Your East Midlands Wedding - Page number 84 - June/July 2021 (Issue 44)

THE WRITE STUFF We’re getting married next June, but we’re not sure when to send save-the-date and wedding invitations out. What would you suggest? Save-the-date cards are used to inform guests of your wedding date to ensure they don’t book holidays or other events on the day. I advise you send them out around one year before the wedding, but essentially it’s your choice. As for your invitations, any time between three to six months before the day is ideal, but there’s a few things to take into consideration like if your venue needs a guest list earlier or if the day is during high-peak season or school holidays? This is particularly important if your guests want to book local accommodation as places get booked up quickly. Make sure to allow for enough time to change the guest list if you have a ‘bump up’ list of evening guests in case people can’t make the ceremony. Emily Hughes | Bluebell Press | www.bluebellpress.co.uk DRESSED TO IMPRESS What tips can you share when it comes to creating a bespoke gown? When it comes to creating a bespoke gown, the designer needs to get to know you and your desired look. It’s always good to collect images representing the mood and tone of the wedding, either on Pinterest or the old-fashioned way with magazine cuttings! I always have a couple of initial meetings with my brides to talk through ideas, choose fabric samples and create sketch ideas. Save images of the kind of styles you like, even if it’s just a small detail like necklines, skirt shapes or sleeves as this will help the design process. You can try on dresses at this stage from my range to see what suits you best – try on lots of styles and keep an open mind. Once you have picked a style, make sure to have your intended underwear when the measurements are taken to ensure a perfect fit. During the first fitting, you can make as many changes as needed before the fabric is cut. It’s so important to always speak up and talk to your dressmaker about any worries or ideas you may have. Caroline Chamberlain | Caroline Chamberlain Couture www.carolinechamberlain.co.uk PICTURE PERFECT I want our photographer to capture beautiful images at our wedding, but I’m really camera shy. How can I get around this? If you’re camera shy, choose a photographer with a documentary style to capture natural photos without you feeling uncomfortable in forced poses. Feeling relaxed is a huge factor when choosing a company, which is why it’s so important to meet the supplier and make sure you all get along. We actually end up being friends with a lot of our clients and this has helped them feel more at ease in front of the lens. We’ve found that even the most camera-shy people have a lot more confidence on their wedding day because it’s not only the best day of their lives, but they look and feel a million dollars. Sarita White | Sarita White Photography www.saritawhitephotography.com https://nata lielaurenphotography.co.uk https://kirs tyrockett.com 84