Your Herts & Beds Wedding - Apr-May 2019 (Issue 73)

NAKED BAKE We’ve decided on a naked cake design to complement our rustic theme but I’m worried it’ll go dry once it’s displayed. Help! Susan says: Essentially, exposed sponge will start to dry out in a way that cakes covered with sugar paste don’t. If you want a cake that has no covering, then the risk of dryness can be mitigated by adding a little syrup to the sponge and ensuring that it’s set up as close as possible to serving. A great way to overcome the problem of dryness is to have a semi-naked bake. This comprises a small amount of buttercream that’s scraped around the outside to provide some protection for the sponge. It still won’t be as well sealed as a sugar paste creation, but it could be the answer if you really love the naked cake style but still want some reasonable display time. Meet the expert: Susan’s background in sugar sculpture helps her to inject creative flair into the design process and create cakes that are personal, beautiful and delicious!  Susan Halil Cake expert cakesofgoodtaste.co.uk GLAMP IT UP The ultimate must-have for a festival wedding is a tipi but we have lots of guests so would it be large enough? Ceri says: The beauty of tipis is that you can connect as many as you need together to create a space that’ll accommodate your guest numbers. Most couples opt for two, three or four linked in a variety of formations – though in 2017, we linked seven for a huge Greek wedding! To create a real festival-vibe you can separate your tipi into different sections. Use one for a bar or chill-out area, one for the meal, and one for a music area. If you’ve got a lot of kids coming, why not include a kids play area to keep them occupied? Meet the expert: Ceri’s been helping to plan tipi weddings for more than four years and loves to see the happiness unfold on such a special day. Ceri Provis-Evans Tipi expert countrytipis.co.uk elenapopa.com SPRING BLOOMS I love natural looking flowers. What options do I have for my springtime wedding? Shane says: There are so many gorgeous flowers in bloom at this time of the year. Everyone instantly thinks tulips, so I’d steer clear of them to add a little more wow factor to your bouquet. Keep it traditional with a spring feel by adding hyacinths with roses for a lovely scent and add smaller flowers such as muscari. If you fancy being a bit braver then add a splash of colour using bold orange and yellow with succulents. Don’t forget you can add tulips and other spring flowers on your table arrangements. Meet the expert: Shane’s strong sense of colour, design and a genuine passion for flowers is a winning combination. Shane Maple Florist maplesflowers.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE 119