LOOKING YOUR BEST

Wedding WOW FACTOR

How to look and feel your big-day best

Planning a wedding can be pretty hectic, particularly if you’re working to a tight timetable. To enjoy the journey, take time out now and again, enjoy a night in together and declare it a wedding-free zone! Delegate tasks if you can and prioritise the most important things, like being kind to yourself and not sweating the small stuff. Sleepless nights, stress and anxiety are barriers to becoming the relaxed, radiant bride of your dreams so remember to factor in some all-important ‘me-time’. To help you and the whole bridal gang step out in style, we asked local experts from around the region to share some of their industry insight.

FINDING THE ONE

You’ve said ‘yes’, the ring’s on your finger, the date and venue’s booked, so what’s next? The dress, of course! Some may have already been dreaming of their perfect gown before even finding their perfect partner! Whatever camp you’re in, the dress shopping is an important part of the journey and should be a fun and memorable experience. Even if you don’t have that special moment when you know you’ve found the one, don’t worry not everyone gets emotional and teary-eyed. It’s great to get it in the bag though and move on to all the other fun stuff!

LORRAINE’S TOP TIP Be open minded when shopping for your wedding gown. Nine times out of 10 brides walk away with something completely different to what they thought they’d choose, so expect the unexpected.

Even if you think there are certain styles you can’t wear or won’t suit you, trust your bridal stylist, they really do know their stuff and can help you find something that looks sensational.

Flattering silhouettes People come in all shapes and sizes and an experienced bridal consultant will be able to advise on what shapes, styles and details are the most flattering. Lorraine Curtis, owner of Olive Blossom Bridal in Overton, Hampshire (www.oliveblossombridal.co.uk) shares some of her expert insight. ❤ Rectangle For this type of body shape, A-line dresses can help create an hour-glass silhouette, sheath gowns are great to accentuate a lean frame and an empire cut will create a defined waist. ❤ Apple If you have a full bust with little waist definition, A-line, drop-waist and ball gowns will help elongate your silhouette and a deep V-neck will not only flatter your bust, but also draw attention away from your waistline. ❤ Pear For those who are smaller up top than below, with hips wider than your shoulders, A-line and ball gowns will balance out the torso and bust. A V-neckline or spaghetti straps also help to give a more slender effect. ❤ Hourglass For an hourglass figure the most flattering shapes are sheath, mermaid and ballgown to show off your curves. ❤ Inverted triangle For inverted triangle body shapes a mermaid, trumpet, short dress or ballgown will balance out your frame. Strapless or halter neck lines also create the illusion of narrower shoulders.

Pronovias Kelly Farrah by Pronovias

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING REINVENTED

Green and sustainable are key buzzwords for 2022 weddings as more and more newlyweds-to-be become increasingly aware of eco credentials and the carbon footprint of their big day.

Choosing a vintage dress can tick a lot of boxes not just for your something old, but something green too. “If vintage style isn’t your thing, you may be surprised to discover how some designs from decades ago can look as fresh and contemporary as if they’d just come off the catwalk,” explains Erica Arnold, owner of Hampshirebased Real Green Dress, specialists in original restored vintage and beautiful remodelled gowns. To find out more visit www.realgreendress.com

From the Evolution Collection of contemporary dresses crafted from vintage pieces.

NOT JUST A WHITE WEDDING

Finding the one is like no other shopping experience. There’s so much emotion invested in the process that it can evoke a whole range of feelings. “When choosing your dress it always helps to have the style of your wedding in mind and the venue,” advises Sarah Pardey of Sarah Jane Bridal in Poole, Dorset (www.facebook.com/pg/ sarahjanebridalboutique). She believes colour is set to be one of the big trends for 2022, particularly delicate hues like blush, champagne and soft nude tones. “Blush and warm shades are great for brides with a pale complexion as they can enhance their skin tone,” adds Sarah. “Black wedding gowns are also big – they look fabulous but are very daring and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Again, it’s best to consider your venue and wedding style before choosing one.”

SARAH’S TOP TIP When searching for your dream dress, try to limit the number of boutiques you visit to no more than three as it can get very confusing.

Aliana Ellis Bridals

HAVE FUN

Co-owners of award-winning Creatiques Bridal Boutique in Southsea (www.creatiques.co.uk) Andrew and Rob Pearce have a wealth of experience in the wedding industry. Their message to brides-to-be is to make the most of the dress shopping, relax and enjoy it. They advise, “Choose very carefully who you invite to come with you. Some brides feel under pressure to ask members of the family or people who may be challenging and why would you want that hanging over your wedding-gown experience? It should be fun!”

