Your North West Wedding- Page number 53 - August/September 2021 (Issue 69)

ESPECIALLY FOR YOU Q – Our wedding planner has suggested we hire a celebrant for our big day, but we’re not sure what their role is. Should we book one, and what are the benefits? A celebrant will design a tailor-made ceremony that reflects your personalities and wishes. The celebrant will work with you to understand who you are as people and what is special about your relationship in order to create a personal service. While celebrants can’t currently conduct legal marriages in England and Wales, the legalities can be completed separately at a minor cost. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a celebrant: ❤ You will have complete flexibility and can get married wherever and whenever you like. It doesn’t need to be on a licenced premises and could be on a beach, on top of a mountain or in your back garden, the choice is yours! ❤ Celebrants generally only take one booking per day, so you will have contingency in the event of a delay and won’t be bound to a strict time window. ❤ You get to choose an officiant who you like and feel comfortable with. You will meet months before your big day and will feel like friends time the day comes. ❤ You can include prayers and readings, and as you’re not bound by civil laws couples who come from different backgrounds can include both their beliefs. ❤ Your celebration will be completely bespoke to you, meaning your ceremony will stand out and be memorable for your guests. Leanne Gateley | The Manchester Celebrant www.themanchestercelebrant.com ROMANTIC PHOTOGRAPHY Q – How can we get creative night-time shots? When photographing at night, flash photography is often used to illuminate the subject. There is, of course, more than one way to do this. One option can be to use an off-camera flash to backlight the bride and groom to create a silhouette shot. Flash can also be used in darker conditions to create stunning high contrast photographs. Remember to look at what ambient lighting your venue has. Signs and outside lighting can make for some striking and memorable images. Other light sources can be used to make interesting and dynamic pictures, such as string lights, lanterns, sparklers and candles. Stacey Jackson DarkleMoner Photography www.darklemoner.co.uk THE WRITE STUFF Q – What style of stationery should we go for, and what should we ask companies? Creating a style and theme is one of my favourite parts of wedding stationery. Start by looking for inspiration and ideas on Pinterest and Instagram. Create a moodboard of colours, wedding day styles and flowers you like to help narrow down your theme, and you can then use this to send to suppliers for reference. This will also help you source companies that offer those types of products. If you send a moodboard to a stationer like myself, it will help them get to know you, understand your tastes and guide you to stationery that will complement your day. The invitations will give your guests a subtle hint of what they can expect on the day and get the excitement going. If you love the designs they offer but want something a bit different to make it your own, you could opt for a bespoke service where you have a range designed just for you. Just keep in mind a personal design takes longer, which will be reflected in the cost. I also offer contemporary stationery that can be customised at no extra charge, which is a great way to make your stationery personal without going outside your budget. Lucy McSpirit | Lucy McSpirit Design www.lucymcspiritdesign.com www.dar klemoner.co.uk www.and rewjamesphotography.org www.alp orlinephotography.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE 53