Editor loves and inspiration

I've heard about the rise in Rococo-style weddings, and I am obsessed! How do I modernise it for my wedding day?

Armathwaite Hall has noted a 95% increase in 'Rococo wedding' being searched on Pinterest. If you're yet to see this trend for yourself, think Bridgerton to another level! But how can you make your Rococo wedding look effortlessly luxe without tipping over into dated?

1. Timeless elegance over extravagance
Instead of a mass of frills, chiffon and bows for your wedding dress, why not opt for a modern mermaid silhouette and bring in the Rococo references with a corset fastening or pearl-encrusted bodice?

2. Sophistication over showy décor
Think single strings of pearls or a delicate high neck on your wedding dress. Opt for subtle silk bows dotted around your reception area, rather than gaudy, oversized versions stuck to the backs of your bridesmaid dresses! Keep the intricate, embroidered fabric that characterised the Rococo era to larger items – such as tablecloth.

3. Pretty pastels over gilded gold
Make sure gold is used as a secondary accent colour only, keeping your primary focus on fresh pastels – lavender, blush pink and peach. Swap old-fashioned golden gilt candelabras for contemporary glass pastel versions and opt for a cake iced in eye-catching pastel tones.

4. Bridgerton music!
Create that true Baroque era atmosphere by hiring a string quartet or classical band to play at your wedding. But make sure they play Rococo-era-inspired versions of well-known modern songs – à la Bridgerton.

5. The venue is everything
Look for somewhere featuring traditional, ornamental décor, a breathtaking ballroom and rolling grounds. If you're lucky, you might snag somewhere with a sweeping staircase to make your grand entrance.

6. Stay sustainable
Beeswax candles are more environmentally friendly and burn 'clean', meaning they don't produce any harmful byproducts. Biodegradable confetti and reusable faux flowers allow you to add further pops of pastel colour without harming the planet.

7. Embrace high hair
When it comes to hair, think Marie Antoinette but modern! Instead of larger-than-life hair that towers high above your head, opt for a high, messy bun with a relaxed feel. Gentle curls and artfully placed tendrils will complete your contemporary take on the famous Baroque hairstyle.

8. Pearls, pearls, and more pearls
Whether you plan to wear them around your neck, on your wrist or sewn onto the fabric of your dress or suit, pearls are the perfect finishing touch to a Rococo outfit. You can even place loose pearls into coupe glasses or vases and add them to your tablescaping arrangements as the ideal Rococo-inspired ornaments.

9. Avoid sepia filters
While it might be tempting to get a few black and white or sepia-toned photos, your pastel celebration runs the risk of losing its modern edge when stripped of its colour.

10. Keep things playful
When we think of the past, we often think of everyone as buttoned up and stuffy – yet the Rococo period was anything but!

www.armathwaite-hall.com | 01768 776 551

Read more at: Your North West Wedding - Issue 92 June/July 2025

Nadia and Matthew met 11 years ago at JD Sports, Trafford Centre, where they both worked. Nadia oversaw the junior department, and Matthew supervised the changing rooms (conveniently for this love story, the changing rooms were located next to the junior section). Work chat turned to flirty banter, and it wasn't long before the couple were enthralled by one another. Matthew recalls, “we both played hard to get and to this day still argue over who made the first move; although, it was Nadia that slid into my DMs first wanting to 'swap a shift', which was code for do you want to go on a date”. Matthew knew pretty quickly that Nadia would be a keeper, so he asked her to be his girlfriend on New Year's Day 2014 and 10 years later the happy couple would be getting married!

When it came to proposals, Matthew had a couple of planning hiccups to navigate. After just two years of dating Matthew wanted to put a ring on Nadia's finger, and luckily, her friend Becky worked in jewellery! Equipped with an expert friend and his mother, Matthew could begin the hunt. In 2019 he found the perfect ring and was now ready to pop the question, but what location would be the one? Matthew details, “I decided to book us a holiday to Cape Verde for May 2020 and had booked us a private meal on the beach whilst we were there, and that was to be my nerve-wracking moment to pop the question to Nadia... then COVID struck... the holiday was cancelled, and my plans were in tatters”. Suddenly we were all locked in our homes, and for Matthew he had a ring burning a hole in his pocket. Matthew adds, “from our bedroom window you can see Rivington Pike, and I thought that would be nice, we can see the place I proposed every morning when we wake up. So, that's where I popped the question, not quite Cape Verde but still very special nonetheless”.