Dreama by Justin Alexander

ANDREW AND ROB’S TOP TIP Do your research and find a reputable boutique. Look at reviews and check out their social media for pictures of real brides and to get an insight into their experience and feedback. MINDFUL MAKEOVERS

The dress, bridal hair and make-up are all important we know, but what about the inner you? In today’s ‘Insta-perfect’ world, the pressures can be overwhelming and health and beauty expert Harriet Forrester (www.facebook.com/beautybyharrietemma) believes looking after your mental wellbeing should be a priority too. She says, “Being the best version of yourself has to be based on how you feel which can easily be neglected when you’re busy planning a wedding. As much as it’s great to have the right look, it’s important to get your mental health right too. Prior to the big day, make sure you find time to relax and just as importantly to exercise and be active. It’s not just about body image, but also about giving yourself the right head space, whether that’s through yoga, running or a high-intensity interval training session. Even if you’re busy, try to invest the time to make it happen, it really does make all the difference.” To make the most of your make-up trial Heather advises: ❤ Try to look for inspiration from pictures of people where little or no filters have been used and with similar hair, skin, and eyecolouring to your own. ❤ Ideally book your trial around eight to 12 weeks before the wedding. Any later could be a rush and you don’t want to struggle to get an appointment, equally too far in advance and your style may change. ❤ Provide a few options if you can, but equally trust your makeup artist. We really do understand what looks, colours and styles work. ❤ Pre-plan your trial. Are you happy for people to see your bridal make-up, or do you want to keep it a surprise? ❤ Prep your skin either by investing in a facial a few days before your appointment or exfoliate and use a hydrating mask the day before. ❤ Sleep, water, diet – three essentials to be more aware of before your pre-wedding makeover and in the run-up to your big day as it can make all the difference to how you look and feel.

For brides who don’t usually wear make-up, what to choose can be daunting. If you want to go bare, that’s fine but subtle touches can work wonders to enhance rather than transform natural beauty, great for those all-important bridal photos. This is where expert help and guidance really comes into its own to help boost confidence. Southampton-based makeup artist Melinda Hollis (www.makeoversbymelinda.co.uk) shares some dos and don’ts to help guide you.

Do have at least one trial a few months before the wedding to not only give you peace of mind about how you will look, but also to allow plenty of time if you decide you want to try something else. Do experiment, ask your make-up artist to do one eye very natural and the other slightly more glam. This will help you discover what you’re comfortable with and you could even opt for a combination of the two. Do find a professional who specialises in natural make-up. Look at the images on their website and social media to get an idea of what they do before booking. Don’t forget to have a conversation with your make-up artist to discuss your ideas and make sure you are both on the same wavelength to avoid any unwanted surprises. Don’t be afraid to ask to look in the mirror as you go along to see the look gradually develop so it isn’t a shock at the end, especially if you’re not used to seeing yourself with make-up on. Do bring someone with you whose opinion you trust for their take on what works and what doesn’t.

MELINDA’S TOP TIP Make sure your make-up brings out your best features and enhances the overall look you want to achieve. Beware of going for something completely different; be true to yourself so you feel confident, happy and love how you look.

MUM’S THE WORD

The future looks bright for the other leading lady in the bridal party. The year ahead promises plenty of bright bold colours for mothers-of-the-bride and -groom, reports Debbie Hill, owner of special occasion wear boutique Charisma of Fawley (www.charismaoffawley.co.uk). She says, “We’re seeing a shift towards a more adventurous colour palette. Usually, we would add a bold colour as an accent but this year we’re looking at a lot more vivid tones used in blocks to make a statement with shades like Super Blue and Citrus Sours likely to be key for the forthcoming spring/summer season.”

However, no matter what the latest hot colour is, it has to complement your complexion. “It’s important to take this into account when asking mums to dress in something to fit in with a specific colour scheme as not all shades work for every skin tone. Ultimately the main goal is to have everyone looking and feeling amazing,” adds Debbie.

Two-piece in Chartreuse Tropical from the new Ispirato collection BRING ON THE BOYS

If you’re looking for a coordinated effect for the whole wedding gang, look for outfits for the groom and his best boys to reflect the theme, season, style or colour scheme. For those with a large groom’s party, it can be a headache though, trying to get everyone together to go shopping or for fittings. Sarah Harper of Charles Gale Hire (www.charlesgalehire.co.uk) offers some handy hints to help make sure everyone looks their big-day best. ❤ Take fabric and colour swatches with you when you go shopping. ❤ A good time to start looking for outfits is around six months before the big day, although earlier is fine if you prefer. ❤ For the first visit try to restrict numbers to just the two of you or the groom and their best man maybe. ❤ Not everyone needs to be measured at the same time, although sometimes it’s a good excuse for a ‘boys’ day out’ afterwards. ❤ Don’t worry if anyone living out of the area can’t be there, they should be able to get measured elsewhere. ❤ If you have a set budget, let your supplier know so they can work with it to get the look you want. ❤ Sometimes it’s good to have the groomsmen in slightly different outfits with possibly a different waistcoat or neckwear to the groom, to make sure he stands out. ❤ Any children in the party don’t need to come in for fittings until around four weeks before the wedding as they have a habit of growing when you least expect it!