Our local pros answer your big-day woes HOT TOPIC SPOOKY STYLING We love all things Halloween and want a hint of that theme throughout our day. Can you share some ideas about how to bring it to life in a subtle way? Wanting a subtle Halloween theme calls for some fabulous floral displays and clever styling! Opt for bouquets in shades of red, with burgundy, orange, purple and dark leaves in browns and even blacks or how about just one flower type and colour – a round rose ball of dark burgundy roses, or an overarm display of black Cala lilies looks great. For your table flowers go large. Tumbling displays from copper stands, or black candelabra, including dark fresh flowers such as the deep aubergine Cala lily, Eustoma black velvet or black pearl mixed with greenery such as black Cordyline or Cortinus Royal purple leaves. Mix black fresh leaves and dried grasses to add texture to your displays. For a real fun look that packs a punch how about lime green Chrysanth, Purple Lisianthus and orange roses with black greenery – wow! I’d add accents of bronze and silver into the flowers and décor for a luxurious feel. For your décor, use sumptuous table runners in black and silver or dark bronze or purples. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes in shades of orange, green and ivory whites can be used to line an aisle, or scatter along tables. Add tealights around the base of the table centres with a scattering of black or red poly rose petals and maybe even a few plastic eyeballs for a spooky finishing touch. Make the most of any features in the venue. Decorate a staircase with a flower garland or swags of organza and ribbons, use flower displays for the top of a grand mantelpiece with candles, garlands around beams and pillars with or without lights, and pedestal displays at entranceways. Lighting’s critical so think about LED lights around trees, pillars, banister rails or add them into flower displays. Uplighters in an orange, purple or red tone create a great atmosphere. Chair sashes or hoods will immediately add more colour into the room or opt for black to add that Halloween feel. Annabel Grange | Butterflies and Bows | www.butterfliesandbows.co.uk HONEYMOON OF A LIFETIME I’ve always dreamed of going to see the Orangutans in Borneo for the honeymoon of a lifetime but I’m not sure how to pull it all together. Can you share your advice please? I would always advise using a personal travel consultant when planning such a special trip. Not only will they find the best suppliers with extensive knowledge of the destinations you wish to travel to, you’ll build a relationship with someone who’ll get to understand your likes and dislikes and who’ll be ‘with you’ every step of your journey and beyond. You’ll have a direct line just in case there are hiccups along the way and a good consultant will also arrange a few extra surprises for you, to make your honeymoon even more special! Before you talk to your consultant, have in mind what type of experience you’re both hoping for. For example, culture, adventure, relaxation, pure romance, or a mixture of everything – even if you don’t know exactly where you want to travel to! Most importantly, give them an idea of how much you want to spend. A good consultant won’t necessarily work to the maximum amount, but this will help them to guide you to what’s possible and tailor your trip to turn your dream honeymoon into reality. Sally Bosman | Not Just Travel | https://sallybosman.notjusttravel.com EXPERT ADVICE 81
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