INTIMATE ROMANCE

Intimate romanceINTIMATE WEDDING INSPIRATION How to plan a small celebration

Although the restrictions on weddings have been lifted, here at Your North West Wedding, we’ve seen a rise in the number of couples choosing to have a small wedding. To help you create the perfect celebration, we’ve rounded up some of the region’s finest suppliers and asked for their top tips on creating a fabulous wedding with a small guest list.

Venue styling ideas

My main piece of advice would be to focus on the smaller details. The great thing about having an intimate wedding is it allows you to be more creative. Choose a theme and keep it consistent. For example, once you have chosen your flowers, use them throughout the day. Incorporate them within your welcome drinks, table settings and on the back of your chair sashes. As you don’t have as many people to cater for, you really can go the extra mile with your décor.

When it comes to your tables, think of charger plates with mixed linen. Napkins can be expensive when you have to cater for the higher end of guest numbers, however, if your wedding is more intimate, it’s a great way to give your table the wow factor. Personalised menus and favours will also give your wedding a personalised touch.

Victoria Rawlins from Blossom & Bows events@blossomandbows.com | www.instagram.com/blossomandbowseventhire

Choosing your flowers

Your big-day blooms are a great way of showing your personalities and incorporating your chosen theme or colour scheme. You can opt for a wide variety of arrangements, and by using them on a smaller scale, you’ll be able to save money.

Keep in mind that some flowers are seasonal and may be difficult to source or too expensive to purchase at different times of the year. If you have your heart set on a particular flower, talk to your florist and ask if there are any alternatives or if there’s any way you can purchase artificial versions. These often look great and can be preserved as a memento of your special day.

Although your wedding is small, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the space beautiful. Look for table arrangements, flower walls, bouquets, buttonholes and flower crowns. The list is endless. Skim through social media and magazines to try and find inspiration to show your chosen supplier so they have something to work with.

www.camillalucindaphotography.com www.gjpphotography.co.uk

www.joemather-photography.co.uk

Top stationery tips

Your closest family and friends are the people most likely to keep your invitations and pop their place card in a memory box to remember your big day. An intimate wedding gives you the perfect opportunity to make a statement with your stationery. Add some final touches to your invitations, such as wax seals and vellum overlays which are very much on trend this season. Think about adding some personal touches to your on the day stationery too. Why not include a memory or quote for each guest to make them feel extra special?

When searching for a wedding stationer, look for someone who doesn’t have a minimum order value or quantity, so you aren’t paying over the odds for what you need. If you’re on a tight budget, be upfront and discuss this with your designer so they can best advise you from the beginning.

Laura Luhrs from Forever Begins Paper Studio 07710 893 841 | www.foreverbegins.co.uk

Picking a cake design

An intimate wedding cake can still have a large impact. Small creations don’t have to be understated and should still taste just as amazing.

Dummy tiers made from polystyrene will allow you to create the wow factor without an abundance of leftovers.

If there are changes required with your date or guest numbers, try to let your supplier know as soon as possible to give them the best chance to accommodate these. Make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions regarding cancellation policies, booking fees, payments and rescheduling. Most importantly, enjoy the process!

WE CAN GUARANTEE TO PROVIDE YOUR DREAM DAY WHATEVER THAT MAY BE...

Skitby is licensed for Civil Ceremonies, Partnerships And Naming Ceremonies and our quirky barn venue offers full venue exclusivity for your special day. We can assure you that the only wedding happening on site on any given day will be yours, creating that relaxed homely vibe for both you and your guests to enjoy.

We pride ourselves in our ability to offer a very personal and bespoke wedding planning experience and view the process as an exciting journey leading to your “Happily ever after”. We are always delighted to welcome same sex and LGBT Weddings!

Our Ceremony room with open fire and stunning period grand piano can accommodate between 80 and 100 guests. Our Main Suite with exposed beams and feature stone wall can accommodate 96 guests. Both the Main Suite and ceremony room can seat 130 guests. For an evening Reception we can accommodate 180 -200 guests.

www.adam-tranter.com www.stevenrooneyphotography.com

Incorporating alpacas into your day

When thinking about your wedding and deciding on what you want to include, remember this is a one-off special day and one that you will want to remember. If you love alpacas, this is the perfect time to share them with your friends and family.

There are some considerations to take into account when having something out of the ordinary at your wedding, especially animals. Make sure the venue you choose is happy to have them there. If this is on the top of your wishlist, check it out sooner rather than later, as you may have to consider a different venue. We have a list of properties that are happy to have our alpacas, but if they’re not on the list, they may have never have had the opportunity before. We will always do a pre-wedding visit with new venues to make sure they are happy to welcome our alpacas.

The best thing about alpacas is that it doesn’t matter how many guests you have, the age range of your friends and family or whether there are any children, alpacas are for everyone and will look great in your wedding album.

Jane and Paul Colman from Wreay Syke Alpacas 07866 918 550 | www.wreaysykealpacas.co.uk

Choosing the perfect wedding dress

Just because you’re having a small wedding doesn’t mean you can’t go all out on the dress or even wear two if the mood strikes. Remember made-to-order dresses can take up to six months to be made and delivered to your chosen boutique, so start shopping with plenty of time to spare. Around nine to 12 months before is a good starting point. If you don’t have loads of time on your hands, then don’t panic! Talk to your bridal boutique, they may be able to order certain dresses in a shorter amount of time or offer a selection of off-the-peg gowns, which means you can take them away on the day of your appointment.

If you have a budget in mind, then it’s always a good idea to ask the boutiques you’re planning to visit what their price ranges are. During your appointment, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember to have fun and enjoy the experience.

Cumbria Classic Wedding Cars

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