TREND SETTER What trends will be popular in 2023? Love stories and romantic literary greats will feature strongly in 2023 wedding trends. With the hotly-anticipated third series of Bridgerton in production, Regency period fascination will find its way subtly into weddings, with literary-inspired touches and splashes of Regency blue. Think of a quintessentially English cottage aesthetic, tradition, and regal elegance. Perfect for the traditionalists amongst us. The cost of weddings rises year upon year, and more and more couples are finding savvy ways to save money. Whether it’s arranging their table décor, growing their own flowers or making their wedding cake, couples are looking for ways to utilise the talents within their wedding party to keep costs down as much as possible. Sustainability is already a huge priority amongst many Brits, but in 2023, this is set to grow even further. Many couples will look to reduce the environmental impact of their wedding through eco-friendly suppliers and re-usable items. Stationery from environmentally-friendly suppliers and re-usable decorations and favours will play a big part, as weddings become a statement of how a couple wants to live in harmony with the environment. On the other side of the scale, another trend we’re seeing is the more subtle, old English-style weddings. Think satin and plain outfits as well as black and white imagery. Lisa Forde www.treeofhearts.co.uk JUMP FOR MY LOVE We’re thinking of hiring a bouncy castle for our wedding guests. What should we take into consideration before booking? When booking an inflatable for your wedding there are a few things you should consider. The first thing your supplier should do is check what design you’d like for the big day. For example, we have two wedding castle available for different budgets and other inflatables which are more focused on entertainment rather than the eye-catching all-white design. Is the inflatable going to be placed indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, the inflatable has to go on grass, so you should measure to make sure this would fit. If it’s going indoors, you will need to check that the ceiling height and floor space will be suitable. The team at Liam’s Bouncy Castle Hire Telford www.liamsbouncycastles.co.uk Getty Images HOLD ME CLOSE My wife-to-be and I are both camera shy and are feeling anxious about having our photos taken on our wedding day, but also want a lovely album to look back on. Can you offer us some advice? Allow me to let you in on a little secret, 95 per cent of couples that I have enjoyed photographing over the years also, initially, were just like you, so take comfort in the knowledge that you’re not alone with this concern. So, where do you start? Choosing the right person to be your photographer is the first step towards overcoming your anxiety. Research reviews, how did the photographer you are considering make other couples feel? Now that you’ve chosen the right person as your photographer, why not arrange a pre-wedding shoot? Get all those feelings out of the way so that you don’t have to deal with them on the most important day of your life. With the right person behind the camera, they will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and the experience fun. Whether or not you have had a pre-shoot, remember that you chose the right person to begin with, and they’re going to give you the personal space to enjoy your day and make you feel comfortable throughout. The most anxious part for couples on their wedding day isn’t the morning preparations, the ceremony or even the formal family photos, it’s the dreaded, both of you on your own with your photographer. If you’re naturally touchy-feely, then hug and feel or if you’re naturally full of kisses and sweet words, then kiss and whisper. After that, let your photographer take you both for a little walk to some lovely spots and just see what happens along the way. The point is to forget about the camera and your photos, that’s your photographer’s job and don’t forget, you chose this person because you liked them and not just their photos. Paul Mc Ardle www.pandsphotography.co.uk www.pandsphotography.co.uk 54
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=