Held four times a day, the Catwalk Shows at the National Wedding Show at Earls Court, London are always a major drawcard, and this year was no exception. Featuring a wonderful variety of wedding wear, they attracted a large audience, with many taking their seats long before the show was due to begin. As the shows were held at the rear of the vast exhibition centre, there was fortunately lots of standing room available. Huge screens on either side of the ramp featured the names of each designer as the models appeared on the catwalk.
The various themes covered this year included traditional, Cinderella, evergreen, pastels, serene, and black-and-white. Judging by the show, and also by what was on display at the various stands, the fuller wedding gown in raw silk, with a slightly ruched skirt (think Little Miss Muffet), is making a big comeback. Trains also put in a strong appearance, as did veils and bows in all shapes and sizes – which, if fashion guru Caryn Franklin is to be believed, we will be seeing everywhere. A popular colour for wedding footwear was silver, and diamanté strap sandals were also much in favour.
I always enjoy London designer Candy Anthony’s offerings at these shows, as her designs with a 1950s/60s-inspired edge (wide petticoats, strapless tops and bows), seldom fail to impress.
Generally speaking, the strapless laced bodice top is still retaining its popularity. According to Caryn, this is a very flattering style for most figure shapes – except, I have to say, anorexic catwalk models! If truth be told, we would have to admit that in many instances, we felt that our Cape Town fashion designers would not only have ensured a better fit for the models, but far more inspiring designs!
The vintage look is also still around, and short lace gloves and lace tops continue to be much in evidence. I loved the allure of a beautiful long, formal satin coat with high collar and train, worn unbuttoned over a lovely full-length, wide gown. Offset by a tiara, it was almost Elizabethan in style. Perhaps not suitable for our warm climate, but a style that would certainly look stunning worn for a wedding held somewhere like a British cathedral!
Grooms were not forgotten, and the models showed a range of suitable outfits, including long white jackets, which are very popular at the moment. The little page-boy and flower girl outfits were very cute and appealing, and also very traditional in design. The grand finale - which featured a merging of trends, with an East-meets-West theme - featured more colourful attire for both bride and groom. Bare-midriff beaded tops and beaded slinky skirts characterised outfits with a lot more ‘bling’. I ’m not entirely convinced, though, that we will be seeing many grooms wearing pointy-toed shoes, especially as they immediately called to mind Aladdin’s lamp!
On another stage on the other side of this vast exhibition centre, visitors were treated to more entertainment in the ‘How to look good on your wedding day’ area. Hosted by TV style guru Caryn Franklin, these free, information-packed sessions were held three times a day during the course of the Show. One lucky bride-to-be was chosen each time from the audience and given a make-over by A-list celebrity make-up artist Ariane Poole and five times nominated British Hairdresser of the Year, Errol Douglas.
Caryn Franklin is a mine of information, and shared many tips with the audience. One I thought particularly appropriate for any bride planning a wedding abroad in a sunny location, was to wear strapless tops from the moment you arrive at your destination – vital if your wedding dress is strapless, as the last thing you want are tanned shoulders with white strap marks. She also urged brides to try a corset top - great for creating an hourglass figure, and the added advantage is that after the ceremony, they can be let out a bit to allow the bride to relax at the reception! She also mentioned that empire lines were ideal for petite brides, as they create the illusion of tallness. In Caryn’s experience, it is always a good idea to try on a number of styles before choosing your wedding dress, as she has often found that brides who were originally set on having a plain, straight dress, changed their minds when trying on fuller styles.
Hairstylist Errol Douglas mentioned that it was no longer necessary for brides to feel pressured into spending months growing their hair, as hairpieces and hair extensions could be used to give the necessary length for ‘up’ styles. Leading British florist Mathew Dickinson gave advice on how to carry a bouquet, and mentioned that hand-tied bouquets were still fashionable as, in addition to being an inexpensive option, they were light and easy to carry. He also noted that fragrance was back in a big way, with brides choosing more perfumed blooms for their wedding.
Close to our display stand at the Show was an area called ‘The Inspiration Zone’ where, three times a day, wedding expert Kate Smallwood chatted to various experts on a variety of wedding-related subjects. Steve Pooley, head of Fifteen to You (the catering and events arm of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurants), gave a lot of valuable advice on planning the wedding menu, and covered budgeting, seasonality and menu design. He pointed out that it is important to balance the menu correctly and he cautioned against serving a heavy pudding, as you could find your guests not too keen to dance after eating it! He also advised not to repeat too many ingredients in the courses and to always choose fruits and vegetables that would be in season at the time of your wedding. Generally speaking, his advice is to keep it simple – by choosing more complicated dishes (such as a soufflé, for instance), the chef would be required to employ more people, thereby increasing the overall cost.
A fun idea he suggested was to have a joint of meat served to each table, on which there would be a chef’s hat. The guests would then nominate a member of their table to act as carver - which would work well as an ice-breaker.
Another speaker, celebrity cake designer Eric Lanlard of Savoir Design, suggested that couples choose square rather than round cakes, as these were more practical for cutting up and were in fact becoming trendier than round ones. To create extra height, he suggested using a dummy cake as a layer. As is the case in South Africa, Aunt Betty’s dried fruit cake is no longer popular in the UK, having given way to more exciting options like chocolate, toffee or carrot cake versions. Eric also suggested that if you have chosen a chocolate wedding cake, you might like to serve it as a dessert with a hot toffee or ice cream sauce, or a raspberry coulis. He noted that the traditional French wedding cake, the croquembouche, is difficult to make properly, and should be made on the day of the wedding. Traditionally this cake is not cut – instead, the top is smashed with a hammer by the couple. He also stressed the importance of getting the decorator of the cake to set it up for you, thereby avoiding any accidents.
The National Wedding Show in London is certainly an interesting place for brides-to-be to visit for wedding ideas. Here in Cape Town, brides are always welcome to visit us at Celebration House, where they will also find lots of inspiration for their special day. We are situated in Protea Road, Claremont (close to Cavendish Square) and have permanent displays by over 130 service providers. There is no admission charge, nor is it necessary to make an appointment. We do not organise events, but will provide you with all the assistance you need to plan yours. We pride ourselves on the fact that all those who exhibit at Celebration House are recommended.
