PLANNING SOS

PLAN A

An Essex Wedding asks local wedding professionals some all-important questions to help with your wedding planning

PULL UP A CHAIR

We’d love to change the look of our chairs for our ceremony, however, I’m not so keen on the traditional chair covers; what alternatives are there? If your venue has the wooden-style chairs, the most popular look for chair décor at the moment is using chiffon in either hoods, vertical drapes or a weave design.

We would always advise couples, not wanting to fully cover a chair, to check the condition of a venue’s chairs, such as the paint finish and making sure the seats are not stained or marked.

Jane MacDonell | Venue stylist Exquisite Wedding & Event Services https://exquisiteweddingandeventservices.co.uk

STYLED TO PERFECTION

We want to turn our ceremony area in to more of a focal point. How can we do this? Your ceremony area is where the main event takes place so you want this area to create the right atmosphere for guests to enjoy and also set the tone for your whole wedding. I always suggest the following for my clients: ❤ An arch way gives a defined start to the aisle and stunning entrance for the bride and groom. ❤ The aisle should be a magical walkway. This can be achieved by added aisle runners along with rose petals, candles and lanterns. ❤ Chairs can be dressed with sashes, bows, vertical drops along with flowers. The end of pews can have flowers arrangements to line your aisle. ❤ The vow area will be where lots of photographs will be taken as this is the main event. The registrar table should be dressed so that it looks beautiful for the signing pictures (even though this is all digital now).

Framing of the happy couple really shows them off, this can be created with arches, backdrops, blossom trees and canopies and lights. ❤ If your venue has a pagoda then consider having a hanging floral ring and vines with flowers for the columns. ❤ Remember to let the colour theme to flow all throughout your wedding but also let it show your personality as a couple.

Hannah Peek | Venue styling | May Violet Events www.mayvioletevents.co.uk

www.hannahphipps.com HELP IS AT HAND

I have a busy work and home life and the thought of planning a wedding is overwhelming. I know I need to hire someone, I just don’t even know where to begin with that either! How do I know who’ll be right for me, and the level of service I need? Spend a little time researching wedding planners that are local to you, or local to your wedding venue. Once you have put together your shortlist take a look at their websites to see which services they offer, as well as what they include within each package. This will help you to identify the planning service that provides the level of support you need. Also take a look at each planner’s social media accounts to check that the images they share match the style of wedding you’re looking for. This will help you to find a wedding planner that understands the vision you have for your wedding day.

This research will take a few hours, but I guarantee investing a little time finding the perfect planner will save you hours upon hours in the long run.

https://minipixphotography.co.uk

PRE-WEDDING PREP

Having never used a professional make-up artist, I wondered what was involved in a make-up trial and what the benefits are of having one. A pre-wedding trial is highly recommended 6 to 8 weeks before your big day. At your trial, I will discuss aspects of your wedding that can influence your make-up choices; these can include the venue setting, themes, colours and dress details, with the aim of creating a bespoke look to reflect both your dream day and your personality.

Once you are happy with your desired look, I will create a personalised file including photographs, details and products used from your chosen look. I will create a schedule for you and your bridal party to ensure all runs smoothly on your big day!

Alice Jenner | Make-up artist Alice Jenner Beauty | www.alicejennerbeauty.com

THIRST QUENCHERS

We’d like a contemporary cocktail hour at our wedding reception; what could we offer that’s liked by the masses and what non-alcoholic alternatives are there to make all our guests feel included? An Essex Wedding says, “Hosting a cocktail hour at your wedding is particularly on-trend, especially offering bespoke cocktails named after the happy couple. Classic go-to creations would be Gin & Tonic, Vodka Soda with a splash of cranberry and anything with an unexpected on-trend plant ingredient like basil or cucumber. For the non-drinkers, try a virgin watermelon margarita or mojito.”

Essex-based Tapp’d Cocktails (www.tappdcocktails.com) says, “We offer a range of eight bottle cocktails so you can chose a selection of flavours to suit. We also offer a non-alcoholic passionfruit martini to include your guest that are avoiding alcohol. Our cocktails are ready to drink so its easy for your guests to shake and serve.”

www.amobilestudio.co.uk www.kelsiescullyphotography.com

CEREMONY CHOICES

When choosing a wedding celebrant, what are the different varieties of wedding ceremony you can have? An independent celebrant can offer any type of ceremony as beliefs are irrelevant without limits on time, place and ceremony content. On the other hand, humanist celebrants have humanist beliefs and may offer fewer ceremony choices or specialise in one particular ceremony such as hand-fasting.

In terms of style of ceremony an independent celebrant can offer modern, traditional, non-religious, semi-religious or interfaith ceremonies. Once the couple have made their preferred choice, there are a range of ceremony enhancements to choose from; some of the more popular enhancements are a ‘tying the knot’ ceremony, the sand ceremony, hand blessings and a unity candle ceremony, but there are many others.

Many couples love the fact that enhancements can be quite symbolic and the fact that other family members, children or guests can play an integral part in the ceremony proceedings. Unity candles can be personalised, and colours for sand ceremonies or tying the knot cords/ ribbons all have meanings for example loyalty, wealth or energy, but can be chosen simply to match a colour scheme or for personal reasons.

Generally the structure is very similar to a traditional wedding ceremony and the enhancement, for example a tying the knot ceremony, would usually be added within the structure at an appropriate point such as after the vows and the ring exchange.

All the ceremonies on offer are very personalised and written for the couple including favourite stories or memories, readings and so on. Sometimes I might create a totally new type of ceremony for a couple, and some want a very themed delivery. Often couples want a union that resembles legal proceedings and might have a very simple enhancement or none at all, it’s never a problem as the couple’s wishes are paramount.

