by Hanami Dream | 8, January, 2019 | blog, holy trinity of wedding planning, tips
Happy New Year! And huge congratulations if you’ve got engaged over the festive period.
Telling people your big news and flashing your new piece of jewellery is such an exciting time and it won’t be long until you’ll be asked (again and again) when is your big day.
So here’s a little help with picking a date for your special day (and take a look at this useful guide to setting the date too).
Before you rush to send out your save the date cards, here are some things to bear in mind when setting your wedding date:
Date
Superstition often forces couples to avoid the 13th of the month (especially if it falls on a Friday and there’s two in 2019), your birthday, the day of a full moon, April Fool’s Day and it used to be forbidden to get married in Lent and Advent by the church. Some people think that 7 is supposed to be a lucky number whilst 4 is deemed unlucky in Japanese and Chinese traditions, so dates with these numbers may be sought after or avoided by couples. Instead perhaps you want to pick a meaningful date to you such as the anniversary of the
date you first met, a memorable date that you’ll remember like 12/12/12 or a nod to your heritage such as your grandparents’ wedding anniversary date.
Year
Which year are you thinking? This may seem like a basic question but if you want to do something soon then suppliers and venues may already be booked up. So, think about how long you have /want to plan the wedding. The more notice you give then the more likely you are able to have your first choice of date.
Time of year / season
This could affect what the weather is likely to be like which could influence your themes, colours, venue, attire, transportation, food choice etc. Also, different seasons can have an impact on the price and availability of food and flowers. Venues may have different prices depending on the time of the year and will your key guests or wedding party be available in school holidays?
Month
Old superstitions state your fate as a couple depending on the month you choose to wed. Some say it was unlucky for a couple to get married in May. Whilst June and other summer months are very popular and even December is gaining in popularity, presumably so that people can use holiday time around the big day. It is worth considering different months as popular ones are in demand so prices may increase and availability will decrease.
Day of the week
Ironically in another old poem, it states that getting married on a Saturday is unlucky which nowadays is the most common day for people to tie the knot. However, it is also one of the most expensive days too. More people are now considering other weekdays as options and Sundays too (although this used to be deemed as a mark of disrespect).
Day or night
A wedding after dark used to be considered unlucky but you could split your guests up to have some come for the whole day and others just join you for the evening part of the day so you don’t have to pay for all of them to have a sit-down meal.
Rest of the world
Make sure you think about what else is going on in the world such as national, local and annual events including:
- Public holidays
- Sporting events
- Other people’s occasions (like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and religious festivals)
Here’s a list of some events (in England) in 2019 that could influence your choice of dates:
- New Year’s Day 1 January
- Epiphany 6 January
- Orthodox Christmas Day 7 January
- Orthodox New Year 14 January
- Burns Night 25 January
- Chinese New Year 5 February – year of the pig
- Valentine’s Day 14 February
- St David’s Day 1 March
- Mardi Gras 5 March
- Shrove Tuesday 5 March
- Mother’s Day 31 March
- St Patrick’s Day 17 March
- First Day of Spring 20 March
- Clocks go forward 31 March
- April Fool’s Day 1 April
- Grand National 6 April
- Boat Race 7 April
- Good Friday 19 April
- Passover 19 – 27 April
- Easter Monday 22 April
- Earth Day 22 April
- St George’s Day 23 April
- London marathon 28 April
- Cinco de Mayo 5 May
- Ramadan begins 5 May – 4 June
- May Day Bank Holiday 6 May
- Eurovision Song Contest 14-18 May
- FA Cup Final 18 May
- Chelsea Flower Show 21 – 29 May
- Monaco Grand Prix 23 – 26 May
- Spring Bank Holiday 27 May
- Cricket World Cup (England) 30 May – 9 June
- Women’s World Cup (France) 7 June – 7 July
- Trooping the Colour 8 June
- Father’s Day 16 June
- First Day of Summer 21 June
- Royal Ascot 22-23 June
- Glastonbury 26-30 June
- Wimbledon 1 – 14 July
- Henley Regatta 3 – 7 July
- Independence Day 4 July
- British Grand Prix 12-14 July
- Eid 11-15 August
- Summer Bank Holiday 26 August
- Friday 13th September 2019
- Rugby World Cup (Japan) 20 September – November
- First Day of Autumn 23 September
- Diwali 27 October
- Clocks go back 27 October
- Halloween 31 October
- Guy Fawkes 5 November
- Remembrance Day 11 November
- Thanksgiving 28 November
- St Andrew’s Day 30 November
- Friday 13th December 2019
- Hanukkah 22-30 December
- First Day of Winter 22 December
- Christmas Day 25 December
- Boxing Day 26 December
- New Year’s Eve 31 December
Plus other upcoming ‘unlucky’ dates of :
- Saturday 29th February 2020
- Friday 13th March 2020
- Friday 13th November 2020
And not forgetting the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo 24 July – 9 August.
