THE PERFECT SETTING We’ve been saving for a few years and have a decent budget for our wedding. When looking for a wedding venue what do you suggest we look for to maximise our budget and to make our day more than just the wedding itself? It all depends on what setting you’re looking for, but I’d always suggest that you opt for one with beautiful surroundings as a starting point. We’re very fortunate that St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is steeped in British heritage but also provides a selection of diverse and dynamic spaces – providing options for weddings big and small. From Victorian grandeur and the world-renowned grand staircase where you can officially tie the knot to intricately carved arches, and grand French doors leading to an exclusive private terrace. There are backdrops here for all types of weddings, which is important to look for when looking at potential venues. Some couples choose to spread their celebration over a few days and why not? At our venue, guests are invited to relax and unwind before the big day and enjoy a luxury Chambers Suite, pampering session in the spa and pre-wedding dinner in the Booking Office 1869. Ed White | St Pancras Renaissance Hotel www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lonpr-st-pancrasrenaissance-hotel-london BIG-DAY SHOOT My partner’s extremely camera shy so I’m worried about our photos not looking natural. What advice can you share and how can you help with that on the day? Being camera shy is like a vicious circle, you feel awkward in front of a camera, it shows in the final photo, you don’t like the final photo and so the cycle continues. We have several tips and tricks to overcome this, first off is having a pre-wedding photoshoot. This may sound like a baptism of fire, but the number of our couples that have gone into a pre-wedding shoot feeling shy and nervous, and finished being much more comfortable and having enjoyed it, is countless. Another thing to remember is that many photos are taken from a distance, leaving couples to relax and chat a little, rather than having a camera up close and in their face. When looking either at each other, or ‘off-camera’, they almost forget we’re there. We find shooting this way produces natural photos from even the most camera-shy person. Ultimately, trust your photographer! They’ll work with you to help you feel more at ease and less awkward when having photos. Jeff Oliver | Jeff Oliver Photography https://jeffoliverphotography.com CHILD’S PLAY We want to invite children to our wedding but how can we keep them happy and prevent them getting bored? When planning your wedding, you might be faced with that difficult decision of whether children will be invited. Many couples choose to keep their big day to adults only, to save on costs and to prevent bored little ones running around and causing havoc. Inviting children to your wedding can add magic to your day and it doesn’t need to be stressful. All you need to do is make sure they’re suitably entertained. During your reception, children can become restless, and that’s why it’s important to keep them busy. It can be something as simple as giving them an activity pack to complete during the wedding breakfast and during the summer months, outdoor games such as giant Jenga will go down a storm. If you have lots of children attending your wedding, I’d recommend getting in touch with an entertainment supplier – they can work with you to maximise the space at your venue and can plan activities throughout the day to keep guests of all ages entertained throughout. David Gregory | Entertainers Worldwide www.entertainersworldwide.com 85 ASK THE EXPERTS
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