In a world of hyper-consumerism and relentless fashion trends, we could all learn a lesson from stylist and sustainability advocate, Jenna Flood.

Jenna uses Visualist in her curation of client lookbooks and finding the perfect colour palettes. Visualist speeds up her process so that she has more time to focus on promoting slow fashion—making an impact one wardrobe at a time.

Introduce yourself...

Hello! I am Jenna (She/Her) I am a slow fashion stylist whose main focus is educating people on issues surrounding fast fashion. I help people build their wardrobes in a more sustainable way with clothing made with ethical practices and pre-loved items. Alongside my work as a stylist, I work at a trade-style clothing store called Mutual Muse in Brunswick, Melbourne. I have also been invited to speak publicly about slow fashion, having been featured on the radio and even in Peppermint magazine!

Where do you find inspiration?

I usually put 'street style' in a search. There are so many street-style photographers out there and there are also many stylish people (and not just at events!) these images always give me ideas and colour palettes for my next project or just day-to-day dressing.

What role does Visualist play in your process?

I am currently curating a client look book with the help of Visualist. The boards and palettes I present should make my clients excited to explore their new style. I use moodboards to get an idea of what my client wants from their style. A client may say they want a classic style, but that means something different to everyone—moodboards help guide me towards what they are looking for. They also help me identify the colours and what a client may like about a certain look.

How important is colour in a wardrobe?

Colour is key in a moodboard, it makes the whole thing look cohesive and helps to communicate the overall vision. I use Visualist's colour search to bring together the perfect colour palettes for my clients.

The colours we wear impact our mood. I always feel so light when I wear lighter colours and I always feel a bit mysterious when I wear darker tones. I know I always feel happy when looking at fun prints put together in interesting ways. I think we should all wear what makes us smile.

What is your favourite colour combination to wear right now?

As we are coming into Spring here in Australia, I am loving neutral tones paired with white and maybe tan or dark brown accessories. Black is always in rotation for me and green is one of my favourite colours to give my wardrobe something special.

As a self-employed creative you're likely already wearing a lot of hats, so why make banking any harder than it needs to be?

It is important that creative professionals are able to separate their personal and professional finances—thankfully there are a growing number of digital banks offering a great alternative to traditional banks for self-employed creatives to do so. These banks also offer helpful tools and resources and are often compatible with existing apps in the creative entrepreneur's toolkit including Quickbooks, Stripe and Etsy.

What all creatives have in common, from interior designers to personal stylists, is the desire to spend less time managing finances and more time creating! So we've rounded up the best banks on the market that can help independent creatives do just that...

Lili

Lili is a bank looking to the future. In their own words: "Freelancers and small businesses are redefining work. We are redesigning banking to help them grow their business." Lili is great for creative entrepreneurs at the start of their journey, with no fees and no minimum deposit.

Star feature: Tax Bucket. Lili helps you decide a percentage of your income to set aside to cover income tax—no more nasty surprises come tax return deadlines.

Find out more about Lili here.

Vergo

Unlimited cash back, free wires, free invoicing, expense tracking, and free checking account—and if that wasn't enough, Vergo also comes with no annual fees! Still not sold!? Vergo is backed by design industry mogul, Kelly Wearstler. Now we're talking.

Star feature: Accounting integrations. Connect the accounting tools you're already using, such as Quickbooks and Xero, with Vergo—your accountant will love you!

Find out more about Vergo here.

Ellou

ElloU is the financial offshoot of Talenthouse—"a network of creative platforms aimed at building a barrier-free space for your talent." ElloU offers three tiers of membership to suit your growing business needs. As a member expect free transfers, free incoming payments in Euros, and currency exchange rates at your fingertips.

Star feature: Exchange rate calculator.  Make cross-border transactions a breeze with exchange rates available at the click of a button.

Find out more about Ellou here.

Found

A sophisticated way to manage your money. Found provides built-in bookkeeping, business banking, smart tax tools and professional invoice templates. In summary: "Smart, simple banking."

Star feature: Customised branded invoices. Stylish and functional, Found lets you create customized in a matter of minutes and supports client payments via Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal in addition to credit card, debit card, and direct deposit.

Find out more about Found here.

Mettle

NatWest's cool younger sibling—Mettle is a business account designed to help sole traders or co-owned limited companies "start, run, and grow." With Mettle you can create invoices, export data to your accountant or sync with your existing accounting software—and its all completely free.

Star feature: All Mettle customers receive eat NatWest FreeAgent for free!

Find out more about Mettle here.

Martha Tobyn is the founder of Anemone—a London-based wedding planning, design and styling studio for stylish, modern couples. Martha also acts as Head of Styling at The Wedding Academy.

