Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding - October/November 2019 (Issue 79)

VENUE DÉCOR 65  DRESSED TO THRILL Check out the latest trends in big-day style and décor from some of the counties’ top professionals S tyling venues for your special day is something that cuts across all aspects of a wedding, as Nicola Jackson of Cotswold wedding blog Hanami Dream well knows. In collaboration with some of the counties’ top professionals, Nicola shares with us her big-day style trends for 2020 and beyond. Contemporary classic Traditional wedding styles are being injected with more vibrant colours, used subtly and paired alongside neutral colours. And it certainly isn’t the case of everything having to match anymore. Coloured linens are giving white napkins a run for their money, while cutlery is coming in different colours too. The best use of colour is with mix and match bridesmaids, where the styles and hues of dresses complement each other or are in varying shades of the same colour. Nods to Art Deco are appearing again in wedding themes, with lace also seeing a revival. And there’s a greater appeal to all the senses, with personalised scented candles often being used around venues to enhance the atmosphere. Some couples are choosing to sit intimately on their own sweetheart tables, and we’re seeing an array of cakes are being displayed on dessert tables. And while there is a move towards having less décor, some couples are supersizing their décor elements to make an impact. Country garden The greenery trend is still going strong, with couples looking for connections with nature. Weddings are bringing the outdoors in via an abundance of foliage, trees, enchanted indoor forest walks and floral arches. Banquet tables are being decorated with low florals so guests can see one another across them or hanging centrepieces. We are seeing more alternatives to real flowers, such as pot plants, succulents and air plants, which can be reused again after the wedding. But the biggest trend is the use of grasses, pods and dried flowers, with pampas grass seeing a huge surge in popularity. This is being used across all elements of décor, from the big statement pieces, like ceremony backdrops, aisle runners and chandeliers, to fillers in bouquets or big statement bouquets, table centrepieces and accents on the cake or table plan. Whether just one plume or a huge arrangement, dried or fresh, pampas grass is proving to be versatile across seasons and marries well as a neutral with many colours.