WORDS OF WISDOM JENNIFER WALKER, JW CEREMONIES https://jwceremonies.com We don’t want our ceremony to be the boring part of the day that everyone has to sit through in order to get to the party! How can we make it as fun-filled as the rest of the day to reflect our personalities? Your ceremony should be the heart of the day, not the snoozefest formalities before the party can start! It will set the tone for the rest of the day, so it’s important to get it right. If you opt for a celebrant-led ceremony, they’ll get to know you and your love story, and be able to make suggestions that will be a good fit for you and your family. Not all celebrants have like-for-like services though, so arrange consultations with a few to see who you like and click with. If you’re having registrar-led “I dos,” you can opt to design the ceremony yourself. But this can be a daunting task and anything you write will need to be vetted by the registrar’s office and could be rejected if any wording or music choices are deemed unsuitable. I do however, offer consultation services to help you with the process if this the route you wish to take. A ceremony full of laughter, insights into your relationship and heartfelt moments that keep your guests engaged is a fabulous way of keeping all those happy feels flowing. Having a friend or officiant read light-hearted readings and poems, messages of love, or marriage advice from your congregation are all great ways of adding personality to this, the most important part of the day. LET PLANNING COMMENCE! CLARA MURRAY, NELSON HOTELS https://nelsonhotels.co.uk We’re engaged! Now what? Relax, there’s no rush. The wedding market is overflowing with options, and you need to look around to find what’s best for you. Make some appointments at a variety of venues, even ones you’re not sure about. They can be so different in person and there’s no amount of Googling that can account for the feel you get for a space and location. You may end up celebrating somewhere you hadn’t even considered when you started out. What’s the one question you most commonly get asked and how do you respond? “What would you do?” I get this a lot and my answer is always, “It’s your big day, it’s about what the two of you want.” Throw out the perfectwedding rulebook and work with your team to make your big day unique to you. Don’t worry about making your day the most on trend, or about pleasing everyone else. How can we make our big day totally us? Your food and beverage choices are the recipe for success if you want to show off your personalities. Perhaps you both have a favourite dish or drink you can’t wait to share with your guests? If your tastes differ, how about a his and hers cocktail duo behind the bar? Forget tradition and bring your own loves to the occasion! We’ve had tea-mad couples swapping fizz for speciality cuppas as their welcome drink. And if cake isn’t your style, why not choose a tower of doughnuts, cheeses or macarons? Finally, why not get your beloved pet involved? Our venue is dogfriendly, making us a great option if you can’t imagine your celebrations without your fur baby. The opportunities to make your day truly yours are practically endless. What’s your top planning tip? List, lists, lists. We all know that wedding planning can easily overwhelm – who’s coming? Who’s wearing what? What needs to be done by when? Is anyone allergic to anything? You can prevent these questions and more like it keeping you up at night by breaking everything down into manageable chunks. Nothing is as satisfying as ticking off jobs on your to-do list. Take it from someone who has a multitude of weddings to plan at once, your lists will keep you sane! 50
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