Martha took an unconventional path into the wedding and events industry and has continued to approach her work with a unique flair. Martha reflects on her process with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

There is still a place for wedding traditions but I encourage my couples to adopt (if any) the ones that are meaningful to them and ditch those that aren’t. I am a firm believer in doing your wedding your way. Rather than conforming to expectations and what has come before. Most often the only essential bit is the legal ceremony. Apart from that, I say do what feels most like you and that may involve creating new traditions.

I find that my clients value the traditions they can emotionally connect with, and those that provide a great memorable moment that can be captured in the photos. Popular traditions include those such as the aisle walk, confetti moment, and wedding party speeches (with more women speaking too, yay!) More rarely seen are traditions such as a bouquet toss or a receiving line. Elements such as a cake cut or first dance are being modernised with fun or creative twists.

Something new

The first thing I need to know when taking on a new client is the date! I can get booked years in advance and certain weekends such as bank holidays can be popular. So, I need to check that I’m free for their preferred or already confirmed date before we chat further. I also feel that a connection is key to a successful wedding planning partnership so I offer a complimentary call to get to know them better. It’s important for me to be able to "get in their heads" and start to develop a sense of their vibe, priorities, budget, and style. Then we can get a feel for if we’d be a good fit or not.

Something borrowed

After university, I planned to launch what I thought was going to be my dream career in the fashion industry. I ended up working as a production/studio assistant for a couture bridal designer. It was wonderful to see the dresses sketched out and skilfully crafted. Whilst assisting with a bridal fitting one day, I really felt how special the moment was for the bride and what an honour it was to be part of a very important milestone in someone’s life. I remember thinking how rewarding that might be.

Years later, when I felt I needed a career shift, that memory popped into my head. From that point on, I put all my time and energy into retraining and building a business that is very fulfilling and sparks my creativity. So much of what I learned during my previous career in fashion applies to my work today. When I considered a career change, I looked at roles that would benefit from what I’d already learned. Budget management, working to a strict timeline, liaising with suppliers and negotiating are all skills that apply to both jobs.

But I think the biggest lesson I learnt in fashion is the importance of maintaining equilibrium and keeping all the stakeholders involved happy! A wedding is a big life project, with lots of people and emotions (as well as money) invested. Crucially, both roles involve taking something from concept to physical delivery, through refinement and paying attention to all the details.

As a wedding planner, I learned very early on whilst assisting some of the best UK planners, to surround yourself with a trusted team, talented suppliers and passionate assistants who you can rely on to deliver—as a planner the team you build with is everything! A great supplier collaboration can produce magic, whereas a bad one can cause so much unnecessary stress. If you recommended a supplier, they are representing you.

An industry friend and colleague also once told me that no matter how long you’ve been working in the industry, you learn something at every wedding. It helps you learn and grow and makes you an even better planner for the next one!

Something blue

This particular colour palette is modern, muted, and autumnal. I absolutely love creating colour palettes. There are so many things that influence colour choices but ultimately my couples inspire their own wedding palettes.

I start with the couple's preferred colours or colours taken from treasured possessions and places they love. I consider these in relation to the venue and location as a backdrop, and then I refine them by considering complimentary and contrasting colours. These could be from something I’ve seen in nature, on the catwalk, at an art exhibition or just fulfilling my interiors itch on Pinterest.

When I’m creating concepts for inspiration editorials I am drawn towards more unexpected colours or combinations rarely seen in real weddings. It’s always fun to inspire couples to be exciting with their colour choices. I think some of the most exciting trends for 2023 involve how colours will be used. I predict more confident use of unexpected accent colours. Such as pops of light blue in more soft or muted palettes, or flashes of bold red or orange in a pastel scheme. I’m also expecting to see more monochrome styling and florals as an update on the modern neutrals that have been very popular.

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Browse a beautiful archive of Martha's work on Instagram. Find out more about Martha's services on her website.

Emma is the founder and face of Emma Jane Weddings, a London-based wedding planning and design studio curating events in the United Kingdom and Cape Town.

Emma explains her wedding planning philosophy, that you should always opt for what you want rather than what is expected, with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

I know I've done a good job when my clients won’t stop thanking and hugging me on their wedding day!

But knowing a “good job” has been done starts before the wedding day itself. It also comes in the form of the couple’s reaction to seeing their design concept for the first time, their excitement about the suppliers I’ve sourced, or just the general relaxation and happiness they felt in the planning process because they had my guidance and support.

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Something new

The onboarding process varies depending on whether the couple has booked my full planning and design or event design-only package, but all new clients are met in person (unless they live abroad) to kickstart the planning process—nothing beats spending time together in person, as much as we all love the convenience of a video call!

An in-person meeting allows me to observe how they interact with each other and as a unit, I find I get a sense of who they are much quicker than if we chat over a video call.

I wouldn’t commit to there being one "all-delivering" question, I need to learn a lot about my clients to be able to plan their wedding. It’s the combination of questions and time spent together during the planning process that allows me to fully understand them as a couple. When I’m asking questions at the initial stages of the planning process, listening to understand, not to respond, has always helped me to dive deeper into their desires for the wedding.

