Soft pastels, big blooms and retro glamour continue to woo brides this wedding season

Former retailer and florist wholesaler Cherry works on some of East Yorkshire’s most impressive events, including celebrations at the beautiful Rise Hall, owned by TV celebrity and property guru Sarah Beeny.

With her experienced, artistic eye, she regularly helps us transform our marquees into magical spaces full of wonder. We asked her for her take on the ‘in’ trends for 2017 and 2018, looking in particular at what the region’s brides are asking for.

“I love working with marquees,” she said. “Because they enable you to create an unfettered and unique look which you can’t always achieve at an existing venue. You can suspend things from the ceilings, you can choose your carpet colour, chair styles and you have completely neutral walls to work with. These are luxuries you don’t have with some venues, which already have their own fixtures and fittings.”

Vintage glamour remains all the rage, according to Cherry. “Vintage glamour has been popular for some time now and we’re still being asked for this, for weddings taking place in 2017 and 2018.

“The kinds of things that characterise this look are aged pieces, candelabras and full blooms. Quintessentially English flowers like hydrangeas, roses, peonies and dahlias are very popular.

“In terms of the colours that accompany these, subtle shades like nude pink are a very popular choice for bridesmaids’ dresses at the moment and this often dictates the look of the rest of the wedding, including table centres. Nude pink is very versatile and goes well with metallic accessories and decorations, as well as blending in well with colours like pinks and peaches.

“Lots of foliage in different textures and shades is also proving to be extremely popular. The Pantone colour for 2017 is greenery and this is certainly evident in table dressing at the moment. It is nature’s neutral shade and crosses the seasons beautifully.”

Sequin fabric is another key trend, according to Cherry. “We’re increasingly being asked for the sequinned look. Again, in soft pinks and rose quartz. This can provide a really lovely, glamorous feel when featured as table runners, table cloths, and details on bridesmaids’ dresses,” she added.

Asked where the inspiration for these looks comes from, Cherry said social media plays a strong role, as do celebrity trends.

“Almost every bride who comes to see me will have her own Pinterest board. Celebrity weddings they’ve seen in magazines also play a part, as do Facebook and Instagram, which are just full of stories and ideas.”

In order to guide her prospective brides, Cherry pays close attention to the fashion industry. “The fashion industry tends to dictate what’s going to be on-trend 18 months in advance, in terms of things like bridesmaids’ dresses. Because these are so pivotal to event styling, everything else tends to fall into line. All the indications are that subtle pastels look set to stay for the next 18 months and beyond.

“However, some couples are also looking for a richer colour palette, and choosing navy blue for bridesmaids’ dresses and suits for the groom and groomsmen. It's a colour that suits most people and can be quite striking.”

Seasonal factors can also play a part.

“Winter weddings can be great fun to dress,” continued Cherry. “For events taking place at this time of the year, you can go for dark, rich colours, candlelight for atmosphere and beautiful, winter flowers and foliage. Christmas, in particular, can be a lovely time.

“I always advise my clients to be guided by the seasons in deciding the look and feel of their event, to ensure a theme that suits the available light, the weather and flowers.

“Whatever I’m presented with at our initial meeting, I do my best to guide couples in developing their ideas in the most fitting way. I also give careful consideration to what will work best for the many other suppliers involved in their wedding, including the caterers and photographers, to ensure the best results all-round. While Pinterest and magazine photos might look adorable in isolation, they might not work well in practice.”

1. Spend your budget on the things people will notice. To achieve the ‘wow’ factor as soon as your guests walk in, spend your styling budget on the things that will really stand out. You can do this by creating height with your table decorations and floral arrangements, choosing a few key pieces and lowering the ceiling with pin lights, chandeliers or lanterns.
2. Walk the walk. I always make any prospective clients sit down at a practice table in my studio when choosing their decorations, so that they can imagine how they will work in practice. By doing this, we make sure their decorative choices provide sufficient prettiness at eye level, which is where their guests will spend the most time looking at them.
3. Table decorations should be either lower than 30cms or higher than 70cms. Don’t create visual obstacles with your table decorations that will get in the way of your food being served or prevent guests from talking to each other. Flowers too are an important and expensive part of a wedding and should be admired while not considered a nuisance to the guests or caterers.
4. Safety is also vitally important . I’m always very cautious about candlelight on tables, and often use the latest flickering flame battery candles where appropriate. I absolutely love candlelight but careful consideration must be taken when choosing any decorations that involve real candles.
5. Lighting is a vital ingredient to creating a perfect party mood. Candlelight is wonderful for atmosphere, as are lanterns, fairy lights and uplighters.

If you're inspired by what you've read and would like more advice on how to make the most of this season's trends, call us on (01262) 468160/07973 314769, or fill in the form below to arrange a free chat.