WE’RE PLANNING WITH A TIGHT BUDGET. HELP! Jacquie Keeley from Fab Food For You (https://fabfoodforyou.co.uk) says: Budget dictates everything for the day, so I suggest that when you decide what you want to spend you allocate some extra for wiggle room. The first decision would be the venue and whether you want to go rustic or formal. Does it offer all services you’ll need included in the hire and does it suit your vision? If not, then look into blank canvas spaces where you can enlist your own choice of suppliers. Any good caterer will organise the hires required as they’re experienced in this field and can save you time and money by using their contacts. The guest list can be determined by the venue and the cost involved in the hire. If a large guest list is more important to you, I’d suggest opting for a village hall setting. There are some fabulous ones around with fully-fitted kitchens; crockery, cutlery and glassware; outside space and plenty of parking. Then, you can get family and friends involved with venue decorating the day prior. For bouquets and buttonholes I suggest looking for a local grower where you can literally choose the flowers from the field – sown not flown. They’re great value. All growers I know have trained in floristry but work from their own flower shed. The only big layout then would be the caterer and staff, plus entertainment. Look for a band or DJ early on in the planning process as they book up very quickly. Using someone new to the scene is generally much cheaper, but beware, they’re not necessarily better. For a live band, find a local pub that regularly hosts musicians and visit for a few weeks the year before the big day. Have a chat with any acts you like as they’ll probably be grateful for the extra work and getting their faces out there. See what they can offer you. WHAT IS A WEDDING CELEBRANT? Local celebrant Jen Woodley (https://jenwoodleycelebrant.co.uk) says: When planning and researching for your big day you may well come across the term ‘celebrant,’ and wonder what exactly do they do? And how do they differ from a registrar? Celebrants work with couples and families to create and officiate milestone life events, such as weddings, and may also offer baby namings, renewal of vows, funerals and celebrations of life. A celebrant will spend time getting to know you as individuals and as a couple, listening to your vision for your ceremony, whether it be traditional, creative or a blend of cultures for example. A celebrant can offer advice on writing your vows, where to include any readings or music, and incorporating symbolic rituals such as hand-fasting or sand blending, as well as on how to legally register your marriage. Celebrant-led weddings can be more bespoke than their civil counterparts, which must follow specific wording and cannot contain any reference to religion. However, with a celebrant at the helm, you can acknowledge and celebrate more than one religion or heritage. They also offer more flexibility in terms of location and timings. The process of writing and editing the script for the ceremony will normally take place over a number of months. Your celebrant will usually offer to have a run-through of the ceremony, giving you confidence before you stand before your loved ones and make your vows. https://nnastiaphotography.com 70
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=