An Essex Wedding - January/February 2022 (Issue 102)

INTIMATE/MICRO Yes the pandemic meant couples had to get ruthless with a figurative pair of scissors and chop their guest numbers in half (or less!), however, many witnesses to this, and soon-to-be weds themselves, actually realised how beautiful smaller weddings can be: quality over quantity! Luxury flowers, indulgent food choices, extra décor and awesome entertainment were all a result of smaller numbers but the same budget. Couples are wanting to spend more on the things they love and the people they love most. With intimate weddings on the increase, couples will look for extra ways to impress and spoil their guests with great food and drink, extra gifts, luxury table settings and favours, and enjoy the wedding over multiple days. Similarly, with smaller guest lists in luxury venue means you can get creative with your table layouts, 10 round tables of 10 – how boring! Unconventional table plans and room layouts look picture-perfect in wedding snaps, and give guests a true sense of an alternative event. Square table groupings, infinity shapes, U-shape, T-shape, X-shaped, long tables, single-length dining tables and double-width long tables – these unusual layouts give your dining space a unique contemporary feel. COLOUR After booking the wedding venue you’re, more than likely, then to decide on a theme/colour scheme. The venue setting itself may inspire this, perhaps regal blue in a Georgin-style manor reflective of the afformentiond Bridgerton theme; or perhaps a country garden setting will evoke a colour palette of pastel hues. If you’re trendsetters, here’s what’s hot in 2022 for all things colour: Earth colours are ontrend for interiors, and what we see in home improvements makes its way to the wedding scene, so expect to see gorgeous pairings of deep ‘dirty’ hues with romantic accents. Think: Terracotta, tan, sand, rust and copper teamed with blush and peach. Vibrant colourblock palettes, monochrome with striking flashes of colour, and eccentric jewel tones are big hitters in 2022. Think: Vibrant purple, striking blues, bubblegum pink and vivid coral. Neutrals have been a popular colour trend for weddings, and this will continue in 2022 as they are ideal for an outdoor setting. Think: Sage green and blush or ivory. MINDFUL WEDDINGS Did you know, an average wedding produces hundreds of pounds of waste and tons (literally!) of C02 emissions! In these ecoconscious times we live in, couples are looking at how they can reduce the waste and carbon footprint of their wedding day. This means cutting back on unnecessary waste and trying to be as ecofriendly as possible; especially after multiple lockdowns also showed us how the world benefitted – clear skies in Tokyo and clear canals in Italy remember? Wedding venues are being greener and becoming more sustainable, couples can choose local and upcycle items. Pre- or post-wedding day, why not offer wedding flowers away to good causes or give to a local care home? Going plastic-free on your big day is an easy swap, and why not offer to ‘replant trees’ as a wedding favour? Greens, there are so many variations of green that you really have a gorgeous colour spectrum to choose from depending on the effect you’re trying to create, soft and romantic or dramatic and passionate? Think: Pastel greens, sage, olive, emerald, moss green all can be complemented with blush, yellow and rose gold and ochre hues. 88

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