HOT TOPIC Springtime vibes Our experts offer some stellar advice on planning a spring wedding EASTER FUN Jenny Bayliss from Swanley Meadows (www.swanleymeadows. com) says: A great starting point is choosing flowers that’re in bloom at this time of year – peonies, tulips, and blossom branches could set the tone for a soft, romantic theme. We love the idea of using these to guide our colour palette, perhaps with pastels and fresh greens to reflect the season. Rather than being too on-the-nose you could subtly weave in springtime touches such as delicate floral details in your stationery, flowing fabrics, and soft candlelight to create a dreamy feel. That said, don’t shy away from a playful nod to Easter! A little chocolate egg favour at each place setting could be a sweet touch (because who doesn’t love chocolate?), or even a surprise element, like a small Easter egg hunt as a thoughtful detail for younger guests. SEASONAL VOWS Wedding celebrant Julie Kelling (https://humanist.org. uk/juliekelling) says: If you’re planning a springtime wedding, why not ask your celebrant to contribute to the themes of the season? You could request that your celebrant wears an outfit in seasonal colours of lavender or pale yellow, mint green or baby blue, any pastel shade. As a non-religious celebrant, I’m more than happy to match an appropriate colour to the theme of the ceremony. The same goes for any symbolic ritual you might want to include, like hand-tying, which could be done with beautiful springtime coloured silk fabric. A delightful way to illustrate ‘tying the knot.’ Why not choose a poem to reflect the season? Think of the birth of the new baby lambs and the budding flowers and the extra hours of daylight, it’s the time for new beginnings. You can ask your celebrant to weave that into the story of the new life together you’re about to embark on as a married couple. The joy of choosing a celebrant-led ceremony means you can tailor the service to suit your wedding style, whatever the time of year. www.bernadettedelaney.com 48
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