Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 81)

G FOR GAMES Think croquet on the lawn, traditional fête stalls like a coconut shy, hook the duck or splat the rat; great for an English country-garden theme. Or how about a mini sports day with egg and spoon or sack races to let off steam? H FOR HARPIST Many harpists are happy to perform inside or out, as long as there’s a suitable shady spot with a level surface where they can play. Wonderfully romantic for the ceremony, it can add a serene vibe to the post-vows drinks and reception too. I FOR INFLATABLES A bouncy castle is great fun for young and old alike. Make sure you book with a reputable local supplier and check out their credentials so you can relax and enjoy the fun. J FOR JAZZ The ideal accompaniment for a sophisticated al fresco drinks reception or swish Gatsby -style celebration. Don’t forget the cocktails! Check out www.acousticjass.co.uk K FOR KARAOKE If karaoke’s a step too far on your big day, how about marryoke instead? You and your loved ones can mime to your favourite tunes for great video footage! L FOR LESSONS Not everyone’s a whizz on the dancefloor. For some, instead of a wedding highlight, it’s a moment to dread. Beat the fear factor and book some pre-wedding lessons so you can entertain your family and friends with a showstopping routine. Check out Bournemouth-based www.allstepsfirstdance.co.uk M FOR MAGICIAN A magician can keep your loved ones enthralled during the post-vows drinks, before and after the wedding breakfast or during any lulls in the proceedings. A great icebreaker, multi award- winning Magic by Alfie is one of the region’s leading professionals, well known for a captivating blend of technology and sleight-of-hand magic to thrill your guests. Visit www.magicbyalfie.com N FOR NO-KIDS-ALLOWED If you want your day to be an adults-only affair, make it clear from the get-go and include a polite note on the invites. It might raise a few parental eyebrows at first, but without children to worry about, guess who’ll be the last ones still on the dancefloor at the end of the night! O FOR OWLS Surprise everyone with a Harry Potter moment and have your rings delivered by owl. Check out www.csrfalconry.co.uk P FOR PHOTO BOOTH Grab your friends, some props and hey presto; create unforgettable memories with a photo booth or touch-screen magic mirror. Covering Hampshire and Dorset, iSmile Booth offers unlimited personalised prints an extensive box of props for fun snaps and double prints, one for the guest book and one for everyone in the booth to keep. Check out www.ismilebooth.co.uk Q FOR QUARTET If you’re looking for that extra something special to add to the soundtrack of your day, a string quartet is a great idea. Ideal for the ceremony to create the perfect mood, during the drinks reception or at any point of the day. www.one thousandwords.co.uk 80