Your Surrey Wedding - Dec/Jan 2019 (Issue 80)

IT’S PARTY TIME We’re having a large wedding and are thinking of hiring a marquee. What should we take into consideration before booking? Hiring a marquee provides you with endless options that are only limited by your budget and space. The first thing you should take into consideration is how much you want to spend and what space can you utilise? It’s a common misconception that ‘a tent’ is a budget-friendly option. A marquee at its most basic is a sturdy, weather-proof, heated or air-conditioned space, that can include multiple rooms, solid or glass walls, clear roofs, solid floors, decks and balconies. Any restriction on the size of the marquee is dependent, not only on the actual ground space, but also on access and the state of the ground. Marquees can be built on slopes, with solid floors that can be levelled or raised, but remember all of these things have a knock-on effect on the budget. Once you’ve decided on a size and location, this is where the fun begins. The interior can be decorated in a myriad of ways using different styles of lining, lighting and furnishings. You may choose to have different rooms for dining, dancing and lounging etc. During the summer months, you could also have an exterior deck decorated with sofas and firepits. However, you decide to proceed, begin by picking up the phone to an expert marquee company that offers a consultative approach to design rather than an off-the-peg standard box. This way you can encapsulate your vision, and use their expertise to create a bespoke extravaganza. Caroline Donaldson-Sinclair Marquee specialist berrymarquees.com WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND We’re having a Christmas wedding and want to incorporate the season into our photographs. Do you have any ideas of how we can capture wintry images? Winter is a great time of year to get married as most venues will be decorated already, not just with a tree but with beautiful candles and fairylights. Most have outside lighting too, which you can use to capture stunning images with a festive feel. Denise Winter Photographer denisewinterphotography.co.uk BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE I’m having a winter wedding, and my mum wants to wear something that will tie in with our theme. Do you have any suggestions? The most obvious option would be the colour. If your mum leaves it too late, then she may not be able to find the hue or size she wants. Alternatively, she could incorporate a particular shade into her hat or corsage. The most important thing to remember is she needs to feel comfortable with what she’s wearing and loves the garment she’s chosen. Dee Brain Mother-of-the-bride specialist serendipityfashions.co.uk denisewinterphotography.co.uk 84