Your South Wales Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 71)

THE WRITE STUFF We’re on a tight budget but still want beautiful stationery. How can we spend our money wisely? I’m a huge fan of saving money so here are a few ideas to help you cut the costs. ❤ Lots of my recent brides have decided against rsvp cards and have chosen to have a dedicated email address for correspondence instead. If you do plan to have an rsvp card, keep it small and remember A7 cards are cheaper and super cute. ❤ When it comes to invitations, remember less is more. You don’t need to pack in everything, just the important bits. If you have additional details such as directions, gifts and accommodation you can create a free wedding website and include the address on your invitations. ❤ Skip the luxurious touches such as foiling, luxury card and wax seals. ❤ Plan early. If you leave it will last minute, you’ll end up with an additional fee and potential mistakes. ❤ Double-check your numbers. Most couples initially request one invite per guest, without accounting for families or couples. This will keep the numbers down and save you a lot of money. Always order a few spares just in case of emergencies. Abi Lewis Stationery specialist abilewisdesign.com ARRIVE IN STYLE We’re looking for some quirky transport for our big day. Do you have any suggestions? The transport that you choose will say a lot about you as a couple. It can express your personalities, blend with the overall theme of the wedding and is a reflection of the atmosphere that you want to create. Think about who you would like to be transported and how many can the vehicle sit comfortably? Where are you going to and from and how long will the journey be? Will you choose a chauffeur-driven car or self-drive? These are all important things to consider before booking. Here at Van Kampers, we believe that by having a family member or friend drive your transport it makes it more personal, and adds flexibility to the day. Whatever you choose, it can play a big part in your wedding photographs too. We offer a Volkswagen T2 Campervan for self-drive hire. Our van Willow can seat up to six people comfortably and is ideal for the bridal party. Luke Van Kempen Transport specialist vankampers.co.uk lewisfackrell.co.uk CAKE EXPECTATIONS My wife-to-be and I love strong flavours and want something unusual for our cake. Do you have any suggestions? It’s always a great idea to have different flavours when it comes to your wedding cake. Whether it be two or five tiers, opt for a variety to give your guests a choice. ❤ An indulgent strong flavour is black forest. It’s to die for, oozing with kirsch cherries, cream cheese frosting and deep dark chocolate, it gets everyone’s taste buds dancing. ❤ Alternately, you could select coconut and lime or lemon and blueberry, if you want a zesty, summer taste. Lemon and blueberry is my absolute favourite, and it looks beautiful when cut with fresh blueberries throughout the sponge. ❤ If you want more unusual flavours that people won’t expect, opt for Lotus Biscoff, chocolate orange or cherry Bakewell. Zoe O’Sullivan Cake specialist thevalecakeboutique.com 76