Today we take a look at some top wedding trends for 2013 with the help of local Bristol Wedding Planner Steph Allison.

Ribbon Backdrops and Decor

Ribbons have been growing in popularity as cheap and effective way to decorate your venue. Many couples are opting for ribbon canopies or tying them to chair backs to make a colourful and stylish statement. Ribbon backdrops can be used behind candy buffets, as a location for photos or to say I Do in front of. This pretty chair is by Elizabeth Ann Designs



                                           


                                           


Furniture Hire

Instead of hiring white chair covers and sashes to cover ugly maroon banqueting chairs, many people are realising you can hire the chairs of your choice for a similar price whether it's elegant chiavari, lime washed or traditional church chairs.

As well as chairs, many suppliers hire gorgeous vintage dressers for your cake or candy buffet. The Little Wedding Helper has lots of items to hire such as furniture, vintage suitcases and chairs.


                              


Colour Pop

Pastels have ruled the world of weddings for the past few years but colour pop will be big in 2013. Paper lanterns are a great way to add colour as are flowers, glassware and ribbon. These gorgeous flowers featured on Style Me Pretty are a great example of how colour pop can still be very pretty and feminine.


                                            

These pretty flowers shown on Green Wedding Shoes also show how coloured glass and bright blooms can add some wow to your wedding decor.


                               

            
Vintage Glamour

Vintage is still going strong but 2013 will be a move from shabby chic to vintage glamour with lots of sparkle and embelishments. Think vintage diamond and pearl brooches, roses, lace, chandeliers and strings of pearls. This pretty image is from Indulgy.com



                                              



Ruffle Cakes & Fondant Fancies

While the cupcake is still popular, people want something new in 2013 and due to shows like the Great British Bake Off, Fondant Fancies have made a comeback. They are perfectly pretty bite sized treats for weddings and can make perfect favours too (Image credit).


                         

       

Cakes will be used less on their own and be incorporated more into dessert tables and candy buffets as a centre piece. Ruffle cakes will be top of the list for those wanting someting pretty and a bit different (Image Credit Tumblr).



                                            


If you need any help planning your 2013 wedding, Steph is happy to offer complimentary consultations to any couples seeking inspiration. She is launching her brand new website www.sweetandpretty.co.uk on Valentine's Day.

Take a look at Steph's boards on Pinterest for some more theme ideas and wedding inspiration

There is now a brand new page on Bristol Wedding News, designed to inspire you on your big day, It features all of the trends, real weddings and venues that we have featured so far and will be regularly updated making it a great place to start exploring some of the great articles featured on the blog.

Over the last six months we have featured four gorgeous real weddings, ten top trends and 14 fabulous local venues. Visit the page now for some great ideas for your perfect big day.

Bird cages have been around for a while, filled with flowers for shabby chic Weddings, but birds are popping up more and more at Weddings due to their pretty vintage charm. The vintage pattern bird below is part of a patterned set from Borrowed Blue Boutique.


                                   

They also sell this stunning bird cage tree, that at 1.6 metres tall, would make a really dramatic feature for your theme. It costs £99 and has many uses from wish tree to table plan or postbox and can be bought here

                                           

This  white wooden love garland with little birds from Vintage Pink is also gorgeous and be a perfect complement to a shabby chic theme.

    
                                             

These silver love bird place card holders from A Wedding Less Ordinary are perfect to bring your bird theme alive on your tables. The vintage birdcage lantern shown below would also make a stunning centrepiece.

                                

                                

Why not treat your Bridesmaids to one of these pretty necklaces to wear on the big day, designed by Kate Wimbush Jewellery. The bird is available in either silver or gold and it costs £60 from Not on the Highstreet.

                                   

Us Brits are a proud bunch and the Royal Wedding way back in April reminded us how much we love a Union Jack, street party and a bit of bunting, so why not "keep calm and carry on" planning a truly British Wedding.

For this look, think street parties, village halls and lots of fun. You can even combine it with a vintage wartime vibe with 40s music and props. How about some cupcakes for your guests. You can buy these little flags from the All in One Wedding Shop

                                                        

When it's time to toast the happy couple, you can't get much cuter than these mini champagne bottles from Harvey Nichols at £12.50 per bottle.

                                  

Of course bunting is essential and you can buy this great quality bunting below from All The Fun Of The Fair

                                                    

You can't get much more British than strawberries and cream, well ice cream, and how sweet would it be to serve this to guests with their canapes for a summer Wedding. You can buy these bowls from Party Pieces  (owned by our lovely future Queen's parents The Middletons).