Enjoy celebrating in 2019 and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
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by Hanami Dream | 31, December, 2018 | blog, trends
Whether a religious, civil or humanist ceremony, a traditional or themed reception, these special days are about what is important to each individual couple.
Sometimes fashion, films, television programmes, interior design, celebrity weddings and even current affairs influence these trends.
So what does 2019 hold for the world of weddings? Here is a curation of some of the top trends to look out for next year:
Clothing
Bridal wear is continuing to see a shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Fashion trends that are appearing on the catwalks (that will surely influence weddings next year) include:
- Simple classic sheath dresses – this is the minimal look epitomised by Meghan Markle
- Exaggerated volume and structured bows – to add a statement feature
- A further move away from white wedding dresses – next year will see more blue dresses
- Different neck lines – 2019 will see more halter neck
Chaps
Not to be out done by the ladies, groomsmen will have some stylish updates to their wedding attire with:
- Three piece suits becoming more popular again
- Colours will be rich in burgundy, purple or blues
- Cut will be slimmer
- Tweed suits will continue to be on trend
Complementary
Accessories will continue to shimmer and shine courtesy of metallic or pearl elements. Plus there’s a real turn towards silver and chrome away from rose gold. Other trends will include:
- Alternatives to diamonds in engagement rings
- Stars and 3D floral tiaras and crowns
- Covering up with trench coats or sheer capelets
- Floral accessories for brides like wrist flowers and floral hats for a festival vibe
- And grooms will see an increase in florals such as floral cane toppers, floral bow ties and even bouquet beards
Chosen few
Bridal parties are veering away from the traditional with:
- Joint hen and stag dos
- Bridesmen and groomsgirls – proving that friends can support you whatever their gender
Colour and styling
Different arenas (such as interior design, architecture, graphic design, lighting, furniture and textiles) influence our daily lives which in turn spills over to the world of weddings. One part that overarches these elements is the importance of colour.
- The Pantone® Colour of the Year always plays a big part in influencing popular colours and the colour of the year in 2019 is a warm and energising orange called ‘Living Coral’. Take a look at my report about the colour of the year 2019 and here’s my take on the other colours to look out for in spring/summer 2019. And why not use ALL the SS19 colours in your confetti for a real festival vibe.
- Patterns will appear in some decorative elements including polka dots and tartan
- Llamas see to be the animal of choice to be a guest at weddings in 2019
- Geometric shapes such as hoops and prisms in different scales will be used
- Eco conscious weddings are rising in popularity which will encourage plastic free events and foraging for decor
- Scents will be important as weddings are now appealing to ALL the senses
- Illustrated invitations showing the wedding venue are becoming popular
Take a look at my top wedding styling trends for weddings in 2019.
Corsage
Floral and foliage provide an instant connection with nature and the greenery trend is still going strong with elements such as:
- Bringing the outdoors in with trees or an enchanted indoors forest walk
- Banquet tables with low florals so you guests can see one another
- Grasses and dried flowers for an ethereal boho look
- Terracotta pots with house plants
- Teepees and silver birch arches
Catering
Family style serving is still a great way to share the wedding reception which works so well on long, large banquet tables lining the room. Plus couples want their food to look amazing so that it is Instagram worthy. Other food and drink highlights to support emerging tends include:
- Opulent and regal cakes
- Grazing tables piled high for a proper foodie fest
Culture
The world of films and tv always influences trends and 2019 looks set to be a year of blockbusters to choose from such as:
- Comic book films like: Captain Marvel, Joker and 2 new X Men films (Dark Phoenix & the New Mutants)
- Children’s classics including: Dumbo (for amazing vintage circus themes), The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2 and Lego Movie 2
- Sci-Fi movies such as: Star Wars 9
- Action movies including: Charlie’s Angels, Glass (perfect for the transparent themes)
- Fantasy movies: Cats, Rocket Man
- Love stories like: Last Christmas (need we say more for a Christmas theme wedding!)
