Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - Jun/Jul 2019 (Issue 71)

DRINK IT IN We’re having a Somerset-themed wedding but we can’t decide what drinks to serve, as not everyone likes cider! What other options are there? A Somerset wedding is the perfect time to sample something delicious that represents the West Country. Although Thatchers, the family cidermaker, is probably best known for the range of ciders it’s been making at Myrtle Farm since 1904, it also produces its own West Country take on celebration bubbly. Thatchers Family Reserve is a sparkling Somerset apple wine that embraces a rediscovered, century-old recipe by founder William Thatcher, using the first-pressed juice of the Katy apple. This special drink has light golden hues and a gentle fizz with a great combination of intensity, delicacy and length. You could also opt for the new Thatchers Rosé. Made with a blend of naturally sweet, rosy-red dessert apples, it’s a summery sparkling cider with fruity flavours. Penny Adair Thatchers | thatcherscider.co.uk A helping hand With the pressures of a full-time job, I’m feeling swamped by organising my nuptials. Is a wedding planner right for me? Broadly speaking, a wedding planner offers professional support and guidance from the first point of contact to the wedding day. They usually help with developing the design concept, sourcing suppliers, admin tasks and on-the-day coordination. They can take on as much or as little of the organisation as you’d like, and as such most planners offer a range of services tailored to suit your needs. For time-pressed couples, having a planner alleviates an enormous amount of pressure. When you first get engaged, trawling through magazines and venue brochures is fun. However, nailing down the options and creating a clear vision of the day can be stressful – particularly if you have minimal experience of pulling together large-scale events. Enlisting an experienced planner such as myself can be invaluable for managing the more time-consuming tasks, offering advice on big decisions and overseeing the whole process. This leaves you free to take care of the more enjoyable aspects of planning! Caroline Green The Planning Lounge | theplanninglounge.co.uk 106