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.
Festive flowers
Q. How can we give our reception flowers a Christmassy vibe?
A. Jacqui Owen says: Christmas is truly magical and, like many couples, I love it! If you're after a festive vibe, draw inspiration from how you decorate your own home during the holiday season: the palette, style and scent. Take the elements you love and ask your floral designer to combine them for your special day to make it truly personalised to you.
I'd also suggest embracing seasonal florals such as berries, waxflowers, and lush foliage, which look amazing with candles or twinkly lights. This is the idea we went with for the wedding pictured. We layered the tables with drapes, foliage garlands, pea lights and candles to create the mood, keeping it cosy. The favours were dried lavender garlands with handmade clay stars, which guests could hang on their trees for years to come, remembering the special occasion.
If you get married at Christmas, it's important to consider the flower cost, as they're in demand at this time of year, so prices can increase significantly. It's also worth checking your venue's colour palette, and ensure it complements your chosen scheme. There's nothing worse than clashing styles.
Jacqui Owen, Jacqui O Flowers
www.jacquio.co.uk
As you wish
Q. I'd love an alternative to a fresh flower bouquet. What can you suggest?
A. Jane Taylor says: There are so many routes you can go down for your bouquet from artificial fabric flowers, dried florals, paper blooms, floral hoops and those made from an eclectic mix of quirky, cool elements. Some of my more elaborate bouquet designs have musical and light-up elements, such as an illuminated candelabra and flashing disco ball. I even have a bouquet that blows bubbles! Many of my clients come to me with very specific ideas and themes and by working closely with them, I'm able to create floral sculptures full of unique and individual elements that tell a visual story of their lives and love for each other.
Choosing non-fresh flowers also gives you the flexibility of being able to order blooms that may be out of season on your big day. It also allows you to select specific colours and gives you the further option of taking your bouquet with you should you wish to elope. Best of all, when the wedding is over you're left with a beautiful, everlasting, visual keepsake of your day, which can remain on permanent display
Jane Taylor, Maddison Rocks Floral Sculpture
www.etsy.com/shop/maddisonrocks
Springtime vibes
Q. We're having a springtime wedding with a relaxed vibe. How can we reflect our natural theme in our flowers?
A. Gemma Wakerley says: We love to use locally-sourced meadow-style flowers for an effortlessly elegant spring wedding. Think ranunculus, parrot tulip and anemones in pretty pastel hues or bright colours if you're feeling bold.
For a bridal bouquet we'd arrange stems into a loose, hand-tied arrangement with wild foliage, including asparagus fern and pittosporum tied with natural hessian ribbon. For brides wanting an even more effortless look, a simple hydrangea bouquet in fresh or vibrant tones with limited foliage may be your thing.
Arranging loose stems into mismatched jars at varying heights is an inexpensive way to decorate both the top and guest tables when dispersed with mixed foliage and pillar tables to add height. Incorporating dried elements too such as pampas, birch and pussy willow is an easy way of adding texture and drama to your décor.
For those with a larger budget, we love using lush foliage garlands to decorate tables, seating plans and even pew-ends. For colourful couples, adding filler flowers such as tanecetum is a simple and cheerful way of introducing some vibrance.
Gemma Wakerley, Booker Weddings
www.bookerweddings.co.uk
Bloomin' lovely
Q. I'm looking for an alternative to a fresh flower bouquet, what can you suggest?
A. Gemma Kathleen Roberts says: I create paper flowers and the great thing about them is that you can keep them long after your wedding. Plus, you don't need to worry about allergies, or having them die on you towards the end of the day. You can order them as early as you like so there's less to worry about and they bring a lovely aspect to your nuptials with so many different types of paper to choose from, including lightweight crepe and tissue paper, to newsprint, glitter, patterned and card stock. The options for customisation are practically endless. I can do any flower or theme you require, even blooms with photos of loved ones on them, so they're by your side for such an important occasion. We all have a specific reason for loving a certain flower, and I create them in paper all year round so they'll last no matter the temperature outside.
Gemma Kathleen Roberts, Paper Blossoms
paperblossoms.co.uk