Your East Anglian Wedding - Jun/Jul 2019 (Issue 37)

We’re great cake lovers but can’t afford a multi-tiered showstopper. What would you suggest that will look and taste great with minimum waste? Emma says: I often get asked to create something for couples on a tight budget that’s relaxed, stylish and will feed lots of people. One of my favourite solutions is a cake stack or barrel cake which can be dressed in the flowers and greenery of the day, fruits, berries or confectionery and stay looking pretty right up until it’s cut. You can go for one blow-out flavour and let your cake pull double duty as dessert, ensuring it all gets eaten, so no waste. Go for colour, flavour and style plus a cake maker who knows their stuff, for an all-round winner. Emma Thorburn | Cake maker | bunsoffun.co.uk LET THEM EAT CAKE THE WRITE STUFF We want our guests to be excited for our big day from the get-go, so getting the stationery right is really important to us. How can we give the best impression, without spending a fortune? Rachael says: Here are some of my tops tips for having great-looking stationery without blowing your budget. They’re all small changes, so you’ll still get great-looking stationery! ❤ Select a studio or house design rather than bespoke as this will take your designer less time. ❤ Ask about different types of card as this can have an impact on the price. To cut costs, opt for a more light-weight option. ❤ The shape can also make a difference; square is often more expensive and also a flat invitation is less costly than folded. ❤ A larger number of invitations often works out better value per card than smaller quantities. ❤ Consider the type of envelope. I tend to use luxury ones to match the stationery however, white ones can be more cost-effective. ❤ Include the RSVP details on the invitation rather than as a separate card. This is a good idea if you’re asking your guests to email replies. ❤ Print any guest information on matching paper sheets rather than card. ❤ For order of service or order of the day cards, print on both sides rather than folded with paper inserts. ❤ Combine table numbers with menus, printing on both sides of the card. ❤ Have a matching design on your place cards but leave them blank to write on, rather than having your guests’ names printed on. ❤ Have small table plan cards to stick to a mirror rather than a large printed one. ❤ Finally, book early to make sure there are no charges for urgent, last-minute stationery requirements. Rachael Riches | Stationery designer | floandburt.co.uk FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD We’re massive foodies and would love to lay on a wedding spread for our guests to remember but we’re worried about the price. How can we keep costs down without sacrificing on quantity or quality? Natalie says: Nowadays you don’t have to have a big budget as there are many alternatives to the traditional wedding breakfast. With festival-style weddings becoming evermore popular, the type and style of food you offer can be very cost-effective. Our wood-fired pizza ovens, coupled with paella pans, work really well for a relaxed vibe. Other popular choices include Mexican and Indian dishes. These can be set up as separate stations so guests are free to eat while they mix and mingle. They’re also ideal for the evening do and are budget-friendly too. Barbecue food is another great option and can be served to the tables on platters or set up buffet-style. We include a simple starter and our delicious double chocolate brownie tower dessert is to die for. Grazing boards are slightly more formal but still very interactive and relaxed. We use long wooden boards for serving, which look stunning and we can provide endless options, catering for all tastes including veggie and vegan guests. Natalie Creegan | Trios Catering | trioscatering.co.uk Studio design gate-fold invitation set Vintage flowers collection flat invitation with guest info Menu/table plan with blank place card EXPERT ADVICE 105