SUPER STYLERS

A rustic but elegant setting for an intimate ceremony, featuring the most perfect floral backdrop.

We speak to some of Yorkshire’s most stylish to give you tips on how to style your day to perfection

JODIE KNOTT FROM KNOTTED IN LOVE SAYS…

Tell us a bit about your services? At Knotted in Love, I specialise in the planning and organisation side of weddings, however, I also offer couples assistance with styling their wedding. Every service is bespoke to the couple, so whether they’re looking for help choosing a style/theme or help decorating their venue, there’s something available for everyone.

How important is styling to your wedding day? Wedding styling is like decorating your home, it’s not just about choosing colours or décor items, it’s about highlighting your style and showing a true reflection of you and your partner.

When I work with couples I consider their venue and the spaces available to them; what key items I can suggest that will complement the venue but also add those finishing touches. I like to work closely with the florist and stationer to make sure the overall look will complement each other, rather than stand out and potentially clash with them. A little inspiration for the new bold and bright trend we’re seeing in 2022, incorporating rustic charm with bursts of colour.

What questions should you ask your venue regarding decorating your venue? My top three questions to ask your venue would be: 1. What decor items are included in the hire cost of the venue? Ask your venue if the cost includes tablecloths, napkins, crockery, glasses, cutlery, centrepieces, candles, which style of chair etc. You’d be surprised to find out what’s already included or what you need to invest in! 2. Are candles permitted, and if so, can they be lit? Some venues, especially barns or historic venues such as stately homes and castles don’t permit candles at all inside the venue, whilst others are happy for you to use them for decorative purposes, though they cannot be lit.

3. Can I move things around, or do I have to leave everything it as it is? Some venues are more than happy for you to move items around, as everyone has their own vision of their dream day, however it’s imperative that you check with the venue before you touch anything. Some places can have a strict no movement rule, and you wouldn’t want to hire anything that you may not be able to use as a result. What trends are staying for the rest of 2022 and beyond? Bright and bold colours! After almost two years stuck indoors, I’m seeing a lot of couples dare to Sometimes less is more, for this guest table we wanted to keep things simple with an assortment of bud vases, chiffon fabric and candles. be more extravagant with their style, and it seems that a lot of people are now choosing bright and bold colours for their wedding day. Preloved and vintage! As we’re all becoming a little more conscious of our environmental impact, the ‘something borrowed’ aspect of the wedding is rapidly increasing in popularity. Rather than buying everything new for the day to be used once, it’s definitely worth looking at the second hand and hire market. Saving you money and allowing a little more room in the budget for those things that you want to splash out on. Entertainment and guest experience. Every couple knows their wedding is their big day, but we can’t help but want to keep our guests entertained. From garden games and bouncy castles to flash mob bands and magicians, couples are finding new ways to make their wedding a day to remember for everyone.

Make an impact with the ultimate Boho thrones for your top table! Ask your florist to add delicate touches for added wow factor.

CLAIRE RYAN FROM BORN BOHO SAYS…

Tell us a bit about what services you offer. We provide bohemian inspired props and décor to help you achieve the wow factor wedding to remember. We provide our styling service as standard with our products however if you fancy getting creative there’s the option for you to go DIY with our dry hire service too.

How important is styling to your wedding day? We believe styling is key to a memorable wedding day. It’s the first thing you and your guests see when they enter a room and covers an array of elements such as a focal point for your ceremony, beautifully dressed zones for guest book and cake and of course the tables and chairs where you all sit for a good length of time. How your venue looks is in our opinion one of the main things your guests will remember and talk about.

Alter of dreams. Dress up a focal piece in floaty delicate drapes and dried grass accessories. What questions should you ask your venue regarding decorating your venue? Check what your venue includes such as cutlery, crockery, table linen etc. Some venues provide a little or none, others a lot. This helps when it comes to knowing what you’ll need from a styling company and how we can incorporate our elements with theirs.

