Question – Does it have to be fruit?

Answer – Not if you don’t want it to be.

The choice is endless, you can have chocolate, carrot, lemon drizzle, walnut, vanilla sponge, cherry, light fruit, rich fruit; you can please yourself,  (it’s your wedding) or keep granny happy.

You can have one tier, three tiers, a tower of tiers, fairy cakes, small individual cakes, profiteroles, meringues, cheesecake, or even a cake made of cheese rounds.

You can cover it in Royal icing, roll-out icing, buttercream, fresh cream, melted chocolate or chocolate ganache; that’s melted chocolate and cream mixed together.

You can decorate it with fresh flowers, sugar flowers, ribbon, piping, cake toppers, butterflies and diamonds, or leave it plain and simple.

You can call it dessert and eat it all on the day, send out pieces to absent friends, or wrap the top tier and save it for the christening.

No wonder we all go a bit gaga when this particular decision has to be made, and that’s why it often gets left till last! But like all good wedding suppliers, if you want the best, book early.

First of all, find a good cake decorator, ask other wedding professionals if they could recommend one.

Have a look on the web for a cake decorator near to the venue rather than where you live, the cake has to be transported there and they don’t always travel too well.

Ask for tasters, any decorator will oblige. They can also help with the size of cake, or numbers of small cakes needed for the all the guests to have some. Most decorators make sugar flowers, figures and cake toppers, and will be happy to show you examples of past work.

Give your decorator time to do the work. Book the cake at least two months in advance, and make sure she has all the details for any decoration she has to make. Sugar flowers are made petal by petal and can’t be left until the last minute.

You will need something to present your wedding cake on. Most venues have a silver plinth available, if not, your decorator may have cake stands to hire. Your venue should also have a cake knife, ask before your wedding day, if not, try the decorator again but in either case don’t leave this until your wedding day to find out.

And finally, don’t forget the photographer. He will be on standby to take pictures of you cutting the cake, and might appreciate a slice too!

Having decided to get married in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire, the next step is to start planning your big day, and the best place to start is a local wedding fair. These events are an opportunity for suppliers to exhibit their wares, and give you the chance to gather information, inspiration and ideas.

Wedding fairs usually take place twice a year, in early spring and in autumn. They are held at many venues across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, so try to choose one at the type of place you would like to hold your reception, as you can have a good look around and see if it’s suitable. Check online to see who will be exhibiting, especially if there are particular photographers, cake decorators or a dress designer you would like to see.

You will find everyone you need under one roof so take advantage and ask questions. Nothing beats talking face to face with the experts, and you can start building up a rapport with your chosen photographer or musicians. Exhibitors have items on display for you to look and touch; you can try on dresses, have your makeup done or sample the cake. The suppliers are all prepared to advise and make suggestions to help you in in the planning for your wedding, and better still, many offer discounts for bookings taken at the fair or offer competitions and prize draws for their services.

To get the best out of a wedding fair in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire, be prepared. There are a lot of exhibitors to see, and it can take a good two hours to go round even a small fair. Make a note of people you specifically want to see, and have a list of questions ready. It’s often better to go with a friend, your maid of honor or your Mum, a second opinion is always helpful. Never be pressured into booking something on the spot, but if you do want to go ahead and book your dream honeymoon, be prepared to pay a deposit on the day. Take a diary or notebook with you for booking future appointments and noting down anything of interest. Have a bag handy, you will end up with lots of brochures, leaflets and samples!

A wedding fair is a fun day out, and if you are lucky you can find everything you need in one spot, from reception to honeymoon. It will give you a wealth of ideas, and may even turn up something you had not thought of. All of the exhibitors are experts in their field, and will give you the best help and advice they can, to make your wedding day exactly what you want it to be. Some of the top wedding professionals in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have worked together on many occasions and can confidently recommend many other services to help with your wedding.

The wedding reception was almost always held at the bride’s family home. Up until the end of World War 2 the style of entertainment depended on the wealth of the bride’s parents, who organised a range of events from grand evening balls to tea and cake. As people grew wealthier and the number of guests invited grew beyond what the average family home could cope with, people hired church halls, dance halls and hotel ballrooms, booked restaurants or held garden parties.

Now, the choice is vast, covering anything from castles to a marquee in the garden. Before making the final choice there are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a venue for your wedding reception. Check websites of wedding venues around the area you wish to marry and visit on a wedding fair or open day.

