< PreviousLincolnshire Today Wedding Guide PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY 50 “Shot in iPhone” may be the advertising blurb for unforgettable moments, but while technology may be getting better at handling things for us, it still can’t pose and set people up for you. It also can’t collect the right people, pick the best location, make sure the photos are perfect and make them into a brochure for you. That’s what a professional photographer brings, and it’s something many are finding out to their detriment when “dad with an iPhone” doesn’t equate the quality snaps they expected. Many photographers nowadays are also experts in photoshop (they almost have to be) so touching up images and removing blemishes or glare from sunlight is something they can pull off in post-editing. This not only ensures your pictures on the day will be fantastic, but that you’ll have some truly incredible memories of the event after, immortalised in print, but also in digital format. These can then be posted online to wow friends, family, and random strangers on the internet. You may want to also keep in mind that the venue will affect what a photographer can do. There’s been quite the furore recently between some wedding photographers and church vicars, over what is and what isn’t allowed. To put it simply, churches allow weddings on religious grounds but that doesn’t mean you have the right to dictate anything about the church or move things about – and it doesn’t mean the vicar who officiates it will be willing to get into poses for you. Many will, out of the kindness of their hearts, but you shouldn’t take advantage, so if you’re planning a wedding in a church then make sure to talk to the person who runs it beforehand. Maybe even introduce them to your photographer on the day and ask them what they are and are not happy with. In a lot of cases the photographer is just trying to do the best they can by you – their boss – and they’re not trying to upset the vicar. They just don’t want to let you down. A little communication ahead of time will make everything go smoother. Also, while we warn anyone against relying solely on family or loved ones with a camera, there’s no reason you can’t add a little of that as well. Selfies offer a more personal and real look at events behind the scenes, especially in the makeup rooms, and can be a great accompaniment to more professional looking photos, especially to help capture that mischievous personality. Have both, but don’t rely on just one or the other. It’s never a good idea to have all your eggs in one basket. Getting it right You get one chance to take perfect wedding photos so make sure there’s a professional on hand to do it. Your family with iPhones simply won’t compare. www.lincolnshiretoday.net PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY 51 © stock.adobe.com/meatbullLincolnshire Today Wedding Guide 52 The wedding cake is its own piece of art. With the right specialist you can make yours as traditional or unique as you like. W edding cakes are a long- lasting tradition, said to come from ancient Rome where a cake of barley or wheat would be broken over the couple’s heads to represent fertility, and then shared among guests as a gesture of good luck to all. Nowadays it’s more of a sweet treat to enjoy after a multiple course meal or buffet, but it is also a bit of a status piece at any wedding. The bigger, more creative the cake, the more eyes it draws. In a world of social media and photographs, that can be a big deal. There is so much variety on offer nowadays as well. You naturally have the traditional tiered cakes, which can be taken in any flavour and in any way, and modified with decorations, colours, styles, and even a little figurine of the couple. This is what most people are used to. However, a lot of people simply aren’t keen on cake, and so are turning to tiers of cheese or fruit instead. Unusual cheese cakes (featuring rolls of different cheeses) will certainly raise eyebrows but they, and displays like this, are becoming less rare in recent times. So too are traditional cakes baked and decorated as other things. You’ve no doubt seen the amazing things bakers The traditional vs. the unconventional The traditional vs. the unconventional will be thrilled to bake a cake that better fits the colours of the wedding. This could be by changing all the icing, or just by adding a few elements of blue, pink, green, or whatever colour you’re going with. Lincolnshire is no slouch when it comes to baking and cakes either, so you’ll be spoilt for choice with many of our expert cake designers. Many of them have been in business for long periods of time too and are family businesses passed down that keep the craft alive. Make sure your cake tells a story, and make sure it wows, and avoid anything mass-produced or store-bought for your big day. A once in a lifetime occasion deserves a once in a lifetime piece of art. www.lincolnshiretoday.net CAKES 53 © stock.adobe.com/InaPandora Celebration & Wedding cakes made Everything for the cake decorator Boards,boxes,decorations,sugar flowers, Edible cake toppers available. www.horncastlecakeart.co.uk 25 North Street, Horncastle, LN9 5DX Horncastle-Cake-Art can do with cakes on social media and in videos, and some wedding cake specialists have made up cakes that look like huge bouquets of flowers, with each petal edible. Others have gone the other way and eschewed one giant cake for a smaller one for the core family, and cupcakes for extended guests – this can be helpful in bigger weddings where you might otherwise need a mammoth cake to ensure everyone gets a slice. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of tradition and you could make far worse decisions than to go with a normal wedding cake. We always advise speaking with the bakers about the colour and themes of the wedding because white isn’t the only option and most cake specialists © stock.adobe.com/Darrell © stock.adobe.com/Ruth BlackLincolnshire Today Wedding Guide STATIONERY 54 Stationery, from your invitations to menus, can be more important than you think for giving a good impression of your wedding. I t may seem simple enough to type out invitations for wedding guests on a computer, print them out, and pop them in the post box, but is that really a good idea when trying to make a positive first impression of your big day? There’s a major difference between the quality of paper you’d use to print off a document and the thicker, premium card you would use for a formal invitation. Similarly, while fonts on a computer can mirror elegant styles of writing, calligraphy remains an art form that few people