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HOT TOPIC
Local experts on what’s next for weddings
THE GREAT BLUE YONDER
We got engaged during lockdown and haven’t started planning our big day yet. With the horizon now looking brighter we’re keen to get cracking and are hoping to have an outdoor wedding. How do you see the shape of things to come? Vicky says: After the past year of lockdowns appreciation of the great outdoors and enjoying the freedom of natural spaces has grown. This has led to increased demand for al fresco weddings for relaxed togetherness and connection with loved ones surrounded by nature and fresh air.
Couples are becoming more mindful and interested in exactly how and where their money is being spent, wanting locally grown seasonal produce and flowers, as well as services and products that support local small businesses. The wedding is an expression of their personal choices and what they stand for and no matter what the budget is, many newlyweds-to-be are definitely a lot more interested in making their wedding more sustainable and ethical.
Outdoor weddings are all about creating a relaxed flow rather than having a rigid plan and timetable. This is often reflected in the décor and styling choices too. In general, those who opt for an outdoor wedding want style-savvy simplicity, a natural backdrop and lots of meaningful and mindful details personal to them without rules and formality. Creative ideas for minimum waste, maximum use and impact can include: ♥ Moveable ceremony backdrops and props that can double up for both the ceremony and celebration. ♥ Wooden poles for hanging dreamcatchers, ribbons or flowers that can also be set up later elsewhere. Hang small flower-filled glass bottles from the branches of trees and reuse them to decorate the tables or other areas later on. Personalised items can also be part of the décor and double up as favours for your guests too. ♥ For the catering, food trucks offer a stylish alternative to formal dining and rather than having a set table plan, couples can opt to eat with their
guests instead. Think rustic wooden trestle tables, with soft material or cheesecloth runners instead of tablecloths to add to the natural feel. ♥ Outdoor weddings provide extra scope for creativity, space and freedom to add natural touches to the décor and styling. Many choose their wedding date to tie in with their favourite season in order to reflect the natural backdrop such as a daisy meadow and wildflowers in the spring or a meadow with savannah grasses for a late summer celebration; perfect for a boho theme. ♥ We’re definitely noticing more requests for low pallet tables and seats outdoors with rugs spread over the grass so guests can relax and chat. Dried flowers are popular too and are a great keepsake. There’s also increased demand for glamping accommodation to extend the celebration over the whole weekend.
www.valentine-studio.co.uk
MICRO MAGIC
We’ve downsized our big day and will be having an intimate gathering instead followed by a bumper party to celebrate with all our friends and family next year. Although small in numbers, we still want our wedding day to be special though, especially the cake! What would you suggest? Emma says: I firmly believe that the ‘new normal’ in whatever form that takes, is up to us as wedding suppliers to create with our existing couples and those newly engaged who are looking for a bit of direction. With the right creative people at the planning table, I think a micro wedding can truly be a thing of splendour. Slimming down your guest list can mean more money available to splash out on extras to add impact and create a more abundant affair. Your cake can still be a star of the show, beautifully presented and decorated to complement your wedding flowers by coordinating with your florist. I always prime each bloom, ensuring its hygienic and food safe, and each finished look is created organically on the day. Inspired by texture, form and colour, I love the final reveal of the florist’s selection and finding the perfect placement for each stem or frond.
Layering blooms, petals and greenery underneath the stand also helps create an ambience and a ‘space’ for the cake, hopefully generating a buzz so your guests will gather around to admire it.
Emma Thorbun | Cake maker | www.bunsoffun.co.uk FLOWER POWER
We’ve postponed our wedding twice over the last year and are now hoping to get married as soon as we can. We’re not going to have the day we originally planned but definitely don’t want to compromise on the flowers. What trends and influences do you see emerging in the months ahead? Laura says: Freedom will be a core theme with a focus on the environment and use of natural resources. Smaller scale weddings will be coming into their own with the emphasis on quality over quantity. With heightened appreciation of nature we’re likely to be seeing lots of greenery and plants included in the décor. Couples in general are taking more account of their big-day setting and want to reflect the natural landscape by drawing inspiration from their venue’s existing gardens, wonderful foliage and flowers for their floral arrangements. Other key trends include: ♥ More pedestal arrangements and potted plants dotted around the floor. ♥ A continued move towards sustainability with use of seasonal flowers and foliage. ♥ Smaller posies for the bouquets featuring delicate flowers such as daisies, asters, love- in-a-mist, sweet peas and waxflowers. ♥ Incorporating meaningful and sentimental items into the wedding arrangements such as a favourite bloom or flowers to represent your birth month. ♥ Bright jewel-like colours, like crimson, cerise, yellow, red and blue as well as earthy shades of yellow, brown, red, terracotta and green.
Laura Turner| Florist | www.floralauraflowers.co.uk
Engagement rings from the new Sonkai Arden’s range based on the mustard flower – very local Norfolk vibes!
WITH THIS RING…
My fiancé proposed to me with a Haribo ring during lockdown and now I get to pick my own! We both want our wedding to be eco-friendly and to make as many sustainable, ethical choices as possible. What should I look out for when choosing my ring? Sara says: Sustainability has become an important consideration and people are increasingly looking for greater understanding of the provenance of their jewellery and the materials used. As manufacturing jewellers, all our metal is recycled as standard and customers have the option to order Fair Trade metal as well. As part of our trade body we adhere to strict rules when it comes to making sure we and our diamond suppliers are all 100 per cent conflict-free, which is something to look out for if you want to make ethical choices. You can even have lab-grown diamonds, for those that might want to avoid natural ones for any reason. More organic styles and designs are in demand, especially with younger couples, and bespoke requests incorporating heirloom jewellery are as popular ever.
