Question 1

What is your advice for planning an outdoor wedding?

Accepted Answer

When you're tying the knot al fresco, make sure everyone's adequately informed in good time. When you send out your invitations be clear on which parts of your day will be celebrated outside, or indeed all of it, so that guests know to make their own arrangements in terms of attire and protection. Keep an open line of communication with your suppliers too, and collaborate with them on wet-weather backup plans. For example, at which point will you be prepared to make the decision to take it all inside? Who is going to be responsible for moving the whole shebang? Check on the access to your venue. If you're tying the knot in a field, are there accessible roads and paths? If not, have a think about how you can overcome these challenges for your guests. Perhaps you need to lay on extra transport. Sound has a tendency to drift away in the open air, so make sure you have all the tech in place to ensure everyone can hear you as you say "I do." You'll also need to check with the venue whether there are any restrictions on late-night music, as you don't want to be disturbing the local wildlife or residents! Also on the tech front, do you have all of the creature comforts in place such as loos and generators? Have a think about what cover you want to provide for you and your guests. This is, of course, crucial for the comfort of all, not only in terms of wet weather protection, but also from the sun – we've had some scorchers in recent years. Once you've settled on a vibe for your nuptials, this should all become clear. An elegant, lined marquee is ideal for a classic wedding, whereas a tipi is the prefect choice for a boho or rustic vibe. Finally, why not make a weekend of it and invite your guests to camp? Better still if you've chosen an al fresco venue with on-site bell tent glamping facilities!

Question 2

How can we make sure our big day is as sustainable as it can be?

Accepted Answer

Planning a sustainable wedding in no way means being 100 per cent environmentally friendly – that would be impossible. However, there are many ways you can be sustainably conscious when starting out on your planning journey. Sadly, I've witnessed so much unnecessary waste go into landfill from within the events sector over the years, so I'd like to share a few ways of reducing that and encouraging you to be aware of where and who you're hiring from. Firstly, try to find suppliers who are local to your venue. This is a great way of keeping your carbon footprint down. There's a huge collection of wedding suppliers on Instagram, it's a great place to start, but be sure to get a feel for their ethos. With caterers for example, ask where their produce is sourced from, if locally from farms holding the Red Tractor logo then you know you're onto a winner! Try to find a florist who has connections with their local flower farms. Weddings displaying our great British flowers are some of the best in my opinion! Try to avoid blooms that are flown in. There are also some amazing confetti farms in the UK, by purchasing your confetti from these businesses not only are you supporting the domestic farming industry but also our amazing, bird and insect colonies. Ditch disposable tableware and hire yours from a reputable company. Avoid plastics and bamboo plates etc, don't be fooled into thinking they can be recycled, as not all can. Hiring them ensures each item will be used and enjoyed time and time again with nothing being discarded. Lastly, if you're looking for an outdoor wedding venue look for one that doesn't host back-to-back weddings. You may need to book further in advance for this but by offering fewer dates each year the land has time to recuperate between each event and the wildlife and surroundings are less disturbed. If we all do a bit, we can make a big difference.

Question 3

What's hot in the world of weddings this year?

Accepted Answer

With 2022 being the biggest wedding season on record, with an estimated two-and-a-half million weddings set to take place, according to The Wedding Report, here's all you need to know about the current trends... The Pantone colour for 2022 is a shade of blue with violet undertones called Very Peri. When using a bold hue such as this in your wedding palette just add hints of it and pair it with other similar tones. Be sure to keep neutral undertones to your floral palettes, such as white, to ensure they complement the main colour. Anemones are one of the most popular flowers requested this season, with ranunculas, lisianthus and garden roses close behind, all of which can be sourced from local flower farms. We're also seeing filler flowers becoming popular with snapdragons, Queen Anne's lace and wax flowers. Short hemlines are doing the rounds again, with 2022 expecting to see a large increase in these wedding dress designs. The many city-based nuptials taking place seem to be the reason behind their popularity as a little white dress is perfectly suited for a luxury town hall wedding. Big puff sleeves are also popular with brides opting for this modern style. With weekend dates being booked up, weekday weddings have seen a surge in popularity. Couples are desperate to stop delaying their plans any further and are opting for midweek celebrations to ensure they can go ahead this year. Couples are always looking for new ways to stand out and unusual reception table layouts are being requested to make things more modern. Many planners and stylists created some unique floorplans to keep guests socially distanced during last year's restrictions and as a result we're seeing S-shaped tables becoming a popular choice, as well as square and U-shaped layouts.

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