9 Wedding Trends We Love

2020 may have put many wedding plans on pause, but there's no stopping love and we predict a rosy year ahead for celebrations large and small. Here are nine of our favourite trends for everything from bridal fashion to honeymoon bliss

01 LONDON LOOKS

London fashion has always been as distinctive as the city itself, so here's a shout out for the healthy crop of small studios led by brilliant designers who bring refreshingly different style to bridal dressing. Names we love right now are Nikeen Asar for dramatic silhouettes using luxe fabrics and Hermione de Paula (as shown on our cover) for pure glamour with botanical influences. Also check out the designs of Rita Colson, light, airy and so elegant – her second collection is now available at The Wedding Club. nikeenasar.com, hermionedepaula.com, thewedding-club.co.uk

02 LONG WEEKEND WEDDINGS

With longer to plan and a real reason to treasure time with loved ones, we expect many more long-weekend (or midweek) celebrations. For rural idyll with cool accommodation we'd choose Sibton Park estate in Suffolk's Wilderness Reserve. Deer Park in Devon is a front runner for elegance and home-comforts, with its gorgeous manor, romantic Italian gardens and superb local produce. If you're hosting a crowd, we can't resist Gosfield Hall in Essex – the former royal palace boasts a dramatic 120-foot aisle, stunning ballroom, lush grounds and plenty of accommodation, including the amazing Rococo Honeymoon Suite. wildernessreserve.com, deerpark.co.uk, gosfield-hall.co.uk

03 TOTALLY BESPOKE RINGS

One of the biggest trends in weddingjewellery is for bespoke rings. More couples are incorporating family stones, even the gold and other precious metals from old rings, to create a new piece that has enormous sentimental and symbolic value – riches beyond the price of the ring. For choice and style, we love Lebrusan Studio and Taylor & Hart. For custom-made wedding bands that you create yourself – perhaps the ultimate romantic pre-wedding date – head to the Hatton Garden studio of Daniel Christopher. lebrusanstudio.com, taylorandhart.com, dcjewellery.com

04 HIDEAWAY HONEYMOONS

Romantic solitude is set to be a travel theme of 2021. Kuoni reports that demand for its private villas has never been higher. Our pick would be its retreats on the wonderful Maldives island of Milaidhoo – a private pool where you can have a proper swim and in-villa dining for barefoot luxury. We also dream about Fanjove Island, Tanzania with Turquoise Holidays – no WiFi, vast ocean and a thatched banda on the beach. Closer to home, how about a cosy shepherd's hut in Eype, on Dorset's Jurassic Coast? It's deliciously rustic and perfect for a minimoon. kuoni.co.uk, turquoiseholidays.co.uk, shepherdshuteype.co.uk

05 HIGH-GLAMOUR BRIDESMAIDS

The days when bridesmaids had to wear the same dress – whether or not they loathed it – are gone. The gurus at Maids to Measure tell us that the trend on numbers is up (six plus bridesmaids is not so unusual), so the likelihood of them all liking the same design is, let's face it, vanishingly remote. Mix and match is definitely one way to go. Blending plain and print looks great, as does one colour in different styles or the same dress in tonal hues. Maids to Measure offers showroom appointments and online ordering. Also check out the wonderful options at TH&TH and Motee Maids. maidstomeasure.com, thandth.com, moteemaids.co.uk

06 BRITISH CLASSICS

There is a long tradition of fine tailoring in this country – and bridal is the place where we have the opportunity to experience this first-hand. Longestablished names such as Louise Selby and Sassi Holford have earned their reputations because they create beautiful gowns with superb detailing right here – and they know how to make brides look and feel beautiful. And for mothers of the bride and wedding guests, that impeccably cut coat or dress by Lalage Beaumont or Joyce Young (also designed and made here) is both confidence boost and smart investment dressing. louiseselby.com, sassiholford.com, lalagebeaumont.com, joyceyoungcollections.co.uk

07 HEIRLOOM HEELS

Do you have to start with the dress? There's a strong argument for dressing from the ground up with so many exquisite heirloom heels around. Emmy London's bespoke service offers endless opportunities to tailor colour, heel height and trims, while her made-toorder shoes (such as hand-beaded Isadora, below) are luscious. Freya Rose's signature mother-of-pearl inlaid heels are heavenly (and feet-on-theground robust), with options such as brass inlay and even monograms. Di Hassall personalises her collection with everything from embroidery to ribbons. emmylondon.com, freyarose.com, dianehassall.com

08 GIFTS WITH LOVE

Gift lists are evolving, and there's no need to feel stuck for ideas if you don't need another dinner service. From honeymoon funds to social gifting (where people gift their time), thereare brilliant ways to let people 0e show how much they love you. Of course, 0ourse, if you do need a dinner service 0or sofa, there is every reason to add it to the0t the list. Some guests are traditionalists nalists0nalists and most would rather have a firm0firm idea of what you want. For inspiration, 0spiration, head to Prezola, The Wedding Shop0g Shop and The Wedding Present Company. prezola.com, weddingshop.com, weddingpresentco.com

09 HEAVENLY HEADLINES

Top dressing for brides (and guests) is in vogue and we adore this revived love affair with hats, crowns and the rest. Our pick for the ultimate wedding halo is Jane Taylor's regal pearl design – perfect for brides or regal guests. But it doesn't end there. From Awon Golding's stunning bridal collection (including Bianca Jagger-style picture hat) to Ann-Marie Faulkner's fantastic and edgy veils and headdresses, there's every excuse to grab the headlines on your wedding day. janetaylorlondon.com, awongolding.com, annmariefaulkner.co.uk