A HELPING HAND What questions should we ask a toastmaster before booking? Having been a toastmaster for 20 years, I have worked at weddings in palaces, castles, grand hotels, marquees and even forest clearings and can truly say that every wedding is different. In the same way, there are different styles of toastmaster. It is important that your toastmaster has the right experience, ability and personality to fit in with your plans. To get the right one for you, you should take time to speak to a toastmaster about your wedding and establish how they can help with the planning and coordination of your very special day. I always offer to visit couples or, at the very least, have an online meeting to explain my role and answer any specific concerns they may have. Very often the advice given and explanation of my services make them feel much more relaxed and confident about their day. There is no specific question to ask except whatever is on your mind. You should feel happy that you understand what is on offer and that your toastmaster cares about getting everything right for you. You should be completely reassured that he or she is the best person to interact with you, your family and guests to make your day as special as we all want it to be. Peter Thompson www.professionaltoastmaster.com www.helenenglandphotography.co.uk THE LOOK OF LOVE Lots of photographers offer an engagement shoot, but we’re camera shy and don’t know if it’s for us. What are the benefits? I would recommend an engagement shoot to you, especially if you are camera shy! Practicing in front of the camera before your big day can help relieve any of those nerves, take away those worries and help you to just relax and enjoy your wedding day. It is also really beneficial to practice certain poses before the wedding day. This will make it feel like second nature on the day, giving you more relaxed and natural wedding photographs as a result. An added bonus is you will receive some beautiful photographs as a couple to remember this special time of wedding planning. There really are no downsides to booking an engagement shoot! Tara Hook www.tarahookphotography.co.uk www.tarahookphotography.co.uk JUST ONE SLICE What cake flavours and designs will be popular in 2025? Looking at the year ahead and especially at wedding cakes, a lot of my couples have opted for classic flavours alongside more adventurous flavour combinations. I encourage my couples to choose a different flavour for each tier, providing a selection of tastes and textures. Top of the list for 2025 are lemon, red velvet, coconut and lime, and sticky toffee cakes, all layered with delicious whipped buttercreams and fillings with complementing flavour profiles. In terms of designs, vintage and Lambeth-inspired wedding cakes are featured highly alongside romantic cake designs with ribbons and bows in soft, flowing fabrics. Where 2024 has seen a lot of white and pastels with green shades, I am expecting to work with floral decorations in brighter colours with pink, coral and red featuring highly. Meadow-style flowers on cakes and dessert tables featuring macarons and cookies alongside the wedding cake are continuing to be strong into 2025. Fully covered cakes (buttercream or sugar paste) are continuing to push semi-naked style wedding cakes aside. Claudia Newberry www.purpleflour.co.uk 74
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