VISIT SITE
Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@yourbristolsomerset.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Make An Impact
| Q | What is your advice on planning an intimate wedding? |
| A | Rachel Terrett says: Treat your guests like VIPs. Smaller guest numbers offer the opportunity to go all out with an exquisite setup. When choosing a venue, make sure it isn't too big that you risk the tables feeling lost in the space. Consider impactful table layouts that fill the room and allow everyone to feel connected. Adding in beautiful lounge furniture helps to dress the space too and will be enjoyed during cocktail hour for a relaxed sophisticated vibe. When planning an intimate tablescape, I advise going big and impactful with plenty of flowers and candles to really dress the space and elevate the room. Adding personalised notes at place settings is a wonderful, thoughtful way to tell your chosen guests how important they are to you. Go all out if you can on the finest food and drinks for your favourite people to enjoy. With entertainment, if you don't plan to have additional evening guests, you may want to consider a relaxed roaming band that can follow from dinner rather than feeling the pressure of filling a big dancefloor – think chilled Ibiza vibes. |
Rachel Terrett, Salt and Scent
In the zone
| Q | Our wedding reception will be in our venue's marquee. It's such a vast space to fill and we're worried about it feeling a bit sparse. How can we overcome this? |
| A | Lynne Panes says: I love decorating marquees as you really can make them your own and get creative. With any venue of this type you can bring it to life with hired props or call in the professionals to help decorate and set up for you. I recommend zoning your marquee, here are a few ideas: * Entrance décor. Set the tone and line the entrance with milk churns, shepherds crooks and floral jars. Add a welcome sign and order-of-the-day too. * Gift display. Create an area where guests can leave their cards and gifts. Think lanterns, suitcases, wooden crates and a personalised guest book. * Ceiling décor. We suggest hanging hoops, foliage or floral ladders, fairylight installations, paper lanterns or folded material draping. * Seating area. Loved ones will appreciate this! Think vintage rattan chairs and add rugs, cushions, lanterns, and some blankets displayed on a ladder or in apple crates. * Cake display. Add décor and styling to the items you have already – your big-day bake offers the perfect opportunity. Why not add some shutters, arch or draping behind? |
Lynne Panes, Rustic Rentals
Snuggle up
| Q | How can I give my wedding venue a warm, winter-wonderland atmosphere to suit my January nuptials? |
| A | Holly Allman-Lopez says: When thinking of winter weddings, people often jump to icy blues, silver and white, but in my opinion these can look cold and uninviting. If you'd like your venue to exude feelings of cosiness, opulence and luxury, think about layering up different textures, such as shaggy sheepskin rugs against warm-toned natural woods. Think also about layering your lighting with atmospheric fairylights (always choose a warm LED for a cosy effect) and flickering candlelight at varying heights. Also, don't be shy with colour. Winter wonderland doesn't have to mean light, cool colours; sometimes deep and moody tones, set against lighter elements, sparkling glassware, and twinkling lighting create even more impact and can draw your guests in. |
Holly Allman-Lopez, Ambience Venue Styling
Local flair
| Q | We adore Somerset and would like to have our wedding showcase the best of the region. How can we reflect this in our styling? |
| A | Holly Allman-Lopez says: With stunning countryside, characterful venues and a relaxed, welcoming feel, Somerset is an ideal place to get married. A great way to celebrate this in your wedding styling is to incorporate some of the produce and rich history offered by the region. For example, how about thinking local when it comes to your flowers? Somerset is becoming a major hub for British flower growers, with many small farms dotted throughout the region. These local growers offer a wide range of gorgeous seasonal blooms and foliage that are freshly cut and sustainable. One of the most famous products of Somerset is cider. As a nod to this, why not consider including apples as part of a fruity, rustic tablescape or as part of a bespoke cocktail starring local Somerset cider brandy? Or perhaps consider barrels instead of cocktail tables, or as a statement cake table. Aside from its obvious rural charms, Somerset is also home to some of the most impressive Regency architecture in Britain, so why not channel your inner Duke and Duchess and feature some Bridgerton vibes. Consider opulently draped fabrics, vibrant Regency colours, trailing floral displays and dramatic tapered candles for a contemporary twist on this period look. |
Holly Allman-Lopez, Ambience Venue Styling
