Eloping: A Non-Conventional Adventure

Eloping: A Non-Conventional Adventure

The idea of eloping was heavily frowned upon in the past. It was associated with indiscipline, and the rejection of family values as couples fled their homes to another location to get married. Fast forward to the 21st century, the idea has become more popular, especially as the Coronavirus pandemic dealt a blow to regular activities and people had to adapt to the new normal. Today, eloping is an option for couples looking to get married without the usual pomp and pageantry associated with grandeur weddings.

The most notable factor in elopement is a drastically reduced wedding expenditure, meaning the couple need not worry about the usual costs that come with weddings attended by hundreds of guests. The only elements the about-to-be married couple would have to think of are the wedding rings, attire, and other minor details for the special day. A few might plan for minimal catering for the very few witnesses they invite. Regarding videography and photos, the advent of the smartphone makes this possible without having to hire an entire team.

Despite the spontaneity associated with eloping, it’s a legal requirement in the UK to inform your local registry office with a minimum prior notice period of 29 full days before the wedding. These legal requirements form the foundation for your marriage license and how long it will take to have it.

Indeed, there may be feelings of guilt for not being able to invite everyone you’d have loved to attend your wedding. Therefore, the decision to elope must not be a unilateral one. Together with your partner, decide on what works for both of you.

Infographic Design By Wedding Rings Dublin

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Four Incredible Wedding Cake Stands To Rock Your Wedding!

Wedding Cake Swing

When your cake is as gorgeous as this, you’ll want to find a cool and creative way to display it and we’re not talking about a table covered with white linen. Our seriously pretty macramé cake swing is a sure-fire way to surprise your guests and make a statement whilst creating that awesome boho vibe!  

Cake Stand by Wild Peak Events | Wedding Cake by Elizabeth Anna Cake Design www.theburscoughcakecompany.co.uk | Floral Display www.instagram.com/f.o.l.k.y.d.o.k.e.y

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Birdie Bar Cake Stand

Hire Flossie the candyfloss coloured Ice cream retro mini bar! We think this cake stand rocks! Add any decor on the bar to suit your wedding theme or use the bar for a Candy Bar, quirky cake stand or Mini Bar for 'welcome drinks', the latest member of the family the BIRDIE BAR or BONNIE the bike!

Cake stand by Birdie Bar www.birdiecampervan.com | Wedding Cake by Elizabeth Anna Cake Design www.theburscoughcakecompany.co.uk

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Say it in Neon Lights

Till Death Do Us Party: This styling appeals to those party-loving couples who want to dance the night away on their wedding night. The neon sign hung from the industrial copper piping is used to light up the dance floor and provides a stage for an edgy and bold cake.

Neon Lights: The Event Edit www.TheEventEdit.com Insta instagram.com/theeventedituk | Stella Photgraphy www.stellaphotography.co.uk Insta: instagram.com/stellafotos | Cakes by P : www.cakesbyp.com Insta: instagram.com/cakesbyp

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The Peacock Chair Cake Stand

Peacock Chair: This cake display is perfect for the wild at heart bohemian bride and we believe its popularity is attributed to the perfect balance of feminine, yet edgy styling. The backdrop paired with the miniature peacock chair celebrates individualism with a delicate colour palette and fluid natural materials, such as the pampas grass and dried confetti.

Peacock Chair Cake Stand display & styling: The Event Edit www.TheEventEdit.com Insta instagram.com/theeventedituk | Cakes by P : www.cakesbyp.com Insta: instagram.com/cakesbyp | Photographer: Esme Whiteside www.esmewhitesidephotography.co.uk Insta: instagram.com/esmewhitesidephotography

For a real rustic show stopper, why not suspend your cake on our stunning macrame cake swing. Full of dried flowers and a wooden frame this is perfect for a vintage or rustic theme for the boho bride and groom!

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8 Trending Wedding Backdrops Ideas To Frame Your Wedding Day.

Floral Moongate Arches

Give your wedding a lavish look with moongates and geometric shapes that are hugely trending this year. Nicola From Elegant Event Designs says, ‘this is one of our more versatile items as they can be used as a backdrop for stunning photographs, to frame your ceremony table at the end of the aisle, behind your top table, cake table or even just to cover a wall or feature that you would rather not have at your big day!’’

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www.wachadoin.events | www.facebook.com/wachadoinevents | www.instagram.com/wachadoin_events

Rustic Wedding Backdrop

We absolutely fell in love with this versatile draped backdrop from Wachadoing Events. From the colours to the flowers and matching table decor, this could be intertwined into any wedding!