BUDGET

Your wedding reception cost can account for between 20 and 50% of your total wedding spend,  dependent on whether it’s to be fully organized by the venue itself, or used as a starting point for the bride’s own ideas. It may be possible to have a civil ceremony at the same venue, or is the reception venue easy to get to from the church? Often the availability of your chosen venue will determine your wedding date and must be booked as soon as you decide it’s right for you.

GUESTS

There may be a minimum or maximum number of guests allowed at the reception. Some guests may need overnight accommodation, and often hotels will offer a reduced rate for any guests who want to book a room in advance.

CATERING

Check whether the venue will provide a tasting menu of the food they provide.
They should also be able to help with vegetarian options, or special diets. If there are grounds, will they provide a buffet or picnic outside, or a marquee?

FACILITIES

Some larger venues have areas like croquet lawns, ask if they are available to the guests. If necessary, see if it is possible to alter the layout of the main reception room. Ask about facilities for musicians or if they have any restrictions on the type of music used. If you are planning one venue for service and reception, are the grounds right for your group and couple portraits or is there a park nearby? The wedding planner should be able to offer advice on the best areas for photographers to work, both inside and outside as well as offer advice on other wedding professionals.

BAR

Find out if a bar is provided, and if needed do they allow a late night extension. Do they allow drinks to be brought in, and if so, do they charge corkage? Champagne and wine are the most common drinks to have at the reception, and the venue will offer advice on the best wines to compliment the food and champagne for the toasts, but non alcoholic drinks should be available too.

Wedding Rings

A centuries old symbol of love and devotion, the ring was also historically connected to the exchange of valuables in the age when marriages were a contract between families. The wedding ring has been placed on the third finger of the left hand since Roman times. It was believed that the vein in that finger was linked directly to the heart, therefore a symbol of love.

Originally the ring was bestowed on the bride by the groom. The advent of the groom’s ring only really took off in the 1940’s, as a sign of commitment between couples separated by war. However, it is rapidly becoming established as a new tradition, and many couples now give each other a wedding ring to show their love and devotion for each other.

It was the responsibility of the groom to choose and buy the ring for his bride, but nowadays they usually choose together. Being a special token of love that will always be worn there are many things to take into consideration.  Your jeweller will be on hand to advice and help you choose. Various metals can be used, and yellow gold is still the most popular. It is important though not to mix 9ct and 18ct gold, not only are they different colours but the 9ct is harder and will wear down the 18ct.

White gold is a durable alternative to yellow, for brides who prefer something lighter in colour. Platinum is the most precious and durable, but there are cheaper alternatives in palladium and titanium, which are very similar in appearance.

The design you choose for your wedding ring is equally important. Should it be plain or patterned? Will it need shaping to fit round the engagement ring, or will it have one or more small inset diamonds? Matching engagement and wedding ring sets help answer some of these questions or your bespoke jeweller can design rings to your own specifications.

During the service, the bride’s wedding ring is the responsibility of the best man, and if there is a ring for the groom, it is traditionally held by the chief bridesmaid. Many couples now choose to have a pageboy as a ring bearer, who will present the rings on a satin cushion. Your wedding photographers will take advantage of this scene, as tiny pageboys or flower girls are undeniably cute.

Your wedding ring represents an unbroken circle, showing continuous and eternal commitment throughout married life. Ideally it should fit perfectly from the start, showing the harmony in which the couple will share their lives together.

BETROTHAL
Centuries ago, marriages were arranged by the fathers of the prospective bride and groom, and it was common for the pair to have little or no contact before the wedding. Often they were betrothed as children, until a ruling in the 18th century decreed that any agreement for children under the age of seven was void.

As time went on, it became customary for the groom to ask permission from the bride’s father, if the match was approved the two men shook hands, and the groom was then required to ask for his bride’s hand on bended knee.

THE ENGAGEMENT RING
Originally the engagement ring was given as a sign of contract, if the bride was jilted at the altar; she could claim compensation from the groom’s family.

THE DRESS
Queen Victoria cemented the tradition of wearing a white dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in the 19th Century. The colour suggested purity, and has been firmly established as the only colour to wear ever since. Today, the style and design of the dress is all important, and the photographer must make every effort to show it off to its best advantage!

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST
In the 18th and 19th centuries weddings had to take place before noon.  Literally Break – Fast, this was the first meal eaten together by the married couple after a short period of fasting before the wedding ceremony, and was only for members of the clergy, close family and others who had been involved in the wedding preparations. Today it is known as the reception, and can either be a sit down meal or a buffet for as many or few friends and relatives as the couple wish to invite. There is no entertainment as such at the reception, but speeches are made by the bride’s father, the groom and the best man.

