LET’S START AT THE VERY BEGINNING We got engaged over Christmas – so excited! But where do we start with the wedding planning? Congratulations! Christmas is also when my fab wife Helen and I got engaged. I have a few suggestions based on my experience of around 50 weddings per year... ❤ Set a date for the wedding. Do you want a long or short engagement? Think about the time of year you’d both love to get married. Every season has its own benefits. ❤ Book the venue. Think about the type of venue you want and set a budget. Have a think about the ceremony too – you may wish to have a religious service in a church, a civil ceremony at a venue or Register Office, or exchange vows in a stunning woodland setting, beach or field for a personalised ceremony conducted by a celebrant. ❤ Book the high priority vendors. The very best suppliers who offer a bespoke service are usually booked well over a year in advance so it’s important to prioritise. This is true now more than ever with the Covid crisis causing a backlog, so don’t wait. ❤ Open days and wedding fairs. January, February and March traditionally have a lot of wedding events running. Venue open days usually feature trusted, high-quality suppliers so it’s essential to visit these. Brian Mole Wedding DJ | https://dancemix.co.uk ICE, ICE BABY We’re looking for a super-fun and memorable catering idea for our wedding. What can you suggest? What’s a wedding without ice cream? Whatever your wedding style, from festival-themed with tipis to a rustic barn setting and everything in between, it’s a great catering option. Be it a post-ceremony celebration, an interactive wedding dessert or an evening sugar boost to keep the party going, serving delicious artisan gelato from a super-cool pink vintage caravan could be just the element of fun you’re looking for. With us, you’ll have the opportunity to select your favourite ice cream flavours to be served to you and your guests in either a waffle cone or tub. From classics such as rum and raisin and mint choc chip to something more unusual like Biscoff or gin and elderflower, we can offer gelato, vegan gelato and sorbets in more than 50 flavours. What’s more, our topping station is filled with everyone’s favourite sprinkles and sauces, allowing guests to completely customise their ice cream and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Charlotte Way | www.caravents.co.uk BLOOMIN’ DELICIOUS! We love flowers and want to incorporate them into our cake design. What would you suggest? Flowers are a wonderful way to feature colour, form and detail in your wedding cake. Fresh flowers are the most budget-friendly option and can exactly match your other floral arrangements. There are however a few restrictions as some popular choices are toxic and cannot be placed near food. Your hands are also a bit tied by what’s available at the right time of year. Your florist can give you the best advice. Sugarcrafted flowers are much more versatile, offering any bloom, any colour, and even metallic elements. Sugarcraft is a specialised skill and many flowers are very time consuming to make as they’re made petal by petal, so the cost of these will inevitably be higher than the fresh option. However, done well, they provide a very classy finish with an added touch of luxury. Given the increased demand for rustic-style cakes using dried flowers, foliage and grasses are on trend. They lend a boho vibe and pair well with fresh and sugar blooms. Hand-painted flowers or those created using buttercream add an arty element. Again, these involve specialist skills, so be sure to find a cake maker who has the capability to create the look you love. Carrie Raymond | www.carriespartycakes.co.uk 76
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=