The backdrop works really well with rustic, natural weddings where the couple wishes to create a relaxed, back-to-nature look.  It looks fantastic in outdoor settings, barns and tipis but is also a brilliant way to add a touch of the outdoors to more contemporary settings.

The backdrop can be dressed in a variety of ways to fit in with the wedding colours and flowers.  Details such as bunting, extra foliage or lights can be added if required.  The backdrop is usually left open which creates a frame around the couple and enhances the venue rather than hiding it.  We can also cover the open space to allow it to be used as a selfie back drop.  The versatility of the backdrop is definitely part of its charm!

The logs used to create the backdrop were sourced from a sustainable forest management program here in the UK, making it a great ‘green’ addition to your wedding!

www.wachadoin.events | www.facebook.com/wachadoinevents | www.instagram.com/wachadoin_events

Neon Wings

Looking for something fun and unique for your wedding day? These wings from Wachadoin Events are perfect to bring the ‘Wow!’ factor to any wedding where the couple wants to add a bit of fun and individuality to their wedding dressings!  More than a selfie booth! The Wings provide a great photo opportunity and an excuse for all those amazing poses!

The Wings are one of Wachadoin Event’s newest additions, they wanted to create something unique that would make the wedding stand out from the crowd! Inspired by the mural wings at the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool.  The Baltic Triangle wings have been a great photo opportunity for couples and they wanted to bring the same idea to the actual wedding!  Incorporating the ‘neon’ trend we think the Wings are a great addition to any wedding!

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Charlotte - Floral Vibes Flower Wall

Kylie - Floral Vibes Flower Wall

Luxe Flower Walls.

Meet Floral Vibes Lux Flower Walls: Charlotte Wall (white) and the Kylie wall (pink). Charlotte is elegant and sophisticated and suits a traditional and classic wedding of muted tones and great for any colour scheme. Kylie is young and flirty and good for fun-filled wedding party and those who like a bright and colourful wedding!

These walls are popular as they are luxurious, filled with multiple species of flowers and made from the finest silk. They have depth and colours to them that will enhance your wedding photos and bring that extra spark to your wedding decor. Easy to move you can use Charlotte or Kylie for multiple uses throughout your wedding day; at the end of the aisle to frame your vows and ring exchange, at the side of the dance floor for selfies and group photos with your wedding guests, behind your top table and your wedding cake too!

Rebecca from Floral Vibes says. ‘‘Our flower walls are there to enhance your decor, your selfies, your cake and everything in between. Great photographs are so important at weddings and are used for decades after to remember the day, so why would you not choose luxury Floral Walls!’’

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Disco Sequin Walls

For a fun disco vibe why not choose a sequin or glitter backdrop to frame your dance floor. Choose a bright vibrant colour such as pink or gold for an 80’s wedding disco or for a more sleek look choose black. Vava Voom up the backdrop with garland balloons, some neon lights or a sign or flowers!

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instagram.com/coverstory_weddings_events | facebook.com/coverstoryweddingsevents

instagram.com/coverstory_weddings_events | facebook.com/coverstoryweddingsevents

The Versatile Starcloth with uplighting!

The versatile Starcloth with uplighting! This beauty is called Starcloth, it’s literally like a giant wedding dress with built-in lights! Spanning 3meters tall and 9 meters wide it really is a showstopper.

Sharon from Coverstory Weddings & Events says, ‘This is one of our most popular backdrops as it‘s SO versatile! It lends itself to most types of weddings, for a large number of reasons. I have used it in so many variations, it’s hard to imagine a wedding where it wouldn’t work other than outdoors or a barn wedding of course. I think the Starcloth is so popular because it really is a striking piece, it can be used to brighten a dark room, hide pictures or curtains couples may not like in their venue, it can have swags on or off have balloon garlands climbing up it floral Garlands running along the top the list goes on it’s a great piece, but its main job is being one half of my princess package which consists of my Starcloth and ceiling drapes, this is a killer look and one that is so so popular.

As a couple, a backdrop may not be thought of as high upon the couples to-do list but it really should be the photographer will take lots of photographs of the ceremony, the couple at the altar/registrar table, speeches, etc so always being sure that the background of the photographs is as good as it can be, if it’s of a wall, curtains, or partition then simply by covering it with the Starcloth your pictures will last a lifetime looking fabulous with the couple as the focal point exactly as it should be.

