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Insider advice

Those in-the-know solve your wedding dilemmas

RAIN ON MY PARADE

We want an outside wedding, but are worried about the unpredictable weather. How can we ensure our guests enjoy the day without getting soaked? No matter where you get married, the weather is the one thing you can’t control. Instead of thinking about the ‘what ifs’, it’s best to go into your day with the intention of enjoying every moment. It’s such a special day for you and those closest to you that you should never let anything ‘cloud your day’.

At Parklands we work closely with our couples in the planning process, and this covers contingencies, too. Often, we wait until the last moment to help you decide if you want to ‘chance it’ or move to Plan B. Our beautiful Pavilion has glass doors that open onto our gardens, bringing the outdoors in, and our Tabor Room offers spectacular views out to the Deer Park. Plus, if a little drizzle doesn’t scare you, we’ve had some of the most beautiful couple shoots in the rain, with any good photographer prepared for a summer shower. Georgina Bennett | Parklands at Quendon Hall https://quendonhall.co.uk

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC

My partner and I want to book a band for our wedding and have created a playlist of our favourite tracks. Can a group turn down the gig if we ask them to learn the songs? That certainly shouldn’t be the case! A good wedding band should already have a large repertoire, so take your time researching, looking for full song lists on their website and even asking for a set list recently played. This will help you narrow down those that fit the bill for what you’re after.

If you’re almost there but some of your all-time favourite tunes are missing, don’t hold back on asking the band if they can learn them. With a little bit of notice, they should be able to take on a variety of requests, making sure you’re getting exactly what you want to hear on your special day. And if your band provides a DJ service, they’ll be able to add any requests that can’t be accommodated by the live band into that set, too… so always ask! Jonathan Babak | The Shakedown www.theshakedown.co.uk

There’s going to be a lot of kids at our wedding – and we don’t want them staring at phones all day! What entertainment will get them off social media and interacting with each other? Although you want everyone attending your wedding to have fun, younger kids and teenagers can be the most difficult guests to keep happy. Little ones soon get bored of the games their parents bring along to amuse them, while teenagers are stuck in that awkward stage of not wanting to chat to adults – and not being being old enough to enjoy the free bar!

At Evo Event Hire we have entertainment to amuse all and every guest, no matter what their age. Our garden games are perfect to keep everyone happy in warmer weather, from giant Snakes & Ladders to interactive play systems, where it’s a race to push the button first.

If your wedding is taking place indoors, our retro arcade machines bring a more modern version of well-loved classics to the party. With over 60 games including Space Invaders and Donkey Kong, these machines will have kids asking if video games were really that much fun when you were their age! Gracie Leader | Evo Event Hire | www.evoeventhire.co.uk

www.robmoorephotography.co.uk

SNAP HAPPY

Choosing our wedding photographer is proving harder than expected. What should we look for to know we’re making the right decision? Selecting a photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in the run-up to your big day. Why? The pictures are usually the only thing you’ll keep after your wedding… other than your spouse!

The first thing to consider is whether you like the way the photographer takes their pictures, asking yourselves if you prefer a traditional shoot or something documentary in style. The initial meeting is also important before you commit, as you need a photographer that you like as a person. You’re going to spend hours with them on a very emotional day, so you need to ‘click’ to work together well.

You should also take time to look at their wedding work on their website and social media. Read through the photographer’s blog if they write one, to understand them on a more personal level, and listen to other brides, grooms and suppliers. Reviews are there for a reason; they’ll tell you the true experience of others and hold a lot of detail about what to expect. Rob Moore | Rob Moore Photography www.robmoorephotography.co.uk RING THE CHANGES

We’re struggling to decide on wedding rings. What are the trends – and are there any dos or don’ts when it comes to picking them? In recent years, wedding band traditions have taken a back seat, with most couples going for what they want. This means that dos and don’ts are pretty much a thing of the past!

As a company that specialises in bespoke wedding rings, we find people like to choose shaped bands to match the setting styles, profiles and widths of their engagement rings. This allows both bands to sit perfectly together, rather than having two rings that don’t necessarily match.

We also find that a lot of couples want matching rings, but at the same time wish to have them tailored to their individual personalities. This can be anything from simply having their partner’s birthstone set inside the band, or wanting handengraved words or personal dates inside the ring. Lauren Fossett | Affinity Jewellers www.affinityjewellers.co.uk

READER OFFER!

Rayleigh’s Affinity Jewellers are offering our readers 10% off their traditional and bespoke wedding rings. Just remember to quote ‘An Essex Wedding’ to claim your discount before 17th June, 2022.