HOT TOPIC

www.jenniferjanephotography.co.uk HOT TOPIC

Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know

LOCAL FLAIR

We adore Somerset and would like to have our wedding showcase the best of the region. How can we reflect this in our styling?

With stunning countryside, characterful venues and a relaxed, welcoming feel, Somerset is an ideal place to get married. A great way to celebrate this in your wedding styling is to incorporate some of the produce and rich history offered by the region. For example, how about thinking local when it comes to your flowers? Somerset is becoming a major hub for British flower growers, with many small farms dotted throughout the region. These local growers offer a wide range of gorgeous seasonal blooms and foliage that are freshly cut and sustainable.

One of the most famous products of Somerset is cider. As a nod to this, why not consider including apples as part of a fruity, rustic tablescape or as part of a bespoke cocktail starring local Somerset cider brandy? Or perhaps consider barrels instead of cocktail tables, or as a statement cake table.

Aside from its obvious rural charms, Somerset is also home to some of the most impressive Regency architecture in Britain, so why not channel your inner Duke and Duchess and feature some Bridgerton vibes. Consider opulently draped fabrics, vibrant Regency colours, trailing floral displays and dramatic tapered candles for a contemporary twist on this period look.

Holly Allman-Lopez, www.ambiencevenuestyling.com

BEST WISHES

We’d love a guest book as a memento of our day, but in our experience of going to weddings, no one ever wants to sign them! Do you have any suggestions?

A guest book at your wedding is undoubtedly one of the best ways to capture personal messages from your loved ones. Although, long gone are the days where all of your guests are expected to leave a piece of advice for the newlyweds and simply placing your guestbook on your gifts and cards table is a recipe for finding it empty at the end of the night. Instead, you should task this to your photo booth provider!

As a vintage photo booth supplier, Booth Nineteen includes guest books with all of our wedding packages. Having a physical photo to stick onto the pages of your book means friends and family are far more likely to leave their mark alongside it. Your photo booth attendant will manage this on the night and by having someone tasked with getting as many messages as possible you can be certain of a great selection of both heartfelt and hilarious wishes to read back through for years to come. So, don’t chance a book hidden away in the corner, make it part of the evening entertainment.

YOUR WEDDING, YOUR WAY

I’m a Christian, but my husband-to-be isn’t and we’re struggling to decide what sort of ceremony to have to make sure we’re both happy and feel married. Can you help? We’re getting married in the spring and would love to incorporate some of the season’s finest flowers into our arrangements and bouquet. What would you recommend?

Spring is the perfect time for weddings and there are so many flowers to choose from, it’s really hard to pick! If you’re tying the knot earlier in the season, then anemones and ranunculus are always firm favourites, but if you’re after something whimsical and a little bit different, then definitely take a look at butterfly ranunculus or Icelandic poppies. They’re papery and delicate and really make an impact without being heavy visually. Combine these with blossoms and it’s a winning combination.

We also love unusual narcissi varieties such as Geranium for the scent – narcissi doesn’t just mean yellow daffodil anymore! There are some showy varieties with coral centres and frilly edges, so they’re perfect for adding a certain something.

For a later spring wedding, I’d recommend peonies all the way. In fact, it should possibly be illegal to get married in late April or May and not have peonies! From the rich burgundy Buckeye Belle, which I had in my own wedding bouquet, to soft pink Mothers Choice, there’s a variety of tones to suit most spring palettes.

Grace Haskins, www.brambleandwild.com

The law lists everything you can’t have at your civil wedding. You’re not allowed hymns or religious rituals for example, and readings from religious texts are forbidden. In fact, you’re not allowed to have any form of religious worship of any kind.

With a celebrant-led wedding however, there are no restrictions. Your celebrant will work with you to make sure your beliefs and heritage can be included in your ceremony, whether you want a prayer or Genesis chapter 1 verses 26-28. Your wedding promises can also take into consideration your different beliefs. If you’re a Christian, you can “solemnly swear before God,” and your husband-to-be can make his promises according to his “heart and conscience.”

