CONTACT OUR EXPERTS Adrian Pritchard Magic, www.instagram.com/aidimagic Ambience Venue Styling Bath, www.ambiencevenuestyling.com Celebrant Polly Miller, www.celebrantpollymiller.com Just Ceremonies, https://justceremonies.co.uk Queen & Whippet, https://queenandwhippet.com Sarah’s Sugarcraft, www.sarahssugarcraft.co.uk Topikki Stationery, https://topikki.co.uk Wedding Regency, www.weddingregency.com CATERING Just because you’ve set enough budget aside to cater for 100 guests, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to invite that many. If you decide to halve that or even cut it down to a third for the same budget, you’d be looking at quality over quantity. For so many of us food tells a story and is a crucial part of any wedding day, so if it’s the area you’ve both chosen to prioritise you really could go all out! Jo Cranston at Queen & Whippet has a great example: “Our head chef and co-owner Pete can custom-design a menu with a high level of detail and intricacy. We ask our couples to think of food they’ve enjoyed together on travels, at important moments such as what they ate on their first date, and what favourites they share. Pete will incorporate elements of these memories into a bespoke, playful and refined menu that encourages interactivity and conversation, like the seven-course tasting menu we created for a recent cultural fusion wedding for 10 guests. Every dish was designed to be a tale unfolding, reflecting the couple’s shared story and personal tastes. They chose to reference how well they knew their guests, incorporating the preferences of their friends and family through favourite drinks choices. Additionally, some complex dietary requirements were considered so every guest felt included. With all diners at one table, Pete was able to introduce every course, detailing the inspiration, method and ingredients, which added a theatrical and fun element. “Your caterer is likely to have a minimum spend to make a smaller wedding viable for them. They should help you maximise the value at every point if the guest numbers are low and give you full visibility on where your budget is going. While couples save on having fewer people eating, they may still have fixed costs such as bringing in a field kitchen so check that’s clear in your quote. Also think about how your timeline will flow. You’re likely to have more time seated rather than the traditional standing reception of a larger party, and your food service should reflect this.” BIG-DAY BAKE A small guest list doesn’t need to mean a small cake! You can still have the showstopper you’ve always dreamed of while still sustainably keeping wastage to a minimum. Sarah Churchill from Sarah’s Sugarcraft has the answers: “The average 7” cake would give you 40 slices and could still make the statement of a larger cake on a trendy tall pedestal cake stand. Check with your venue whether you can have cake served as dessert, the slices would need to be bigger than the normal 1” x 1” size but a chocolate cake with cream would be the ideal after-dinner treat. “If you like the look of multi tiers though opt for a single tier of real cake with the others fake but still covered in the same finish as the edible version. You’ll have your photo taken cutting the real one before the whole thing is taken to the kitchen where the real tier will be cut into slices and your guests will be none the wiser!” ENTERTAINMENT As we’ve already seen, buying dinner for 30 people versus 100 will leave you more budget to focus on what you love. Perhaps in your case it’s entertainment. All you need to bear in mind is what will be appropriate for a small group. By all means, hire a band, after all you can’t beat live music; but consider the size of it. If there are more members in the band than there are on your guest list, this will likely overwhelm the perfect vibe you’ve worked so hard to achieve. A trio or quartet would be ideal, and if they can perform a chilled acoustic set before taking you through a more lively party playlist for the evening, then more’s the better. Another thing to think about is that all-important element of involvement. Local magician Adrian Prichard says, “You’d need an entertainer who could interact with all of your guests, so a close up magician would be perfect.” “Remember, your wedding day should reflect your personalities and love story. Keep it fun, lighthearted, and enjoy every moment of planning!” – Celebrant Polly Miller Image couresty of Queen & Whippet © www.weheartpictures.com Image couresty of Queen & Whippet © www.weheartpictures.com Image courtesy of Sarah’s Sugarcraft © www.tamillahaycock.com Image courtesy of Sarah’s Sugarcraft © www.tamillahaycock.com INTIMATE WEDDINGS 59
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