An Essex Wedding - January/February 2021 (Issue 96)

THE PERFECT SETTING Q: What questions should we ask before booking our dream venue? ❤ Will we have exclusive use? This is probably the key question to ask if you only want to share your day with your nearest and dearest. If privacy is top priority, then this should be the first thing you ask. ❤ Do you have accommodation? A lazy brunch the day after your wedding with your closest friends and family is becoming increasingly popular. Check that your venue has enough accommodation, with family rooms or easy-access rooms if needed. ❤ What are you catering choices? We’re seeing a shift from the traditional wedding breakfast to more bespoke, quality food selections. If you have a specific idea of what you want to serve your guests, then check your venue can cater for this. ❤ Do you have recommended suppliers? While you don’t have to use them, these companies will have the added benefit of knowing the venue well and can make the best recommendations on that basis. ❤ The deal-breaker question . If there’s a specific part of your day you’ve always dreamed of, check with any prospective venues that this is possible. This could be live music, fireworks or a romantic candlelit ceremony. Kelly Sinnott | Baddow Park House | www.baddowpark.co.uk SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED Q: How can a celebrant help make our micro- wedding more special for the few guests that can attend? The effects of the pandemic has lead to the micro- wedding becoming popular, and it’s perfect for any restrictions on guest numbers you may have. There are huge benefits to this type of wedding – the main one being that it encourages us to keep love and the couple at the centre of it all. From there, the important themes of a marriage can be explored to help you form your commitments to each other. A well-trained celebrant can help you understand this and make it an integral part of your personal, intimate ceremony. If you don’t like being in the spotlight, then a micro- wedding is perfect as there are less eyes focusing on you. You can be braver with your choices when sharing the moment with only your closest family and friends. You could involve more people with tributes, songs, readings or unity ceremonies such as hand- fasting or a candle ceremony. With no time restrictions or limit on content, you can make the micro-wedding perfect for you. Perhaps you’d like a twilight ceremony followed by a celebratory meal so you get to spend more time with your loved ones? The possibilities are endless. Shelley Bell | Shelley Bell Independent Family Celebrant | www.shelleybell.co.uk www.laur ajanephotography.co.uk www.soph ieoldhamsteadphotography.co.uk 98