2019 Wedding Predictions by Wild Wedding Company

Excitingly though, a new year brings new trends and ideas and the wedding industry is no different. Wild Wedding Company definitely believe your wedding should be a true reflection of you as a couple and as wedding planners and stylists, that’s our main aim. That said we still find it fun to predict what’s hot and what’s not in the year ahead!

Eco Weddings

This a trend we’re really pleased to see on the rise. Last year we explored how couples can make their wedding day more eco-friendly, something so many of us are conscious of. Check out our eco-friendly photo shoot at the beautiful Tournerbury Woods for tips on how to reduce the impact your wedding has on the environment. Consider alternatives to cut flowers or locally sourced suppliers and ingredients.

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Recycled paper invites by Daisy Dots. Paper bouquet by Petal & Bird. Image by James White Photography.

Colour

We’re seeing lots of colour and lots of it. Pantone has announced that 2019’s colour of the year is Living Coral, a fantastically sunny colour, perfect for those summer weddings. Navy, grey and blush pink continue to be popular, but brides are embracing the chance to add brighter pops of colour throughout their day. Use mixtures of colourful blooms or bright cakes. Whether you choose Pantones colour or another, don’t be afraid to be bold.

Outdoors In

Whilst there is more colour around in florals, the trend of greenery remains at large. A great way to allow colour to shine or to create a more opulent look. Greenery also enables dramatic floral installations from wreaths and hoops to arches and moon gates these can add a real wow factor. Grasses, seeds, fruit and even vegetables are all on the rise. Couples are seeking alternatives, often choosing a more natural, textured bouquet to previously traditional shapes and styles.

wedding planning hampshire alternative vegetable wedding bouquet

Alternative wedding bouquet. Image credit - Maddie Waters Photography

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Metallic monogram wedding cake

Opulent Cakes

We’re moving away from the naked and semi-naked trends of the last few years and more opulent cakes are on the rise (pardon the pun!). Style driven cakes with unique flavours are now being favoured. Metallics, monograms, hand painted and palette painted cakes are all popular. Sugar work professionals can create amazingly lifelike flowers that taste even better!

Wedding Dresses

2018 saw two huge Royal weddings in the UK with Megan and Eugenie’s dresses being the subject of much speculation before and after. However, both echoed a similar theme in that they had chosen simpler designs. The key to this trend is to ensure the dress is well tailored. When a dress is clean and simple, the silhouette must accentuate and be the right style for your figure. Lace is also trending, but not the net curtain style! Fantastically suited to the boho and beach style of weddings, lace dresses are much lighter and romantic than they used to be with long flowing lines. Veils however, have increased in size with styles that seemingly go on forever and make a real statement.

Breaking Tradition

Another one we love at Wild Wedding Company. Couples are no longer following set timings and formulas for their wedding days. From speeches before dinner, during dinner, led by the bride or even no speeches at all, couples have realised they can create their day, their way. Brides and grooms are increasingly choosing their bridal party by friendship over gender as we see an increase in ‘bridesmen’ and ‘best maids’. There’s also been a move towards more bridal suits not only for the bridal party but even for the brides, we say go for it!

Rustic Elegance

While the rustic trend has been around for a while now, it’s set to remain popular. 2019 will see it evolve as couples continue to look for rustic venues such as barns, but with the bare, minimal look they can truly put their own stamp on. Bare brickwork and beams can be adorned with statement florals or simply dressed with candles creating a rich but cosy atmosphere. Industrial venues also remain desirable. Using rustic decor such as wooden tables can give these venues warmth and a relaxed feel. The use of trestle tables instead of round tables can also create a more intimate setting, with low florals making them an easy way for guests to chat over their meal.

Wild Wedding Company. eco photoshoot at Tournerbury Woods. Image by James White Photography.

Outdoor Weddings

Tipi’s and marquees remain firm favourites for those seeking an outdoor wedding. After 2018's amazingly hot summer its not surprise lots of couples continue to celebrate their ‘I do’s’ surrounded by nature. Creating a blank canvas these are a great option for those who want to add their own style. The use of a celebrant means couples can hold their entire day in one venue uniquely created for them.

Whether you choose to incorporate several or none of the above, we still truly believe your wedding should be a reflection of you both as a couple. Don’t be afraid to be traditional or break the mold with your ideas. Either way, we’d love to hear more about them so get in touch and find out more about how we can help with planning or the styling and dressing of your venue.

Choosing your wedding dress

Choosing your wedding dress

It's probably one of the most important dresses you’ll ever choose, but how do you make that choice? We’ve compiled a list of tips to consider when you start looking right through to making that final choice.

1. Choose your venue

First and foremost, fix your date and venue. You may have a relaxed, boho style dress in mind, but if you choose a winter wedding in a stately home, a floaty, whimsical number might not fit. Equally, hay bales may not mix with lots of jewels and glamour! Once you know the ‘feel’ of your wedding, you’ll know the style of dress that will work with it.

Montana by Jenny Packham

2. Budget

Once you know style of wedding you’ll be having, the second thing to do is set a budget for your dress. Always, always do this before you go shopping. It’s so easy to let your mind run away with you once you see all the dresses in front of you. Know your budget be that £500 or £5000, but ensure you stick to it. It’s so typical to fall in love with something that is out of your price range if you look at everything in the shop. If you have a strict limit ask your bridal consultant to only show you styles that fit that price bracket. If you blow your budget on the dress, you’ll have to scale back somewhere else. For example, adding £500 to your dress budget could be the difference between inviting another 5 guests, or the photographer you desperately wanted.

