'wedding trends 2018' Archives - Caroline Opacic Photography

I am all about community over competition, so love a good guest blog post on my website! This week, I have Guides for Brides giving the low down on their top 6 outdoor wedding venues in the UK. I adore outdoor weddings – the english countryside is so beautiful, why not embrace it!

Over to Guides for Brides with their ultimate list…

The Mill Barns, Shropshire

Gorgeous barn wedding venue lit at night

*All images in this blog are not my own, they are from Guides for Brides

This beautiful barn wedding venue is set on the site of a former 17th water mill, which means that you can get married waterside, on their sunny outdoor Terrace overlooking The Mill Pond. The Terrace is licensed for outdoor weddings of up to 170 guests, which means that they accommodate weddings big and small, and the eight acres of gardens make for amazing wedding photography. Inside, the impressive oak-beamed barns bring the outdoors in, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice a natural feel if the weather isn’t fantastic.

Kippilaw House, Scottish Borders

Bride and groom getting married under sunlit trees in England

Kippilaw House is a stunning manor house near Edinburgh set in its own private woodland, which makes it the perfect setting for a humanist ceremony under the boughs of an ancient tree. Unlike in England and Wales, humanist ceremonies are legal in Scotland, so Kippilaw is ideal for romantic outdoor elopements, too. Both the grounds and the gorgeous 15th century manor house are available for weddings between April and October, with winter weddings available on request, and can accomodate weddings between 75 and 100 guests.

The Walled Garden, Cowdray Park, West Sussex

Newly married couple kissing under large tree

A garden is the perfect place to hold an outdoor wedding ceremony, and what prettier garden than The Walled Garden in West Sussex? This historic grade I listed wedding venue is set within the award-winning grounds of Cowdray Park, near to Cowdray Ruins. Hold your wedding here and you could say your vows underneath the fragrant Rose Pavilion surrounded by flowers, before moving into The Courtyard Room or The Castle Room for your wedding reception. The Walled Garden can hold weddings of up to 150 guests, or you could opt for an intimate wedding of less than 30.

Ocean Kave, Devon

Outdoor wedding venue by the sea in UK

If you’ve always dreamed of a beach wedding, then Ocean Kave could be the perfect seaside wedding venue for you. Set in the picturesque North Devon coastline, Ocean Kave does exactly what is says on the tin, as you can hold your wedding ceremony and reception in a rustic candle-lit cave – ideal for intimate gatherings. Alternatively, hold your outdoor wedding in their licensed gazebo overlooking the coastline, or in their glass-fronted Sunset Rooms. Whichever you choose, your guests are in for an incredible view!

Notley Abbey, Buckinghamshire

Notley Abbey outdoor wedding venue

Notley Abbey is one of the most beautiful country house wedding venues in Buckinghamshire, and unsurprisingly has a stunning garden to match! The Walled Garden is made up of the ruins of the historical Abbey, and includes a picturesque ivy-clad nook for your legal ceremony to take place. The Walled Garden can fit up to 190 guests for a wedding ceremony, and after the wedding breakfast indoors you can retire to the lawns for drinks with your evening guests as the sun goes down. Just perfect!

Lamorran Gardens, Truro

Newly married couple under an outdoor canopy

*All images in this blog are not my own, they are from Guides for Brides

For a small outdoor wedding, Lamorran Gardens in Truro, Cornwall has to be one of the most picture-perfect options in the South West. You and up to 30 guests will feel like you’re at a destination wedding, thanks to the garden’s stunning exotic palms and ferns, as well as camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons galore. Say your vows under the stone pillars and temple roof of the The Cupola in the middle of the gardens, with beautiful views over St Anthony’s Headland and the lighthouse, before enjoying your champagne reception on the terrace of the house.

