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Our local experts solve your wedding dilemmas

A Trip Of A Lifetime

My wife-to-be and I are looking for a wow-factor honeymoon destination with lots of fun activities. Do you have any suggestions?

My wow-factor honeymoon suggestion would be Zanzibar for a two-part honeymoon, filled with action, culture, adventure and pure unadulterated relaxation! Set off the eastern coast of Africa and made up of 40 islands, it offers the perfect mix!

You could start with a safari in the Serengeti or take a trek up Kilimanjaro. Zanzibar is nicknamed ‘Spice Island’, famous for its vanilla, nutmeg, clove and cardamom plantations. Why not take a tour around one and learn how they are produced? Soak up Swahili culture and wander around Stone Town, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago.

Safari Blue is an incredible boat trip experience, where guests can swim with dolphins, snorkel around the coral reefs and a fresh seafood buffet consisting of lobster, fish and calamari. The trips don’t end there, later take a canoe ride out to explore the mangroves, see ancient baobab trees and soak up the Zanzibar sunsets.

There are an abundance of fun activities to do including cycling the circumference of an island if you’re feeling energetic such as kitesurfing, yoga retreats and full moon parties.

Zanzibar is home to some world class beaches, incredible sunsets, crystal calm waters and pure white sandy beaches. The perfect mix of adventure and relaxation all rolled into one!

Jenny Kent | Jen’s Travel Boutique www.instagram.com/jens_travel_boutique

IT’S CHILDSPLAY

We’re having lots of children at our wedding and want something that will keep them entertained. What do you suggest?

How to keep the kids entertained is always a bit of a worry at weddings, particularly during speeches and the drinks reception but it doesn’t need to be! Ensure your venue has ample space indoors for children’s entertainers, soft play and magicians. Here at The Lawn, we’re also blessed with three acres of stunning private gardens, set within 120 acres with no roads nearby to worry about, to explore and to host outdoor activities. We regularly see bouncy castles and other inflatables (which we find aren’t just fun for the kids!), wedding themed crazy golf, garden games such as croquet, Connect 4 and Giant Jenga, alpacas for the kids to pet, bucking broncos, ice cream trikes, kid’s archery and even a badminton net.

David Keddie | The Lawn

Green With Envy

I want my wedding to look very fresh with loads of foliage everywhere (but not necessarily flowers). What suggestions do you have?

Lots of different foliage can give a wedding visual impact. Because foliage comes in a many different tones and shades of green it creates depth. Popular greens include eucalyptus, olive, soft ruscus and pistache which give good coverage but also adds texture to the designs. Jasmine tendrils and ivy look amazing trailing from a bouquet, a table decoration or a larger installation such as arches, moongates and garlands to beams. These blank areas at the wedding venue can be filled with fabulousness and will soften hard lines. Use of ferns, soft and wispy, are great for a whimical, meadow like wedding giving a wild and wonderful aura. Greenery functions like a neutral tone which allows working with a wide variety of colour schemes easy. Foliage can give any wedding the wow factor without any flowers used!

Cheryl Slater | Cheryl’s Flowers www.cherylsflowers.co.uk

FIT & FLARE

My fiancé is much taller than me – what dress style would you recommend for a shorter bride to give the illusion of height? A fit and flare gown works so well to give the illusion of height as the flare from below the hips will give the elongated and striking silhouette! Tasha from Luna Novias, as pictured, has a detailed bodice and soft train to give the further illusion from the back.

Laura Payne | Courtyard Bridal www.courtyard-bridal.com

Snap Happy

We’re clueless when it comes to photography. Is there a list of shots we should ask our photographer to capture?

Yes, there are several shots that you can ask your photographer to try to capture to ensure that all the moments and details that are important to you are captured. Many photographers including myself may use a prewedding questionnaire which gives you the opportunity to request which moments, details or portraits are important to you, but if a photographer doesn’t provide a questionnaire, then definitely give them a list, here are a few examples:

1. Getting ready shots: Ask your photographer to capture candid shots of you and your wedding party getting ready, including putting on make-up, getting dressed, and adjusting accessories.

2. Reactions: If there’s a particular reaction you’re looking forward to, like a family member seeing you in your dress for the first time or a response by someone opening a gift, make sure to let your photographer know where and when this will be happening so they can capture it.

3. Ceremony shots: Make sure your photographer can capture important moments during your ceremony, including exchanging vows and rings and your first kiss as a married couple, and check if there are any restrictions regarding photography beforehand that would prevent your photographer from being able to get these moments. If you’re planning anything different, like having a pet carry the rings or a confetti throw exit when walking back down the aisle, let your photographer know beforehand so they’re ready.

4. Group shots: Many photographers have a standard list of group shots they usually take that work within your timeline. Speak to your photographer beforehand and determine how many group photos you can squeeze in within your allocated time, always starting with the most to least important in case you run out of time.

5. Reception shots: Ask your photographer to capture candid photos of your guests enjoying the reception, as well as critical moments like the first dance, toasts, and cake cutting.

By providing your photographer with a list of shots you want, you can be assured that your special day will be captured in a way you will cherish forever.

When choosing a photographer, it’s a good idea to ask to view a full gallery from a recent wedding, just so you can see what kind of photos they usually take on a typical wedding day.

It’s also worth thinking about the kind of photos you don’t like, such as: ‘I don’t like the idea of cheesy poses or fake smiles’; or ‘I’m not worried about having any photos of the food or my shoes’. This will ensure your photographer need not waste any precious time taking photos that have no interest to you.

Jamie Le Beau-Andrews | Le Beau Photography www.lebeauphotography.co.uk

We are a family run business. We work alongside every one of our clients to create a bespoke design plan that brings the vision of your perfect wedding to reality saving you the stress, time and money.

We specialise in styling events and hiring decor for contemporary and elegant celebrations across Essex and surrounding areas. Our focus is creating beautiful venue styling with lots of attention to detail and can o er styling services to suit your budget. www.aandkeventstyling.com

Timex has released a new addition to its popular Timex Expedition Range. The Expedition North Titanium Automatic features a 21-jewel automatic movement and a quick-release leather strap. It’s made using durable materials, including titanium and scratch-resistant, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and is ideal for everyday wear and adventurous grooms-to-be.

Visit www.timex.co.uk for more information.

On the back of what was Favourbrook’s best year in the brand’s history, the formalwear specialist has announced the launch of its new Spring/Summer 23 Menswear Collection. The collection celebrates the timelessness of tailoring, from the sophisticated elegance of morning dress and glamorous eveningwear, to the refined motifs of relaxed summer options.

New for this season is unstructured linen suits comprising of Favourbrook’s iconic Newport jacket silhouette. Constructed from a beautiful Irish linen, these suits have a relaxed, natural drape and are available in a plethora of soft pastel tones, perfect for casual summer weddings and smart social events.

VRAI, known for creating sleek jewellery with unisex appeal, has revealed the new Brushed Bevel Band, a modern take on the wedding ring that is both substantial and subdued – perfect for grooms-to-be.

Available in platinum or solid gold, the brushed effect gives the band a soft exterior while the modern bevelled edges create a look of durability. The band is 6mm wide and 1.8mm deep and can be engraved to add a personal touch.

Visit https://uk.vrai.com for more info.