HOT TOPIC Those in-the-know solve your wedding dilemmas HAVE YOUR CAKE My partner and I are looking for a cake maker for our wedding – but don’t know what to do to ensure we make the right choice. Are there any questions to consider? Once you’ve found a few cake makers that interest you, be sure to view their social media platforms and read their reviews. Why? Positive reviews will comment on the look and taste of their bakes, as well as the good customer experience their clients have received. Then there’s their hygiene rating to check, which should give you confidence that you’re buying from a professional who works to their council’s standards. And don’t forget to find out whether they have public liability insurance, which protects their own business as well as showing they’ve set themselves up as a reputable company. Meeting with your potential cake maker also gives you the opportunity to ask a whole host of questions, from how long they’ve been trading to whether they’ve previously made a cake in the style you like. Generally speaking, if you see that a cake maker is passionate about their bakes, it’s a strong sign that they will put their heart into make you a beautiful wedding cake! Mary Houlihan | Mary Bakes Yummy Cakes www.instagram.com/marybakesyummycakes SWEEP STAKE My mum is going on about us getting a chimney sweep to attend our wedding as she’s adamant it’s tradition. What’s she going on about? The tradition of the lucky chimney sweep goes back to the 18th century – King George III was riding through London in a parade, when his horse bolted. A London chimney sweep grabbed the reins and saved the King, who deemed that all chimney sweeps would be considered lucky from then on. The tradition remains that shaking hands with a sweep or receiving a kiss on the cheek, especially on a wedding day, will bring luck and love to the married couple. The Queen even had a lucky chimney sweep at her wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947! At Ashes & Smoke Chimney Sweeping, we love carrying on this fabulous tradition and are lucky enough to get invited to appear at many weddings in Essex. We mingle with guests, pose for photos and gift the happy couple a Lucky Sweep’s Charm and certificate of luck. Dave Coxell | Ashes & Smoke Chimney Sweeping www.ashesandsmoke.com 91 ASK THE EXPERTS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=