PERSONAL TOUCH Our friends suggested we hire a celebrant to officiate our wedding, but we’re not sure what to expect. Do you have any advice? Hiring a celebrant means that you can expect to look back on your ceremony as your favourite part of your day. Not only will a great celebrant make you feel super welcome as soon as you enter that space, but they will also be able to weave in so many details that will leave your guests in no doubt that your relationship is something special. They do this by getting to know you and working with you to pull together something totally bespoke. Did you meet doing panto? How about a nod with a community singalong? Do you dream of a handfasting amongst the bluebells? A celebrant can make that dream come true! Or maybe you are much more traditional and, whilst a church wedding isn’t a good fit for you, you would still like to be able to have a bible reading while also writing your own vows. There are celebrants of every flavour out there! Google, directories and venues all have their part to play in guiding you to the right one. Word-of-mouth recommendations are best though, so ask around. Alex Hilder www.alexhildercelebrant.co.uk https://megmariphotography.mypixieset.com CAPTURE THE MOMENT Lots of photographers offer an engagement shoot, but we’re camera shy and don’t know if it’s for us. What are the benefits? Engagement shoots are the best! It means you can get to know your photographer before your wedding day, meaning they are a familiar face and someone you’re totally comfortable with on your big day. Every single one of my clients says that they aren’t comfortable in front of a camera, and they all say, ‘That was so much fun’ after the shoot! It’s a great opportunity to head to your wedding venue together and for you to show your photographer your favourite spots that you want to capture on the day. At the engagement shoot, I give my couple tips on how to stand, how to look natural and what to expect from the ‘formal’ photos on the day. I can answer any questions and you get to see how I roll. Don’t forget, you will get some banging photos too! Often your last as an unmarried couple. Some people use them on their invitations and table décor, or even print a giant photo that everyone signs around instead of a guest book. CJ Trickey www.photosbycj.co.uk www.photosbycj.co.uk A DAY TO REMEMBER What questions should we ask a fireworks company before booking? Booking a fireworks display is a tricky subject because there are so many individual factors you may wish to see on your day, but there are also restrictions, often venue-related, that may hamper your imagination. Your chosen company should have a strong connection with the venue itself and this will give you reassurance that all restrictions have been complied with and that what is on offer is actually allowable in the first place. Examples of this are display timings, noise levels and even height restrictions put in place, usually in close proximity to airports. The company should be able to tell you from the very start if noise is permitted or if the display will have to be kept at a lower noise level so as to comply with requirements. A detailed knowledge of the effects available, the general availability of the company and the latest display cut-off time should also be asked to prevent disappointment. Once you have established the basics, you can quickly create a rapport and begin planning your display together. Adrian Walters www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk www.stephenbunn.io 66
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=