As a bridal designer, Charlotte Balbier has seen countless women gear up for their wedding. So when it came to planning her own big day, the fashionista – who describes her brides as "confident" and "free spirits" – had no issue in turning her dream nuptials into reality. Charlotte married her groom Edward Bedford in a fairytale ceremony last year, and looking back on the special union, the designer has shared her top five wedding planning tips with HELLO! Online.
Choose a colour scheme to stick with throughout the day
1. Theme your wedding day… A common theme running throughout the wedding day creates a great ambience. I love gold, powder pink and ivory – the signature Charlotte Balbier colours. I choose this colour combination to run throughout the whole wedding, from the flowers, delicious three-tiered pink and gold leaf cake to the beautiful wedding stationary. We even designed our own C&E crest to emboss the invites, RSVP cards, order of service and wedding cake. Every part of our wedding complimented each other. Even the dessert tables filled with cake pops and Eton mess reflected our colour palette. 2. Put together a Wedding 'A' team… You need to work with wedding suppliers who light you up. Make sure that after chatting to potential suppliers you feel excited, at ease, supported, and inspired! I put together a real team of ultra talented suppliers for my wedding, from the venue, cake, stationary, caterers and videographer, down to all the finishing touches like cute kissing bells and dancing shoes for all the guests.
Put together an 'A Team' of suppliers from the flowers to the table favours
3. Wow your guests... I kept my wedding marquee a secret until the big day from everyone apart from my mother Amanda Wyatt. The wedding guests were speechless when they walked into a marquee filled with masses of nude, blush, peach, pink and ivory coloured flowers. We used Red Floral Architecture who specialise in wedding styling to enhance the overall theme of the wedding, and transformed our marquee into a magical wonderland dressed with chandeliers, adorned with flowers and filled with walls of mirrors and hundreds of lit candles. 4. Give your bridesmaids some individuality… Old Hollywood Glamour and the Oscars inspired my bridesmaids' dresses. I had eight adult bridesmaids and two flower girls. I designed a bespoke gown for each – the dresses suited their individual personalities and body shapes. Each gown was a midnight blue colour and I used a beautiful chiffon fabric throughout with a different shape for each dress. I finished off the gowns with a midnight blue marabou fur wrap, heels and antique diamante and pearl cuffs.
Charlotte customised each of her bridesmaids' dresses to their personality and shape
5. Remember what is important… No matter how lavish, big or small the wedding is the vows you say to your future husband are what matters. Vows are the most important part of the day. You're committing to each other and your words can really warm your wedding crowd too.