Sharon’s top tip:

Don’t be scared to talk to your suppliers, voice anything you love, or don’t love about your venue, or concerns you may have for the day, we are experts in our field and more often than not will be able to come up with a solution that will leave you worry-free, excited and confident to go and relax and have the best day ever.

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Backdrop: www.theeventedit.com | Photography : www.thebridetribephoto.co.uk

View fullsize

Backdrop: www.theeventedit.com | Photography : www.thebridetribephoto.co.uk

Boho Chic Macrame Backdrop

With the neutral tones, The Event Edit’s macrame backdrop works with pretty much any colour scheme and is perfect for adding a bohemian flair to your wedding. It's such a beautiful intricate handmade statement piece that can be used on a number of our backdrops so the bride and groom have the freedom to style this backdrop how they really want. Use it more than once, Boho Chic Macrame Backdrop makes the perfect ceremony backdrop but then can also be used to make a stunning top table or photo backdrop for your guests on the entrance to your wedding breakfast room. Want to add something a little bit extra to the Boho Chic Macrame why not add florals or foliage to match your colour theme.

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Doorway Backdrops

Doorway backdrops are perfect for an outdoor summer weddings and create a rustic feel to your wedding day. Why not use it at the top of your ceremony aisle for all your guests to walk through to their seats and of course the for the bride to walk through to meet the love of her life on the other side of the doorway!

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A Colour-popping Festival Vibe Summer Wedding at Whitely Grange Farm, Shropshire

When Paul from PK Wedding Photography sent us images of one of his favourite summer weddings we couldn’t resist sharing the wedding of Rosie and Alex. They got married at Whitley Grange Farm in Shropshire in August 2019. The colour-popping wedding was truly beautiful in every sense. With the ceremony set outdoors oozing festival vibes against the stunning Shropshire landscape, guests relaxed on hay bails throughout the ceremony surrounded by flowers, buntin and ribbons in every colour of the rainbow hanging from trees. The setting was truly a bohemian bride or groom’s dream! With their mutual love of music and festivals their guests were serenaded with live music and a fun-filled party in a huge tipi marque.

This is what Paul had to say about the wedding

‘‘Festival style weddings are one of my favourite types of weddings to shoot and this is why….!

Emotional, heart-warming, funny, a day full of emotions with tears, plenty of laughter and great live music for everyone to sing-a-long to, I hope that my images capture the warmth of the day and the love between Rosie and Alex which is plain to see. Their emotional ceremony was followed by a series of amusing speeches and creative poetry which led to the final part of the day for me when Rosie and Alex allowed me to capture some of my favourite images around the pond. I hope you enjoy their wedding day story.’’

If you’re planning a festival-style wedding or something similar, Paul would love the opportunity to photograph your special day. Contact Paul using the details below. Love this wedding? View the full album here.

Paul on 07969 054778, email: info@paulkyte.co.uk or visit: www.paulkytephotography.com

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Creating The Perfect Day: A Guide To Why Bristol Can Host A Memorable Wedding

Creating The Perfect Day: A Guide To Why Bristol Can Host A Memorable Wedding

With a prosperous maritime history, Bristol is vibrant city with a rich industrial heritage, growing media presence, picturesque walks and a perfect place to celebrate your special day.

This popular South West England city is not only home to a top university for those starting their academic journey, but also has a number of beautiful venues and award-winning wedding photographers ready to help couples begin the next chapter of their lives by hosting and capturing their special day. Here is a list of some of the reasons why you should consider Bristol as a potential city to celebrate your wedding day.

Countless Venue Possibilities

Aside from the date, one of the biggest tasks for planning a wedding is finding the perfect venue to host the special day. Sometimes these two factors go hand in hand, as you may have to compromise on one to ensure you secure the other.

In Bristol, the vibrant city is home to a number of venues which range from outside areas in beautiful manor gardens to grand hotels bursting with stunning architecture and décor, all the way to medieval barns with exposed brick and wooden beams all the way to a ship situated in Bristol’s Great Western Dockyard. Whatever your style is, there will most likely be a venue that fills all your requirements and exceeds your expectations.

The Power of Photography

Photobooths have recently become a popular feature for many weddings, due to its fun and quirky nature. Whilst these posed photos are enjoyable to look back on, some of the most loved photos by couples are the ones taken which show the little moments they may not have noticed. Fortunately, finding a wedding photographer in Bristol is easy as there are a few to chose from, such as Matt Willis who is an exceptional wedding photographer, devoted to ensuring couples feel comfortable, as he photographs their special day.