possess true experience in. It is something that can add such a special touch. Even the ink used in a home printer is thinner and less capable than those used by professionals and stationery providers, and these little things can all add up and create a sense of tackiness long before the event itself. The last thing you want is people arriving with the preconceived notion that your wedding and reception is going to be © stock.adobe.com/rawpixel.comPrinting|Copying|Graphic Design LOGOS | BRANDING | BUSINESS STATIONERY FLYERS & POSTERS | BROCHURES | NEWSLETTERS A0 COPYING & SCANNING | OS MAPPING CAD & PLAN PRINTING | PRINT FINISHING High Quality Print & Design in Lincolnshire N 01522 546118 E sales@lincolncopycentre.co.uk www.lincolncopycentre.co.uk 45 YEARS IN BUSINESS www.lincolnshiretoday.net STATIONERY 55 cheap, and that they should “avoid saying anything” so as not to hurt your feelings. When it comes to the invitation itself, be sure to include all the details guests will need. You’ll of course want to note the time and place, but also share whether children are allowed or not, and whether there will be food – and whom to contact if they have any dietary requirements. Every caterer is going to have vegetarian and vegan options nowadays, and those with allergies obviously need to let them know ahead of time, so give people a way to do that without having to hassle you on Facebook for a phone number. Another big question is when to send the invitations. Too close to the event and you risk people having made plans, while too far in advance leads to it fading from people’s memories. The general consensus is that two or three months before the event is a good range, as it gives people time to prepare. Don’t forget ‘on the day stationery’ for the event itself either, as guests will need signs, seating plans, place cards, order of service cards laying out the schedule for the day, and menus. You may well want to provide something for guests to write their well- wishes on too. All of this could share the look of your original invitation to provide a cohesive theme during every aspect of the wedding. You may also wish to consider ‘after the day stationery’, with thank you notes, perhaps featuring a picture of the bride and groom on the big day. All of these pieces of stationery additionally make for great keepsakes for you and your guests.Lincolnshire Today Wedding Guide TRANSPORT 56 I t may seem a small thing on the day but the way in which you arrive will mark some of the first shots of the event itself, and those pictures will always be important, alongside those of the kiss and the first dance, so take some time to consider how you would want to arrive. Classical motors are an old but reliable method, or you could go even further back in time with a horse and carriage and relive those Disney princess days you set aside as a child. There have been couples who have arrived, and driven away, in everything from sports cars to school buses, police cruisers to fire trucks, and even on horseback. Ideally, you’ll want something that resonates with the couple in some way. A bride and groom who have ridden horses before and who met through the hobby would almost be expected to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, but not everyone has an obvious connection to a vehicle, at which point it should be targeted more at your personality. Adventurous and sporty brides might arrive in a sports car, while romantics could look toward a There are many ways to arrive on one’s wedding day, from the traditional to the adventurous and unique, and this will set the tone for the wedding. © stock.adobe.com/Mat Haywardwww.lincolnshiretoday.net 57 carriage, and those seeking a more traditional look can choose an old, classic motor. If you want to stand out and be remembered then you have a lot more options – from jeeps to open back trucks, and pretty much everything in between. The important thing to remember is that it’s all about the mood and the look, and that while it might be easier to go with the basic option, that may well be a missed opportunity, especially when people will look back on the photos and be able to have a laugh at your entrance. As couples nowadays put a lot of thought into how their big day will look after the fact, photos and social media are important, and having as many exciting shots as possible is key, so why not embrace more interesting, unique, and photogenic methods of transport? Make a scene, make a splash, and go with something out of the ordinary. Much of the rest of a wedding is quite often wrapped up tight in tradition that’s almost unavoidable, so this is one of the earliest places you can set a fun tone. © stock.adobe.com/IVASHstudio © stock.adobe.com/SPY_studioLincolnshire Today Wedding Guide HONEYMOONS 58 The wedding may be a big day but it’s also tiring, which is why it’s important to have a honeymoon after the big day. I n today’s difficult economy and with the cost of living, a lot of people are choosing to do away with honeymoons to try and save money toward renovating a new home or putting down a deposit on one, but this could be the worst decision a newlywed couple can make. A honeymoon isn’t just about jetting off somewhere to be lovey- dovey. It’s about destressing from the busy schedule of the pre-wedding and wedding ceremony. It’s about having time to yourselves without having to worry about family, photographers, wedding guests and suit and dress rentals. It’s about relaxing into your new role as a married couple and skipping that to focus on stressful things like new homes, work and earning money can put a What comes after... www.lincolnshiretoday.net HONEYMOONS 59 © stock.adobe.com/MISHA dampener on a new relationship. In fact, it can even cause friction. A honeymoon needn’t be expensive. While there are exceptional tropical venues, you can also stay local in the UK, or go travelling in Europe, all on a good budget. The expected honeymoon experience of a hot beach doesn’t need to be the norm, either. A good honeymoon is doing something both of you enjoy – so if you love music and shows then go to some concerts, and if you love hiking and history then go visit Rome or Greece. Don’t let the expectations of others for shots of you with a cocktail on the beach dictate your honeymoon. But, importantly, try and go somewhere new. It may be tempting to revisit a place you met, but why not create new memories and save that place for anniversaries and other events of that nature. Go somewhere new, see new things, and embrace a honeymoon for what it’s meant to be – a chance to make new memories as spouses, and not just any other holiday.Next >