The discussion about ceremony style takes place during the very first initial enquiry. Most couples are fairly sure of their ceremony choice by the end of the first call, but occasionally some couples that want to book just need a little more time regarding this important decision. In such cases within the deposit requirements we make provision for that. It’s really important that couples are given the opportunity to secure their booking date regardless of whether they have chosen their ceremony style or not.

Amanda Wheal | Celebrant | Amanda’s Beautiful Ceremonies www.amandasceremonies.com

https://lottiephotography.com

When hiring a photo booth, I quite like the look of the vintage-style designs that are becoming more popular. How do these compare to the original ‘booth-style’ ones. Vintage-styled booths have definitely become the must-have design for their ability to complement a variety of venues. A vintage booth works in the same way as a traditional photo booth, but is similar to the open footprint of selfie-pods. This allows for the use of a backdrop or beautiful flowerwall and is able it accommodate a larger number of guests than the original inclosed oval booth. The warm tones from their wooden construction means they look back to the traditional styling of photography, so can better suit a wide range of wedding themes than traditional booths. Rather than being stuck in the corner of the celebrations, it means that your booth can be front and centre to the entertainment.

Helen Prior | Owner Canary Photobooths https://canaryphotobooths.co.uk

FINDING YOUR VOICE

We’re having a celebrant-led wedding ceremony, but neither of us are very good with words, how can we work with our celebrant to make sure the wedding feels like ‘us’? Working with a celebrant is an excellent choice, this will ensure your ceremony is heartfelt, memorable and bespoke to you as a couple.

Creating the content is something I specialise in and take great pride in working with couples to do. So how will we do this? I meet couples and put them at ease, we talk about the component parts of the ceremony and begin to build on ideas to reflect you as a couple and your love. I will spend time getting to know you, how you met and your dreams and aspirations for married life. I also ask you to share some of the quirky bits about yourselves, hobbies, interests etc.

We chat about if you want to say your own wedding vows, sometimes couples instinctively know what they want, while others are hesitant, but talking it through gives you the extra bit of support and confidence to do this. It’s worth mentioning that this part of the ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for a photographer/videographer to capture these special moments as they happen.

I work with you individually to create your own vows and if needed give tips and support to enhance these to give them that final flourish. I would then get you to rehearse them to me via a WhatsApp video call in preparation for the big day, and give further support and advice if needed. I give couples a copy to read on the day, after all, you’re not expected to remember them off by heart!

If bepsoke vows are not for you, I can provide you with several ideas of standard examples of vows that you could choose from. We then work on beautiful wording for the ‘exchanging of rings’.

In addition to this I speak to you about music, poetry, blessings for your ceremony and ask what your preferences would be and why they are important to you, as these all get woven into your ceremony.

As we build on your ceremony and I know more about you as a couple, I talk about short wedding rituals you can choose to add for that extra special moment. Things like, a sand ceremony, handfasting/ hand-tying, rose ceremony and ring warming ceremony. There are many rituals these are just a few examples and this is really your choice whether you want this or not.

We talk about whether you have friends or family who maybe want to be involved by reading poems, playing music or even singing.

The most important thing to remember with a celebrant-led wedding, is you have your wedding the way you want it, there are no rules and no time constraints.

My partner and I would like to create a wedding gift list; but we’re in need of inspiration due to already owning a home together. What are your top suggestions? It can be difficult to think of a wedding gifts list when you already own a home together. We have carefully thought about what products would make thoughtful, memorable gifts for a couple that are something different from glasses and kitchenware.

WEDDING TRADITION

This wonderful, traditional, knotwork quaich is a wedding tradition that many couples still love to this day. A quaich is made from the finest pewter and features two handles, which symbolises the coming together of the married couple and their two families. A lovely, traditional keepsake to remind you of your big day.

GREEN FINGERED GARDEN LOVERS

The perfect gift for a couple who has a blossoming garden, or even a collection of house plants, this watering can set is an aesthetically pleasing way to nurture the nature in your home. As this set is unique and often something a couple wouldn’t purchase for themselves, it makes a truly thoughtful gift. The watering can and mister can be engraved with a message or the initials of the happy couple, making it a lovely reminder of your union.

EVENING IN

This wonderful travel chess and backgammon set is the perfect addition to your honeymoon luggage. After long days of exploring a new location, it’s a great idea to have a relaxing evening in with a game of chess on this walnut wood, travel sized board. A great gift for a new couple as it is an addition to the home that they likely do not have and is also ideal for taking away on a romantic getaway. An engraved brass plaque can be added to the board with the couple’s names or a special message, to make it an even more memorable gift. HONEYMOON

Another great idea is to add a weekend bag to your wedding gift list. A high quality, leather overnight bag, such as this one, is perfect for taking away with you on your honeymoon. Whether you have booked a short weekend away in the UK, or a luxurious trip abroad, you can’t go wrong with this durable piece of luggage. This bag comes with a leather luggage tag which can be engraved with your new initials or a sweet message for the newlyweds. This is an item that can be used for a lifetime and will remind you of your special day with every use.

NEW RINGS

As the new couple will both be wearing some new jewellery after the ceremony, a thoughtful gift would be a jewellery/ watch box for the newlyweds. These travel jewellery boxes from Stackers are ideal for taking on trips or displaying on your dresser. With ample storage for rings and necklaces, this is the perfect way to keep your wedding bands safe when not being worn. A great alternative for the groom is a watch box with a smaller compartment, perfect for storing his rings. This watch box from WOLF is made from a durable black leather and is also great for travel or home use. Both jewellery boxes can be engraved with initials or the date of the wedding as a useful keepsake. Everything can be found online at www.farrar-tanner.co.uk