FLOWERS 51 PLANNING SOS RACHEL DIXON AT UNTAMED FLORALS Flowers are an essential part of your wedding; they set the tone and theme for the day. It’s advisable to start looking at florists as soon as possible after securing a wedding date and venue to ensure you find the perfect supplier before they get booked. When looking at different companies, consider whose style you love and what designs resonate with you the most. That way, they’ll have the perfect atmosphere for your big day. Budget is essential when deciding on flowers, so be honest with your florist. As a rough guide, you should spend approximately 10 per cent of your wedding budget on the blooms. To maximise your costs, try to be flexible regarding flower types and varieties. Your florist will then pick the best blooms available for your wedding date. It’s a great idea to repurpose your arrangements. For example, a floral arch could be moved from the ceremony entrance to behind the top table for the perfect backdrop to the wedding breakfast. Check out: www.untamedflorals.co.uk ELIZABETH MARSHALL AT GATWARDS OF HITCHIN Those getting married this year may be considering their wedding rings for the big day, which is an essential purchase with many things to consider. At Gatwards, we’ve been helping couples find their ideal wedding rings for more than 250 years. So we’ve put together our top tips when buying your wedding rings. Firstly, don’t mix metals! If the engagement ring is platinum, the wedding ring must match – this is the same as white or yellow gold. Over time, the different metals will wear down at different rates as some metals are harder than others. For example, platinum is a stronger metal than gold. Remember, there are different styles of rings and a thicker band could mean a different ring size than a thinner one. The finger size will increase if the hand is warm and decrease if it’s cold. We recommend coming into a shop and having your finger measured by a qualified jeweller to ensure the perfect fit. Most wedding rings are made to order and therefore take approximately four to six weeks to arrive in-store. Please don’t leave your ring shopping to the last minute because you don’t need the added stress of not knowing whether your rings will be ready in time. Think about whether you intend to wear your wedding ring all the time because this will influence your choice about whether to go for a plain band or a gem-set band, which will need additional cleaning and regular maintenance every so often. Did you know that wedding bands can also be engraved with either the date of your big day or a short meaningful message? Whatever your requirements, we're happy to help find dream-worthy rings. Check out: www.gatwardsofhitchin.co.uk https://ditabowenphotography.co.uk www.brittanypainterphotography.com
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