Your West Midlands Wedding - Feb/Mar 2020 (Issue 66)

VENUE STYLING 65 A ROOM WI TH A V I EW Here’s a run down of what’s hot in the world of venue styling in 2020 One of the biggest decisions a couple needs to make when first embarking on their wedding planning journey is to choose an over-arching theme for their day. From personalisation to show each-other’s characters and interests, to being on-trend with what’s modern and contemporary, there’s a number of influences to be inspired by. Martina Paul wedding planner and coordinator at Wonderful Events (wonderfulevents.co.uk ) shares her 2020 predictions: “There is a real growth in a concierge service with couples really wanting to enjoy the wedding planning journey, not just the wedding day itself. There are other events before and after the big-day like pre-wedding drinks or a Sunday morning brunch, that couples are now seeking advice on, as well as their proposal, engagement photo shoot, and the honeymoon. So, the wedding planning has become a truly rounded service and an experience in itself. “There are cultural and international influences clearly seen in nuptials as couples are well travelled and are embracing new flavours and more daring colours. “Nearlyweds are also opting to modernise the old traditions, this way they are making a new statement of who they are while respecting their parents’ heritage. “There is a great focus on the venue and showing it in the best light, literarily. Couples really should consider the light in each room of the venue and invest in up-lighters in the reception rooms, plenty of candles, and professionally lit dancefloors.” To add to this, Deborah Kellett, of Definitive Weddings & Eventz (definitiveweddingseventz.com ) says, “In talking to many brides- and grooms-to-be they want to create an impact for their guests but also to symbolise their unison and show what’s true to them and to make sure everyone remembers their special day and celebrates in style.” Deborah continues, “It’s becoming apparent anything goes, from mixing odd crockery with silver tableware, to the mixing of patterns and chintz, it all depends on what wants to be achieved. “Vintage furniture to dress areas is becoming more apparent, as well as rustic touches still proving extremely popular such as wooden ladders, flower frames and signage. “Personalisation and confidence is the way brides and grooms are approaching the new decade and creating something bespoke to them, some running from tradition others embracing it, nothing wrong with being traditional.... just be you!” Kelly Moorcroft of Country Foxes (countryfoxes.co.uk) shares her 2020 trends: 1. Rustic touches 2. Soft neutral florals 2. Foliage  4. Bringing the ‘outside in’ 5. Meadow/wildflower ‘roughness’ SUSTAINABLE WEDDINGS You can’t go anywhere without reading about ‘sustainability’ and the emphasis of this precious topic is set to continue in 2020. With Princess Eugenie’s environmentally-conscious wedding this year, the ‘eco-friendly’ term has well and truly made it’s way in to the wedding industry – which, in hindsight, did generate a lot of waste leaving a huge impact on the environment, from the travel required to gather everyone in one place, to the food waste produced by the meal. Couples are looking at many ways to reduce the amount of plastics used across the wedding day, as well as choosing locally grown and locally sourced seasonal produce and products reducing carbon footprint. Expect to see more living trees and plants in ceramic pots and cool containers instead of cut flowers − these can be planted after the wedding or given to guests monopolising on the traditional seed packets given as wedding favours. countryfoxes.co.uk , dearestlove.co.uk countryfoxes.co.uk