Alongside a design questionnaire, for the couple to fill out in their own time, I request a maximum of 10 cohesive images to refer to when putting their design proposal together. I don’t mind whether this is on a Pinterest board or uploaded to our design studio on Aisle Planner, though the former is most popular. Normally, this information combined with what I already know about them as a couple is enough for me to do the creative thinking on their behalf, after all this is why most of my clients come to me! If additional encouragement is needed, I remind clients that there are no rules whatsoever when it comes to creating a day that feels personal to them, and I typically don’t plan weddings that require strict traditions to be adhered to for this very reason.

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Something borrowed

Pinning down a single moment that inspired me to become an event planner would be challenging. The decision to start an event planning and design studio came from the desire to be self-employed and the confidence-boosting feedback I received from clients I was currently working with through a wedding venue (this is where I started my journey!)

My favourite bits of advice:

• Only shortlist suppliers you absolutely believe in and feel will perfectly fit the brief, it’s better to present the couple with a shorter, quality list than many different options just for the sake of it.
• If the couple wants to change something but you think it won’t look as good as the original design, remember it’s their wedding and it’s really not the end of the world to have a different napkin colour or particular set up if it’ll make them happy on the day.
• Avoid going to the couple about a problem until you have the solution.
• When posting on social platforms or updating your website, only share images of work you’re happy to keep creating or recreating; this will distance you from your ‘non-ideal client’, help you move closer to your true brand identity, and attract the clients you love working with.

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Something blue

My design proposal begins with a colour palette based on tones the couple like combined with what I feel will work best with the overall design concept and within the venue space. The colour palette is worked right the way through the design concept to ensure a cohesive event atmosphere.

I call this colour palette, "Lovely in Lilac". We opted for a soft and feminine palette of lilac, pink and neutral shades. This is a prime example of going with what you want instead of what is expected, the couple were set to marry in autumn and felt pressure to have a typically autumnal event design, one discussion later and they opened up about what they actually envisioned for their day, giving me the tools to create this design for them instead.

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Browse Emma's beautiful portfolio on Instagram or find out more about her services on her website.

Wed & Prosper is an award-winning wedding planning and styling service based on the Isle of Wight, co-founded by sisters Carrie and Rachel Almond.

The pair reflect on their journey into the industry and the moments that make their job special with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

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Something old

We took quite different journeys into our role as wedding planners...

Rachel‍

I spent a few years working on cruise ships and I used to love getting asked to decorate the big events or help with setting up the onboard weddings—there is something so rewarding about helping people make memories. The things people will always remember are how a place looked, the music that was playing, or even the smell!

Carrie‍

I worked at the Minghella Film Festival, where I was involved in planning and organising everything from catering to driving Jude Law—that’s when I knew the events industry was for me. When I was 15, "event planner" was on my careers printout along with "bank manager". I did become a bank manager, but have since forged a career in weddings on our little island.

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Now, one of our favourite parts of the job is the feedback we get from guests. Obviously, it's amazing when the bride tells us how much we have done for her, but we really love it when the guests and relatives tell us the behind-the-scenes info that we may not have known about. Such as that the bride was in tears with stress and anxiety until we showed up, or that she didn’t know what she was going to do until we fixed it!

The look on all the guest's faces when we reveal the venue all kitted out is also a big win for us! We are from a small island, so when we get stopped in the street or on the school run as someone has heard of a wedding or seen it on Instagram it really brightens our day and gives us an extra lift.

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Something new

Our enquiries come via social media, website, phone calls and emails. Many of our clients don't live on the Isle of Wight and so we offer a free consultation via video as part of our onboarding process. We always ask new clients what they love and hate, what they do for hobbies and how they want to feel on their wedding day. This gives us a great idea of what sort of vibe they want and which suppliers will suit them. You have to like your wedding planner as you are trusting them with one of the most important days of your life so, for us, the first consultation is really important.

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Something borrowed

We ask our clients early on to start collecting and saving images. Some clients are super organised, with folders dedicated to different elements of the day and a clear vision of what they are trying to achieve. Other clients find the creativity side a bit harder, which is where we step in to help with our styling consultancy service.

To illustrate ideas, we put moodboards together and provide sketches of how different areas of the venue will look. We may also bring clients into our studio and put together different items for centrepieces, swapping and changing items or colour schemes until they are happy.

We really believe in making sure each wedding is different and showcases the couple's personality— that it’s not just copied from a Pinterest or Instagram post they have seen.

Lately, we are seeing a rise in people wanting bigger flower installations, along with décor suspended from ceilings and marquees instead of just focusing on the table décor. Our clients want people to be surrounded by beauty and create more atmosphere—it is all about having every angle covered for the photographs.

