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Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know

SEASONAL STYLE

We’re tying the knot in October and want to celebrate the season in our venue styling. What advice can you offer us?

One option is to incorporate autumnal tones into your colour palette. Burnt orange, terracotta and rust tones are on trend at the moment and are perfect for an October celebration. Consider pops of these rich, warm hues (perhaps in a table runner, stationery or in the flowers) set against a neutral base. Deep burgundy and dusky pink can also add depth and drama, giving a beautifully rich seasonal feel. If you’re not into bold colours, why not consider a gentler scheme of warm neutrals with accents of peach and wheat tones. Touches of gold also work well for an edge of luxury and sparkle.

Textures are also a great way of evoking the season. Dried flowers and grasses continue to be extremely popular and there’s a wide range of colours and shapes available from fluffy bunny tails to dramatic pampas stems. Why not incorporate some into your table design in bud vases, or add them to place settings or chair décor. Pinecones, dried fruit slices or even ornamental gourds and pumpkins are also fab elements to bring to a tablescape.

Finally of course, candlelight! Make the most of those darker evenings with plenty of flickering candles to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Holly Allman-Lopez | Ambience Venue Styling Bath www.ambiencevenuestyling.com

BLOOMIN’ LOVELY

We’re getting married in the autumn and want flowers to wow our guests. What’s available at this time of year and how can we show them off?

Autumn weddings offer a great opportunity to bring together all those gorgeous, deep seasonal tones and add a luxurious look to your big day. Make the most of foliage such as eucalyptus and oak leaves mixed with hypericum berries, peach or dusky pink roses and deep red tones. These can be lightened with delicate freesia or wax flowers, which provide a beautiful scent to your bouquet with a down-to-earth, natural look. Dried varieties too are the perfect seasonal choice and can be added to most designs, before becoming a treasured keepsake for years to come.

With the evenings drawing in at this time of year, I like to recommend table centres that include candles or tea lights to bring an extra glow and romance. It’s always best to check with the venue though that naked flames are allowed.

You’re likely to be spending most of your time inside, so it’s worth asking your florist for advice on your specific venue. Flower archways, garlands and chandeliers can really wow your guests on chillier evenings.

Jenny Hopkin | Clifton Flowers https://cliftonflowers.co.uk

WED WITH CONSCIENCE

We’re keen to make our wedding as sustainable as possible. What can you recommend?

While an eco-friendly wedding is desirable, it’s not possible to be completely carbon-free just yet. However, there are a few changes you can make in the meantime that will help you along the way. ♥ The venue. Choose somewhere that cares about its environmental impact. Could your venue plant a tree in their grounds to offset some of your wedding’s carbon footprint for example? At Berwick Lodge we try to strike a balance between encouraging eco-conscious decisions and ensuring our couples’ personalities shine through with their own personal touches. ♥ Decorations and flowers. Save on plastic wastage by hiring your decorations. Using locally picked wildflowers as centrepieces is also a lovely natural touch. Some florists only use blooms from local picking sites. ♥ Transport. Provide a bus or shuttle service that can pick up your guests and take them to the venue to reduce the amount of petrol used. Similarly, why not suggest carpooling? ♥ The dress. The best thing you can do for the environment is to go for a pre-loved gown. Preloved or Bridal Reloved both have beautiful options. ♥ Food. Sourcing seasonal and local ingredients not only tastes amazing, but also reduces transport pollution while giving back to the community. We grow our own herbs on site and source beef from the farm next door. It’s also good to bear in mind how much food is wasted at weddings, so see if your venue is signed up for a scheme like Too Good To Go that allows consumers to buy any surplus, or consider donating to a local food bank. ♥ Drink. English wines are starting to earn a great reputation and every town seems to make its own local gin. The same can apply to soft drinks. At Berwick we send apples that fall from the trees in our orchard to local not-for-profit company, Trust

Juice, where it’s pressed and pasteurised before being sent to

Bushel & Peck for bottling. It’s available to buy and serve at your wedding.

FIERY, FABULOUS AND FUN

We’re looking for entertainment that’ll appeal to everyone and have our wedding be the topic of conversation for months to come! Do you have any ideas?

Two words – fire show! It’s a different approach to entertainment that’ll immediately captivate, easily excite guests of all ages and bring a truly unforgettable wow-factor element to your special day.

Performing at weddings is my absolute favourite thing to do, which is why I decided to set out and create a fire show specifically for them. In doing so, I ended up creating three! These extensively choreographed fire and pyrotechnical performances feature plenty of crowd interaction, comedy, movement and dance through an extensive range of up to 14 dangerous props and skills all leading up to a jaw-dropping finale. Meticulously created with wedding clients and venues in mind, each show is crafted to match the space, party size and budget while remaining fully portable and lasting either 12, 20 or 30 minutes. It’s the perfect time-filler for when your band or DJ takes a break.

Image courtesy of Danny Albone

Danny Albone | Danny The Fire Performer www.dannythefireperformer.com

https://jareklepak.com

PLAY ON

We’d love some live music at our drinks reception, while still allowing our guests to chat and catch up. How can we strike a good balance?

I’d suggest a laid back, non intrusive approach such as some soulful, acoustic, easy listening tunes. Perhaps something a little more stripped back than a full band, such as an acoustic or even completely unplugged duo or trio. The volume should be quiet enough for guests to chat comfortably and loud enough so that those who want to take a break from conversation can enjoy the atmosphere it creates.