- Period dramas including: Downtown Abbey, Colette (filmed at a local wedding venue and perfect for some French inspired themes), Mary Queen of Scots (to marry well with the tartan trends coming)
- Plus big tv shows such as Les Miserables will also lend itself to the chic vintage French trends
Film and video will continue to be more prevalent at weddings with couples choosing 360 videos, virtual reality experiences and drones to capture their big day. Along with social media being a part of the day and a way to capture everyone’s pictures of the day (it’s just the modern version of the disposable cameras on the table!) with personalised snap chat geofilters and your own hashtags for the day.
Celebrities
As well as the wonders of Pinterest, couples are inspired by seeing others doing something first. So it’s no surprise that details from celebrity weddings will influence wedding trends. Here are some famous engaged couples that could make it up the aisle in 2019 and their special days will be ones to watch:
- Kate Wright & Rio Ferdinand (maybe some football inspired themes)
- Lady Gaga & Christian Carino
- Ellie Goulding & Caspar Jopling
- Idris Elba & Sabrina Dhowre
- Ed Sheeran & Cherry Seaborn (wonder what their first dance music would be?)
- Gwyneth Paltrow & Brad Falchuk
- Alexandra Burke & Joshua Ginnelly
- Paris Hilton & Chris Zykla
Current affairs
You may be living and breathing your wedding and everything else in the world is taking a back seat. However, things are still going on around you and some national, local and annual events may have an impact on your guests involvement, availability and enjoyment. Here’s some events around the world that could influence your choice of dates and could also influence wedding trends:
- Cricket World Cup (England) 30 May – 9 June
- Women’s World Cup (France) 7 June – 7 July
- Glastonbury 26-30 June
- Woodstock 50th anniversary 16-18 August (can’t wait for all the festival themed weddings as a result of this anniversary!)
- Rugby World Cup (Japan) 20 September – November
These are a few of my predictions for wedding trends in 2019. I’d love to hear what you think are going to be popular wedding trends next year.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2019. Please take a look at more of my curation and inspiration on Pinterest.
Are you getting married this year? Is your wedding going to be following one of these trends? Let me know if you’d like to share the detail shots of your day on my blog to inspire other couples who are wedding planning. If you (and your photographer) are happy, then take a look how to submit your wedding.
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by Hanami Dream | 30, December, 2018 | blog, trends
[As featured on page 65 of the December/January edition of Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding]
Couples are currently looking at ways to personalise their nuptials and break from tradition. Wedding styling is seeing an abundance of original alternatives that blend together cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches.
Mixing and matching seem a great way to compromise, as couples decide that they don’t have to settle on one particular style. This gives a great fusion of modern and vintage, along with contrasting textures, colours and mixed metals.
Here are my top wedding styling trends to look out for at the moment:
Bringing the outside inside
The greenery trend has meant less flowers and more plants and foliage are prevalent, with top tables awash with garlands running down the whole of the table and spilling off the ends to the floor, with gentle inclusions of white flowers. Think of the foliage arch that was around the door of St George’s Chapel for Harry & Megan’s wedding.
Couples are also thinking more seasonally with their choices and including foraged items such as moss, fruit, vegetables, feathers, cones and other seasonal items from the environment around them.
Alternatives to paper stationery
Couples are thinking beyond paper and using different material types such as Perspex, denim, wood or agate slices for their suite of wedding stationery. For the transparent acrylic trend, the use of Perspex chairs, tables, menus and signage means that stationery doesn’t detract but blend in with the surroundings. Clear ‘stationery’ will continue to grow in popularity for a modern style and this is evolving further to iridescent details.
Minimal look and feel
On average, wedding guest numbers are decreasing and micro weddings are on the rise; with couples wishing to keep things small, personal and more meaningful. This vibe is also transcending to the look of the day, with plain, simple and minimal styling. This can be enhanced by using one colour for maximum impact such as white for an amazing statement with a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere.
