Your North West Wedding - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 55)

Our experts solve your problems HOT TOPIC: THE WRITE STUFF We’re on a tight budget, but I still want beautiful stationery on my big day. How can I spend my money wisely? ❤ Search for a company that offers ready-made collections. This is a cost-effective method, and in most cases, the designs can be tweaked to suit your theme or colour scheme. ❤ It can be expensive ordering last-minute invitations, so purchase at least 10 extra just in case you forget any friends and family. ❤ Buy your invites and save-the-dates at the same time, and your supplier may be able to offer you a discount. ❤ Keep it simple. Ditch the ribbons and diamantés, and remember any handmade details will cost extra. ❤ Buy templates that you can customise. These can be printed at home, but keep in mind the price of the ink, card and envelopes. ❤ Instead of spending money personalising your invitations, simply add your guests’ names to the envelopes. ❤ Create a wedding website. That way, you can include all the relevant information in one place. Natalie Burrows jellypress.co.uk BUDGETS JUST ONE SLICE We’d love to have a luxurious cake on our big day, but we’re worried about the price tag. Do you have any ideas for keeping the price down? ❤ Be clear and honest about your budget with your chosen supplier. ❤ Consider using fresh flowers instead of sugar versions. These involve less work and are cheaper. ❤ Compare the price of different flavours. For example, fruit creations cost more than sponge bakes. ❤ Look at the number of guests attending, and remember not everyone will want cake. We suggest you cater for 75 per cent of your friends and family to avoid waste. ❤ Substitute one tier with a dummy layer. This will make the finished product look taller and help reduce the price. ❤ Serve finger-sized portions instead of dessert sizes. ❤ Keep the design simple and avoid lots of detail. Claire Houghton Byers mamacakes.co.uk 66