HOT TOPIC

Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know

FESTIVE FLOWERS

How can we give our reception flowers a Christmassy vibe?

Christmas is truly magical and, like many couples, I love it! If you’re after a festive vibe, draw inspiration from how you decorate your own home during the holiday season: the palette, style and scent. Take the elements you love and ask your floral designer to combine them for your special day to make it truly personalised to you.

I’d also suggest embracing seasonal florals such as berries, waxflowers, and lush foliage, which look amazing with candles or twinkly lights. This is the idea we went with for the wedding pictured. We layered the tables with drapes, foliage garlands, pea lights and candles to create the mood, keeping it cosy. The favours were dried lavender garlands with handmade clay stars, which guests could hang on their trees for years to come, remembering the special occasion.

If you get married at Christmas, it’s important to consider the flower cost, as they’re in demand at this time of year, so prices can increase significantly. It’s also worth checking your venue’s colour palette, and ensure it complements your chosen scheme. There’s nothing worse than clashing styles.

Jacqui Owen, www.jacquio.co.uk

ALL HEART

How can we make sure our ceremony is a unique reflection of our personalities?

I don’t just learn about your love story, I learn your entire life stories! Every experience, good and bad, not only put you on the path to meeting, but also to being the perfect match for one another. The end result is so worth it. In fact, the greatest compliment I’ve ever received is when a couple’s congregation all assumed I was one of their lifelong friends.

Twelve weeks before the wedding is when I send out your Couple’s Workbook. It’s a great date-night opportunity, allowing you to reminisce about all those relationship and milestone moments. It was designed with a relationship psychologist to be purposefully emotionally triggering but in the most wonderful way. Eight weeks before the big day, we design the ceremony running order and four weeks ahead we write vows. It’s also at this point I’ll send out some self-care treats and arrange a wellness session if you’re feeling the pressure of planning.

Your ceremony will set the tone for the rest of the day. A wedding will likely be the one and only time in your lives that you’ll have everyone you care about in the same place at the same time. It’s so important to evoke emotion, excitement and a happy mindset to ensure everyone has the time of their lives; and that starts at the heart of your day, your highly-personal ceremony.

What can we add to our barn-venue wedding celebration to give it a warm and cosy Christmas feel?

Taking inspiration from the sights and sounds of the season can make your winter reception shine. Achieve warmth with a rich feature colour in your décor, such as burgundy or forest green with glittering gold accents. Plus, nothing evokes rustic charm in a barn space like foliage to bring the outside in. Add some delicate mistletoe or eucalyptus to tables, or go all-out with a dazzling Christmas tree.

There’s plenty of time to pop champagne throughout your big day, so why not offer the warmest welcome to your guests with a glass of mulled wine or a boozy hot chocolate on arrival?

The soundtrack to your celebration can elevate the occasion: an acoustic live act or playlist featuring romantic guitar covers of your favourite Christmas tunes is a subtle way to spread the festive cheer.

Once daylight gives way to the dark of a winter’s evening, there’s no better décor accent than candlelight. You don’t have to be limited to adorning your tables either: floating tea lights from centrepieces and stacks of pillar candles around your reception will amplify the romance and warmth of your gathering. Rachel Leon, weddings and events manager, www.themanorgreasby.co.uk

Psst... The Barn at the Manor will open in Greasby on the Wirral this winter.

A LIFELONG COMMITMENT

We both have jobs where we work with our hands and are a bit worried about our wedding rings standing the test of time. What would you recommend?

There are two points to consider when choosing wedding bands, the metal itself and the thickness of it. With 18ct and 9ct white gold, the bands are rhodium plated to give them their high shine finish and this is something that needs to be maintained. So, if you’re in a job where you’re using your hands a lot or using alcohol sanitizer gels, then I’d suggest staying away from this material. It’s worth considering a brushed finish to the outside of your band to make any scratches less noticeable, this is especially popular with gents’ bands as they’re usually wider.

If your budget allows, then platinum is an excellent metal for a wedding band, as it’s hard wearing, dense and naturally white. It also polishes beautifully if scratched. However, if you’d prefer a yellow gold or rose gold, these are still perfect for a wedding band, but I’d recommend considering at least a medium-weight band.

Remember, it’s one of the few items you’ll ever buy in life that you’ll use and wear every day, so really consider the ring and your budget carefully before buying. CHRISTMAS IN A CUP

What drinks can we serve at our winter wedding to suit the season and add a touch of Christmas?

Our gin hot toddies and winter warmers have been described as Christmas in a cup! Our urns are infused with festive botanicals including cinnamon, star anise, juniper and more, which all conjure up memories of that magical time of year. These hot toddies are always a real talking point among guests and bring a festive atmosphere to any wedding.