Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - Page number 88 - June/July 2021 (Issue 83)

Our experts help you plan your dream day HOT TOPIC PERFECTLY PERSONAL Q: We’ve booked a large venue, but now we’re having a small wedding in June under restrictions. How can we make it feel more intimate? The rooms in our historic venues range from intimate to grand, with spaces ideal for any occasion. For example, the Roman Baths is perfect for an elopement or a grand celebration with 150 guests. It’s suitability is all down to how you use the space. Holding a smaller wedding in a large venue has become the norm over the past 12 months. Here are some ideas to make the setting more intimate: ❤ Make use of the room’s features. For example, our venues have some beautiful crystal chandeliers, which make fantastic focal points for a ceremony or seated reception. ❤ Have all your guests on one table in the centre of the room to create an opulent dinner party vibe. ❤ Reduce the number of guests per table to increase table numbers. ❤ Use soft foliage to create a sense of enclosure. ❤ Divide the area into zones for dining, dancing and the bar. You can even hire in lounge furniture to create an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Lizzie Marshall | Bath’s Historic Venues www.bathvenues.co.uk/weddings WED-FEST Q: We’re having a festival-style tipi wedding. What catering would suit this? We’d suggest something simple, tasty and easy to eat – all served from a food stall. Festival-style service allows for more relaxed timings; the stand can be open for a couple of hours, with guests collecting their meal at their leisure. Plus, with no need to clear away plates, it saves you precious time so you can move on to the next part of your day. We’d recommend a couple of stalls: one for the main course and one for dessert, such as an ice cream bicycle. Our two catering options, Thali and Pieminister, both complement this style of wedding very well. The pies are served in eco-friendly boxes with mash, minted mushy peas and gravy. Alternatively, Thali dishes have a choice of curry, rice and toppings. Guests just need to collect their food and wooden cutlery, then dig in! It’s super-satisfying, eco- and budget-friendly and stress-free! Naomi Coombes | Mesa Catering www.mesacatering.co.uk www.ath inglikethatphotography.com) https://sam docker.co.uk 88