MARNIE’S PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS

• “We will have a real tree, and throw up a few minimal decorations without going overboard,” says Marnie. “I won’t put up tinsel but a decoration I bought in Copenhagen — a white papier-mâché horse — and other things in white or neutral colours. I’ll pull off a little holly from our tree for the table, giving a hint of Christmas.” • Marnie aims for a relaxed picnic-table Christmas where company is more important than tradition. “I want to keep things light and loose — it’s about having the people here.” • The meal will consist of the couple’s own produce, as well as guests’ dishes. “Everyone will bring a dish, but it’s not so much about the food,” says Marnie. “I’ve been a vegetarian for 20 years but if anyone wants ham or a barbecue they can organise it. We’ll have lots of wine, pavlova and passionfruit sponge, and Mum makes a great lemon tart — maybe I could convince her to make it part of the new tradition!”