DATES FOR THE DIARY We’re recently engaged and are already feeling overwhelmed by choice! There are so many wonderful wedding suppliers in our area, how on earth do we start to narrow it down to the best fit for us? Kelly Andrews, editor of Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding says: My top tip would be to attend at least one local wedding show. You’ll have a couple of options to look out for here. Often, wedding venues will host wedding showcases where their recommended suppliers get together to demonstrate how amazing they can make the space look. Not only is this great for inspiration, but also a safe space, as you know the suppliers you meet are 100 per cent trusted by the venue you’ve chosen and are experienced collaborators. Venue stylists for example will know how to bring out the setting’s best assets and complement its decor, while photographers will know the absolute top spots for capturing those all-important couple shots. We also highly recommend checking out any grander-scale wedding shows. Event organiser The Word on Weddings hosts two mammoth shows at UWE Bristol every year. So, pop 26th October 2025 in your diaries now as it’s not to be missed! Entry is free and exhibitors will often have some great show-exclusive deals for you to benefit from. This March’s show welcomed no fewer than 80 local exhibitors, so while you’re still spoilt for choice what it does offer is an unmissable opportunity to chat to the experts in person and begin to narrow things down. You’ll very quickly get a feel of who might be the one for your vision just from a quick chat or even simply looking at their stand. We always say that when assembling your dream team, a rapport is crucial as is a fundamental understanding and appreciation of your vision. So, see if you click. What’s more, these bigger shows will have organised plenty of experiences for you throughout the day to inspire. You’ll get to hear entertainers perform and demonstrate just what they can do. You may never have thought of a string quartet until you hear one and fall in love. The catwalk shows are an absolute must! Nothing beats seeing a stream of stunning designs sweep down the runway, giving you an idea of how the top looks move on the body as well as the vibe they exude. By the end, you’ll be ready to head to your boutique appointment excited and prepared with a brief for your consultant. Aside from the essential planning tool wedding fairs provide, they also offer a wonderful day out allowing you to fully enjoy the process. So, grab your best girls, and/or your spouse-to-be and make a day of it! RSVP TRAUMA What happens if we have guests drop out last minute? Melissa Cullen from CWM’s editorial team says: One way to avoid cancellations is to set a clear RSVP deadline on your invitations. If you haven’t heard either way by this date, get in touch to follow up. However, stuff happens. Some circumstances are unforeseen; the guest’s reason might be completely understandable... and sometimes not! First things first, don’t panic. It’s 100 per cent frustrating if there’s a flighty excuse, and it’s ok to feel disappointed, so own that for a minute. Next, it’s time to spring into action! If there’s time, contact your suppliers to see whether adjustments can be made. Start with your venue’s wedding coordinator, particularly if the dropouts will affect the table plan. Have another look at your seating arrangements, and let the venue know where the place settings need to be removed, eliminating any anti-social gaps around the table. If you have a wedding planner, they’ll be able to take care of all of this for you. The most important supplier to contact, if you haven’t already covered this by informing the venue, is your caterer. Let them know of the change to the number of meals you need. If it’s too late for them to adjust the price of your catering accordingly, at least you’ll be avoiding unnecessary waste. Alternatively, do you have a backup list? You might have jointly decided not to invite some folks when you put your guest list together as numbers and costs were spiralling. Perhaps there’s someone you wish you could upgrade from evening only? Why not reach out to them and ask if they’re available to attend the daytime section as well? Then, you’ve wasted nothing and it’s just a question of altering any place names or table plan if possible. And breathe. Remember, you’ll still have a whole room full of people who mean the world to you. Focus on the approaching celebration, it’ll still be the best... day... ever! MELTING! We’re getting married during the height of summer so we’re a bit worried about the effects of scorching temperatures on our cake! Do you have any advice for us? Olivia Gibson from CWM’s editorial team, says: If you’re tying the knot during the summer months plan ahead with your cake designer. You may love buttercream but, particularly if you’re planning an al fresco celebration with no air conditioning for example, there’s a good chance it won’t survive the temperatures! Your cake maker may instead suggest a showstopping, sophisticated fondant iced bake, which is much less likely to melt in the heat. You may also find that they decide to use a layer of ganache beneath the fondant to increase stability. Practical and oh-so yummy! An alternative to fondant icing is a completely naked cake. These were on trend for a long time, particularly for rustic wedding themes. With minimal to no icing, you only have the buttercream inside to worry about. However, it’s worth noting that the heat can cause the sides to dry out and as they’re often decorated with fresh fruit, keeping it cool is still important. Even when keeping all of this in mind at the planning stages, there’s still an element of risk, so where you display and store the cake is going to be key. Look for a spot in the venue that’s cool and away from direct sunlight. Avoid placing it near a window where the greenhouse effect caused by the glass will generate additional heat, causing your beautiful bake to look like the leaning tower of Pisa by the time you come to cut it. Alternatively, if the weather forecast looks to be particularly scorching, you may want to make arrangements with your venue to keep it stored in a cool place until the cutting in the evening, when hopefully temperatures will have dropped a bit. If all else fails, treat it to its own fan to keep the air circulating around it. Jocelyn Allen on Unsplash Thomas William on Unsplash 43 EXPERT ADVICE
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