Tips & Styling Advice for your perfect Wedding

That doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive Champagne on the wine list either, it could mean anything from Sangria to Pimm’s to your favourite beers.

Speaking from experience, each of our weddings at Styal Lodge is personalised to the specifications of the Bride & Groom (where possible obviously) be it the shape of the sofa chill out area, the layout of the tables or the drinks served on the day. And that’s what we pride ourselves on.

Because really, who wants a super standard wedding?

Today’s wedding for example (2nd June 2017) included two cases of pre-chilled, perfect coolers of Peroni. Ok it was raining so we had drinks inside, but, it’s still a very enticing way to welcome your favourite people to your big day.

One of our most popular drinks options is our special Milk Bottle Cocktails. If you want something with a bit of rustic charm that you won’t find anywhere else, it’s these little beauties.

The ingredients? There are many, from the very girly looking Pink Lemonade complete with Strawberries to Elderflower with a mint leaf garnish (left and right in photo respectively). We also do summer berry and peach flavours too. They are then presented in wooden fruit crates to add to the look. If I was to choose a favourite, it would have to be Elderflower, but I think the most popular flavour chosen by our couples has to be Pink Lemonade, and it’s easy to see why.

They really smack of summer.

If you’re after something a little more low-key, simple Champagne or Prosecco will cut the mustard, or even add a cooler of chilled Budweiser, Becks or Corona, complete with lime wedge. Now there’s your perfect summer bev lads, eh.

Seriously though, I will very much enjoy a few of those on a lovely sunny day, and that’s why they make great reception drinks! Check that garden out.

For more information about what drinks options could be available for your big day, or simply for some advice on current trends please feel free to leave a comment or email [email protected] . 

Above is a shot of our stunning Bride Stephanie and our Groom Olly using a pink smoke baton during the winter months. The colour gives it such a dramatic back drop and an image neither of them will ever forget.

This one is of Hayley and JP on the evening of their wedding in April. It was truly the golden hour when we drove over on the golf buggy and the sunshine illuminates the trees beautifully, reflected in the calm water. It was just an added bonus that Hayley’s gorgeous dress looked so good and the pair of them happily chatted so we could snap this photo.

The lake is really in full bloom in this shot, taken during a dress shoot and with what looks like perfect weather to accompany it. During this time of year there is so much wildlife that can be captured here, such as rabbits, ducks, moor hens, fish and even geese, giving your wedding day a nod to nature.

Now this is what you call dramatic, yet it feels so calm and tranquil. The reflection in the water really makes the Bride and Groom stand out from the image. It looks like Autumn is just beginning to arrive adding beautiful pops of orange to the shot too.

This stunning black and white toned shot from the side of the lake is actually quite unusual, as nowadays there is so much foliage that photographers find it difficult to get to, but where there’s a will there’s a way I suppose! Other angles can still be found from the opposite end of the lake which gives a similar reflection like of the couple in this absolutely gorgeous photograph.

Apart from including an unsuspecting photographer, this photo really encapsulates the vibrancy of a summer day again with a beautiful reflection adding drama to the atmosphere.

And finally, a brilliant shot from Damian Brandon of one of our amazing couples. The early evening summer light illuminates the trees in the background and provides that crisp reflection. All the attention and focus is solely on the married couple, making it feel so intimate. 

For our recommended list of photographers or to view our brochure, please email [email protected] or visit our website for more details about how you can use the lake to your advantage on your wedding day.

If you’re interested in Styal Lodge for your special day please go to our website to download our e-brochure where you’ll find our prices and general information along with a gallery of photos.

Pinterest, ladies, may be a cave of wonders when it comes to wedding ideas and whimsical decor, but you have to remember that thousands of other brides-to-be will be wanting and probably using the exact same things as you. 

It’s a tough pill to swallow but I’ve seen it first hand just in my first year of running weddings. I normally get lost in Pinterest for some time, looking through ideas, photos and simply stunning floral arrangements that make you get giddy. Then the next month I’ll turn up to work and see that this week’s bride has had some very similar ideas. 

The most commonly used accessory to weddings last year was the “Pick a seat, not a side” welcome sign, often written in rustic chalk, painted or stuck to a wooden frame. It’s a great idea so it’s no surprise it was used so much, but for me it’s a little old hat now. 

That’s why I’ve chosen to do little extras for my wedding plans that will hopefully set it apart from the rest and leave a lasting impression on my family and my guests. After all, I don’t want a Pinterest wedding, I want our wedding to stand out because we made it totally ours.

So, that’s why with 10 months to go before my wedding I started making dried rose petals to keep for confetti and to put inside my bridesmaids boxes, invitations and other decorative items.

It’s a super simple but fairly time consuming activity, but it’s totally worth it when you see the results, especially when you can buy a 250g box of the same thing for £2.99 from Waitrose. Insane!

The materials you will need for successful petal drying are: - a Microwave, x2 rolls of standard kitchen roll, as many flat baking trays as you have, a few microwavable plates and storage space to leave petals to finish drying overnight.