Dive into the details of their wedding day at: Your North West Wedding - Issue 92 June/July 2025

Abi and Ryan's love story starts at The Range, where they both worked. Abi had it as a weekend job while she studied and Ryan worked there full time. After a few months of working together, Ryan plucked up the courage to ask Abi on a date. The nerves got the better of her and she responded with 'I'll let you know'. Ryan thought this was it and he'd missed his shot! A few days later, Abi messaged, and they arranged their first of many dates. Abi recalls, “Ryan always says I seemed quite a shy, quiet girl at work, but he soon discovered I was an absolute chatterbox around him! There was a spark from the very start, and we just had so much fun spending time together”. After a few weeks of dating, they were officially 'boyfriend and girlfriend'.

Ryan proposed to Abi whilst on holiday in Brighton on the 17th July 2023, surprising her in a photo booth! “We'd been on a trip to Brighton five years earlier and used the same photo booth,” shares Abi. To commemorate this very special memory, the couple had a photo booth at their wedding which guests could enjoy.

You can read more online at: Your North West Wedding - Issue 92 June/July 2025

Broadoaks Country House Hotel, the setting for this styled shoot, is the perfect location for an exclusive wedding event. The property is nestled in the heart of the Lake District, which was the first national park in the UK to receive Unesco Heritage Site status in 2017.

The team at Broadoaks Country House Hotel tells us more: “With the ideal mixture of traditional and luxe, Broadoaks Country House Hotel has recently had lots of love poured back into the venue, making the most gorgeous setting for your dream wedding. We ensure that your wedding day will be one that you and your guests will remember for years to come with dedicated service, delicious food and, of course, a venue that’s exclusively yours for the day! With its picturesque views, there is no better place to tie the knot! Our wedding team is flexible with private tours, working around a time that suits you and your calendar. On our private venue tours, you will be able to see the hotel in all its beauty as well as have the chance to discuss all your wedding plans and ideas with our specialist team.”

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Lucy and Robin met in August 2020. “It sounds cheesy, but we both just knew,” says Lucy. “We were inseparable from the start.”

Robin popped the question while the couple were exploring the island of La Digue in the Seychelles. “It was a dream destination and somewhere we had both been wanting to visit for a long time,” shares the bride. “We did some island hopping, and unbeknownst to me, Robin had a plan to propose at sunset on the beautiful Anse Source d’Argent Beach on the little island of La Digue. His plan was scuppered by a tropical storm that night, unfortunately, so we had an early sunrise trip back to the beach the next morning. We had the beach to ourselves and we were exploring the amazing scenery when he asked me to marry him on one knee in a little cove surrounded by boulders. I was taken by total surprise and we were both in tears.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Charlotte Mills creates bridal shoes that are handcrafted with love and designed so you can not only treasure them forever but also wear them again and again. The company offers a range of block heel wedding shoes, in standard and wide-fit, and even has multiple heel height options to choose from.

Every pair of Charlotte Mills’ handcrafted shoes bears delicately embossed words on the luxurious leather soles, which have fast become the Manchester-based brand’s signature mark.

Charlotte tells us more: “With each purchase, a glittering silver sixpence will become your something old; the shoes are, of course, your something new; the luxury envelope we include is your something borrowed; and, finally, the exquisite blue detailing of our shoes’ in-sock will become your something blue.

“Wielding an innate desire to create shoes that endlessly delight and inspire (not to mention steal brides’ hearts across the globe), I have been applauded throughout the industry for my scrupulous attention to detail, my inherent ability to infuse my designs with a playful spirit and sense of romance and, most importantly, my designs’ tried and tested comfortable fit. Each and every style is carefully crafted utilising the very finest of materials and the most celebrated of skills. The aforementioned signature details are hand-finished, adding that final flourishing touch to a special shoe for an equally special day.”

