Postponed wedding? Have a read...

So… that big summer wedding you’d been planning for the last 18 months is now postponed… The Covid-19 Pandemic has a lot to answer for… across the country, heck scrap that, across the world, couples have been postponing their 2020 Spring & Summer weddings. And whilst in the grand scheme of things I appreciate a wedding isn’t that big of a deal… but when you’ve planned every inch to perfection, it’s a HUGE deal to the couple and my heart goes out to all those who are now having to wait even longer for their ‘best day ever’.

It will without a doubt be the quietest summer wedding season EVER and whilst millions of couples and suppliers are doing their best to reorganize and reschedule plans, décor, bookings and guests, suddenly we’re looking at a boom in Autumn / Winter weddings…

But what does that mean for the choices you’ve made for your big day…? A BBQ lunch won’t work in November… and those florals you’ve chosen won’t be in season any more… You’re now needing a cover up for your slinky silk dress and your colour palette is suddenly feeling very bight and colourful….

Panic not, I’m hear to encourage you to look for the positives and embrace the possibilities of change… We can’t stop it or change what’s happened so you may as well roll with the punches and have some fun along the way. It’s a chance to really look at your day, and the plans you had made, with a fresh pair of eyes… Maybe make some changes to your day to make it EVEN BETTER… after all it’s going to be one hell of a party!!

So, for anyone who’s now pondering what to do, and what changes need to be made to their wedding, look no further… This shoot, which has been expertly styled and coordinated by me, Beth A Weddings, is full of incredible inspiration for a beautiful Autumn / Winter wedding and will hopefully give you some fresh ideas for your new big day.

The colour palette for this shoot seamlessly combines the light with the dark. Black sits alongside blush pink perfectly and this is a great idea for updating your colour palette especially if you’d originally chosen something typically Spring/Summery… If your bridemaid dresses or the napkins are all in a bright or pastel colour, don’t think you’ve got to change it all… Why not introduce a complimentary darker tone to make the whole aesthetic suddenly more autumnal? The darker tones in this shoot sit beautifully alongside a traditionally popular spring / summer colour.

An easy way to incorporate new colours is with your tableware and general décor… chat to your suppliers and see what your options are; enquire about the option of swapping white crockery for black like these stunning pieces from Crystal Hire Ltd. You may find that the price increase per unit is just a couple of pence so well worth the enquiry. Your cake supplier could also easily change the decoration of your cake… This incredible black and rose gold creation by Cake Buds Uk shows how beautiful and striking a dark cake can be.

Simple additions of darker props can also really easily change the overall look… These black wire plinths from Wild and Wonder Events utterly change the look of a bright and airy ceremony & cake set up. Use this opportunity to chat to your suppliers and see what they suggest/ offer. You could also reach out to a freelance wedding planner/stylist to help with the transition. With a whole summer of postponed work, I’m sure they’d love the work and relish the opportunity to help look at your wedding styling and décor with a fresh pair of eyes and update it. After all they’re the experts and will have ideas, suggestions & swaps that could work for your new day.

 The flowers in this shoot are just incredible. Design by Nature Flowers has used lots of dried components which is a great way to still use flowers which may no longer be in season… a great plus of dried flowers, like this stunning bouquet, is that you can keep it forever and the dried flower cloud over the ceremony space is still such a beautiful trend… proof that there’s no need to give up on certain design ideas you had for your summer wedding and that they can still work regardless of the month of your new date!

 One of the biggest investments and choices you might now be considering is your outfit and I hope this shoot inspires you to think outside the box a bit regards what you’re going to wear and again ‘embrace the change’. It may be that your dress is not going anywhere and in fact now you can just add a few warmer details such as a hat, leather jacket or even bridal socks! Swap your white shoes for darker platforms (like these lovelies from Pearl & Stud) to instantly make your look not so summery.

As this isn’t the day you’d originally planned you have the freedom to do what you like so I fully encourage you to think about a second (or even third) look for your day because you’ve certainly deserved it…. A ‘party look’ is a great way to end your night on a high, because let’s be honest… it’s going to be an even more special party because of what’s gone on and you’re going to want to be in an outfit that shouts PARTY!!!

I know a lot of couples are still marking their original date in a personal way, or by even still doing the legal part of the ceremony… so if you want to save ‘The Dress’ for the postponed date, why not give a stylish suit a go instead? I don’t know about you but I ADORE this suit and veil look put together by Liz & Fitz and Sash & Veil.

And it’s not just the ladies who can think about an outfit upgrade… this groom’s outfit is incredible and shows that you needn’t stick to a boring black suit… Have some fun and bring in some colour… teamed with a lighter trouser and bowtie this would have been an amazing summer look but the addition of tailored black trousers and a classic black dicky bow… it’s now an incredible look bang on trend for a 2020 Autumn & Winter Wedding…

Now we’ve looked at the décor, the cake, the clothes… let’s just have a look at the stationery and signs… You may need to send out some postponement cards or ‘save our new date’ cards. Chat to your stationer to see if they can help or look for some free downloads which I know a lot of companies are offering for free such as the amazing Lo and Behold Bespoke…

If you’ve DIY’d or commissioned on-the-day signage you can still use them (as long as they’re not dated) maybe just a refresh of the colours or design tweak… A sign originally designed to hang outside on a balmy summers eve can work just as well in a bespoke stand indoors like this beauty from Sylvie Signs.

Don’t feel the need to abandon all your original plans, instead look at what you love and keep that… Anything that no longer feels quite right… now’s the chance to have some fun and change things up…

I know it’s not what you originally wanted, and that it’s a bit of a crappy situation, but I promise… on your new big day, with any improvements or changes you’ve made along the way, the moment you say your I Do’s will be so incredible and it will utterly be the best day ever… 100% worth the wait.

The Team:

Models - @turner_zak1 / @emily_matts
Photographer - @wearecooper.photography
Styling and Coordination - @bethaweddings
Venue - @thebarnatavington
HMU - @alchemy_hairandmakeup
Florist - @designbynatureflowers
Signs - @sylviesigns
Furniture - @purpledoorprops
Tableware - @crystalhireltd
Props - @wildandwonderevents
Veils - @sashandveil
Headpiece - @cassiopeiacrowns
Cake - @cakebuds_uk
Stationery - @polkadotpaper
Succulent planters - @olivejenningshome
Shoes (bride) - @pearlandstud
Bridal (trilby/ skirt / jacket) - @lizandfitz
Grooms attire (pink shirt) - @lizandfitz