#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 19th October 2016 – minimalist wedding
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 19th October 2016
As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘tips for a minimalist wedding’ #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Make sure any existing elements of venue or furniture are hidden to ensure nothing will distract the eye #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Keep decor, florals and styling to a few key pieces and remember that less is more #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Stick to one colour for maximum impact with white making an amazing statement #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Ask guests to wear a certain colour to create a theme and the use of minimal colours throughout #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Create reflection – use metallic decor, silverware or mirrors to bounce natural light around the space #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Use Perspex tables and chairs with no fussy table cloths or chair cover #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘Top ten tips for a minimalist wedding with the wow factor’ #UKWedLunch
See more inspiration at https://www.pinterest.com/HanamiDream/white-minimalist
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
Next week’s theme is ‘tips for booking a wedding band’ #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 12th October 2016 – to absent friends
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 12th October 2016
As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘to absent friends’ #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Read telegrams from those who can’t make it and raise a toast to absent friends #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Set up framed photos on a table, hang photo charms on your bouquet, from shoes or placed in a locket #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Wear heirlooms – wedding bands tied round an ankle or wrist, melt down wedding bands to make your own #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Use material from a piece of their clothing, handkerchiefs or ties, or monograms of initials stitched in your dress #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Use their favourite flower, or have a single flower in a vase, or put your bouquet on their grave afterwards #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Let balloons, Chinese lanterns or butterflies float off in to the sky #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘To absent friends’ #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
Next week’s theme is ‘tips for a minimalist wedding‘ #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 5th October 2016 – wedding stationery
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 5th October 2016
As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘wedding stationery’ #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: What, when & to whom you send invite (+what it looks like) is 1st experience your guests have of your wedding #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Coordinate stationery with theme of your wedding, all stationery as a whole plus everything you do online and offline #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Order all your paper stationery at the same time to save on costs #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Budget for envelopes & stamps – the more people you invite the more postage you’ll spend #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Consider sending invites in waves to decide whether you could ‘bump up’ any evening guests to be all day guests #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: specify who you are inviting to which parts of the day. Plus is there dress code, children, plus ones etc #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘You’re cordially invited…a guide to wedding stationery and how to invite your guests‘ #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
Next week’s theme is ‘to absent friends’ #UKWedLunch
Student of the month!
Over the moon to be chosen as Student of the Month with the UK Academy of Wedding & Event Planners.
https://www.weddingplanningacademy.co.uk/student-of-the-month/nicola-jackson/
The course has (and continues) to open my eyes up to a whole world of weddings beyond just wedding planning.
Thanks to my tutor’s support and invaluable guidance, along with the interaction and networking with fellow students (new and upcoming entrants to the industry bursting with fresh ideas) as well as an impressive alumni, tutors and advisory board full of experience and expertise.
Local wedding suppliers at Cogges Manor Farm Wedding Open Day
We are lucky in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds to have some highly talented, local suppliers who specialise in offering unique, bespoke and professional wedding services.
Plus, right on my door step, is the stunning barn venue at Cogges Manor Farm which I’m delighted to be supporting at their Wedding Open Day on Sunday 16th October 11am-3pm.
Come along for a tour of the amazing barns and gardens – perfect for your wedding venue.
I will be offering a drop in wedding planning clinic for couples who would like practical help to turn their ideas into reality.
You’ll also be able to see all these lovely local wedding suppliers too:
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At Abigail’s Kitchen we pride ourselves on providing a completely bespoke service. We understand that every couple has a dream of their perfect day and that no two wedding days are alike. We provide free help and advice at the planning stages and meet to work with each couple to help them get the most from their budget, to allow those dreams to come true.
With that in mind, there are no set menus; we create each menu and service style to meet with the client’s requirements. This allows us to do everything from picnics and afternoon teas to a formal four course wedding breakfast. We also offer canapes, finger buffets, hot and cold fork buffets, pig roast and BBQ’s, cheeseboards with homemade chutneys and pickles, wedding cakes of cheese, evening food sausage and bacon rolls, and our ever popular 12 hour slow cooked pulled pork and coleslaw baps.
We use local suppliers wherever possible, and vegetables, salads and herbs are often home grown. We provide all white china, stainless steel cutlery, glasses and any serving equipment required by your menu choices, from 3 layer tea stands to 6ft long cheeseboards. We pride ourselves on our highly trained and experienced front of house staff that make your guests feel looked after from the first welcome drink to the last crumb of wedding cake.
