HANG IN THERE! Hanging installations in their various guises continue to be popular and it’s easy to see why. Particularly when you’ve got a high ceiling to contend with, they fill the space above your heads to avoid that somewhat lessthan-cosy, cavernous feeling and make a statement. When suspended above the top table, they also bring the focus your way, as it should be. We love a ceiling filled with festival-style paper lanterns and balloons or disco balls designed around your big-day’s colour palette. What a way to get the party started! If you love the idea of a hanging installation, but your venue doesn’t permit it, talk to your florist about other options. If you’re dining at long, banqueting tables a cloud of flowers, above head height, supported by a frame running the length of the tables looks incredible. It offers the effect of a hanging installation, with no risk to an ornately plastered historical feature ceiling! For a marquee or tipi wedding these features really come into their own when it comes to filling the space with abundance. Think cartwheels, chandeliers or hoops draped with beautiful blooms or ribbons. Whether you choose to go for one main showstopper or multiple lining the space above your tables, opt for low centrepieces to create perfect balance. SUSTAINABILITY Creating a wedding day that’s as sustainable as you can manage is something we’d strongly recommend considering. The key to bear in mind that will make life easy for you: hire, hire, hire! The more decorative features that can be reused, the less goes into landfill and the better this will be for the environment. Don’t get us wrong, we love a craft project, but we’d urge careful thought before embarking upon a huge venture. Stop and think of what will become of your styling masterpieces after the big day. If the honest answer is, ‘They’ll get thrown away,’ stop! Likewise, you may be thinking of sourcing vases from charity shops for your centrepieces. But bear in mind, this is only truly sustainable if you plan to donate them back to the charity shop afterwards or at least regift them. So, the most sustainable solution also happens to be the easiest: hire whatever you can. You’ll find a wealth of local prop suppliers who offer the perfect feature pieces that you can curate to suit any theme. It’s also worth enquiring with your florist, venue stylist and venue what they might be able to offer for hire; from vessels for your blooms to table plan easel, cake stand to centrepieces. If we may take only a very slight diversion off topic here, sourcing your wedding flowers, giving how key they are to bringing a venue to life, is a crucial part of sustainability styling your surroundings. When choosing your florist, do your research and look for one whose ecofriendly ethos aligns with your own. In terms of what to look out for, they’ll likely be sourcing their blooms from local flower farms and will be using sustainable practices such as cutting out the use of oasis. A top tip when it comes to centrepieces is using pot plants such as succulents, which can be handed out as gifts when the night wraps up, giving them a life beyond W-day. Jonathan Borba on Unsplash Vidit Goswami on Unsplash Kari Bjorn Photography on Unsplash Annie Spratt on Unsplash Patrick Langwallner on Unsplash Victoria Priessnitz on Unsplash VENUE STYLING 23
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