VISIT SITE
Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Somerset Glos and Wilts 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@yoursomersetglosandwilts.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
We Don't Know Who'll Be Delivering Our Ceremony!
| Q | What is your advice on overcoming the most common planning conerns? |
| A | Jackie Aldrich and Deb Stodgell says: Not having a clue who'll be at the front delivering the ceremony on the big day is a common concern among couples who won't even have spoken to this person until 30 minutes beforehand. So, picture this: you're standing there, the love of your life at your side, and in front of you, the person who'll deliver the words creating your ceremony, including your vows to each other. Here's the twist, do you want that person to be two registrar strangers you haven't met, armed with a set of legal jargon ready to roll? People who won't tolerate any fashionable lateness unless you want to risk them leaving to go to their next ceremony and coming back to you later? Or, would you prefer a friendly face? Someone who knows your story, has taken the time to get to know you both, and is ready to deliver a script so personal and memorable it will leave everyone in awe? Someone who'll only have your ceremony that day, and there will be no rush? Someone who has your back all the way? As that's just what you get with a celebrant-led ceremony. It's more than just words; it's an experience. It's personal. It's memorable, and it's all about you. |
Jackie Aldrich and Deb Stodgell, Just Ceremonies
Intimate 'I Dos'
| Q | What is your advice on planning an intimate wedding? |
| A | Deb Stodgell and Jackie Aldrich says: In a world that loves grandeur, the allure of an intimate celebration is growing, and possibilities emerge that aren't feasible for larger gatherings. Selecting the right venue sets the tone for your intimate ceremony. Opt for a cosy space with a charming ambience that resonates with both of you. It could be a rustic barn, a quaint garden, or a small boutique venue with character. The goal is to create an atmosphere that feels warm, inviting, and uniquely yours. You open up a much wider choice of venues if you opt for a celebrant-led ceremony. Surrounding yourselves with cherished individuals on your special day, you can have an intimate, joy-filled atmosphere. Each guest becomes integral, fostering an intimate experience that can be lost in larger events. Smaller ceremonies allow for a relaxed pace, with the celebrant able to highlight crucial moments. This leisurely approach ensures a more enjoyable experience for you and your guests, giving vows, rituals, and reflections the attention they deserve. Instead of a traditional exchange of vows, consider personalising the "we dos" to involve your loved ones. This creates a more inclusive and interactive experience, allowing you to personally connect with each guest and make them feel genuinely valued. A celebrant-led ceremony becomes all about you and your story as a couple. |
Deb Stodgell and Jackie Aldrich, Just Ceremonies
Love Story
| Q | What is your advice on taking the first steps in wedding planning? |
| A | Deb Stodgell and Jackie Aldrich says: A good place to start your planning is to decide the sort of location you want to tie the knot. You get to choose the venue, but you also have a say in who conducts the heart of your day, the wedding ceremony. The time when you commit to each other, in front of those you love, for the rest of your days. If you want something personal and meaningful, not just the legal words, you might want to consider using a professional celebrant. You'll meet them, discuss all your visions, and end up with the most personal and unique ceremony. Even better, there are no restrictions on where it takes place. We've conducted ceremonies in orchards with the blossom falling, in home gardens, by beautiful lakes, on farms, in a pub and very many rooms in beautiful hotels and houses. It's your choice. Just get the legal bit done first, and then the world's your oyster! What's more, we never conduct multiple ceremonies a day, just you, so you'll be our only priority. |
Deb Stodgell and Jackie Aldrich, Just Ceremonies
A Winter's Tale
| Q | What is your advice on creating a winter wonderland wedding? |
| A | Jen Whitworth says: Hot chocolate, snuggles under a blanket and open fires – what's not to love about winter? And with a celebrant-led wedding you can create romantic wintry magical vibes for you ceremony too. Let your guests warm your wedding bands with good wishes, love and support for your new journey as a married couple. Plus, it's never too early to hear a cheesy Christmas song, so why not walk in to your favourite one? You could even get your guests to sing along. Instead of everyone throwing confetti, how about they throw fake snow as you walk down the aisle, creating your very own snow scene? Candles always add romance, so including a Unity Candle ceremony is a perfect way to keep the warm wintry feel. What's more, creating your own blend of mulled wine as part of a wine ceremony is very special. You could add your and your partner's favourite wines and spices together. Loved ones will really enjoy toasting you both after the ceremony. Instead of a sand ceremony why not have a snow globe ceremony? Each taking it in turns to add the elements. Or, bind your love together with a hand-fasting ceremony using your scarves as your hand-fasting cords and celebrate your first kiss under the mistletoe. |
Jen Whitworth, Jen The Celebrant
Open-Air 'I Dos'
| Q | What is your advice on planning an outdoor wedding? |
| A | Jackie Aldrich and Deb Stogell says: One of the best things about a celebrant-led wedding is that you can hold your ceremony anywhere outside. You'll have no legal restrictions on the content, or the time and length of your nuptials. Your guests can sit or indeed walk around the area as you spread the ceremony over several different spots. You can even have a toast to start your ceremony or to end it. And if you have four-legged friends, they can be included very easily in the great outdoors. Most choose a place that feels special, but outside you're offered a different set of walls, bringing you together with the world around you. This gives you the chance to declare your love to that special someone close to nature with the sounds of other life such as birds or water enveloping you as you enjoy the view. Weddings that take place al fresco don't just offer the fresh air but, when led by a celebrant, can encompass the whole wedding party in celebration. The "I dos" aren't just a set of words, they're a story waiting to be told and an open-air setting can only enhance that story on your wonderful wedding day. |
Jackie Aldrich and Deb Stogell, Just Ceremonies