Delicious Food

Bristol is renowned for the delightful dishes it produces to treat the tastebuds. As such, it is no surprise that there are a number of exceptional wedding caterers in and around Bristol who are ready to treat both you and your guests to delicious dishes. With a diverse range of caters and their specialities varying from businesses to business, there will most certainly be an option that is best suited for you.

Pre and Post Celebrations

A popular trend for weddings has been celebrating with guests a day or two before the wedding. From pool parties to a meal, karaoke night to a pamper session at a spa, couples are looking for fun ways to spend time with guests prior to their big day. In Bristol, there are a number of lists online which show a selection of the various things you can do in the city.

Having these adventures prior to the big day, is a unique way to further extend the celebrations, but also helps to create more wonderful, lasting memories with loved ones.

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What Do You Need To Know When Planning A Traditional Irish Wedding?

Basing your wedding around a set of traditions is always a popular choice for couples to make. The great thing about traditions is that they give you a framework to follow. You can go out and research all the different things that are typically part of your wedding day, implementing them into your plans. While there are lots of different traditional weddings out there, an Irish wedding is perhaps one of the most well-known. This is purely because it contains lots of different Celtic wedding traditions that make the ceremony and reception very unique. 

With that in mind, there is a lot to know if you want to plan your own traditional Irish wedding. One of the most important aspects is the Claddagh Ring, which is the traditional Irish wedding ring. It's significantly different from a more typical wedding ring, but that makes it even more special. Alongside this, you have elements of the ceremony to consider - like the Celtic oathing stone and the Celtic grushie. Reading up on things like this will put you in a better position to plan a wedding that follows these traditions correctly. While you are free to pick and choose which elements of a traditional Irish wedding to include, it's always important that you follow these elements properly. 

So, what else do you need to know about Irish or Celtic weddings? If you carry on scrolling, you'll find all the details in a neat infographic by Claddagh Rings. It explains the main traditions and the meanings behind them, helping you plan your special day:

Infographic designed by Claddagh Ring

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A DIY Festival Themed Wedding captured by Portrait Boutique UK

Portrait Boutique have captured 100’s of weddings! One of their favourite fun weddings to capture were of Katie & Ian`s wedding which was held last August in Staffordshire.

The couple organised the whole wedding themselves after doing some research at various wedding fayres where they sourced suppliers! They booked an amazing festival styled Tipi and booked caterers who created an afternoon tea party in the tipi for all their wedding guests!

The evening party had juicy burgers and hot dog grill vans! Ian the groom also made some of the table decorations from copper piping such as candle holders & table number holders!

The location was a relatives farm, so a 2 acre field was used for the Tipi. This type of DIY wedding is becoming more popular as more people want to customise their wedding day from sourcing and booking their wedding venue right down to making table decorations and some have even baked their own wedding cakes!

The popularity of themed, DIY & arts and craft type weddings does seem to be on increase with couples wanting more input for their big day and marking their own stamp of their personalities through from beginning to end!

Check out Katie & Ian’s wedding highlights below captured by the talented Tony from Portrait Boutique UK!

Like What You See? Make The Connection!! Contact Portrait Boutique UK Today!!

Tony is available via email or facebook all day today! Please drop by and say hi!

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The Essential Guide to Engagement Ring Diamonds!

The time has finally come! The time to join together in a union of love and devotion. It is time to pick your diamond engagement ring! The beauty and durability of a fine diamond combined with precious metal's strength and purity continue to evoke the perfect promise of an enduring and wonderful marriage for lovers everywhere. But where do you start? It is not like engagement rings are rare and aren't sold anyway. That's a misconception. There are so many different options that it is bound to get confusing and overwhelming. The first thing to think about is the diamond, but how do you choose a certified diamond engagement ring?

Select a Shape:

Round Diamonds: 

If you are unsure about the shape, it may be helpful to know that round diamonds are by far the most popular choice due to their fire, brilliance and light performance!

Princess Diamonds:

Princess diamonds feature an angular, contemporary beauty that looks gorgeous in classic and geometric settings. They offer the brilliance of a brilliant round diamond but with a modern twist. 

Photo by Jasmine Carter on Pexels

Cushion Diamonds:

Cushion diamonds are an ideal choice for anyone who wants a more vintage-inspired look! It is an attractive alternative to a Princess Cut for those preferring a more rectangular shape.

