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Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know

WHERE TO BEGIN?

We’re just starting out on our big-day journey and neither of us have a clue what we should look for when booking a venue. Can you help?

There’s so much choice when it comes to choosing a wedding venue, but there are several questions you can answer to assist in narrowing down your choices. Firstly, what’s your budget? Secondly, what’s your vision of your special day? Is it traditional, such as a heritage hotel or modern and unique like the British Airways i360 viewing pod? Perhaps it’s a natural setting, such as a barn or garden.

Next, think about how many guests you’ll invite. This will help you to decide what size the space needs to be. Wedding venues will be able to advise you how many people they can accommodate and offer ideas for the best layout and realistically how easy it is to transform it to suit your vision.

Finally, what time of year do you wish to marry? Indoor venues will suit you best for a winter wedding, but for spring or summer nuptials somewhere that has a large outdoor area with indoor rooms would be worth a look. For example, BA i360 has large beachfront terraces combined with indoor rooms boasting sea views giving the best of both.

Laura Pauley, https://britishairwaysi360.com

WITH A BANG

We want a festival/club vibe to our evening celebrations. What can we add to make it fun and memorable?

Using special effects at weddings can truly make your big day unique, adding moments that you and your guests will remember forever. For example, our effects range from traditional outdoor firework displays to simple ice fountains for your wedding cake and just about anything else you can think of in between.

To bring a club vibe to the dancefloor, why not use a confetti cannon, which can be set to go off just as you reach the end of your first dance for that real wow factor? You could even go for an all-out gig atmosphere with your very own pyro FX! Or how about a smoke or bubble machine for a touch of romance when the DJ starts playing the slow songs?

As the leading UK supplier of professional special effects and pyrotechnics to the theatre, entertainment and live events industries, we’ve seen that as the industry has grown more and more clients are wanting effects for their weddings. We’re equally happy to work with you to create your wedding-day extravaganza as we are with A-list artists, TV channels and theatre companies.

We’ve opted for a wedding palette of bright summer colours and want to incorporate them into our stationery. Do you have any suggestions?

Summer flowers are always a lovely way to incorporate bright colours into your wedding stationery and can also link in nicely with your chosen bouquet or floral arrangements. I have many designs that would work perfectly for this particular theme or I can create bespoke stationery by looking at your chosen palette and matching it accordingly.

On-the-day welcome signage will bring a pop of colour and can continue the invitation theme right through to the wedding itself. This feels even more inviting for guests, as the familiar colours and embellishments add a more personal feel. You can even include plenty of bright colours on your table plan allowing it to stand out. Having the same hues on your table numbers and name cards will also help loved ones find their seats easily, as well as adding another splash of summer to your reception. The possibilities are endless!

Stacie Gould, www.rosegouldprinting.co.uk With 2022 being the biggest wedding season on record, with an estimated two-and-a-half million weddings set to take place, according to The Wedding Report, here’s all you need to know about the current trends...

The Pantone colour for 2022 is a shade of blue with violet undertones called Very Peri. When using a bold hue such as this in your wedding palette just add hints of it and pair it with other similar tones. Be sure to keep neutral undertones to your floral palettes, such as white, to ensure they complement the main colour.

Anemones are one of the most popular flowers requested this season, with ranunculas, lisianthus and garden roses close behind, all of which can be sourced from local flower farms. We’re also seeing filler flowers becoming popular with snapdragons, Queen Anne’s lace and wax flowers.

Short hemlines are doing the rounds again, with 2022 expecting to see a large increase in these wedding dress designs. The many city-based nuptials taking place seem to be the reason behind their popularity as a little white dress is perfectly suited for a luxury town hall wedding. Big puff sleeves are also popular with brides opting for this modern style.

With weekend dates being booked up, weekday weddings have seen a surge in popularity. Couples are desperate to stop delaying their plans any further and are opting for midweek celebrations to ensure they can go ahead this year.

Couples are always looking for new ways to stand out and unusual reception table layouts are being requested to make things more modern. Many planners and stylists created some unique floorplans to keep guests socially distanced during last year’s restrictions and as a result we’re seeing S-shaped tables becoming a popular choice, as well as square and U-shaped layouts.

Illy Goodall, www.illyelizabethweddings.com

www.sarahlondonphotography.co.uk

PAINT THE TOWN

We want to treat our bride to a hen party activity with a difference, but are really struggling to come up with creative ideas. Do you have any recommendations?

Have you heard of a paint party, where an artist guides you through your chosen painting step by step? It’s a great idea for a hen party activity. The sessions are fun and informal and you can sip on a cocktail, a glass of prosecco or if you prefer, a cup of tea as you paint. The activity is open to everyone of any age, so is suitable for all hens. You can bring your mum, your aunt, your nan and your bestie. It’s proven that getting creative releases endorphins and a shared activity brings everyone together to chat and have a giggle.

