Here is a selection of Q&As from Your London 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@yourlondon.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Celebrant
Q. What are the key wedding trends for 2022 and how are couples planning their weddings differently this year?
A. Jennifer Patrice says: The trend of having celebrant-led weddings will continue to rise in 2022, as it did in 2021, with couples now recognising that they have so much more choice and can have the ceremony that's not generic. More and more couples want a bespoke ceremony, one where there's no content or venue restrictions and - most importantly - one that's completely personal and tells their love story. I take the time to get to know my couples, which makes it all the more special. Celebrant-led weddings can be held anywhere, at any time, indoors or outdoors and couples can have the usual elements such as a bridal party, vows – we encourage and support them to write their own or traditional vows, the ring exchange, readings and signing of a symbolic certificate. Added to this they can have elements like a sand pouring, unity candle (where the venue permits real candles if indoors), rose ceremony, cocktail or wine blending or what about a champagne toast to cheers the couple at the end of the ceremony, the list is endless.
Jennifer Patrice, Jennifer Patrice - Celebrant
www.jenniferpatrice.com
Ceremonies
Q. Following the last 18months, how has the wedding industry changed?
A. Amanda Wheal says: There has been a fair degree of positive change for celebrants post-pandemic, and it's certainly an exciting time for couples and celebrants.
The demand for celebrants has increased not only because of the backlog of postponed weddings, but more importantly, couples want to celebrate differently. Couples really want to share their celebration with family and friends in creative and fun ways, having been through so much and waited so long they really want to go to town on their wedding.
Many want something more special, personalised and want to share their vows with as many people as possible, regardless of whether they have previously had their legal registry office ceremony. So I tend to get requests for more hybrid ceremonies with a mix of modern and traditional aspects, and it's a pleasure to create something different for each couple.
There's also more of an emphasis of involving family members within the ceremony and, for some, honouring those they have sadly lost.
Celebrant's solve many new dilemmas caused by the pandemic, so for example couples who married abroad pre-covid and had to cancel their UK-based celebration now want a special celebration created just for them which may or may not involve vows and ring exchanges given the time that has passed from their original date.
Some couples who legally married during lockdown in a small ceremony have since had children and so I am creating a new ceremony which combines a wedding and a baby naming.
It's certainly an exciting time and couples are embracing the flexibility and freedom that ceremonies without limits can give them. I hope that the recent changes in marriage laws continue so that the government passes legislation supported by the wedding commission that allows celebrants to perform legal weddings.
Amanda Wheal, Amanda's Beautiful Ceremonies
www.amandasceremonies.com