THE CAKE
There are many traditions involving the wedding cake. Originally more like a bread, it was crumbled over the heads of the bride and groom for luck.  The three tier design is thought to be based on the church spire of St Brides in London. Fruit cake became popular for its keeping qualities, and the top tier was traditionally kept for the christening of the first child.

The first cut of the cake symbolised the new union between the couple, and the bride served the first portions to the groom’s family to symbolise the transfer of her household duties from her parent’s home to her husband’s. The newlyweds also fed each other a piece of cake, to encourage good fortune in their new life together.

This final part of the wedding ceremony is now also important for the photographer, as it captures not only the elegance of the cake but the symbolism of the first step the bride and groom take on their new life together.

We will be exhibiting our 2011 range of stunning wedding photography, beautiful Italian handmade bookbound albums , our delightful English digital storybook collection and our marvellous Magnetic designer collections. Do come over and say hi, even take a leaflet. We will be available from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 20th February 2011 to discuss your wedding photography needs and show you our range of albums and storybooks.

The Wedding Spectacular at the Nottingham Belfry has two Bridal Shows at 12.30pm & 2.30pm where you can see many of the dresses from the bridal boutiques also showing and over 60 other wedding professionals under one roof.

The Nottingham Belfry provides a real wow factor to your wedding day. Just on the outskirts of Nottingham, this ultra modern hotel adds a touch of glamour to your special day. The geometric design of the building is sleek and striking, with its walls of glass and minimalist white, and outside there are some fabulous areas for you and your guests to mingle whilst sipping on a glass of the bubbly stuff.

The Nottingham Belfry provides the perfect setting for your special day, from large celebrations, to small intimate gatherings, civil ceremonies and civil partnerships. They have a number of suites to choose from depending on your tastes and guest numbers, all rooms are licensed for civil ceremonies.

All wedding professionals know the sheer amount of planning that goes into making your one special day special. Which is why The Nottingham Belfry employ a highly skilled and experienced wedding co-ordinator who will live and breathe your wedding with you, She be on the end of the phone whenever you need reassurance or just want to double and triple check details.

The Nottingham Belfry
Mellor’s Way
Off Woodhouse Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG8 6PY
Tel: 0115 9739393

Wedding Spectacular Contact: Julia Stanley – 01332 875880

Neal will be exhibiting his 2012 range of stunning wedding photography, beautiful  Italian handmade book-bound albums , our delightful English digital storybook collection and our marvellous Magnetic designer collections. Do come over and say hi, even take a leaflet. We will be available from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 16^th October 2011 to discuss your wedding photography needs and show you our range of albums and storybooks. We will have our wedding date checker with us to check your date should you wish or to arrange a personal visit to discuss your wedding.

Don’t forget you can save £££s on entry fees to all the top Wedding Shows in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire including this one. Register here or text wedding to 60777 for FREE text tickets to your mobile.

Free tickets are sponsored by the Wedding Professionals Network

Horsley Lodge is a Golf Club, Country House Hotel with Restaurant and Wedding venue just north of Derby.

At Horsley Lodge they take pride in offering individual and undivided attention. Other hotels may book more than one wedding for the same day, but on your chosen day, yours will be the only wedding taking place at Horsley Lodge. Every wedding is special, and the staff are confident that their service and excellent food, with choice of meals for your guests on the day sets us apart. Horsley Lodge employ an experienced wedding planner who will work with you on the day and in the run up to the big event.

The hotel is set in one of the most picturesque valleys in Derbyshire and is the perfect location for your celebration party. This charming country house hotel with its beautiful views and friendly atmosphere offers a spacious function suite capable of catering for up to 110 guests for a seated banquet and up to 170 for an evening buffet. The key to our success, we believe, lies in the personal care and attention we devote to your needs and requests, and the experience we can bring to planning the day. Look no further to find the ideal venue for your wedding and reception.

The wedding garden is new and based on a winery in New Zealand…. the ideal addition to Horsley’s impressive wedding facilities includes what it was always lacking a private wedding garden for your guests or as part of your wedding photography, catching the afternoon and evening setting sun, ideal photo points and outdoor drinking area.

Horsley Lodge is fully licensed to host your civil wedding ceremony. The function suite is available seven days a week & can hold up to 100 guests for your ceremony. As with all civil weddings, it will be necessary for you to organise your own registrar from the Amber Valley area: 01773 841380.

You can call Horsley Lodge on 01332 780838

Horsley Lodge Golf Club
Smalley Mill Road
Horsley
Derbyshire
DE21 5BL