HOT TOPIC Wedding worries

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Blooming Marvellous

I’d like to have my flowers preserved after my wedding; are there any blooms I should avoid?

First of all, congratulations on finding and securing your florist for your big day. If you’re having your bouquet preserved, it’s worth mentioning this to your florist. Depending on the style you’re going for, some florists will use wires through the stems of the flowers to create and maintain certain arrangements. Wires can shorten the life of your bouquet, and by the time your preservation artist receives it, some of the flowers may be wilted. The same goes for glue, this is usually only used in cascading handheld bouquets to keep the longer stems in place, but some of these stems don’t quite reach the wet oasis and are glued in place instead. If this is the case, some flowers aren’t staying hydrated and again will wilt much quicker.

In terms of flower choice, succulents don’t preserve well as they hold too much moisture. If you’re keen on having succulents within your bouquet, most preservation artists will replace them in your final piece with artificial ones.

If you’re going for an all-white look, discuss texture and various flower choices with your florist. It’s very hard to design a preservation piece with only one colour and flower choice, so consider adding pampas or foliage to give your preservation piece more depth and interest.

When it comes to white/ ivory or lighter flowers, expect a change in colour during the drying process. Light colours can dry with a yellow hue, but some artists offer colour correction if this happens. White or light flowers are also more likely to show bruising and transparent spots when placed in resin; this is perfectly normal and can vary from flower to flower.

Colourful bouquets retain their colour well, and darker hues can go deeper in colour, for example, red flowers will dry more burgundy. It’s always best to discuss drying methods with your preservation artist and to read their T&Cs or FAQs, so you know what to expect from their service.

Picture The Scene

We’re beginning to look for our dream wedding venue; how can we narrow down our search?

The first thing you need to think about is how many guests will be at your wedding. Some venues will have a minimum and maximum capacity which might not suit your vision for the day.

The next thing to consider is location; how far do you want to travel? Is there an option to stay overnight? Will you be getting married at the venue or somewhere else first? Is it far away from home and is there enough accommodation for your guests? These will all play a major part in where you decide to book.

You need to decide what suits you, for example, if you want something a bit low-key and casual, then don’t go for a big fancy manor house.

One of the main things that will ultimately decide your location is budget. As much fun as it is to daydream about spending big on your wedding day, work out your budget before you start looking and stay within your means!

Chrysanthemums are delicate and, more often than not, will lose most of their petals once dried. Your preservation artist can rebuild them where possible.

Peonies lose their petals, and they don’t have a very long life once cut. If you have peonies in your bouquet, ensure they get to your preservation artist straight after your special day. Peonies come in various sizes, so if you’re having large peonies in your bouquet, mention this to your artist so they can discuss what preservation options are suitable.

Lilies and orchids hold a lot of moisture and will likely change colour during the drying process.

Dahlias, if received early enough, dry very well. If they arrive starting to wilt, they will likely lose petals during the process. Dahlias can also change colour quite a bit, for example, pinks can turn purple.

Remember, the condition that your flowers arrive in will play a huge part in how they are preserved and what the end result will look like.

Emma Cross www.encapsulatedmemories.com

Lovely In Lace

My mum loves lace and wants to incorporate it into her dress. Do you have any suggestions of how we can do this without making her look old-fashioned?

Lace is a beautiful and luxurious fabric to wear, however it often gets a bad rep as ‘dowdy’ or ‘old fashioned’, but this is not necessarily the case as they say: ‘It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.’

My suggestion would be to go for a delicate Chantilly lace, which is soft and looks beautiful on sleeves or an overlay on a strapless pencil dress.

Heavier lace fabrics can be overbearing for ladies over 50, especially in pasty shades. With heavy fabrics, opt for a brighter hue to lift your mum’s complexion.

Accessories are key to adding a modern take on this timeless fabric. Steer clear of pearls and instead go for gold or silver-plated statement pieces, which will create a more contemporary finish and will not snag the delicate fabric.

Coryn Emma www.baroqueboutique.co.uk

Floral Fancy

What are the latest flower trends?

A very popular theme is using a single colour palette with various shades in bouquets and large displays. For a relaxed wedding vibe, using a single variety of flowers tied with a ribbon looks great. Very little or no greenery is used with these designs, as it’s all about the flowers.

I’m loving that instead of using bud vases on tables, simple ikebana-style arrangements are being used, these work particularly well with footed bowl arrangements. Using beautiful containers for your flowers will enhance the displays and you can use them time and time again.

For brides, it’s less about a full flower crown and more focused on flower headbands and fresh flower headpieces. These are comfortable to wear, can be delicate or full of blooms and are very practical for flowergirls too.

Jewel tones are popular especially as Viva Magenta is the Pantone Colour of this year, so go bold and bright if you want to follow the latest fashion trends.

Statement installations such as flower arches, columns, or hanging flower clouds are a must. These are the perfect backdrop for ceremony photos and give the wow factor at any wedding.

We have also noticed that couples are more aware of sustainability with it comes to their flowers, which means not using floral foam and opting for local and British-grown seasonal flowers where possible.

Rhian Rees www.wildandfabulousflowers.com

Strike A Pose

I’m camera shy and am worried it will show in my big-day pictures –what should I do?

Lots of people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, but there’s no need! Find a photographer that you feel comfortable with and let them know your anxieties surrounding wedding photography. Ask any questions that you may have and meet up with them for pre-wedding consultations so that you can get to know them on a personal level. If you don’t feel comfortable with your photographer, then this will show in your images.

Some photographers specialise in natural, documentary-style images, capturing natural shots throughout the day; this is the style of photography I would suggest for anyone feeling nervous about their wedding photography. Do some research and create a moodboard of images and share it with your photographer so they can get an idea of the images you like.

Organising a pre-wedding shoot is a great way to get to know your photographer and warm up before the big day. It also gives you an idea of how your photographer works and allows you to experiment with different shots.

Lastly, just relax, have fun with it and don’t take yourself too seriously. Take some deep breaths, and try to forget your photographer is there; this is the best way to ensure you look natural in your images.

Amy Maynard www.aj-photography.org

Flower Preservation For Any Occasion

Encapsulate your memories in a beautiful handmade keepsake encapsulatedmemories.byemma@gmail.com

WWW.ENCAPSULATEDMEMORIES.COM

Wild

Professional And Versatile Wedding Harpist

There is nothing quite like the atmospheric elegance of live harp music on your special day, Hannah creates the perfect ambience with her extensive repertoire and is able to add a personal touch by taking your music requests. Multiple packages are available to choose from whether you would like her to play for the Ceremony, Drinks Reception, Wedding Breakfast or a combination of all three her music can cater for all parts of your wedding day.

Everything You

We stock and sell a large variety artificial flowers and floral supplies.

Our stock range is the most up to date current available on the market and are always looking to expand our range with fresh ideas.

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