Here at The Paint Club Studio, we provide you with a professional artist who will transform your chosen venue into a mini art studio and lead you through a two hour session step by step. Choose your painting and let us create a bespoke event for you. We can set up anywhere that has tables and chairs, be it a bar, field or party house. We provide all the painting equipment, including aprons and table covers. Best of all, you get to keep your painting as a memento of your hen party.

www.lauramarthaphotography.com

Sussex Dove Release

A pair for the couple plus up to 3 doves free to represent those guests who can only be with you in Spirit Contact Viv 07746 450814 / www.sussexdoverelease.co.uk

Photography by BNI Photography

Where does the time go?

County Wedding Magazines’ senior editor Melissa Barker shares her wedding planning journey

Ican’t believe that this is the penultimate bride’s diary before I walk down the aisle. It’s so strange knowing that in just a few months I will become Mrs Cullen. I know a few of my married friends have chosen to keep their maiden name or hyphenate but for me, taking Dave’s last name was really important. My parents have been together for more than 30 years, but never married. I always hated having a different last name to my mum; so it might sound silly, but I like the idea of our family having one name and I’m really looking forward to sharing that with him (also Twilight is secretly one of my guility pleasures – so the 15-year-old in me is excited to be taking on the Cullen name). In this issue, read all about Dave trying to find the perfect suit and our search for a last-minute videographer.

SUITED AND BOOTED

I feel selfish admitting that I didn’t realise how stressful suit shopping would be for Dave. You always hear about the bride struggling to find the perfect dress, and there’s so much pressure to get it right, but you never really hear the same for the groom-to-be. When we popped into our local suit store a few weeks ago, it surprised me when Dave said he felt stressed trying to make the right decision as he is usually very calm and collected. He tried on a few different styles and colours, but none left him feeling wowed or in his words: ‘like a suit I’m going to get married in’. He came away from that first appointment feeling confused about what to wear and, if anything, a bit deflated.

We decided to leave it for a few weeks and then try again. This time we went to a different store that Dave’s brother had used for his wedding. We visited on a weekday, so it was very quiet, and the team gave Dave their undivided attention. Nothing was too much trouble and, within 30 minutes, Dave had found the perfect suit and was grinning from ear to ear. The team helped reassure him about what style suits his shape and what would look good with our sage green colour scheme. He opted for a three-piece blue suit with a grey waistcoat, brown shoes and a sage green tie and pocket square. As Dave wanted to stand out on the day, we hired the same suit but with a blue waistcoat for the groomsmen and our dads to wear. We’re going back soon to get everyone else fitted, and I’m excited to see them all together on the day.

www.chrisblackledgephotography.co.uk READY, SET, FILM!

videographer mainly due to our budget. Dave wasn’t keen on the idea after seeing a few highlight films and with a lot of expense at the time, we decided to leave it. So it surprised me when a few weeks ago Dave said he wanted to book one. He’d seen a friend’s recent wedding video and liked the idea of being able to watch the day back. I’m pleased we decided to go for it, and luckily the supplier that we wanted still had availability. We’ve opted for a half-day package, which includes the ceremony, drinks reception and speeches. Although I would have loved to have had everyone getting ready and our first dance on film, it just made more sense for us financially to go for the smaller package. I’m really excited to see how it will turn out and be able to get all our friends and family around to watch it after the wedding.

Check out the next issue where I’ll be discussing my dress alternations, hair and make-up trial and last-minute planning.

Melissa x

www.chrisblackledgephotography.co.uk

Here are our top tips that we’ve learned during wedding planning:

VENUE

❤ Check if you’re allowed confetti. We’re only allowed real petals, and bio-degradable versions aren’t an option. ❤ Find out if you can have sparklers as some venues don’t allow them. ❤ Check whether there are any local taxi companies in the area. If so, pass along the details to your guests. CATERING

❤ Ask your supplier if cutlery and linen are included in your quote. ❤ Make sure your supplier caters for all dietary requirements. ❤ Before booking, find out how many options you get to pick for each course.

PHOTOGRAPHER

❤ Talk to your photographer about visiting the property before the wedding. We’re planning to meet ours at the venue so he can see where the best photograph opportunities are. ❤ Find out how long your online gallery will be active for. ❤ If you’re feeling anxious near the wedding, get in touch with your photographer. They’ll be able to talk through the day with you to help calm your nerves.

ALTERNATIONS

❤ Before booking your alternations, it’s worth shopping around. I sent a picture of my dress to five different companies and explained what I wanted done, and made my decision based on their quotes. ❤ Depending on how intricate your dress is, alterations can take anywhere from two to eight weeks, so make sure you book your appointment early. ❤ If you’re nervous about your first fitting, ask one of your bridal party to go with you. JEWELLERY

❤ Think about the details on your dress before buying your jewellery.

If your gown is heavily beaded, it might be worth choosing simple, understated options. ❤ It can be overwhelming trying to decide what to wear. Talk through options with your wedding party to see what other people suggest. ❤ Pick out key elements of your dress and see if you can complement them with your jewellery.

CAKE

❤ Work out how many guests you’re going to be having and tell your cake maker. They will be able to advise how many tiers you need to accommodate everyone. ❤ A lot of cake will be leftover at the end of the night, so purchase cake boxes so your guests can take a slice home. ❤ Order a sample box so you can try different flavours before making your final decision.