SLICE AS NICE How do we decide what size our wedding cake should be and is there a way to make sure it gets eaten? Knowing how much cake is enough can sometimes be a little tricky for couples to decide. The number of guests you have attending may not be the ideal planning indicator for the size of your cake, as not all of them will want a slice. The average portion size for a wedding cake is a one inch by one inch finger, not the usual wedge-shaped slice you enjoy at home. There are lots of lovely cake slice boxes on the market for those guests who would rather take a piece home than eat it at the reception. Another option is to offer cupcakes as an alternative. This is a great solution for those who require gluten-free, eggless and so on. Your cake maker would ask if there are any dietary requirements at time of booking, preventing you from over (or under) ordering. If you’re worried that there’ll be extra cake left over, make sure you ask your cake maker to leave a box. This way, any spare can be wrapped up at the end of the night and easily enjoyed another day. Angela Keil, www.angelakeilcakes.co.uk ON YOUR MARKS... We’re recently engaged and want to start getting out to local wedding shows. How can we make the most of them? A face-to-face meeting with a potential supplier gives you the chance not only to discuss your vision for your wedding, but also to get a feel for the person. You may well end up spending a significant sum of money on their services, as well as a significant amount of time with them. So, it’s important to feel comfortable with this new partnership. I’d recommend looking through the list of suppliers exhibiting at the fair on the organiser’s website. If a particular one interests you, you can investigate them further online to asses their suitability before coming along. It could save you a lot of unnecessary questions and will help you prioritise your time at the fair. Many suppliers offer special on-the-day deals at wedding fairs. With all the things that need to be arranged and booked for your wedding, getting along to a show can help you get what you want for less. That means your budget stretches further to cover more of the nice-to-haves. Don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials from previous couples. Any professional worth their salt values their reputation and would be happy to supply these. And finally, take a notepad and pen. You don’t want to forget details of your conversations by the time you reach home. That’s why, at The Kent Wedding Fair, we supply them in our goody bags! Annika and Will Oliver, www.kentweddingfair.co.uk FESTIVE ROMANCE How can we incorporate our love of Christmas into our ceremony? What could be more fun than a Christmas wedding and there are so many ways to incorporate the season into your ceremony. Here are a few ideas: Use hand-fasting ribbons in Christmas colours. Hand-fasting is so romantic as you loop the cords around both your wrists and tie an unbreakable knot – it’s the origin of the phrase ‘tying the knot.’ You can use ribbons or cords, and for an extra Christmassy touch, why not add some small tokens to the ends such as baubles or decorations? Great colours to consider when choosing your Christmas-themed wedding palette are red, green, purple and gold, as well as snowy white for your hand-tying. Christmas unity candles. Use festively-themed candles for your ceremony. As the warm light of your individual candles reaches your joint one, you’re united forever. Use Christmas-themed colours infused with the scent of Christmas. Fill your quaich (loving cup) with your favourite Christmas tipple. After you exchange your vows, take it in turns to hold the quaich to each others’ lips, taking your first drink as a newly-married couple – Christmas bliss! Kate Mitchell, http://celebrantkate.co.uk 68
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