EXPERT ADVICE

FAQs and expert advice about wedding planning

Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Surrey 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@yoursurrey.wedding

Old-School Chic

Old-School Chic

Q What is your advice on the top trends to look out for in 2024?
A Brooke Ellis says: Our 2024 trend prediction is the classic vibe. We think the classic, elegant, old-school looks are coming back and will be huge over the next 12 months.

Think Frank Sinatra in his prime kind of vibes. Black and white colour themes, champagne flowing, classical music filling the venue are all things we expect to see.

This ties in beautifully with wedding films too. It allows the video to have a timeless feel to it and becomes something that can be looked back on for many years to come with no out-dated themes.

Brooke Ellis, Ellis Gray Weddings

Time For Some Fun!

Time For Some Fun!

Q What are the top trends to look out for in 2024?
A Freya Taylor says: 2024 is set to be a year of fun, fashion and entertainment and as a wedding planner who puts guest experience at the forefront of her work, I'm here for it! Live performers are becoming a focal point of weddings and generally throwing a real good party is going to be key for our 2024 couples.

Photography is leaning more towards the editorial style, with film photography also making a comeback.

More brides are going to be opting for versatile or multiple wedding dresses to switch up their look throughout the day. With social media becoming increasingly important, there's more emphasis on having Instagrammable, fashion-forward wedding dresses. So, aesthetics will continue to grow in individuality.

Immersive entertainment such as audio guest books, 360 degree photo booths and selfie mirrors are also set to be highly sought after. Here are some more of my 2024 wedding trend predictions:

•Champagne towers
•Removable wedding dress sleeves and long gloves
•Grazing tables
•Sparklers and cold sparks
•Signature cocktails
•Wedding content creators
•Sax players
•Short veils
•Drone videography
• Wedding breakfast entertainment It's going to be fun, fun, fun and we can't wait to guide our couples through it!

Freya Taylor, Weddings by Freya Jane

Life of the party

Life of the party

Q Do you have any ideas on how we could incorporate our Alice in Wonderland theme into our day?
A Kelly Gorynski says: Start by deciding on your venue. If you go for an indoor space, try decorating it with a flower wall, arch and centrepieces that provide a woodland look and feel.

Consider an elegant wedding gown, periwinkle blue bridesmaids' dresses with wildflower hair embellishments and whimsical ties and buttonholes or morning suits with top hats for the groom and groomsmen.

Pick colours that will tie in with your theme, for example crimson red to represent the Queen of Hearts.

If you've sent out your themed save-the-dates or wedding invitations, consider the finer details such as vintage teapots or jam jars filled with smaller, delicate flowers.

A gravity defying centrepiece made up of flowers and balanced playing cards in a top hat is another option.

White tablecloths with either plain, printed, gingham or artificial grass table runners can help set the theme.

Playing cards could be used as table numbers and place cards.

For your favours, think of vintage-style teaspoons with fruit-flavoured teabags in heart-shaped boxes or small bottles filled with a tipple of your choice and labelled with 'drink me'.

Your big-day bake could be a fashionable naked cake with a colour co-ordinating top hat topper filled with fresh blooms.

Kelly Gorynski, Vintage Celebration Tea Party

The love of my life

The love of my life

Q We're considering booking a wedding planner. What are the benefits?
A Taylor Courtney says: To put it simply, wedding planning is a lot of work! Every wedding is unique, with lots of decisions to make and elements to coordinate. A planner can help with as many or as few tasks as desired. From organising the whole day to partial support with specific things such as venue set-up, wedding admin and supplier meetings.

We find a lot of couples are looking for support and guidance in the final weeks leading up to the wedding as well as on the day. Whilst a wedding planner is an additional cost, they often end up saving both money and valuable time, with their trusted list of recommended suppliers and knowing how/where to find you the best deals.

Your vision and input will always be at the forefront of the planning process, allowing your planner to pull all the strings together on your behalf to compose the bespoke day of your dreams.

Your day is the beginning of married life together and should reflect you as a couple. With the right supplier, you can make your dream wedding a reality with minimal disruption to your hectic work and social life. This will allow you to focus on the important aspects of your lives and celebrating the love you share. Planning your wedding should be an exciting time for both of you, make sure you treasure this momentous occasion.

Taylor Courtney, Taylor-Made Weddings

Hartsfield Manor

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Luke Warner Photography

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Nutfield Priory Wedding Show

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First Dance Studios

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