HOT TOPIC

Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding dilemmas

Picture Perfect

We want our wedding photos to be memorable and beautiful. What advice can you share for the perfect confetti shot?

We’ve all seen the picture of a couple basking in the pure joy of just being married while their loved ones shower them with confetti. But how do you get those perfect confetti shots?

Location is key! A beautiful backdrop will ensure the image has a big impact. Be sure to check with your venue in advance, as many have restrictions on where confetti can be used.

Bright-coloured confetti always stands out and looks fabulous in photos. My favourite is bio-degradable tissue paper as it’s environmentally friendly, comes in various colours and floats beautifully. Avoid anything too large like rose petals as they tend to be heavy, drop quickly and block faces. More is better when it comes to confetti! One or even two handfuls per guest is preferable.

I always recommend that loved ones form a tunnel for the couple to walk down; this gives everyone a chance to throw their confetti and multiple opportunities to get different shots. Enjoy the moment! Try not to look down; walk slowly, look at each other and have fun! For more intimate weddings, have guests gather around and throw confetti while you stand still.

Alice Jones | Alice Jones Photography www.alicejonesphotography.com

Al Fresco Nuptials

We’re planning an outdoor wedding but are worried about bad weather. What advice can you share?

It’s genuinely true every time I’ve told a couple how we have a great success rate with good weather at weddings! Across six wedding seasons, we’ve only had two quite rainy weddings. But those two days were incredible, and our couples had the most fantastic time. Don’t worry about the weather; just prepare for it. Ensure you’ve got a big enough structure for mingling as well as dining with an extra structure or shelter like a stretch tent in addition to the main marquee to ensure any outdoor aspects of the day, like the ceremony, can continue rain or shine. Have umbrellas on standby and consider a marquee heater. Ensure deliveries and suppliers don’t drive across the key areas of the site, as it can quickly create muddy tracks. Use matting to create walkways along the main routes across the site for guests to walk on.

Hannah

Whiteley | Fields & Festoons Outdoor Weddings

www.fieldsandfestoons.co.uk

Planning Sos

We want our wedding to be a hit with guests; how can we create an unforgettable experience?

Why not create a wedding website? Your guests can easily hop on to find any event updates and access all the same information online if they misplace their wedding invitation.

What better way to start your wedding celebrations than with a welcome party? It can take place the day or night before the wedding; it’s more casual than your wedding reception and gives loved ones who don’t know each other a chance to meet before your wedding day. It’s a popular reason to extend your wedding beyond one day. Show your guests you’ve really thought about their comfort on the day and book some transport from different venues if applicable. It’s a nice touch and an excuse to have fun with a vehicle like a double-decker bus decked out in your wedding colours for all your guests excitedly awaiting your reception. Additionally, if your wedding venue has limited parking, guest transportation is so handy!

Styled To Perfection

We’ve just started planning our summer wedding, but we have no idea where to start! What would you suggest? Most people associate weddings with the summer, and we’re not surprised. The lighting uplifts the photos, beautiful flower options are available and outdoor weddings become an option. Unfortunately, this means venues get booked quickly. Book early to avoid disappointment if you have a dream venue, as some get booked up years in advance. You might sigh in relief once the venue is booked, but you must also book your main suppliers for a summer wedding. Photographers, florists, cake designers, videographers, registrars and wedding planners get booked up in advance quickly.

If you’re a bride, you have probably envisioned your dream outfit. But while a luxury summer wedding means enjoying the season’s beauty, you must also consider the heat. You don’t want your guests melting in the sun, so ensure your wedding outfits or suggestions are lightweight, airy and comfortable. You want to dance the night away, not sweat it out. As an experienced wedding planner, I also recommend having cover-ups and jackets for the evenings.

Everyone likes to get away in the summer, so ensure you give guests plenty of warning before your wedding. Save-the-date cards are an excellent way for your guests to mark their calendars, sort out any childcare needed, get time off work and sort accommodation.

It can be challenging to think of all the aspects you need to consider with a summer wedding and all the little details you need to arrange to ensure the day runs smoothly. That’s why we’re here to help with planning and on-the-day coordination.

Mrinalini Raman | Knots and Nuptials

https://knotsandnuptials.co.uk

Blooming Beautiful

My wife-to-be and I are going for a relaxed bohemian theme for our wedding, but we don’t know where to start with our flowers – what would you suggest? When choosing flowers for a boho vibe, it’s always best to go with not just the season’s availability but also for cost. Talk to your florist, who will advise what blooms will be in season and available for your big day.

Don’t be afraid to be creative with colour! The relaxed just-picked look can be lovely with soft pastels or fresh white and green shapes, or will be equally gorgeous with a bright and vibrant mish-mash of colour! Your florist will know what varieties and colours complement each other to create an effortless look.