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Here is a selection of Q&As from Your East Anglian 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@youreastanglian.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Baby It's Cold Outside
| Q | What should we keep in mind when planning our winter wedding? |
| A | Holly Wylds says: Embrace the season by incorporating evergreen foliage, pinecones, twinkling lights or personalised snow globes. Choose deep reds, greens, golds and warm metallics for a rich colour palette that creates a cosy, elegant atmosphere for your special day. We adore foraging winter foliage from our rewilded hedgerows and ancient woodlands—and yes, we have a secret stash of mistletoe too! Select a venue with cosy indoor spaces featuring fireplaces, wood burners, warm lighting and comfortable seating. This ensures it's well-heated and equipped to handle winter weather for a warm and inviting atmosphere. For your winter wedding attire, skip the Santa hats and choose chic, seasonal elegance. Choose long sleeves, sumptuous velvet, or luxurious faux fur wraps to keep warm and glamorous. Don't forget to provide stylish shawls for your bridesmaids and guests, ensuring everyone looks fabulous while staying cosy. Prepare for unpredictable weather with indoor photo spots and covered walkways. Keep guests warm with blankets, hot toddies and hand warmers. Choose a venue with multiple indoor spaces to ensure you're covered no matter the weather. At Sandon Manor, each part of the wedding day has a unique space with no turnaround. For a cosy winter cocktail, try the Spiced Apple Cider Mule with sweet apple cider, tangy lime and spicy ginger – perfect for chilly evenings. Schedule your ceremony and photos earlier to maximise daylight, then boost the romantic winter vibes with many candles, lanterns and fairylights for a magical evening glow. Take advantage of off-peak pricing for winter weddings and save big on venue and supplier costs, all while soaking up the seasonal charm! Consider these tips to create a stunning and memorable winter wedding that captures the magic of the season – happy planning! |
Holly Wylds, Sandon Manor
The Great Outdoors
| Q | We're having an autumn wedding and are thinking of getting married outside. What should we take into consideration before committing to a venue? |
| A | The Team says: Having your wedding outside can make for a wonderful day and a beautiful setting for the ceremony; however, as we all know, the British weather is not the most reliable no matter the time of year. So when committing to a venue, always have a backup plan in mind. What would happen if the weather was not appropriate for having an outside ceremony? Can the venue hold the same number of guests inside their venue as they can outside? Would you need to hire anything in case the weather is not great, such as blankets, umbrellas, a marquee or a cover? And at what point in the planning would the decision be made to whether you are inside or outside, e.g., a day before or on the morning of the wedding? Your venue will do whatever they can to make sure your wedding takes place outside; however, your registrars, celebrants, musicians and florists will also need to be included in the thought process of being inside or outside. If you have plans for any aspect of the catering to be outside, such as a barbecue or food truck also having a backup plan for that, can staff take it to your guests or cook inside instead? Create both plan A and plan B to fit your dream wedding so that no matter the weather, you have the perfect day planned. |
The Team, Cley Windmill
A Beautiful Journey
| Q | We're just starting out on our big-day journey and neither of us has a clue what we should look for when booking a venue. Can you help? |
| A | The Team says: I think the first question you need to ask yourselves is: do we want to stay close to home or go further afield? For example, do you want to jet off to an exotic location abroad, marry at your local church or have a venue that offers everything from the ceremony to the evening entertainment? We see many couples travel from all over the UK because they want a coastal-themed wedding or they came to the area as children, and it holds a special place in their hearts. Secondly, you need to think about exactly what you want from your special day. What are the most important things to you? Is it the food, the photo opportunities or having all your friends and family in one place? Once you've decided on a rough plan for your day, you can begin to look at venues in your chosen area. Go and visit all the properties that catch your eye. There's no better place to start than with a viewing. You can usually tell from the moment you walk into a venue whether it's the right place for you or not. You'll then need to check that the venue caters to all aspects of your wedding day, including the ceremony, food and drink options, photo opportunities and evening entertainment. You'll also need to think about how far your guests are willing to travel and if there is enough on-site or nearby accommodation to cater for them. Planning a wedding can seem like a daunting task, but finding the perfect venue is the best place to start! Go with your heart and you'll know when you find that dream space! |
The Team, Caley Hall Hotel
Al Fresco Romance
| Q | My fiancé and I have just started looking for our dream wedding venue, and we'd like to get married outside. What should we keep in mind before booking? |
| A | The Team says: Getting married outside can be an amazing experience for both you and your guests and it can make your day even more memorable. But as we all know, the weather in England can often not be as we would expect or hope it to be. Even at the height of summer, it may not be possible to hold the ceremony outside. This would all depend on the venue and the provisions they have for the weather on the day. On a very hot day, it may end up becoming uncomfortable for your guests as they wait for your arrival and during the ceremony, so on hotter days, it may be wise to offer some water and light umbrellas for shade and on colder days, maybe some throws for people who may feel the cold more. Let your guests know beforehand that the wedding is outside, so they can think about their attire. In a nutshell, getting married outside is one of the best things you can do to start your day and journey together, but remember, no one can predict the weather! |
The Team, The Boathouse
Planned To Perfection
| Q | I've seen several posts online about making sure a venue has insurance and checking if a corkage fee is included, but we're really confused about what these mean. Can you help explain and is there anything else we need to be aware of when looking for a venue? |
| A | The Team says: The venue will have its own public liability insurance policy, which will cover them for any accidental injury caused to members of the public. A venue will suggest you look into wedding insurance. Wedding insurance will protect you from financial losses due to illness, accidents, cancellations and any other unforeseen circumstances during the build-up or on the wedding day itself. This will give you peace of mind. When you are having a show round at your venue, ask if you are allowed to take in your own drinks and whether they charge a corkage fee for doing this. Keep in mind that some venues do not permit you to bring your own alcohol |
The Team, The Hintlesham Hall Hotel
Choices, Choices
| Q | We've narrowed down our venue choices but can't seem to make up our minds. What questions should we ask to help us decide? |
| A | The Expert says: A lot of people will give recommendations, which are helpful, but keep in your mind what you both want. Visit your narrowed-down venues multiple times. Every time you visit, you will notice more about the space. Are there enough plug sockets where you want them? You don't want to be tripping over extension leads just so you can have the photo booth you've been dreaming of. Set a budget. It isn't always easy, but you will be able to find a beautiful venue that fits in with how much you want to spend. Location. Do you have many friends and family coming from a distance? Is on-site or nearby accommodation important? Are the travel connections reasonable? Confirm the decorating and supplier options for the venue. Some have a list of recommended suppliers they allow on-site, which may not include the one you have your eye on. It may also not have the space for the four-piece band you have in mind, or their music cut-off time may be earlier than you had hoped. How much involvement do you hope to have in the setting up? Would you prefer to be the one to put the favours on each place setting for the wedding breakfast or would you like to minimise the stress with a wedding planner to do this for you? This may not be an option with barn-style venues, whereas typically with hotel weddings, an in-house wedding planner can reduce the workload and assist with the planning process, as well as the hands-on aspects of the day. |
The Expert, The Orwell Hotel
