Your West Midlands Wedding- December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 71)

FESTIVE SPICES Q – What flavours would you suggest for our Christmas-themed wedding cake? Christmas is a special time and gives you a wide choice of delicious flavours. ❤ One of my favourites is a Moroccan orange cake, which is very rich and decadent, filled with a raspberry curd buttercream. ❤ A Baileys sponge filled with a light chocolate ganache. ❤ On the more traditional lines, there’s the bakewell, a light almond sponge filled with vanilla bean buttercream and a cherry curd. ❤ Making the most of the season, how about a delicately spiced pumpkin sponge filled with a rich mascarpone cream? ❤ Red velvet is a deep colour and always looks stunning when cut and served to your guests. ❤ I never like to leave out the one that has stood the test of time, the traditional Victoria sponge. Filled with either raspberry or strawberry conserve and vanilla bean buttercream. Jackie Diamond Cake expert www.facebook.com/jackiediamondcakes DRINK IT ALL IN Q – We want to hire a horsebox bar for our upcoming wedding and would love to incorporate the time of year into our drinks. Do you have any suggestions? Christmas is the most amazing time to get creative, and it’s our favourite time of the year. It’s simple to evoke all the senses with a festive-inspired drinks menu. Why not start with a delicious mulled wine or hot spiced apple juice as your welcome drinks? Not only will this warm your guests, but it smells amazing. If you’re looking for an alcoholic drink, one of our favourites is our Christmas FizzGINgle Cocktail, which is a generous measure of winterberry gin, topped up with prosecco and a sprinkling of fresh berries. Other options include a salted caramel espresso martini or even a white hot chocolate with a white chocolate liqueur to finish off the evening. Christianne Hemming Drinks expert www.chinagrey.co.uk MUSIC OF MY HEART Q – We want a harpist to play some festive songs at our wedding. Do you have any suggestions that won’t sound tacky or over the top? Whether you want a striking festive song for the entrance of the bride or something more romantic and subtle for the signing of the register and drinks reception, there are so many lovely seasonal options to choose from. Christmas songs often talk of love and are perfect for weddings, evoking a feeling of comfort and wellbeing. Here are some of my suggestions: ❤ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas . ❤ Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire . ❤ When You Wish Upon a Star . ❤ I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas . ❤ Children’s Christmas films often take us into a fantasy world, and there are some great options full of love and hope, such as As Long As There’s Christmas from Beauty and the Beast and Let It Go from Frozen . ❤ There are lots of traditional songs focusing on the meaning of Christmas that are relaxing and slow, like Away in a manger . ❤ However big or small your wedding, you can be assured that harp music will add to the romantic and intimate atmosphere to make your day extra special. Helen Barley Harpist www.helenbarley.co.uk 54