THE GREAT OUTDOORS We’re planning to have an outdoor celebration, but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas? Making use of all the beautiful outdoor spaces in the warm summer months is so lovely and what many couples want. Outdoor celebrations are fantastic, but we have to be realistic in the UK and have a plan B as the weather can be so unpredictable. Once you find a venue, look at the spaces and see if there’s an option to have a stunning glass marquee or a stretch tent so your guest still feel like they’re outside in the elements. As a wedding stylist and planner, I help my couples think about how they can add personality to their celebration with colours, floral designs and décor among many other important details. My favourite idea is creating interesting areas that bring the indoors out; my couples and their guest also love this as it creates spaces for people to relax – especially as it can be a long day. It also provides interesting areas for your guest to explore and is a great way to bring your personality and style together. Tichea Brade | Carmela Wedding’s & Event’s www.carmelaweddings.co.uk PICK OF THE BUNCH What are the latest flower trends for weddings? Bold shades and colour blocking have made a comeback this year. Pastels and blush shades will always be popular, but couples are getting braver and bolder in their colour choices – fun is the name of the game. Monochromatic bouquets always look beautiful; imagine a colour scheme focusing on reds with different tints and tones. Alternatively, a bouquet of polychromatic flowers with lots of varieties of blooms and textures with grasses and foliage will create the perfect pieces. Sustainability is very much high on our agenda. As a florist, I’m trying to educate my couples by suggesting biodegradable floral foam alternatives, such as using moss soaked in water and chicken wire as the base for floral arrangements. You can also repurpose arrangements from the ceremony to the reception to get total value for jaw-dropping designs. I suggest reusing and recycling the plastic dishes, trays, and glass vases as well as using the moss or wire for garden projects or even returning the items to be used at other weddings – every little bit we do helps! Vicki Cowell | Vicki’s Floral Designs | www.vickisfloraldesigns.co.uk www.babbphoto.com PLANNING SOS We’ve started planning our wedding; what advice can you share to make the process easier? There are 100s of resources these days to help you find wedding ideas, from magazines and publications to online blogs, social media, wedding directories and more. Some weddings all look the same and follow similar templates. So, you’ll want to create a wedding that includes personal touches that truly represent your great relationship – remember there are no rules. It’s difficult when those around you seem to want to dampen your fabulous ideas because everyone suddenly seems to have an opinion on the day and make comments such as ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you’ or ‘how about XYZ instead’. Respond with a gentle ‘thanks, but that doesn’t fit with our vision’ or perhaps ‘really appreciate you thinking of us, but we have already sorted this out’. If they continue to interfere, put them on an information diet and stop telling them details about the day. When it comes to creating the perfect wedding, your suppliers also need to fit your vision. That way you’ll know they have your corner and will help boost your confidence. Consider joining online communities and Facebook groups filled with other couples ditching wedding trends. These communities offer a wealth of inspiration, information and support. Finally, consider getting a wedding planner who will be more than the administrator, contract checker and coordinator of the day – they’ll also be your confidante. Beckie Melvin | Emerald Orchid Weddings https://emeraldorchidweddings.co.uk https://charlymaephotography.com https://charlymaephotography.com https://stevemulveyphotography.com 74
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