Wedding Styling That Brings Your Love Story to Life

At Love Stories Events, they specialise in creating stunning, sustainable weddings that reflect your unique love story. Their team is dedicated to crafting each detail with care, ensuring that every element comes together beautifully, elegantly and the perfect amount of romance.

Yorkshire Brides | Weddings popped Sophie from Love Stories Events in the hot-seat to discuss all things wedding styling!

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you became a wedding stylist?

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a love for styling. I am the go-to person when anybody needs any interiors advice and having a complete love for all things aesthetically pleasing for many years, I have been fanatical about interiors and accessories. So much so, that with my husband, we have completed 3 house renovations from top to bottom, doing nearly everything ourselves. Having successfully sold 2 of those houses (the third is still our current home) and receiving such wonderful feedback about the homeliness and styling, I found I had a new passion brewing inside of me!

With the support of my husband and family, I took on a franchise in weddings and events and ran this for 3 years before deciding to sell up to concentrate on my NHS career. After a year out, I continually missed the weddings and events side and started to feel as though I was really missing out. I kept up with trends and the more I saw, the more I missed, and thus, Love Stories Events was born! I immediately set to creating high quality faux florals that you can see on all of our current social media pages and website today.

I absolutely adore hearing everybody’s own love story on how they got together, family dynamics with children and pets and how they will play a part of the big day! It is the type of business that brings so much happiness, engaged couples wishing to marry is an exciting time for them and one I absolutely relish being part of and celebrating the newlywed couples on the wedding day! So once couples approach me, part of the process is understanding their requirements and I absolutely thrive on creating that special day and the cherry on the top? Seeing the wedding photos afterwards and hearing from the newlyweds about how much they really loved seeing everything come together. This is what spurs me on more to keep going.

What do you think is the most important element to consider when styling a wedding venue?

As a wedding stylist, it is important to understand what type of venue my couples have booked. This often gives a hint as to what style they are hoping to create. For example, couples who book tipi tents or barn venues are usually more steered towards whimsical, rustic and boho vibes, whereas couples who book castles and stately homes are usually looking for something more timeless with flowing centrepieces and copious amounts of romantic candles flickering against the table’s florals.

Everything should tie together beautifully and the wedding styling should flow seamlessly throughout the venue. Stationery, colour schemes, the bridal attire, florals, candles, linens and any draping/layering should complement throughout and feel as though the theme fits within the type of venue that couples have opted to celebrate their special day in. If the venue has an outdoor area, lanterns and florals are a great space to add décor to – to ensure the romantic flow and keeping the styling connected.

How do you work with couples to bring their vision to life?

The initial process for me, is to firstly find out where the venue is and what the colour scheme of the venue looks like. From there, I offer an array of photos of stylings I have carried out previously and any florals or alternatives that I have to fit with the colour scheme. It is important to find out whether there is anything they absolutely do not want – so I can quickly rule this out, for example, one bride didn’t want any coloured candle holders or charger plates, so we opted for clear glass candle holders and clear charger plates with an all-white pallet with a hint of greenery. It was timeless look that felt romantic and the bride completely loved the overall look.

It also important to know whether couples would like something completely bespoke, such as the bride with the all-clear glass and white or whether couples want a straight forward, elegant package which allows them to add items to. A lot of this also comes down to budget, so once I have discussed the venue and colour scheme, it is important to manage couples’ expectations with the budget they are working with.

Once I have gained a clear understanding of these things, I then put together a quotation. I always check with couples to see if everything is correct and as always, with weddings, numbers and trends are continuously changing! I always advise couples that we ask for the final number at least 8 weeks prior to the wedding date because if the numbers have increased and it is peak season, we need time to be given to order in any extra stock that is required and we must allow for many items to be out of stock during peak seasons so 8 weeks is about the right amount of time for us order in time if required.

What are some of the current trends in styling that couples are loving?

Trends are forever changing daily/weekly! However, some of the current trends right now are sheet cakes! These are the long rectangle shaped cakes I’m seeing a lot of but also, seeing a lot of love for these in Tiramisu flavours which is something different and fun... So if anybody would like to invite us to their wedding with Tiramisu cake, we would happily oblige on this!

Another trend that is hot right now is the old money style. I personally adore this trend! We are starting to see a lot of old money style stationery creeping in. I also had an old money style stationery for a black-tie photoshoot I recently did to show couples one of our new floral ranges that recently arrived - and the old money works so well with the black-tie glam theme.

Bows bows bows and more bows! Huge, white bow details to the backs of wedding dresses are starting to appear. I recently did a gorgeous photoshoot, where a model is wearing an absolute showstopper of a bridal gown with a large white bow tied into the back. It was simply both elegant and stunning! Bows were a huge trend in the mid-2000s and they are back but even more divine! Detailing of bows to veils are a fabulous alternative to a bow on the dress if this feels too much for you. White bows to hair or bows to shoes are also lovely alternatives too!

