SETTING THE SCENE We’re just starting our venue search and can’t decide what we’re looking for. What are your top tips to help us find the perfect setting? It’s no secret that many of the most popular venues tend to get booked years in advance, so viewing your favourites as soon as possible is vital. Even if you’re looking to get married sooner rather than later, it’s still worth calling your favourite venue about their availability. Sudden cancellations do happen, and you might be in luck. And if you’re considering a mid-week or even winter wedding, there’s every chance you can bag a date much sooner than you would for a peakseason wedding. When you visit your shortlisted venues, be sure to check out the range of wedding spaces on offer as well as the grounds, guest rooms and restaurant areas. This all comes together to create the whole experience and that’s vital in making sure that you and your guests have the best day possible. West Lodge Park is a grand North London wedding venue with magnificent grounds, reception rooms and exquisite guest suites. Our expert staff and talented chefs work tirelessly to ensure that your celebration is one to remember. We have a range of room options, within our hotel or grounds, which can host up to 80 for your ceremony and up to 200 for your reception. And in spring/summer our beautiful Garden Pavilion is the perfect place for your ceremony. Its oak structure and adjacent lawns will provide a beautiful backdrop for you and your guests. Contact our friendly wedding planning team to arrange a private viewing or attend our wedding open day to see how we can give you the day of your dreams. Chris Hall | West Lodge Park | www.westlodgepark.co.uk PARTY IN STYLE We want our wedding to be one huge celebration from start to finish. What entertainment would you suggest for each element of the day to keep the party vibe going? Firstly, I’d recommend finding a supplier who can supply the entertainment for all parts of your day. That way, it helps to take the stress out of managing multiple suppliers and you can relax and enjoy it all! The options are endless but I’d suggest a brass section to play at the entrance to the ceremony. They could play traditional jazz or contemporary classics. We also have numerous options that could play during the ceremony, such as a soloist or ensemble. A saxophonist goes down well during your drinks reception and why not opt for a pianist during your wedding breakfast? Your evening party would then come to life with anything from a DJ set to a 12-piece party band to fill the dancefloor until your day comes to an end. We work with our couples to make sure we get every element of the entertainment exactly as they want it and we believe that it’s this attention to detail and our versatility on the night that sets us aside from other bands. With Sway you get our years of experience. We’re used to taking charge of the entertainment, getting your guests up on the dancefloor and helping them to have a great time so you can concentrate on other things. If you get the right band there’s so much less that you have to worry about on the night. David Brooks | Sway All Stars | www.swaytheband.com 85 ASK THE EXPERTS BIG-DAY BLOCKBUSTER We’d love our day captured on video but we’re not sure where to start. What parts of the day would you suggest we capture, can we choose our own music, do you blend into the background? Help! When planning to have your day filmed, it’s essential to make sure that all the key moments of the day are captured. This includes the ceremony and speeches, as well as any other important moments that you want to remember. Capturing audio of the vows and speeches and maybe even guest video messages are also an important aspect to consider with video, as it can bring back the emotions and ambience of the day when you watch the video again. In addition to capturing the ceremony, it’s a good idea to include footage of the pre-wedding prep. This can be a special moment for you and your partner as you see what each other were doing on the morning of your special day. Music is also a crucial component. It’s important to discuss with your videographer whether they have a database of licensed tracks or if you can choose your own. I’d recommended to choose music that reflect your personalities, or let your videographer choose tracks based on the overall feel of the day. The chosen music will set the tone and pace of the video, which can make a big difference in how it’s perceived by the viewer. A key aspect of creating a meaningful video is choosing a videographer who can blend seamlessly into the background. A good pro should be able to capture candid moments without getting in the way or drawing attention to themselves. I’ve been referred to as a video ninja in the past because my couples say they don’t remember noticing me on the day, but when they receive their films, everything is there! Jess Ewing | I Will Video | www.iwillvideo.com Scan to view video
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