HOT TOPIC

Our experts answer your big-day questions

Bring Me Sunshine

Meet the expert: The Turquoise Holiday Company is an upmarket travel company with a focus on luxurious honeymoons, family holidays and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.

We’re planning our honeymoon and need some inspiration –which far-flung island destinations are looking popular for this year and next?

Jackie Leather, senior marketing manager tells us: There’s something wonderfully romantic about palm-fringed islands and untouched beaches. The magical images conjured at the thought of escaping the hustle and

The Great Outdoors

Meet the expert: Colette Ashby is a wedding celebrant who has won awards for her services. She creates and performs bespoke ceremonies in Berks, Bucks, Oxon, Hants and the South East.

What are the benefits of having an outdoor celebrant-led ceremony?

bustle of everyday life, that invigorating sense of remoteness, of being anchored away from the mainland – these feelings alone are enough to inspire our honeymooning couples to go in search of their very own desert island. Popular destinations for newlyweds include the Maldives, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Seychelles, The Islands of Tahiti and the Greek islands.

Turquoise Holidays can offer first-hand advice and a friendly helping hand when planning your perfect island honeymoon in 2023 and 2024.

01494 678 400, www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk/honeymoons; www.facebook.com/turquoiseholidays; www.instagram.com/turquoiseholidays

Colette says: Over the past few years, more and more couples are opting for celebrant-led ceremonies. They are fast becoming the go-to choice for today’s couples who want the freedom to pick where, when and how they marry.

One of the main benefits of having a celebrant officiate at your wedding ceremony is that you can tie the knot almost anywhere – you have complete freedom of choice over your venue, time and ceremony content. Outdoor ceremonies are a growing trend amongst couples wanting to say ‘I do’ in a beautiful and natural setting.

So what are your options for an outdoor ceremony? The only limit is your imagination! Most traditional wedding venues have gorgeous gardens that can be transformed into a stunning ceremony space and, of course, you have nature as your backdrop.

When deciding on your venue for a celebrant-led wedding, you have more choice than you may realise, as you don’t have to get married in a licensed venue. Imagine exchanging vows on a beautiful beach or in a wild woodland glade. You can even hold your ceremony in your back garden as many people choose to do. What could be more special?

How about a super-relaxed ceremony in a field with a marquee or tipi for the reception, mobile catering and chilled-out guests? Nothing formal, just friends, family, fun and the beautiful English countryside.

Outdoor ceremonies can be lavish – think fabulous flower arches and an aisle created from rose petals, or maybe simple and rustic is more your style. Of course, there are factors to consider with an outdoor ceremony, (not least the weather) and this is where your celebrant will guide and advise you every step of the way.

Wherever you decide to marry, choose a celebrant to create and conduct a bespoke outdoor ceremony with a touch of sparkle.

07774 780 072, https://coletteashby.com; www.facebook.com/colette.ashby.77; www.instagram.com/coletteashbycelebrant

Snap Happy

Meet the expert: Chris Goodchild is the founder of The Best Photobooths, #makingmemories based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. They offer a bespoke design service as well as a range of photo booths including The Best Vintage Booth and The Best Love Heart Booth. The company won Best Photobooth Hire service in Buckinghamshire from LuxLife Global Wedding awards.

We want to surprise our guests with some wow-factor wedding entertainment that they haven’t seen at previous weddings. What do you suggest?

Chris says: We have two new products that are proving to be super popular this year. Firstly, there’s the “PUT A RING ON IT” audio guestbook that’s perfect for weddings, parties, and other special events. Brilliant in its simplicity, it offers a fun way for guests to leave voicemail messages on your special day or occasion. They simply pick up the phone, leave a message after the tone, then hang up and keep on dancing! This is the perfect alternative guest book, providing unforgettable, lifelong memories.

The second new launch that we’re offering for weddings this year is the BOHO Magic Mirror Frame that’s perfect for any boho-inspired ceremony. It has recently been super popular for barn settings.

07966 053 439, www.thebestphotobooths.co.uk; www.facebook.com/TheBestPhotobooths www.instagram.com/thebestphotobooths

A Way With Words

Meet the expert: Olukemi Elebute is a calligrapher and engraver and the founder of Ribbon and Scripts based in Milton Keynes.

How can we personalise our wedding with calligraphy?

Olukemi says: There’s nothing more stunning and bespoke than handwritten details for your wedding celebration. In a digital-driven world, the sight of ink on paper creates a unique, beautiful, and captivating experience for your wedding or event. Not only does it add a personal touch to your event, but it also adds a stylish touch, thereby making your guests feel special and welcome.

