Your North West Wedding- August/September 2020 (Issue 63)

JUST ONE SLICE Q – I want to incorporate our love of travelling into our wedding cake. Do you have any ideas of how we can do this? Think about what it is you love about travelling. It could be the long days lazing on a beach with the sun beating down, the places you have visited around the world or simply packing those suitcases ready for a new adventure. To celebrate and share your love of travel, you could opt for a trio of suitcases with references to your favourite places or decorate the tiers with a world map. Alternatively, opt for a watercolour design with bright and bold summer blooms or perhaps a beach theme evoking a sense of distant shores. If you have your heart set on a traditional bake, why not add a travel- themed topper such as a compass or small globe? Lastly, if you have a moodboard depicting your ideas and love of travel, share it with your cake decorator. Lindsey Lawson Cake specialist www.lindseyalexandra.co.uk DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Q – We want to hire a DJ for our upcoming wedding, but we’re on a tight budget. Do you have any suggestions on how we can save money? This is a tough question as I see entertainment as one of the most important parts of the day. Most professional DJs will have a proven track record and will be able to put together a package around your budget. Shop around and check their feedbacks from past weddings and what packages they offer. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few options, get in contact with them, tell them your budget and see what they can offer you. It’s always good to meet your DJ in person, so you know who will be entertaining you on the big day and get a sense of their personality and style. You may have a budget, but that doesn’t mean compromising on quality. Check what equipment the DJ has to offer, the last thing you want is to hire the cheapest DJ you can find and discover they have crackly speakers and a couple of lights. You may want to look at hiring a DJ for the reception and playing music for your wedding breakfast through the venue’s sound system. Andrew Ireton DJ www.andykdj.com www.chrismcgloinphotography.com THE ONE FOR ME Q – Our wedding planner has suggested we hire a celebrant for our big day, but we’re not sure what the role of a celebrate is. Should we book one, and what are the benefits? A celebrate is someone who conducts your ceremony like a registrar but writes the service, so it’s unique to you as a couple. You still need to do the legal part of the ceremony with a registrar, however, this is done and dusted in a short appointment. Think of this as part of your admin, leaving you free to have a bespoke ceremony anywhere and anytime you choose. You can have your ceremony done at dawn, dusk or midnight, inside, outside or even in your garden. A celebrant service will give you extra freedom as well as a ceremony that no one else has or will have. Most will even help you write your vows. These can be very serious with promises of loyalty and fidelity or light-hearted with promises of weekly breakfast in bed. As I like to say, why choose ordinary when you can have unique? Sarah Nelson Celebrant www.momentsto.co.uk 48