Your Herts & Beds Wedding - Jun/Jul 2019 (Issue 74)

VENUE STYLING 77 CAS T L E “Let the drama of a castle setting speak for itself. Lay your banquet tables with thick velvet runners dressed with platters of food, loose ornate fruits, vines and challises of rich coloured blooms. A huge floral installation of climbing vines and flowers growing up a stonewall would make a stunning ceremony backdrop in a castle or folly. If you’ve opted for a castle go the full shebang!” – Ellie “Use candelabra in keeping with the surroundings and I’d also add foliage garlands wrapped around certain features to dress it up a little,” says Shane. “When it comes to colour, use rich shades to work with the stone walls and dress the venue with spotlights to brighten up the darker areas. Tall floral arrangements on grand plinths would look amazing in dramatic alcoves. “Create that Beauty and the Beast feel with red and gold, add rose petals to the base of your centrepieces and for the perfect finish use gold chairs.” – Shane Contact our experts Ellie Cannon, roseandandy.co.uk | Shane Maple, maplesflowers.co.uk E L L I E ’ S TOP T I P S : ❤ Pick a venue that reflects you and fill it with all the things you love. ❤ Use Pinterest for inspiration but search your loves, hobbies, favourite artwork, patterns and images to create a personal and imaginative concept. ❤ If you’re a little lost, worried you won’t have the time or really want to wow guests with the look of your day, find a wedding designer/stylist. S TAT E LY HOME “The rooms are already beautifully adorned so adding too many props will be doing your venue a disservice. There’s nothing better than tables formally laid with huge balloon wine glasses, luxurious napkins and low bowls of decadent blooms. Opt for a modern minimal candlestick and seating such as masters or ghost chairs can offer a real wow-factor. If you are going for it, consider patterned fabric runners and napkins and gilded-edged charger plates to embrace full Baroque extravagance. There’s nothing more stunning than a grand staircase with flowers running up its steps and trailing up its banisters.” – Ellie “Plenty of candles will help make the surroundings twinkle and if your venue doesn’t allow real ones the artificial options are really good and can be hired from most florists or event companies. Stunning tall flower arrangements to suit the high ceilings is a must. Finishing touches such as coloured linen and napkins will help make certain elements stand out and using blush pink and ivory normally works well. Candles and smaller flowers to the base of the table helps with mood lighting.” – Shane CLAS S I CAL LY E L EGANT