Festival vibes
Outdoor or tipi weddings with macramé ceremony backdrops are seeing a massive upturn at the moment. Think hanging greenery, trees, dream catcher favours, festoon lighting, ribbon drapes, food vans, chill out areas and fire bowls.
Alternatives to real flowers are better for the environment and the pocket – make paper flowers or borrow house plants for a great diy wedding.
Statement backdrops
Move over flower walls and arches – the ceremony wreaths are here! Archways are being superseded by moongates, circular arches and other impactful ceremony backdrops. Couples are using them to walk through on their way down the aisle, a spectacular ceremony or photo backdrop, behind top tables, bars or dessert tables. The wreaths can be decorated with flowers and/or foliage, all over or partially covered.
Air plants
Another alternative to flowers is air plants, which are a brilliant evolution on the succulent trend. Their delicate tendrils give a wonderful contrast against the soft tulle of wedding dresses.
Use them in bouquets, table displays or in glass suspended baubles.
Gem stones rock
Shiny rocks will continue to see a place in wedding venue styling with agate (or hollow geodes) still at the forefront of designs in cakes and name settings, as well as the revival of marble details.
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by Hanami Dream | 21, December, 2018 | testimonials
“Nicola kindly agreed to assist our small, independent business in starting our own blog for our website. Being an award winning blogger, I couldn’t think of anyone better to help us on our way.
She gave us some great top tips that were easy to follow but in enough detail to really make an impact.
We now have our blog up and running thanks to Nicola.”
Erica, Busy Brush Cafe – December 2018
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by Hanami Dream | 20, December, 2018 | testimonials
“Social media has revolutionised business in so many ways (which we struggle to understand). Thank goodness Nicola at Hanami Dream is there to translate and guide our floristry media campaign.
Working closely together we have seen the benefits of targeted and cost sensitive media projects to promote our business. This has fast tracked our plans to expand and with Nicola’s help and expertise we continue to get the best from the web phenomena.”
Lyn, Enchanted Floristry – November 2018
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by Hanami Dream | 6, December, 2018 | blog, news, trends
Pantone® have picked a warm and energising orange ‘Living Coral’ as their colour of the year for 2019!
Living Coral
For me, it was always going to be one of the warmer tones of either a bright yellow or vibrant red. This seems like the perfect compromise mix of the two, called Living Coral (also known as Pantone® 16-1546).
As Pantone® Vice President Laurie Pressman said, it is an “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of Living Coral…embodies our desire for playful expression”.
Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings. They have been picking a colour of the year for 20 years now, taking into account cultural trends, as well as “how colors can embody our collective experience and reflect what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time,” according to the press release from Pantone®.
Eco friendly
It seems quite fitting that this should be the colour next year especially when there’s such a focus on our oceans, climate change and protecting our natural resources. Living Coral seems the perfect ambassador to remind us of these important factors and to consider how to make weddings more eco friendly.
Living Coral instantly conjurors up images of life under the clear blue sea and makes me reminisce about happy days learning to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is an absolute underwater paradise, literally awash with colour energised by the sunshine. I still dream about a phenomenal night dive when I felt like I was flying over mountains and as I shone a torch over the coral it all came to life when the light touched it. It was breath taking. I learnt how important coral is in the marine life for providing habitats and shelter, protecting coast lines, and also filtering the water. It needs to be protected.
2019 weddings
The 2019 colour of the year certainly would be fitting for a beach wedding although would also pair seamlessly with a sophisticated navy, grey or burgundy to make it a relevant colour to fit a wedding at any time of year. And of course coral is associated with a couple’s 35th wedding anniversary so it’s no stranger to being a part of weddings.
I’ve been desperate for a yellow or an orange colour to get top billing for a couple of years and my guess for the Color of the Year 2019 was for Aspen Gold or Mango Mojito (see my Spring 2019 report). I’m pleased to see a vibrant, playful colour leading the way again in 2019 and can’t wait to see couples incorporating Living Coral into their wedding colour schemes.
Living Coral wedding inspiration
See more about my Living Coral mood board from the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s SS19 Pantone® mood board competition from earlier this year.
