In the start of a new series of Event Experts blogs focusing on weddings, we chat to Kathryn Parsons of Dream Wedding Dress* about some of the most popular looks in bridal wear at the moment. And lucky us, we got to rifle through the rails of her fabulous wedding dress shop in Canning Circus, Nottingham. So what’s hot in bridal wear in the summer of 2015?

1. The Unstructured Romantic Look

This look is all about soft fabrics, romance and movement. Unstructured dresses give an ethereal, graceful look. It’s a great style for those wanting a bohemian or vintage feel to their day. It’s high on romance and informal glamour.

‘Harlem’
Blue by Enzoani

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You’ve walked down the aisle; you’ve made your vows… so now it’s time to party! Thankfully, the days when starting a conga was the only choice open to you if you wanted some reception entertainment, are long gone. Now, with everything from mobile petting zoos to celebrity look-a-likes available for hire, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to keeping your guests entertained.

Photo reproduced by kind permission of Chris Ward Photography
www.chrisward-photography.co.uk

Start the party the second you’re pronounced man and wife, with a drinks reception with a difference. Book a mixologist for the day and you’ll not only get a bartender who knows his beverages, but a showman too. With their unique brand of bar-magic, professional ‘flair’ bartenders will ensure your guests’ drinks requirements – whether they’re Alabama Slammers, Cuba Libras or Blue Lagoons – are shaken, stirred, flipped and frothed into the glass. You can even commission your own one-of-a-kind wedding-themed cocktail to be specially made for the occasion.

A wedding just wouldn’t be a wedding without music, but why limit yourself to one option when there’s so much choice on offer. With everything from string quartets, solo guitarists, pianists, big bands and ukulele orchestras, to bagpipers, pop and rock tribute acts and of course DJs, there’s no reason why the musical flavours can’t change as the day progresses.

Give your guests a break from the selfies and hire a photo booth for the day. Funny faces, pouting, and bundling as many people as possible into the booth are all compulsory. It’s great fun, and the resulting photos make perfect take-home wedding souvenirs.

Quizzes and competitions are a brilliant way to break the ice and keep everyone entertained in the lulls between photos, drinks, food and dancing. And best of all, they don’t cost a thing.

Traditional fair games like Lucky Dip, Coconut Shy, Ball in a Bucket, Buzzwire, Hoopla, Darts and Hook-a-Duck provide hours of fun for all ages. But if you’re looking for more of high-stakes thrill, then why not book a Las Vegas-style casino (albeit a fake-money one you can’t lose your house on when you’ve had one Cosmopolitan too many).

When it comes to keeping children happy at a wedding, it pays to think carefully about your audience, because entertaining a preschooler requires something very different to entertaining a pre-teen. Balloon modelling, magicians and even mobile petting zoos are all great choices for young children. As are activities that let them burn off energy in between the sitting-down and keeping-still parts of the day. Activities such as bouncy castles, inflatable slides and ball pools are always popular choices, but strike a cautionary note and enlist an adult to supervise the activities. A trip to A&E might be entertaining, but probably not in the way you intended.

A scavenger hunt is a fabulous way to keep older children entertained. Give them disposable cameras and a list of objects they have to find and photograph, or design an activity pack for them with tasks such as ‘Draw the wedding cake’ or questions to find out the answers to, such as ‘Who are the oldest and youngest people at the wedding?’ Keep a bag of small prizes handy to reward children who complete the activities.

A craft table with trinket boxes to decorate, stickers, ribbons and sequins will be a winner with children of all ages, and will keep them busy for hours, as will garden games like skittles, giant Connect4, giant snakes and ladders, giant dominoes, pick-up sticks and Jenga which have the added bonus of being easy to bring inside should the weather take a turn for the worse.

Outdoor games are great for adults too, and if you have guests who are game for a laugh (and don’t mind messing up their wedding hair) then you can’t beat inflatable sumo wrestling or inflatable pole jousting for proper grown-up belly laughs.

If it’s something more sedate, but still guaranteed to raise a smile, that you’re after, then why not consider a caricaturist or table magician?

