Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 85)

AN INTIMATE AFFAIR Meet the expert: Allie Butler is the weddings coordinator at Burnham Beeches Hotel, a four- star classic country house hotel located in Slough. We have postponed our large wedding that was due to take place in February this year until next March when we are planning a smaller spring celebration. Can you advise us on what we should be considering in the current circumstances? Allie says: With guidelines changing regularly, it’s difficult to tell how things will be by next spring. It’s best to be as prepared as possible and be able to adapt to any last-minute changes to ensure that your day is as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Currently, guests need to sit in households or bubbles so you’ll need to consider this when planning the seating arrangements and be mindful that it may affect the number of guests. A nice idea is to live stream your day for those that can’t be there and of course, video is a great way to capture and share your memories for years to come. Another point to consider is face coverings. Rather than asking guests to bring their own, why not provide masks so that everyone is matching? Although they may not be the nicest item to wear, with pretty designs to match your colour theme, they will look coordinated in the photographs and it’s a nice touch for guests, too. You currently can’t have buffet food at a wedding but that gives you a chance to get creative and do something a bit different. How about evening food boxes or picnic baskets presented in hampers with a rug for a spring celebration? The latest guidelines suggest that guests should refrain from singing, shouting, raising their voices and playing music at a volume that may encourage shouting. Although you may need to rethink your original entertainment plans, you can still arrange fun activities such as a quiz, a race night, or a fireworks display. Planning your wedding can be a stressful time and the current situation does not make it any easier so it’s important to take breaks from the planning and look after your health and wellbeing. Keep in contact with your suppliers and guests, and refer to the Government website for updated information. Remember, your love for each other hasn’t changed and that’ll always remain the most important part. Burnham Beeches Hotel | 01628 429 955 | www.burnhambeecheshotel.com | www. instagram.com/burnhambeecheshotel | www.facebook.com/HotelBurnhamBeeches | https://twitter.com/corushotelsuk The Tythe Barn | 01869 321 442 | www.thetythebarn.co.uk | w ww.instagram.com/tythebarnlaunton | www.facebook.com/ TheTytheBarn | https://twitter.com/TheTytheBarn1 EXPERT ADVICE 59 BEST-LAID PLANS Meet the expert: Emma Deeley is the owner of The Tythe Barn located in Launton, Oxfordshire, a family-run farm hosting weddings, corporate events and private parties. How do we future-proof our wedding day? Emma says: Right now, wedding season would have been in full swing but, for many couples, the wedding they’ve planned has had to be postponed until next year, or potentially even 2022. So, before you consider anything else, invest in wedding insurance for peace of mind. Social distancing may be in place for a while, so a key question to ask your venue is what COVID-secure plans they have in place and how they intend to accommodate your guests. If you’re yet to book your venue, we’d recommend choosing one that has a large room to allow fresh air to circulate and one with plenty of accessible outdoor space. We’ve seen lots of couples opting for outdoor ceremonies over enclosed spaces where guests can be spread out, so look for venues that can offer both and will allow you to make an informed decision closer to your date. Other areas of your wedding are likely to look a little different, too. The trend for grazing boards and sharing platters won’t work for now, with individual sit-down meals likely to become popular again. Think about unique ways that you can keep guests entertained safely, and be conscious of the fact that certain people might feel uneasy about being in a larger group so have those conversations early on with your family and friends. Reassess your budget because if your wedding has been postponed for a year or two, you can’t assume that your suppliers will charge the same rate that they originally quoted. It’s a great time to look at your overall budget – have you found yourselves able to save more money than you would have normally recently? If so, think about which areas of your wedding you may now be able to afford to upgrade. We’d suggest investing in a great photographer and videographer to capture the day. If you’re looking to make your day more budget-friendly, use your time to style your wedding yourself. A tip on trends is to ignore them! This is especially key for couples who have moved their wedding to a different season – those coral peonies you had your heart set on won’t be available in winter. As we’re aiming to become more sustainable in our day-to-day lives, this should be applied to your wedding plans too. Champion local suppliers and small businesses and ask your florist about using seasonal, British-grown blooms or ask your local garden centre to give you some advice on how you might go about growing your own. Take a leaf out of Princess Beatrice’s book and dig out your mum, grandma or sister’s wedding dress to see how you can tailor it to your style rather than buying a new dress. Above all, be flexible. We’ve already seen a surge in bookings for mid-week and winter weddings and many couples are reducing their numbers to between 20-30 loved ones for a more intimate day that’s centred around them.