Your North West Wedding- February / March 2021 (Issue 66)

40 CHOOSING A PET CARER Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding! We understand that pets are a huge part of the family, and it’s only natural that you would want them to be part of your wedding. The best way to choose your pet care is to see which businesses are recommended by your venue, as they often have a good working relationship with them. Once you have your recommended suppliers, see which ones are close to the property, have qualifications such as Pet First Aid, have good reviews and are fully insured. Venues often have groups on social media where you can ask previous wedding parties for their opinions. It’s never too early to book your suppliers, here at Thea’s Lakeland Walks we have taken bookings more than two years in advance, so you may find popular companies become fully booked for the peak seasons quite quickly. Budgets are important when it comes to planning a wedding. Ask if they can give you several quotes with lots of different options to help you plan the big day. This could include overnight boarding, assistance with your photographs and transport to other locations. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had caused a lot of issues and last-minute cancellations. Find a company who will do their absolute best to accommodate any changes and don’t charge for moving your date. Catherine Smith Pet specialist www.theaslakelandwalks.co.uk HIRING AN ENTERTAINER There’s so much choice and variety when booking and planning your wedding entertainment. They will spend a lot of time with you and your guests on the big day and will interact and influence everyone. Make a list of what you want, questions to ask and what is important to you. What music do they play? What is their setup like? Can they meet in person or Skype? Set a budget and be realistic. DJ prices vary, and less experienced entertainers will be cheaper than a company with lots of weddings under their belt. Bands will also cost more. Get recommendations from friends and family and go to wedding fairs. This is a great way to meet all kinds of people and talk to them about your ideas. You should book your entertainment early. Most weddings are planned two years in advance, and great suppliers will get booked quickly. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge amount of 2020 weddings rescheduled for 2021 and 2022 so our diaries have been massively compressed with most of these weddings being squeezed into an already busy schedule. Don’t be afraid to ask what their terms are if your wedding needs to be rearranged. At PC Roadshows, we’re honouring all our original booking agreements and allowing dates to be changed without penalties or fees. Finally, enjoy planning and have fun at wedding fairs. The process can be great fun as well as the big day itself. Darren Windle Entertainment specialist www.pcroadshows.com