STYLE COUNSEL

Top tips and trends to help bring your wedding vision to life

When it comes to the big day it’s often the little things that make all the difference. Whether you’re planning a cosy intimate wedding or a grand, lavish affair the personal touches and decorative details can really make the day your own. Whatever the theme, colour scheme, or budget, putting your own stamp on the celebration can set it apart from the crowd, and you don’t need to be the creative type or a do-it-yourself wizard either! There’s a wealth of inspiration at your fingertips and an army of amazing suppliers on the doorstep to help. Here’s a few handy hints to get you started:

❤ Tempting as it may be to start the wed-shop as soon as the ring’s on your finger, do your homework first to avoid impulse buys and costly mistakes. ❤ One of the first thing on the to-do list is to find your dream venue. Then, once the date is booked, everything else can flow from there. Draw inspiration from the season for the colours you choose, the type of flowers and decorations. The style of your venue is an important factor too. A grand stately home with majestic rooms may need liitle or no extra decoration, whereas with a blankcanvas venue you can really go to town.

Be led by what’s already there and aim to enhance it with complementary colours, materials, props and lighting. ❤ For a coordinated look, choose your colour palette and stick to it! ❤ Create an inspiration moodboard, your suppliers will love you for it as it provides an insight into your big-day vision. ❤ The old days of the cookie-cutter wedding are over. Couples want to reflect their personality and venue styling provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate your lives and loves. Whether it’s a Harry Potter theme or boho chic style, a nod to your travels or hobbies – if it’s meaningful to you, it’s sure to make your big day stand out. ❤ For an on-trend look the Bridgerton effect is all the rage, so expect to see a sprinkling of Regency vibes this year, inspired by the popular Netflix series. ❤ Trends come and go, but environmental issues are a continuing consideration reflected in the rise in demand for sustainable, eco-friendly products and services for weddings.There’s a wide choice of green alternatives available now, including easy swaps for single-use items and non-recyclable materials that look great, so you don’t have to compromise on style. Sourcing locally and in season are great ways to make sure your big day doesn’t cost the earth too. ❤ Don’t forget, there is such a thing as a notheme theme! If you want an eclectic mix of all your favourite things and a riot of colours – that’s fine; it’s your day after all!

Venue stylist Tina Smith of Ambience Venue Styling Suffolk (www.ambiencevenuestyling.com/wedding-stylists/suffolk) shares her top tips and trend alerts to help inspire you.

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www.janebeadnellphotography.co.uk ❤ Sage green was popular last year and is still a firm favourite to look out for in 2022. It looks great with ivory but also works beautifully with soft pink too. Incorporate it into your stationery and it’s great for a fresh, natural look to blend beautifully with an outdoor ceremony space. ❤ Blush pink is still very popular. Try adding a layered look to your tablescape by dressing charger plates with napkins, stationery, favours and maybe a little pop of foliage to give a lovely opulent look. ❤ If you’re looking to tap into the

Bridgerton/Regency look, a soft dusty blue teamed with ivory and silver accents is perfect and works with so many floral combinations.

If you’re planning long banqueting tables take the eye through the whole length, by dressing through the centre with a mix of heights and textures. Keep it crisp with ivory/white blooms or bring in pops of colour with simple bud vases of flowers and if your venue allows real candles, there is an array of beautiful colours to choose from. ❤ For a warm, luxurious touch, add gold accents with charger plates, cutlery and maybe an elegant tall glass goblet with gold floating candles.

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❤ Make your cake table a real focal point and dress to impress your guests! If you want to move away from the traditional clothed table, how about acrylic pedestals? Either single or double with a clear tabletop to give you space for a larger cake and maybe lay the bride’s bouquet alongside. ❤ Foliage is still really popular and set to continue into 2022

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❤ Neutral tones are always in favour to bring a softer, calm vibe and they look gorgeous alongside the period features of many of our

Suffolk venues. ❤ We are seeing lots more couples opting for a sweetheart table instead of the traditional top table. ❤ A barn wedding doesn’t have to mean rustic styling. Mix it up and add elegance with gold tones and textured linen. ❤ Use props and backdrops to add interest and fill any empty spaces. ❤ Backdrops are versatile and can be used both for the ceremony then moved to the reception behind the top table and for guests taking selfies during the evening party.

ALL IN THE DETAIL

Props and lighting make a huge difference when it comes to creating ambience and are great for the wedding photos too. Think strings of twinkling fairylights to transform an outdoor space and flickering lanterns to line the aisle. Suffolk-based Giant Gestures offers everything from blossom trees and floral arches, to giant light-up letters, welcome signs, backdrops and bespoke décor too. Owner Rebecca Oliver says, “It’s easy to sometimes get carried away styling your wedding when venue stylists and prop hire companies can make it not only stress-free, but eco-friendly too. Signage such as mirrored seating plans and giant letters can add an elegant, sophisticated look to your day and are all are reusable. Even bespoke decor can be dismantled and reused and we often repurpose things so there’s little waste.”

Visit www.giantgestures.com

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These LOVE letters in the courtyard of Suffolk’s Hengrave Hall give the outside space an extra romantic feel.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

Love for greenery just keeps on growing. Lashings of foliage and living trees help bring the outside in; perfect for a natural, country-themed wedding. At Norfolk-based Posh Plants you can hire real olive, bay and birch trees to decorate all types of venues from stately homes to gardens or for the ultimate fairytale wedding, their fourmetre tall faux birch trees are ideal. Owner Sue Huckle says: “I think both settings (pictured) encompass the Georgian/Regency period and reflect the Bridgerton vibe that everyone’s loving right now!” Visit www.poshplants.com for further information. Norfolk’s historic Holkham Hall is always a favourite for a classical wedding. The soft blue-green, grey shades of Posh Plants olive trees tone in beautifully with the Georgian style decor of the Orangery at Sibton Park.