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Our local experts advise on how to host a small, intimate wedding

CHILD’S PLAY

Although we have limited guest numbers, we still want the children attending to be looked after ‒ what do you suggest?

Even if you’re planning a small wedding, it’s important to take into consideration care and entertainment for your littlest guests. While really exciting and enjoyable, weddings can at times be long and overwhelming for children, so having childcare in place ensures that both parents and little ones alike can relax and enjoy the day!

Whether you only have one, two, three, or more children attending your intimate wedding, you may choose to hire a nanny or two to keep everyone happy and safe at all times, and allow yourselves/other guests

Dance Off

Although our evening guest list is small, we still want our reception to have the wow-factor! Weddings come in all shapes and sizes and we love that. Some of our most favourite weddings have been small and intimate occasions! But even with a scaled-back wedding your reception can still pop and have all your guests enjoying themselves. We have a few ideas that can make small and intimate super-sized in terms of fun and laughs:

1. The first dance

The traditional first dance is the way to make the transition from wedding breakfast to wedding party. Your first dance is such a lovely way for you and your guests to see the newly married couple take to the floor and showcase their love and commitment to each other. Choose a song that means something to you both, from romantic ballads to rock, whatever works for you.

and relatives to fully switch off. We always recommend setting aside a room/quieter space for little ones, kitted out with a few toys and crafts, allowing children a calm space to relax throughout the day. Your nannies can not only assist with nappy changes, mealtimes, playtimes, walks around your venue and all other daytime elements, but can also assist with bedtime and babysit into the evening, meaning you and your guests can party the night away without distraction!

While you may not require a full créche set-up, putting these simple steps in place ensures everyone, big and small, has a brilliant day.

Ella Dibb, Rose Nannies, www.rosenannies.com

2. Get on the dancefloor

After your first dance your guests are up for a party. Make sure you pick a second song to fill that dancefloor. Talk to your DJ/band and pick something that will get your wedding party throwing some shapes.

3. Group dance

There’s always that one song, that everyone magically knows the moves to. Is it the Macarena? Is it YMCA? Whichever it is, get everyone involved on the dancefloor. We’ve even been to a wedding where the whole wedding party throw an invisible air guitar to each other in a massive circle! Whatever song choice you go for, commit and you’ll get everyone having a good ol’ time.

Lorraine Ansell, First Dance Studios, www.firstdancestudios.co.uk

Styled To Perfection

For our bijou wedding we still want our styling elements to be impressive; what can we do to achieve this? Just because you’re having a small intimate wedding, doesn’t mean you can’t have that wow-factor! Different textures, heights and colours can really enhance your overall look of your tablescape. Texture can be incorporated with soft linens, fluffy flowers and structured glassware; while varying heights can be achieved with candles as well as high and low floral arrangements. This creates an interesting view as your guests enter your wedding breakfast room.

We love to add a chosen pop of colour be it through fresh florals, elegant coloured glassware or even in the use of napkins and table linens.

Isabelle Castello & Danielle Scandone, Bellissima Days, www.bellissimadays.com

Taking The Lead

We’re having an intimate day but still want it to run seamlessly ‒ would we still benefit from having a toastmaster at a smaller event?

However big or small your wedding you’ll benefit from securing a toastmaster to help with your big day. As The Society Toastmster, I will make sure that I provide you with any advice on all aspects of the planning and preparation, setting the tone and making sure that the day goes as you want it to with agreed levels of formality and fun.

On the day itself all aspects of the occasion are managed, from your guests’ arrival through to the evening celebrations, this can include liaising with the photographers, caterers and entertainment to ensuring that timings are adhered to so that you, your family and guests can relax and enjoy the best day ever. Nothing will be too much trouble!

Small But Mighty

We’re having a micro-wedding but still want our big day album to have the wow-factor ‒ what do you suggest?

Having an intimate wedding will create the opportunity for great memories with every single guest as you won’t be having to work your way through a long list of people. This is great when it comes to having pictures taken. A smaller guest list means your photographer will have more time to visualise capturing those sentimental moments. A trusted and experienced photographer will recognise this and be ready to capture the laughter, the tears and the excitement of not only the bridal couple but your guests also. They’ll be able to work the ‘crowd’ more easily too, perhaps putting a spin on the more traditional group shots. They’ll be less of a restriction on time, which means more attention can be put into the details of the picture and will mean you can easily have photos taken with every single guest. This will absolutely give your wedding album the all-important wow factor.

Claire Kaya, irockvisuals, www.irockvisuals.com

The Boleyn Hotel opposite the River Thames dates back to the 16th century and is the perfect venue for your magical day. The hotel’s flexible and spacious facilities enable us to host weddings and parties catering up to 250 guests in our newly refurbished Pearl Suite. One of our experienced event managers will work together with you to ensure that your wedding day is planned to perfection, stress-free and unforgettable.

Our newly refurbished executive rooms are individually designed with a unique combination of colours and materials. Rooms are fully air conditioned, have comfortable large beds for a great nights sleep, flat screen TV’s and grohe power showers.

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.