3. Start early but not too early

The ideal time to start looking for a dress is around a year before your wedding. It is of course possible to find a dress in a shorter time scale, especially with more high street designers now offering dresses to buy ‘off the peg’. Most wedding dress designers however, like to allow around 6-9 months for a dress to be ordered, created, delivered and fitted.

Anna Bridal Couture, Ringwood

4. Bridal Boutiques

While you could just book appointments at all your local bridal boutiques its worthwhile looking them up online to see what designers they stock. You may not like any of the styles or they may all be out of your budget, in which case you’re wasting the boutiques and your time. Most boutiques will require you book an appointment. Due to a growing trend of brides trying dresses on in boutique and then buying copies online, many boutiques are now charging for appointment times. Don’t be put off by this aspect. Most will allow you to redeem your appointment fee against a purchase, some even refund it when you keep your appointment.

5. Boutique alternatives

Where to buy is a totally personal decision. High street shops offer some amazing wedding dresses nowadays and if you’re on a lower budget these are often more affordable. You also have the bonus of being able to order and receive your dress much more quickly than ordering a designer dress. You’ll usually still need to have your dress fitted to you though so factor in time for this. Likewise buying a dress second hand can save you a lot of money. Oxfam sell wedding dresses at a fraction of their original price as do many online selling sites, meaning you could still get a designer dress. Bare in mind these dresses may have been fitted to their original bride so there may not be much flexibility left in the fabric for further fittings. If you buy direct online, your dress will typically be much cheaper than a boutique, but for a reason. Often these dresses are poorly made and from cheaper fabrics. Some brides are lucky, but decide if that’s a risk you’re willing to take.

6. Entourage

Wedding dress shopping can be a great bonding experience. Sharing that moment when you find your dress with your nearest and dearest can be really special. That said, don’t take too many people. Too many voices can mean too many opinions, making your decisions harder rather than easier. There is also the chance you’ll end up choosing a dress because you’ve persuaded it’s the one and want to keep everyone happy.

7. Keep an open mind

Most brides go with a style in mind before they start looking. Often though many women say the dress they actually bought was nothing like the one they imagined initially. Always keep your mind open to trying on any style and listen to the advice of your bridal shop. It’s their job to advise on styles so don’t be afraid to ask especially if there’s a bit of you e.g. your arms, you want to cover up.

Jesus Peiro - style 8010

8. Be practical

Linked to choosing your venue, practicality may not be high up on your wish list for a wedding dress. However, we’re not talking about going for a wipe clean dress practicality! We mean think about how your day will play out. Does your venue have lots of steps, if so how will you manage those in that figure hugging fishtail style? If your church has a narrow aisle, will your ballgown dress make for a very elegant entrance? Getting married on a beach, maybe best not to choose a full skirted dress with sleeves? Think about the fabric too, will the dress become too heavy as the day goes on or the use of synthetic fabrics can feel hot and uncomfortable. You’ll be wearing your dress for 10 hours plus on the day so ensure its practical to do so.

9. Underwear and accessories

You won’t know what underwear you’ll need until you’ve bought your actual dress, but you still need to think about it before you buy. When dress shopping wear white or nude underwear, preferably with a strapless bra. That way you should be able to try on most styles without being distracted by the black bra straps peeking through. Equally if you know you want to wear that heirloom necklace or have already chosen your wedding shoes take them with you to check they are going to work with the style you choose. Planning on having a veil, ask the shop to let you try one on with your dress. Even if its not the veil you’ll be wearing it will give you an idea of whether or not it will work with the style you’re choosing.

10. Remember to sit down

This might sound silly, but is something often overlooked when you are busy twirling around in ‘the one’. However, remember you’ll most likely spend an hour or two sat down in your dress for your wedding breakfast, so check that you actually can sit down. Corset style dresses with boning definitely offer the sleeker silhouette but can feel quite restrictive when sitting. Also remember if you’ll be kneeling in church, practise in advance. Likewise check you can lift your arms for that all important first dance without your dress slipping down and revealing too much!

11. The one

Having been bridal shopping for my own wedding I waited for the wow moment to come when I found ‘the one’. For me though, whilst I loved my dress (and still do) I don’t think I felt that moment. This was something that played on my mind constantly in the lead up to my wedding once I’d purchased my dress. However, since confessing that to other brides, many of them have admitted to me that they didn’t actually feel ‘that moment’ either. For some there will be no question when they try on a particular dress, it has to be that dress. But don’t panic if you’re not reduced to floods of tears when you make your final decision. If you’re comfortable, feel beautiful and can see yourself walking down the aisle in that dress, you’ve probably found it. When I wore my dress on my wedding day and saw my husbands face when he saw it for the first time, that was when I knew I’d picked the one – both the dress and the other half!

Final tip - make sure it’s you.

Yes, your wedding dress is the opportunity to buy a dress you wouldn’t usually wear but make sure it’s still a reflection of you. When you look back on your wedding photos in 20 years time, you want to be sure you’ll still love your dress and how it made you feel.