A ROMANTIC SETTING Q – A few of my friends got married recently, and I’m worried my wedding isn’t going to stand out. How can I add something special to my big day? Your day will always be special and unique to you, but here are some tips to make your wedding stand out: s Personalise your day with gentle touches that represent you as a couple such as a personalised guest book and card box. s Keen travellers? Include some special memories recreated in the form of centrepieces. You could also have the background photos in the photo booth as places you have visited together. s Does your other half have a preferred flower they buy you for birthdays, Valentine’s Day or anniversaries? If so, use this as the main bloom in your arrangements. s A good band always makes a wedding stand out, but it isn’t always a cost-effective option. A great alternative is to ask all guests to request a specific song for the evening reception. s Sweet carts can be found at lots of celebrations nowadays. Work with your decorations supplier and venue to create a drink or dessert cart with specialised signs surrounding it. s Lots of children at the wedding? Hire a soft play area to give the kids a chance to burn off some steam. I’m sure the parents will appreciate it. s Work with your venue and decorations supplier to make sure your wedding reflects you as a couple. You only get one special day, so make it count. Demi Merchant Styling expert www.facebook.com/dmeventdecor SEASONAL FLORALS Q – We’re getting married next autumn and would love to incorporate the season’s colours into our flowers. What do you suggest we look for? As the summer fades into autumn the varieties of fresh flowers and colours change, allowing us to create fabulous floral displays. Reds, burgundies, oranges, peaches and browns are the traditional colours, but there are various pallets to choose from. If you have your heart set on dusky pink and ivory whites, add some pale brown, taupe leaves and berries to create an autumn feel. Looking for more unusual deeper tones? Go for red, burgundy, dark pink and some chocolate cosmos or dark aubergine calla lilies with greenery. For a softer feel peach with soft oranges, ivory and greenery look lovely. If your favourite bloom is not in season, I would use silk and add it to the other fresh flowers. For your centrepieces, tall martini vases with a variety of seasonal flowers and amaranthus flowing down look great. Sunflowers and grasses in tall vases are also a simple but very effective country-style design. Use lots of greenery and flowers for shorter centrepieces, finished with tealights in holders on the tables. Alternatively, black iron candelabra with deep autumnal coloured blooms look stunning. When it comes to your décor, opt for table runners in bronzes or golds with a slight sparkle. Black runners or table overlays paired with red centrepieces create a wow effect. Use pumpkins to line the aisle or scatter them on the tables. Place garlands along the top table or down the centre of a guest table. Choose just greenery or add pops of colour with candles or LED lights. Make the most of any features in the venue. Decorate a staircase with a flower garland or swags of organza and ribbons. Think about LED lights around bushes, trees, pillars, bannister rails or add them into flower displays. Uplighters in orange, purple or red can create a great atmosphere. Chair sashes or hoods will immediately add more colour to the room. Annabel Grange Florist www.butterfliesandbows.co.uk JUST THE TWO OF US Q – My hubby-to-be and I are looking for a celebrant to make our ceremony fun and personal. How do we find the perfect supplier? To ensure you get the celebration you both want it’s important to find a supplier that shares the same values as you. There are several ways to find a supplier, for example, search engines, wedding magazines, websites or The Celebrant Directory. I advise reading bios and visiting the websites of those you like so you get a feel for their style and how they work with couples. Each celebrant will differ in how they work or the style in which they conduct the ceremony. Some offer specialities such as rituals, outdoor weddings or a particular theme. Once you’ve looked at enough websites, organise a call with your top three and see who you click with best. It’s important to have a good rapport with your supplier so you can be open with them. I meet with my couples after the initial phone call as I think it helps build the relationship, and I like to keep them involved when I am writing, so I can ensure I get everything spot on. One bride who contacted me used the same words to describe how she and her fiancé wanted their ceremony as I used to describe mine to the celebrant I chose, so we just clicked automatically. Whoever you choose though, I wish you a wonderful day and a lifetime of happiness. Rebecca Douglas Celebrant www.rdceremonies.org.uk www.andrewweild.com 64
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