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Spring / Summer 2017 SO Magazine / FEBRUARY 2017 / 1

FinishingTouches When it comes to weddings, it’s often the details that make the day. Meet some of the finest local suppliers and discover how they can help to make your day magical…

SARAH MCINTYRE Sarah McIntyre has been in the beauty business for over 20 years.

Specialising in anti-ageing bespoke facials, using state of the art equipment, she is passionate about skin care, and is constantly training in new treatments. She has developed a high performance facial designed to rejuvenate and improve the overall appearance of the face and neck.

The Ultimate Facial consists of muscle lifting, mesotherapy, radio frequency, to stimulate collagen, and LED light therapy to tighten the skin.

The overall effect is a glowing, toned, and younger looking appearance. Look your best on your special day as the mother of the bride or groom. www.sarahmcintyrebeauty.org

REBECCA MUNDY When the months of careful planning have passed to treasured memories, it’s your wedding and engagement rings that will serve as potent and enduring reminders of your special day and the promises you have made.

It’s important to get them right. Having your rings custom made is the ideal solution.

Each ring by Rebecca Mundy is designed and

made exclusively for you, using time honoured and traditional techniques.

Rebecca’s attention to detail and focus on you and your ideas are key to ensuring that your rings perfectly encapsulate your lifestyle, personality and most importantly the memories of your special day. www.rebeccamundy.co.uk 01892 322 712

ASTILBE & SORREL

SERENITY THERAPIES At Serenity Therapies, discover the true definition of luxury at our serene salon in Tunbridge Wells. We offer tailor made treatments to your individual needs from: massage, facials, waxing, threading, eye enhancements, manicures and pedicures.

We also offer more specialised treatments, including: glycolic face peels, collagen infusion and no-needle mesotherapy using Anubis from Barcelona and Fusion products. You could also try our natural facelifts using massage to lift and tone. We also offer our inch loss and toning machine LipoSculpt to help you along the way.

We truly have something for everyone at Serenity Therapies.

63a High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1XU 01892 535 252 www.serenitytherapies.com

Astilbe & Sorrel offer a bespoke service to create the perfect wedding flowers to suit you and your special day. From natural and wild bouquets to rounded posies of stunning roses, intricate flower crowns to quirky, stand-out buttonholes, you will be welcome to let your imagination run wild, and we’ll be here to guide you. Ceremony and reception flowers are also covered, whether you’re marrying traditionally or unconventionally, we’ll work with your tastes, colour palette and vision to achieve the look that you desire.

Contact Sophie on: 01580 754 825 or email: astilbeandsorrel@gmail.com

ELIZABETH ROSE It’s all about the shimmer this season.

Enhance neutral accessories by choosing elegant styles with a touch of shine and sparkle. This gorgeous mink coloured hat

by Failsworth (£99) instantly takes your outfit to the next level, whilst the patent toe on these Gabor shoes (£89) gives your look a chic and polished finish. This dainty Gaby’s heart necklace (£29) is perfect for a bride looking for a subtle last touch without overwhelming the impact of the dress.

All available from Elizabeth Rose, Tenterden, 01580 763 815 www.elizabeth-rose.com

STORY OF MY DRESS Story of my Dress was created to offer local brides something different, a one off dress that is stylish but still affordable. I like to be able to offer brides the unique, one of a kind and stylish choice of dress and accessories.

From our original vintage collection or our own ‘SOMD’ collection that we have carefully designed to sit alongside the vintage. All of our dresses are priced under £1200 unless bespoke.

The showroom is based in the Mill Yard in West Malling; it is super relaxed and personable, leaving brides and their families with a memorable dress shopping experience.

I never take for granted the pleasure of being involved in a brides most special time, it is such a privilege and I have many wonderful memories of my own from the many brides who have worn a Story of my Dress gown. www.storyofmydress.com 07919 154 115

THE LOOK of LOVE The world of weddings is increasingly changing – from dress styles to food requests, each year brings about its own set of must-have requirements. In the age of Pinterest, every element of a wedding must now be considered, and with an abundance of options, knowing where to start is one of the hardest tasks. With this in mind, we spoke to some of the best local wedding experts around to find out what their big trend predictions for weddings this year will be, and also how the bridal market has evolved too…

THE FOOD

By Chicks that Chop, caterers We have been catering for weddings for 23 years and have seen many changes during that time. We started with canapés being barely mentioned and every request was for a buffet or plated main course and pudding.

The weddings we have catered for over the last few years and bookings for this year are completely different; clients now want lots of delicious canapés followed by a family service style main course, with dishes served to the centre of each table for guests to hand around to each other. This creates an informal atmosphere and facilitates guests talking to each other very quickly, even if they have never met! We often provide a

butterfly leg of lamb from the barbecue accompanied by interesting and unusual salads. We are very fortunate to have the likes of Yottam Ottolenghi (Plenty, Plenty More, The Cookbook) and Sabrina Ghayour (Persianna & Sirocco) around who have introduced us to some great dishes, a feast for the eye as well as the palate! There seems to be a lot more foodies around than ever before which makes life much more interesting for us caterers. www.chicksthatchop.co.uk

THE HONEYMOON

By Baldwins Travel The possibilities and choices for planning a romantic honeymoon are endless, with so

THE HAIR

By Liz Bower, owner of Simply Beautiful Wedding Hair

many travel operators out there, how can you make the perfect choice of destination and experience that will last a lifetime?

