Co-ordinate your gown with your backdrop for the ultimate in congruent bridal style.

Recent trends pertaining to the wedding industry have seen 'where' become just as relevant as 'when' and 'how' to the extent that it is now the driving force behind major decision-making processes such as catering, entertainment, theme – and fashion.

Although the mashing of styles and influences is a chic option for a highly individual affair, many brides are seeking a little calm congruency and collected continuity.

That's not to say that linearity rules. Rather, that key elements are present and reflected in a multitude of ways. In short, you can clothe yourself in your venue as fashion assumes a whole new relevance and direct relationship to place.

By reinforcing the feel of your event in a number of ways from décor and lighting to food and frocks, not only is the day that much more memorable, but modishly personable. From toasting with rum punch on a Caribbean beach dressed in exotic colours to a snow white ski suit atop the Alps, place is permeating through to new depths so that now it's your surrounds that dictate the dress...

CHURCH
In keeping with the traditionalism of the location, fashion is fairytale. A church wedding smacks of historic, religious or family values, which needn't be captured via cover-up but does lend itself to princess style or vintage attire. Of course, as with everything wed, there are no definite to dos. But a simply stylish dress sits well with a church ceremony, drawing upon elements of understated fantasy and timeless romance.


Sottero & Midgley Vu's Bridal www.vusbridal.co.uk

Ballgown and flouncy skirts are perfect for a church venue. Big trains and veiling, volumous frills and spills and textural numbers ooze fairytale glamour. Modern touches to the look include bows, pleats, ribbons and headwear, which all complement and individualise the idea into magnificent material form.


Jade Daniels (Little Anne Maids www.littleanne-maids.co.uk)

The recent movement of mimicking, donning or updating and tailoring past fashions is another stellar idea for a church wedding. By wearing your mother's or grandmother's dress, you're statement-making with sweet sentimentality, adding an historic edge and dialogue with the past that is core to the atmosphere of the place.


Trudy Lee (Lavender Rose www.lavender-rose.co.uk)

Alternatively, select a vintage or vintage style frock, such as ‘40s tea length, ‘50s flirty kitsch, ‘60s boho elegance or ‘70s super glam. Customise with contemporary accessories or romanticise with heirloom items and create a look that is fully fitting from all angles whilst being undeniably unique.

GARDEN
Country house, moorland marquee or bottom of the garden? Wherever the specifics, an outdoorsy and in nature wedding is both charismatically charming and jump-on-the-bandwagon chic. Within the county, it echoes a pagan tradition and is perfect for such a ceremony, being just as atmospherically apt for either religious or civil proceedings. Not only is a garden style wedding hugely adaptable, it is entirely en vogue with regard to modern day's preoccupation with everything green.


Ian Stuart

Whether you want to have an eco friendly event or just fancy a pretty place to breathe in your vows and mellow out your guests, allow landscape to be your designer.


Justin Alexander (Vu's Bridal www.vusbridal.co.uk)

Country assumes many guises and characters that can assist with your outfit creation. You don't need to don oilskins, Wellington boots and accessorise with a rifle to achieve the look, which can be as subtle or dramatic as you desire. It's more about cherry picking from the trends and making them your own.


Pronuptia

In particular, recycled and resourced materials such as hemp and vintage cut-offs can combine for a conscientious and highly one-off creation. Back to the catwalk, and a rush of raw edges, rough cuts and multiple layers are signature styles to opt for. An unkempt irreverence is striking many a fashionista's chord, with outfits appearing to be quickly slung together rather than carefully choreographed for an elusively artistic aesthetic and daring appeal.

You don't necessarily want to seem as if you've just jumped your groom in the hedgerows or prematurely trashed your dress, but there's a definite relaxed and rougher feel that forgoes preened perfectionism in favour of au naturel noughties.


Pronuptia

Other facets of the look include flowers, patterning and embroidery in an array of ways, from overlays to lace and dress design to corsages. Add a feathered boa, lace shrug, daisy chain necklace or hair pinned fresh flowers to soften or embellish the look accordingly.

BEACH
An understandably popular influence the county over, the coast is a huge source of wedding inspiration and direction. We're luckily replete with choice for seaside venues, but for those eloping to do the deed within more tropical climes, the look is transmutable across a variety of scenes.


Impression Bridal (Bliss Bridal www.bliss-bridal-gowns.co.uk)

Harbourside, riverside, beachside, even lakeside – whatever water is in view, there's a look that will beautifully complement it.

Though the tendency is for a cool and casual event that sways on the flexible side of fashion, the ensemble is extremely spectral: Grecian goddess personified to bikini and sarong understatement – and all else in-between – goes.


San Patrick (Lavender Rose www.lavender-rose.co.uk)

Current trends that resonate include sleek silhouetting, body conscious styling and clingy lines. White or exotic colouring – especially sea and sky tones – flatter the theme and surrounds, and materials that appear to melt onto dewy and sun-kissed skin such as silks and sheer sheaths are hotly in demand. Mermaid shapes and mini lengths are trendy to boot, providing bare-all beauty or bold, mythological outlines.

Finishing touches may include shell necklaces, glass beading or pearls. Barefoot allows for anklet and toe ring accessorising, encouraging shorter hems in the process; otherwise, diamante encrusted flip flops, bejewelled slippers or even kitten heeled sandals are cool compliments.

HOTEL
Whether it’s an intimate setting in a small hotel or registry office or a grand and lavish event where you hire out an entire building or complex, you can dress to match. With much of modern wedding fashions seeing architectural and convoluted designs making their way into boutiques and catwalks, it's inevitable that the type of building may well influence the bridal style.


Ian Stuart

A castle setting, for example, suggests grandeur and lends a monarchic image that many dress styles currently encapsulate. Fusing bygone romance with dramatic surrounds, bold and flashy dresses from origami, multi-layered creations to tiered, big-skirted princess-style gowns hit the mark.


Impression Bridal (Bliss Bridal www.bliss-bridal-gowns.co.uk)

Towering surrounds can be echoed by contemporary couture, whereby puffball, stiff and stand-out or billowing styles create a statuesque, walking piece of modern art or sculpture. Futuristic cuts and lines that are simple and sharp merged with metallics are a signature, almost space-age look.


Jade Daniels (Little Anne Maids www.littleanne-maids.co.uk)

There’s also a mathematical element to fashion’s zeitgeist, with geometric, asymmetric and square shapes being flaunted and incorporated into elaborate ensembles.
 

Justin Alexander (Vu's Bridal www.vusbridal.co.uk)

Dramatic themes and era wear such as Victorian and Gothic, and especially a vaguely vamp edge, are infused via patterning such as baroque, sky high headwear, monochrome and lavish layers of mixed materials and statement jewellery.

words Hannah May
Copyright WED magazine 2010