Your East Midlands Wedding - December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 41)

YOUR DAY YOUR WAY We’re at the start of our wedding journey, what top tips can you share with us at this stage? I’d love to give you some tips for getting your budget together and to help keep track of spending. Start with thinking about the wedding date and how long you have to save up, this will help you come up with your overall budget that you’ll be comfortable with. Come up with a guest list number to help when looking at costs per head with catering, favours or stationery. Alternatively, you can set an amount you’d like to spend on this kind of detail and divide it by the number of guests to help compare suppliers’ quotes when you get them. Finally, start a spreadsheet or a planner to help you keep track of bookings and dates. This way you’re always on top of things.  Enjoy your research and look at all the options so you can find the elements that are ideal for your day before you book. All wedding suppliers love talking about your plans and will want you to find the perfect team for your big day! Laura Harrison | The Joy Planner Wedding Planning Support and Coordination | www.thejoyplanner.co.uk SAY ‘I DO’ There are so many venues to choose from. What factors should I consider to help narrow down the search? Your wedding is really all about you, so ideally you should compromise on as little as possible. The primary consideration when choosing your venue is its flexibility to suit your wishes. Take into consideration if you have a choice of caterers and provide your own alcohol without corkage. Can you use any other suppliers and decorate the venue however you want? Make sure you can bring along as many guests as you need and check if you have exclusivity of the venue for the day to allow more privacy. There are also a couple of other questions that need to be answered; these are more about feelings but are no less important. Does being at the venue make you happy and do you trust this venue to behave decently in these uncertain times? Can you picture your wedding at this venue and does that picture fit with what you always dreamed of? Sir Andrew Walker-Okeover | Osmaston Park  www.osmastonpark.com  FLOWER POWER What popular floral trends are set to hit next year? Due to the effects of COVID-19, it’s expected that many brides and florists will be keen to source British flowers next year leading to many more florals being governed by seasonal availability. Influenced by couples having to make a choice of whether to postpone or go ahead with an intimate wedding, some are deciding to go all-out with flowers and filling their venue with stunning arrangements. With this in mind, taking care when planning the use of the mechanics of arrangements, florists are able to construct their designs to allow easy transportation allowing full use and floral décor when the ceremony and wedding breakfast are at separate venues.  Justine Gould  Justine Gould Flowers By Arrangement www.justinegouldflowers.co.uk www.stev enbradshaw.co.uk  EXPERT ADVICE 75