#COY2019
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by Hanami Dream | 12, October, 2018 | testimonials
“Nicola has provided invaluable marketing support and advice this year, whilst I have been launching a new business in the wedding industry.
Her experience has helped me target marketing much more effectively, and her passion for helping businesses to grow and for the wedding industry has really spurred me on!
My business genuinely would not be where it is now without her input.
I really appreciate all the support and advice she has given me.”
Vicky, Hedgerow Circus – October 2018
by Hanami Dream | 10, October, 2018 | blog, guest post, tips
For many, picking a wedding dress may be the most exciting purchase that you make and, some may say, one of the best (and hardest) decisions in the wedding planning process.
wedding dress trends
Finding the perfect wedding dress is no mean feat and wedding dresses over the years are an example of fashion trends of their day (material, styles, length & colours). Pick a dress that you love rather than one that happens to be on trend now. Take a look at wedding dresses wedding through the years.
style of wedding dress
Think about the venue, theme and mood of your wedding and fit your dress not only to you but the style of your big day too. Also think about when you’re getting married – both the time of day and time of year will affect your wedding dress buying decision. Make sure you feel not only glamourous and gorgeous in your wedding dress but comfortable too (did someone say dress pockets?!)
Here are some top tips from Heart Accomplice on picking the perfect wedding dress:
THE wedding dress
Many dream their whole life of this one special day with the man or woman they love. This one moment when you walk down the aisle, your heart is beating and all eyes are on you. You just want to look perfect for the love of your life.
To find the perfect bridal dress, you not only need time but also to understand what kind of bridal dress you want. Do you opt for a new or a preloved one? A long or a short dress? White, ivory or a colourful dress? Do you want to look around in a classic bridal dress store or do you want to order online?
budget
Before you start to search for your dream bridal dress give yourself a price range and stick to it. If you don’t or can’t spend too much money, have a look at second hand bridal dresses. You can find a beautiful bridal dress, a designer trend or the newest collection for a fraction of the price.
research
Do some research and collect pictures from bridal magazines of the styles and colours you like. Visit wedding fairs to get inspired where you can see and feel dresses. Look online for styles that suit your silhouette.
shopping
Make an appointment with a bridal dress shop as soon as possible because sometimes it takes 4 to 6 months to produce a dress, plus once it arrives you might need some time for alterations. If you don´t have much time, you can order online and a few days later your bridal dress will arrive.
support
Make wedding dress shopping an interactive and inclusive part of the wedding planning process and involve your mother, maid of honour, bridesmaids or friends with you to enjoy this important day and get their valued opinions, in a shop or at home.
alterations
When you have found THE bridal dress, a bridal dress store can order your dress in the right size and you may need some small alterations (don´t forget to plan the costs in your budget).
If you decide to buy a preloved bridal dress I recommend to buy it in 1 or 2 sizes bigger and allow for alterations to fit it perfectly to you. Too big is better than too small.
final fitting
On your last fitting wear the lingerie and take the shoes that you will be wearing on your big day. Then you can make sure that the length and fit of the bridal dress is just right.
accessories
Often less is more. Too much detail and too many wedding accessories can detract from the wedding dress. Make sure that you match your accessories to your bridal dress in colour and material and don’t forget your ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ nor the silver sixpence in your shoe.
About Heart Accomplice
Heart Accomplice is a second hand online bridal dress shop offering new and good as new preloved bridal dresses, ready to make a bride happy for her big day. They stock a range of different sizes, brands and styles, so there should be something gorgeous for everyone.
It is also possible to sell your bridal dress (on a commission basis) to Heart Accomplice when you have finished with your bridal dress (in good condition).
@HeartAccomp
@heartaccomplice
@heartaccomplice
image credits:
Venue | Sudbury House Hotel | http://www.sudburyhouse.co.uk/
Photography | Cat Stephens Photography | https://www.catstephensphotography.com/
Hair and make-up | Kamila Roberts for The Beauty Spot Cotswolds | https://www.kamilarobertsmakeup.co.uk | https://www.facebook.com/thebeautyspotcotswolds/
Dress | Heart Accomplice | http://www.heartaccomplice.com/
Flowers | Sophie Snow Floral | http://www.sophiesnow.com/
Accessories | The Wedding Fairy and Friends | http://www.theweddingfairyandfriends.co.uk/
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