A celebrant-led ceremony is so exciting and just as unique as you. Your celebrant will work with you to make sure it’s everything you want and includes any rituals, hymns or religious readings you wish. Make sure you have your wedding your way.

Jen Whitworth, https://jenthecelebrant.co.uk

https://theresafurey.mypixieset.com

THE TASTE OF SPRING

We’re looking for light seasonal springtime flavours for our wedding cake. Do you have any recommendations?

For a spring wedding, this can mean light sponges with citrus and floral flavours symbolising the growth of flowers and fruit, as well as the increase in sunlight. My Amalfi lemon and English elderflower signature sponge, or the slightly more classic Madagascan vanilla and English raspberry, are ideal choices for this time of year. In fact, springtime is a great season for cake flavours in general, as the weather is neither too cold nor too hot, which lends itself to a huge variety of options from carrot cake with Sicilian orange curd and matching Swiss merigne buttercream to red velvet cake with a light and creamy ermine buttercream. Of course, indulgent champagne cake is always in season!

Organic floral arrangements in warmer and brighter shades can look especially lovely, whether in sugar flower form as I do, or with fresh flowers, paired beautifully with those light citrus and floral flavours. You might even experiment with the incorporation of a savoury flavour such as rosemary, to complement a wedding’s natural vibe.

South West Wedding Celebrant providing wedding ceremonies that are unique to you. Written for you about you and no other wedding ceremony will be the same.

This is the biggest day of your life, so let’s do this in the most amazing creative way!

Your wedding, your way - A wedding day full of love, laughter, happy tears and memories.

07967 006362 hello@jenthecelebrant.co.uk www.jenthecelebrant.co.uk

DESIGN DECOR HIRE STYLING

Award winning makeup artist specialising in modern bridal makeup

With over 8 years industry experience I can create your dream bridal makeup. www.katiepmakeup.com | katiep@katiepmakeup.com | 07955092022

PLAYTIME

We have a number of young guests coming to our wedding ranging in age from a baby to teenagers. We’ve started to get worried that we don’t have anything to keep them amused. What can you recommend we do?

My advice would definitely be to consider booking a wedding crèche service. Perfect for weddings with children of all ages from 0-12 years, we offer a beautiful indoor or outdoor bell tent filled with endless age appropriate toys, games, activities, a craft station and much more. We can make any space look fabulous and when your big day is over, we’ll clear everything away. You can even hire a team of fantastic Pitch Nannies who are all DBS checked, fully referenced and experienced with children of all ages. This is ideal for taking the worry away from what the children might be up to during the ceremony, speeches and wedding breakfast right through to bed time. We provide a variety of different packages that can be tailored to your needs from bell tent playdens to cosy movie rooms.

Isabella Passafaro, www.pitchupandplay.co.uk

KEEN TO BE GREEN

We’d like our wedding to be as sustainable as possible. How can we achieve this?

If you’re interested in minimising the carbon footprint of your celebrations, read on! ❤ Choose reusable or compostable decorations and tableware. Simple eucalyptus branches, strings of paper flowers, ivy tendrils or even fallen branches from a local wood or park can help to transform your venue into a beautiful yet natural haven. ❤ Reduce the amount of cut flowers at your wedding day by decorating tables with living plants or potted flowers. You can also double these up as favours for your guests. ❤ Ensure your venue and/or caterer can create a menu using locally-sourced ingredients.

Here, our chefs can create you a menu sourced entirely within Somerset. ❤ Consider a vegan wedding cake, or one that can be decorated with reusable materials. ❤ Provide wildflower seeds as wedding favours.

Not only do these promote biodiversity, your guests will think of you when their flowers bloom at home. ❤ Donate your dress to charity after the big day, or sell it on to another beautiful bride. ❤ Use recycled paper for your invitations and on-the-day elements such as menus and place names.

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa www.royalcrescent.co.uk