Please do get in touch to arrange a meeting with Abigail at a time convenient to you (7 days a week and evenings and weekends). Call 07771 616415 or email abipritcher@yahoo.com
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As a photographer for over 16 years, assignments have taken we worldwide. I enjoy working locally within West Oxfordshire as much as being commissioned to photograph weddings around the world. I believe the key factor in supplying services is customer satisfaction. Having taken traditional wedding images for a number of years I made the decision in 2015 to take on a new challenge. Now fully trained and licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to fly commercially, I am proud to be one of very few people permitted to take aerial images of our beautiful area and capture stunning memories. Take a look at some of my wedding clips on YouTube.
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Lark Rise Flowers, are professionally qualified florists, based in the rolling countryside of North Oxfordshire. They provide flowers for weddings and events throughout Oxon, Bucks, Northants, and beyond.
Stock is sourced from the major flower markets, and if seasonally available from an expanding group of British growers. The Eco commitment continues with a policy of recycling waste packaging and surplus green material.
Sandra, the Proprietor, is happy to meet with you for personal consultations and site visits. She will work with your brief, budget, or theme, to create a unique day for you both.
The Lark Rise team have a wealth of experience, having provided many wedding flowers, and decorated most of the major wedding venues in the area. They take pride and care in their work, from the simplest buttonhole through to beautiful bridal bouquets and venue décor.
“Surrounded by nature – working with nature”
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As a wedding celebrant, I love spending time getting to know you as a couple, your story, your dreams, what makes you tick as a couple and then using this to create bespoke wedding ceremonies that are all about you – a ceremony that your guests will remember, a ceremony that you will never forget. Using a celebrant opens up so many choices of where and when to hold your ceremony and what to include in it. Truly, your choice, your voice, your ceremony.
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Mabel & Rose has a lovely array of original vintage and rustic props available to hire. Our large range includes old apple crates, oak barrels, chalkboards, vintage suitcases, rustic wheelbarrows, an old delivery bicycle plus lots of smaller items like vintage bottles, jars, jugs and pots. So whether it’s large milk churns filled with flowers or a selection of vintage tin baths to keep your drinks cool we would love to help you enhance your venue and create the perfect look and feel for your wedding. Styling and on the day venue dressing services are also available.
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The Oxfordshire Photo Booth Co.
The Oxfordshire Photobooth Company offer you the best DSLR photobooth. Our ‘open-air’ booth creates the perfect ice breaker and talking point, an easy way to get the whole family involved. The only limit to how many people can fit in to our booth is your imagination!
We offer a range of packages for a range of budgets and can tailor any of these to your requirements. Every booking receives a fully customised start screen and watermarked image with your names in your colour scheme! Our instant photo prints, social media sharing, scrap books, photo albums, backdrops and bunting give gives your special day a completely unique, bespoke touch. For more information, please get in contact via any of our social media links.
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Paper Tree Design was created through a love of paper and a desire to produce beautiful and personal stationery and decorations. Thoughtfully designed, we focus on quality and attention to detail to make your stationery truly individual. With a background in Fashion and Textile Design, and 15 years experience in retail buying and product development Suzanne has a wealth of experience to draw on and is passionate about delivering design with little personal touches that reflect the clients loves and interests.
Living in rural Oxfordshire Suzanne cannot help but be inspired by the beauty of the natural world and the changing seasons, and can frequently be found in lanes and hedgerows with her camera and a sketchbook. Specialising in paper cutting, at Paper Tree Design we create your handcrafted wedding stationery to order. Choose to personalise a card from one of our ranges or commission a bespoke design. I am at my best working with your theme and ideas for a truly personal invitation and welcome you to come and have a chat and a cuppa in my Oxfordshire studio to discuss plans for your wedding.
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The Pretty Cake Company offers a friendly, personal and bespoke wedding cake design service to produce breath taking wedding cakes that will be remembered for years to come. Our aim is to produce a wedding cake that is individual to the bride and groom – always focusing on the attention to detail that makes all the difference. We have over 10 years of experience in designing and creating wedding cakes and work closely with numerous prestigious wedding venues in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds. We will work with you and take your ideas and inspirations in order to create a truly memorable wedding cake. We pride ourselves on using the finest quality and freshest ingredients available.