Step Cut Diamonds:

Asscher and emerald diamonds are step cut diamonds that create a sleek, elegant appearance. They are more transparent than round diamonds. 

Pear-shaped Diamonds:

Pear-shaped diamonds are more distinctive in shape. They help make fingers look long and slender due to their elongated appearance. They are also larger than the heart-shaped diamond. 

Heart-shaped diamonds:

For you die-hard romantics, the heart-shaped diamond can express your sentiment with a flourish!

How many stones?

How many stones are too many stones in your engagement ring? The correct answer is there are never too many stones! 

Three stone rings are a popular choice today with their symbolic message of yesterday, today and tomorrow. It usually consists of a centre diamond enhanced by two matching smaller diamonds. It creates an impressive display of brilliance and fire, and the smaller accent diamonds create an even fancier look. 

Colour:

Most people prefer a colourless or white diamond or a colour that is not very detectable to the untrained eye, but why not have a pop colour? Why not branch out of the typical diamond colour and go for something unique? Coloured engagement rings encompass both fancy colour diamond rings and vivid gemstone rings such as rubies and sapphires. Both classic and contemporary designers can bring forth a striking engagement rung with a bit of colour! For example, Aquamarine is an unexpected yet stunning choice for an engagement ring, with its soft hue creating a timeless and unique look. What about morganite for a peachy number, emerald or yellow cut to cement a gorgeous band? Pink tourmaline or London blue topaz for a vivid cerulean hue?

Photo by Marta Branco on Pexels

The most significant element of any engagement ring is the diamonds that go into them. You need fine-cut craftsmanship and something that can symbolise your future relationship in the best way possible!

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Advice for rebooking your wedding band and entertainment during a pandemic!

It is fair to say that the pandemic has spoiled a lot of our plans. While it isn’t the end of the world to have to rebook your holiday or change your theatre tickets, having to rebook your wedding creates a lot more upheaval. As well as the practical considerations, cancelling your wedding day takes a big emotional toll on everyone involved.

But we’re here to help! Of all the problems that arise from rebooking your wedding, making sure you’ll still have entertainment in place can be one of the most frustrating. So how do you go about rebooking your wedding band and entertainment? And what can you do if this isn’t an option?

Check the fine print

When you first booked your wedding band or entertainment, you will have entered into a contract. If you need to postpone your wedding, make sure that you read over your contract to check what your legal rights are. This will tell you whether there will be extra fees for rebooking a different date or cancelling altogether, and the whole rebooking process will be a lot easier.

Austinloveing

Talk to your band

When cancelling, hopefully, you had a conversation with your band or entertainment provider. This should have made it clear whether you were cancelling or simply indefinitely delaying – though, understandably, this might have been uncertain. Now you are rebooking, you need to get your schedules together so that no one is disappointed. This might be difficult, as there will probably be a rush of couples looking to rebook. Depending on how much you want the same entertainment you had before, you may have to be a little flexible on your wedding date!

In case of cancelling

While bands are eager to reconnect with you and make magic happen on your wedding day, inevitably there may be some times when it doesn’t work out. This can happen even with a contract. If your chosen entertainment has members who have had to travel abroad to be with loved ones, or even if the band has broken up over the pandemic, it can be crushing to miss out on your first pick. But even if this happens, remain polite and understanding. This is a hard time for everyone.

Find fantastic entertainment

Luckily, there are many incredible live bands out there just waiting to bring their own brand of beautiful music to your wedding day. Whether you want a folksy acoustic trio, a band that will sing everyone’s pop favourites, or even an R&B band – there is surely something for everyone out there. Remember that being a little more flexible than usual is an advantage in these times, whether you are rebooking or starting from scratch.

While postponing your wedding day is never ideal, remember that plenty of people have been in the same boat this year! You can still get great entertainment and enjoy a wonderful day – and it will be all the sweeter with all your family and friends around you once more.

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How to Own Your Confidence On Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day will always be memorable, and on reflection, you’ll be extremely likely to look back on it as an excellent, life-changing event in your life. However, there are no guarantees that you’ll have fun at the time. This is something that takes many brides (and grooms) by surprise. It’s not that they’re not happy, it’s just that there are so many details and anxieties that they have to think about. Fortunately, there are things you can do ahead of time that’ll push you in the right direction. It’s all about having confidence in yourself and the day as a whole.

In this blog, we’ll look at some ways you can have just that. 

