The support act

Styling tips for the most important people in your life

Whenit comes to a wedding day, whether you’re the bride or a guest, the million-dollar question for everyone is: what am I going to wear? For the happy couple, as they are the stars of the show, they likely have at least an idea of what their big-day look will be like. But for the rest of the wedding party, where do you begin?

First and foremost, the venue setting and theme of the day are paramount. A long flowing gown for bridesmaids will look out of place in a field for a tipi wedding; similarly, the mother-of-the-bride in a bold, tropical print, summer dress may stand out against a stately home wedding venue with a Bridgerton-inspired theme.

Secondly, the weather, we British folk like to moan about it and rightly so, because how many sunny days do we actually have each year? The season and the inclement weather will dictate not only the attire, the colour palette – no one wears pastel yellow in winter! – but also your accessory choice; boleros, jackets and wraps will be your cosy friend for winter ‘I dos’.

Read on to find out about 2023 wedding trends...

Grooms and groomsmen, and the fathers of the newlyweds too, are certainly taking more pride in their wedding appearance and enjoying the shopping just as much as the leading ladies. Men’s fashion has come a long way in the last decade, along with a greater acceptance of breaking wedding traditions and protocols. Some of our favourite grooms’ looks here at Your West Midlands Wedding are those gents rocking their long beards and tattoos, in a pink waistcoat with a patterned shirt – oh-so-cool, and totally unique and individual.

Grooms and their support act can put their best foot forward in these trending styles:

The bespoke tailored look: If you’ve never had a professionally fitted suit, your wedding day is the occasion. The perfect fit is essential for comfort and looking good in wedding photos, and you can have little personalised elements added, such as your initials and wedding date stitched into the lining.

Catwalk looks: Yes, few people look like a Gucci model, but if you like the patterned shirt from the D&G SS22 collection, then encompass this into your groom look – you need to feel like you!

Earth tones: Key for bridesmaids and venue styling, this will be a trend for the men on the day too. Think sand-coloured, beige and brown. For something a little fresher, go for green palettes.

The tux: Grooms who adore the traditional tuxedo can still opt for it, but think about variations, maybe velvet (aka Bond-style) or a bright colour or patterned effect.

Adorn and accessorise: Make your personality stand out with your accessory choices – here’s where you can really get creative; a dashing waistcoat, funky watch, or artsy pocket square and braces.

TDR Menswear’s trend predictions for 2023 are:

 Be seen in green this year! From green suits to sage ties and handkerchiefs.

 Burnt orange accessories are also on-trend this year.

 Grooms-to-be will be shopping for traditional morning suits with striped trousers.

LOCAL

TDR Menswear, www.thedressingroomsbridal.co.uk/menswear

Bill Child Formal Wear, www.billchildformalwear.co.uk Carter Esquire, www.carteresquire.co.uk Duncan James Menswear, www.duncanjames.co.uk

As much as we all love our friendship groups dearly, there are a lot of personalities grouped together. The same goes for fashion styles; we all have bits we love about our bodies and bits we don’t. The best thing a wedding couple can do to make their bridal and groom’s party happy is to be relaxed and open-minded about the outfits you want them to wear – everyone will then be happy and enjoy the day!

The top trends for maids in 2023 to be inspired by are:

 The ‘90s are back, more so the satin slip dress. Although it may not be for every body shape, it’s romantic, elegant and comes in a variety of colours.

 With our love of Bridgerton and period dramas still going strong, Victorian-style ruffles and layers can certainly look the part on a modern silhouette, think shoulders, waterfall skirts, hems and across the body – super flattering too!

 Gone are the days when all the bridesmaids are in one dress colour and style. The mix-and-match look is here to stay, and this has evolved to not just colour palettes, but also textures. Your bridal party will look gorgeous in a mix of satin, velvet and sequin – and so will your wedding pictures!

 Undecided about your colour scheme? Be inspired by these trending bridesmaid dress tones: neutrals, nudes, black, white and earth tones – venue styling matching these will create a cohesive look across the day.

 If your bride squad encompasses a bridesman, or sometimes people just don’t like wearing dresses, then why not match in style or colour but opt for a velvet dinner suit jacket, tuxedo, or rock a jumpsuit?

Local Suppliers

Brides Of Solihull, www.bridesofsolihull.co.uk

Jacqueline Louise Bridal Ltd, www.jacquelinelouisebridal.com

Olivia Louise Bridal, www.olivialouisebridal.co.uk

June Peony Bridal Couture, www.junepeonybridal.co.uk is truly a unique and romantic setting for your truly

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