                                                  

And don't forget to include this iconic poster designed during the second world war to boost morale

                                                     

For more ideas visit my board on Pinterest here

Stephanie Allison is a Bristol Wedding Planner and the owner of How 2 I Do and is available to help you plan your Wedding theme. She also has spaces on her "How 2 Make Your Wedding Sparkle" workshop in December.

Hessian, burlap and linen are popping up all over the place at the moment and the best thing is they are really cost effective and give a great rustic look. Burlap and Twine offers some great products such as this "and they lived happily ever after sign" that could adorn your tables.


                                      


The great thing about burlap is that you can screen print directly on to it, so with some skill and imagination you could make all sorts of stunning designs. I particularly love these Paris inspired table runners from EAB Designs. Take a look at their Etsy store for lots of fantastic products including the cute Je t'aime lavender filled hearts.


                                          


                                                  

How about this gorgeous lace and burlap bunting. You could easily DIY something similar using squares of burlap, lace doilies and twine and use it to decorate your venue.

                                   

I also think these little pew end as shown on Style Me Pretty are so pretty and even though they look super stylish they are really inexpensive as they just consist of a jam jar, wire, burlap, hessian and gypsophilia. It just goes to prove how you can do a Wedding on a budget and still make it really stylish.


                                              


                                               

This burlap and lace wrap is a fab way to dress water bottles for your tables and it looks amazing with the mercury votive, also from Style Me Pretty. So if you want a rustic theme, what are you waiting for?

Words by Stephanie Allison

If you are looking for something a bit different in terms of a Wedding Venue or you dream about spending your Wedding night "glamping" under the stars, then read on. Wedding Yurts allow you total flexibility in choosing your reception venue as they can be used in your garden, in a field or in the grounds of an existing Wedding Venue. They can also provide accommodation for you or your guests.



 These stunning shots were taken at Maunsell House by  Antonia Wozencraft, the styling by the girls at Ava Event Styling and the wedding dresses, shoes and jewellery by the Wedding Club.




Here's what Lizzie from Wedding Yurts has to say about this brilliant new concept,


The 20ft yurt can be used for a party with a 12ft yurt attached for the bar and another 12ft yurt the kitchen, or a 20ft yurt for hosting a banquet with a kitchen yurt or crèche attached.
Our boutique yurt accommodation is luxurious and we have a honeymoon yurt beautifully decorated for a magical wedding night under the stars.

We have a mobile kitchen which can be set up inside the 12ft yurt, wooden dance floors, furniture, sound system, lighting, soft furnishings and decorations, we also know lots of very talented and creative people to help create your special day.



The yurts are wonderfully versatile and can be erected inside or outdoors, in a field, a garden or your chosen wedding venue, a unique venue ideal for celebrations and intimate gatherings.

Cupcakes are everywhere these days and they are a Wedding trend that is certainly here to stay. Kim from Swirls and Curls contacted us recently to tell us about her gorgeous cupcakes and after browsing her website and facebook page, we had to show you some of her ever so pretty cakes. We especially love the ice cream cone cupcakes below. They are so original and fun and would make brilliant favours for a summer Wedding.


                                        


If you want the more traditional cupcake tower, here is an example of Kim's work below. This can make a great alternative to the traditional Wedding cake and means your guests can each have a cake to eat or take home.

                                                        

What we really love is the beautiful piping and decoration on these cakes. If you want to find out how to decorate your own cupcakes, Swirls and Curls also offer great workshops where you can learn a fun new skill. How pretty are the purple cakes below, especially the rose effect piping and gorgeous bow.

I've noticed a bit of a trend evolving for something quite old school. The humble balloon of kids party fame has been reinvented in a huge (and round) way to make a fantastically stylish Wedding decoration. The verdict has always been out on balloons at Weddings but we are officially saying that balloons, as long as they are large, round and full of helium are now bang on trend.

I especially love the simplicity of plain white ones. Use them with small displays of flowers instead of large centrepieces and you will save money and look stylish. This look works best with single balloons on long tables, as shown in the picture below.

Photo Credit letthecelebrationbegin.blogspot.com

Photo Credit gobsofgiggles.blogspot.com


You can of course use balloons as a great way to introduce some colour, like in the candy buffet shown above. They also make a great feature for your photography as this gorgeous picture from Boutwell Studio below shows.

Photo Credit Boutwell Studio from enizio.blogspot.com

 If you are a Bristol balloon company that stocks large round 30" balloons, please get in contact and if you don't you should order some in as lots of Brides will want them soon.