Wedding Trends: The Rich Blooms wedding

Wedding trends can be hard to follow – is it fashionable to go rustic, vintage or futuristic? Should you choose soft pastels or jewel brights?

At the Montagu Arms - with our timeless English country garden and romantic sense of history that make it a favourite wedding venue - is predicting 2019 will be all about opulence, with rich colours and dramatic floral arrangements.

The setting

The ivy-clad 17^th-century country house in the picturesque village or Beaulieu is perfect for a Rich Blooms wedding. Gleaming parquet floors, oak-panelled walls, sumptuous velvet fabrics and gorgeous, fragrant gardens create the perfect backdrop for bold flowers, lush foliage and rich colour palettes. Add in a magnificent sweeping oak staircase, comfortable lounges with roaring fires in winter and doors leading onto a charming English country garden for champagne on the lawn in summer, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect opulent wedding. When the day is done, guests can retire to a beautiful suite in the main house or one of two new Hayloft Suites, offering luxurious modern comforts in a converted 1820s barn in the hotel grounds.

The flowers

The Rich Blooms wedding is all about the flowers, which should be bold and dramatic, with blousy blooms accentuated by trailing foliage. Statement pieces make a wedding instantly Instagrammable - think grand arches or a wall packed with flowers for something a little different to the popular photo booth. Jewelled colours reflect the rich, warm tones of the Montagu Arms – deep burgundy roses and dahlias, viburnum berries and striking Amaranthus work perfectly with ferns, eucalyptus, ruscus and delicate trailing foliage. In winter, add figs and candles for extra romance. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires and amethysts can all be replicated by using jewel-coloured blooms and berries to create stunning hair combs, wrist corsages and brooches.

The signage

Wedding signs are on trend, and beautiful, flowing calligraphy can be enhanced by bringing the outdoors in and incorporating signs into statement floral designs.

Hair & make-up

Taking inspiration from royal weddings, the Montagu Arms predicts 2019 brides will choose the timeless, elegant look. Wearing the hair loose with a Hollywood wave is the epitome of glamour, and tucking hair behind the ears accentuates the cheekbones. Balance soft, smoky eyes with a bold lip and bring that inner radiance out by using a silky primer, light foundation and shimmer highlights.

The cake

Create a super chic look by choosing a ‘semi-naked’ cake and adding a dramatic ‘drip’ glaze, fresh flowers, berries and seasonal fruit to complement the floral arrangements.

The food

The Montagu Arms is home to the award-winning Terrace restaurant, run by head chef and Roux Scholar Matthew Tomkinson. Whether it’s a sumptuous buffet or an elegant sit-down dinner, Matt will create delicious dishes using the freshest local ingredients from across the New Forest and his own kitchen garden.

The venue: The Montagu Arms 

The photographer: Az Rehman

The flowers: Jo Hicks

The signage: Wilson & Lionel

The cake: Karen’s Clever Cakes

Hair & makeup: Frances Moore

The Montagu Arms will be opening its doors on Sunday 18th November for our Wedding Open Day from 12pm - 4pm. No booking is required.