Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Cheshire & Merseyside 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@yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
On paper
Q. We're trying to choose our wedding stationery – what styles and designs are set to be popular in 2022? Are there any big trends we should watch out for?
A. Ling Warlow says: 2022 will be an interesting year in terms of wedding stationery and styling! Key trends that emerged early 2020 are still popular, such as the vogue for foliage, especially in the form of laurels, wreaths and watercolour illustrations, but there are also new directions to look out for. My top three trends for this year are minimal styling, dark florals and all things celestial.
Minimal styling invitations use the bare minimum of words, very simple designs focussing on quality card stock and different coloured or textured inserts for information cards. For example, an invitation with a white card and green text; several different greens used on the insert and a contrasting liner for the envelope. This can be enhanced using foil or letterpress for the print – simple, neat and oh-so stylish.
Gorgeous dramatic, dark floral designs involve deep, rich colours against a complementary background. Jewel tones and detailed fonts with interesting swashes and ligatures bringing the text to life. If you know my work, you'll know I have a special interest in anything floral, and I love this style! Florals can be illustrative or photographed, either way, the deeper, darker and richer the colours, the better. This for me is the new bohemian direction.
Lastly, there's a definite trend for all things celestial emerging. Think starry nights, cosmic connections, astrological symbols, the night sky on the day you met – all wonderful ways of creating a fabulously timeless and effortlessly personal design.
There's so much to choose from! I haven't even touched on the trend for colouring, which I personally love – splashes of paint, roughly coloured borders, real fun and great for a DIY stationery vibe. Whatever your palette and carefully chosen theme, this season you're certain to find something that suits.
Ling Warlow, Paper by Dragonfly
www.paperbydragonfly.com
Cosy hues
Q. We'd like a stationery suite to complement our autumn theme, but are keen to avoid the orange-led colour palette one might traditionally associate with the season. What would you suggest?
A. Natalie Burrows says: When I think of autumn, I think of all the rich earthy colours that reflect nature and the environment around us at the time. I like to use soft textures and natural tones. Mustard, rusty reds, deep oranges and golds all complement each other perfectly. I really love a gold- or copper- foiled suite with rich colour accents, dark navy, rich plums and deep teals.
This season is a time of slowing down after a busy year when the evenings start to draw in and we crave cosiness. I like to reflect what autumn means to me in my designs and you should do the same, as your inspiration may be totally different to mine. You do you!
Natalie Burrows, Jellypress
www.jellypress.co.uk
Don't forget!
Q. Would you recommend sending out save-the-dates and why? We can't decide if they're necessary.
A. Ling Warlow says: In all honesty, I don't always recommend save-the-date cards. But, don't get me wrong, they are a fun way to set the scene and get the buzz going around your big day. I always advise sending them out at least a year in advance, and they're especially important when you're planning to get married around a significant date such as Christmas, New Year, or in the middle of a busy holiday period. Many people book their vacations a year in advance and you don't want your nearest and dearest to miss your celebration.
I also think they're super-useful if you have a lot of guests travelling significant distances, as they'll probably appreciate the heads up so they can book accommodation – hotels often offer better rates for early bookings. So, there are times when save-the-dates are a good idea, but you will need to consider your date and circumstances as they're not always essential.
My top tip? Make them work for you. Why not include a list of local accommodation to make planning their stay easier for your guests? Make them easy to display too, after all, they're there to ensure people remember. Fridge magnets and stickers are fantastic ideas.
Ling Warlow, Dragonfly Couture Stationery
www.dragonflycouturestationery.com
On paper
Q. How can we tailor our stationery to suit our barn venue rustic theme?
A. Ling Warlow says: I love to take inspiration from the venue, it's always a great way of tying everything together. While it's lovely to have a colour to bind your theme, I love it when the stationery is used to bring an extra element into the decor on the day, and I often do this using illustration. I also love to use materials which reflect the venue, and the rustic barn styling is perfect for this.
For example, the venue's alpacas were the inspiration for the stationery pictured and I emphasised the rustic theme using natural twine, hessian wraps, wood-grain papers and kraft envelopes. All items were printed on a nice quality 100 per cent recycled board and the autumnal colours referenced the time of year. Like the contrast between the wedding decor and a barn venue's walls, I like the unusual twist of adding crystals to kraft board. It's reminiscent of fairylights twinkling against a rough wall.
My overall advice though would be to keep it simple and keep it green.
Ling Warlow, Dragonfly Couture Stationery
www.paperbydragonfly.com