Unlike many other cake companies, we now specialise only in wedding cakes, as this is our true passion. Now we are able to focus on keeping up to date with current bridal trends and ensuring that our clients receive expert advice in the wedding cake field.
Clients are guaranteed a friendly, efficient service where quality is never compromised. Consultations by appointment only. We are based in Minster Lovell, Witney, West Oxfordshire and can deliver to a wide area.
@The-Pretty-Cake-Company-Witney-Oxfordshire
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Richard Young is a professional wedding magician who will amaze and amuse your guests throughout the quieter parts of your big day with his amazing close-up magic and mind reading. Magic is one of the few forms of entertainment you can book that will connect with all ages, nationalities and cultures at your wedding because everyone loves to be amazed and made to feel like a kid again. Richard’s magic will create lasting exciting memories of your wedding and create a fantastic atmosphere as he moves from group to group. Richard can perform during your drinks reception, wedding breakfast or evening reception, the choice is yours and Richard has different packages available for different size weddings and most importantly different size budgets.
Richard has been a full time professional magician for 10 years and lives in Oxfordshire, he is a full member of The Magic Circle and he performs at over 60 weddings a year so you can be assured of a top notch product that will go down an absolute storm at your wedding. You will soon see him on the brand new ITV1 prime time TV show ‘The Next Great Magician (7pm November 6th 2016 on ITV1) and he is also the headliner magician on the touring theatre show Champions of Magic. Richard is recommended by all the top wedding venues in Oxfordshire including Blenheim Palace, Le Manoir, Eynsham Hall and Caswell House.
I am Rosie of Rosie Red Corsetry & Couture, creating luxury bridal wear for all body types. My garments are made with the utmost of love, bespoke for you in Oxfordshire, England. Whether you’re plus size or petite, I promise you a fabulous experience from start to finish.
My growing celebrity following includes Helena Bonham Carter and Billie Piper.
I am such a romantic and a fan of love, creating your bridal gown is so much more than just a job to me. I would love you to be a Rosie Red Bride.
Every body deserves to feel beautiful ♥
@RosieRedCorsets
@RosieRedCorsets
@MissRosieRedCorsets
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Occasion Hair and Make up Artist specialising in Bridal and Occasion Hair and Make up. Twists offer a professional and creative service throughout Oxfordshire and the Cotswold villages, in the comfort of your own home or venue.
We understand that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Therefore we endeavour to ensure that your wedding hair and make up is one to be admired and remembered.
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https://www.facebook.com/Wates-Co-Delicatessen
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Look forward to seeing you on the 16th!
You’re cordially invited…a guide to wedding stationery and how to invite your guests
AS FEATURED ON BRIDE MAGAZINE:
According to the infamous shampoo advert, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Whilst you have been living and breathing all things to do with your wedding, the first time your guests may have any idea about your big day is when your wedding invitation or save the date card lands on their doormat.
Here’s my guide to planning and sending your wedding stationery to make sure that first impression counts:
why
There are many reasons why it is important to send invitations. Firstly, you want to share your good news with people and to invite them to celebrate your special day with you. Knowing how many guests are going to be at your wedding will also give you a clearer idea of the number of people to cater for and the venue size required.
But this is about more than just logistics, this important piece of mail will set the scene, the tone, the theme and your guests’ expectations of your special occasion. It also acts as way to educate and organise your guests so that they know what is expected of them too.
What you say, when you send it, to whom you address it and what it looks like all provide the first experience your guests have of your wedding. So it’s really important that you plan your stationery wisely to make the best first impression.
how
There are three different routes you could go down with your invitations – the traditional way of sending out paper stationery, the more technological (and environmentally friendly) path, or a combination of the old and new which might involve paper invites but collating the RSVPs electronically.
Whichever route you take, it’s great to
- coordinate the stationery with the theme of your wedding
- coordinate all the stationery as a whole
- ensure that you have a consistent look and feel with everything that you do online and offline
- order all your paper stationery at the same time to save on costs
- don’t forget to factor in the cost of envelopes and stamps to your budget
Bear in mind that the more people you invite, the more postage you’ll have to spend and then multiple this by how many times you send different stationery from the suite (ie save the date cards, invites, added info etc).
what
Think of your wedding as a big marketing campaign – you need to consider promotion of it before, during and follow up afterwards to get the best results (and response) from your audience! A well informed guest is a happy one and communication is key so your guests don’t encounter too many unforeseen surprises that they haven’t accounted for.