We are also seeing some traditions being broken. For example, instead of throwing the bouquet, brides will give all the ladies a single stem flower that everyone throws at the same time. This approach means the traditional element of the bouquet toss is still there without it ruining the amazing bouquet that a florist has spent lots of time making and you have given a hefty sum of the budget to.                

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Something blue

To start building a colour palette, we start with the dress. What colour scheme are they thinking for their own dress and those of the bridal party—is that going to suit everyone? Then the time of year also has a big influence on the colour scheme, for example, deeper colours for winter and maybe pastels for springtime. Once a few of the bigger questions have been answered we will then look into the colour of décor.

The venue and how it is already decorated also have a big impact on the colour scheme chosen, it is so great when a venue is quite clean-cut and neutral because it allows the client to really bring their personality into play. I like to start with the florals—looking at what is in season and what colours we can get hold of—and develop from there, bringing in the colours of linen and napkins, designing the stationery and making sure everything complements each other.

We call this colour palette, "All The Shades of Green". The idea was to use a mix of deep forest greens and lighter garden greens mixed in with some darker berry colours. This was an October marquee wedding and the idea was to bring the English garden that surrounded the stately home into the marquee itself.

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Browse an archive of Rachel and Carrie's work on Instagram or learn more about their services on their website.

Hannah Porter is the founder of Studio Porter—a London-based creative studio specialising in design-led, purpose-filled occasions for artistic weddings and intimate events across the UK.

Hannah reflects on her journey into the wedding industry and the value of purpose-driven design with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

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Something old

My business originated from a love of planning, creativity, and bringing people together. From a young age, I was surrounded by intimate gatherings with close friends and family which ultimately taught me the value of social interaction and how bringing people together creates some of the most cherished memories. But it wasn’t until I met my now husband when planning my own wedding, that I realised planning and styling heartfelt occasions for discerning couples was something I wanted to focus on full-time.

In the lockdown of 2020, I made the jump from a property sales consultant to a full-time wedding planner & stylist. It was really important for me to build a brand and business that represents romantic, modern couples searching for an intuitive planning, yet equally thought-provoking design process.

The most rewarding part of my job is getting to know my clients inside-out, their journey so far and their individual love stories. I believe that something as personal as a wedding should be a complete extension of a couple’s love for one another and their individual personalities.  

I also cherish the wedding day itself. As hard and as tiring as it can occasionally feel, seeing everything that you've been working on, for months, sometimes years, come together and seeing the reaction of your client's faces for the first time, is why I do this job. Bringing joy and pride to people on the best day of their lives is precious.

Something new

In recent years, I have found that many couples are moving away from tradition and choosing elements of the day that are most important to themselves. This can be seen in the narrowing down of guest lists to allocate more budget to the overall design and styling, deciding against a traditional wedding cake, eliminating guest favours altogether, or even in the ceremonies themselves with more creative and personalised nuptials.

I'm also seeing a lot more couples wanting to provide their guests with a unique experience, by planning their wedding over the course of a couple of days and opting for pre-wedding day events and activities. It's now not just about the wedding day itself, but everything from the welcome to the post-wedding hangover brunch.

Most importantly, I'm noticing more couples tweak their priorities in order to achieve a more sustainability-conscious day.

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Something borrowed

Every proposal I curate is bespoke and tailored to each couple. I always request an informal telephone call prior to presenting a client with a formal quotation, in order to learn about them as a couple, their vision for the day, and their budget. There is no single question that allows me to understand my clients, the onboarding process is thorough and goes into a lot of depth in order to provide the best possible starting point for me to assist them in their next chapter.

I'm someone who champions authenticity. I will always encourage couples to create a day that feels entirely unique and bespoke to them. As part of my general planning and styling process, I always ask clients to provide me with initial inspiration behind their vision. This can be anything from Pinterest Boards, saved posts on Instagram, a particular story, poem, meaningful quote, or memorable moment in time, maybe even inspiration from a venue or chosen wedding location itself.

I also encourage clients to find inspiration in other avenues that aren't necessarily wedding related, such as fashion, interiors, architecture, and art.

Something blue

As a wedding designer,  it is important to have a certain level of understanding when it comes to colour and how it's used. Colour is a vital tool that can influence the mood of a wedding and its overall aesthetic. From colour psychology to colour and culture, the effect that colour has on humans is profound, evoking intense emotional responses and capturing a couple's personality.

I'm someone who is naturally drawn to a more muted and neutral colour palette but I do also love working with a variety of colours. When building a colour palette, I look at the wedding as a whole, including the location and chosen season. I also ask my clients to complete an in-depth questionnaire as part of my onboarding process, where I learn all about their loves, wants, personalities, and dislikes—which is all taken into consideration when completing a couple's colour palette.

It's fundamental to my ethos that every aspect of design has a purpose and story behind it. When presenting clients with their carefully considered colour palette, I always explain my reasons behind a certain colour choice, how it will be used and what it will bring to their wedding.