In 2023, Charlotte launched The Aisle Edit. Housed at the company’s Manchester headquarters in a converted church. The Aisle Edit is the UK’s only bridal department store working with only female-founded brands.

See more of the latest trends in our Handmade in the North West feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Boutique wedding venue, Broadoaks Country House has been recognised as one of the top locations for couples to say ‘I do’ in Cumbria after being nominated at the County Brides North West Wedding Awards.

A Victorian manor house originally built in 1836, Broadoaks Country House is steeped in history and boasts a romantic charm that enables couples to enjoy the wedding of their dreams while overlooking the picturesque Lake District hills. Situated in five acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Broadoaks Country House offers five different areas for civil ceremonies, ranging from an intimate orangery through to an outdoor setting with views across Troutbeck and the surrounding valleys.

Sian Parry, the venue manager at Broadoaks Country House, tells us: “The Broadoaks Country House team works incredibly hard to ensure each and every wedding exceeds the expectations of our couples, whether hosting a small, intimate celebration or a larger party. We are delighted that our beautiful venue and the dedication of our team have been recognised by the prestigious County Brides North West Wedding Awards, and we feel this certainly affirms our position as one of Cumbria’s locations of choice to tie the knot. We now wish all other finalists the best of luck and look forward to celebrating at the awards ceremony next spring.”

Read more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Sarah and Jack first crossed paths in 2017. “I began frequenting the rugby club where my best friend Amy worked,” says Sarah. “Jack played rugby at the time and I then started working at the club myself. It was love at first sight. Jack asked me on a date and then to be his girlfriend five days later. I loved everything about Jack, not just his amazing eyes and the fact he was tall but his nature. Jack is a protector and a provider and I found it so attractive.”

Jack popped the question in October 2022. “I had a feeling it was coming – little clues like people telling me I should get nude nails and not the nail art I would normally get,” shares the bride. “He had planned for us to go to Beadnell Coast in Northumberland with our dog Bubba, so I had assumed that is where he would do it. The day before, I had had a terrible day at work, so he suggested that we get some takeaway pizzas, take the dog for a walk and eat them out of the boot whilst watching the sunset. I was in a terrible mood and changed the plans 100 times. We eventually got out of the car and started to walk Bubba on the moors near our home. Before we had even gotten 10 meters, Jack got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Just me, him and Bubba.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist, Felicity from Ashby Artistry shares her wedding trend predictions for 2025.

"Radiance and glowing skin are taking centre stage right now, and I can tell you confidently that this won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. It’s become a huge trend because it’s achieving the feeling that nearly every single one of us dreams of having on our wedding day. That sense of pure contentment, glee and that ethereal sparkle.

"The beginning of this trend was born with the glass skin created by make-up artist Pat McGrath for the Maison Margiela Paris Fashion Week. But it has snowballed into so much more. It is now so relatable and easy for all of us to play and experiment with. It opened the conversation that it’s good to have fun with your appearance!

"Trends are, by nature, fleeting; what’s celebrated today could feel overdone tomorrow. Radiant skin and glowing shoulders currently add a dreamy touch to your wedding look, but there’s something even more powerful: a look that highlights you in all your individuality, quirks and unique beauty. So, instead of building your wedding look around the trend of the year, why not create a look that feels quintessentially you?"

See more of the latest trends in our Looking Your Best feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

The team at Marc Darcy Menswear share their suit material and colour suggestions for a winter wedding.

"When selecting a suit for a winter wedding, you typically have two standout options: tweed or black tie, each offering a unique charm.

"For vintage-style weddings, a tweed suit is a fantastic choice. These suits often showcase rich, earthy tones such as deep tans, rustic browns and muted greens, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and cosy warmth that perfectly complements the season. The textured fabric adds a charming rusticity that resonates well with the atmosphere of a winter celebration.

"In contrast, the black-tie ensemble is the quintessential choice for modern urban weddings. Characterised by its simplicity and refined tailoring, this option exudes sophistication and class. A classic black tuxedo, paired with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie, creates a sharp and polished look ideal for contemporary settings and evening ceremonies.

"Both options provide a sophisticated aesthetic, marrying elegance with a touch of modern flair, ensuring that you look your best while celebrating your love in a winter wonderland."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download