Here is the full suite of paper stationery to consider. I’ve included some US trends that we are starting to see more of in the UK especially in more formal weddings (of course this list covers all types and styles of wedding day, so omit the elements that do not suit your big day):
Pre-wedding day
- Engagement announcements
- Engagement party invitations
- Be my bridesmaid / best man cards
- Hen party / stag do invitations
- Save the date cards
- Wedding invitations
- Day
- Evening
- Information sheets
- Schedule of the Day
- Accommodation
- Gift list
- Map / directions
- Special requests (ie diet / high chair etc)
- Song requests
- RSVP cards
- Rehearsal dinner invitations
On the wedding day
- Order of service / Programme
- Table plan / Escort cards
- Table numbers
- Place name cards
- Menus
- Signage / labels
- Pew cards / reserved seating
- Favours
- Buffet food
- Post box
- Guest book
Post wedding day
- Thank you cards
- Cake boxes
when
Pre-wedding day
- 10-12 months before the wedding day – send your save the date cards (or add a note in Christmas cards to save on additional postage).
- 4-6 months before the wedding day – send out the invitations (consider sending them out in waves if you want to see how many people reply positively and then decide whether you could ‘bump up’ any evening guests to be all day guests if you have some people that can’t make it). Include extra information documents to provide details of the day and give the guests details of how to contact you to confirm their attendance. Put a date on the invites to tell guests when you need to have their RSVP back to you.
- 6-8 weeks before the wedding day – check any last minute changes to your guest list and chase any outstanding RSVPs so that the table plan and place cards can be produced and you have a final number for order of services and menus for the day.
Post wedding day
- asap after the wedding day – send out wedding cake in boxes to any friends or relatives that couldn’t make the big day.
- 2 weeks-3 months after the wedding day – etiquette dictates that a you should respond to people in a polite time frame as soon as you receive their gift (or as soon as possible after your return from honeymoon) to thank people for their gifts and attendance.
who
Once you’ve decided on what you’re going to send and when you are going to send it, you need to consider who the invite is going to and who it is coming from.
If your wedding day is going to be quite casual then your invitations should reflect this, whereas if it’s formal then the style and wording of the invites will be different to fit with this theme. The look and feel should mirror the content too.
There are so many variations on what you write inside the invite, as there are many factors that will influence the wording of stationery. For example, every family has different circumstances, it depends who is ‘hosting’ the wedding and often who is paying for the wedding. Here’s my advice on the elements to include which can be adjusted for all the different scenarios:
- Start the invite with who is hosting the wedding (whether this be the couple, the bride’s parent/s, groom’s parent/s, both sets of parents, or a mix of all of the above)
- Use ‘request the pleasure of your company’ (or can be more casually put like ‘please join us’)
- Write in the passive 3rd person for a more formal style
- List the bride before the groom (use bride’s first and middle names only for formal invites, plus groom’s full title)
- Include the time, date, month, year
- Indicate the venue with full address
- Note if there is a reception or meal afterwards (including when and where this will be held)
- Provide RSVP date and return address
To avoid confusion, it is often better to be really specific about who you are inviting and to which parts of the day they are invited to, so that they are not left in any doubt. Other things to note (so that all guests are on the same page) is whether there will be:
- a dress code
- children invited
- plus ones for single guests
Above all else, ensure that your invitations (and other stationery) reflect your personality and the look and feel of your special day. As long as you’ve got the important information on them (who, when, what, where) you can then add your own personal touches so that it fits your wedding day.
