NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around the county THE FLOWER OF LOVE Artificial and paper flowers are becoming increasingly popular at weddings, with Chelmsford-based Elisabeth Bluck’s company, Paper Greenhouse, going from strength-to-strength. “My business began when brides asked for flowers on the wedding cakes I also create,” she explains. “They were either out of season or not suitable to be in contact with food, so I learnt how to make flowers from wafer paper. I then saw giant flowers on Pinterest and loved the impact and wow factor they had, so decided to try making some myself. My peonies are made from high-quality Italian crepe paper and come in sizes roughly 45cm and 60cm in diameter. My roses, meanwhile, are made from isolon, a lightweight foam with a silky texture. Every petal is cut and shaped by hand – which gives each flower a unique appearance – and different length stems are available, which can be bent to make arrangements with varying heights.” Visit www.papergreenhouse.co.uk to find out more. FARM IT OUT Looking for a wedding venue that none of your friends will have said their vows in? Step forward Colchester’s Battleswick Farm, available now for receptions – and ceremonies from October 2022. “At Battleswick you can forget everything you know about traditional venues,” say owners Mandy Mahil and Aaron Wymark. “Here you are shown all the spaces, all the options and asked how you visualise your day. You can even pay for your wedding via direct debit – if you can pay monthly for a sofa then why can’t you for your wedding?” The venue is still in its early days, with only 18 months since Mandy and Aaron purchased the 500-year-old barn and saved it from almost total collapse. A year into their five year project, the final vision is a barn that can seat up to 120 people; a catering kitchen for external caterers; an orangery; a café; a bridal salon, and, to top it off, a spa with indoor/ outdoor hot tub overlooking the fields, with treatment rooms to bring your own hair stylist and make-up artist. “There will also be 14 bedrooms for accommodation, as well as glamping space,” says Mandy. “Every couple will automatically get the day before, the day of the wedding and the following day until the afternoon for exclusive use, which allows suppliers to organise and collect at a sensible time. “You may want to have a boho wedding with a tipi marquee on the 3.5 acre field, or you may want to have a barn ceremony with the courtyard for drinks – or you can have it all! Our plan is to have everything completed by 2026, and we already have weddings booked through to 2025.” Battleswick Farm will be having their second wedding fun fair on Sunday 4 September 2022. Visit www.battleswickfarm.co.uk to find out more. TALK TO THE ANIMALS Looking for a unique way to celebrate your final days as a singleton? Why not enjoy a day like no other with a Hen Party Animal Experience at Colchester Zoo? The day begins in Penguini’s Restaurant, where you’ll tuck into a delicious breakfast to set you up for the day. On the experience you will explore love in the animal kingdom from penguins and sea lions, as well as getting the chance to meet either the lemurs or the giraffes. A buffet lunch will also be provided in the exclusive private dining room, while throughout the day, an experienced host will be on hand to ensure that your hen party is nothing less than perfect. Costing £79.95 per person, with a minimum of eight participants, find out more about this once-in-a-lifetime package at www.colchesterzoo.org. Psst! Watch out for the September/October issue of An Essex Wedding where you could win a Colchester Zoo Perfect Moments Animal Experience for two! www.eyebrowphotography.com www.eyebrowphotography.com www.eyebrowphotography.com LOCAL NEWS 9
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