ONCE UPON A TIME My wife-to-be and I are tying the knot next year and want a fairytale celebration. What type of transport do you suggest for the epitome of romance? A horse-drawn carriage is a perfect example of romance and would definitely enhance the fairytale experience that you’re looking for. Search for a company that specialises in horse-drawn carriages for weddings, with a range of options to choose from. For example, we have three carriages with glass fronts and hoods, so you can take in the beautiful surroundings as well as be seen when making your grand entrance. Ask about the horses that will be pulling the carriage and see if they have any options for you to choose from. We offer two or four black or white horses, or you could go for something completely magical and opt for our unicorns. The company should also be able to personalise your carriage with bows specially tailored to your chosen colour scheme to match the rest of your wedding. The team at North East Carriage Company Limited. www.northeastcarriagecompany.co.uk IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU We want a memorable service and are thinking of booking a celebrant. Do you have any ideas of how we can make the day more personal? A celebrant is the perfect choice if you’re looking to personalise your day. Start the day as you mean to go on and set the tone with a ceremony that celebrates your journey together, telling your love story. A lot of newly engaged couples have never heard of a celebrant, so they don’t know there is another option, but we are the hottest trend in weddings right now. Celebrant-led ceremonies are not currently legally binding in England, so you would need to register the marriage at the registry office, but by doing so, you open up a world of possibilities. A celebrant-led ceremony is a true reflection of you as a couple and incorporates your likes, loves and passions. You have the opportunity to have an input in your ceremony, from who you choose to deliver it right down to the elements you want to include. Do you want your guests to be involved? Are we raising a toast or doing shots? Do you have nerdy or quirky fandoms? Mixed faith, children, grandparents, let’s include them! Your ceremony should be fun, relaxed and all about you. There are so many options for what you can include in a ceremony, from handfasting to unity candles, sand blending and fingerprint trees. A trained celebrant will unpick your ideas and help inspire you to create your vision and a one-of-a-kind ceremony that will leave your family and guests talking. You have input in everything else for your day, so why not the ceremony? Gemma Jay www.northeastcelebrant.com CAMERA READY I’m looking for a wedding photographer, but I’m worried about booking someone online that I’ve never met. Do you have any suggestions? It’s understandable to have reservations about booking suppliers online without meeting; from my experience, it is fine 99 per cent of the time. However, I do recommend the following before making a decision: Do they have an established website and social media presence? This will give you an indication and, hopefully, an insight into their work and personality. Check for reviews on social media or wedding websites and directories; are they recent? Lastly, can you view real weddings on their website and social media pages? A reputable and reliable photographer should have no problem meeting all of these criteria. I pride myself on being active on social media and providing real insight into my work as a full-time photographer. The biggest piece of advice I can offer is to try to meet or chat on a video call with your chosen photographer before you book. Your photographer should be able to make you feel comfortable during the conversation and be just as enthusiastic about your big day as you are! Brendan Middleton www.dashphotography.co.uk www.ameliajanephotography.com www.dashphotography.co.uk 52
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