Whilst you might choose your destination based on yours and your partner’s lifestyle, hobbies and interests, you should also consider what is on your bucket list as a life-long travel wish.

It is a time to relax and unwind after the excitement of the wedding festivities, so look to find romance, pampering and exquisite food, but most importantly, make memories.

A few destinations that are hot for 2017/18 are: Caribbean, Mauritius, African Safari or New Zealand – where you could be helihiking on glaciers, kayaking with dolphins, horse riding through the bush and bathing in natural hot springs. www.baldwinstravel.co.uk

Succulents and herbs are on brides’ wish lists and British grown flowers are also definitely growing in popularity – I use them in my wedding work as much as possible.

Nudes are still in demand but I’m seeing more peachy tones combined with darker colours like marsala or navy. Contrast is key – think dusty blues, burgundy and champagne alongside touches of metallic shades like gold, copper and rose gold.

Peonies and garden roses are still popular and both work brilliantly with the favoured peach and marsala tones. Of course the classic simplicity of white and green never tires and is still in demand. www.thefloristtunbridgewells.co.uk

THE PHOTOS

By Sam Yardley, wedding photographer

THE FLOWERS

By Jo Fisher, owner of The Florist Tunbridge Wells No two weddings are the same of course, but in recent years the natural and rustic style has been very popular and continues to be. Bouquets in particular are no longer uniform but are getting looser and bigger and I see this continuing into 2017 with unstructured, natural cascade bouquets being a firm favourite.

Over the past 12 months I have seen an increase in the influence of social media on the expectations of my wedding couples. I am sure that this has not yet seen its peak and that the popularity of Pinterest and Instagram will continue and grow, giving my brides inspiration for their own weddings and photography. This can sometimes give unrealistic expectations, but by working together we can interpret the ideas to create their own personal story. www.samyardleyphotography.co.uk

2017 will be a season full of soft braids and beach waves, high messy top knots and twists. Rope braids, fishtail braids, slick French braids, Dutch braids, are all on the cards, as well as classic neat, simple chignons and rolls. Trends are simple, soft, and natural around the front and full of adornment around the back.

I like my brides to bring all their ideas along to the trial, to help create your own look.

Pinterest boards are great for inspiration and a fantastic way for me to understand a bride’s personal style, and theme of their wedding.

Will your hair style need to be created around your hair piece? Maybe a floral crown, or a hair vine trailing through the back of a style, or even beautiful comb made from great grandmother’s diamante buckle or broach. Will you be wearing a veil?

Bridal hairstyles have changed over the last 12 months, swaying away from side of nape messy knots, which were huge in 2015/16 and classic half up half down, pinned to the middle with a clip.

The world is your oyster! www.simplybeautifulweddinghair.co.uk

THE JEWELLERY

By G Collins & Sons, jewellers As a lot of ladies are now opting for diamond halo designs and diamonds set into the shoulders of their engagement rings and they are often finding diamond set wedding bands compliment their engagement rings better than a plain wedding band. We are also noticing more people opting for rose gold instead of yellow gold, with a softer colouring it tends to compliment more skin tones and is very on trend at the moment.

Many women buy their fiancée a wedding gift for their big day as something special to commemorate the occasion, now one of our most popular gifts is a Cartier watch. It’s the perfect gift of a timeless watch that he will enjoy every day for the rest of his life. www.gcollinsandsons.com

THE MAKEUP

By Ellie Gill, makeup artist One of the things that most brides want is to look the best version of themselves.

Over the past year ‘festival’ style weddings have been hugely popular and lots of my clients have wanted a fresh, natural look to go with the laid-back vibe of their wedding.

I’ve gradually seen an increase in people becoming interested in the ingredients that go into their cosmetics and I think ‘green beauty’ will be huge in 2017.

Last year wellbeing and healthy eating were both huge trends. The awareness is moving towards natural, safe, healthy cosmetics.

The great thing about products containing all-natural ingredients is that they make achieving the pretty, glowing bridal look super easy! Natural products often contain skin-nourishing ingredients which can help improve the skin’s overall condition.

I’ve been working as a makeup artist in the wedding industry for five years now. This will be my first transitioning to an all-green; natural makeup kit and I can’t wait! www.elliegill.co.uk

THE DRESS

By Rebecca Doyle, owner of Isabella Grace bridal boutique The two mains trends in wedding dresses for 2017 will continue to be colour and statement backs.

It really is now all about the back of the dress. The aim is to make the back as stunning and striking as the front of the dress, if not more so. The first thing that most of the wedding guests see at the start of the wedding day is the back of the bride’s dress so it really is important to think about this. When I got married ten years ago, it was

a simple boring zip at the back. But now, the possibilities are endless! Brides are also moving away from traditional ivory and towards more vintage colours such as blush, champagne and almond. There will also be a continued move away from the big lace dresses we have seen in 2016. Brides are tending to go for more delicate lace or choose alternative fabrics with a hint of lace.

