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www.gettyimages.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE

Our experts answer your big-day questions

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Meet the expert: Maxine Ward is a celebrant based in Wiltshire who creates beautiful bespoke ceremonies and will travel to any venue nationwide.

What are the benefits of booking an independent celebrant?

Maxine says: By picking a celebrant, you can create a personalised ceremony that can be held in almost any venue of your choice either before, or after, a legal ceremony is held at a registry office. You’re not restricted to a licensed venue meaning that you can opt for a traditional setting or something more alternative like a beach or garden and you can host it any time of the day or night.

Your loved ones, and pets, can be a part of your ceremony and you can include elements from different cultures and heritages. You choose the words and can include your commitment to one another creating a lifelong promise.

PRE-WEDDING PAMPER

Meet the expert: Juliet Draper is a hair and make-up artist covering weddings in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and throughout the Cotswolds. She’s also a TWIA South West Regional Finalist 2021.

Please can you give me some hair and skincare tips to prepare for my winter wedding?

Juliet says: During the winter, because of the cold air outside and central heating indoors, our hair and skin can start to feel dehydrated and lacking in moisture. When it comes to your hair, keep the water at a reasonable temperature when you’re showering because if it’s too hot, it can remove the moisture from your scalp resulting in flaky skin. Treating your locks to a conditioning treatment once or twice a week will lock in the moisture so that your hair looks healthy and glossy. By incorporating a gentle head massage at the same time, it will help to stimulate the hair follicles and blood flow to your scalp.

During the winter months, it’s easy to forget to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water which is so important to keep your skin feeling and looking fresh. Remembering to eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is a must, too. Incorporate an exfoliation treatment into your skincare routine which will help to remove any unwanted skin cells and keep it soft and supple. Why not treat yourself to a well earned facial?

It’s so important to remember to make time for yourself in the lead-up to your wedding because you want to feel, and look, your very best for the most important day of your life!

Maxine Ward Celebrant | 07919 598 013 https://mwcelebrant.co.uk | www.facebook.com/MWCelebrant www.instagram.com/mwcelebrant

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Juliet Draper Hair and Make-up Artist https://julietdraper.co.uk www.facebook.com/julietdraperhair www.instagram.com/julietdraperhair

Meet the expert: Libby Clark is a wedding, family and boudoir photographer based in Devizes, Wiltshire.

I’m considering booking a boudoir shoot to surprise my hubby-to-be. Can you tell me what to expect?

Libby says: I’m now offering boudoir photo shoots in the comfort of your home for a limited time only at an introductory offer! A 90-minute shoot with five digital files to keep afterwards and more available to purchase costs £100 and makes a wonderful keepsake for you and your partner!

We sometimes feel under pressure to look our best, keep in good shape, achieve perfect skin and have a healthy body, but our bodies come in all shapes and sizes and they deserve to be celebrated.

The most attractive woman is a confident one and a boudoir shoot will do so much for your body confidence. You might want to capture yourself on camera because you’ve just reached a milestone birthday or are pregnant. The shoots happen in the privacy of your home so that you’re comfortable and have control. We will experiment with different looks and outfits in various areas of your home. The shoot is all about you and the results will be fantastic!

RUSTIC CHIC

Meet the expert: Adam and Tom are the design duo of engineers behind The Hairpin Leg Company based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, dedicated to crafting quality handmade furniture.

We’re looking for some wedding theme inspiration – what were the most popular wedding aesthetics for 2021 on Instagram?

Adam and Tom say: Research into popular wedding-related hashtags have revealed a rising interest in a new design trend known as Rustic Vogue. Research shows that #rusticweddings has been used on 2,164,541 Instagram posts this past year and that #rusticweddingdecor and #rusticweddingideas are also growing in popularity, with 261,243 and 27,055 posts respectively.

Further research also reveals that Rustic Vogue has also risen in search popularity within the last six months, and is continuing to do so as the year draws to a close.

While there are always several factors that influence design trends like this one, likely, the surge in interest for rustic aesthetics for people planning weddings will be down to continued social lockdowns during winter. People’s focuses and what they think are important have shifted – many couples getting married are no longer opting for lavish, grand affairs, instead preferring simple, family-focused ceremonies and celebrations.”

Libby Clark Photography | 07835 936 885 www.libbyclarkphotography.co.uk/boudoir www.facebook.com/libbyclarkphotography www.instagram.com/libbyclarkphotography

The Hairpin Leg Co | 01666 818 222 www.thehairpinlegcompany.co.uk www.facebook.com/thehairpinlegco www.instagram.com/thehairpinlegco