HOT TOPIC: wedding worries

Our experts solve your problems

Whatever The Weather

As our wedding day gets closer, I’m starting to worry about the possibility of bad weather. How do we prepare for this and make sure we still get gorgeous images?

Don’t worry too much about the weather, as there are ways to get gorgeous images come rain or shine. Start by asking your photographer if they have umbrellas and flashes they can bring along, just in case. If you need to buy some, white brollies work the best as they fit any colour scheme.

At your final meeting with your photographer, discuss wet and dry weather options for your big-day photos and the logistics of your venue.

Lights are a great way to change any space and get gorgeous photos; even the smallest room can be transformed with lights.

Lastly, just relax. The weather will be what it will be, but if you try not to worry and enjoy your special day, your photographer will take care of the rest. You’ve hired them because you love their work, so put your trust in them.

Christina Davies www.fish2.co.uk

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND What jewellery trends are popular at the moment?

At Devotion Jewellery, we have noticed that white jewellery is staying popular. We always recommend platinum for engagement and wedding rings, as it is naturally white, 95 per cent pure (the safest setting for diamonds) and will never need re-plating like white gold.

We have seen an increase in different shaped diamonds, such as teardrop and emerald cut, with a halo setting or diamond set shoulders to add some extra sparkle. Also becoming increasingly popular are lab-grown diamonds, offering all the qualities of a natural diamond at a more affordable price range, allowing for bigger and higher quality diamonds.

For everyday jewellery, silver is still on-trend, with layered necklaces and drop earrings being purchased.

Bolder statement rings and pendants are becoming popular again, in silver, or gold plated, set with semi-preciouscoloured stones, perfect for complementing a stylish outfit. The jewellery market for men is very much centred on rings, and we are seeing more of our clients choosing rings with subtle and classy patterns, predominantly in platinum and argentium.

We’re also receiving a lot more enquiries for pre-owned luxury watch brands such as Rolex and Omega.

For the stylish gents, there is definitely a return to wearing classy cufflinks, usually in silver, either engraved or set with semi-precious stones.

Andrew Mills www.devotionjewellery.co.uk

A Moment In Time

We’re both camera shy and anxious about photos on our wedding day. Can you offer us some advice?

These are some of, if not the most important photos you’ll ever have, and it’s completely reasonable for you to want them to look amazing. Most of my wedding couples would say that they’re camera shy when we meet up for their pre-wedding photos, so please know that you’re not alone in feeling this way. During the shoot, we will walk around a bit and chat about the wedding, I will give some light direction and snap away as those lovely natural moments unfold.

In my experience even the most camera-shy couples are relieved when they see how relaxed the pre-wedding shoot is, and they end up looking forward to their wedding photos. Having that relationship with your photographer really helps you to ease up so they can capture you at your best.

You put so much effort into every detail and the photos will document all of that and will hopefully end up being printed in an album or hung up in your home, so it’s worth putting a bit if time into a pre-wedding shoot to settle those nerves.

Marina Walker www.marinawalkerphoto.com

Trend Setter

We’d like our big day photographs to be timeless with a few fun extras. What’s set to be the next big trend in the world of wedding photography? Wedding photography is moving away from posed and stiff images to a more natural and candid style. This will allow your personalities to shine through, making each image unique, showing a true, authentic reflection of your day.

I love the candid style as I get to capture natural moments that show the joy and emotions of the wedding, along with moments that would normally get lost or missed.

Another trend is smoke flares, these add a unique element to the images and are always a lot of fun.

Rachel Laidler https://rlaidlerphotography.lightfolio.com

Picture This

How can we ensure our photographer is the right fit for our big day?

When planning your wedding, you need to do some research into who you are booking. For example, are they within your budget? Is their style for you? Can you build a relationship with them?

The wedding industry is full of talented suppliers with different skills who cover various areas. When booking your photographer, they need to be reliable, friendly and up for having fun on your wedding day. You could hire ‘the best’ photographer out there, but they may not have good social skills.

Before booking your photographer, follow them on social media and meet with them and make sure you are 100 per cent happy before making the deposit.

Sarah Bainbridge www.westviewphoto.co.uk

www.westviewphoto.co.uk

Perfect Palette Picks

What flowers would be suitable for our summer wedding?

Summer is a perfect time to get married, as the flowers are in abundance and there is plenty of choice. Embrace the season; roses are at their best as are British wildflowers, which are a great way to soften and add lovely texture to your florals. Look for blooms such as sweet peas, delphinium, stocks, cosmos and nigella, to name a few. They come in a variety of intoxicating colours and scents. If you like pinks, think about adding hints of light blue, as it will bring a magical touch to your colour palette.

The choices are endless, but try and utilise the best of British blooms during this time, as nothing quite beats the look that they give.

Jemma Khan www.foragefloristry.co.uk

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