HOT TOPIC 2025 trends Our experts tell us what’s set to be hot for 2025 ALL ABOUT YOU Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding editor Kelly Andrews says: Content creators started making an impact in 2024 and 2025 will see them gathering momentum. Free yourselves and your wedding party from the responsibility of snapping all those Insta-worthy moments as the day unfolds, and have a professional do it for you. They’ll deliver you thousands of images ready to access the following day allowing you to relive those amazing memories and see the bits you missed. You’ll have a world of content for social media ready and waiting to go in no time flat. It’s the perfect accompaniment to your professional wedding album and video. Hashtags are a part of modern social media life. Why not come up with your own wedding-related one and share this with your guests via invitations, table numbers or other on-the-day stationery? This way when your guests post their shots and selfies on social media they can use the hashtag to make sure you don’t miss a beat. Instead of the traditional drinks reception where guests raise a glass of bubbly, many are opting for a super-chic cocktail hour. Work with your venue or bar provider to develop your very own bespoke wedding cocktail and give it a fun name to display at the bar. Alternatively, select your faves for his and hers options. You can also theme your cocktails according to the season. Something fresh and citrusy or fruity goes down a treat in the summer, as does Pimm’s. Meanwhile, mulled wine or warming whisky concoctions are perfect for the winter. A huge consideration when planning a sustainable wedding are the favours. You may decide you’d rather invest your budget elsewhere, but if you love the idea of gifting your loved ones a small token of your appreciation for sharing your big day with you, you’ll find options have shifted. There’s been a huge move away from disposable gifts that get left behind or chucked. Remember just because you think something’s cute, the chances that 100 other people will think the same is quite limited. What does everybody love? Food, of course! Edible, and indeed drinkable, favours are now the thing. This is a great opportunity to celebrate local too and support local artisans. We love ideas such as local honey or oil. Many couples opt for a tipple and at a certain point during proceedings will invite everyone to take the shot since they’ve tied the knot! Eco-friendly stationery is also becoming more readily available. I love the idea of encouraging guests to take their wildflower seed-infused place names home and plant them, giving them a second gorgeous life. Also, on the stationery front, many talented suppliers are now offering the ultimate in personalisation with custom illustrations of your venue adorning the invitations and table plan. With so many stunning historical venues across the region, these make the perfect models and deserve to be celebrated. When it comes to entertainment, it’s all about live experiences turning your wedding day into something unique and memorable, rather than following a set formula. There are so many talented local musicians to be found that there’s bound to be something in a style you both adore turning your celebrations into an atmosphere that’s truly you. Think jazz, retro, spring quartets, acoustic guitarists, singers, ensembles... the list goes on. Incorporating single musicians such as a saxophonist with your DJ is also becoming popular, particularly among those who dream of an Ibiza or festival vibe. Plus, you’ll be amazed at how much fun your guests will have with some seemingly simple experiences: live painters, audio guest books and photo booths to name only a few. 61 EXPERT ADVICE Ave Calvar on Unsplash
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