One of my favourite colour palettes that I produced for a client was for an intimate city wedding in London. I wanted to create a palette that felt romantic, sophisticated, and clean yet sumptuous. It represented the couple in every way and came together so beautifully on the day.

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Browse an archive of Hannah's work on Instagram, or learn more about her services on her website.

Rachel Overall is the owner of Mirabella Weddings, providing luxury wedding planning for detail-driven couples. With a background in branding and marketing, she also offers consultancy services to other small business owners, as well as a range of helpful resources for both couples and suppliers alike.

Rachel reflects on longstanding client relationships, the beauty of a scaled-down celebration, and the emotional impact of colour with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

I’ve always enjoyed planning and organising but also had a keen eye for design and detail. I spent ten years working in marketing but knew I wanted my own business. Wedding planning offered a great way of being able to apply the skillset I’d developed during my career, whilst also allowing me to really tap into my creative side through the styling aspect. I love that every wedding I work on is so different. It’s such a personal job—I love being able to work and build strong connections with so many great people, both clients and suppliers alike. It’s a real honour to be trusted to deliver the biggest day of someone’s life, and I’m very fortunate in that many of my clients become friends whom I remain in contact with well beyond their wedding day.

Many of my couples have shared very kind words thanking me during their speeches (though I often turn a shade of beetroot at this point), but the biggest compliment for me is when their family and friends go out of their way to come up to me during the day and tell me that it’s the best wedding they’ve been to, or that the wedding is so "them". Whilst my priority is always that my couples have the best day, it is also crucial that their guests have an amazing time and so it is always lovely to hear that.

Something new

With COVID having turned the wedding world upside-down, we’re seeing more couples looking to challenge traditions and re-write the wedding rulebook. Whilst the pandemic sadly forced many couples to have smaller guest lists, it also helped couples to feel confident in having smaller celebrations—without the pressure of inviting long-lost relatives and distant family friends. With people becoming increasingly conscious of budgets, shrinking the guest list is also an easy way of scaling back the budget and allowing them to prioritise their spending elsewhere.

Another key trend is that we’re seeing a real shift in couples looking to make their weddings more sustainable. From renting wedding suits and dresses to ensuring their florists are using seasonal, locally-grown blooms, sustainability is becoming an increasing consideration for couples when selecting wedding suppliers.

Something borrowed

When I receive an enquiry, I start with an initial consultation call. I think it’s really important to get to know my clients as people before we get into the nitty-gritty of the wedding! I like to ask my clients, "What three words would you like your guests to use to describe your wedding?" This really helps me to understand where their priorities lie—whether it be an elegant and stylish affair or a full-blown, boozy party til the early hours.

Once I know more about what they’re looking for, I follow up with a detailed proposal. If they then choose to book, we either meet for a drink or jump on a video call to really get into the details. As planning progresses, I encourage clients to share their ideas and inspiration with me so we can build a really visual representation of their wedding day. We check in regularly to discuss the details and ensure everything is on track.

Social media platforms and wedding blogs are naturally great for gathering ideas, but they can quickly become overwhelming. Instead, I encourage couples to think outside the box and draw inspiration from all over. For example, I encourage those who love to travel to draw inspiration from their favourite places,  or I prompt foodies to take ideas from their favourite restaurants. Also, interior design is great for looking at general upcoming colour trends and styles.

As couples gather their ideas and share them with me, I collate them in a bespoke moodboard that provides direction for the styling and details of their day. It helps so much to have a visual representation for us all to refer back to and ensure we’re on the same page.

Something blue

With a background in branding and marketing, I really believe that the colours chosen for a couple’s day are crucial in setting the right tone. I ask my couples not just how they want their wedding to look, but how they want it to feel.

When helping couples to choose a colour scheme, I really encourage them to think about the colours that they’re naturally drawn to and those that reflect their personalities. It’s also really important to consider the season in which they’re marrying—winter naturally suits deep, bold tones whilst spring is a great time to play with pastel shades and keep things light and bright). For couples struggling to decide, I have created downloadable colour palette guides packed full of inspiration.

One of my favourite colour schemes used recently was for a wedding at Wilderness Reserve. Nestled in the Suffolk countryside, the grounds of the Estate were full of dried grasses and wildflowers baked from the July sun. We embraced the palette of the venue and its surroundings, replicating this across the styling details of the day. We used racing green notes for the stationery to give a luxury feel, whilst the flowers used nude and natural tones with deeper pops of purple and touches of lilac to lift.

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Browse Rachel's portfolio on Instagram, or find out more about her work on her website.

Katie Skellon is a contemporary wedding planner, specialising in creating unique celebrations set against the beautiful backdrop of North Wales.

Katie details her company ethos, her innovative take on weddings, and the art of picking the perfect colour with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

The old times certainly didn't involve weddings—they involved children and lots of them. Two years ago, I was Assistant Head at a huge school in Manchester.

