HOT TOPIC Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know FORWARD THINKING What are the latest trends in wedding venue styling? The pandemic made us all re-evaluate weddings. Couples are now more conscious of how precious shared time with family and friends is. To this end, 2022 celebrations are likely to be more personal, creative and fun, using statement colour palettes, thoughtful décor, bold style and unique entertainment. There’ll be an increased focus on the environment and nature, with more outdoor weddings or venue dressing bringing the outside in. Florals will either be huge floor-to-ceiling installations or run along the full-length of the tables and be more waste mindful. With the focus on sustainability, rented flowers and leafy plants in terracotta pots are likely to be huge. In terms of colour there’ll be something for everyone. The traditional pastel pinks and whites will be replaced with earthy, natural hues – think soft pinks, coffee, honey, caramels and ivories with a touch of rust or amber for those wanting something warmer. Couples will be embracing non-traditional palettes too. Media and fashion trends always influence décor and design, so I expect to see the obsession with the Regency era (thanks to Netflix’s Bridgerton) find its way into weddings. Whether this be through pastel colour palettes featuring soft blues, stationery details and signage in calligraphy; or floral arrangements of roses and trailing wisteria, with dining details using vintage china. Sally Gallis | www.lunaandthelane.co.uk www.parrotandpineapple.com THIS IS US How can we tell the story of us through our wedding cake? I love working with couples who want to use their cake to show their story! It often leads to some fun designs and always a unique bake for their day. A popular style I’ve create many times over the years and one that never goes out of fashion, is my hand-painted story cake. This depicts when or how you met, something you love and where you are now. It can also be personalised further to match the colour scheme of your day and allow you to add lots of fun, quirky detail. Show your personalities through the cake’s flavours too – I always suggest a selection and recommend choosing the ones you love. After all, making sure the cake is beautiful inside as well as out makes for a talking point for all the right reasons. Jo Stevens | www.peek-a-boocakes.co.uk UNITED BY LOVE We’ve heard about rituals we can have during a celebrantled ceremony, but how do we know which is right for us? Hand-fasting and unity candles are just two of the symbolic rituals that many couples are now choosing to include in their wedding ceremony, and each can be adapted to suit your own style. Hand-fasting is a beautiful ancient ritual said to be where the phrase “tying the knot” comes from. Put simply, it’s when a couple joins hands and ribbons or cords are used to tie a symbolic knot. You can use several different ribbons or plaited cord made up of different colours, or anything else you like. Couples often choose colours to match their palette. Using multiple lengths can also be a way to include family and friends. A unity candle is a lovely symbolic joining together or two families. Two taper candles are lit individually, before both are used to light a larger central candle. This can be a great way to include both mothers in the ceremony and also works well for blended families. If you’re thinking of including a symbolic element in your ceremony, then simply talk to your celebrant. They’ll be able to advise you on how they can incorporate it in a way that’s completely right for you. Tanya Jones | www.perfectpromisesuk.com www.kelsiescullyphotography.com EXPERT ADVICE 75
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=