What makes a perfect wedding: our team has its say

Planning a wedding is rarely a walk in the park.

Live band or DJ? Steak dinner or buffet lunch? And what about the confetti, the seats, the photographer... and on and on it goes.

Here at Studio Lester, we hate the thought of our couples stressing over the details of their big day, which is why we’ve put our heads together to offer our own take on what makes a perfect wedding.

Below represents a culmination of nearly a decade’s experience working in the wedding industry, with Josh Couchman, Amy Jordison, Helen Mosley and Alex Lester all offering their thoughts and advice for couples looking to deliver the perfect wedding. 

Authentically you 

Words by Josh Couchman, Associate Photographer 

For me, organising a perfect wedding is all about being authentic to yourselves as a couple and getting your own personality into the wedding as much as possible. 

Do what you want to do, and not what you think is expected of you - or what a parent, for example, is pushing for you to do.

Invite, eat, wear and dance to whatever you - as a couple - want. It’s that simple. 

Ignore the Pinterest boards and try to do something creative and original that really represents you as a couple. 

The most memorable and fun weddings I’ve photographed or attended are those that have something completely unique that I’ve never before seen. For instance a venue at a family property is something so unique and personal it instantly sets a backdrop for a distinctive and special day.

Hate champers? Cancel the fizz and get mojitos all round. Hate the idea of dancing in front of everyone? Cancel it. It’s your day. Spent it how you want.

Keep it chilled 

Words by Amy Jordison, Associate Photographer 

What makes the perfect wedding? In three words: laid back vibes. 

I love weddings where you can tell the bride and groom are best friends and love a laugh together (amongst other things) - they don't take the wedding and life in general too seriously.

Rustic, natural, outdoors-y settings are my preference and suit my style well, though of course we can't always rely on the good old British weather playing ball with such plans. 

Food is massively important: delicious, quality, local ingredients served in a relaxed style, maybe some self-serving involved, gets everyone stuck in. 

And of course drinks and music get the party started! 

Cocktail bars are super-fun and I love a sound track that is really personal to the couple and not the usual wedding disco hits. If it was me, I'd go full on disco for the dance floor with a soul and motown theme for the rest of the day. Ooo, take me there. 

Organisation is key 

Words by Helen Mosley, Operations Manager 

For me, the perfect wedding is one where the couple you're there to celebrate are relaxed and happy. When they're chilled, the whole vibe is chilled. 

A good friend once told me that in order to achieve a wedding day that feels relaxed, it's a good idea to make sure things are organised down to a tee beforehand so that on the day, you can just go with the flow, and that calm feeling will pass on to your guests too. 

So whether you organise the details yourself, put your trust in your wedding party to help out or delegate to the venue's wedding coordinator, if there's a plan in place in the background there'll be plenty of room to chill on the day itself. 

After that, I think keeping guests happy is relatively straightforward. So long as there's plenty of food, everyone can get a drink and there's space to sit down and chat, you're onto a winner. 

The people make the party 

Words by Alex Lester, Creative Director

The perfect wedding is made not by the venue, the weather or the catering, but by the people in attendance. 

It may sound super corny, but if you’ve got a solid group of laidback, fun-loving people together, it doesn’t matter whether you choose to get married in your local pub or a luxury castle by the sea, the outcome will be the same. 

Seriously, some of the best weddings I’ve ever worked have taken place on gloomy, wet days, in venues both large and small. What made them so memorable? The people I met there, the laughs we shared and the moments that were made. 

So your aunt doesn’t like the wine and your Grandad hates the tunes - as long as there’s enough people in attendance who don’t have a grudge on your big day, you’ll soon drown out their neggy vibes.