You can’t fail to put a smile on the faces of guests both young and old with sweet treat entertainment. Chocolate fountains, an ice-cream van and traditional handcarts hired for the day serving candy floss, popcorn, and retro sweets not only look fabulous, but are just the thing when the post-Wedding-Breakfast-munchies set in.

Photo reproduced by kind permission of Chris Ward Photography
www.chrisward-photography.co.uk

And if you have fine weather and a clear sky, why not scatter some cushions, rugs and beanbags on the ground outside, provide a few maps of the night sky for guests to use, and invite everyone to partake in a spot of stargazing. It’s completely free, and what could be more romantic than lying out on the lawn looking at up the stars, at the end of your first day as husband and wife.

For more entertainment ideas, and a list of recommended suppliers, take a peek at our Services and Hire page.

Spring – what a great time to get married! Signs of new life are all around, and with lighter evenings and warmer weather making a welcome return, who’s not in the mood for a party! So to kick off the celebrations, we’re bringing you some of our favourite springtime wedding style statements and a few seasonal essentials.

Photo by kind permission of Mirror Imaging Photography
http://www.mirrorimagingweddings.com/

Fun Footwear

Splash out and treat yourself to a pair of wedding wellies. That way, when those pesky April showers show up, you’ll be free to run and jump in as many puddles as you like without fear of the resulting leaky Laboutins. Because, let’s face it, no bride wants to squelch her way down the aisle. And with wellies now coming in every conceivable colour and design, they make a practical, fun and cute alternative to traditional bridal and bridesmaid shoes.

‘Ivory Wedding Wellies with Ribbon’
By TheWellyShop.com
Photo by kind permission of TheWellyShop.com
http://www.thewellyshop.com/Wellies/Wedding-Wellies/

Bridal Showers

Worrying about what the weather’s going to do is such a snooze, so why not take a different approach and embrace it in all its unpredictable glory?

Personalised white umbrellas for the wedding party make a great take-home gift for your attendants, whilst brolly-themed stationery, shaped soap favours, umbrella table centrepieces and of course, cocktail parasols in your reception drinks are a fun way to make a theme of the great British weather. There are plenty of companies who will hire out umbrellas for your guests to use too, so no-one need worry about getting a soaking. And who knows, you might get lucky and actually get rain on your big day!

‘Splash Love “Keep Calm It’s Only a Wedding” Umbrella’
By The Umbrella Shop
Photo by kind permission of The Umbrella Shop
http://www.theumbrellashop.co.uk/

‘Blue Beach Umbrella Favour’
By Bubble City Soap
Photo by kind permission of Bubble City Soap
https://www.etsy.com/listing/205351807/blue-beach-umbrella-favor-50-umbrela

‘Yellow Lace Cocktail Umbrellas’

By Tray Chic Party

Photo by kind permission of Tray Chic Party

https://www.etsy.com/listing/225102958/yellow-lace-cocktail-umbrellas-drink

Fresh as a Daisy

Make the most of the abundance of beautiful blooms this time of year and fill your day with floristry. Fresh flowers in the bride’s hair and floral headbands for bridesmaids are an inexpensive way to give the day a just-picked feel. And garlands of greenery and foliage rather than stems of more costly flowers can also help bring the countryside in without breaking the budget. Or why not incorporate floral and patterned elements into your fabric choices for a more whimsical and ultra-modern feel.

Cherry blossom pinks, vibrant yellows and cornflower blues look particularly fresh this time of year, but if you’re taking inspiration from the natural springtime colour palette, there’s no right or wrongs when it comes to colour choices.

‘Printable Yellow Daisy Wedding Invitations’
By 3 Eggs Design
Photos by kind permission of 3 Eggs Design
http://3eggsdesign.com/

Photos reproduced by kind permission of http://www.chrisward-photography.co.uk/

‘Printable Spring Flower Wedding Invitation’
By 3 Eggs Design
http://3eggsdesign.com/

‘Country Style Confetti Cones’

By Confetti Cone Company
https://www.etsy.com/listing/217029651/country-style-confetti-cones-pack-of-5

Photo by kind permission of Chris Ward Photography
http://www.chrisward-photography.co.uk/weddingphotography

Butterflies

The butterfly theme is a classic, but its appeal endures for good reason. It’s romantic, feminine, and light as air, making it the perfect motif for spring and summer weddings. There are plenty of ways to give the theme a modern twist, from butterfly-shaped literary confetti (see below), to butterfly bunting and hanging butterfly centrepieces. This is a theme you can absolutely make your own.

