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Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding dilemmas

STEP INTO SPRING

My wife-to-be and I are getting married next spring and we’d like some shots to reflect the season. Do you have any suggestions? Spring is a fantastic time to get married as everything begins to bloom. Make sure to take outdoor shots if your venue has spring flowers and blossom trees. The weather can still be a little unpredictable, but you can have this issue any month in the UK.

The days are longer in spring with it getting dark from around 6pm, this means your photographer will be able to capture golden hour, dusk and night shots before they leave. You don’t often get the opportunity for night shots in the summer months, as you’d be waiting till around 10pm to take them Becky Kerr | Becky Kerr Photography www.beckykerrphotography.co.uk

SPRING FEVER

What should we keep in mind when planning an outdoor wedding in spring? It’s perfectly possible to have a beautiful outdoor wedding in spring if you plan correctly. Don’t forget the practical issues of getting your guests and suppliers to where they need to be. Wheelchairs and a boggy ground aren’t a great mix, so think about pathways and access.

Gardens are beautiful this time of year and are full of stunning colours. To make the most of these spaces for photographs, consider having brollies on standby or even a pair of wedding wellies just in case.

A cloak room or area for coats and umbrellas will help avoid bulky items appearing in your indoor wedding photos, which you’ll especially want to avoid in the ceremony and wedding breakfast shots. Be prepared and you’ll be ready for anything. Vikki Richman | Your Wedding Friend www.yourweddingfriend.co.uk

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PLANNING SOS

We’re currently planning our spring wedding; what advice can you share with us? When planning a wedding for this time of year, focus on the colourful details and floral designs. I think of lots of pastel colours paired with white touches and glass features when it comes to spring.

Style your tables with cylinder floating candles and small vases full of fresh flowers to bring light, texture and elegance to your day. You could even grow and pick your own blooming flowers to save on the budget and be more sustainable; this is perfect if you want to achieve an Englishgarden style.

Ensure to invest in napkins to bring your season to life. Most venues include standard white ones, but bringing a splash of colour onto your tables can transform the wedding styling and tablescape. Go for a linen sage green napkin tied loosely and placed on top of your charger plates. Add a beautiful abundance of fresh flowers to lift the room and bring the season to life. Lauren Cooper | LBC Weddings and Events www.lbcweddingsandevents.co.uk

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We’re having a festival-style wedding, but we’re unsure how to incorporate catering into our day. What ideas can you suggest? The food should be fun, ultimately tasty and easy to eat on the go as no one wants to be carrying around a three-course meal. Our advice is to choose a food van that you’d visit at a festival. If the budget allows, go for more than one option to keep all your guests happy, or pick a company that offers a selection of menu items covering different food preferences and dietary requirements.

Our mantra at The Horsebox UK is ‘simple things done well’, and our toasties are just that. Our food isn’t overcomplicated but darn tasty and easy to eat while catching up with loved ones. Weddings can be all too formal and in choosing a festival-style wedding, you’ll want to remove some of the formalities.

Don’t get too caught up on timings. We would generally give a four-hour window where guests can come and grab some food at their leisure – although we never leave until everyone is fed and happy. Some guests naturally want to eat earlier than others, and some might only get hungry after creating an appetite on the dancefloor. The option keeps the queuing to a minimum and allows more time to celebrate. Ashley Skipp | The Horsebox UK www.thehorseboxuk.com