FAQs and expert advice about venue styling

Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Yorkshire Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@youryorkshire.wedding

 

Festival fun

Festival fun

Q. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the thought of styling our festival-themed wedding. Do you have any suggestions?

A. Andrea Graham says: You can break this task down so that it doesn't become overwhelming. Firstly, think about the most typical and obvious aspects of a festival, and then build on that. Festivals are normally colourful events. There's always a marquee, which could be central to your wedding and decorated in your preferred colours and styling. There's always outdoor eating / food, so you might organise a BBQ, picnic or even an ice cream van. Festivals always feature music and entertainment, such as circus performers and bands, and the accommodation is normally a tent or caravan. In terms of outfits, festival dress is normally colourful, hippy-chic and requires some welly boots for those muddy moments! You can always dress up a wedding dress with boho costume jewellery and some outdoor boots to blend right in with the environment. It might also be an idea to keep a marquee for you and your wedding party to retreat to if any costume adjustments are needed. Finally, festivals are fun – so make sure you relax and enjoy the experience.

Andrea Graham, High Trenhouse
www.hightrenhouseweddings.com

 

Styling your day

Styling your day

Q. I have been looking at Pinterest every night and my moodboard is starting to become a bit jumbled. How do I get back on track?

A. Jodie Knott says: Try not to become overwhelmed by all of your choices. As soon as you start to worry, you start to put more pressure on yourself. Your wedding day should be a day to remember, not a day to worry about the bridesmaid dresses matching the florals.

Before you start to look through your moodboard, sit down with your partner and begin to visualise your day, what few words immediately come to mind? Rustic, elegant, intimate? Then also think about what you don't want at your wedding, a few things may have slipped through the net and made it onto your current moodboard without you realising.

Baring these few words in mind begin to have a look through your current moodboard. Save the first five to 10 images that immediately jump out at you, but try not to save five of the same things, keep it a mix of florals, table settings, stationery etc. Each image should bring something different to your new moodboard.

With your saved images write down what it is that you love about the image. Is it the colours, the textures, and do these match up to your vision?

As you start to pin your images to a new board these should begin to reflect your overall vision and colour palette. If you do begin to be swayed by other pins, resort back to this mood board and think to yourself will I love this image in one, two, three months' time or do I just like it in this moment?

When it comes to your moodboard, this should be a reflection of the both of you and your personalities.

Jodie Knott, Knotted in Love
www.knottedinlove.co.uk

 

Style it out

Style it out

Q. We love the idea of a tipi wedding, but it feels like a total blank canvas. How do we style it to make it our own?

A. Charlie Land says: The fabulous thing about a tipi is that not only is it a blank canvas to decorate, but it also looks wonderful with no decoration other than fairylights! However, if you would like to put your own stamp on the structure, then there are lots of ways to do this.

We install a hanging point at the centre of each of our tipis for you to use. Our couples often choose to install floral hoops and foliage here, but they also look amazing with a chandelier, a boho macramé hanging or a sparkling glitter ball.

There are also lots of draping points throughout the tipi and all the timber poles are exposed and available for you to dress. Outside, we love to have festoon lighting strung between the tops and along your entrance walkway to make the outside look just as magical as the inside.

Charlie Land, Totem Tipi
www.totemtipi.co.uk

 

A wedding to remember

A wedding to remember

Q. There are so many venues to choose from. How do we narrow down our choices and find the right place for us?

A. TJ Patel says: The venue and food are without a doubt the most talked-about aspects of any wedding. The venue is the first thing your guests will see, and whether it's indoors or outdoors, you want it to be serene, comfortable and unforgettable. Look for somewhere that feels welcoming and warm, with character and charm to make it memorable. During the pandemic, you want to know that you and your loved ones are safe. We're part of the IHG group, so we follow strong brand standards alongside essential health and safety procedures.

With so many venues available to see at the touch of a button, we advise you to always view your shortlist in person to get a feel for it. Can you envision your big day there? Does it have everything you need? Is it flexible? Do they offer the food you want for your special day? Another key element is catering. The menu needs to be carefully tailored with a mouth-watering selection to make a statement and leave your guests amazed. Great food will always get people talking!

TJ Patel, Holiday Inn Leeds Bradford
holidayinn.com/leedsbradford

 

Burst with joy!

Burst with joy!

Q. We want to have a huge wedding celebration when the pandemic is over. How can we dress our venue to create a real party feel?

A. Jacqui Saxon says: You will have waited for what seems like a lifetime for your wedding, and you'll want to give your loved ones an unforgettable occasion. Stunning balloon decor is a really cost-effective way to dress your venue and wow your guests. Ballon art isn't all about kids' parties and balloon animals. I promise all my couples that the creations will still be floating and enchanting guests by midnight – my balloons are always the last ones at the party!

I love meeting wedding couples at my workshop where you can see my latest designs and we can discuss how to make your day extra special. There are so many different styles and colours available, which we can choose together to help make your big day pop!

Jacqui Saxon, The Ultimate Balloon Company Ltd
www.ultimateballoon.co.uk/weddings