Your Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Wedding- Page number 56 - June/July 2021 (Issue 27)

HOT TOPIC WONDERFUL WORLD OF WEDDINGS We’re considering having a small wedding, even though restrictions have lifted. Do you think this is the new normal? Meet the expert: Mark Slater is the suit buyer at Slater Menswear, a gentlemen’s outfitters offering a large selection of men’s wedding suits and accessories with a store on The Promenade in Cheltenham. Mark says: Slater Menswear has researched what weddings this summer and beyond may look like now and some of the key findings were that there has been a 62% increase in Google searches for small weddings since last year, a 15% increase in searches for small wedding ideas and a 6% increase in searches for intimate wedding venues. There was also a 41% increase in sales of suits after the roadmap out of lockdown was announced. Weddings taking place this year, and during 2022, will see smaller ceremonies remaining very popular. Rather than facing the possibility of having to un-invite guests or losing deposits if any more future guidelines are put in place, more couples are investigating the possibility of hosting an intimate ceremony. Whether it’s a way to save money on their budget or to simply avoid disappointment, the data suggests that more people are opting to have a smaller ceremony than in previous years. Intimate wedding venues are here to stay. It’s not just the number of guests that we’ve seen shrink; more couples are choosing smaller venues, too. Of the 71% of British couples that are rescheduling their nuptials currently, one in five are opting for a micro wedding with 20 guests or fewer. This is partly due to a rising trend of ‘sequel weddings’ which means couples can officially tie the knot with a small handful of loved ones and then host a bigger bash at a later date to invite those who couldn’t originally attend. Suit sales soar! Many couples believe that this is the year for their big day, small or large, and it’s a time to get suited and booted. Suit sales at Slater Menswear are increasing every day with more grooms feeling optimistic about their upcoming nuptials. 01242 224 494 | www.slaters.co.uk | www.facebook.com/ Slatermenswear | www.instagram.com/slatermenswear Our experts answer your questions BACK ON TRACK We want to host a joint hen and stag day that’s fun for our adventure-loving friends – what can you suggest? Meet the expert: Dan Jones is the operations manager at Track Days offering truly memorable driving experiences in cars and on bikes at venues across the UK including in Upper Castle Combe in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Dan says: Bookings for stag and hen driving experiences have doubled recently (compared to when the country emerged from the first lockdown) as lovers head back to the track. Why not consider an extreme driving package with a supercar experience and get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren? The Double Supercar Blast for two is one of the most popular experiences for stags and hens, as couples look to spend their last moments of single life not apart, but together. The Extreme Dodgems package and the Group Kart Grand Prix packages are both proving hugely popular. There’s also rallying, drifting, off-roading and much more to suit all age groups. As everyday life is returning to normal, including the resumption of weddings, stags and hens are, once again, choosing fun ways to party before the big day and often this is together as a group. For the ultimate romantic gesture for your spouse, why not book an ariel adventure through www.flydays.co.uk? 01376 809 001 | www.trackdays.co.uk | www.facebook.com/ trackdays | www.instagram.com/trackdaysuk 56