We’ve recently welcomed a new member to our Wedding Team here at Smiths Hotel! Ashley joined us a couple of months ago …. we’ve convinced her to introduce herself!

My name is Ashley Louise Conlan and I am 18 years old. I studied at Annan Academy for 6 years then furthered my education at Dumfries & Galloway College studying another 3 Highers last year. Before starting at Smiths hotel I used to work at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village for over a year. I was first employed when the shop was just being refurbished ready to open so it was a great experience to be a part of opening a new, exciting and fashionable store. It was sad to leave there but I’m pleased to have taken a step towards my future career (hopefully as an Events Manager!).

 My role as a wedding coordinator I do everything from answering the phones, taking bookings for weddings, decorating the Bride & Groom’s function room with their chosen favours, sprinkles & table decorations, put buttonholes on wedding guests, look after the Bride & Groom by ensuring their wedding day runs smoothly, putting the bride into her wedding dress, helping brides and bridesmaids get into the cars that take them to the wedding venue & witness weddings for couples that are eloping.

 The best part about being a wedding coordinator is being hands on with the bride & groom – literally (as I sometimes have to put the bride in her dress or put a buttonhole on the groom). I am able to create more of a relationship with the couple by making sure their wedding day runs perfectly and they have a lovely time. I also love decorating the function rooms as I feel I am very creative and have a good attention to detail.

 I am excited about progressing and being able to book a wedding from the very beginning and seeing it through until the newly married couple check out. I am also excited about looking after a larger wedding with around 75-100 guests as I love a challenge and I would love to say the wedding ran just as smoothly as a smaller wedding.

 The biggest challenge so far has to be days when we’re VERY, VERY busy! I was on my feet for most of the day looking after the wedding parties marking sure each party was made to feel special and ensuring they received the best Smiths has to offer. The hotel was buzzing with people with nearly 100 guests being treated to the Smiths experience at about the same time! The time flew by because I was so occupied with making sure every wedding had a great experience at Smiths hotel. It was tiring but rewarding at the same time.

Welcome to the Smiths family Ashley!

The crisp clear air. Sparkles everywhere. Rich sumptuous colours, roaring log fires and hopefully a sprinkling of snow…winter weddings are magical, romantic and – most importantly – budget friendly! We all love the thought of a winter wedding…so we’ve put together some of our favourite suggestions …

1. Keep the Cosy. What do we mean? Well, think about bringing in light and warmth – from materials to colours. Keep your guests comfortable with little touches such as candles, twinkling tealights or fairy lights, or rich coloured blankets if your ceremony is outdoors. Deep colours as accents add to the rich warm feeling.

2. Match your colour theme with the type of winter wedding you want. A sleek white winter wedding comes to life with silvers, whites and accents of green. Going for starlit/candlelit? Choose gold or bronze instead! Go wintery with your favours such as blankets or pashminas, sparklers, cookies, mulled wine spices, candy canes or little bottles of Baileys are all cute & doable winter wedding favour options. Love the winter look of trees coated in snow or the glitter of freshly fallen snow? Hang garlands or icicles or add candles, pinecones and glitter into your table centrepieces or room decorations.

3. Choose hearty, warm dishes for your wedding breakfast. Tasty soups during cocktail hour, shortbread with coffee, spiced cider or mulled wine for toasts. Another great option? A decked out coffee bar with extras like whipped cream and chocolate shavings will warm everyone up.

4.Hold your ceremony earlier during the day to leave enough time (and daylight) after the ceremony for any outdoor shots….or later afternoon if you’d love that warm winter sunset light! Nobody has fun when they’re shivering, so work with your photographer to plan group shots in advance and ensure guests aren’t left standing around for hours outside.  And perhaps consider handing out warming drinks and blankets for guests whilst photographs are being taken….it will be much appreciated!

5. Remember the accessories. …it’s likely to be a wee bit chilly so accessories will be important to keep warm. A faux fur stole, a veil, a cape or a chic cardigan are all good options. None of these have to be white! Boots can be a stylish (and warm) bridal shoe option for winter weddings, especially if it rains.

6. Last but not least….Locate your ceremony & reception in the one venue, or venues very near to each other. This will make transport easier, no matter what the weather does! On a similar note, remember that it goes dark quite early (something to keep in mind if your guests need to travel between venues especially if they’re unfamiliar with the area).

We’ve love seeing these setups here at Smiths at Gretna Green and we’re happy to help turn your Gretna Green wedding into your white winter wonderland. The only thing we can’t guarantee is the snow…

Did you have a winter wedding? Any tips or suggestions for future brides and grooms? Leave them here!

Recently engaged and starting to plan your wedding? Congrats….that’s fab news!

We wanted to give you a wee bit of a hand to get your wedding planning underway…..so we’ve put together a few pointers from our wedding team on how to plan your perfect vintage-theme wedding!

Vintage themes are incredibly flexible with lots of accessories, colour schemes and decorations which can all be worked into your vintage wedding set-up!

Here our top tips for creating your ideal vintage style…

1. Age your venue with carefully placed, charming decoration – antique detailing on a few items, a touch of lace, and weathered accents go a long way to creating that vintage/decade feel!  Let your venue define your style. Some places suit certain vintage décor better than others so let the room do the talking! For example, if you’re having your vintage reception in a ballroom, 1920s art deco would be perfect! Hosting the wedding breakfast in a barn? Rustic, lace and hessian work their charm best! Whereever the venue, a simple touch not only adds a period feeling but simply oozes romance! This hessian/lace tablerunner, spotted at one of the wedding breakfasts held in Smiths at Gretna Green, set the room perfectly for this reception tying together the timeless atmosphere created by flowers and accessories placed around the room.

2. Use your invitations and  to set the tone – from ‘old-world’ font to aged paper to antique designs, creating your save-the-dates and invitations in the same style lets your guests know what to expect….and sets the mood!

3. Keep your flowers simple. Loose bundles, centrepieces made from pastel colours or light flowers (such as these baby’s breath-inspired vases from Smiths) add a wonderfully vintage feeling to any space….especially when paired with lace or hessian ribbon or table runners!

4. Work in your family history. From old photos to heirlooms (if you’re happy and willing to share these ….), pocket squares to watches, nothing says vintage like pieces from the period!

5. Live music! Have a look at what bands are available in your area – live music, especially if the band plays tunes from the decade of your choice, will not only compliment your theme but get your guests into a dancing mood! Here at Smiths, our wedding team is happy to recommend or help put you in contact with musicians who will help kick off the exciting entertainment you’ve got planned!

6. Colour/Table Setup – choosing neutrals (ivory, silver, beige) with subtle pastel accents, coloured glass and antiqued details (stacks of old books, clocks, birdcages) is the way to go! Need inspiration – here’s a few photos from a couple of our favourite vintage-theme weddings spotted at Smiths Hotel! For even more ideas, why not check out our Wedding Receptions album on facebook!

Got that all sorted? Thought about your send-off? Classic confetti or even white rice will do the trick!

So there you have it! One vintage-themed wedding checklist ready to go….fancy planning your own vintage ‘do here at Gretna Green? Our talented wedding team love themed receptions so give us a quick call on 01461 336001 and we’ll get your vintage wedding underway!