‘Butterfly Diecut Literary Confetti’

By Inside My Nest
Photo by kind permission of Inside My Nest
https://www.etsy.com/listing/157092493/500-literary-confetti-vintage-wedding

‘Butterfly Cupcakes’
By The Organic Wedding Cake Company

Photo by kind permission of The Organic Wedding Cake Company
http://www.theorganicweddingcakecompany.com/

‘Purple Buttons and Butterflies’
By The Organic Wedding Cake Company

Photo by kind permission of The Organic Wedding Cake Company
http://www.theorganicweddingcakecompany.com/

‘Butterfly Custom “Save The Date” Wedding Stamp’
By Clarise Stamps
Photo by kind permission of Clarise Stamps
https://www.etsy.com/listing/226685847/butterfly-custom-wedding-stamp-save-the

‘Butterfly Save the Date Magnets’

By Wedding Save The Dates

Photo by kind permission of Wedding Save The Dates
https://www.etsy.com/listing/159135574/butterfly-design-save-the-date-magnets-x

Complimentary Candies

For real springtime quirky cuteness, choose bridesmaid dresses, favours and table and venue decorations in contrasting, complimentary pastel colours. From blush pink, to mint green, these candy colours are pretty sweet on their own, but placed side by side they positively fizz. And who doesn’t want fizz on their wedding day?

‘Striped Candy Cones’
By The Confetti Cone Company
Photo by kind permission of The Confetti Cone Company
https://www.etsy.com/listing/161114280/striped-candy-cones-pack-of-5

Image courtesy of nuchylee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

‘Candy Flower Girl Bouquet / Candy Bar Decoration’
By Pretty Little Bouquets
Photo by Kind Permission of Pretty Little Bouquets
https://www.etsy.com/listing/228073678/candy-bouquet-flower-girl-bouquet-candy

Spring Greens

Nothing says timeless spring elegance like cream and green. Floral arrangements of hydrangeas, lilies, peonies, guelder roses and gypsophilia all give a soft focus to this classic, clean combination.

‘Green Hydrangea Petal Confetti’

By Confetti Cone Company
Photo by kind permission of Confetti Cone Company
https://www.etsy.com/listing/162087762/green-hydrangea-petals-1-litre-natural

‘Quills’
By The Organic Wedding Cake Company

Photo by kind permission of The Organic Wedding Cake Company
http://www.theorganicweddingcakecompany.com/

Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

‘Printable Thumbprint Tree Guest Book’
By 3 Eggs Design
Photo by kind permission of 3 Eggs Design
http://3eggsdesign.com/

Spring is here and there’s no better time to start planning a wedding! To celebrate, we’ve picked out some of this year’s hottest wedding trends. From catwalk gowns to inspirational venue decoration, here’s a round-up of the key looks for 2015.

• Colours are set to play more of a role in 2015 than they have in recent years. Time for blush pink to move aside and make way for the arrival of the metallics, blues, greys and greens – all set to be huge in 2015.

Photo reproduced by kind permission of Mirror Imaging Photography
http://www.mirrorimagingweddings.com

2. Boho-Luxe. Think Poppy Delevigne’s Moroccan nuptuals, elegant open air chill-out areas, hay fields, barn weddings, teepees, bright colours, VW camper vans, floaty fabrics and an abundance of blooms and quirky touches – the luxe-hippie vibe is set to rule this year. With less of a rustic feel than previous years’ festival-style weddings, boho-luxe is all about relaxed glamour.

‘Moonlight’ Bohemian Luxe Silk Flower Crown
‘Bacall’ Ivory Blush Luxe Bohemian Wedding Gown
Both by Gibson Bespoke
http://gibsonbespoke.co.uk/
Photos reproduced by kind permission of Gibson Bespoke

3. If the hippie-luxe vibe isn’t your thing, then maybe Modern Minimalism Sleek, clean lines and an absence of bling mark out this year’s most beautifully-unfussy dresses as seen on the catwalks of Amsale, Houghton Bride and Vera Wang.

