Wedding Planning Secrets from County Brides’ Duane | Bonus Episode for Engaged Couples

Welcome back to another episode of Totally Absolutely Engaged — the wedding podcast created specifically for engaged couples planning their big day 💍

This special BONUS episode follows on from our previous County Brides episode with wedding industry expert Duane, but this time we’re diving even deeper into advice specifically for brides, grooms, and newly engaged couples.

If you're planning a wedding in the North West, chances are County Brides has already helped shape your wedding journey — from discovering suppliers and venues to helping couples understand how to plan a smooth, stress-free wedding day.

In this episode, Duane shares:
✨ How to structure and timeline your wedding day
✨ The biggest wedding planning mistakes couples make
✨ Wedding entertainment ideas for every part of the day
✨ Speech tips, music advice & ceremony planning
✨ Why DIY weddings can become overwhelming
✨ Current wedding trends for 2026
✨ Real wedding stories from over 40 years in the industry
✨ How to actually enjoy your wedding day instead of stressing through it

We also discuss:

• Wedding fairs & supplier advice
• Budget expectations
• Wedding traditions that have disappeared
• Tips for making lasting memories
• Why communication with suppliers matters
• The importance of planning your wedding in stages

Whether you're newly engaged, deep into wedding planning, or just looking for expert wedding advice, this episode is packed with practical tips, funny stories, and insider knowledge from one of the UK wedding industry's most experienced voices.

🎙️ Guest: Duane from County Brides
💒 Podcast: Totally Absolutely Engaged
📍 Wedding planning advice for engaged couples across the North West & beyond

Produced by TAEPodcast - www.taepodcast.co.uk

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:06

Hello everybody and welcome back to another episode of Totally Absolutely Engaged.

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Hello, and as a bride or groom, you may not know our guest today. Uh, but if you've planned a wedding in the Northwest, his work has probably shaped the supplies you have found and the supplies you may have booked for your wedding. So we welcome Duane of County Brides, probably the region's most recognised wedding marketing platform. Not to big you up too much. So uh where to start? I mean, let's bring it back around to the brides first. So, what roles does County Brides basically play for the newly engaged couples?

SPEAKER_02 0:41

We try and guide them, we try and help brides. The key thing to me is I would say the planning. Do do your day in time, so obviously split into time zones, so uh prep, so obviously, hair and makeup, the dress. Yeah. Whilst that's going on, the venue's being set up, yeah, for flowers and theming, etc. The groom is on the other side, he's getting his his suits, best men ready, etc. So there's your there's your morning, so to speak, and actually travelling to the venue, so you transport, yeah, unless you get married at the venue. So there's part one, then part two is obviously the ceremony. So uh is it going to be a church wedding or is it going to be uh a venue um with a registrar or a celebrant? Okay, I won't go into the rules of that. That is a completely different episode. We had a celebrant on the other day, the other week. Different set of rules. Go back three episodes, go back forget, go look at that one. So, and then basically from there, you you you've got the wedding. My top tip is music-wise, people go, Oh, what am I gonna have for uh you know the aisle? I said, Me personally, I would suggest that you have a CD or some sort of pipe music 20 at least 10 to 20 minutes prior because otherwise, they're all all your guests are sat there and it's like a doctor's surgery.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

Really? They're all going all talking to each other.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

And it's but it's family that haven't seen each other for a long time. Well, and it says always an awkwardness anyway.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

So they're like that. So um basically, if you've got some nice pipe background music going on, and then obviously when the when the the bride is ready or the groom is ready to walk up the aisle, notice I did say walk up the aisle, yeah, because you can't walk down the aisle and up to an altar.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

Fair enough.

SPEAKER_04 2:47

Oh no, I say walk down the aisle.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Yeah, loads of people say walk down the aisle.

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Well, they do a lot of people say that, but personally, and we've looked into this, it's walk up the aisle, and uh you'll get loads of response on this on a scale. Down or up, yeah, down or up. Yeah, so I always say walk up the aisle, up to the the altar, say your vows. So you've had your background music, the song you're going to enter to, one or two, possibly three songs while signing the register and having photographs. Then you finish off the vows, and then is your uh exit song walking back down the aisle, walking down the aisle down the aisle. Yeah, so uh that that's what I suggest. So you've you you should have at least 10-15 minutes, 20 minutes before a song for the entrance, two or three songs, because it can always be skipped, yeah, yeah, while signing the register, and then obviously walk, you know, your exit, you know, your big wow, you know, let's get married or whatever, you know. So and then from there you go into your drinks reception. So obviously, you want to say hello to a few people, and then the photographer will say, Oh, let's go and have some photos, we'll do it on the staircase, uh, because it's raining, or whatever it may be, or we'll go out in the gardens, um, and we'll or whisk your way to the local park or whatever it may be. So the bride and groom disappear for at least an hour, so you need to entertain. So, what you're going to do with entertainment? So, you would have a strink, strink water, a penis, you might have garden games, a magician. There's loads of different ideas to fill in that tying. So, there's part two, and then you you're making your entrance. Um, now is a couple of this is an all-day wedding, I'm basing this on. So, from there is a tradition that has died out, and that used to be an actual entrance, and you say shake hands to all the couples, all your guests.