The current pantone colour trend for 2026 is “Cloud Dancer” with a lot of all white styling and stationery with the sheet cakes but we also seeing a lot of buttery yellow tones paired with soft pastels and also wildflowers.

Another trend is for the photographers and your wedding photos – a lot of photography dynamics are shifting and we are starting to see an “editorial” style of wedding photos. Keep your eyes peeled for this because if you especially want all your décor captured, the editorial style will do exactly this for you and also capture magazine worthy photos of the newlyweds! I see this being a huge trend in the coming months!

However, the timeless look, the all classic white and sage green still continues to dominate and be popular right into 2026 and for me personally, also into 2027 with some of the bookings we have. It remains popular alongside black tie.

Do you have any tips for couples who may not have a clear vision yet? How can they find their style or theme?

For couples who don’t have clear visions and struggle a little bit, I discuss with them what it was that drew to them to book their dream venue. The questions I tend to ask are – is it the period charm or was it the rustic charm of a barn - and express that it would enhance the styling to remain sympathetic to the nature of the venue. The next question is usually colour, what colour weddings do they envisage when they think about their wedding day. Sometimes, this can also be tricky as some couples will say they aren’t sure – and this is absolutely fine! This is where as a Stylist, we come into our own to help. I may look at the walls, is there a brick wall, is there a painted wall with panelling -and perhaps suggest some colours that would pair beautifully with the venue. Does the venue have a patterned wallpaper – perhaps we could pull out a shade of colour and use this for the styling and if not these, what colours do they have in their home. Do they like neutrals with pops of colours, do they prefer bold and vibrant or something softer such as pastel based and those who dare, to go dark and moody! There is always a way we can help to create the perfect colour and theme to compliment the couple and the venue they have chosen and there’s usually a reason they have chosen the venue whether it’s the light and airy vibe or whether it’s the boho feel – we can create anything once we have pinned down the colours and type of venue!

In your experience, what is the most popular wedding style or theme at the moment?

This is such a great question – because as a Wedding Stylist, we can discuss what is trending but ultimately, every Stylist will be different. For me at Love Stories Events, my top 3 most requested styling are;

· The ultimate timeless elegance white with greenery and sage greens with either clear glass candle holders or warm metallic golds. This will always be a classic and elegant way to style a wedding

· Soft, elegant and romantic muted pinks and whites with warm metallics such as gold

· Ultra chic, classic and glam black-tie, paired with black candle holders, white candles and black bows

· Bows/ribbons are extremely fashionable right now. Whether you find these tied to candles, detailing to veils and wedding gowns, shoes, clothing, cakes and stationery, this is one that is hot and very much on trend with most Stylists!

How do you approach styling a venue that already has a distinct aesthetic (e.g. a historic castle, a barn, a hotel)?

We approach each space with softness, grace, and a sense of timeless romance and enhances each venues’ identity in whether that is a romantic ballroom or a modern contemporary approach to the décor and styling. If styling Castle venues or stately homes, I find that neutrals and pastel colours such as blush pinks and dusty blues work best alongside classic whites and greenery. If styling something more modern contemporary, I aim to go for something a little bolder, such as a true black tie glam and going all in with black table cloths and chiffons and using white flowers to lighten this and bring in the themes. Often, a modern and contemporary venue can take more bold and vibrant colours which can be fun for those who aren’t shy of a bit of colour! I also look at the venues webpage and social medias to look into the colour schemes used in the past to see what has worked well and what hasn’t and then put together some ideas for this to show whilst taking into consideration the couples wish list.

What are some common mistakes couples make when it comes to venue styling, and how can they avoid them?

In the past, I have had some couples approach me who have felt completely overwhelmed and burnt out mentally and emotionally when wedding planning. Some DIY couples have bought things and have usually overbought or gone in heavy with too many trending ideas and have lost sight of how they wish their day to be. They have seen countless photos on Pintrest and Instagram and it just overwhelms sometimes. When this happens, I ask couples to forget about the items they have purchased and take it back to the start. I look at the chosen venue they have booked and discuss the colour scheme with them. I ask them to choose at least two items they absolutely want whether this is charger plates and LED light and stand, then we can start to build on centrepieces and whether they wish to have large, romantic centrepieces on stands or whether they want lower centrepieces in flower urns surrounded by soft burning candle lighting. From doing this, I start to get a clear sense of what the couples wish to achieve whilst being sympathetic to the surroundings and décor of the venue by selecting colours that work best with the couple and venue.

Can you share any advice on balancing budget with style? How do you ensure couples get the best value while still creating a beautiful and memorable setting?

My best advice for this is, when you start your planning journey and you have shopped around for prices and ideas that work best for you, set yourselves a budget and then keep a wedding planner or excel spreadsheet. Dedicate how much you need to spend in each area for the venue, giving notice, paying for the Church, buying your bridal attire, hair and makeup, styling, wedding rings, stationery, photographer, content creator and anything else you may wish to include for your special day. Keep a running total on the spreadsheet or if you have a wedding planner, write this down and keep receipts. There are usually pocket folders within planners so this is ideal.

