Your Sussex Wedding - April/May 2021 (Issue 90)

PICTURE PERFECT Our venue is gorgeous inside and out. How can we make the most of it with our wedding photos? Planning will be the key here. Make a list of the areas you love and let your photographer know about them in your pre-wedding meeting. List them in order of importance in case you need to prioritise on the day. Think about your chosen style: is it modern, traditional or themed? This will also help your photographer to pick out any idyllic or unusual little corners that best suit your style. Try to visualise how you want to remember your special day. Do you want couple shots in front of a beautiful old bay window with plenty of natural light streaming in, or walking through the long grass hand in hand with your stunning venue in the background? Don’t worry about the weather spoiling your outdoor shots. Ask your venue in advance if they have wedding umbrellas and bring some colourful wellies with you just in case. There’s a great photo opportunity in everything when the venue is gorgeous. Finally, remember: a good photographer will capture the special moments and places throughout the day without you even realising. Sophie Ward | Sophie Ward Photography | www.sophiephotos.com MEANINGFUL MOMENTS What tips can you give on making an intimate wedding day super-special? Surrounded by your closest family and friends you really can make a small, intimate wedding incredibly special. Everyone is so much more relaxed and you can give each guest a role to play, making them feel included every step of the way. Choose fun face masks for yourselves and your guests for the wedding ceremony and take time to select individually chosen favours for that personal touch. In the evening you can play games such as Mr and Mrs, and wedding bingo to get everyone involved, which is something that might not be practical at a large event. Group photos will show the connection you all have with one another. Plus, time can be spent on your couple shots and focusing on what it means to you to be married. Louisa Porter | Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club www.cottesmoregolf.co.uk FRESH AND FABULOUS How can we bring the feeling of springtime into our wedding food for the day? As winter closes its door, there’s a sense of new beginnings, so what better time of year to celebrate your latest adventure together? Spring conjures up images of green and yellow hues with pastel shades, so why not incorporate these into your wedding theme? A delicious soup made from locally-sourced wild garlic is perfect for this time of year. Alternatively, you could opt for beautiful fresh asparagus with pancetta as your opening course. Spring lamb is a favourite for this time of year and Sussex has some of the best organic grass-fed lamb in the country. Combine it with a medley of beautiful organic seasonal vegetables – steamed purple sprouting broccoli, roasted baby carrots and new potatoes. For dessert, delight in a delicious rhubarb Eton mess. The red stems of rhubarb will pop on your plate. Finally, a magnificent grazing board for the evening will really bring your seasonal theme home. Select a vibrant colour palette with colourful and tasty red and yellow vine tomatoes, cucumbers and spring onions with delicious Sussex artisan cheeses and meats – spring on a plate! Susan Quinn | Quinn Events | www.quinnevents.co.uk www.soph iephotos.com EXPERT ADVICE 67