Grovers Photography
FUNKY FURNITURE
Be a little creative with your wedding furniture. Some coolly coordinating chairs or groovy retro sofas can go a long way in making your wedding stand out from the crowd. "The Louis Ghost perspex chairs transform any venue from the mundane to the spectacular, and designer furnishings for a bar or chill-out area create focal points. Rustic tables in a yurt or teepee look amazing, and I'm also loving the vintage hire chairs from Virginia's Vintage (virginiasvintagehire.co.uk)". Elle Winsor-Grime, Inspire Hire
Ghost chairs from Inspire Hire / photo Khalile Siddiqui
PUTTING ON THE GLITZ
Indulge in some high-octane glamour. Metallics and glittery accents are set to be big news in bridal wear in 2013, and this opulence will extend to receptions for sparkle-loving brides. "Glittery and glamorous wedding tables may feature gilded letters, classic candelabras, glittery sashes on chairs, mercury glass votives and candelabras". Elle Winsor-Grime, Inspire Hire
Pocketful of Dreams / Leo Bojesen
FIRST DANCE-OFF
Does the thought of an awkward shuffle across the dance floor to a Ronan Keating number send shivers down your spine? Then forget the traditional first dance and treat your guests to an altogether more entertaining take on the tradition: a dance-off. Get your best man, bridesmaids and ushers involved for a hilarious moment you're sure to be talking about for years to come. "You might choose to start off slow with a more traditional love song, then break into an uptempo song completely out of the blue, which creates a real wow factor for the guests. Beyonce's 'All the Single Ladies' is a popular one for the men. It certainly gets the party off to a good start and creates a buzzing atmosphere." Nat Haydon, Jolly Good Wedding
OVER THE RAINBOW
Take the rainbow as your styling cue and paint your wedding with a radiant palette of bright and beautiful colours. "Brides are stepping away from the muted pastel vintage colours, which have been so popular for 2012, and bursting out in colour." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings.
Lucy Shergold
FLIGHT OF FANCY
Birds are big news in fashion and textile design at the moment - and the fascination with all things fluttery is taking the wedding world by storm. "Doves and peacocks are the most popular. Consider details such as bird print textiles, cake toppers, stationery, origami bird decor and feathery hair accessories and shrugs." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
Kirstin Prisk
CALL OF THE WILD
The trend for the rustic, hand-picked style of 'fresh from the garden' flowers is set to continue during 2013, as brides embrace seasonal, locally sourced flowers. "We have some amazing flower growers in the South West along with florists specialising in locally grown floristry. Local and seasonal flowers are not only beautiful but often budget friendly." Elle Winsor-Grime, Inspire Hire
Ben Photography
PHOTO FINISH
The photo booth well and truly hit the wedding scene in 2012 - and it's set to reign supreme in 2013. A fun feature for the evening reception, it offers brilliant entertainment and a covetable keepsake in one. "Photo booths are a lot of fun and a must-have for weddings in 2013." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
Handsome Momento
SURPRISE SURPRISE!
An element of surprise makes for a fabulous talking point and an unforgettable wedding reception. It might be a special guest, a celebrity lookalike, a dance troupe or circus entertainers. Many couples are now opting for a reveal curtain, which swings back to reveal a surprise artist, tribute band or members of the wedding party performing to the open-mouthed wonder of the guests.
TOP OF THE PROPS
Style your wedding with unique touches that take a styling theme to a whole new level. "Vintage is still hugely popular; however, the brides of 2013 are not only opting for vintage style dresses and vintage china on their tables but vintage props. Think feature seating areas, unusual vintage-inspired alternative guest books and table plans, and other quirky props such as drinks stations." Elle Winsor-Grime, Inspire Hire
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Savvie Photography
INVENTIVE MEMENTOS
Forget the traditional guest book. Couples are increasingly seeking novel methods for guests to enshrine their messages of good will - and the creativity factor is set to step up a level. "Benches are trending. Get guests to write their messages on a bench; then varnish or wax the bench after your wedding to sit fondly in your garden or terrace." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
Virginia's Vintage Hire / My Fabulous Life
TONE UP
Do you have a favourite colour? Then join all those fashion-forward brides who are falling for the simplicity of a single shade styling their details. "Ombre - subtle tone on tone variation in a single colour - is getting especially popular for cakes and flowers." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
NATURAL BORN LOVERS
Embrace your wild side by dressing your wedding with all things natural. "Natural textures are playing a huge part in interior design trends at the moment, and this will cross over into wedding trends; think beautiful textured paper for invitations and natural textures like wood and hessian for reception decor." Elle Winsor-Grime, Inspire Hire
BAR NECESSITIES
The bar has undergone a serious makeover. As one of the focal points for the evening shenanigans, creative couples are making a statement of this area, from dressing the bar to coordinate with the wedding theme to booking a quirky van (ciderpig.co.uk), VW camper (funkydubbar.com) or double decker bus (cockandballsinn.co.uk) as a watering hole. "You might have a series of self-serve bars set up with vintage glasses, garnishes and instructions on how to put some yummy drinks together. Having a wine and beer bar and a cocktail bar will keep guests thoroughly watered and entertained." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
Celina Jennings
Celina Jennings
GOOD NIGHT DELIGHTS
Arrange for your guests to enjoy one last indulgence before they hit the road by setting up a good night station. "Instead of the line-up before the meal, the good night station is right on trend for 2013. The station could be a treat for the road, a wedding favour or a hot drink to say thank you and good night." Ali Berry, Ali Berry Weddings
THE RECEPTION RULE BOOK
We asked wedding planner Ali Berry for her fail-safe strategies for a successful reception. Ignore at your peril...
Arrange a game plan for the kids. Keep your young guests entertained with something as simple as activity packs or hiring a children's entertainer.
Embrace excess. That means lots of food and lots of drink. Quite simply, more is more fun. There is nothing worse than running out of either.
The waiting game. Don't keep your guests waiting. If you're going to a location for photographs, make sure the guests staying behind are entertained. Everyone is attending the wedding to support you and your fiance so make sure that you're present and spending time with them.
Love in a temperate climate. Make sure that your guests are comfortable and not too hot or too cold to enjoy themselves.
Lighting is key. Effective lighting sets the stage for the atmosphere that you want to create. Lighting should be flattering and add warmth.
Music matters. Once all the formalities are over, everyone wants to kick their heels off and let their hair down. Get the music wrong and consider that the end of the party. Make sure that you give your DJ/band a requested playlist so that they get an idea of the music that you enjoy.
words Charity Wilson and Rebecca Matthews
Copyright WED Magazine 2012
