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Kim Neville
Kim Neville is the director of The Pink Pumpkin wedding design. Contact: 01483 797 975 or visit the website www.thepinkpumpkin.co.uk. |
Kim Neville answers all your Wedding Planning related questions |
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Do me a favour
Q. I am stuck as to what to give my guests as wedding favours. We have 150 people attending our big day, so ideally I'd like something that doesnt affect the environment too much. Do you have any suggestions?
A. Kim Neville says: Weddings can have a huge impact on the environment; the average wedding creates 14.5 tonnes of waste. For favours, why not give each guest a small packet of seeds from one of the flowers featured in the bride's bouquet, which they can plant at home? Or pots of seasonal local produce, such as jam or honey, make a lovely alternative. |
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Summer savings?
Q. We have booked our wedding for July 2010, but don't want to pay a premium to go on honeymoon in the school holidays. Do you have any advice or suggestions that won't cost the earth?
A. Kim Neville says: Why not have a mini-moon after your wedding and then go on a longer honeymoon at a later date? This is becoming increasingly popular with couples who either want to go on honeymoon out of season, or want to avoid rainy or hurricane periods in their favoured destination.
A weekend away in a boutique hotel or B&B somewhere closer to home will be a real treat, and the main honeymoon will be something else to look forward to in months following the wedding.
Check out www.mrandmrssmith.com for some fantastic hotels. |
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Summer savings
Q. We have booked our wedding for July 2010, but don't want to pay a premium to go on honeymoon in the school holidays. Do you have any suggestions that won't cost the earth?
A. Kim Neville says: Why not have a mini-moon after your wedding and then go on a longer honeymoon at a later date? This is becoming increasingly popular with couples who either want to go on honeymoon out of season, or want to avoid rainy or hurricane periods in their favoured destination.
A weekend away in a boutique hotel or B&B somewhere closer to home will be a real treat, and the main honeymoon will be something else to look forward to in the months following the wedding. Check out www.mrandmrssmith.com for some fantastic hotels.
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Where to start?
Q. We are having a marquee wedding and although it's great having a blank canvas, I'm worried that it might end up looking a bit bland. How can I add some interest and make the marquee look fabulous?
A. Kim Neville says: Marquees are fantastic as they really let you get creative but they can be a bit daunting as you are creating your reception space from scratch.
Firstly, don't underestimate the importance of lighting, whether you use up-lighters or chandeliers, pin spots on tables or lots of candles, talk to your marquee company about the many options available to you.
Depending on the look you are going for, there are numerous options available to add a bit of colour and interest. Hang fabric bunting (www.idyllicdays.com) or paper lanterns from edge to edge, or hire in some real or artificial plants from your local garden centre. Make a feature of the entrance and outside space with flaming torches, rose-studded bay trees or a garland of fragrant fresh flowers.
You could also create a chill out area with low level seating and floor cushions for guests to use later in the evening. Finally, there are specialist marquee décor companies who can transform the look with bespoke linings, try www.crescent-moon.co.uk for some amazing ideas. |
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Winter weddings
Q. We haven't yet set a date, and are contemplating having a winter wedding. How can we make sure our day is beautiful on a cold winter's day?
A. Kim Neville says: I absolutely adore winter weddings, and as the great British weather becomes more and more unpredictable, an increasing number of couples are deciding to get married at this time of year.
Choose a venue that has a stunning interior or a fabulous staircase where you can have formal photographs taken. In terms of décor, so many colours work well at this time of year; rich golds and reds are very traditional and always work well, but the adventurous could try sumptuous deep purples mixed with silver or dusky pinks and vintage gold.
Don't underestimate the importance of lighting; candles, if your venue allows them, make a huge impact and can completely transform the atmosphere of a room. Twinkling fairy lights or complete colour washes can also be used to great effect.
Finally, don't be afraid to do something a bit different in terms of food and drink; mulled wine and mince pies make a great alternative to Champagne and canapés. |
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Money Matters
Q. With all the talk about the credit crunch, I'm worried about spending too much money on my wedding. Can you suggest ways to create a great day without spending a fortune?
A. Kim Neville says: The current financial climate is on everyone's minds, understandably, but it doesn't need to ruin your big day as there are lots of ways to still enjoy a fabulous wedding.
Start out by setting a realistic budget and make a list of all of your allotted costs, e.g caterer, florist, photographer and so on. If you go over in one area, be sure to reallocate your resources from another area. Don't forget to cost in VAT or any service charges as these can soon mount up too.
To make the most of your budget, enlist the help of friends and family so if someone you know is a great cake maker or is creative and able to help you make your invitations; don't be afraid to ask for their input. Using local and seasonal products will help keep floral and catering costs down too (and is more helpful to the environment). You'll find some great bargains on the internet, especially for decorative items which other couples are selling after their own wedding. And there is no reason why you can't do the same after your own big day.
One way to save a larger chunk of your wedding funds is to scale down your celebration. Many couples are opting to have a more intimate ceremony with fewer guests. You can then have a large evening party at a later date so that friends still get to celebrate with you. |
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Beside the seaside
Q. We have been dreaming of a seaside wedding on a beach but a friend of mine has told me that this isn?t allowed in England ? is this true?
A. Kim Neville says: Your friend is right in that any legally recognised wedding or civil partnership in England and Wales must be in a fixed structure that has a specific licence. This means that you cannot get married on the beach, on a boat, or in a hot air balloon, amongst other places. Further information is available at www.gro.gov.uk.
Different rules apply to Scotland where there are beaches that have been licensed. However, you could have an official ceremony at register office and follow this with a humanist ceremony later that day, or on another day, at the beach.
A humanist ceremony allows you to be married anywhere, and at any time, and is designed to suit you as a couple. Many couples find that this ceremony is equally important to them as it reflects their personalities - contact the British Humanist Association (www.humanism.org.uk) for further details. |
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Let me entertain you
Q. We would love to find a fun way to entertain our guests during dinner. Could you help us with some ideas?
A. Kim Neville says: There are lots of different ways to inject fun to keep guests amused. How about putting a short quiz on each table, with questions about you and your guests?
This can also help to break the ice if you have guests that don?t know each other that well. A close-up magician or caricaturist who will go round each table can be good fun too.
For something that includes everyone at once, how about look-a-like waiters like Basil Fawlty and Manuel or having a ?guest? burst into operatic song (www.decoydivas.com) |
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