HOT TOPIC: wedding worries Our experts solve your problems FLORAL WONDERS Do you have any tips for choosing our wedding flowers? Don’t feel like you have to have all the details about your wedding flowers figured out before getting in touch with your wedding florist. I, for one, am happy to help sort through options together and provide guidance that will pull together all the details. Weddings are a celebration for you two. Above all else, they are meant to be fun. If at any time planning for your wedding feels overwhelming, look for a way to simplify things. Do you need a planner? Do you need your florist to take your concept and needs and use their creativity to create beautiful wedding flowers for your special day? Be open about your budget so your florist (and other vendors) can help you make the best decisions. It makes the process much easier and your florist will be happy to provide guidance on which elements are worth investing in and how to make the most of your budget. Flowers are a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your day; don’t shy away from considering hues that are beyond your broader wedding colour palette to add depth and interest. There are no real rules when it comes to wedding flowers. You can use your wedding day as an opportunity to focus on the pieces that are most important to you two. When it comes to your budget invest in a few select signature items. The signature florals will create an atmosphere and make your wedding day feel super special. We are at the mercy of Mother Nature when it comes to flowers. Iconic wedding flowers, such as peonies, are only available for a few weeks in the year (usually May to June). To get the most out of your design team, leave the final decision on individual blooms to your floral designer. Be open to your designer’s ideas and avoid being overly prescriptive in terms of specific flower varieties to use. I find it’s best to provide a small collection of five to six reference photos to help you communicate your likes and dislikes. Don’t believe everything you see on Pinterest. Many of the most popular wedding photos are from overseas, where flower availability is quite different, and they have a large budget for those florals. If in doubt, ask your florist and they can suggest locally-grown solutions and options for different budgets. Abbey James www.fleursandink.co.uk SWEET DREAMS The day after our wedding is full of activities with our friends and families. How can we combat the wedding hangover? No one wants their special day tainted by a nasty hangover the next day, especially if you have a hotel full of guests to go down to. Luckily, there are plenty of simple hacks that can help combat a sore head. Drinking alcohol impairs sleep quality, so those celebrating should allow themselves plenty of time to sleep in after the celebration. Sleep deprivation will also make the hangover more intense, worsening symptoms like irritation and tiredness, so avoid setting an early alarm if the party is on till late. Dehydration is one of the main causes of horrible hangover symptoms like headaches, so try to drink a couple of glasses of water before bed. This can help to rehydrate the body, flush out the toxins and curb the effects of alcohol in the morning. It’s important to replenish the body promptly after waking up from a heavy night of drinking, so head to the breakfast bar. Try to eat a balance of carbs, protein and fats because it will help regulate blood sugar spikes and restore lost nutrients and vitamins. Avoid eating greasy foods, as they can cause fatigue. Getting some fresh air is a great hangover cure and it can help ease some symptoms like headaches and sickness. Take a brisk walk outside to get your endorphins pumping and you’ll be feeling better in no time. Certain sleeping positions can help alleviate hangover symptoms. Sleeping on the left side helps with acid reflux, which can be triggered by alcohol consumption. Sleeping at an incline can also help reduce the chances of headaches and nausea. Rebecca Swain www.winstonsbeds.com www.unsplash.com/@jakobowens1 www.instagram.com/lynda_michelle_photography EXPERT ADVICE 49
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