The most popular fabric for wedding dresses at the moment is crepe, which is just so elegant and graceful. www.isabellagracebridal.com

THE VINTAGE

By Cara Lee-Whyte, owner of Story of My Dress Having carefully collected my original vintage wedding dresses over the last four years I have certainly seen many changes!

When I started purveying for original vintage it was at a time when 1950s tea length dresses were extremely desirable, original or newly designed. I couldn’t collect or restore them fast enough. The request for 1930s wedding dresses never seems to fade either. The long flowing silk, bias cut beauties are extremely hard to get hold of due to the length of time they would have had to been stored correctly but as soon as they are in the shop they are out again.

Right now I would say that the 1960/70s dresses are becoming extremely popular; the brides are looking for a much more relaxed, easy to wear look. The dresses from this era are whimsical and evoke a sense of free-spirited brides perfect for the outside, barn, garden weddings that are very frequent amongst my brides today.

1960s guipure lace, crochet, off the shoulder

and 1970s fringing and fluted sleeves are going to be huge this year. Think ‘summer of love’ and Woodstock vibes. www.storyofmydress.com

THE THEME

By Natalie Wilkins, wedding co-ordinator at Chiddingstone Castle Over the past year, we saw less of the vintage shabby chic of the past few years.

Giant balloons and statement paper-craft has emerged, with huge fluffed out pompoms and a reappearance of the giant paper globe lantern. Festival fever has made an impression; capturing the relaxed fun of the modern British summer, with a nostalgic nod towards the traditional. Some couples have extended to the croquet set to recreate a light-hearted mock-up of a mini fete; with stacked hay bales, coconut shies and candy floss, ‘pimp your Prosecco’ stands and rustic wheel barrows chilling the beer on ice. Guests are encouraged to kick off the high heels for the egg and spoon, relay and sack races.

A new idea to us, awakened the most evocative of senses when one couple scented the castle throughout with reed diffusers.

Walking past the NEOM stand in a perfume hall whilst shopping, I was transported back to the joyful wedding here. www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

WEDDING PLANNER YO U R G O - TO G U I D E TO G ET YO U F RO M ‘ Y ES ’ TO ‘ I D O ’ …

ONE YEAR TO GO This is the ideal time to start making some of the bigger decisions about your wedding. Write a provisional guest list so you have an idea of numbers, as the length of your list will determine the type and size of venue you go for. Once you’ve got an idea, book appointments to see venues. Also bear in mind that you may need to book a registrar and arrange a wedding license.

Although it might seem too early, 12 months before the wedding is also a good time to start thinking about dresses. Finding ‘the one’ can take a while and boutiques have limited weekend appointments, so there’s no harm in getting organised and booking a try-on session.

NINE MONTHS TO GO If you’ve managed to find and book a venue then this a good time to send your guests ‘save the date’ cards to let them know about your impending nuptials.

At this stage you may be overwhelmed by websites, bridal magazines and lists.

To see the bigger picture, book to go along to a wedding fair. This will give you a great idea of what’s available from cakes, caterers, bands and photographers.

Plus, many exhibitors have discounted rates for brides booking on the day.

THREE MONTHS TO GO

SIX MONTHS TO GO

TWO MONTHS TO GO

Now hopefully the bigger elements of the wedding, such as your venue, caterer and dress are all sorted, which makes way for you to focus on the finer details, like decorations and accessories for the day, bridesmaid dresses and your groom’s suit.

This is also the time to get booking – if you’re planning to have your hair and makeup done on the day, book these.

The same goes for securing a wedding car and a hotel for the night of your wedding.

It’s also time to think past the wedding to the honeymoon and start making arrangements for that too.

As the wedding gets closer there’s lots to confirm. Choose your ceremony music, finalise your menu choices and speak to your suppliers to ensure everything is in place.

It’s also a good time to have your hair trial and start thinking about a beauty regime. Begin having pedicures so your feet are ready for the day, and if you’re having a spray tan it’s a good idea to book in a practice one first.

Your guests should all have the date firmly in their diaries, but now’s the time to make it official by sending out your invites. Allow guests enough time to RSVP but also bear in mind that until you have their confirmation you won’t be able to firm up numbers and complete table plans.

ONE MONTH TO GO Obviously the most important thing to

focus on is the hen and stag parties, but also book in a final dress fitting where you can try on your shoes and accessories and give your venue copies of supplier contracts.

TWO WEEKS TO GO Write a list of photographs you’d like on the day and give it to your photographer.

If you can, meet them at your venue so you can run through everything with them. If you’re jetting off straight after your wedding, begin packing now so it’s not a stress on the big day.

WEDDING WEEK This week will be busy but try to relax!

Have some beauty treatments booked so you’re ready for the big day, confirm the final details with your venue and suppliers and get any DIY projects and setting up completed. Then, have a glass of wine and an early night before the big day commences…