What trends are staying for the rest of 2022 and beyond? A little biased but boho is big for 2022! Although boho has been around a while in countries such as the USA and Australia, it’s still relatively new to the scene in the UK. We tend to see what’s big in home trends generally carries through to styling in weddings too and boho is everywhere on the high street right now. We see this laid back, ethereal style craze sticking around for a good while yet! www.bornboho.co.uk

JEN SAWDON-MCKAY FROM MY PRETTIES UK SAYS…

Tell us a bit about what services you offer. As a wedding stylist, I take pride in helping happy couples make their special day as original and personal as possible. I don’t offer set packages because every couple wants and deserves something bespoke. Getting into wedding styling after my own wedding, I found I enjoyed helping couples find the perfect style for them.

I decided to build my own business around my passion for design and the desire to support couples on their planning journey, making my mission to work alongside couples to create the individual wedding they desire.

How important is styling to your wedding day? I’ve noticed that there’s been an increase in demand for wedding stylists, I feel many people’s priorities have changed since the pandemic and taking on the daunting task of setting up their venue is just one more added stress that can be left to a professional. It’s a stylists’ job to make your vision a reality, right down to the tiniest details.

Many people can feel quite overwhelmed with the prospect of creating a design and more importantly, bringing that design to life, and keeping within a budget. Hiring a stylist who knows how to find the most costeffective way to create a stunning wedding will save you time and money in the long run.

What questions should you ask your venue regarding decorating your venue? You should always have a few questions in mind in terms of decor for your venue, as almost every venue has different policies regarding what kind of decorations will be allowed. For example, some venues don’t allow you to burn candles inside, so it’s always good to ask questions about decorating restrictions.

It’s also good to ask whether the venue will provide certain things for the wedding, just so you know if you’ll have to provide things such as place cards, easels, card boxes - even linen and nice chairs. Find out what’s included in your package, so you don’t end up paying twice.

What trends are staying for the rest of 2022 and beyond? Recently, the call for nature-inspired weddings has increased as the focus on the environment has grown. Many people spend a lot more time outside after the pandemic. People have begun to embrace organic simplicity and more earthy colour palettes, with neutral and nude colours, such as terracotta, rust and amber replacing the more traditional wedding-y colours of white, gold and pink. Many couples are actively seeking ways to be more sustainable and would really like a more environmentally-friendly and less wasteful wedding.

There are lots of tips I can give my couples on ways to get the absolute most out of all the décor and flowers with ways to re-use and repurpose. These are good steps to creating better organic and sustainable weddings, and that will be a trend that will be carried forward into the future. www.myprettiesuk.com

Congratulations! May we take this opportunity of offering you our congratulations on your forthcoming celebration.Our aim is to make your wedding day, the most memorable occasion. Our experienced team will be pleased to advise you on your choice of wines, seating arrangements and all other items that have to be organised for you special day.

We suggest that a visit to the hotel is an essential prerequisite for you to fully appreciate the high standards.We require that you book in advance so that we can ensure one of our dedicated team can be available to discuss your individual requirements.

Originally built in 1850n the hotel is a fine example of early Victorian architecture. The building has been sympathetically extended to include 27 en-suite rooms, enhancing its original character and features. We offer special rates for yourself and any guest wishing to stay the night before your big day. All rates include a full English breakfast. The hotel can be fully exclusive if you so wish. This will have special Terms & Conditions. The hotel also offers a charming patio and landscaped gardens providing a beautiful backdrop for your wedding photographs.

Heath cottage is ideally situated within three miles of the M1 and M62 motorway networks, with Dewsbury train station less than 5 minutes away.

