Your London Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 74)

THE PERFECT SETTING Q How do we narrow down our venue search, and what do we need to consider before we book? Firstly, decide on your budget. There’s nothing worse than falling in love with a venue only to discover it’s beyond your budget. Think about how many guests you would like and what style is you . Would you prefer a historic building with grand rooms or outside space? Or perhaps you’re more contemporary and would like a gallery or museum? Next, think about the date. Are you dreaming of a spring wedding or cosy winter nuptials? If you can be flexible, you maximise your chances of getting that dream venue. Do your research and pull together a list of your favourite settings and contact the wedding coordinator for each. They will know their space inside out and can talk you through your vision, suggesting how it could work at the venue. Finally, and most importantly, visit your shortlist of favourites in person. Images can be deceptive and you will get a feel for the team who will be looking after you. Often it’s the human factor that makes or breaks your decision. Berenika Kaczmarska | The Lansdowne Club | www.lansdowneclub.com FANTASY FLORALS Q What new ideas and styles should I look for to give my big-day flowers the wow factor? We love creating oversized installations, finding inspiration from magazine editorials and catwalk set design. Suspended clouds are proving popular using either fresh flowers or dried varieties alongside faded palm leaves. If working with a smaller budget, foliage bunches hung upside down above long tables give great impact. Think beyond your tables for areas to dress; we seek out every opportunity to bring florals in, such as walls and stairways. Large mantelpieces are wonderful areas to bring to life with asymmetrical designs full of movement, height and texture. Playing with scale is part of our signature style, working with structures such as moon gates, arches, frames and grid walls to create monumental backdrops. For outdoor weddings, we like to adorn natural structures such as tree trunks and canopies to give an editorial feel. Impact doesn’t have to mean bigger. With a clever use of colour and materials such as paper flowers and silk stems, we can bring a dynamic feel to any room. When it comes to colour, a punchy palette of baby pink and dusky orange can make a real statement alongside ombré designs. Hazel Gardiner | Hazel Gardiner Design www.hazelgardinerdesign.com THE SWEETEST THING Q We’re having a much smaller wedding than we first planned, so a big cake doesn’t seem right. What other options are there? Macarons make a chic statement at any wedding. Traditionally French-inspired, they are a great cake alternative. Here’s how you can incorporate them into your day: ❤ Deck out a dessert table with cake stands piled high with macarons and macaron pops in your colour scheme. ❤ Use personalised options as place settings. ❤ Use decorative boxed macarons at everyone’s seat as a favour. ❤ Create a traditional look by displaying them on a tiered stand for an elegant- meets-vintage vibe. ❤ Why not still have a small cake but use stacked macarons as an eye-catching base? ❤ Give your guests to-go boxes. Opt for healthy, savoury or alcohol-infused options for added fun! ❤ Create a tower of macarons. You can opt for multi-coloured, classic white, ombré or customise your own design. ❤ Macarons leave less mess and you don’t have to worry about slicing them. They come in easy portions to just pop in your mouth. Senda El Kardali | Treat Me Sweet Co | https://treatmesweet.org.uk www.jess icawilliams.photography https://stephenswain.com EXPERT ADVICE 89