Photo by Jeremy Wong from Pexels

Plan to Perfection

You’ll have months, or perhaps even years, to get everything into shape for your wedding. So why not make the most of that time by planning everything to perfection? If you know that every detail of the big day is secure and watertight, then you’ll be able to throw yourself into the serious business of having fun. If you’re having a big and extravagant wedding, then look at hiring a wedding planner to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Prepare Ahead of Time 

We’ll talk about looking your best later on, but first, let’s think about feeling your best. There are plenty of things you can do that’ll ensure you’re physically and mentally at your best, but to get the effect, you’ll need to incorporate these habits into your life ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute before you begin thinking about these things! If you’ve got several months of eating well, working out, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding the things that can drag you down (such as alcohol consumption and smoking), then you’ll be a real force of confidence and positivity when the big day arrives. 

Looking the Part

Now let’s think about looking the part! You’ll feel oh so confident when you’re walking down the aisle and beyond if you know you look, well, the best that you’ve ever looked. There are some tried and tested tips for making sure this is the case. First, there’s the matter of the dress. Check out these beautiful wedding dresses by Ronald Joyce, find one that you like, and you’ll have a jaw-dropping style on your big day. Beyond that, it’s all about making sure that your hair and makeup are perfect -- do a trial run beforehand, so you know you’re completely happy with the look.

Don’t Stress The Small Stuff

Finally, remember that even with all the planning in the world, it’s still possible that there’ll be one or two small problems that crop up. And when they do, don’t stress -- it’s unlikely that the problem will be so grand that the whole day is ruined. And even if things don’t go to plan, remember that you can always make things work. If you have great people around you and a positive attitude, then there’s no telling what you can do! 

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16 of the hottest Wedding Trend Secrets for 2021 to create an incredible wedding day!

Huge weddings have scaled back and been replaced by smaller- celebrations because of the coronavirus. This will without dought has had an impact on 2021’s Wedding Trends. For the couples who decide to SAY YES to getting hitched in 2021, here are the hottest Wedding Trend Secrets in 2021 to create your incredible wedding day! 

Micro Weddings

2020 and the pandemic gave birth to the Mirco Wedding! These will be huge in the first part of 2021 with the promising news that weddings will be back this summer! Many couples are opting for an intimate micro wedding.

Bringing the destination wedding to you

We’re all craving a holiday or an exotic trip right whilst travel remains up in the.  A big wedding trend in 2021 is bringing the destination to your wedding! The goal here is to bring your original wedding destination, your dream honeymoon location, or an experience you shared together abroad into your wedding.

Whether you create a colourful Mexican wedding with tacos and tequila or you want to dress your wedding in lushes of greens from Sri lanka, submerge your guests in an intimate affair via destination-inspired experiences; tastes, textures, smells and beautiful colours pallets. Express your themed destination through table décor, crockery, florals and music can  indulge in a multisensory experience. If Morocco was your dream destination, think of the smells and foods to give the authentic smell and taste.

Smaller Cakes

Wedding Cakes will be smaller in size due to the reduced guest list. Expert cake baker Mel from Mel’s Amazing Cakes says, ‘’A small cake doesn’t necessarily mean smaller details. Dramatic and artistic cakes will be huge in 2021! Concentrate on the detailing rather than the size!

If you want to still keep some tradition choose a two-tier cake or for a non-traditional cake choose a taller one tier or individual treats and cupcakes. Treats such as pop stickles, cookies, and mini cakes will be the highlight of your dinner. Couples are exploring more with taste too, bring herbs and spices into the mix infusing that destination wedding theme!’’

Mel’s Amazing Cakes!

Mel’s Amazing Cakes!

Splashing out on your rings

 As you’ll have money left over from a Micro Wedding couples are deciding to spend more money on their wedding rings. Splash out on the ring you’ve always wanted. After all it’s something you will wear for the rest of your life.

Concert style music

After a year of lockdowns, concerts, festivals and clubs being closed, dance floors have been moved to our front rooms! Let’s face it we’re all missing live music and a good old boogie! if you’re getting married there may be a limited number of guests, no dancing and some social distancing in place but that doesn’t mean you should skip the music! Weddings are all bout celebration, music and happiness, you defiantly SHOULD book some live music for a mini concert-style reception to enjoy! You will not regret it and your guests will love it too!

