Sanders concurs,  ‘It’s been a great opportunity for couples wanting a smaller wedding,  who don’t mind the restrictions placed on them to have us as their photographers.’  –  with the luxury of more time to spend with the happy couple the dynamic of an intimate wedding certainly offers an alternative vibe.  Even with scaled back décor,  Lace Buds floristry explains ‘we strongly believe that less can be more… but you don’t have to hold back on beautiful blooms for small settings as  they can transform simple spaces’.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

With enforced change companies have had to grow and adapt the way they work,  Blair and Sheridan being no exception.  We continue to offer customers the opportunity to virtually connect with us with Zoom and online consultations proving popular for clients who are unable to come see us in person.  The entire design and make process can in fact be completed without even stepping foot in our shop!  RPL Weddings owner,  Mike Stark,  agrees ‘There are no positives about the pandemic, but the nation being tech savvy to participate in virtual meetings has been a side bonus. I can see applications such as zoom being utilised well beyond the end of the pandemic.’
Florist Jan Rooney acknowledges ‘before these restrictions we did used to consult with our couples initially via email and virtual ways and also we work with a lot of couples from far and wide and meeting in person isn’t always possible initially anyway’.

Online traffic coming through

2020 saw online traffic soar and internet use doubling across the UK.  With the country in lockdown and so many people at home,  small businesses continued to promote themselves online and strive to harness opportunities to get their name out there.  Gillian Reith from Three Sisters Bake states;  ‘social media remains our strongest source of new customers along with word of mouth  recommendations’,  while Jan Rooney agrees  ‘here at Lace Buds before the lockdowns we were predominately a  wedding florist but as we were unable to work as such we extended into everyday floristy providing gift bouquets deliveries etc… and with this it has acted as a great platform especially locally in spreading the word of what we are all about’.

Feedback and word of mouth continue to provide some of the best opportunities for small and local businesses to be discovered  –  ‘We find our customers know about us from social media,  our website,  blogs,  our clients sharing their own images online,  word of mouth and through wedding planners and other suppliers’ tells Craig of Craig and Eva Sanders Photography.
Blair and Sheridan’s reputation precedes us with a raft of glowing reviews and recommendations from happy customers and judging from our ongoing designs and orders for engagement and wedding rings; the current situation is definitely not hindering anyone seeking their happy ever after.

A simple ‘like’, share, review or recommendation from YOU can work wonders for everyone in the wedding industry.  No one could ever have predicted the events of 2020, however, the Scottish wedding industry 2021 is beginning to thrive once again and there’s never been a better time to plan your special day.

Thanks to our friends & contributors:
Craig and Eva Sanders photography (main image at top of page) – craigevasanders.co.uk
Lace buds florist – lacebuds.com
Mike Stark Videography – rplweddings.com
Studio A events – studioa.org.uk
Three Sisters Bake – threesistersbake.co.uk