4. Dropped Waist and Lace Wedding Dresses. Elaborate, sexy backs were the star of the 2015 bridal catwalks collections. From Marchesa to Monique Lhuillier, lace and dropped waists are dominating bridal wear this year. Carry the theme through with lace-wrapped favours, napkin rings, lacy candle centrepieces and a lace-inspired cake design.

Photo by kind permission of Chris Ward Photography

www.chrisward-photography.co.uk

‘Tea Coloured Vintage Table Numbers’ By Treasured In Time
Photo by kind permission of Treasured In Time
https://www.etsy.com/listing/211849061/round-mirrored-bling-centerpiececake

Photo by kind permission of Chris Ward Photography
www.chrisward-photography.co.uk

‘Vintage Buffet / Candy Table Labels’ By Treasured In Time
Photo by kind permission of Treasured In Time
https://www.etsy.com/listing/185079817/vintage-buffet-labels-vintage-candy-bar

5. The Tropics. Bring guaranteed sunshine to your big day with a taste of the tropics. From palm trees to pineapples, tropical motifs are everywhere this year. And the bright colour palate it demands is a great way to add a splash of frivolity and fun to the wedding. Go on, pour us a piña colada!

‘Tiki Pineapple Charm’ by Cherry Kamikaze
Photo by kind permission of Cherry Kamikaze
https://www.etsy.com/listing/218742125/cherry-kamikaze-tiki-pineapple-charm

• The Art Deco theme is set to remain a big inspiration in 2015. And it’s not hard to see why. With its opulence and easy elegance, this theme is feminine yet sophisticated. Soaring champagne towers, dapper gents in tux and white dinner jackets , beaded drop-waisted column dresses, feathered headbands, gilded venue decoration, strings of pearls and emerald-cut diamonds, monogrammed stationery, geometric shapes and lots of sparkle… there’s plenty of ways to add Jay Gatsby style to the party. This is refined glamour from a golden era and it’s no surprise it continues to inspire couples.

‘The Charleston’ Gatsy Wedding Invtitations by merrymint
Photo by kind permission of merrymint
https://www.etsy.com/listing/151174845/the-charleston-gatsby-wedding

‘Gold Glittered Wine Bottles with Peal Necklaces’ by babyboutins
Photo by kind permission of babyboutins
https://www.etsy.com/listing/214694937/art-deco-roaring-twenties-vintage-great

Throw a real Jay Gatsby-style party with fireworks & confetti cannons

Picture from www.galaxy-fireworks.co.uk & Orchardleigh in Frome

‘Round Rhinestone & Mirrored Centrepiece’ by babyboutins
Photo by kind permission of babyboutins
https://www.etsy.com/listing/211849061/round-mirrored-bling-centerpiececake

‘Ishtar’ Crystal Silk Organza Headpiece
by Gibson Bespoke
http://gibsonbespoke.co.uk/

Watercolours. Colour-wash stationery and tonal dresses and flowers, whether they’re in soft pastels or bright hues, are big news in 2015. And given that the elegant theme works just as well for casual beachside vows as it does for a big formal affair, it’s a theme you can incorporate whatever your scale and setting.

‘The Wild Meadow Collection’ by The Little Blue Brush – Photo by kind permission of The Little Blue Brush

https://www.etsy.com/listing/223242167/thewildmeadow-collection-luxury-handmade

‘Cyan Splash Watercolour Invitation’ by The Little Blue Brush
Photo by kind permission of The Little Blue Brush
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225660646/cyan-splash-watercolour-invitation

7. Sequins. Stay on trend and inject some mega-watt glamour into your day with an explosion of sequins. With plenty of glittering wedding and bridesmaid dresses, luxurious embellished chair covers, table linens, clutch bags and shoes around this year, there’s never been a better time to plan a wedding with sparkle!

‘Bacall’ Champagne Gold Old Hollywood Gown
‘Lujon’ Art Deco Crystal Headpiece
Both by Gibson Bespoke
http://gibsonbespoke.co.uk/

‘Bacall’ Champagne Gold Old Hollywood Gown
by Gibson Bespoke
http://gibsonbespoke.co.uk/

Photo reproduced by kind permission of Mirror Imaging Photography

http://www.mirrorimagingweddings.com/