7 minute read
HOT TOPIC
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
How can we make our ceremony personal to us?
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As a modern celebrant, I always spend time getting to know my couples to create something unique and joyful. The only limitation is your imagination, from fun, traditional, modern to religious, symbolic and quirky, the options are endless.
Don’t just think about the ceremony content, keep in mind where it is taking place and if it is somewhere special to you both.
Think about the seating layout of your ceremony and talk to your venue about different options - could everyone sit in a circle, so no one has a bad view? When it comes to walking in, mix it up a bit. Walk in alone, with your best friend, together or with your dog.
You can involve your guests in symbolic ways with things like unity candles, sand ceremonies, tree planting, ring warming, handfasting or simply by mentioning special people.
My favourite part of any ceremony is the bit where I tell all your guests your story, what brought you together and what’s kept you together. A celebrant will help you to create personal vows, as well as suggest appropriate elements that you could include.
It doesn’t have to all be serious. Music that makes your guests smile or laugh or sing along always goes down well. Enter to the theme tune to Jurassic Park, if that’s your thing, or get everyone to sing Wonderwall as you leave.
Vikki Harris | www.vikkiharris.com
HOT TOPIC: wedding worries
Our experts solve your problems
LAST NIGHT OF FREEDOM
I want something fun for my stag do. Do you have any ideas?
There are lots of options available, our most popular stag activities often include: ❤ A morning of raft building with team games and challenges. ❤ An adrenalin-fuelled afternoon of canyoning with several great jumps and slides into water pools and waterfalls. ❤ We provide all safety kits, social media photos from the day to freely share, warm showers and lunch at an additional cost. ❤ After a day of activities, you could move on to a local pub or restaurant. ❤ Customise your day with fun themes and outfits (safety permitting).
Tim Nicholson | www.adventurenorthwest.co.uk
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
I’m looking for a dress that’s fun and a bit unusual. Do you have any ideas of what I should look for?
We often get brides wanting something a bit different to the norm. A great way to achieve this is by looking for an alternative colour to the traditional ivory or white. Many designs are now available in a range of colours, from subtle blush pinks to daring blacks.
Considered a tea-length dress. These look fun and quirky, especially when teamed with unusual shoes. A pair of bright coloured heels can tie the whole look together.
A huge trend for 2022 is 3D florals, and we can’t get enough of them! Whether it’s a decorated train or the whole dress, these embellishments are a great way to ensure you stand out on your big day.
Shopping local will help cut down your carbon emissions, and using a bespoke goldsmith, who won’t be buying ready-made jewellery that comes from abroad, is a great way of being more sustainable. We at Jewellery by Michael Kings encourage couples to bring in unused metal to be made into new jewellery, which cuts down on cost and emissions as well as adds a sentimental value to your piece.
David King | www.kingjewellery.co.uk
www.thewildloveclub.com
BOHO CHIC
My wife-to-be and I are planning a boho-themed wedding and aren’t sure where to start. What do you suggest?
Start with your colour scheme or theme first as this is the overarching element for the whole wedding. After you have decided on the colours, atmosphere and décor, the rest will fall into place. Your choice of ambience and atmosphere will help guide your choices for table and chair options, how relaxed you want your reception to be, and the venue where you want to celebrate.
Answering the below questions might make it easier for you to define your style: ❤ What do you lean towards? Vintage, romantic, natural or colourful? ❤ Where do you vision your nuptials taking place? On the beach, in a garden, barn, tipi, manor, church or a cottage? ❤ What season do you want to get married in? This will guide your choice of an indoor or outdoor venue and help you choose your colour palette. ❤ What would be your choice of food? Do you want a formal wedding breakfast, a buffet-style, a food truck or a specific cuisine? ❤ What décor do you envision? Is it something you want to
DIY yourself, or are there certain elements you want to include, such as rugs, carpets, lanterns, macrame, wicker, feathers, dream catchers, greenery or flowers?
Planning a wedding is exciting with endless opportunities, so don’t think you have to make up your mind and book all your vendors as soon as you’ve picked a wedding date! We suggest booking your wedding stylist, venue and photographer first. Once you have secured your stylist, it’s a great idea to work together in choosing your other suppliers. By having your stylist with you when choosing your florals, invitations and table décor, you can pick the perfect items to create a matching and cohesive aesthetic throughout the whole day. PLANNING SOS
We want to find a wedding planner to help us create the perfect day. What questions should we ask before booking?
Choosing a wedding planner can be a big decision, so you want to make sure you’re hiring the perfect supplier for you. Here are a few questions you should ask before booking: ❤ What is your style, or do you specialise in specific areas? ❤ How would we contact you and when? Is it email, a phone call or a video call? ❤ How often would we have a catch-up meeting to discuss the progress of the wedding? ❤ Have you worked at my venue before? ❤ Is your travel to our venue included in your price, and do we need to pay for your accommodation? ❤ How many hours will you be at the wedding? ❤ What happens if you can’t make it on the day? What is your backup plan? ❤ Will you have an assistant on the day? ❤ Do you charge extra for after hours? ❤ How many weddings do you plan per year? Will there be another wedding you’re planning on the same day as mine? ❤ Do you have a portfolio of previous weddings?
You might want to expand on these questions, but use them as a starting point to help you get a feel for their services.
Roline Cyriaque | www.4rluxuryevents.com
www.bradingimages.co.uk
PROVIDING BEAUTIFUL VENUE DECOR to make your day Sparkle
ADDALITTLESPARKLE.COM
mel@addalittlesparkle.com Facebook: Add a Little Sparkle Lancs
Your ceremony is important to you, you want it to reflect you and your values.
Make sure you leave it in the hands of a Celebrant FUN, FEMINIST, NON-TRADITIONAL, AUTHENTIC CEREMONIES WITH CELEBRANT T
Facebook: Celebrant.T | Instagram: ribeiroceremonies
29 Warwick Road Carlisle CA1 1DH T 01228 524 506 E susan@genevieves.co.uk Genevieve of Carlisle has an amazing collection for Mother of the Bride & Groom, guests and occasion wear, we have something to suit everyone. We pride ourselves in making you feel comfortable, with no pressure, we want you to feel confident in your outfit, be able to shine and have the biggest smile on your special day. For the last 15 years, the beautiful womenswear shop has been owned by the lovely Susan Dowes. The perfect person to dress you for your special occasion.
