Your East Anglian Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 45)

 Small in numbers, big on wow factor MICRO MAGIC Briony’s top tips ❤ Have fun with the details; there’s even more reason to make a showstopping table. Sharing platters may be off the list but you can enjoy relaxed dining with tasting menus and exciting canapés.  ❤ Wedding cakes are still the star of the show and can be as extravagant and personal as ever. Couples are opting to send cake to extended family and friends who can’t be with them, as a token of their day. What a great way to share the joy and who doesn’t like cake? “Having a small wedding can actually increase the opportunity for great photos.” – Denise Brady W ho says big is best? An intimate wedding can be just as stunning as a more lavish affair. With many couples now looking at downsizing their wedding due to current restrictions, it’s more important than ever to focus on all the most important details. Choosing experienced local specialists is a great way to ensure that cutting down the guest list doesn’t mean compromising on style. Far from it, in fact even before COVID small weddings have always been popular with couples looking for a more personal alternative-style celebration. Here suppliers from around the region shine a light on just how magical a cosy celebration can be. BIG LOVE, SMALL PARTIES Social distancing doesn’t diminish the love and warmth between close family and friends. In fact many couples are embracing the restrictions, saying ‘I do’, enjoying a picture-perfect celebration and then rolling it into an extended staycation honeymoon at Hales Hall & The Great Barn in Norfolk, reports wedding manager Briony De’Ath. With fewer numbers there’s more scope to focus on guests’ individual needs too, especially when it comes to the catering. Briony says, “With smaller celebrations our couples are stepping up the glitz with creative menus, stunning dishes, and top-notch champagne. There’s more opportunity to take guests’ likes and dislikes into consideration and with less plates to deliver, chefs can get really creative with their presentation.” Visit www. haleshall.com CAPTURE THE MOMENT Photographer Denise Brady is a fan of intimate weddings. One of her recent couples scaled down their big day to just 23 of their nearest and dearest, the church was decorated with extra flowers, they live streamed the ceremony to loved ones at home and laid on an open bar for their guests at the hotel afterwards. “With such a small number of people involved we were able to get some very intimate shots of the family, we also made time to take a stroll along the beach, one of the couple’s favourite places. Nothing was rushed and there was no hurrying back to the guests as they were all with us.” Visit www.denisebradyphotography.com www.den isebradyphotography.com INTIMATE WEDDINGS 55