British Garden Style Weddings

With less tables to prepare you can go all out on aisle and ceremony décor and your guest tables too! Flowers will be HUGE 2021. Influenced by Princess Beatrice’s Royal Wedding, and Netflix’s Bridgeton which have been trending, 2021 weddings will ooze romance and stylish elegance depicting pretty ‘British Garden’. Think huge OTT floral backdrops, arches, hanging flowers, draping centre pieces and arrangements!

Photo by Benjamin Wheeler.

 Silk and artificial flowers.

Silk and artificial flowers have been becoming more and more popular over the years. Flower power is back in a huge way in 2021 and silk flowers are a top choice chosen by couples who want to create the’ British Garden’ look whilst keeping within a budget.

Nicola from Elegant Event Designs a venue dressing expert said ‘Silk flowers nowadays are made so beautifully that they look authentic and are much more cost-effective then fresh flowers!  Our silk flowers are hugely popular, most brides don’t even realise they are not real, I think this is why they are so popular! You can choose to have huge displays such as arches, blossom trees, center pieces, hanging wisteria, bouquets and any flower displays you want to create a floral wonderland but without going overboard on costs! If you want fresh flowers we can add in a few fresh flowers throughout the display to make them pop and enhance your colour scheme too!"

www.eleganteventdesigns.co.uk

Shorter dresses

Hemlines will be shorter for some brides in 2021. Off the rail dresses, cocktail dinner style dresses and dresses you can wear more than once are becoming more popular! If you still dream of the huge bridal dress then go for it! 

Transforming Outfits

2021 is not just about the shorter dress it’s about the little details to create a changeable look. Items that can be worn in multiple ways to make you look different. Swap the veil for a stand-out headpiece or a flower crown for the night do. Or think about what you will wear to keep you warm, a fur shrug in the winter or a sequin shawl to add for the evening party. Perfect for the bride who wants to switch up their look from the day to the night do!

Choosing your wedding shoes is one of the most important decisions you will make. These tips from Hats & Tiaras will help you when making your choice. 

Isabel Wallis, Hats & Tiaras, “You want to enjoy every moment of your wedding, so wearing heels for an entire day and evening could instead mean worrying about sore feet! There has been a growing trend with brides choosing a beautiful bridal shoe for the ceremony and daytime reception, then stepping into something more comfortable for the rest of the evening. The great thing about wedding trainers is that you can wear them afterwards! With your wedding shoes, and trainers, make sure you break them in a little before your wedding by just wearing them around the house for short periods. You will be so thankful you did! And lastly, make sure you have your wedding shoes before any final alterations on your dress. There would be nothing worse than discovering your gorgeous heels were too high or too low for the perfect length on your wedding dress, so get your shoes sorted quite early!”

Hats & Tiaras

 Outdoor or garden weddings

If you love the idea of a British garden wedding then you’re in luck! 2021 is all about the outdoor or garden wedding! Choosing outdoor venues over indoor spaces is recommended for the ventilation, marquees are great too! Outdoor locations offer a relaxed and informal setting and you will already in beautiful surrounding full of flowers and greenery! If kids are involved in your wedding it’s a great space for them to play and gardens are stunning backdrop for your images. 

Mix and match living room furniture!

Now if you’re opting for the DIY or Garden Wedding this one is definitely for you! Mix & match living room style furniture will be a comfortable sitting in 2021. You can even bring your furniture from inside your home out, borrow a few stools from friends and family, you’ll be bang on trend whilst saving money on chair hire and adding a touch of vintage to your wedding theme!!

Ambient Lighting!

With the rise of outdoor and garden weddings lighting will create a sparkle in 2021! Mixed with a stunning garden, marque or outdoor location soft LED lighting will enhance the romance and give a warm feel to your wedding. Drape your lights to create walking caves your guests will love

 Going local & sustainability

Coronavirus has confided us all to our local areas, more couples are now being more mindful about using local suppliers, food, produce and drinks reducing their footprint and supporting local businesses! Lots of couples will go digital too with invites reducing paper waist!

 Restaurant-style dinner party weddings!

Table service is now a must and wedding receptions should be a sit-down meal and take place in a covid secure venue or environment. Say bye bye queuing up for buffets and hello to table service and fine dining, adding a touch of elegance to any wedding. You can all sit back and relax whilst being waited on hand and foot!

 Cool Cocktails

 With bar service being confined to our seats cool cocktails will be a popular choice for couples! Don’t forget to include a few mocktails for the non-drinkers to enjoy too!

Wedding Nanny

Whether you want a wedding with or without children wedding nannies are a fab and popular option for parents. If you’re looking to reduce numbers at your micro-wedding this could be a perfect option too!

