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Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding dilemmas

FLORAL FANTASY

What advice can you share when it comes to finding the perfect blooms? Some people find it easy to find perfect blooms for their wedding day while others sometimes struggle; this isn’t because they’re unsure of what they want, but nature has a huge amount of variety to offer when it comes to flowers. One of the key elements of finding the perfect florals is the time of year that you’re getting married. We all know that each season has a huge variety in choice and colours that are available. Spring weddings tend to be brighter and more colourful; it includes a mix of spring meadow flowers. Summer weddings are more traditional with ivory and pale pastel colours with maybe a bright burst of a feature colour. Autumn and winter weddings always feature more rich darker tones.

When selecting flowers, keep in mind that there should only be one or two statement blooms. These are the flowers that will be in the spotlight of your bouquet or table arrangements. Lots of people have a love for hydrangeas, roses, peonies, dahlias and other large headed flowers. These blooms together would create a bridal bouquet fit for a giant, so it only requires one or maybe two of these types of flowers and then add smaller filler florals to complement them. At Maples Flowers, we don’t expect all of our customers to know every type of flower available, that’s where we use our knowledge and expertise to point people in the right direction. Shane Maple| Maples Flowers www.maplesflowers.co.uk

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AUTUMNAL VIBES

We’re having an autumnal-themed wedding and are looking for flowers to reflect the season; what would you suggest? I encourage my clients to embrace autumn’s golden foliage, rich berry tones, dried grasses and seed heads. However, your colour palette doesn’t have to be intense or garish. It’s all about using a careful combination of colours and textures to achieve a colour palette that suits your style and venue. Think seasonal flowers such as sedum, Dahlias, hydrangeas, amaranthus and grasses such as miscanthus paired with late-season garden roses available in rich and muted autumnal shades. I also suggest lots of candlelight this time of year and avoid crisp white table linen. Instead, consider hiring tablecloths and napkins in latte, sage or caramel tones. Since autumn’s a time for cosiness and warmth, these shades are far more complementary to autumnal floral designs. Sarah Allen | Love At First Sight Floristry www.loveatfirstsightfloristry.com

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We’re having an outdoor wedding and a friend mentioned hiring a mobile bar, what are the benefits? Hiring your own mobile bar has many benefits. Firstly, it’s a great option for an outdoor wedding and would really complement the rustic, woodland or festival theme. If you love the countryside, being outdoors or you just want to break away from the norm, then a moblie bar is the perfect way to celebrate. Our bar would add great character and a focal point that will be sure to impress your guests, even more so with amazing cocktails handmade to order and delivered with a smile from friendly bar staff.

You are able to move mobile bars almost anywhere at your outdoor venue, or it can even fit into a barn or marquee – this gives you more flexibility to complement your day.

The added bonus at It’s Got a Kick is that the bar is a blank canvas, so we’re able to accommodate any theme or colour scheme. Our couples are welcome to decorate in whatever way they choose. Leanne Lane | It’s Got a Kick | www.itsgotakick.co.uk

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THE DREAM TEAM

When should I start thinking about booking my hair stylist, and do you have any tips for finding the perfect supplier? Book a company and secure your date as soon as possible because many hair stylists only book one bridal party a day. If you find the perfect supplier, you wouldn’t want to risk them not being available for your big day.

Look at reviews to find the right person for you as I find websites are like a shop window, there to show off the best of a supplier’s work. By looking at someone’s social media pages, you can find a better feel of their day-to-day work and behind the scenes. Most hair stylists have a natural style such as romantic, boho or classic looks. Go for the style that best fits your wedding. Kim Sandford | Kim Sandford Hairdressing www.kimsandfordhairdressing.co.uk