Digital calligraphy – Create a custom hand-written design which is delivered as a digital file and can be used on various elements of your wedding. Stationery and invites, signage, napkins, souvenirs, albums, and any other imaginable aspect of your wedding.

Envelope addressing - Build a personal connection with your guests by creating beautiful hand-written names with your choice of calligraphy scripts on your wedding envelopes. The custom ink colour and flourished letters set the tone of the event and give the guests a sense of belonging.

Day of details - Add a special touch to your elegant affair by creating

HANDS-ON ENTERTAINMENT

Meet the expert: Silhouette Sarah is a silhouette artist who performs at weddings and events.

We’re having a large wedding so how can we keep our guests entertained throughout the wedding breakfast and into the evening?

beautiful hand-written names on the place and escort cards. This gives you a good table plan that sits the right people together. It curbs the problem of people turning up uninvited and taking seats intended for guests and you worry less about communication with catering staff for guest meals ordered prior. You can rest assured that your beautiful décor won’t be ruined as this makes the ceremony organised and stress-free.

Hand engraving - Create a lasting memory and legacy around your union by adapting to keepsake objects so they become an heirloom that you cherish forever. Engraving a wedding day scent for the bride, groom or parents of the couple is one that will instantly take you back to your special day. The hand-engraved bottle is a unique unforgettable item; a special memory to keep forever.

Wedding vows and letters – Delight yourselves by conveying unsaid words in a beautiful piece. This not only builds a lasting relationship with your partner but also becomes a keepsake that’s treasured forever. Hiring a calligrapher to help write your vows solves the problem of not projecting often how you truly feel through words, it saves you time and allows you to focus on other things for your big day and makes you worry less about writing long words yourself.

www.ribbonsandscripts.co.uk; www.instagram.com/ribbonsandscripts

Sarah says: If you have been lucky enough to see a silhouette artist perform at a wedding then you’ll know that not only is this a rare art form but also that silhouette cutting is a great way of entertaining guests at weddings, keeping them entertained during the photographs. It’s a good icebreaker too because I walk around the guests and chat with them whilst cutting paper portraits freehand using nothing but scissors. Think of vintage cameos like Jane Austin’s trademark silhouette or Mrs Whistledown’s silhouette in Bridgerton - each one is cut freehand using nothing but a pair of scissors with no drawing first, or other trickery. Each silhouette is a flattering likeness of the person whatever the age so everyone will be wanting one and I can cut approximately 70 silhouettes in three hours, creating fabulous favours.

There are many benefits to booking a silhouette artist and here are just a few:

They are rare, so not many guests would have seen them before.

It’s a sustainable material and a great keepsake that guests can cherish for a lifetime.

They are individually personalised to each guest and bear a flattering resemblance.

07949 133 390 or visit https://silhouetteartist.co.uk; www.facebook.com/SilhouetteSarah; www.instagram.com/SilhouetteSarah1 thehenleydistillery

CREATORS OF HAND-CRAFTED, ARTISAN SPIRITS. \ INNOVATIVE IN RECIPE DEVELOPMENT, TRADITIONAL IN METHOD.

FOR A DAY DEDICATED TO LOVE AND CELEBRATION, THE HENLEY DISTILLERY CREATES BESPOKE EXPERIENCES, GIFTS AND SPIRITS ALL UNIQUELY PERSONALISED TO YOU.

Our stylish gin school can be privately hired to host events for up to 12 guests, each working with their own mini still. This can be used as a fun pre-wedding event or with a view to designing your very own wedding gin. We work with the wedding party to develop a recipe and produce a totally one-off spirit especially for your unique celebration.

Our award-winning white label and Henley Gin gin can be completely personalised (range of bottle sizes available including miniatures), perfect for wedding favours and gifts - these also look fabulous on the wedding bar.

Private Tours and Tastings of the distillery can be arranged with add-ons such as mixology classes.

Please do get in touch as we are always happy to tailor our services to suit the needs of our clients.

Email: kerry@thehenleydistillery.co.uk Tel: 07511 208 490 WWW.THEHENLEYDISTILLERY.CO.UK

HAMPSTEAD FARM, BINFIELD HEATH, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXON, RG9 4LG

Personalised, Detailed, Rustic Wedding Stationery

From your save the dates to your on the day stationery I can help you set the tone and wow your guests bringing all the details throughout. Get in touch: www.laurendaisy.co.uk

Lauren_Daisy_

Lauren Daisy