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

VENUE DÉCOR 67 Quirky and personal Personalisation is still the most prevalent theme in weddings. Couples are making their nuptials as individual as they are. There is an abundance of original alternatives that blend together cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches. Couples are going beyond paper stationery with different material types, such as Perspex, denim, wood or agate slices, and printing invites on things their guests can use again. Likewise, guestbooks are things couples will use or see every day, such as recipe books, furniture and artwork. Alternatives to real flower bouquets include flowers made of fabric, felt, paper, sheet music or comic book pages, and people are carrying flowers in different arrangements such as pomanders, hoops and wreaths, as well as holding objects instead of flowers – think sparkly things to make a bouquet or using other natural alternatives. Plus, paper flowers are being used for décor and in ceremony arches. Couples are also considering new ways to wear flowers, such as bow ties, corsages, floral rings, anklets and chokers. And to get even quirkier, llamas and alpacas seem to be the wedding animals of choice, while the evolution from Chinese lanterns and sparklers has moved on to super-dramatic smoke bombs. Bohemian and vintage It’s a sad fact that, by their nature, weddings can be quite wasteful. However, more and more couples are choosing eco-friendly and sustainable options to reduce the impact that their wedding day has on the environment. Where possible, couples are thinking about foraging, borrowing or hiring items, upcycling vintage décor, making their own items and considering how to pass on items afterwards. Food is more seasonal, local and vegan, with some couples looking at how to make their wedding a plastic-free event. The other trend to look out for is Kintsugi; this is upcycling, Japanese style – the art of repairing or recycling broken items in beautiful and artistic ways. MAIN CREDITS: Planning , hanamidream.co.uk ; Location , oldswanminstermill.co.uk ; Photography , Sandra Lawrence of Farrow Photography; Hair and make-up , lucybeesleybridal.co.uk ; Bridal dress and accessories , maebridal.co.uk; Groom clothing , keatesmenswear.co.uk ; Florist , witneyflorist.co.uk ; Cake , theprettycakecompany.com ; Stationery (including paper floral arch), papertreedesign.co.uk ; Cutlery and crockery , vintagegoldchina.com ; EXTRA CREDITS FOR MODERN/URBAN SECTION : Location , oxleazebarn.co.uk; Photography , squibphotography.co.uk, Florist , enchantedfloristry.co.uk; Extra styling , everything-covered.co.uk , cotswoldwoollenweavers.co.uk