Wakefield Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF12 8ET www.heathcottagehotel.co.uk info@heathcottage.co.uk | 01924 465399

HOLMFIRTH VINEYARD

The Sheveling Wine Estate at Holmfirth Vineyard provides a romantic setting for your special day that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Whether you’re planning to tie the knot in the Summer or Winter, the landscape is captivating and dramatic all year round and creates memories to cherish forever. We offer a variety of packages and complete versatility of the vineyard to make your dream wedding come true, with bespoke options also available. Licensed for civil ceremonies our solaris function suite boasts a bright airy and flexible space with amazing views over looking the vineyard and Holme Valley. Seating up to 90 guests for a wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast and up to 140 guest for an evening reception the Solaris suite is decorated in contemporary neutral tones and also benefits from its own private outside terrace. Our packages include a complimentary Honeymoon Suite at our Retreat Complex, where 6 further self-catering apartments are also available for up to 34 of your guests to spend the night.

The Bridgerton effect Editorial assistant Gracie Leader looks at how Netflix’s biggest show has influenced weddings

Everyone’s favourite period drama re-entered our lives with a bang at the end of March when season two of Bridgerton became Netflix’s most viewed English-language TV series, watched for 251.7 million hours in its debut week alone.

And the show is certainly not going anywhere, having been renewed for both seasons three and four back in April of last year, following the huge success of season one.

https://dominikamiechowska.co.uk

VENUES

One aspect that defines the awe-inspiring beauty of the show is the grand country homes and sweeping ballrooms.

As nearly all of the filming for the show took place in the South of England, many of the real locations you see in the show can in fact be hired out for your wedding celebrations.

In the opening episode of the first season, the outdoor Vauxhall Ball set the standard for the grandness we could expect.

The parklands of Stowe House (www.stowe.co.uk) in Bedfordshire was the location for these scenes, the 17th-century Ducal Palace boasts individuality and elegance for a fairytale wedding.

The ballrooms in Leigh Court (www.leighcourt.co.uk) in Bristol are where we see many of the characters dance together at a number of parties held throughout the series. The 19th-century mansion is surrounded by 27 acres of wooded grounds and green lawns, and the grand double staircase in the Great Hall is perfect for making your first entrance as a married couple. Many of us are captivated by the opulence and extravagance of high society shown on our screens and so desperate to feed some historical glamour into our own lives – especially during our big day.

Regency era and Bridgerton-themed celebrations are set to be one of the biggest wedding trends this year. Achieving this lavish style may seem impossible at first but we’ve broken down some of the simplest ways to inject 18th-century luxury into your nuptials.

COLOUR PALETTE

The Regency era was defined by the baby blue colour that can be spotted in almost every episode. Known as Regency blue, it is the perfect hue to weave into your flowers, decorations or dress code.

For a 21st-century update, Pantone have named the colour of 2022 ‘Very Peri’. The shade of violet-infused blue is perfect for a subtle nod to the Bridgerton world.

Soft tones of blush and pink were also extremely popular at the time and are perfect for creating an ultra romantic setting when you tie the knot. Take inspiration from Princess Beatrice of York’s wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in summer of 2020, the pretty pinks and fresh natural palette were a more modern twist on a classic regal wedding.

INVITATIONS

Sending out your invitations to your guests is one of the first ways to set the tone for your wedding. Handwritten notes featuring swooping calligraphy perfectly encapsulate the elegant nature of your celebration.

Incorporate watercolour and impressionist-style florals into your stationery for a whimsical affair. Gold detailing and other refined touches make sure your wedding stationery gives a perfect nod to the Regency era. Sealing your invites with a wax seal will make guests feel as though they’re receiving salacious gossip from Lady Whistledown herself. Any watcher of Bridgerton will know the budget they had for flowers when making the show was pretty impressive. The dreamy purple wisteria that draped over the exterior of the Bridgerton family’s residence caused fans mass hysteria, as many were keen to recreate the swoon-worthy look. Although it can be hard to get your hands on, if you’re having a spring time wedding you may be lucky as many country house wedding venues have wisteria climbing up the outside of their buildings. It’s definitely something worth asking your venue about.

If you want to recreate the lush floral arrangements seen in Daphne’s wedding to the Duke of Hastings in the first season, shown last year, English garden-style arrangements with fresh greenery are best to create that clean and natural setting.

