CHILD-FREE CELEBRATIONS Meet the expert: Hungerford-based renowned society and celebrity wedding planner William Bartholomew is a professional party organiser, effortlessly organising events with style, integrity and discretion. Should we have a child-free wedding? William says: It’s up to the couple whether they want to include children, or just have young flowergirls and pageboys but no small babies and the guests must stick to their wishes. Naturally, it changes the dynamic when children are invited, as parents can become stressed. The benefit of not inviting young children and babies is that the guests, as well as the couple, can truly relax, and not have to worry about their little ones; allowing them to let their hair down and be present in a different sort of way. When included in the wedding proceedings, as flowergirls or page boys, children can bring another dimension and a feeling of family to a wedding ceremony. They often make for gorgeous photos, and it’s nice to have little ones included in various parts of the celebration, but only with the proper preparations made, so when they get tired or distracted there is something ready to entertain them. If you have children at weddings, they do need to be entertained. In the past, at weddings I have organised, the children have had special entertainment and party food after the ceremony, so they feel special and can be a part of it in their fun way. Having someone to look after them properly is also crucial, and is something that I frequently arrange. We supply someone to keep the children happy, for example, Sharky and George. They’re wonderful entertainers and have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to entertain. It’s also nice to feed children sooner rather than later, not making them wait for the wedding breakfast, then whisk them off before the adults’ dinner and the party starts. www.williambartholomew.com www.instagram.com/wbpoparties HOT TOPIC Local experts reveal all DREAM GETAWAY Meet the expert: Nicola Godman is the founder of Buckinghamshire-based multi-award-winning travel brand Not Just Travel, a local travel consultant and personal travel expert. She helps plans holidays and honeymoons so they are easy and stress free. Nicola launched her travel business just over a year ago. Her dedication to creating seamless, tailor-made trips has been backed by industry recognition with Not Just Travel recently scooping some prestigious awards. We’re planning our honeymoon for later this year and want a fun, adventurous trip. Can you help? Nicola says: The honeymoon has always been one of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning journey. Forget the old clichés, couples are now skipping the traditional fly-and-flop break in favour of something more meaningful. We’re seeing them prioritise bigger-spend, bucket-list destinations. Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Mauritius are fast replacing traditional destinations such as Italy or the Maldives. There’s a growing appetite for combining barefoot luxury with a touch of adventure - a real shift from how honeymoons used to look. Modern honeymoons are more than just a holiday - they’re a reflection of a couple’s personality, passions and shared vision for the future. Adventure-moons (where couples pair romantic, luxury stays with immersive, often off-the-beaten-track experiences) are on the rise. We’re planning more trips than ever that feature rainforest hikes, wildlife safaris, food tours or even volcano trekking. These are journeys that create lifelong memories, not just beautiful photos. There’s also a rise in family-moons, with children joining the celebration. We’re seeing couples embracing the idea of travelling with their families and enjoying exceptional resorts that offer everything from kids’ clubs to curated excursions, ensuring both romance and family bonding time. As couples marry later in life or enjoy second unions, many are inviting guests to contribute to a dream getaway. People want meaningful experiences over material gifts and our honeymoon gift list option means a luxury safari sunset dinner or a private yacht day becomes something their guests help them enjoy. Whether it’s a stargazing retreat in the desert, a private island hideaway, or a culture-packed road trip through Southeast Asia, the modern honeymoon is no longer one-size-fits-all. It’s the start of a brand new chapter - and a chance to write your own story, one unforgettable destination at a time. https://nicolagodman.notjusttravel.com www.facebook.com/notjusttravelnicolagodman www.unsplash.com www.unsplash.com 46
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