SPEAKER_04 4:48

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

And that can take anything from 10 15 up to an hour just to get through.

SPEAKER_04 4:54

I'm gonna be honest, I'm glad that that's died out. I wouldn't want to do that.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

I've actually forgotten that.

SPEAKER_02 4:59

Yeah, so that that's uh that it's so what they tend to do now is they get everybody in the room, and then an MC, uh Toastmaster, or somebody who's doing announcements will ask everybody to uh stand. Uh, and basically they'll announce here comes the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Let's say Smith. Yeah, and everyone goes mental. Uh and then they come in and then they take the they sit down. So there's part two, and he into part that sorry, there goes into part three. Then obviously, part four is going through the meal and your speeches. Practice the speeches, yeah. On average, the father of the bride goes first, and he should take roughly five to seven minutes. The usual one-liners. Uh uh, usually the one-liners of um, I haven't I haven't lost a daughter, have gained a son more time in the bathroom. Yeah, and I've got and I've got a heavier wallet. So, yeah. Uh, those are the usual one-liners there. Then obviously, it goes to uh the groom, and he he's normally around a few extra minutes. He's normally um, I would say between five and ten minutes, because he's got get uh he's got to give uh gifts away. So to the the two sets of parents, uh the bride uh the bridesmaids, uh the flower boy, flower boy, flower girl and the the page boys, etc. Uh so he's got people standing up, walking over, coming back, so that ticks away the time, and compliment his partner as well. Yeah, no, then don't forget to get that to thank your partner. Oh my god, so you've gone all through that. Oh right, yeah, bad day, bad day, uh this can be caught and then he's the best man, best woman, or best whoever you're going to have. Now, it doesn't have to be funny if you don't want to. I've seen over the years, as I said 1979, it's a situation. I've seen a speech where they've gone literally still up and gone, thank you very much, everybody. Don't it look wonderful? Thank you very much. Sit down, yeah, and that was it. Literally 30 seconds, and I've come across two where they've been over an hour and a half. Oh my god, one was absolutely hilarious. My ribs were killing me with laughter, honest to God. You just it was honestly, it was just one liner after another, it was just brilliant for an hour and a half there.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

Yeah, I'm guessing the second one wasn't.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

The other one, I felt like having razor blades. Honestly, it was like, how do we get him off? Yeah, um, I have come across another one where the the best man was actually dragged off. He was so rude, he was horrible to the bride and to the groom, and the and it apparently uh he was taken outside. Yeah, we didn't see him again, so I don't know why we never saw him again. So, but uh yeah, that's another story. That's another album, and then obviously it's the turnaround, all right. So uh so that means everybody leaves that room and they put the the dance floor down, they put the um the uh the band turns up, the DJ turns up, whatever it may be. They've got roughly 45 minutes to an hour for a turnaround. Background music as people come in, then announce the uh the couple to come in, do the first dance and party. There's your last bit, yeah. So you should have your buffet in there somewhere as well. So that's based on that all day thing. On the turnaround, is because you've got them guests that have just eaten, had a laugh, and they're sat there with the best man, they've gone back out with and they're mingling now with the evening guests. So obviously, he's new people to chat to and entertain. Again, perfect idea. Uh oh, there's a company called uh The Added Extra. You could do photo uh things or you know, photo mirrors, huh? Or scratch email tables or whatever it may be, you know. There's um magician, uh illustrator, caricaturer. There's something there in the background, giant games, etc. So you've got the evening guests as well. Um, so and then obviously you go into the night time. So that is roughly plot help if you do the all the time zones and put people into section and where they should be. I know it sounds a bit military, but it will help a couple plan the day. Yeah, so things will get put alright, don't get upset about it. If it's five minutes behind, ten minutes behind, don't worry about it. It's your day, it's not the guest's day, it's your day. So you enjoy it. The biggest tip for a couple is to over the the time of the day, at least five minutes every hour, just go and stand in a corner around the corner, just out of sight, a bit of reassurance to each other, a little pick peck on the cheek or whatever it may be, just to say, Are you alright? Yeah, have you spoken to Mary yet? Yeah, I saw Auntie Mary. Oh, what about Uncle Bert? Yeah, this uh so whatever it may be, it's it's just reassurance of the day, and you will retain those memories better because you spent time rather than being in a goldfish bowl and everybody looking at you. And one thing that I am so pleased that has stopped, and I haven't heard about this for a long time, is clinking on the glasses, get the bride and groom to kiss. It was American Americanism that came through a few years ago, and he's tapping the goal. That's okay, yeah. And then they'll go! No, honestly. Yeah, so that's died off now, so thank goodness for that. You kind of go, how do you know this stuff? Because I've been in the industry so long, and it's up here.

