Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 79)

TURN IT UP My partner wants to put on a playlist for our wedding. How do I convince him that live music is best? There really is nothing like the sound, energy and excitement of having a live band perform at your wedding! Real music played by real musicians judging the mood of the room and interacting with the audience creates an atmosphere that doesn’t compare to an empty stage with an iPad and speakers. If you do your research and pick the right band for you, then you will be dancing with your nearest and dearest all night, enjoying an amazing evening after the perfect day! Andrew Colman | Brass Junkies | www.brassjunkies.co.uk Our experts solve your wedding dilemmas HOT TOPIC Dining out We’re considering our options for how to work around restrictions and guidelines for weddings, but we’re struggling when it comes to our catering. What options do we have? ❤ Marry now, wedding later . For those of you who can’t bear to put your marriage on hold, there’s the option of an intimate micro- ceremony. We can make this extra-special with a mini wedding cake and couples can splurge on elements like an open bar and a decadent sit-down tasting meal with a carefully selected wine flight. Some couples are choosing to host their guests in shifts over a whole weekend to work around new capacity restrictions. A large screen is great for those who can’t attend in person to live-stream or send pre-recorded messages. ❤ Food service . While serving delicious, memorable food remains at the forefront of couples’ minds, there are plenty of ways to serve individual portions, as opposed to sharing platters or buffets. We’ve noticed an increased popularity in street-food fayre such as barbecues, wood-fired pizzas and hog roasts, which can be served by our staff in personal protective equipment. ❤ Go al fresco . Couples are including more open-air elements to prevent guests from feeling confined. Opt for smaller tables with spaced seating arrangements so you can group guests by family. Al fresco weddings are utterly romantic filled with wild flowers and fairylights, and there are plenty of options to season-proof the venue with a marquee. Scandinavians dine outside all year round, with sheepskins, candlelight and fires protecting against the chill. ❤ Smaller refreshment stations . Instead of guests queuing at one bar, we suggest smaller satellite bars for guests to quickly grab refreshments. This could include a short cocktail menu with pre-made drinks and individually portioned snacks. Neil Lodge | Fosters Events Catering | www.fostersevents.co.uk www.sall ytphoto.com www.alex bradbury.co.uk 84