Right, first things first, gently pluck all petals from a rose that is fully opened and slightly past its best, beginning with the outside petals and working in. They should come off in your hand quite easily, but be careful not to pull too hard or the petals will easily rip. Do this for all the roses that you have to dry.

Once you have gone right to the inside of the rose you’ll notice how tiny the inside petals are and these ones are perfect for confetti. These tiny little petals also dry differently to the big petals so separate these from the others.

Once you have finished plucking and separating your petals, it’s now time to arrange them for drying. So, get out your first plate and line it with kitchen roll. Then arrange similar sized petals in rows with a little space in between so they don’t get stuck together. I had to use baking paper for mine, which worked well, but I can imagine kitchen roll will work much better.

When that plate is full, plonk it in the microwave on high for 1 minute. While that minute ticks away, carefully arrange another plate with kitchen roll and petals like the first one so it is ready to go in the microwave next.

Once that first minute is up, carefully remove the plate from the microwave using an oven glove (hot!) and set it on a heat proof surface. You will see that the petals have started to dehydrate and will look a bit wrinkly. Check that they aren’t stuck to the kitchen roll and pop them back in for 1 more minute. Afterwards they should be crunchy to touch and smaller in size than their original form.

Repeat this process for the rest of the petals, but remember their size dictates how long they will need to be microwaved for. Smaller petals take longer to dry than larger ones. Always test a couple of petals in your microwave first to make sure that the timescale for microwaving them is correct for your appliance, as they do vary.

As well as that, you’ll need to change your kitchen roll pieces every other time you put it in the microwave as they will eventually stop soaking up moisture from the petals.

Once you’ve finished you will need to leave the petals to dry for another 24 hours on their kitchen roll on baking trays in a cool, dry area in your house. Then you can pack them into air tight containers and they will last until your wedding day.

I used Peach and White roses as you can see, and the colour came out so much better than I expected. I would advise against using very dark colour roses such as blood red or purple as they will most probably turn out black once dried. Light coloured roses or other flowers would look the best using this method.

I hope I have given you some inspiration for personalising your wedding day. It seems silly that you have to personalise your own wedding when you’ll be there, but you have no idea how many weddings come and go that all seemed very similar and very samey, so just bear that in mind ladies - you’re all unique in your own way so show it at your wedding!

Now think about wedding shoes. Where does one buy wedding shoes from if not from a wedding dress shop? Today there are loads of online stores where you can find standard white satin heels or little pumps to go with your bridal attire, but where’s the originality in that? Where’s the magic?

Just think about Disney movies, the Princesses always have matching shoes to go with their dreamy ballgowns. So why are you any different? Imagine if the shoes below were real (I’d have ordered some already) but why are we not aspiring to fairytale standards ladies? They’re not real, sadly, just a good piece of artwork on some fabulous gold D&G heels, but they must have got your imagination flowing a little surely?

Luckily, we don’t have to design our own magical, dreamy wedding shoes because today I went to a designer shoe event at LOVE Bridal Boutique in Altrincham where my mind was blown away by sheer shoe beauty and I found a solution to the boring wedding shoes problem.

Harriet Wilde, or Ruth as the designer introduced herself as, had set up a cave-of-wonders style display of all her best-selling shoes for us to try on and order. I simply did not know where to look. It was just shoe heaven, to coin a common cliche.

What made the display even more breath-taking was the gorgeous interiors of the LOVE Bridal Boutique, having lush fabrics, wood floors and lots of light setting the perfect scene for this incredible afternoon. 

The Boutique is owned and directed by the very lovely Emma Draper, who has won a good handful of trophies at the Wedding Industry Awards due to her warm, friendly service and fantastic range of wedding dresses and accessories for the slightly alternative, chic bride. If this amazing woman can’t find you your perfect dress, no one can.

In addition to receiving a warm welcome into the boutique and a glass of Prosecco with Elderflower, I was also offered some delicate, delicious treats made by Cakes By Yolk, including some marble-effect covered heart biscuits, which are displayed around the boutique for customers to help themselves to. I found the whole idea brilliant.

Long gone are the days of stuffy, snooty bridal stores.

So why was I there? Good question, I’d somehow managed an invite by Emma herself and I was very grateful as I’m not only blogging about weddings I’m also getting married myself and am on the hunt for my own fairytale shoes.

The showstopping Harriet Wilde designs are what I found on Instagram a while back and thought, “how do I get a pair of these?!” Thinking I would never really get to look at some let alone try a load on. Meeting the actual designer and seeing her beautifully intricate work in the flesh was incredible. 

Now that I’ve set the scene, lets look at some of Harriet Wilde’s shoes. There are a few styles that are more understated than her show-stopping designs, such as the Peony, which can have a low or platform heel to suit your preference, and to me look like something you would have worn to a glamourous 1920′s theatre show. They are the two on the right of the image below.

