HOT TOPIC

Those in-the-know solve your wedding dilemmas

HAVE YOUR CAKE

My partner and I are looking for a cake maker for our wedding – but don’t know what to do to ensure we make the right choice. Are there any questions to consider?

Once you’ve found a few cake makers that interest you, be sure to view their social media platforms and read their reviews. Why? Positive reviews will comment on the look and taste of their bakes, as well as the good customer experience their clients have received. Then there’s their hygiene rating to check, which should give you confidence that you’re buying from a professional who works to their council’s standards. And don’t forget to find out whether they have public liability insurance, which protects their own business as well as showing they’ve set themselves up as a reputable company.

Meeting with your potential cake maker also gives you the opportunity to ask a whole host of questions, from how long they’ve been trading to whether they’ve previously made a cake in the style you like.

Generally speaking, if you see that a cake maker is passionate about their bakes, it’s a strong sign that they will put their heart into make you a beautiful wedding cake!

Mary Houlihan | Mary Bakes Yummy Cakes www.instagram.com/marybakesyummycakes

SWEEP STAKE

My mum is going on about us getting a chimney sweep to attend our wedding as she’s adamant it’s tradition. What’s she going on about?

The tradition of the lucky chimney sweep goes back to the 18th century – King George III was riding through London in a parade, when his horse bolted. A London chimney sweep grabbed the reins and saved the King, who deemed that all chimney sweeps would be considered lucky from then on. The tradition remains that shaking hands with a sweep or receiving a kiss on the cheek, especially on a wedding day, will bring luck and love to the married couple. The Queen even had a lucky chimney sweep at her wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947! At Ashes & Smoke Chimney Sweeping, we love carrying on this fabulous tradition and are lucky enough to get invited to appear at many weddings in Essex. We mingle with guests, pose for photos and gift the happy couple a Lucky Sweep’s Charm and certificate of luck.

Dave Coxell | Ashes & Smoke Chimney Sweeping www.ashesandsmoke.com

SOMETHING OLD – OR SOMETHING NEW?

I’ve got my heart set on a wedding venue packed with history, while my wife-to-be wants something contemporary in style. How can we both get what we want?

We all have a vision of what the perfect celebration looks like, and striking the right balance between what you both like can be difficult when you have different tastes. The key is to find a venue that can cater to both of you – and is willing to be flexible and creative in their approach. At Wivenhoe House we work closely with all our couples throughout the process to ensure we strike a balance between vision, practicality and budget. Our 18th century, red brick manor house is steeped in history, and we have bedrooms with exposed beams and traditional décor. However, we also have our Garden Wing, offering contemporary and modern luxury bedrooms, many with balconies overlooking the gardens. The same goes for our venue spaces – we can utilise our historic spaces together with contemporary and modern touches to create something that would suit you both. It’s all about being creative and working together to ensure you both get a day you will never forget.

https://jamesthomasphotography.co.uk

Melissa Dickinson | Wivenhoe House Hotel www.wivenhoehouse.co.uk

I’M WITH THE BAND

We’d love some live music at our reception, but don’t want anything too intrusive as guests will want to chat and catch up. What would you suggest?

At Old Skool we offer lots of different packages to suit your needs. Our acoustic duo is the perfect option if you want some live background music whilst your guests have a drink and a chat. We can provide the perfect ambience with some chilled songs to keep your guests entertained, leaving them able to chat and socialise as they enjoy the live music.

However, you may wish to consider upgrading to our full sevenpiece wedding band, complete with brass section, for your evening reception. You and your guests can make memories on the dance floor from your first dance, which we can happily learn for you, to the end of the night with our arrangements of soul, Motown, disco and RnB. We play songs from the 1960s right up to the present day, so there will be something for all of your guests, young and old.

https://sylvieneumannphotography.com DRESS SOS

I’ve only just got engaged and already the girls who I’ve asked to be bridesmaids are stressing over what they are going to be wearing. How do I keep them calm while still having some sort of say in what dress they have for our day?

www.lavenhamphotographic.co.uk

Try not to worry – this is something we have seen many times before! Start by arranging an appointment at your bridal boutique together, where you can envisage how you’d ideally like your bridal party to look. This consultation should involve discussing colours and styles, whether this is having your bridesmaids in all the same dress or different designs that complement each other. Often ideas will evolve during the appointment once the bridesmaids have tried on a selection of dresses, and any reputable boutique will be on hand every step of the way to guide and advise, ensuring your vision is met.

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