Kim Owner of Kim’s Creche says ‘Hiring a nanny gives brides, grooms or guests a chance to enjoy the wedding without children. If you opt for a child-free wedding (maybe you have restrictions on guest numbers), couples have sent out our babysitting invites to parents so they can use our nannying service, this enables them to have a fun-filled time without children around and know they are in safe hands.  

Children love being involved in weddings they love to feel important and we can still do all this within Kim's crèche too. We help them to feel safe, secure and like they have a role within the wedding. Our nannies have always been available throughout the pandemic and we have many options whatever your wedding size. From wedding nannies, craft tables, a fully supervised kids corner or we can even bring beds so children can settle down and parents can collect them later that evening. Make sure you choose the right childcare that suits you though. You need to feel reassured by whoever is looking after your child that they are safe, secure and able to have fun. Our staff are all fully vetted so you can rest assure that your children are in safe hands.’’ For more information on wedding nannies click here

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9 ideas to involve your close friends and family who can’t make your Wedding day!

My best friend had been engaged for 5 years, she’d already had one wedding postponed after falling pregnant and a 2nd due to the lockdown in October 2020. So when she told me that she was finally going to get married in December I was so incredibly happy for her and her fiancé!

The rule of 15 guests to attend a wedding in December meant, unfortunately, myself and many other close family and friends of the couple would not be allowed to attend. Although of course, I was sad that I was not going to be there to see them say ‘I do’, I quickly realised that in a year of miserable news, we all had something to celebrate! And how fantastic was that!

Whether you’re a bride or groom thinking about a micro wedding (but nervous about letting some guests down) or you’re an uninvited guest who can no longer attend. Here are my top tips (from my experience) on how you can still very much involved in a wedding without being able to physically be there!!

These recommendations will depend on the government guidelines. Please check the government website for the most up-to-date details on social gatherings.

Be there something old, something new, something borrowed something blue!

We all know the tradition something old, something new, something borrowed something blue! why not give or borrow the bride a gift that is old, new, borrowed or blue that they can wear on the day. I secretly found out what my friend didn’t have and she mentioned she needed earrings to go with her bridal headpiece. Sending a gift is a lovely keepsake for the bride or groom and a way that the couple can feel that you are still there with them on the day!

Live Stream your friends and family! Your whole guest list can still be there virtually!

There are many ways your friends or family can still be a part of your big day! Live streams are super easy to set up so guest can ‘virtually’ be there. You can invite your whole guest if you like, platforms like zoom are fantastic. Your guests can still dress up to the nines with a glass of fizz!

Be a ‘Groupie’.

Create a WhatsApp group with your guests who can’t make it. Keep them updated with pics of your dress fittings, hair and make-up trials and all your ideas for your wedding! They will love being involved and you will have your squad by your side for those hard decisions on whether to choose white, off white or cream ;-)

Share your wedding day!

Have a designated person in the whatsapp group who is attending the wedding who can also post photos or videos of the special moments throughout your wedding day. They will be so happy to share in the joy you felt on the day by looking at the photos.

Be there outside of the wedding venue to throw confetti

If the restrictions permit and you don’t live to far from the wedding venue, why not wait outside for the ceremony to finish. Throw confetti and congratulate the newlyweds. It will mean so much to the new bride and groom!

Have a small gathering the night before.

Depending on the restrictions, organise a small gathering with your closest guests who can’t make it. Enjoy a prosecco and a garden get together in a well-ventilated space so you can help the bride or groom prep for their big day!

Be a part of their ‘Glam Squad’ and see them in their dressed up in their wedding outfits!

Be a part of their Glam Squad and help the bride or groom get ready the morning of the wedding! You will see get to see them in their dressed up in their wedding outfit and you can capture that social distancing selfie for the gram too!

Share your wedding menu!

Share you wedding menu with your uninvited guests so they can enjoy the same meal on the day too! Or order extra slices of cake, cupcakes or your sweet treats to send to your uninvited guests for them to enjoy on your wedding day.

Capture your special day.

Book the professional photographer and videographer so you have those special moments to share after your wedding with your guests.

The hardest thing for a bride and groom having a micro wedding will be not having all their closest friends and family at their wedding. Letting close ones down or letting them know they can’t be their will not be easy and will cause a lot of anxiety and stress. Be as understanding and supportive as possible. Keep in contact with the bride and groom you can still be very much a part of their big day.

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