HOT TOPIC

Our local experts solve your wedding dilemmas

The Great Outdoors

My fiancé and I have just started looking for our dream wedding venue, and we’d like to get married outside. What should we keep in mind before booking?

There are lots of things to consider when looking for an outside venue, but most importantly, you have to choose somewhere that fits with your theme and simply takes your breath away. For example, do you want something in the woodland, by the waterside, in a garden, or perhaps a more historic backdrop? There are so many different options, so do your research well. Also, if it’s easy for your guests to walk to, especially those with mobility issues, and does the venue offer any assistance (at That Amazing Place we have a golf buggy to transport elderly guests!)? Not forgetting the walk for the bride, of course! Remember to ask the wedding co-ordinator where you walk from and what route you take to get to the ceremony area. Another really important part of an outdoor ceremony is the sound. Ask the venue if they provide a mic and speakers for the registrar, so that your guests can hear the registrar/celebrant and enjoy the ceremony. Finally, make sure you also look at the indoor option for the venue. As much as you may dream of an outdoor ceremony, UK weather is unpredictable, so you have to make sure you’re 100 per cent with the indoor ceremony room too!

Angie Roberts | That Amazing Place www.thatamazingplace.co.uk

Food Glorious Food

We’re having a relaxed and informal wedding and, as we’re both real foodies, would love to wow our guests with a tasty menu. What do you suggest?

If you’re looking for the wow factor with your wedding food, choose a menu that has a great range of options that will suit your guests’ expectations. Ensure you have a meat, a fish and a vegetarian option and everyone will be happy. Why not widen your food options by spreading food moments throughout your day. Choose some fun canapes to accompany bubbles for straight after your ceremony to complement a sit-down wedding breakfast while ensuring you and your guests experience lots of lovely different flavours. Look out for a supplier that has a good reputation for fabulous menus and you’ll be well remembered for hosting a great foodie wedding.

Justin Mullender Pig and Whistle Restaurant

www.pigandwhistlechelmsford.uk

Healthy Hens

A healthy hen is my kind of thing! De-stress before the big day! At A Fine Balance, yoga and wellness studio based in East London/ Essex, we’re seeing a big shift away from the more traditional booze-fuelled hen parties to wellbeing-focused alternatives. Many people are now looking for some much-needed balance to hen celebrations. Depending on your budget, you could theme the whole weekend starting each day with meditation, breathwork and yoga, followed by a delicious and nutritious brunch, and include an array of options to make the day extra-special from sound baths, tarot card readings, cacao ceremonies, reiki, mindful walks, massages, and more yoga for sure. A Fine Balance can provide these at a venue of your choice.

Hannah Noble | A Fine Balance

www.afinebalance.me

Sweet Dreams

Getting To Know You

How can a celebrant help us make the ceremony extra special?

A celebrant plays a crucial role in making a wedding special and unforgettable. A celebrant is a professional who is trained to perform wedding ceremonies and can help couples personalise their wedding ceremony to reflect their personalities, beliefs, and values.

Celebrants offer a personalised and inclusive approach to weddings. They’ll take the time to get to know the couple, learn about their love story and what makes them unique. They’ll work with the couple to create a ceremony that reflects their relationship and values.

Celebrants can also offer a variety of styles and themes to weddings. Whether it’s a traditional ceremony or a modern and creative one, celebrants can accommodate the couple’s request and create something special that the couple and their guests will cherish forever.

Another advantage of having a celebrant is that they can offer guidance and support during the planning process. They can also offer advice on readings, vows, and other wedding elements that will make the ceremony memorable.

In conclusion, a wedding celebrant can make your wedding special by offering a personalised approach, creating a memorable ceremony, and providing support and guidance throughout the planning process. A celebrant can help couples create a wedding ceremony that truly represents the love and commitment between the two individuals and make the day unforgettable for all.

Karen Irving | Karen Irving Ceremonies www.karenirvingceremonies.com

The closer I get to my wedding, the harder I find it to fall asleep in the evening – what can I do to calm my racing mind?

Good sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and has a positive impact on every aspect of our lives including relationships, eating habits and stress levels. If you’re finding it hard to drift off, the three strategies below could help:

1) Pre-bed journaling is the practice of writing down any anxious thoughts that can stop us from falling asleep and staying asleep. It need only take a couple of minutes, but noting down anything that you’re worried about, or that you need to remember for the following day(s) can really help to switch the body out of its stressed state, leaving you feeling calm and in control.

2) Make sure you drink any caffeinated drinks before midday. Caffeine can stay in your system for many hours after you drink it and can not only make it difficult to drop off in the evening, but may also reduce the amount of deep sleep that you enjoy.

3) Minimise refined carbohydrates such as white breads and white pasta, as well as high sugar, high fat snacks, instead focusing on meals comprising lean protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. This will keep you fuller for longer, will stabilise your blood sugar levels and, in turn, will have a positive impact on falling asleep and staying asleep. Sweet dreams!

Demelza Rayner | Demelza Rayner Nutrition www.demelzaraynernutrition.co.uk

TCP ECO also provides a range of clean, green, off-grid power packs, as used by Olivia and Neel at their wedding.

For further information please visit www.tcp-eco.co.uk or contact ndaines@tcp-group.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

Headquartered in the historic town of Maldon in Essex for over 30 years, TCP ECO is well recognised for manufacturing the world’s first low-energy LED, hydrogen fuel cell powered lighting towers.

The portable lighting towers boast ZERO emission and ZERO noise pollution when in use, so they are a perfect temporary lighting solution for weddings and events.