LET YOUR LOVE GROW Mark Inscoe, Civil Celebrant Sussex (https://civilcelebrantsussex.com) says: Spring is the perfect time of year for celebrating nature. It’s a time of renewal, a time of new growth. Young, fresh greens and spring flowers enhance those outdoor ceremony settings. For thousands of years, the seasons, especially spring, have been integral in ritual ceremonies reflecting our respect for nature. A perfect addition to your day might be a symbolic tree or shrub planting. Depending on the location of your ceremony, this could be done afterwards in your garden or elsewhere (with necessary permissions). During the ceremony, the sapling could be in a pot while you and others spoon soil onto it with a ceremonial trowel. As you’re doing this, significant words reflecting the symbolism of this action are spoken by your celebrant. Different trees have their own meaning. Apple is associated with knowledge, faith and fertility; birch represents truth and new beginnings; and elm is thought to strengthen relationships. Remember, once you’ve done the legal bit in the registry office, you’re free to choose from so many spectacular natural settings to stage your celebrant-led wedding or civil partnership celebration ceremony. PAINT AND PASTELS If you’re hoping to extend your springtime theme to your hen do, Alice Munro-Hainsworth from The Paint Club (www.thepaintclub.co.uk) has the answer: Springtime offers the perfect opportunity to add fresh and vibrant colours during a sip and paint activity at your hen do. We’ll bring everything you need to paint a masterpiece in your holiday let, home, cocktail bar or local pub. Choose from seasonal favourites such as cherry blossom, rainbow tree, fluffy lambs or our pastel hare. Your bride tribe could even surprise you with a custom design and we’ll take care of the rest! Our professional artist will guide you through the painting step by step, from blank canvas to work of art. With your favourite drink in one hand, be it a glass of wine or a cup of tea, and a paint brush in the other, you can get into the creative flow and have the perfect springtime hen party. We provide all of the materials for painting, all you need to do is choose your venue and your drink! LIGHT, FRESH AND DELICATE Carrie Raymond from Caritas Cake Design (www.caritascakedesign.co.uk) says: After the long winter, a spring wedding offers the perfect excuse to raise the spirits with delightful flavours, playful designs and a pop of colour. Spring wedding cakes invite light fruity tastes such as lemon, passion fruit and raspberry. Adding elements of floral or earthy tones such as rose water, basil or lavender is becoming a popular choice and offers a fresh, delicate touch. Think about being open to some variations to the traditional shape. Mixing up the tier heights, adding separators or changing up the shapes, all help to keep the style fresh, and are a great way to make your cake unique. Spring hails a more organic movement in the design of big-day bakes, with softer edges, flowing details and taller, architectural layouts. Incorporating a floral element with long stems and trailing foliage rather than tight groupings of flowers adds a playful touch. Spring colours include gentle pastel palettes, natural white tones with plenty of fresh greens or bright cheerful hues. Using white rather than an ivory base to your cake makes the colours pop and adds a lighter air, perfect for the season. Getty Images 68
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