Your West Midlands Wedding- Page number 53 - August/September 2021 (Issue 75)

HOT TOPIC: wedding worries Our experts solve your problems DRINK IT ALL IN Q – How can we create the perfect drinks menu for our big day? Creating the perfect drinks menu is not as daunting as it sounds. Here are the four key areas you should consider: ❤ Break down your day into sections to focus on what’s needed, such as reception drinks, wedding breakfast, toasts and evening celebrations. ❤ Budget wisely, know your maximum spend and stick to it. Don’t try to please everyone. Etiquette is to provide refreshments upon receiving guests at the reception and then with the food and for toasting. You could consider having a cash bar service running alongside for guests who don’t want to drink what you’re offering, and then you don’t have to worry about trying to accommodate everyone. ❤ Consider your theme and how you can add a personal touch to the day. For instance, jugs of Pimms and homemade lemonade would be ideal at a garden-style wedding or opt for his and hers cocktails at a chic hotel celebration. ❤ Look at your guest list. Consider the drivers and non-drinkers as well as children invited to the day. Make sure you provide jugs of iced water and bottles of cordials on the table, especially if it’s a hot day, and always offer a non-alcoholic alternative for reception drinks and toasting. Remember, it’s your day so think about what you would like to be sipping as you celebrate! Christianne Hemming Drinks expert www.chinagrey.co.uk SAVING THE PENNIES Q – We’re on a tight budget but still want beautiful stationery. How can we spend our money wisely? When it comes to wedding stationery, there is so much choice available and a variety of prices that it can certainly get overwhelming. Quality is very important as an invitation may look pretty online, but the actual feel of it may not be to your liking. Always do your research and get to know your supplier, talk about options and if they’re local, arrange a consultation to see their products first hand. There are lots of ways to keep within your budget without jeopardising the design and quality. For instance, you could opt for a smooth card instead of a textured version but still have the benefits of a beautiful design. You can choose to have a personalised favour tag that also doubles up as a place name to save spending on both. Printing on both sides of your invite can help limit the number of cards you need, and some stationers have existing collections that can be changed to suit your colours, saving the cost of a bespoke design fee. Remember that a save-the-date or invitation is a very important part of your wedding journey. It’s your guests first taste of what to expect on your big day and should reflect you as a couple. Work with your stationer to get the best you can within your price range. Anna Thomas Stationery expert www.evelynandelliot.co.uk www.still lightphotography.co.uk www.katy yatesphotography.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE 53