When faced with the initial blank canvas that is your venue you may view it in one of two ways: with total panic or giddy excitement. In which case, you'll either be in need of inspiration or focus so we chatted to Annabel from Butterflies & Bows (www.butterfliesandbows.co.uk) who was kind enough to share her expertise on the matter particularly when it comes to making the most of your wedding flowers. Check out her top tips for creating a veritable wedding wonderland with wow factor.
A luxurious floral, romantic look is on trend at the moment and that's looking set to continue for 2022. Think plenty of soft, romantic floral arrangements and decorations but with a luxurious twist. Soft pinks, pale mint green and ivory whites are popular, but this style can work with any colour palette.
THE CEREMONY SPACE
For the ceremony, floral pew ends rather than bows are the way forward. Gypsophilia and smaller, delicate flowers are perfect, paired with a lace or satin bow. These work equally well whether they're tied to each pew end or alternate.
Large pedestal arrangements with a voluminous ceremony table display at the front of the room really creates the wow factor – a real focal point! With lots of flowers and greenery trails from the stands, these can also be used for the reception room after the "I dos." I'd use the same flowers in the pedestals as in the ceremony and top table flower arrangements with lots of blooms and greenery tumbling down the front of the table.
To add some extra flair, have an arch at the entrance of the aisle. These really decorate the room and add interest to spaces that maybe have less character. The arch could then be used behind the top table during the reception or placed as a photo backdrop allowing your guests to snap some selfies in front of it.
Soft luminous drapes with flowers on the front work beautifully at al fresco gazebo weddings, with blossom trees and pedestal flowers.
THE RECEPTION ROOM
Tall centrepieces add a touch of drama to any room as they have height they immediately decorate the whole room as well as the tables. Martini vases are still very popular for table centres or tall wider vases with a ball style display. I'd recommend blooms such as roses, hydrangeas and gypsophilia mixed in with varying degrees of greenery. To add a more luxurious feel, set on a mirror plate with crystals and lights, and pearl or diamonte strings delicately hanging from the vases or around the stem of the vase.
Decorate any features in the venue. Think garlands or luxurious material swags for arches, fireplaces, bannisters, railings, poles. Use fresh greenery or greenery with flowers, alternatively, high quality artificial garlands are an option to keep that budget in check! And don’t forget the power of balloons! Modern sculpted styles will work in any venue or large round single helium balloons always make a real impact.
Sparkling fairylight backdrops, ceiling drapes, window drapes, and column drapes with greenery or lights transform simple spaces into opulent venues. Strings of LED lights wound around railings, bannisters, fireplaces, columns and outside trees and shrubs are VERY popular for next year and are ideal for illuminating darker areas and enhance all areas after nightfall. Also for the darker months, uplighters also cast a wonderful hue of light up walls and room features, or illuminate the outside of the buildings at night.
Chair décor, such as lace vertical drapes are beautiful and immediately transform Chivali chairs into something very special. If your venue has older conference chairs, covers with a sash will immediately transform the room.
THE LAST WORD
So think about every aspect of the day: ceremony, reception and evening dance and all the areas within your venue. Reuse items from the ceremony in the reception to keep an eye on that budget and think larger displays, with added details such as drapes, lights, hints of pearls, diamontes and lace to really wow your guests.
Port Lympne's wedding show is in September - hosted by County Wedding Events!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Port Lympne, in Kent, for inspiration on Sunday 13th September 2026 - 11pm - 3pm! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.
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Chiddingstone Castle Wedding Show hosted by County Wedding Events
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The British Wedding Tradition Most Guests Never Question
Most wedding guests have heard the phrase "wedding breakfast", but very few stop to question it. After all, the meal is rarely served in the morning. It usually comes after the ceremony, often in the afternoon, and can involve anything from a formal three-course dinner to sharing boards, canapes, grazing tables and dessert stations. So why do we still call it a breakfast? According to Nick from Country House Weddings, the answer goes back centuries and is tied to religion, fasting and the way weddings were once celebrated in Britain. Breaking A Very Specific Fast The word "breakfast" does not originally mean a morning meal. It simply means breaking a fast.
