Your Surrey Wedding- December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 86)

SNOW IS FALLING Q – We’d love some outdoor shots of our winter wedding. Do you have any ideas of how we can get amazing pictures in any weather? The most important thing to consider with winter weddings is light. As the afternoons grow darker faster there’s a smaller window for light. Seasonal weddings can be a double-edged sword. It can be amazing and give a beautiful golden light, but it can also bring terrific rainstorms. Some tips that I like to tell couples is to have a ‘first look’ before your ceremony. This means that you get to have a special moment as you greet each other for the first time, but it also ensures that you can take advantage of the brighter light of the day, which will ultimately create lovely portraits together. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If there’s the possibility of rain or snow be prepared. Get some cute welly boots and clear umbrellas. Going out in the wet weather can be fun if you embrace it. Ultimately, the main stress comes from being underprepared, so if you’re well-equipped, then you can weather any storm together. Jessica Grace Photographer www.jessicagracephotography.co.uk WINTER WONDERLAND Q – How can we create wintry stationery to tie in with our Christmas wedding? Winter is a wonderful time of year to get married, and there are many ways you can embrace the season through your stationery. Don’t feel tied to bright red berries, Christmas trees or a holly theme. Instead, you could incorporate these festive vibes with wintry blooms or modern greenery details. You might also think about introducing a touch of sparkle to your stationery, either through the use of pearlescent card and envelopes or metallic foils, the options are endless! Greenery is an enduring wedding theme, which works particularly well for winter weddings. This design features the pale blue tones of eucalyptus sprigs and other foliage, together with a modern font it’s a versatile style that would work perfectly for any country venue or barn. If you’re keen to acknowledge the Christmas feel, but without being too festive, then you could consider incorporating some classic colours into your stationery. This menu design (pictured) features beautiful crimson and snow-white watercolour winter roses, rosehips and foliage on a navy background to present a festive three-course menu. This design would lend itself beautifully to signage and other table stationery. There’s something truly festive about stars, particularly if they bring a bit of sparkle too. Jazz up a flat print and add a bit of shine by printing onto pearlescent paper, or go for metallic foil elements to make your stationery shine. Natalie Drage Stationery expert www.flamboyantinvites.com JUST ONE SLICE Q – My wife-to-be and I want to incorporate the festive season into our wedding cake. Can you suggest any flavours or decorations? Do you prefer a more traditional look with reds, greens and golds, or are you after a more modern theme with blues, whites and silvers? Either will make a stunning cake design and tie in with your theme perfectly. If you’ve opted for a more traditional bake, why not incorporate some beautiful shades of red with roses, styled with deep green ivy and holly leaves? Add gold accents with edible gold leaf, which will create a glamorous feel. If this is too bold for you, then pair it back by swapping the red roses for cream roses and bringing in small touches of red with holly berries. Alternatively, those of you who are more swayed towards the winter wonderland style, there are so many shades of blue you could choose from. Keep the flowers simple with an all-white display and let the cake make the impact with some edible glitter or silver leaf that will catch the light beautifully. If you prefer paler blue tones, then look for glitter details, snowflakes embossed into the icing and 3D snowflakes to add depth and dimension. When it comes to what’s inside the cake, why not delight and surprise your guests with some flavours that immediately make you think of Christmas, such as chocolate orange, gingerbread spice or chocolate and Irish cream? Jo Harper Cake maker www.thejoharpercakecompany.co.uk www.tomcaltonweddings.co.uk www.jessicagracephotography.co.uk 68