Looking back, my journey into event planning is not so surprising. All of my friends used to look forward to my birthday because they knew it meant having a "Katie Party”. This reputation reached a whole new level after we threw our own wedding—a full-on fiesta in a field! At 9pm the night before the wedding, I was still in the field arranging furniture and setting up lighting arrangements but I knew I wouldn't have it any other way.

Something new

Picture this: you spend months or even years planning your perfect wedding day. Family and friends travel far and wide to share in your special day, and a wonderful time is had by all. 12 hours later, all it’s over. People return home, venues are stripped and prepped ready for the next bridal party, and you're left feeling deflated. That is where I come in. I specialise in creating weekend-long wedding events in the ever-enchanting North Wales—there is so much more to North Wales than meets the eye and I am on a mission to rebrand it.

The kind of clients I take on want a wedding that screams "us", they are design-focused and they want their wedding to be talked about (in all the good ways)! My clients love blank canvases—marquees, tipis, empty barns, and industrial warehouses that they can put their stamp on. They think of all sorts of ideas to make amazing talking points for guests—cake tables, mini spaces, window areas etc. and they love tables with unusual linens, gorgeous place settings, and unique but beautiful furniture. They choose catering based on their personal tastes, from Thai noodle bars to grazing boards, from street food to lobster on the beach. And they put entertainment high in their list of priorities—from Indie DJs to bongo drums, gospel choirs to silent discos.

The first thing I ask new clients to do is press pause! Often, couples are so happy to be engaged that they storm into planning their wedding—I encourage them to enjoy their engagement first. Throw a party, get your nails done, look at the ring 10,000 times, have an engagement shoot—this isn’t just the start of the countdown, it is a huge milestone. Then, before any wedding chat, I get to know my clients as people. Full planning couples are going to be stuck with me for a big part of the next year so it is important that we are a good match. But I have learnt to realise that it is okay if we're not, you can’t be everyone’s cup of tea! It is far better to recommend another amazing planner more suited to their style at the start of the process than mid-way through.

Skellon Events was born from "a love of being your beautiful self.” I try to embed from day one that your wedding should reflect you. It is important to find a balance between incorporating traditions to please your family and being completely led by them, to the point that you lose sight of what you want as a couple. Throughout the process, I implement regular reflection points to ensure that clients are planning their perfect day.

My philosophy: your wedding, your way. There is no standard blueprint here—every single wedding I have worked on has been different and I pride myself on that.

Something borrowed

A good stylist will "borrow" inspiration from everywhere. A day out to the garden centre with the family may lead to a tropical centrepiece, and a rummage through a fabric sale can lead to amazing textured material on the cake stand. Inspiration is everywhere and not only in the wedding world—home styling, fashion design, and art all play a part in designing the best wedding.

I absolutely love the 70s. I am a true disco personality—a funky retro font and a pink/orange combo is absolutely me.

Australian and American weddings always seem to outdo UK weddings on the styling front, but we are moving in the right direction. But fellow UK wedding planners I love include Stories of Events—her tables are just something else, and MAVE Weddings—not only has she mastered boho dreams she is also such a babe!

Something blue

A wedding day should be an experience for the guests and the colour palette sets the ambience immediately. A good planner will help you step out of your comfort zone and show you different ideas, by even simply adding coloured glassware or changing the linens from standard white.

We are really trying to stop the mentality of "my bridesmaids are dressed in light blue so that must be my wedding colour."  We are always looking at interesting combinations, textures, etc.

Referring to the original wedding design plan, chosen long before the venue, helps me make sure that the journey from "save the date" to "on the day" is seamless in design.

A colour scheme should reflect the couple's personality. At my wedding, we were totally colourful. Did it suit everyone? Absolutely not, some of the guests would have preferred muted pastel tones. But did it reflect us? Absolutely.

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Find out more about Katie's services on her website or find a bank of wedding day inspiration on her Instagram.

Amy Lord is the founder of The Joy Eclectic—a leading provider of boutique, bespoke wedding decor and styling for non-traditional weddings.

Amy reflects on her role as a wedding stylist and details her approach to new clients with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

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Something old

I’m a trained theatre designer and installation artist, which means my creative process draws upon a wide range of aesthetics and influences—I wanted my brand to have "eclectic" in its name to reflect this.

At the moment, I’m particularly drawn to dreamy aesthetics: Vaporwave, 80’s, Memphis style, Maximalism, Kitsch and the hyperreal! But for weddings, I always start with the couple. I love taking their spark of curiosity and amping it up into something gorgeous yet coherent—even if that means something minimalist. I love a bit of quiet simplicity now and again!

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Something new

I always start the client relationship with an online questionnaire followed by a free 30-minute discovery call on Zoom. If we all had the time to meet in person over a lovely coffee this would be my preference but I work with couples all over the UK so it’s not really an option! The video call is a 2-way conversation—couples can ask me anything and we can talk about the next steps and plan going forward. I think seeing faces is so important, especially when a couple is trusting you with their wedding. For me, it’s like going on a date, you need to see if the spark is there.