[Photography credits – Paper Tree Design]
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 28th September 2016 – wedding traditions
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 28th September 2016
As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘Wedding Traditions’ #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Don’t forget the silver sixpence in your shoe! #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: Have an anniversary dance at your wedding for all couples – present bouquet to longest married couple #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: Traditionally its unlucky for the bride to wear her entire outfit before the wedding day #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Flowers conveyed hidden gestures and codes for lovers to send messages to each other #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Flowers were worn as a garland on the head as a gift of nature, to ward off evil spirits & lingering smells #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: New trend of leaving a ‘lonely bouquet’ (instead of throwing it) in a public place with a note for someone else to find #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/category/traditions/ #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
Next week’s theme is ‘wedding stationery’ #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 21st September 2016 – tipi weddings
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 21st September 2016
As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘Tipi Weddings’ #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 1: Find out if the location has power & other utility services – you might need to bring in a generator, toilets and water #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 2: The number of guests will dictate how many tipis & configuration that would work for your gathering #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 3: If it’s cold you may need heaters. If it’s likely to rain then consider walk ways to avoid slippery grass areas. #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 4: Think about your floor plan – dance floor, bar & seating etc. Do you want long tables & benches or round tables with chairs? #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 5: Lighting is vital for an outside venue- to create ambience, &atmosphere plus light the way when night falls #UKWedLunch
TOP TIP 6: Everything you want inside the tipi, you need to think about and either buy, hire, make or borrow #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘A complete blank canvas: our guide to Tipi Weddings’ #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
Next week’s theme is ‘Wedding Traditions’ #UKWedLunch
Top 10 Spring 2017 colours from Pantone®
It’s almost ironic that as soon as the weather is taking a more autumnal direction that I should start to think about next year’s springtime! Yes, the leaves might be changing colour, there may be conkers on the ground and I have even spotted mince pies in the shops today! But this is the exciting time of year when those lovely folks at Pantone® compile their top ten colours for the following spring.
We are in the throes of London Fashion Week at the moment in the UK, which is hot on the heels of New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The experts at Pantone® watched the colour trends as they happened at NYFW, with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and compiled their top 10 colour fashion report as a result of what they saw on the catwalks. There were about 119 different shows to watch at NYFW so it’s no mean feat for them to record how many people are using variants of colours. Interestingly there were a number of collections that grouped lots of colours together and gave some amazing combinations.
So, after I was left quite disappointed with the Fall 2016 report, I needed something to regain my faith and the Spring 2017 colours have done this in abundance!
Don’t get me wrong they haven’t reinvented the wheel – its a happy evolution from the 2016 Spring colour palette. What is really striking though is the dominance and prevalence of one colour in particular. Blue appears in varying shades, such as Niagara (a denim blue), Lapis Blue (a great navy colour named after a stunning semi precious gemstone) and Island Paradise (a cooling turquoise). These take the 1st, 3rd and 5th spots respectfully on the list and are beautifully relaxing, calming and proving that, according to Pantone®, these colours ‘offer options that are not just typical of seasons’ but a great transition between the seasons.
Plus it’s great to see that the supporting, accent colours are not subtle and withdrawn – its out with pastel and in with party pops of vibrant citrus colours in the form of Primrose Yellow, Flame, Greenery and Pink Yarrow. You’d be forgiven to picture slices of lemon, orange, lime or watermelon adorning glasses of long, cool summer cocktails, enjoyed whilst laying in a hammock on a tropical island paradise.
This palette of ten fresh and vibrant colours brings bright, light and sunny colours to help us get through the next few darker months! The names of the colours also add to the vision of spring flowers popping up with primroses, yarrow, dogtooth and luscious foliage (in the form of Kale). Teamed up nicely with a lovely neutral (Hazelnut) for a real flavour of nature.
There’s still some influence of the 2016 colours of the year and Pale Dogtooth is certainly reminiscent of Rose Quartz.
The top ten colours for Spring 2017 are:
- PANTONE 17-4123 Niagara
- PANTONE 13-0755 Primrose Yellow
- PANTONE 19-4045 Lapis Blue
- PANTONE 17-1462 Flame
- PANTONE 14-4620A Island Paradise
- PANTONE 13-1404 Pale Dogwood
- PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery
- PANTONE 17-2034 Pink Yarrow
- PANTONE 18-0107 Kale
- PANTONE 14-1315 Hazelnut
It’ll be great to see how couples incorporate these colours in to their weddings next spring. If some of the unusual colour combinations from NYFW are anything to go by then we are in for some vibrant and tropical colour partnerships plus perhaps some beautiful blue gemstone décor.
Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.
I’ve been desperate for a yellow or an orange colour to get top billing for a couple of years and I cross everything that Primrose Yellow (or even Flame) could even be the Colour of the Year in 2017 (or will it be two colours again?!) I can’t wait for the release of the news in December to find out!