Standing beneath a floral arch, just like Daphne and Simon, when saying your vows will ensure your photographer can capture some dreamy and ethereal images from your ceremony.

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FASHION

It’s not just on screen fashion that has been inspired by the extravagance of the Regency era. Those attending this year’s Met Gala were asked to adhere to the dress code ‘Gilded Glamour’, taking inspiration from the high society of Gilded Age New York during the late 1800s.

For a wedding gown fit to make you a diamond of the first water lots of inspiration can be taken from the dresses of this time.

Empire waist gowns were extremely popular during the time period and it’s unsurprising considering how flattering they are. For an ultraromantic style look for a dress with capped sleeves also.

Corsets were, of course, a huge part of fashion in the Regency era and now they are once again having resurgence. Whilst during the time period they were a part of the undergarments worn by the bride, now they can be a featured part of your ensemble.

One easy way to add a touch of gilded glamour to your look is by accessorising with opera gloves. To modernise your wedding gown a sheer pair is the way forward.

Grooms can take inspiration from the dukes of Bridgerton and wear a morning suit complete with a tailcoat for a look that can compete with Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy.

To ensure all your guests are involved with the theme of your celebrations, a black tie or formal wear dress code can encourage everyone to attend in their finery.

One of the most spectacular visuals from Daphne and Simon’s wedding was a massive wedding cake that stood at 4.5-foot tall.

In addition to its impressive height, the centrepiece was extremely detailed, right down to the Bridgerton and Hastings crests iced on.

Detailed, extravagant cakes are certainly making a comeback in 2022. This year the UK’s oldest British caterer is recreating a royal wedding cake made by its founder 126 years ago, to celebrate their 175th anniversary.

Searcy’s catering (https://searcys.co.uk) has taken a trip back through its archives to the cake made for the1896 royal wedding of Princess Maud, then the future Queen of Norway, to Prince Carl of Denmark.

Five-tiers of Dundee fruit cake are covered with delicate marzipan and white and gold lattice work icing before topped with carefully crafted sugar work of flowers, fruits, cherubs and lions – all recreated by the cakemakers. This style of cake is perfect for those going all out regalia-inspired on their wedding day.

Pressed floral cakes are a great option for those still inspired by the 18th century but wanting a more earthy, whimsical feel for their day. Bakeries typically use edible flowers grown, picked and hand-pressed. They can be designed according to your favourite flowers and even match your bouquet. ENTERTAINMENT

One of the most memorable elements of Bridgerton that audiences hold close to their heart is the orchestral renditions of pop songs throughout the show.

Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift played by string ensemble provides the backdrop for Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma’s courtship in season two. If you wish to recreate this soundtrack for your own love story, a string quartet or harpist will produce the perfect atmosphere for walking down the aisle or during your first dance.

If you too want a mixture of classical and chart tunes, ask your guests to suggest some of their favourite tracks to be played by your musicians.

If you plan on getting hitched in the warmer months, traditional lawn games are an amazing era-inspired way to entertain your guests after the ceremony. A game of croquet before the evening celebrations is fun for both young and older guests alike.

DECORATION

Maximalists rejoice as the only way to decorate a Regency era-inspired wedding is to go all out. And we mean ALL OUT.

Look to see if your venue has a chandelier, as this is a perfect way to recreate the grand atmosphere seen in the Bridgerton world.

Oversized centrepieces are a signature of nearly all the weddings and balls held in the series. Work with your florist and wedding planner to create some awe-inspiring table decorations your guest will remember.

For your tableware, fine, floral china is a gorgeous nod to 18th-century Britain and the perfect decorative touch for the detail-orientated bride. Gold cutlery or gold-rimmed glassware flaunt opulence and abundance but can be inexpensive if hired.

Having a champagne tower at your reception is the perfect indulgence enjoyed by high society – and your guests too. It’s a great touch to follow your wedding toast or a grand welcome as your guests enter.