READY, STEADY, PLAN! My fiancé recently proposed, and I don’t know where to start with the planning. What’s the first thing I need to book and the best things to think about after that? Start by thinking about your guest list, as this will determine what size venue you need. This list can have definites and maybes to suit the size of the property that you pick. Look at your budget to help narrow down the venue hunt. The first big ticket item is the venue, and everything else will revolve around this decision, so make it wisely! Think about your style, flexibility, wet weather options, restrictions, included items and staff personalities before making a decision. Once this is picked you need the other big elements such as food, photos, videos and entertainment. If you’re struggling with any of these, ask a wedding planner for some advice. Remember, this is a huge investment of time, money and emotions, so it’s important that you get it right! Annabel Candler www.weddingsbyannabel.co.uk AN EXPLOSION OF FLAVOUR We love strong flavours and want something unusual for our cake. What do you suggest? My most popular flavour is chocolate orange. The orange can be subtle or quite intense if you prefer. The flavour runs through both the sponge and the buttercream filling. Another popular and fairly strong flavour is red velvet cake filled with a cream cheese frosting. An option probably not thought of as strong, although I personally think it is when using the freshest fruits, is luscious lemon. Coffee is obviously strong and a personal favourite of mine. I provide my couples with a taster box which can include up to six flavours to try at their leisure, so they’ll know exactly how it tastes before committing. Beverley Wright www.facebook.com/bevb2020 DELECTABLE DELIGHTS Many of our guests have dietary requirements, so we wanted something a bit different for our wedding cake. Do you have any suggestions? When it comes to the cake, you might struggle to find something that is a little bit out of the ordinary while satisfying your guests at the same time. Here are five wedding cake alternatives: Cheese wheels – Who’s to say that the cake has to be sweet? For some, a savoury treat might be more up their street. In this case, a cheesecake is a perfect alternative. For your tiers, use different types of cheese wheels. Think brie, gouda, and swiss: combine all of your favourites and stack them up to create the ultimate cheesecake. Don’t forget to add some extra touches – decorate tiers with bunches of grapes, olives, and of course, some walnuts. Macaroon tower– Not keeping with tradition doesn’t mean that your wedding has to be anything short of elegant. A macaroon tower still includes the sugary goodness and sophistication of a wedding cake if you want to satisfy your sugar cravings. Consider your wedding theme and colours to make the most of your macaroon tower. Perhaps each tier will be a different pastel hue to maintain a minimalistic look or if your style is more bold, vivid and bright colours like fuchsia and violet are certain to capture your character. Crêpe stack – This French delicacy is bound to be something your guests have never seen before at a wedding, so you can be confident that your day will go down in history. Your crêpe stack can still follow the style of a wedding cake by using small, medium, and large sizes to create tiers. Instead of cutting the cake, you can pour the golden syrup over the stack together as a couple. Croquembouche – This fabulous dessert of choux puff pastry filled with cream and coated in caramel is too delightful to ignore, and it looks simply stunning as the coating glistens in the light. Biscuit stand – Incorporate some of the classics, like shortbread, chocolate fingers, and chocolate digestives, which takes the crown for the most popular biscuit in the UK. Alternatively, you could add some personalised touches by opting for biscuits topped with illustrations of the happy couple. The team at Lake District Country Hotels www.lakedistrictcountryhotels.co.uk www.stewalkerphotography.com Getty Images 60
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