Thank you so much to Guides for Brides for their guest blog post. These are some seriously gorgeous wedding venues! If you’re getting married outdoors, get in touch – I would love to shoot your big day 🙂

For more stunning outdoor wedding venues, visit Guides for Brides and set up your free online wedding planner. My 2019 diary is filling up fast, so get in touch to save your date 🙂

Caroline x x

Macrame

I personally love this 1970s craft – it’s so versatile. You can use it in different areas of your big day – you could be bold and go large with a ceremony backdrop like the below from Vintage Garden Weddings, or go small and include macrame in your table decor. There are endless possibilities – and the great thing is with macrame also in trend for interior design you can then re use it at home after the wedding!

Floral crowns

Flowers in your hair are a staple of bohemian! For the wedding day, floral crowns are totally on trend. You can get either fresh crowns from your florist, or you can get a pre version with fake flowers. Both look fantastic, especially with a loose updo. If you don’t want to go for a full crown, you can still incorporate flowers in a more subtle way for a bohemian goddess look.

3.Wild Flowers / Foliage

Foliage and greenery in interior design has definitely been a huge trend in 2017 and it is spreading into the wedding industry in 2018. I am a huge fan of this look – I try and incorporate nature and greenery into my photography a lot as I find it really inspiring, so for it to be incorporated into weddings more can only be a plus! This look can play out in various parts of your wedding – in a bouquet, perhaps with wildflowers, table decor (foliage runners), and also across your wedding stationery.

Dreamcatchers

I didn’t realise this was a trend until Vintage Garden Weddings came armed with a ton of them to my first styled shoot. I’ve always loved dreamcatchers so I was more than happy. They can make the perfect backdrops for a ceremony, portraits, hanging around your venue, or as place decorations at your reception dinner! There are so many ways you could use them, and you can personalise the colours to your theme.

Less rustic, more new age bohemian

Walking round clothes shops over the last few months, edgy but effortless and romantic is EVERYWHERE. It’s been a nightmare on my bank account as this is basically my favourite style.. Just think Stevie Nicks as your style icon and that’s a great starting point. Wedding decor style, this translates into skulls with feathers and tons of florals, crystals and precious rocks, and rich colours. Which neatly leads me on to…

6. Deep colours

Whilst blush and light colours will always be a wedding favourite, they are being nudged out slightly, with favour falling towards deep colours. As someone who loves pastels it wasn’t until I did a burgundy and navy wedding shoot that I started to find a huge love for bolder palettes. Burgundy is proving to be the in colour for this year, along with navy blue, dark greens (in line with the foliage trend) and black.

Velvet

The 1970s are officially back.. Yay!! I’ve always wanted a velvet jacket and it seems I can now go wild. If you are also a velvet fan, velvet bridesmaids dresses or jumpsuits could be a way to make use of it! If you want something for yourself, how about some velvet heels? As for the guys, velvet dinner jackets could be the option for your groomsmen.

Oversized Bouquets

Big is definitely better in 2018! Bouquets are getting larger and featuring a more cascading look. This is where the greenery trend ties back in – get as much foliage in there as you can! I’m not sure if it is more of a trend from across the pond from here, but I also love the look of long flowing ribbon around your bouquet – matched to your colour scheme of course.

Industrial spaces

That edgier new-age bohemian style works so well in an industrial space. They also leave lots of room for imagination and personalising for your big day. For styling, you may want to consider some bigger, bolder pieces to fill the space – soften the look with a lovely vintage sofa or some macrame backdrops around the place. Florals and greenery everywhere will also take the space to a chic but pretty vibe.

Burgundy for guys

Yep.. back to those deep colours again! Perfect for a autumn or winter wedding, burgundy is where it’s at for the boys. If you have a burgundy colour scene but aren’t won over enough for a burgundy suit, burgundy accessories will work too!

So..in conclusion.. A recipe for a 2018 wedding…. Take an edgy industrial venues covered in macrame and lots of greenery. Combine with deep colours, and kit out everyone in a burgundy velvet suit.. Voila! 😉

What do you think of these trends? Drop me a comment below!

Tag: ‘wedding trends 2018’

Guest Blog Post: Guides for Brides’ Top UK Outdoor Wedding Venues

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