SPEAKER_04 11:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:07

I started going to wedding fairs in 1990.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

Right.

SPEAKER_02 11:11

Um, nothing's really changed, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:14

So um I mean the the wedding fairs have changed in the fact that there's so much more now.

SPEAKER_02 11:19

I go to I I go to God, 220 wedding fairs I went to last year, giving out the magazine. The times I saw Sage Green was unbelievable. Yeah. So if a bride walking in and going, oh sage green, but I don't want sage green, she's gonna look at that, turn around and walk out. You have just lost a sale because of one colour. Yeah, try and keep with the trends. So, what I would suggest is find out what the trends are. So at the moment, yes, sage green and pastel colours are in, but pastel colours I'll always be in, yeah. I think it's some sort of uh salmony coral pastel colours in at the moment. Olive green is overtaking sage green, black and white, which is monochrome, that's in because a lot of black and white. Well, black and white while they're going that way, is it's it's an Americanism. Now, to us, black and white is uh is more like an award or some sort of works function or a presentation or so that's more corporate, yeah. But the Americans have uh do um tuxedos, so everything's black and white, so they go with the theme of black and white, so very, very nice. That's in. Um not sure about a tuxedoes now, not for me personally, no offense, but um, I still like the old old-fashioned frock coats and top hats and tail. I'd love to see all them back. I would just love to see it all back. Um, then you went through all the peaky blinders stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know, nice big thick woolly suits on a nice sunny day, 25 degrees. Yeah, so um yeah, so tuxedo, black and white, tropical colours are in. So all your oranges and um magentas and cyan colours, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that it's very, very it's coming in, it's coming in. So uh things evolve over the year, it'll swap all around, and you never know in another five, ten years. You might get your cabries purple that fall. Oh, buddy hell, we've spoken about this, and we don't want that back.

SPEAKER_04 13:42

Shall we head into our questions? Give your biggest advice to your couples then.

SPEAKER_02 13:46

Pre-go, we used to talk, we used to go and talk to somebody. We used to pick up the phone and say hello. We'll go and see somebody and describe what suit, what dress you wanted, etc. Now, oh let's see online. Flick flick flick flick flick. And it's like send send them an email how much is that dress? What can you do it for? Have you got it inside? All it's all messages. Yeah, and if they got saying, oh no, that dress is two grand. No, well, I can get it for sixteen hundred. Well, go and get it then. Yeah, don't forget you you know with the two grand, we we're going to, you know, we've got professional seamstress here. You will get a fitting, you'll get a final fitting, it will be steamed and it will be bagged for you, ready to pick up at least a week before your wedding. Is all the service behind it?

SPEAKER_04 14:39

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 14:39

It's not flick flip flick. I've got it six on right. Okay, got other one, um chair covers. Chair covers. Chair covers on, yeah, nightmare to put on. I'll tell you now, it really does your knees and your back in when you're stretching down.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Or chair condoms, you put it on. Yeah, chair condoms.

SPEAKER_02 14:58

So um there used to be like £3.54, £4.50, up to five pounds with a sash or whatever, and etc. Uh that is down there, set it up, put them all on, at the end of the day, go back at the end of the night, or first thing the next morning, take them all out, uh, you know, take them all off, and then unpack your van and off you go home. Yeah, would you agree?

SPEAKER_00 15:23

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Now it's like, oh, we can get it from T Me for a quid.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

And they go, Oh, I'll just put that one on. Um, when does a bride what time is she going to get up in the morning to put all them?

SPEAKER_04 15:38

Yeah, we've had this conversation about DIY brides, haven't we? And it's like the money that you're saving's not necessarily even worth it.

