THE FOOD OF LOVE Our big day is fast approaching, and we’re panicking about what food to pick. Do you have any advice? Planning your wedding is an exciting time, of course, but it comes with some stress. Many elements of the wedding are down to your style as a couple, from the dress to the venue. However, when it comes to the food, you must consider what the guests will enjoy; and if you’re expecting a particularly high number of people, this can be tricky. Here, we’ve gathered some tips to help you create a fool-proof wedding menu: Sit-down meal for traditionalists – if you want a traditional wedding reception, then a sit-down dinner is the route to go down. However, creating a menu that will cater to everyone, from vegetarians to meat enthusiasts, can seem tricky. Thankfully, there are ways around this. Typically, there is only one option for a starter – so to ensure no one is left hungry, it’s a good idea to consider all dietary requirements and choose something vegan. When it comes to the main course, there are normally some options, with a vegan alternative given to those with dietary requirements. Food vans: simple but effective – if a sit-down meal isn’t quite your style, or you simply don’t want to face the risk of your guests not enjoying their meal, hiring food vans is your best bet. Plus, you can include different cuisines and a variety of desserts. Buffet for a wide variety – having a buffet is a great way to cater to everyone’s needs, particularly if you’ve got plenty of guests. A grazing board is not only a sophisticated way of implementing a buffet into your wedding reception, but thanks to the wide variety of Italian meats, cheese, olives, crackers, and fruit, you can rely on this to keep just about everyone happy. Plus, it makes a perfect option for a starter due to the snack size elements of the board. Delicious desserts – You may have selected the perfect wedding cake for your special day, but a cupcake stand is an extra touch that you can incorporate into the buffet so that your guests keep going back for more. With this dessert option, you can offer various flavours – from red velvet, salted caramel, white chocolate, and much more! The wedding team at Lake District Country Hotels www.lakedistrictcountryhotels.co.uk Getty Images PICK OF THE BUNCH I want something a bit different for my wedding flowers. Do you have any suggestions? Have you thought of felt? Felt floral wedding bouquets are a brilliant alternative to traditional fresh flowers, and in many circumstances, people wouldn’t know they weren’t real until they took a closer look! For those who are more eco-conscious and are trying to have a sustainable wedding, felt bouquets are ideal as they won’t die, and you wouldn’t have to throw them away. Our bouquets at The Alternative Florist are handmade-to-order using a high-quality wool blend felt, therefore you get to choose the colour scheme, the flowers (as you don’t need to follow the seasons), and you get to add your own scent as there won’t be any pollen to trigger allergies. You can be as creative as you want as they would be made bespoke to you and your partner. Jo Walls www.alternativeflorist.co.uk www.mickcookson.com MY TYPE ON PAPER My hubby-to-be and I are on a tight budget, but still want beautiful stationery on our big day. How can we spend our money wisely? You can still achieve beautiful wedding stationery on a budget! A lot of stationery designers will have a portfolio of ‘house’ designs you can choose from, which are personalised with your details, but the design side of things is already done. Remember, anything bespoke is going to cost more, but you can save money by utilising space. For example, instead of adding extra cards with details such as menus and transport, why not add it to the back of the main invite? When it comes to on-the-day stationery, keep it simple. Does every guest need a menu at their place setting, or could you have one menu per table, perhaps in a photo frame? When thinking about welcome signs or table plans, consider having them printed like a poster or onto card to save the cost of printed boards, this also means they are recyclable too! Laura Luhrs www.llcreativedesign.co.uk 66
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