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Here is a selection of Q&As from Your West Midlands 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@yourwestmidlands.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Pets At Weddings
| Q | How can we incorporate our three dogs into our ceremony? |
| A | Emma and Adrian Cartlich says: Hire a professional wedding dog chaperone specialist to assist and coordinate your furry friends' roles in the ceremony. The chaperones will liaise with the registrars and venue coordinators accordingly to ensure a stress-free service. The most popular role for your dog is a ring bearer. They will run down the aisle with your wedding rings attached in a secure holder. Alternatively, flowergirl or dog-of-honour is a cute role for multiple dogs. They could walk down the aisle one by one with your bridesmaids or maid-of-honour, then be passed to the chaperones. Another option would be for your pooches to sit with the rest of your guests, accompanied by a chaperone while the ceremony takes place. |
Emma and Adrian Cartlich, Precious Pets Weddings
Trend setter
| Q | What trends will be popular in 2023? |
| A | Lisa Forde says: Love stories and romantic literary greats will feature strongly in 2023 wedding trends. With the hotly-anticipated third series of Bridgerton in production, Regency period fascination will find its way subtly into weddings, with literary-inspired touches and splashes of Regency blue. Think of a quintessentially English cottage aesthetic, tradition, and regal elegance. Perfect for the traditionalists amongst us. The cost of weddings rises year upon year, and more and more couples are finding savvy ways to save money. Whether it's arranging their table décor, growing their own flowers or making their wedding cake, couples are looking for ways to utilise the talents within their wedding party to keep costs down as much as possible. Sustainability is already a huge priority amongst many Brits, but in 2023, this is set to grow even further. Many couples will look to reduce the environmental impact of their wedding through eco-friendly suppliers and re-usable items. Stationery from environmentally-friendly suppliers and re-usable decorations and favours will play a big part, as weddings become a statement of how a couple wants to live in harmony with the environment. On the other side of the scale, another trend we're seeing is the more subtle, old English-style weddings. Think satin and plain outfits as well as black and white imagery. |
Lisa Forde, Tree of Hearts
The one for me
| Q | We want to personalise our big day. How can we do this? |
| A | Staci Marshall says: Planning a wedding can be an exciting yet daunting experience, but as long as it's physically possible, there's nothing too off-limits. The first thing you should think about is the tone of the day. Do you want it to be relaxed and informal, or would you prefer it to be formal and fun? Once you have the atmosphere in your mind, you can then choose things that are relevant and make it perfect for you. Songs are a great way to add a personal touch. This year we have had a couple walk down the aisle to the instrumental theme from Jurassic Park, as well as a new Mr and Mrs Jones walk out to Me and Mrs Jones. Couples love Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours when they are signing the register and another favourite is At Last by Etta James. One of the things we've noticed, is that fruitcake has come back into fashion. There was a point where it disappeared altogether, and nobody did them at all, but it's making a return. These can be decorated to fit your theme or colour scheme. Alternatively, if you choose not to have a cake at all, a cake made of cheese is a popular alternative. |
Staci Marshall, Brockencote Hall
Beloved pets
| Q | My hubby-to-be and I want to incorporate our beloved dog into our wedding. What should we take into consideration? |
| A | Emma and Adrian Cartlich says: Begin by checking that your wedding venue is dog friendly. Once you've done this, try and find a dog-loving photographer and videographer. Whoever you choose, make sure to let them know what your plans are for having your pet at your wedding. Consider your dog's temperament and what their role might be. There are so many ways you can include your pooch – they could be your ring bearer, VIP guest or flower dog. They could even walk down the aisle with a member of your wedding party, but please ensure that your dog has the right temperament to cope with all the attention. Invest in a chaperone. A chaperone will plan, coordinate, and take on all the stresses on your wedding day. Our chaperone service is very much in demand, with couples booking for 2023, 2024 and beyond, so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. We cover the West Midlands region, including Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire plus Wales and London. Nationwide cover is also available upon request. Choose an epic outfit. If you're considering a flower collar or tuxedo harness, make sure that it's safe, made-to-fit and is comfortable for your pet. Certain flowers or foliage can be poisonous to dogs, so it's vital to check or consider artificial flowers. Finally, let your guests know. A simple note on your invitations or just telling your loved ones that you plan to have your dog with you at your wedding, means that they come prepared, especially if they are nervous around dogs or allergic to them. However, if your pooch is a surprise guest or ring bearer, it may be advisable to tell the nervous and anxious guests beforehand. |
Emma and Adrian Cartlich, Precious Pets Weddings
