WHERE TO BEGIN? I’m newly engaged and already feeling overwhelmed by the thought of planning. Are you able to give me a steer on what I should book when? It’s all very new and therefore bound to be overwhelming at times. Here we are to the rescue with some initial steps! First is budget. Before you book anything, make sure you have a clear understanding of your own finances and the costs involved. Next, take the Top Three Challenge! Your wedding is a very special day and there’ll be lots of important elements to consider. Choose your top three points that you won’t compromise on. You can then make concessions in other areas, but this will keep your vision on track and guide you towards who you book and when. The times to book everything can be very fluid. You can organise a wedding in a couple of months or a few years. However, first and foremost ensure the exact date is booked with your venue and officiant/celebrant. This means you all have a target to work towards with guests and suppliers. After this, think about which suppliers are most important to you. Is there a photographer you’ve been admiring for years or beautiful blooms you know one company excels at? Head to these ones first to ensure you don’t disappointingly miss out. Georgia, wedding coordinator, www.berwicklodge.co.uk YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT We don’t want just anyone to conduct our personal wedding ceremony. So, how do we find the perfect celebrant for us? Choosing the right wedding celebrant to make sure you get your gorgeous day your way, is an important and personal decision. You should feel comfortable and have a connection with your celebrant. After all, you’re putting a lot of trust in them. This is the person who’ll be asking you both lots of personal questions about your love story, the person who’ll be with you during the most intimate, nerve-wracking and exciting moments of your day. It’s a very good idea to do some research to find the right one for you. Follow them on social media and you’ll soon discover their personalities and see what past weddings they’ve conducted and, importantly, what others have to say about what they’ve done to help make their day so special. There are a number of online wedding directories that have lists of celebrants, so you can contact them directly and ask questions. If you like what they have to say, then why not arrange to meet for a cuppa or arrange a Zoom call? Wedding fairs are fantastic places to look for celebrants too, as you can study from afar and then meet with them directly. You’ll be able to decide straight away if there’s a spark between you all. Another option is to ask your wedding suppliers for recommendations, such as your venue or photographer. They work alongside many different wedding celebrants every week and will gladly make suggestions. Finally, when you’re chatting to potentials, try to have a list of questions you want to ask them to see if they have the same vision as you. Will they make sure that you have your wedding your way? If it’s a “yes” then book them! Jen Whitworth, https://jenthecelebrant.co.uk https://richardlewisphotography.co.uk © Bobbie Lee and Heather Bailey shooting for www.stephbarry.com SNAP HAPPY How can we personalise our photo booth experience for our wedding? The very best thing about photo booths is that they’re memory makers, and as such should be personalised to reflect you and your wedding day. We love to make our couples’ wedding photo booths scream their personalities, and we can do this in so many different ways. Here’s just a few of our all-time favourites! Personalised props. We hand make our props in house, which means anything is possible. The most favourite prop I’ve ever made was the likeness of a couple’s British bulldog! The prints. Spent a fortune on wedding stationery? Why not trickle that over to your photo booth prints? We encourage our couples to share their stationery with us so we can match as closely as possible to the aesthetic of their day. The capture options. Perhaps photos aren’t your thing, but you adore video. Photo booths offer so much more than you could imagine, so think about the type of offering that really suits you as a couple. Not many people realise we can create video snippets with music. These are such an awesome way to express not only your personalities, but your guests’ too. Charlotte Williams, www.theproperbooth.com 66
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