by Hanami Dream | 9, February, 2018 | blog, trends
I’m pleased we didn’t have to wait as long as last year for the Pantone® announcement of the Fall/Winter colours to look out for in 2018. In fact, it even took me a bit by surprise!
With the fashion week season just kicking off (this month is New York, London, Milan and then Paris) we start to think about those autumnal months.
And it seems that Pantone® are back in their stride, as we return to a top ten of colours (rather than a dozen that we saw for spring 2018). Plus I’m pleased to see the report continuing to be predictions again rather than a counting colours exercise from the catwalks.
It’s great to see an increase and update to the bonus colours that act as neutrals and core basics too.
Bonfire night warmth
I love this collection of bold colours that will trend in Autumn. They certainly pack a punch and make a huge statement.
Alongside some typical, rich autumnal colours, there’s some great accompanying vibrant shades that sit nicely alongside the colour of the year, Ultra Violet.
You can feel the warmth of the reds, orange, yellow and brown colours radiating out like the flames of a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night with Red Pear, Valiant Poppy, Ceylon Yellow, Martini Olive, Russet Orange (and Meerkat from the neutrals).
Peacock blooms
The dark, jewel colours (of Nebulas Blue, Ultra Violet and Quetzal Green) are fitting for my prediction of peacock inspired weddings this year. With the deep teal of Quetzal Green even named after a striking colourful bird.
Many of the names of the colours in this season seem so evocative and conjuror up images of space, sky, sea and land. With the interstellar cloud of dust of Nebulas Blue, Ultra Violet (the colour of the year tipped to suggest the mysteries of the cosmos), the cold, dark North Atlantic water of the Sargasso Sea and the expanse of poppies in Flanders Field reminiscent of Remembrance Day.
I’d love to have the job of thinking up the names of the colours – any one for a cocktail to accompany Martini Olive?!
Winter transition
With the start of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang today, it’s lovely to see some icy counterparts to take us in to winter with Crocus Petal (a paler version of Ultra Violet) and Limelight (a lighter version of Ceylon Yellow). They’ll make good transition colours to next spring too.
Fall 2018 colours
The top ten colours for Fall 2018 are:
- PANTONE 19-1536 Red Pear
- PANTONE 18-1549 Valiant Poppy
- PANTONE 18-4048 Nebulas Blue
- PANTONE 15-0850 Ceylon Yellow
- PANTONE 18-0625 Martini Olive
- PANTONE 16-1255 Russet Orange
- PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet
- PANTONE 15-3520 Crocus Petal
- PANTONE 12-0740 Limelight
- PANTONE 18-5025 Quetzal Green
Fall 2018 extra colours from LFW
Plus a couple of additional pops of pink from London Fashion Week round off the colours for Fall 2018:
- PANTONE 15-1515 Mellow Rose
- PANTONE 18-2045 Pink Peacock
Neutral basics
Pantone® have also created a Fall 2018 Classic Colour Palette. These are a group of neutrals that are core basics in the form of navy, white, beige, grey and brown.
You could wrap yourself up in these warm neutral colours. This is hygge at its best – with a great addition of Meerkat brown – so comforting, warm and cosy.
The bonus classic neutral colours for Fall 2018 are:
- PANTONE 19-4031 Sargasso Blue
- PANTONE 11-4801 Tofu
- PANTONE 14-1116 Almond Buff
- PANTONE 14-4107 Quiet Grey
- PANTONE 16-1438 Meerkat
Colour themes
It’ll be great to see how couples incorporate these colours in to their weddings later this year.
Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.
See some of my trend predictions for weddings in 2018.
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by Hanami Dream | 7, February, 2018 | blog, tips, venues
Getting married at a licensed wedding venue in the Cotswolds
We live in such a stunning part of the country, commonly regarded as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Cotswolds is located in south central England and made up of 6 counties: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. It’s no wonder that every year 20,000+* of couples getting married in England choose to say ‘I do’ in a wedding venue in the Cotwolds.
About the Cotswolds region
Mainly rural landscape, with it’s lush green countryside, the Cotswolds is a relaxing escape from the big cities. With acres of lavender fields, historical towns, stately homes and picturesque, chocolate box villages with their honey coloured limestone buildings. It’s no surprise that this region has many places that feature in the Britain’s richest towns list. And we are perfectly located amongst the ‘golden triangle’ of the Cotswold towns of Burford, Chipping Norton and Woodstock.
