April 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 22 FEATURE | weddings VELVET Usually considered a winter fabric, velvet is set to go non season-specific this year – wedding watchers say it will be everywhere. The summer might be too hot for a velvet dress (though given that, in our climate, venues are always air conditioned, that’s not exactly true) but you could always make use of this gorgeous superluxe fabric in your shoes or dotted through your décor such as in bright swathes on the table or as giant bows on the chair backs. You could go for the old favourite of sugared almonds wrapped in pretty netting but a big trend this year is for favours that say something about the couple. It could be anything from mini tartan-tied Haggis, if either of the couple are Scottish, to artisan olive oils, teas or spice blends. A great idea from thisisinsider.com is to send guests away with packets of seeds that they can plant to remember the occasion. Both couples and wedding planners are keen to find ways of making weddings – which traditionally create a great deal of waste, from gift wrapping to leftover food – into much more sustainable affairs. You might choose to send digital invitations and RSVPs, opt for high-quality fake flowers rather than flown-in fresh blooms and arrange for any leftover food to be donated to charities such as those supplying food to poor workers or animal rescue centres. DITCH THE WASTE An abundance of food trucks has sprung up across the island over the last year which means Bahrain-based brides can embrace a trend that’s been big on the international scene for quite some time. If your venue has an outside space, why not arrange for a couple of trucks to arrive during the evening, when guests will be starting to feel hungry again. There are vendors around offering everything from vegan and veggie delights to gourmet burgers and speciality coffees. And, of course, few things say weddings like an ice cream van with its chimes playing and the promise of sprinkles. FOOD TRUCKS GOOD GIFTING Sure, you can register a gift list online, to make sure you don’t receive multiple toasters, but wedding gifts no longer have to be restricted to things for the new couple’s home. And, while asking for cash is still a bit of a nono, it’s fine to set-up a honeymoon fund or request donations to a charity of your choice. You could also ask guests to think eco in their wrapping or ask for upcycled gifts if you have creative friends. CUSTOM FAVOURS
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