Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - Apr/May 2019 (Issue 70)

WED-MIN We got engaged on Valentine’s Day, and after the initial excitement, we’re now facing the huge challenge of actually planning the day! Where do we start? To help you along your way, we’ve put together our top 10 things you should consider when planning your dream wedding… ❤ First, you’ll need to have an idea on your guest numbers, as this will help when looking at venues. ❤ Don’t underestimate the time it takes to find suppliers, get quotations and book. Ideally, you’ll want to give yourself 12 to 18 months to plan. ❤ Book your key suppliers as soon as you can. Venues, caterers, photographers, videographers, florists and make-up artists all get booked up months, if not a year, in advance. You don’t want to miss out on your first choice. ❤ As soon as you finalise your wedding date and venue, send out save- the-date cards to your friends and family. ❤ In the initial stages, it’s good to think about your budget. It’s daunting, but the earlier you do this, the easier it is to make decisions. It also helps to prioritise what’s most important. ❤ Allow yourself a 10 per cent buffer on top of your ideal budget. You’ll find that along the way you’ll opt for larger floral arrangements or more courses for your evening meal, which will increase the total spend. ❤ Magazines, Pinterest and Instagram will become your inspiration heaven – but remember to keep your budget in mind, as it’s easy to get swept away. ❤ You may find you get opinions from various loved ones, and there are lots of decisions to be made. Just remember it’s your big day and you won’t be able to please everyone. ❤ It’s easy to get in the habit of doing wed-min after work and on the weekends, so try to plan date nights every so often to spend some wedding-free time together. ❤ Organising your dream day is very time-consuming and often becomes stressful for couples. If you’re combining it with a busy work and social life, it may be worth getting an expert on board who can make it a breeze. Radhika Nathwani Radhika & You | radhikaandyou.com TYING THE KNOT A friend mentioned to me about having an independent celebrant conduct our ceremony as we don’t want to wed in a venue. Can you tell me more about this? Many people want to leave behind the restrictions of a religious or registrar-led service and instead have something that reflects their wishes and personality. With an independent wedding celebrant, you take control. As this type of ceremony is not yet legally recognised in England, you will need to go to the register office before or after the big day to deal with the formalities. On your wedding day, you’re then free to choose the location of your dreams and any special elements to make it individual. For example, you could include broom jumping, handfasting, a unity candle, sand ceremony or anything else that’s important to you. Another benefit is that family, friends and pets can all be involved if you wish. Also, if you have any spiritual or religious beliefs such as Paganism, they can be incorporated. I will listen to you and help you design your perfect ceremony; the only limit is your imagination. Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark Ceremonies of Life and Love ceremoniesoflifeandlove.com 114