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Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Sussex Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@your-sussex.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
What If It Rains?
| Q | What is your advice on overcoming the most common planning concerns? |
| A | Jackie Levers says: This is the most common concern for couples hoping to have a dream outdoor wedding ceremony, particularly if the forecast is looking unsettled. I always say you can do everything but control the weather. There's nothing that's going to change the fact that you'll still be getting married come rain or shine. So, why not embrace it? There'll be so many beautiful and fun photos your photographer can capture in the rain or wind. In fact, most prefer not to have full sun due to the squinting and can capture more atmospheric shots in inclement weather. The most important thing is to celebrate that you've just got married and enjoy the company of all your friends and family who're there to help you celebrate your special day. |
Jackie Levers, Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club
Small But Perfectly Formed
| Q | What is your advice on planning an intimate wedding? |
| A | Kim Stewart says: An intimate wedding is the perfect time to concentrate on what matters to you as a couple. Family and friends are easier to interact with and you're more likely to feel that you've been present for your day. But where to begin? •Venue. Perhaps your favourite venue has a smaller space for more intimate weddings? Or you could look at hiring a whole country house for a weekend, a beautiful library or a small art gallery. •Flowers and styling. With a smaller space to fill and fewer people to feed and water, you could use more of the budget on venue styling. Instead of opting entirely for cut flowers, invest in some pot plants too. Best of all, they can be used afterwards. •Photographer. No matter the size of your celebrations do invest in a good photographer to record your memories. •Cake. You won't need a massive big-day bake so opt for a small but beautiful one if you still want cake-cutting ceremony. Alternatively, individal mini bakes could be a stunning option. •Entertainment. Garden games are a great way of entertaining guests – anyone for croquet? A sketch or caricature artist or live painter to capture impressions of your guests would make excellent keepsakes for them. |
Kim Stewart, Great Betley Farmhouse
Careful Thought and Planning
| Q | What is your advice on planning a sustainable wedding? |
| A | Jude Hesselgrave says: Although it's impossible for weddings to be 100% sustainable, there are a number of ways you can plan for your wedding to be sustainably conscious with just a little forward thinking. Consider creating a wedding website, this is a great way of cutting back on the use of paper. However, if you're considering a stationer for your invitations, there are many out there who produce wedding stationery sustainably, some use what's called 'rag paper' a technique of creating paper using used cotton garments. Check the venue you're considering has a waste recycling system in place, imagine all the waste from each wedding going into landfill when with just a little thought much of it could be recycled. One thing I often say is choose your suppliers carefully. Using a caterer who's conscious of where their produce comes from and a florist who sources blooms from local flower farms rather than from wholesalers helps to keep your carbon footprint down. These are just a few ways of consciously planning your wedding with our planet in mind. If you'd like to find out more about sustainable wedding at Wickerwood Farm click check out our website. |
Jude Hesselgrave, Wickerwood Farm
Location, Location, Location
| Q | What is your advice on taking the first steps in wedding planning? |
| A | Jackie Levers says: The first thing to do is decide what type of wedding you'd like and what date you prefer. There are so many beautiful times of the year to get married. This will all have a great influence on your palette, choice of flowers and décor to create the look you may already have in mind. Imagine where you see yourself exchanging your vows. This could be in a traditional church with hymns, readings and perhaps that white Rolls Royce you've always dreamed of. You'd then book a venue to go on to for your wedding reception. Or do you see yourselves having everything in one place? It can make things a little easier but it is all down to personal taste. Here at Cottesmore, we offer a romantic outdoor ceremony out on our lawn or a stunning indoor barn room for a stylish backdrop to the "I dos." We then have a stunning reception room for your wedding breakfast and party. We wish you all the best. |
Jackie Levers, Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club
Summer Scorchers
| Q | What is your advice on planning an outdoor wedding? |
| A | Samantha Gilchrist says: With the summer wedding season in full swing and the English weather as unpredictable as ever, you may get more than you bargained for when it comes to wishing for a sunny day for your al fresco nuptials. Don't compromise your photographic backdrop for finding shade. Your wedding venue is the backdrop to your day and it's important that it's not lost in your photography when avoiding squinting eyes. Work with your venue and photographer in advance to discuss where you'll take your couple shots and allow for early evening photographs in the iconic areas of your venue that might be too bright for the day. Ensure you have someone on hand to bring you water and canapés during your photo session and to top you up with suntan lotion, which can often get forgotten. Nobody wants a sunstroke headache on their wedding day! As you'd make the decision to move your ceremony indoors if it rains, don't feel pressured to stay outside if the sun becomes too hot. Consider your dress or suit and whether you'll be too hot to enjoy the moment. If you're intent on staying outside, maybe ditch the suit jackets and instead opt for braces or waistcoats that buttonholes can be pinned to. Think too about your guests. Will some be older and struggle with the temperatures? Work with your venue to understand if the area you've chosen is shaded or exposed to the sun. Otherwise, make the most of your venue's inside space and move things to shelter so you can keep your cool at the altar. If you're worried about guests struggling with the heat while enjoying your venue's grounds, incorporating some cooling wedding favours can help them deal with the soaring temperatures. My favourites include paper fans, sun cream, flavoured water dispensers, cooling mist stations, or even offer ice cream or ice lollies. Don't for get to take time out to refresh. Whether it's packing a few extra shirts, arming your chief bridesmaid with powder for keeping the shine away or popping some refreshing towels and sprays into the venue's toilets, all this can encourage that moment to refresh allowing your guests to feel their best. |
Samantha Gilchrist, The Ravenswood
