Your South Wales Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 74)

Our experts solve your problems HOT TOPIC: WEDDING WORRIES STYLED TO PERFECTION My wife-to-be and I are having a summer- themed wedding and would like to incorporate our theme into the marquee where we’re getting married. Do you have any ideas? Ask yourself what summer means to you. Focus on colour, brightness and bringing the outdoors inside. My favourite way of doing this is through summer-themed accessories. Look for patterned table runners, these are something you rarely see, but are impactful and easy to make. ❤ Colourful ceiling lanterns are also a great idea. My brother had an August wedding at which we hung lots of colourful round lanterns over the dancefloor to create a bright, carnival feel. ❤ Use pot plants instead of cut flowers. Late spring and early summer events can often benefit from the number of quality pot-plants available. At my wedding, I used pot plants for the tables and gave some away to friends and family and kept others for our garden. These also make a lovely table plan. Use one of our display ladders to place a different plant for each table with a list of those sitting at each. ❤ Pretty colours are key to creating a summer-themed look. We find a higher demand for pale pink charger plates this time of year while winter is all about silvers and golds. ❤ Add a splash of colour to a more traditional table-scape with coloured water glasses. ❤ Outdoor props such as sofas, outdoor benches, carpets and tall lamps can be rented to add an outside feel to your marquee. Beth Stretton Venue styling specialist www.meganandclaude.co.uk A CLASS ACT We want to book an amazing band that will keep our guests on the dancefloor, but we’re worried about booking someone online that we’ve never met. Do you have any suggestions? We understand your concerns and often get asked if couples can see our bands live ahead of the big day. As full-time professional musicians, their bookings are mostly weddings and private events, so they rarely perform public shows. If you’ve found a band that you love, you’re much safer basing your decision on the strength of their videos, playlists, biography and previous clients’ reviews. If you have further concerns, choose a band through a reputable professional service. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes from booking with a provider such as Music HQ. We offer our services at more than 600 weddings each year and can provide a first-rate, reliable service. Martin Goddard Entertainment specialist www.musichq.co.uk www.armstrong-millar.com Barb Simkova  EXPERT ADVICE 55