Acts of Gratitude

“I think that, as a whole, weddings will have an even deeper meaning; an extra layer to the day where there is a moment to stop and reflect on the events of the past 12 months and be grateful for good health and safety, to honour the opportunity of being finally able to celebrate with loved ones,” says Claire Berry, founder of event designers Perfect Cartel.

You can easily incorporate poignant acts of thank into your wedding day. Though time-consuming, a personal note on each guest place setting is a hugely meaningful gesture. Choose special guests, such as grandparents or close friends, to take home one of the flower arrangements at the end of the night. Smaller things include baking special ‘thank you’ biscuits for each guest, or hiring one or two babysitters to look after young guests during dinner and speeches and into the evening – it’s a way of giving parents some much-needed time off.

A rather magical idea is a community candle lighting: you give one person at each table matches and, at the same time, they light the candles in your centrepieces. It creates a cosy ambience and gives everyone a moment to reflect.

Consider gratitude in your guest list too. Bubble Food’s Executive Chef Director, Jens Nisson anticipates new friends made on our streets during lockdown or in community-based projects will get invites to our weddings. You might feel less willing to ask for gifts from guests too, with charity donations or funding for volunteer projects rising.

Buying British will be seen most clearly in wedding breakfasts in 2021, with more local ‘locavore’ menus requested by couples.

“I think seasonal British produce will be seen as the essential basis of the wedding menu,” predicts Jens, of luxury caterer Bubble Food. “This is due to a combination of an expression of pride in the local area after testing times, support for our growers and producers, as well as likely supply chain issues with food from overseas.”

Think locally-farmed meats, foraged ingredients, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and modern British twists on classic wedding dishes. The British beef and dairy industry have been particularly hard hit, so speak to your caterer about supporting those local farmers with your menu. Who’s ever said no to a cheese board?