The Harriet Wilde range incorporates some feminine, more muted designs for those of us who want the glamour but not all of the attention, and the range also includes the total show-stopping, jaw-dropping heels that you’ve always dreamed of. Meet Arabella, Bridgette and Joanie (below) - 3 of the most dazzling pairs of shoes Harriet Wilde has to offer, and get this, they can be customised right down to the shade of gold used on the heel.

You can also choose from blush, grey and ivory as the main shoe colour, whether its suede or satin you prefer and you can even customise the colour of the flowers adorned on the heel detailing. Ruth herself explained all of this to me as she was showing me each delicate shoe and I was sucking it all up like a sponge. One day, I said, these will be yours.

The stunning bling on the heels are Swarovski Crystals, too, just to make the shoes even more glamourous than they already are.

Unfortunately for me, I can’t buy my pair of Harriet Wilde heels until I’ve found my dress, as I want to make sure the colours match properly, so I immediately booked an appointment with Emma to come back to the boutique to see if I could change that. 

But for those of you lucky Brides-to-be who’ve already found your dress, you should definitely consider buying your fairytale wedding shoes from somewhere that you can custom design them and wear again for years to come. Visit the Harriet Wilde website to see her full range of styles and read about the latest shoe news.

See the gorgeous wedding dresses at Love Bridal Boutique to get an idea of what you can find along with loads of beautiful accessories and read more about its fun, passionate Director.

Still looking for your dream Cheshire wedding venue? Take a look at Styal Lodge, nestled within Styal Golf course and boasting a beautiful, atmospheric lake, it’s a really unique setting for all types of wedding ceremonies & celebrations.

Chair dressing is an important factor to consider for your wedding as it not only continues your chosen theme throughout your venue but it can really make a difference to how your ceremony might look and feel on the day. Some of us might choose to keep things simple and keep the chairs as they are, but others don't have that luxury as there are venues out there that use frankly hideous chairs and so you would need to cover them.

At Styal Lodge many of you will have seen our chairs, which are very petite and neutral in colour, meaning they suit both covered dressings and the uncovered look for a more rustic feel. That gives our couples much more choice when deciding on the colour schemes and designs for their wedding, which is a big deal when deciding on your perfect venue.

What myself and Emma decided to do was to show you some really on-trend chair dressing designs and some that we think will become popular over the next year or so based on the latest wedding colour scheme trends. So, take a look at the design concepts and see what you think, you could even be super creative and be able to craft these yourself. If though, you’re more of a visionary than an artist, Emma is always on hand to give you advice on prices for each design and she can even custom design your own for you if you have something unique in mind.

Having Emma here at Styal Lodge from the very beginning means that she is a total expert, not only on dressing venues, but specifically with what colours, styles and designs work the best at Styal Lodge, so you have the best possible person here to ask questions and help you plan your special day.

Now, on to the chair dressings. The first one is a design that is actually being used by one of our Brides for her wedding this weekend, in-keeping with the rustic feel her and her fiancé have incorporated along with having just one long table for the couple and their guests, which we think is very unusual but gorgeously intimate. This is also one of Emma's more budget-friendly designs too, so if you like the look of this then please feel free to ask her about her prices.

Beautiful, rustic Hessian fabric bow

The next design is one we've seen quite a few times over the past couple of wedding seasons and it's really because it's so timeless and chic. It also looks quite sophisticated but actually doesn't take much to create as I realised when I watched Emma so effortlessly tie this beautiful design in seconds.

But why is that good for you? Well, it means that if you need 100 chairs decorating with the same design then it will take Emma less time to do and that means it will be cheaper for you. As well as that it gives Emma more time to spend doing the designs which means less rushing and stressing before the big day. Win, win.

The design is made with gorgeously soft ivory lace and it can be fashioned into quite a few different shapes so if you love the fabric but fancy something different then speak to Emma and she can create something especially for you. Personally though, we love the textures of this one too much.

And for our Summer weddings we have a new design to show you that is becoming really popular online. It hints at a bit of a Grecian theme with ivory organza and it really stands out from the more traditional styles we usually see.

The soft, flowing material really makes the chair look beautiful and again is a simple design that even I could work out how to do quite successfully with my limited chair-dressing skills. You can even mix and match with the tie in the middle, using ribbon, lace or even rope to create your vision. Again, our in-house expert Emma can help you decide on your materials. 

Organza fabric in a Grecian design using tied gold beads

Some other examples of different chair dressing ideas are below too. The ribbons tied onto the back of the chair are one of my personal favourites as you can really personalise it with your own colours and ribbon fabrics to create your perfect design.

There is also a chair wrapped in dusky pink satin tied in bows coupled with vintage brooches and one tied in light, ruffled organza finished with pretty flowers, both of which are subtle, feminine and understated but when placed around tables for your wedding breakfast will complete the room.

For more ideas and inspiration for your special day please feel free to visit Styal Lodge weddings to see the venue fully dressed using different themes and to enquire about the venue.