I have a bank of questions that I like to ask new clients. What do they do in their spare time? Where do they buy their clothes? What is their interior style? What is their musical taste? What do they watch on TV? Obviously, these aren’t directly wedding-related questions but they can often start unearthing clues about which direction their wedding design could go in, and help me to understand what makes them tick.

I often do a mini presentation/moodboard of first ideas to get couples excited about how their wedding is going to look and feel. After all, half the fun is in the planning and anticipation!

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Something borrowed

I encourage my clients to find inspiration in all the usual places online, but to also dig deep into their personal tastes and influences where there may be something to play with that would make their big day super memorable. The value of event designers comes from our ability to tease out a coherent, design scheme from seemingly random pieces of the puzzle.

I always ask my clients to collate all their inspiration in one place, even better if they can use folders to group different elements together. When faced with a mishmash of inspiration it’s hard to know what has made that person save the image—it could be that they like a colour, a texture, a dress etc. but by grouping into categories e.g. table plans, table dressing, hairstyles etc. we can speed up the design process.

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Something blue

I call this colour palette, Moody Gothic Glam. This is a moodboard (or vibe board as I like to call them!) from one of my Power Hour design consultation sessions. In these sessions, I put together a wedding design plan for a couple to either use themselves (most commonly for dry-hire weddings) or with me going forward as their stylist.

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Find out more about Amy's services on her website, or browse an archive of her work on Instagram.

Zayna Ben is the founder, creator, lead stylist and soul of ZAZ Events. Zayna brings her clients' dream day to life with eclectic boho-inspired decor. Her unique style which draws on festival themes, whimsical vibes, and colourful designs.

Zayna reflects on her unique approach to wedding design, the power of colour, and her own journey into the industry with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

After 15 years working in the corporate world, I knew I needed more and so I chose to follow my dream of creating magical weddings. I have always loved and been fascinated by the wedding and events industry. After organising and designing the celebrations of friends and family for many years, I knew I wanted to make it my career. After believing in myself and taking the leap, I trained at The Wedding Academy before starting my own company, ZAZ Events. It was the best decision I ever made, I knew this was where I was meant to be!

With my multicultural background and endless creativity, I knew my style and imagination would be something I could connect with my couples over. I have always been drawn to boho and whimsical aesthetics and how they create such a warm and beautiful atmosphere. For me, it has always been about the design, bespoke elements, and venue transformation for my couples.

Understanding and connecting with my couples to create a wedding beyond their wildest dreams is such a special feeling—I can't describe it. I am honoured every time a couple puts their trust in my skills and chooses to work with me. All of the late nights are worth it when I see how happy my couples are on their big day!

Something new

All I need to know is...

1. Where is your venue?

2. What atmosphere do you want to create?

3. What colours, aesthetics and styles do you gravitate towards?

When I first meet with my couple, I need to understand a few key details in order to design a wedding that truly reflects them and their personalities. From chatting about what home decor they like, to the style of clothes they wear to the wedding dress the bride has chosen. All these elements create a picture of the aesthetic and vision the couple wants to create.

Creating the right atmosphere is all about making the couple and their guests feel welcome, happy and excited about the wedding.

Understanding the flow of the wedding day is essential so that I can design spaces to complement certain elements of their day. We might want to use some areas of the venue for relaxation, meaning they need a calm ambience, whilst other spaces need fun and energy to get your guests talking or dancing.

Something borrowed

When I carved out my personal niche in wedding design, I wanted to incorporate my heritage and multicultural background—the addition of Moroccan influences or chic french colours to my designs makes them so unique and authentic. I get inspired by every trip I take whether it is to the Medina in Morocco, my family home in Normandy, or my recent trip to New York where I used to live.

The colours, textures, fabrics and patterns that inspire me from these places create a magical vibe and transport my couple and their guests to somewhere new and exotic. My mission is to create a space so beautiful and unique that my couple is intrigued by every small detail and just wants to soak up the atmosphere.

I really enjoy working with multicultural and interfaith couples, as there are so many traditional and cultural elements we can include in their wedding decor so that they are connected to their heritage and family. Celebrating your background, your relationship, your family, your nationality and everything that makes a couple special and unique is such a special thing to be part of.

Something blue

When choosing a colour palette, it is important to first consider what mood and vibe you want on your wedding day because colours have the power to evoke feelings and create an atmosphere. Do you want to create a mood that is romantic, calm, and relaxed or do you want colourful, fun and joyful?

Knowing the details, sizes and colours of the couple's chosen venue will help when choosing a colour palette that compliments the space.

