NOTES ON A WEDDING

Plan a so-you celebration with these top tips from the wedding gurus. This issue, we look at how to bring the wow factor to your wedding

Fistral Stereo

The Natural Hire Company

Rebel + Anchor Artbars

ARB Photography

Kaj Music

Ruth Wall Joey Lamb

Contraband Entertainment Offbeat Entertainment

Tide Flowers

The Buffalo The Choons Toby Lowe

Contraband Entertainment

Enchanted Brides Maxi Photography And…action! Send a video email to invite guests to your big day. It can be fun to create as well as exciting to receive and watch – you can add full details of the location or even little teasers that you release via email over time. Rebecca Light it up. Carefully considered lighting can transform the whole feeling of a room. I usually recommend a lighting plan that considers the period of day the space will be in use, and makes maximum use of softer background lights, candles, uplighting and task lighting. You might even consider projection mapping onto the side of your venue. Jessica

Chilled vibe. Create smaller chill-out areas for people to enjoy but consider how to make them inviting and stunning, from Moroccan low-level lounges to a sunny seated area to make guests feel like they’re in the Balearics. Rebecca

Be our guest. Consider the guest experience and in particular their journey. This might mean their literal journey – arranging exciting and unusual guest transportation – or think about the very first touchpoint by sending them a wow-worthy save the date or wedding invitation. Jessica

Raise the bar. There are some amazing mobile bars available which are packed with wow factor. Take a look at the stunning airstream bars from The Buffalo (thebuffalo.co.uk), the rustic and boho bars from The Natural Hire Company (thenaturalhirecompany. co.uk) or the mobile cocktail bars from Artbars (artbars.co.uk) complete with live entertainment including elaborate dancers in a birdcage on top of the bar! Rebecca

Green is the new black. Create an impressive setting for your guests by bringing the outside in and filling your venue with greenery from top to bottom, from olive trees to silver birch and citrus plants. Jessica

Food glorious food. Think of the food you serve as an experience for guests – for example, canapés can be displayed in creative ways such as fun and beautifully styled food stations rather than served traditionally. Dessert stations are another opportunity to create a fabulous focal point. Rebecca

Venue va-va-voom. With new rules opening up a huge choice of ceremony locations at venues, think outside the box and move away from traditional backdrops – if your chosen venue has something out of the ordinary, like a cliff-top terrace or a woodland glade, hold your ceremony with a jaw-dropping view. Jessica

Drag it out. I love a good drag artist and singer, there’s nothing more fun than getting the evening started with some comedy and awesome cheesy music to get people in the mood. Rebecca

Drinks with a twist. For an evening bar with a difference, consider ice sculptures as part of a display, perhaps as part of a champagne tower, or even a vodka luge to really get the party started! Jessica Feeling good. If you want the drinks reception to be fun and interactive, consider booking mind readers or lookalikes to walk around. Rebecca

Music to their ears. Go all out and hire multiple forms of music – greet your guests at the drinks reception with a steel band or a string quartet, serenade them with roving musicians during dinner, then let them dance the night away with bands and a DJ. You could even have a fireworks display with a live electric string quartet perform synchronised to the illuminations. Jessica

Make a scene. Floral installations are amazing, but they don’t have to just be a mass of flowers. Create more of a scene by using interesting shapes, and a mix of dried and fresh flowers. Also think about placement: geometric backdrops work well against a beautiful sea view. Rebecca

Jessica Kearney, Ardour & Bow Weddings & Events

ardourandbow.co.uk

Rebecca Green, Rebel + Anchor

rebelandanchor.co.uk