FURRY FRIENDS We’re planning a winter wedding and want to incorporate alpacas into our day. Will this be possible if the weather turns colder, and if so, is there anything extra we need to provide? It is lovely to include those special extras into your wedding celebrations, even if it is a winter wedding and a bit colder than your usual summer days. Christmas weddings can be clear, crisp days; you just need to plan for keeping a bit warmer! Our alpacas are very hardy and have a very warm, fluffy fleece, especially in winter, so they are happy in cold weather. We have an enclosure pen with a gazebo, which we decorate with vines and organza drapes, so even if it is raining, our alpacas can come to your wedding. If it does rain, you still want your guests to come and spend time with the alpacas, so maybe think about providing umbrellas and wraps to keep those wedding outfits dry and warm. Think about your choice of venue for a winter wedding, especially if you are specifically wanting animals, especially alpacas. Does the venue have an outside area close to an exit? Is there already a covered area that can be utilised? Is there tarmac/ stoned-up areas where the alpacas can be so guests don’t need to walk over grass? We can actually bring some of our alpacas inside the venue, so another consideration is whether the venue will allow it. We’ve even had our alpacas ‘checking in’ at the hotel reception before! Jane Colman www.wreaysykealpacas.co.uk A SWEET TREAT I love flowers and want to incorporate them into our cake. What do you recommend I look for? Flowers are real design inspiration for many engaged couples and can be a great way to incorporate some of the season’s colour palette into your overall wedding style. For me as a cake designer, I have always found a walk outside in nature to be wonderful encouragement to get creative, and flowers play a huge part in most of my work. Below are four design ideas that you could consider when thinking about your wedding cake. Within each of the options, there are endless artistic possibilities, so whichever style you prefer can be tailored to your overall wedding theme and colour scheme. Fresh flowers: Whether your wedding style is modern, minimalist, traditional, boho or alternative, the use of fresh flowers can be versatile, and they lend themselves amazingly to lots of different cake designs. Piped royal icing flowers: Royal icing is naturally white, which means it is the perfect base for you to mix up a bespoke colour palette. You can easily match your wedding cake colours to your bridesmaids’ dresses, groomsmen’s suits, invitations, bouquets and table settings. Edible flowers: Edible flowers such as roses can be used similarly to fresh flowers by leaving the blooms on their stems and attaching them to the cake for a 3D finish. Another popular way to use edible flowers is to attach the petals or flower heads directly into the cake. Dried flowers: Dried flowers are perfect to give a rustic, earthy feel to your wedding. Flowers lose their colour when they have been dried out naturally, so although limited, the colour options can be a beautiful mix of neutral browns, beiges and whites. Abbie Clayton www.abbieskitchen.co.uk PLANNED TO PERFECTION 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? Wedding planning can feel overwhelming and a huge task to take on when a lot of couples have busy careers and children, but breaking it down makes it much more manageable. The venue is the first thing you should book. It sets the tone for everything else. Popular venues book up quickly, so decide if you want a traditional, outdoor, or unique location and get that secured. But remember: ensure any decision you make is personal to you both. After you’ve decided on the type of venue you like, consider the below: Budget: Have an honest conversation about how much you’re willing to spend and whether family will contribute before booking anything. Guest list: Roughly decide on numbers, as venues often have capacity limits and there will be a cost per person for any catering menus. Theme/style: Think about the kind of wedding you want, whether it’s formal, rustic, or intimate, and create a vision board of colours, textures, and inspiration. This will guide your decisions on which suppliers to book, your décor, attire and more throughout the planning process, keeping your vision on track and helping suppliers understand your wishes. Wedding planner: If this all seems too much or you simply don’t have the time to manage it all, consider hiring a wedding planner. They can manage logistics and help bring your wedding vision to life, saving you stress and time and allowing you to focus on the fun aspects of planning. Suppliers: After you’ve booked your venue, book your photographer/videographer next. Popular photographers get booked early. Then move on to entertainment, catering and florists. Details: After the big decisions, focus on invitations, favours, and personal touches to make the day feel uniquely yours. Remember to enjoy the process and take things step by step! You’ve got plenty of time to pull it all together. Chloe www.freebirdweddings.co.uk www.georgiabethphotography.co.uk 45 EXPERT ADVICE
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