LOVELY IN LACE My mum loves lace and wants to incorporate it into her dress. Do you have any suggestions of how we can do this without making her look old-fashioned? Lace is a beautiful and luxurious fabric to wear, however it often gets a bad rep as ‘dowdy’ or ‘old fashioned’, but this is not necessarily the case as they say: ‘It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.’ My suggestion would be to go for a delicate Chantilly lace, which is soft and looks beautiful on sleeves or an overlay on a strapless pencil dress. Heavier lace fabrics can be overbearing for ladies over 50, especially in pasty shades. With heavy fabrics, opt for a brighter hue to lift your mum’s complexion. Accessories are key to adding a modern take on this timeless fabric. Steer clear of pearls and instead go for gold or silver-plated statement pieces, which will create a more contemporary finish and will not snag the delicate fabric. Coryn Emma www.baroqueboutique.co.uk STRIKE A POSE I’m camera shy and am worried it will show in my big-day pictures – what should I do? Lots of people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, but there’s no need! Find a photographer that you feel comfortable with and let them know your anxieties surrounding wedding photography. Ask any questions that you may have and meet up with them for pre-wedding consultations so that you can get to know them on a personal level. If you don’t feel comfortable with your photographer, then this will show in your images. Some photographers specialise in natural, documentary-style images, capturing natural shots throughout the day; this is the style of photography I would suggest for anyone feeling nervous about their wedding photography. Do some research and create a moodboard of images and share it with your photographer so they can get an idea of the images you like. Organising a pre-wedding shoot is a great way to get to know your photographer and warm up before the big day. It also gives you an idea of how your photographer works and allows you to experiment with different shots. Lastly, just relax, have fun with it and don’t take yourself too seriously. Take some deep breaths, and try to forget your photographer is there; this is the best way to ensure you look natural in your images. Amy Maynard www.aj-photography.org FLORAL FANCY What are the latest flower trends? A very popular theme is using a single colour palette with various shades in bouquets and large displays. For a relaxed wedding vibe, using a single variety of flowers tied with a ribbon looks great. Very little or no greenery is used with these designs, as it’s all about the flowers. I’m loving that instead of using bud vases on tables, simple ikebana-style arrangements are being used, these work particularly well with footed bowl arrangements. Using beautiful containers for your flowers will enhance the displays and you can use them time and time again. For brides, it’s less about a full flower crown and more focused on flower headbands and fresh flower headpieces. These are comfortable to wear, can be delicate or full of blooms and are very practical for flowergirls too. Jewel tones are popular especially as Viva Magenta is the Pantone Colour of this year, so go bold and bright if you want to follow the latest fashion trends. Statement installations such as flower arches, columns, or hanging flower clouds are a must. These are the perfect backdrop for ceremony photos and give the wow factor at any wedding. We have also noticed that couples are more aware of sustainability with it comes to their flowers, which means not using floral foam and opting for local and British-grown seasonal flowers where possible. Rhian Rees www.wildandfabulousflowers.com 1208SW by Olvi’s www.grahamdaviesweddingphotography.co.uk www.aj-photography.org 56
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