Here is a selection of Q&As from An Essex Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@anessex.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Flowers
Q. How have couples changed their approach to wedding planning for 2022 and beyond?
A. Kelleyann Phythian says: Naturally, we are working with a lot of brides that have had wedding dates changed or delayed over the last couple of years. For many brides, this has made them more relaxed; rather than worrying about every single detail, brides are just so delighted to finally be getting married. It has also allowed some couples to save up a bit more ahead of their big day and so they are investing in bigger floral installations and statement pieces that really provide the wow factor. Ceiling fixtures with flowing foliage have grown in popularity, particularly for wedding breakfasts in big barns or grand function suites.
More and more, weddings are focused on the celebration of getting together as friends and family in a way that reflects the personalities of the happy couple, so parties with a casual, festival vibe continue to be really popular. Couples are changing up the flowers they feature in their displays now too. There is an emphasis on choosing seasonal bouquets that are native to the UK, which I think is a combination of people thinking about the environmental impact of the choices they make and also fears over supply chains from overseas. Roses, sweet peas, dahlias and tulips regularly appear in bouquets as people find inspiration from things they have seen in their own garden, in the countryside around them or what they see on their social media.
Kelleyann Phythian, Honeysuckle Flowers
www.honeysuckleflowers.co.uk
In the summertime
Q. We're having a colourful summer wedding. What florals do you recommend for this?
A. Victoria Makepeace says: Summer is the best time to embrace bright and beautiful flowers. You could consider a tropical design filled with anthurium, ginger flowers, orchids and protea all finished with palm leaves and monstera. This would create a vibrant palette of hot pink, coral, peach and white.
For the more rustic couples, it has to be sunflowers – the bigger, the brighter, the better! A cluster of these yellow giants softened with gypsophila and gorgeous grey-silver eucalyptus is all you need. For late-summer weddings, it has to be the quirky dahlia. With so many colours and styles, they give the ultimate wow factor all by themselves.
The colour trend for 2022 is orange and peach, and I can't wait to get stuck in. So summer couples, be brave, be daring and add a splash of colour to your day!
Victoria Makepeace, Simply Stunning Flowers
www.simplystunningflowers.co.uk
In an English country garden
Q. We're having a quintessentially English spring wedding. How do we make the most of the season with our flowers?
A. Karen Borden says: Spring is such a beautiful time of year for flowers; you still have some late-winter varieties as well as early-summer flowers alongside the main spring blooms. It's so important for quality and cost to work with as many seasonal flowers as you can. At this time of year you have an array of options such a tulips, irises, ranunculi, hyacinths, sweet peas, anemones, syringas and stocks, along with year-round florals such as roses, lillies, gerberas and many more.
I would suggest a mix of flowers, such as the traditional garden rose with blousy peonies, along with more cost-effective seasonal flowers such as tulips to even out prices. Spring has an array of colours to choose from, so multi or single tones can be used. I'd also be sure to use plenty of pretty foliage such as green bell, eucalyptus and ruscus.
Karen Borden, The Flower Mill
www.theflowermill.co.uk
Small but perfectly formed
Q. We're having a smaller celebration than originally planned because of restrictions on weddings, but we still want to make a statement with our flowers. How can we do this?
A. Victoria Makepeace says: With weddings in the immediate future being much more intimate than expected, it is only natural as a florist to expect that less flowers will be required. However, the final big-day style still needs to look fabulous for those photographs that will be treasured for years to come.
My advice is to opt for floral arrangements within vessels, such as rustic crates, ornate urns or elegant vases, which can be moved from place to place throughout the day and create the wow factor each time. I'm always happy to factor in a small extra charge to remain at the venue to assist and oversee any room changes.
Victoria Makepeace, Simply Stunning Flowers
www.simplystunningflowers.co.uk