Wedding venues in the Cotswolds
Hanami Dream is based in West Oxfordshire and there are some truly beautiful venues to choose from in the surrounding Cotswolds. Whether in a barn, a manor house, a marquee or a hotel, there are some amazing places (with some breathtaking views) to hold your wedding or special occasion. There’s something out there to accommodate most styles, guest numbers and budgets.
Take a look at the venues with wedding licences where you can get married in West Oxfordshire:
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- Bay Tree Hotel
- Blenheim Palace
- The Blue Boar
- Caswell House
- Cogges Manor Farm – see my wedding venue review for Cogges Manor Farm here
- Eynsham Hall – see my wedding venue review for Eynsham Hall here
- Ferryman Inn
- Friars Court
- Heythrop Park Hotel
- Merriscourt – see my wedding venue review for Merriscourt here
- Old Swan and Minster Mill – see my wedding venue review for Old Swan and Minster Mill here
- Oxleaze Barn – see my wedding venue review for Oxleaze Barn here
- The Cotswold Plough
- The Trout at Tadpole Bridge
- Oxford Witney Hotel (formerly Four Pillars Witney)
- Witney Lakes Resort
- Witney Registration Office – Windrush Room
- Woodstock Town Hall
- The Wychwood Golf Club
Not technically in Oxfordshire, but we also wanted to include new kid on the block in Chipping Campden:
20. Lapstone Barn – see my wedding venue review for Lapstone Barn here
We are certainly spoilt for choice around here for amazing venues to hold a special occasion. For more details on how to pick your perfect wedding venue look out for my The Holy Trinity of Wedding Planning – Part 2: where.
*Data from Office of National Statistics www.ons.gov.uk Area of occurrence 2015. Based on 245,513 marriages in England. Based on 20,106 marriages in the Cotswolds (combined Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire).
by Hanami Dream | 1, February, 2018 | news
I’m thrilled to announce that I have recently obtained my Diploma in Wedding and Event Planning from the UK Academy of Wedding & Event Planners and am now a Certified Wedding and Event Planner.
I’m over the moon to (finally) complete the course! It’s taken a little while longer than I first planned but actually this has been for the best as it has meant my business has developed along the way.
Many thanks to my tutor for their invaluable support and guidance over the last few years. The course has opened up my eyes to the whole wedding industry beyond just planning and I’m delighted with how my business has evolved over the course.
Thanks also to the interaction and networking with fellow students (new and upcoming entrants to the industry bursting with fresh ideas) as well as an impressive alumni, tutors and advisory board full of experience and expertise.
My tutor gave me some brilliant advice about playing to my strengths, entering competitions, having a niche and fitting the business around my life. Three years later and I’m a finalist in the UK Blog Awards for a third year running, combining my photo shoot experience and marketing background with my passion for weddings and supporting local businesses.
It is great recognition to have my experience, skills and expertise acknowledged with a formal qualification. I’m really excited with where things are going and what lies around the corner next.
by Hanami Dream | 30, January, 2018 | testimonials
“I love working with you too as you always showcase the best of what our region has to offer!
The beautiful Cotswolds … everyone should visit!”
Samantha, The Pretty Cake Company – January 2018
by Hanami Dream | 30, January, 2018 | testimonials
“Many thanks to you Nicola for working tirelessly and pulling [the shoot] off so successfully.
Thank you so much for all your amazing hard work on the photo shoot, we can’t wait to see the photos as the Barn looked so lovely.
…we would love to work with you again very soon.”
Katherine, Oxleaze Barn – October 2017
by Hanami Dream | 30, January, 2018 | testimonials
“Thank you so much for sending everything over – the images are fantastic. What a brilliant collaboration the shoot was and the proof is in the pudding, I’m so pleased it is being so well received.
Well done you for pulling it all together so seamlessly, it was a pleasure working with you.”
Kate, Oxleaze Barn – January 2018
by Hanami Dream | 30, January, 2018 | testimonials
“Many thanks for your structured reports and recommendations.
Lyn and I are impressed with the personal touch to your thought process and feel you … will be ideal mentors to guide us through the social media mine fields.”
