HOT TOPIC

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EXPERT ADVICE HOT TOPIC Wedding worries

Our experts solve your problems

HOLD ME CLOSE

My wife-to-be and I are getting married next spring and would like some shots that reflect the season. Do you have any suggestions?

Spring weddings are perfect for capturing photographs as its the season of growth and new life, with the world bursting to life with flowers. Depending on the month you’re getting married in, you’ll have a huge selection of blooms growing, so take advantage of them and look for areas of your venue with plants in abundance or take a trip off site to find some beautiful flowers.

My favourite month is late April when the cherry blossoms bloom. These pink and white flowers can be used to create a frame, included in your bouquet or featured throughout your décor. This is also the time when bluebells spring to life which can add a lovely carpet of colour to your portrait shots.

ECO-FRIENDLY FLOWERS

We want beautiful flowers at our wedding, but also want them to be sustainable. Do you have any suggestions on how we can do this?

Your wedding flowers play a huge part in your day, as they bring life, scent, colour, emotion and a sense of celebration and occasion. You can have all of this and still be sustainable.

Chat with your chosen florist about seasonal options. Blooms that are in season have been grown without the use of extra heat, thus not using power to grow them. Ask them about the methods that they use. A sustainable florist would never use floral foam as it’s incredibly bad for the environment. There are compostable and biodegradable alternatives out there and old-fashioned mechanics are now in fashion again. Flower frogs, chicken wire and mossages all work just as well as floral foam and are planet friendly.

If you’re getting married between February and October, then there is the option to use British farmer’s flowers. There is a website called Flowers from the Farm (www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk), which lists all local growers. When you choose your florist just ask them where they source their blooms from. Here at Wild and Fabulous Flowers, we try and be as sustainable as possible, and we work with local growers to source seasonal options.

Kate Richards www.katerichardsphotography.com

It’s not an easy task planning a wedding, and can be overwhelming at times, but the main thing to remember is to always put you both first. Don’t let other people dictate your day, as it’s your wedding and should be what you want and dreamed of. We recommend the following to have a stress-free planning experience:

Budget – set your budget as soon as you start planning as this will help you keep on track when considering venues and suppliers. It will also help you from overspending and getting stressed about money.

Guest list – we know you want your nearest and dearest to celebrate with you, so set your guest list to who you want and don’t be influenced by other people.

Your wedding package – make sure you know what is included in your venue package and if there are any hidden costs. Some charge extra for things such as chair covers, sashes and music systems.

Your wedding team – make sure you utilise your wedding team at your venue. Ask for advice or help for any little or big thing. For example, here at Craig Y Nos Castle, we offer planning tips and also recommended suppliers.

Your venue – do not be afraid to visit your venue as many times as you need to plan decorations, show your bridesmaids or your photographer. Sometimes visiting the venue can help you envision your day and help with the planning.

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The wedding team at Craig Y Nos Castle www.craigynoscastleweddings.com

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A TENDER MOMENT

Are black and white images still popular, and should we have them?

Black and white wedding images are absolutely still popular! They are classic, romantic and timeless. Black and white images create a certain mood, and I don’t think this style of photography will ever be outdated, as it has a vintage, elegant feel to it.

I love a high contrast black and white image to document those emotional moments. Colour images are obviously more vibrant, however black and white images move the focus onto people’s faces and their emotions. By taking away the colour, it gives the viewer the chance to recognise some of the finer elements in the photograph. BOOGIE ALL NIGHT

We’re looking for a DJ for our upcoming wedding but are feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices available. What should we do to help narrow down our decision?

Before booking a supplier, consider the following:

Reviews – these will illustrate past clients’ opinions. Don’t stop at one, read a few for each DJ, as each client will have had a different experience.

Website – a website is a virtual shop window and will help you get a feel for how professional the DJ is and what they offer. There may be pictures of past events or the opportunity to see what their equipment will look like, and how it will suit your venue.

PAT and PLI – boring, but essential. PAT is an electrical test that is undertaken on equipment, for most DJs this will be annual. Some venues will insist on PAT-tested equipment, and PLI policies. PLI is Public Liability Insurance. Any DJ who does not have this is either too new to the business to know or doesn’t take customer care seriously.

Social media – this is another opportunity to find out more about your potential DJ. Pictures, videos and posts all show the personality of the DJ or the company.

Specialist or generalist? Some DJs specialise in weddings, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t provide a wide range of music. If you decide you want a club DJ or a rock specialist, it’s worth checking if your DJ can diversify if the club set isn’t working for your party.

Meeting and communicating – if you wish to have input on the music, it will be essential to have clear communication. Meeting in person or virtually will enable you to get to know each other and share your ideas.

Services offered – some DJs offer an all-day service in addition to an evening disco. This means you can have one person to work with to organise the soundtrack to your day instead of many. Some DJs have added on services such as room accessories, uplighting, photo booths or a selfie wizard, which again simplifies your working channels rather than having a long list of people to communicate with.