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FOR THE 2017 BRIDE
Gowns, heels & accessories for party-perfect brides Weddings_ Emirates_SS17_Cover LNLN.indd 1
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c on te n t s Spring / Summer 2017
The Absolutely Weddings team EDITOR LIBBY NORMAN libby@zest-media.com
SALES DIRECTOR VICTORIA HUGHES
victoria.hughes@zest-media.com
JUNIOR SALES EXECUTIVE ANJNI THAKAR anjni@zest-media.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MARKETING MANAGER NEFELI KRITIKOU FINANCIAL CONTROLLER JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS GREG HUGHES, ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT Part of the
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ABSOLUTELY LOVES
From glamorous evening wear to to divine cakes, 10 things we love
FA S H I O N 20 WHITER SHADES OF PALE Chic bridal looks for cool brides
30 STYLE MAKER T w i t t e r @A B S O L U T E LY W E D Fa c e b o o k @A B S O L U T E LY W E D D I N G S In s t a g ra m @A B S O L U T E LY W E D D I N G S P i n t e re s t @A B S O L U T E LY W E D
absolutely-weddings.co.uk
The relaxed elegance of Joyce Young
38 DIVINE DEBUTANTE Elegant and glamorous looks for the modern-day princess
73 DREAM RINGS Set the seal on your romance
78 NEW WAVE Best tressed styles for 2017
WEDDING PLANNER C OV E R : Gown from the 2017 collection by Georges Hobeika; georgeshobeika.com
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90 WEDDING EXPERTS Your planning questions answered
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115 WEDDING VENUES Nine pages of glorious venues – city, country and destination
131 LUXURY TRAVEL A magical Indian Ocean island and the best hotel rooms for luxury seekers
REAL WEDDINGS 150 ITALIAN ROMANCE Great food and chilled-out style in the Italian countryside
154 WHITE MAGIC A sumptuous setting for a relaxed wedding with an all-white theme
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Absolutely Weddings WELCOME
Editor’s LETTER Weddings are unique – so that means it's fine to do things your own way and break a few conventions
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hat's the lesson we've been taking to heart talking to leading lights of the wedding world. Joyce Young has dressed the best (including Michelle Obama), and her unique design signature is all about easy elegance. When she started out, weddings were more formal, but she has always believed in celebrating in your own style (see page 30). And British Designer of the Year Sassi Holford was generous in sharing with us one of her archive gowns for our Eighties Bride Fashion Moment (page 26). A fabulous and super-cool period piece, this was a trailblazer for the kind of day-intoevening styles we all want today. The inimitable Bruce Russell also shared with us some of his perspectives on the modern wedding (page 93). He told us that the biggest change in recent times is that couples are more confident about mixing formality with their own ideas. His belief is that all weddings should be totally personal to the couple, which brings us right back to: dare to be different. With that in mind, this issue is full of ideas for everything from venues and scenesetting to glorious bridal fashion. We hope it inspires you to set your own rules for your wedding day, and look forward to catching up with you at the shows – including Quintessentially Atelier (page 28). Happy planning!
AMANDA WAKELEY'S TAKE ON THE BEJEWELLED TREND FOR BRIDES, SEE PAGE 47
LIBBY NORMAN Editor libby@zest-media.com
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VILLA LA ZAMONINA BROUGHT TOGETHER HISTORY, SCENERY AND AMAZING FOOD
I TA L I A N romance Feasting took centre stage for Anna and Thom, with a wedding party in the Italian countryside, followed by a culinary tour around Venice Photography SERGIO SARNICOLA
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Real Weddings ITALY
ANNA'S LOVELY GOWN WAS FOUND JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING
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s a food writer and blogger, Anna Barnett was not going to let an opportunity like her own destination wedding pass without making a meal of it. She and Thom decided their location had to be Italy because it’s a subject close to both their hearts. Anna says: “Thom and I both love Italy – mainly for the cuisine and rural landscapes. And we liked the idea of being out in the sticks on a farm somewhere.” Their other priority was a location that friends and family could share: “We wanted to make it all last as long as possible in the most relaxed way possible.” So when they found Villa La Zambonina, a 17th-century manor on a rice-growing estate, they knew they had struck gold. Located just 15-minutes from Verona, it offered authentic hospitality and the opportunity to design a party round its beautiful ancient courtyard. Anna and Thom envisaged a country-style party. Anna says: “We wanted sharing plates, Nonnastyle, rustic home cooking and nothing fussy”. The owner of Villa La Zambonina Marina swung into action,
ONE OF ANNA'S HIGHLIGHTS WAS THOM SAYING HIS VOWS IN ITALIAN – HE SPEAKS NO ITALIAN
PLAN YOUR CELEBRATIONS SO THEY LAST AS LONG AS POSSIBLE – I CAN HONESTLY SAY I LOVED EVERY SECOND
putting them in contact with all the right people – from florists to caterers. Marina even found friends who could put up extra guests on a farm a short drive away. As a cook and culinary explorer, Anna had to get the menu just right and was hugely impressed by the caterers: “Tregnaghi catering & Banqueting are familyrun with a deli just outside Verona. They were amazing – sourcing everything down to the last detail. They even made nonregional dishes for us and the food was incredible, to the point that we’re still dreaming about the homemade pasta and risotto!” Their venue was the star, set in such stunning natural scenery, so Anna wanted a fairly muted colour palette for flowers – neutral tones with blush and dusty pink touches. Floricultura Bosco supplied incredible flowers, including the eucalyptus, fragrant English roses and hydrangeas Anna
THIS WAS A RELAXED PARTY, WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAKING A WEEKEND OF IT
had specially requested. Having planned on a grand scale for the feasting, Anna found her wedding gown three weeks before the wedding at Angelica Bridal in Camden Passage, matching it to fabulous Manolo Blahnik green heels and shades. Thom’s smart suit came from Burberry Prorsum. Anna also had a cocktail gown in the mix, since the party began the night before the wedding. The weather produced its best – Italian style – and Anna and Thom’s wedding day was as relaxed as it could be. They used the chapel within the absolutely-weddings.co.uk
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