Ken, Enchanted Floristry – December 2017
by Hanami Dream | 17, January, 2018 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 17th January 2018
As well as general wedding planning chat, today there will be about bridesmaids’ duties #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
- Bridesmaid = a girl or woman (usually one of several) who accompanied a bride on her wedding day
- Chief bridesmaid / Maid of honour = principle unmarried attendant
- Matron of honour = married female attendant #UKWedLunch
Bridesmaids are the support network for the bride, headed up by the maid of honour, and help her to plan her big day #UKWedLunch
Chief bridesmaid acts as advisor, messenger and personal assistant to bride offering moral support more than anything else #UKWedLunch
Bridesmaids help choose their own outfits, attend fittings, form part of bridal procession, welcome guests, offer cake to guests #UKWedLunch
Chief bridesmaid organises hen party, holds bride’s bouquet during vows, arrange bride’s veil or train, helps with planning, provides advice and emotional support #UKWedLunch
Other duties could include acting as a witness if necessary, joining the receiving line, looking after the wedding dress during honeymoon, doing a reading #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips were about bridesmaids’ duties #UKWedLunch
As well as general wedding planning chat, next week will be about networking #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
by Hanami Dream | 16, January, 2018 | venues
Location
Not too far off the A361 (which runs from Burford to Swindon) is a beautiful wedding barn. You’d be forgiven to thinking you were in the middle of nowhere as this wedding venue location feels so remote. There’s a wonderful quietness to the surroundings and a lovely sense of still and calmness. It really is an escape from the busy city and a chance to be immersed in the countryside to celebrate your special day in style.
Year round
Oxleaze Barn is a tucked-away Gloucestershire barn with year-round warmth, thanks to its solar panel and biomass generated underfloor heating. Built in 1702 and beautifully renovated with some stunning original features, yet adapted efficiently to provide a comfortable space and offer weddings whatever the season.
Grounds
Tucked away in rolling Cotswold countryside, on a working farm, this wedding venue has ample parking, space for catering vans, a landscaped courtyard and firepit, along with access to a phenomenal private garden for your photographs.
Facilities
It’s also well equipped, with a spacious Artist’s Studio to get ready, a state of the art commercial kitchen and luxurious toilet area, plus Chiavari chairs if you want them for your wedding set up. Cotswold Event Solutions are on hand for any other furniture requests and The Watering Hole manage the bar for them. There’s only one wedding a weekend so you’ll have the time to decorate and enjoy your day without feeling rushed.
Service
With 4 years experience under their belts, this family run business have got the right mix of flexibility along with advice if/when couples require guidance. They offer a relaxed and friendly service partnered with a wonderful space that they are continuing to improve and evolve.
Space
This year their offering will include the expansion of additional barn space (The Milling Barn) which will give an extra area for the drinks reception and disco. In addition, they are converting a 3 double bedroom cottage for accommodation later this year.
Conclusion
Oxleaze Barn is certainly an up and coming venue to watch out for. Plus it seems that it is one that is responding to couples’ requirements and developing their offering.
And see how this beautiful venue looks in my Journey to the Centre of the Earth inspirational styled bridal shoot.
WEDDING VENUE FACTS
Type of venue: barn
Find out more: http://www.oxleazebarn.co.uk/
Location: Filkins, Gloucestershire, GL7 3RB
Wedding season: year round
Guests: 120 in The Barn
Marquee option: marquee permitted
Ceremony: Licensed inside from £250
Venue hire: from £1000
Nearest church: St Peter’s Church, Rouses Lane, Filkins, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3JF (0.0 miles)
Wedding breakfast: bring in own catering suppliers
Accommodation: 3 double bedroom cottage from February 2018
Wedding fairs: Open Day in February and October
Other things worth a mention: warm all year round
by Hanami Dream | 10, January, 2018 | #UKWedLunch
#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 10th January 2018
As well as general wedding planning chat, today we are talking about the role of the bridal party #weddingplanning #UKWedLunch
MATRON OF HONOUR / CHIEF BRIDESMAID: organises hen party, holds bride’s bouquet during vows, arrange bride’s veil or train, helps with planning, provides advice and emotional support #UKWedLunch
BEST MAN: getting groom to church on time, holding rings, toast and speech #UKWedLunch
USHER: parking attendants, escort guests to their seats, moving furniture, handing out order of service #UKWedLunch
FLOWERGIRL / PAGE: look cute, scatter petals, hold train #UKWedLunch
RING BEARER: carries a pillow down the aisle with the rings tied to it #UKWedLunch
FATHER OF THE BRIDE: walk the bride down the aisle, toast and speech, father/daughter dance #UKWedLunch
This week’s top tips were about the role of the bridal party #UKWedLunch
As well as general wedding planning chat, next week will be about bridesmaids’ duties #UKWedLunch
JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT
