Flowers for 2012

I have been speaking to Lisa of Dream Day Flowers about trends for flowers for 2012.....here you will find what colours are most popular this season including what particular flowers you can choose to stay on budget!

Lisa, what are the most popular colours making their way this year?

Most brides seem to be having lots of fun with colour this year.  Cadbury’s purple is still about but not as big as 2011.  Vintage themes are very much in vogue this year.  So softer colours and less formal arrangements.  Blue’s are making an appearance this year from Navy to paler blues.  Navy like black can carry any flower colour.

And for flowers....what is big on trend this season?

Roses are always a big favourite with brides, with such a range of colours to choose from.  Flowers can have an emotional meaning and this can give a bride a reason to pick them.  If you have a favourite flower it is lovely if we can include it into your special day. Hand tied bouquets are still the brides favourite with the shower bouquet making an occasional return, depending on the dress.

To give brides ideas for table centres what would be your advice for giving the wow factor at different venues?When thinking about table centres you will have to take your venue into account. If the venue has low ceilings maybe use lower table arrangements to make the room feel more spacious. If you have a very light high ceiling at your venue, you could have very high arrangements filling the space.

You do not need to have the same arrangement on each table, you could do half tall and half in the lower style. Just remember it can distract conversation if flowers are in your guest’s eye line.

If you wish to include candles in your arrangements remember to ask your venue if the use of naked flame is allowed.

Also flowers can be arranged not only in vases etc, the vintage look is coming back this year. The use of jam jars, tea cups and plant pots look different. These could be given as gifts at the end of the wedding.

The all important question - how do brides stay on budget this year?

It is always hard when planning a wedding to have a budget and stay within it. I feel with the flowers is to choose a florist who you feel comfortable with. It you have a budget that is fixed you should tell the florist from the start. This would help them to guide your flowers choice.

If you choose flowers that are in season at the date of your wedding always helps. January to April will have an abundance of spring flowers, Tulips, Hyacinth and Daffodils. Tulips come in many wonderful colours, Hyacinths smell beautiful. From May onwards the summer flowers appear, giving you a huge selection

For my customers I always have a free consultation to discuss their actual needs. If you are having your ceremony and reception in one place, find out if you can use arrangements more than once, for instance by using a piece for the registrars table and putting it on the top table afterwards. Find out if you are paying for vase hire, I loan my vases free of charge.

Lisa of Dream Day Flowers can be contacted through Facebook, twitter or website: http://www.dreamdayflowers.co.uk/

Wedding Gown Trends for 2011

2011 has now officially started – brides are back into wedding mode and looking for new styles and colours for this year.

Flowers are a big hit this year for the bridal industry whether this is patterned within the fabric of the gown or brooch designs added onto the body of the dress. Blush is the chosen colour by our fantastic bridal designers including Mori Lee and Benjamin Roberts as well as top couture designers on our catwalks.

In terms of styles of bridal gowns this season, the ever so popular fitted from bust to hips with a slight fish tail and train is making its appearance alongside our nations favourite princess style tulle layered skirts. Fitted bodice showcasing small waist lines into an A-Line skirt is the preferred design with a lot of our designers staying on-trend.

Bridesmaid choice of colour this season is slowly moving away from the every so popular purple making way for apple greens and fuchsia pinks – perfect for a spring/ summer wedding, or to warm up those dull days of autumn.

Guest Blog - Kirsteen of Your Wedding at Loch Lomond and CIA Photography

Guest Blog

Today highlights our very first guest blog - the work of Kirsteen and Colin of Your Wedding at Loch Lomond and CIA Photography:

Please introduce yourself

I'm Kirsteen and I'm part of the team involved in Your Wedding at Loch Lomond, which is an on-line wedding directory for Loch Lomond brides to be. It lists a wide variety of wedding suppliers serving Loch Lomond and is free to advertise in.

As well as being involved in this directory, I have three other jobs, including providing wedding favours through www.canyoudomeafavour.co.uk and assisting my husband with his wedding photography business www.ciaphotography.co.uk. I am a mother to a two year old and an active volunteer in the community.

How many years have you been involved in the wedding industry?

My husband and I have been involved in the wedding industry since we were teenagers. However, CIA Photography was established in 2004. Can You Do Me A Favour and Your Wedding at Loch Lomond were established in 2010.

Its been very interesting to see how the wedding industry has changed over the past 10 or more years – back then people rarely, if ever, spoke of chair covers, cupcakes and candy buffets!

What pros and cons have you found while being in this industry?

Our aim of making the directory 'everyone's directory' has been achieved. Its demonstrated by the fact that many advertising requests come from wedding suppliers who have been speaking to our listed suppliers. We do appreciate our suppliers spreading the word and helping with recruiting other suppliers! Many suppliers have become friends with each other, recommending each other, purchasing from each other etc. We love it!

We have made so many friends from our suppliers and received support from many experienced and respected wedding professionals and from other wedding directories.

That said, not everyone in the wedding industry has been supportive. We're seen as a threat to some because we target the same customers. Also we are free, not all directories are, plus we are less restrictive, especially regarding who can advertise. We only have two rules – cover Loch Lomond and link back to us.

However, as a wise man once told me “You're not in business to win their approval, you're in business to win the approval of your clients” and that's working well so I no longer worry about it!

What made you set up "ywall"?

Earlier this year, we got talking with a group of wedding suppliers. We were all in agreement that brides to be in Loch Lomond were not getting a TRUE picture of the wide range of wedding suppliers available to them and also that local businesses were suffering as a result of, for example:

• very high advertising rates in newspapers and magazines

• favouritism in other directories, magazines, and brochures – eg different in size of advert if you pay more...

• Very high cost of tables/stands at wedding fayres – often as high as £400.

We decided to create an on-line wedding directory that would be free to use and free to advertise in. We would treat all suppliers equally, and show no favourtism. Our only rules would be that you would have to supply to Loch Lomond and link back to our website. No one who meets these conditions would be refused an advertisement on our site.

 

We felt this would support both established businesses and also new, small businesses. We feel very strongly that its not the hours you work, or how long you have been in the industry that matters, its the end result you produce and how your supplier gets on with other suppliers such as your venue.

It has grown very rapidly from one venue, a few photographers etc into successful directory with a large number of suppliers and a very full email inbox!

Tell us about "ywall" wedding fair

The Your Wedding at Loch Lomond Wedding Fayre will be held at the Dumbuck House Hotel in Dumbarton on Sunday the 27th February 2011. This will provide the venue with an excellent opportunity to attract brides to be and showcase their function suite.

In addition, it will allow brides to meet a wide range of wedding suppliers, including yourself, to assist them in planning their weddings. There will be a competition on the day, discounts, goody bags, live music and pampering.

Interested exhibitors should email us at info@yourweddingatlochlomond.co.uk but only a few tables remain.

What are your plans for the future?

In 2011, we are holding a wedding fayre in February and if this goes well, we will do another later that year and also continue this into the following years. We also hope to exhibit at wedding fayres ourselves and promote the YWALL brand.

We have also just completed brochures for YWALL which will be given to brides to be visiting our fayre in February 2011. These brochures have information on all of our suppliers as well as information on who YWALL are and what we do.

We've had advertisements in magazines and are in discussions for newspaper advertising also.

Web: www.yourweddingatlochlomond.co.uk

blog: www.yourweddingatlochlomond.wordpress.com

facebook: Your Wedding at Loch Lomond

twitter: www.twitter.com/wedatlochlomond