SPEAKER_02 15:44

You should be there getting your hair and your makeup, yeah, being relaxed, chilling out of the body. You've got you've got to the day. This should be the day where you do. This should be exactly like okay, off we go. The only thing I need to worry about is getting downstairs or to the church on time.

SPEAKER_04 16:00

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

Yeah. And it's five minutes late by tradition. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

How is it?

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Yeah. Ten minutes to make a uh a point, 15 minutes late to put him in his place. No, I did not say that. Don't don't clip. That's how you do the book. So um is and it's like, wait a minute, you're doing it yourself, and you're there at eight o'clock running round, putting, and it did if you've got 60 guests, it's gonna take you not 60 minutes, it's gonna take you at least an hour and a half to two hours to put each one on. Yeah. And then you've got the bows to do, so you've just gone from eight o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock in the morning. Then you went, oh, I was doing all the set uh table centres as well. Oh, there's another hour. So it's just so not really. It's 11 o'clock, and you're going, oh, right, okay, then. Oh, I need to do this, I need to do that. Tick, tick, tick, tick, and time is precious. And then you go back upstairs and you'll have a shower now. Oh, hair and makeup, there's another hour. Oh, right, it's two o'clock. Oh my god, this is happening. That's I'd so and so turned up. Oh, photographs, this, that and the other please. Looks like it's like it's four o'clock. I'm shattered. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

Yeah, well, these weddings I'm I'm seeing that the DIY brides will call them for now. That them weddings are finishing earlier. Yeah. So that what's happening is they're tired, their party's tired because they've obviously helped in the morning, and then it's just finishing so um so much earlier than it was. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:32

I think a question came through about uh the charity.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Yes, actually.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:39

Um over the year we've done loads of different charities. Uh since 1979, in one way or another, I'm gonna shock you now, I've raised over a million quid, well over a million quid for different charities. Right, okay. Yeah, in various ways. Uh at the moment, we're the last few years we've concentrated uh and we've just got close to the heart, it's the destination Florida Children's Charity. And it's where they send poorly kids, 75 poorly kids, uh to on a holiday of a lifetime to Florida. And literally they take the whole floor of a hotel. They have nurses, dentists, pharmacists, doctors, you name it, they have everything. It's a nightmare to get through customs because of all the drugs. Yeah. One child costs 15 grand to insure. Wow. Yeah, so the situation is yes, I've fallen in love, and up to now, with the help of all the suppliers who've attended uh the wedding awards over the years with the little raffles and the all the shit, we've sent 14 children. Fourteen kids from one event per year, and 14 kids have gone on a holiday of a lifetime. And to see the videos of them smiling and laughing, it's just amazing.

SPEAKER_01 19:07

So when you're asked why do you do it, that's a massive reason.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Yeah, so and and and we're not just down to to that one charity. Um me personally and Dawn we'll we'll do uh we uh we do a children's home, we do Dogs for the Blind, we do Cat's Protection, this we do loads of we do all sorts of charities. Um but yeah, we're always open to if somebody says, Oh, what about this one or that one uh as a charity, yeah we'll look out. I mean we've done it. There was um scouts and they were desperate for some new equipment and cuttlery and tents and this, that and the other, and they wanted to ra they wanted to raise two grand. Three and a half, three and a half grand, there you go. Over the moon, over the moon, they were so it is it makes all the difference. I know it's just um the Jonathan Ball um Foundation for Peace, again we've we've done four or five grand for them. Um there's a lot air ambulance, again, another four grand for them, you know. So it's the RNLI, you know, we've done all sorts uh over the years, you know, but just just to help people out. Yeah. So do get you know, get in con contact. I mean, mentioned before, I wore a wedding dress uh that raised 500 quid for me to wear a wet uh a copy of Kate Middleton's wedding dress. You know, show me airy back and my legs, you know. So oh yum.

SPEAKER_04 20:44

Let's get a video on the screen. Anything else? Do you think I think that's everything? I think you have officially broke the records about the longest recording to debate, which won't shock any other suppliers.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

I think I've had the most questions.

SPEAKER_04 21:07

You definitely have, that is true. Thank you so much for coming on.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

You're welcome, thank you, and for the honesty as well.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

I've got nothing to add.

SPEAKER_04 21:14

It's been a great episode of all episodes at this point. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:19

If you need uh another one, another time where you need been Dwayne, just call it right.

SPEAKER_04 21:24

Thank you for watching, and we will see you all next week.

SPEAKER_02 21:28

See you guys.