My recent couple, Roisin & Ollie, had a clear vision of a colourful, exotic and fun wedding. They didn't want to stick to traditional colours and that is right up my street! I love it when a couple wants to be bold and unique and choose colours that represent them. When designing Roisin & Ollie's wedding, we thought about their favourite colours, what shades they like to wear, and even what colours were already at their venue. We decided on energetic, bright and bold colours: raspberry pink, vibrant emerald green, and bright marigold orange with hints of light pink.

If choosing a colour palette seems daunting, you aren't alone—with so many colours to choose from it can seem overwhelming. I always suggest thinking of an environment that makes you feel like your best self. Is it outside in the garden surrounded by dainty flowers and feeling free-spirited? A chic and modern hotel with a calm atmosphere? Or maybe a colourful and patterned cafe with lots of music is your happy place? Try bringing elements of this space into your wedding design, and I promise you'll be full of ideas from there!

Find ZAZ Events on Instagram or find out more about Zayna's services on her website.

Afia Bayayi is a florist, event designer, and founder of Afmena Events. Afia never underestimates the power of a beautiful backdrop, but her client's stories remain at the forefront of her approach to design.

Afia reflects on her journey into the industry, the importance of setting boundaries, and the timelessness of elegant design with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

I decided to pursue a career in event styling whilst on maternity leave with my firstborn. I was thinking of careers that would enable me to work on my own terms and I had always done styling and flowers for friends and family, so it occured to me to work with what was already in my hands.

I registered the business whilst on maternity leave and have never looked back since.

Something new

When I first meet a new client, it is important for me to know both what they like and what they don't like. I ask my clients to send pictures of their inspiration to help me vibe with them, their tastes, and their preferences.

At Afmena events, our signature style is "elegant". I've never seen elegance go out of style, elegance can be applied to any design era or movement.

Something borrowed

Throughout my career, I have learned that it is important to learn how to say "no" to certain jobs and opportunities. Some jobs show red flags from the beginning, the signs are always there but we often pursue them anyway—perhaps out of desperation or wishful thinking.

However, it is important that we listen to our gut feeling because these are jobs that we'll end up resenting or regretting.

Something blue

When building a colour palette, I consider my client's preferences and the complementary colours. I use these as a base and create from there. It is always awesome when my clients give me creative license—it's so much more fun that way.

I'm expecting bold colours to be popular next wedding season, and I'm here for it. Blush is pretty, and white is classic but I'm a colour-burst type of girl. Freedom to experiment with colour  lends itself to creativity a lot more.

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Find out more about what Afmena Events offer on their website, or browse an archive of beautiful celebrations on their Instagram.

Becca Parsons is the founder of Evermore Weddings. Specialising in dry hire and marquee weddings, Becca loves to work with couples who have bags of style but still know how to kick back and have fun!

Becca explains her approach to finding inspiration and understanding new clients with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

I remember tearing up listening to the speeches at one of the first weddings I ever ran as a coordinator back in 2014 and thinking, "this is the best job in the world". That was the moment I knew I wanted to make this a career. Helping couples celebrate and watching them create priceless memories with their loved ones is such a privilege and it never gets old.

I can usually tell I've done a good job just by looking at the faces of my couples—if they have big smiles and are totally absorbed in the moment then I know I've succeeded.

Something new

My client onboarding process always begins with a video call. I find that this is by far the most effective way to get to know my clients and helps to establish mutual trust and understanding. I'll ask the couple about their plans so far and we'll talk about the vision they have, their likes/dislikes, and their priorities. My favourite question to ask new clients is "How do you want your wedding to feel?" This question helps me understand both their personality and their priorities for their day.

Something borrowed

I always encourage my clients to look outside of the wedding industry for inspiration. Interior design and fashion are particularly good places to look if you are feeling stuck. Are you someone who loves to wear bright colours or is your wardrobe strictly monochrome? Is your house full of soft neutrals or bold prints? I often have clients who know that they don't want a traditional green and white wedding but are struggling to narrow down what it is they do want—or they can't find suppliers who understand their vision.

These days, more and more couples are opting for humanist ceremonies because they add such a special personal touch to the day. I think it is a trend that will definitely keep growing.

Something blue

I love a bold colour scheme, so generally, the couples who book me are already on board with that—I think my website/social media content helps to attract couples who love colour as much as me.

I try and do one or two styled shoots each year to showcase new ideas and to give couples an idea of what my designs look like. The Australian wedding industry is a big source of inspiration for me—I previously worked as venue manager for a luxury Melbourne wedding venue and I think they are more daring and modern than the UK wedding industry.

I had a wedding recently that featured a pink, red and orange colour scheme and it was absolutely phenomenal. The brides were a little worried that the pink and orange would be too much but it looked so good and it's a colour combo I adore. The design also featured disco balls and one of the brides wore an incredible sequin dress so I named the design "Disco Sunset".

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Find out more about Becca's services on her website. Check out Evermore Weddings on Instagram for a bank of wedding day inspiration.