HOT TOPIC Local wedding experts answer your questions DREAMY DESTINATION Meet the expert: Sara Price is an award-winning celebrant based in Helston, Cornwall. We want an outdoor, celebrant-led wedding this summer. Can you help? Sara says: Getting married outdoors is a magical experience, but a little planning goes a long way to make sure everything runs smoothly. Here are my top tips to ensure a perfect day. Since the weather can be unpredictable in this country, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan, whether that’s a marquee, an alternative indoor space, or just some umbrellas on hand. Embracing nature means working with it, so think about the season, the time of day, and keeping your guests comfortable too. Provide blankets for a chilly day, fans and bottled water for a hot day, plus maybe some insect repellent and sun cream too - all will be appreciated. Consider providing shade from the sun if you’re in an open space like a garden. Sound can be tricky outside, so a little microphone or careful seating will make sure that everyone hears everything during the ceremony. Consider the practical aspects, such as ensuring comfortable seating, easy access for guests, good acoustics and possibly discreet microphones so that everyone can hear your vows. A celebrant-led wedding means you can get married pretty much anywhere and at any time of day incorporating meaningful rituals and storytelling that ensure your outdoor wedding isn’t just about the location but about creating an experience that is unforgettable, heartfelt, and entirely bespoke. Fancy saying your vows under a giant oak tree in a woodland glade, or on a clifftop with the waves crashing below? Eloping in a hot air balloon at sunrise, or hosting a hand-tying ceremony by candlelight under the stars are other ideas - I’d say go for it! Your wedding can be as unique, fun, and meaningful as your love story - no rules, just pure, joyful and unforgettable moments. The best part of a celebrant-led wedding is that you have total freedom to create a ceremony that’s not just beautiful but totally you. www.sarapricecelebrant.co.uk www.instagram.com/sarapricecelebrant STRIKE A POSE We’re nervous about having our wedding photos taken – please can you give us some tips on how to remain relaxed in front of the camera? Meet the expert: Samantha (Sam) Currie is a digital photographer based in Devon and around the South West. She uses natural light to capture candid, timeless images. Sam says: I always think it’s important to trust your photographer, after all, you chose them for a reason because you love their work or something in particular about them. I like to meet my couples before their wedding day so we can get to know each other better, so during the big day I am a familiar face on hand to help, and capture some memorable moments! Some couples prefer guidance when it comes to posing for photos and that’s absolutely fine, whereas some do not and much prefer a more candid photography style. Every couple is different which is why communicating is so important, always ask questions or let your photographer know if you are not happy to do something or if you have any suggestions on how you’d like your images to look. For those who want to nail the posing brief, you can always practise a few poses in front of a mirror during the lead-up to your wedding day. So when the time comes for those all-important photos you can feel confident in knowing how you look! One of the classic poses I like to use is having the happy couple holding hands whilst looking into each others eyes. I know this can be a little intense after a while so one helpful tip is telling them to look at each others eyebrows instead of their actual eyes. This never fails to make couples laugh, resulting in some naturally happy and relaxed images! But the most important advice I give my couples is to enjoy their day and soak it all up. Relax the shoulders and remember you are sharing this wonderful time surrounded with friends, family and your soul mate. I take each couple away from their wedding guests at some point during the celebrations, escaping to spend some alone time together to take the portrait images, which always results in memorable pictures. www.samanthlouisephotography.co.uk www.instagram.com/samanthalouiisephotography https://paulkeppel.co.uk 49 ASK THE EXPERTS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=