Alis�n White Wedding Fl�wers

Based in Leaden Roding near Great Dunmow, we specialise in bespoke floral arrangements for your wedding day, fresh and silk flowers available. For a free no obligation quote, call Alison on 07988 824332 or email alison@alisonwhiteweddingflowers.co.uk

ALISONWHITEWEDDINGFLOWERS.CO.UK

Alison White Wedding Flowers a_whitewedding

ALSO AT MARTELS WEDDING VILLAGE, HIGH EASTER ROAD, BARNSTON, ESSEX CM6 1NA

A FUN, PROFESSIONAL YET RELAXED INDEPENDENT CELEBRANT BASED IN ESSEX

A celebrant led ceremony gives you the flexibility to bring your dreams to life anywhere and at any time. Themed or styled wedding, a symbolic ceremony, religious or no religion - whatever it may be - we can discuss what you envision for your ceremony.

I offer a no obligation meeting so you can establish if my personality and vibrancy makes us a match.

Call: 07850 683348 hello@karenirvingceremonies.com www.karenirvingceremonies.com karen_irving_ceremonies

Top tips for organising your big day

Meet Steffi From Hedingham Castle

When do I search for my venue?

After fixing your budget and deciding on guest numbers and date, choosing your venue is one of the first items to tackle on your ‘To Do’ list as so many other elements rely on it, including booking the majority of your suppliers (photographer, caterer, entertainment etc.) as well as creating your invites and booking the registrar. So, whether you’re planning your wedding in six months or two years, get your venue booked as a priority to give plenty of time for everything else.

What questions should I be asking my venue before booking?

You’ll have many questions to ask all the venues you view but it can be easy to forget them once you’re there and distracted by looking round. Go armed with a notebook and prepared questions to stay on track. There are crucial questions you’ll need to know before you even book a viewing with a venue, to ascertain whether it’s a viable option for you, such as minimum and maximum guest numbers, is the venue exclusive hire (will you be the only couple getting married there on the day) and is there onsite accommodation. Once you’re there, you can ask more in-depth questions such as is the catering in-house or can you choose your own, is there outside ceremony space, is there flexibility with the décor and what’s the parking provision for guests. At Hedingham Castle, we provide couples with a pack of essential information including all of this as well as recommended suppliers and a pricing guide.

Do remember...

Pinterest is an invaluable tool when you’re choosing your décor, as it allows you to find out what inspires you, even if you don’t initially know yourself what that might be. From there, you can choose your colour scheme, dress style, entertainment inspiration and much more, and it can really help you hone in on what you want for your big day.

Consider your timings for the day. You want plenty of time in the morning to get ready in leisure, no one wants to be rushing about and getting stressed on their wedding day. We say that 3pm is a perfect ceremony time as it allows a lovely flow into a 3.30-4pm drinks reception, which usually lasts one to two hours, leading nicely into an early evening wedding breakfast and the festivities ahead. Weddings can be long days for guests especially if you have young or elderly guests so is something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of an early ceremony.

Top Tip

Get yourself organised from the start; it will make the planning process so much more enjoyable and help minimise stress as much as possible. Whichever tools work best for you - a lovely notebook or wedding planner if you’re a pen and paper person, or an online To Do list such as Trello which you can share with your partner and key members of your wedding party can be very useful. Find which suits your planning style and it won’t be a chore.

MEET EMMA FROM THE FLOWER COLLECTIVE When do I book

As soon as possible! A good florist is hard to find, so if you do find one that you like, who you get on with, and who understands your vision, then booking in advance is paramount. Remember, full payment upfront is unusual, so check the individual florists t&c’s - most offer 25 per cent non-refundable holding fee for your wedding date.

What questions should I be asking my florist before booking? Lots! Find out what is important to you as a couple. Do you have any specific colours and theme’s in mind? What flowers are in season on your Wedding Date? Talk to your florist, ensure they are open to your ideas and have transparent communication with you. Do they have packages available that fit your criteria?

How do I make my venue decor and flowers personal to me? Memories. It’s as simple as that! Flowers can be emotive, especially for a flower enthusiast like myself. I have the fondest of memories being surrounded by hydrangeas with my grandparents and have many growing in my garden.

Scent is also so important. It can take you back to a time and place within seconds. Think about how your flowers will smell and make you feel on your big day.

Is there a particular flower or bouquet that your future husband has treated you to before that stands out? Is sustainability and local flowers important to you?

Take a look through your florist’s previous work, pinpoint what you’re looking for, and search Pinterest for ideas.

Colours, styles and trends to consider

As with everything, flowers also go through phases. It’s important though to stay true to your vision and not be swayed with trends. Having said that, my favourite trend now is ‘Ode to Nature’, whereby meadow themed, whimsical grasses and movement are at the forefront of floristry.

Meet Chelsea From Hatton Jewellery Ltd

This special piece of jewellery symbolises your eternal love and isn’t something that should be bought without research. The most traditional form of wedding ring is a simple gold band, however more modern wedding rings are known to include engravings or precious stones.

One of the most important decisions to make throughout this process, is to decide which material you’d like to make your ring out of. Traditionally white or yellow gold have been the preferred choice, but over the recent years platinum and titanium are becoming more and more popular for wedding rings. With numerous choices of metals with different properties and styles, some maybe more suitable than others.

For instance, platinum is a popular choice of metal as it’s hardness and colour will never fade or change, but it has a higher price point because it’s a rarer metal.

It’s important to take into consideration the metal used within the engagement ring as both rings will be worn together, we would recommend using the same metal but it’s entirely up to you. If you’re looking to match your engagement ring to a wedding band, we can compare what style wedding band would suit best.

Heavier rings are usually more durable. Many customers choose to have a wedding ring that matches their engagement ring, and in order for the rings to look like they were designed to fit together, you could opt for a wedding ring that contains diamonds or precious stones to match the original engagement ring.

Court shaped – this is the traditional wedding ring shape, it’s slightly rounded on both the outside and inside creating a comfortable fit around the finger.

Organic shapes and textures will give your bridal flowers a quirky appearance.

The British Flower Movement is also high on bride’s priority lists at the moment with more acknowledgment in supporting local farmers. Many of my brides are also looking at growing their own flowers to be included on the day. Some opting to grow flowers which will be used in their bouquets. It’s a special way to encourage growing.

Top Tip

Neither the lowest nor the most expensive florist is the best. Look around, get quotes, have a one-to-one meeting and ensure you have a good rapport with someone who is going to play a vital role in your day. The wow factor flowers will always get people talking. They’ll be remembered for all the right reasons. Archways, aisle flowers and overhead event floristry for marquees. Big installations make quite the impact. But mostly importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy all the organising. It should be a happy and hassle-free experience.

Visit: www.instagram.com/p/CmZu1PJo4E3/?hl=en

D shaped – D shaped wedding rings are straight across the top and bottom of the ring, and are curved on the inside, creating a cross section when sections cross.

Shaped - As engagement rings can come with large diamonds or precious stones, a shaped wedding ring with a curve on top might be more suitable to fit around the engagement ring comfortably. If you want to create something more personal you could always create bespoke rings, if you can’t pop into store why not call Hatton Jewellery on 01702 472535 or email sales-hattonjewellery@outlook.com to discuss your ideas.