This issue we asked our experts to offer those of you just starting out on your wedding planning journey some advice as you take those first tentative steps HOT TOPIC Getty Images SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT Kevin Clay, otherwise known as Elite Elton (www.eliteelton.com) says: When it comes to entertainment, whoever it is you have your interest set on, hopefully you’ve seen them perform first! If you love them, book early as the best acts get booked up quickly. See what sort of set list they have, my personal recommendation is that they need to be to perform something for everyone spanning all ages. For example, if I’m booked for my act as Party Man, the live music is created to suit everyone’s tastes, allowing them to have a great, fun time on the dancefloor. Remember, you might have ages present from children to grandparents, so a large melting pot of different genres is what’s needed. Have your entertainment set up before your reception starts, so that it all looks great before the celebrations start. Keep an open mind too. Timings for the day can often run over, so try not to over schedule. Things rarely go according to plan, and this is fine. If it happens, relax, enjoy your moment. Weddings always sort themselves out throughout the course of the day. It’s going to be great! THE GREAT ESCAPE Personal travel consultant Sally Bosman from Not Just Travel (https://sallybosman.notjusttravel.com) says: Planning a honeymoon can be daunting and is usually at the bottom of the to do list. So, I’d recommend choosing a personal travel consultant as soon as possible, here are just a few reasons why. •Like having a wedding planner, you’ll have someone looking after all the details of your perfect escape, leaving you to concentrate on the big day and it won’t cost you a penny. •As you get closer to the travel date, availability will be limited and the cost will be much higher, so you may end up getting what’s left rather than what you want. •A personal travel consultant will have access to flights and accommodation that aren’t available online, up to two years in advance for some itineraries and sometimes longer. •The earlier you book, the longer you’ll have to pay off the balance and, therefore, be able to spread the costs. •Many couples prefer honeymoon contributions to wedding gifts. Your personal travel consultant will be able to set up a honeymoon gift list so that your guests can contribute directly to the fund and every penny will be yours! BEST FOOT FORWARD Emma Brewer at First Dance Studios (https://firstdancestudios.co.uk) says: No doubt you’ll already have started your to-do list of people and places to contact, so regarding your first dance we can chat online or on the phone before pencilling in dates for your lessons. Don’t panic though as these won’t start until a minimum of two to three months before the big day. Life can take over as you hurtle towards it, so we don’t want to start too soon in case you don’t have a chance to practice and you forget everything you’ve been taught! I absolutely promise that the lessons will be a major fun part of the wedding planning and you’ll have a skill for life. Just think, you’ll be sorted for all future weddings and events, and you’ll be able to dance together confidently. You never know, it might even spark a love for dance and you’ll carry on your lessons once you’re newlyweds – what a great date night idea! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, the first step is to get in touch with your chosen dance studio for a chat and discuss your ideas or ask for advice if you don’t know where to start. https://alexmillerweddings.co.uk Firststeps EXPERT ADVICE 63
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