SNOW MUCH LOVE We’re getting married this winter and want to transform our venue into a winter wonderland. What advice can you share? A winter wonderland theme can be magical this time of year. There are many ways to incorporate the season into your big day to create a cosy and enchanting atmosphere. Use a lot of white, silver and grey to create a wintery colour palette. Consider incorporating snowflakes, fairylights, pinecones, and seasonal foliage to give your wedding that wintry feel. You can also use seasonal flowers like amaryllis and holly to create beautiful centrepieces and bouquets that fit your theme. Consider making an aisle runner look like snow or using a white carpet runner for the ceremony. You could also create a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows and whipped cream to help keep guests warm and cosy. Finally, consider your attire. For the bridesmaids, dress them in silver or grey dresses to match your theme. Overall, there are many ways to incorporate a winter wonderland theme into your wedding day. The key is to focus on the details and create a cosy, enchanting atmosphere to make your day magical. Anna Garner-Currie | Marauders | www.marauders.co.uk TOP TRENDS FOR THE GROOMS My hubby-to-be wants to wear something that’s on-trend. What styles, colours and materials are popular right now? I’ve offered hire wear for weddings and other formal occasions for nearly 20 years. So many things have changed over time, especially since Covid-19. Previously, churches or registry office weddings would be the prominent places to tie the knot, but now beautiful venues are always opening. From small, intimate spaces to manors and grand properties, these buildings leave scope for the imagination. The individuality of each wedding can lead to some unusual and exciting outfits! Style is the key, whether you’re exchanging vows in a barn or a castle – it’s all down to cut and the tailoring. The New Cameron Ross Italian style is a perfect example, made of 100 per cent wool and a light feather. The heart of all these suits are the fabrics and finishes. The classic tails are still trendy for churches and more formal settings as they suit everyone while adding elegance and class to occasions. However, top hats are less popular. Tweed is still very trendy for rustic and rural services; it has undoubtedly had life breathed back into its popularity by Peaky Blinders. Even more popular in the summer, tweed can be worn with a shirt, waistcoat, or braces. Another trend is the striking black tux, especially with the new slimline suit and scoop neck doublebreasted waistcoat. The most popular suit is the beautifully crafted blue slim fit. Whether you choose a short jacket or tails, this light and easy-to-wear suit gives a great look to whoever wears it. Lastly, kilts are not just for the Scots – there are tartans for all! The style looks fabulous and is becoming more popular for weddings, cruises and eveningwear. Alison Falconer | Rag Tags Schoolwear | https://ragtags.co.uk LOOKING YOUR BEST What advice can you share to help me find the perfect bridal jewellery? The main thing to consider when choosing bridal jewellery is to think about what’s important to you – think sustainability, budget, colour scheme, family traditions and safety. Many British jewellers use recycled metals these days, so there are plenty of options for modern nearlyweds. Some suppliers will make your family gold into a new piece for you, which offers a lovely way to reuse pieces while honouring your ancestors. You might see something that catches your eye and think, ‘This goes with my theme,’ but what happens afterwards? Will you sell the jewellery or wear them again? If it’s not something you’ll wear again, maybe it isn’t the right piece. Anything we can do to avoid jewels languishing in jewellery boxes can only be good. It’s worth looking harder to find something you’ll love and cherish. Sometimes, that means spending a bit more or even borrowing an heirloom. It’s relatively safe to assume the pieces are made fairly if handmade in the UK. The only exception to this might be the stones in your jewellery. Ask the jeweller if these are responsibly sourced. If so, the team will be happy to share this information. If they’re reluctant, then be sceptical as they either don’t know or have not factored this into their designs. Consider the stones used! Diamonds are 10 on the moth scale, the industry standard for measuring the hardness of a gemstone. Diamonds aren’t always affordable, and there are equally suitable plus less expensive stones like rubies and sapphires available, which come in a rainbow of colours – both are nine on the moth scale. Safety is most important! Buying from abroad can be cheaper, but it’s risky. Places like the US also have no hallmarking requirement, so you cannot be sure that what you buy is genuinely gold or silver. If purchasing jewellery at the lower end of the market, there’s the added risk of toxic metals such as cadmium in your jewellery. There are no laws in these countries to guarantee your safety. Natalie Manifold | SeragaEngland | https://seragaengland.com www.emine.uk © Photos by Cameron Ross https://framesbyben.co.uk 84
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