If these options don’t work for you, set a rough budget and pay off one thing at a time or a few small things at a time. Once you have paid for these, move onto the next item or items depending how much you can afford to spend in one go at each time.

It is also worth giving yourselves two years to pay off your wedding if this is something you need to allow time to do. Twelve months soon comes around extremely quickly – especially if there are some months of the year where you can’t afford to spend on wedding things such as Christmas which is an expensive time of the year. Give yourselves the best possible chance of being able to breathe and to not overwhelm yourselves trying to do it all in a year. At Love Stories Events, our aim is to give you all the details, all ceremony décor and reception décor and styling at a very reasonable cost. Our packages are made of high end quality and aim to give couples everything they could possibly need for the ceremony and reception but if you wish to add extras, this is also very doable too!

What are some creative ways couples can style a venue for a more intimate wedding, versus a large celebration?

Having styled a number of intimate weddings in the past, the easiest way to gain an intimate set up is to remove round tables and top tables and instead, opt for a long table made up of trestles or alternatively, create a U shape with the newly married couple sitting in the centre. This works beautifully to have bud vases and LED lamps and candles all the way down the centre of the tables or low table flowers with a variety of candles and LED lamps. I always say you have just as many options

as you do with a round table except you just require slightly more décor to continue the theme all the way around the centre of the tables. As we are seeing, people are opting to have smaller weddings to be able to spend more on the décor to get everything they truly desire to have that romantic and perfect day together and with loved ones, celebrating in the beauty around them.

How do you address unexpected challenges, such as last-minute changes or weather issues (for outdoor weddings)?

This is actually something we deal with very frequently when planning weddings from the Spring to early Autumn months. I always advise a plan B! This is so important because the last thing you want is a wedding caught in the down pour! Although we don’t have any control over what mother nature throws at us, we can prepare as much as possible! It is usually judged by your wedding co-ordinator on the day of your wedding as to whether it is possible to go ahead or if we revert to plan B. Anything that is planned for outside, such as lanterns, large floral arches, pillars and flowers down the aisle can all be simply set up inside the venue as an alternative. I usually plan the set up as thought the outside is going ahead and then plan for plan B to ensure the couple are happy with the inside placements of items such as florals, lanterns etc and if there is anything else we need to add to if the option were to change. There is always something we can do, so don’t be too sad if it rains! After all, rain on your wedding day is supposed to be a good sign… if you are a little superstitious!

What advice would you give to couples looking to create a timeless wedding style that won’t feel dated in a few years?

Timeless weddings are defined by classic style, graceful traditions, and a deep appreciation for proper etiquette. This is often defined by delicate white florals, white blossom, candles and light linens such as table cloths, chair chiffons and napkins are generally what is thought to be a timeless and classic wedding look. White will never go out of fashion in 20+ years later, it will still stand the test of time. White florals and greenery work best, always look stunning and your guests will talk about it for years to come.

Let’s talk about trends, these will come and go in a flash unfortunately. Whilst they may look appealing and fun in the moment, it is usually best to avoid these if timeless is what you both want.

Things to remember, less is more, don’t overwhelm your tables with tons of décor, white florals with greenery paired with some candles work best. You don’t need to have candles everywhere, just a few around the base of the florals to add that romantic, sparkling burn.

Finally, can you share a memorable or unique wedding styling project you’ve worked on? What made it special?

I did a wedding quite a while back for a gorgeous couple who wanted the elegance of white flowers but also wanted it have a masculine feel to this for the groom and a softness through warm tones to not feel overly masculine for the bride who wanted florals and pretty golden accessories and asked if I could create something bespoke for them. They allowed me to be as creative as I liked and fully trusted me with their vision and hopes.

I came up with a plan to have alternating tables of the faux white florals and greenery, paired with stunning, gold mercury candles in an array of golden pillars for church candles and golden tealights all around the base. For the other tables, to incorporate something for the groom, we opted for stunning faux olive trees and then at the base, gold tulip candle holders for candlesticks, pillars for church candles and tealights. We sat these on top of champagne runners. The table numbers, I had a vision I was hopeful of creating and did. I had a welder create black slim rectangle boxes which added a pop of colour and worked so well! We softened the overall look with frosted acrylic with hand written calligraphy in white, personalised to names of tables and I hung these inside the black boxes tied with chunky, fraying ribbons. It looked so stunning and people still send me Instagram pictures back to me of this design. For the top table, we integrated a mix of bud vases and candles. Overall, this was my favourite because it was timeless but with a botanical vibe with the greenery through the olive trees. It just came together so well and couple were absolutely over the moon.

I really hope you managed to find something interesting to take away and I thank you for your time reading this Q&A.

Love,

Sophie x

Love Stories Events can be contacted via www.lovestoriesevents.co.uk, www.instagram.com/lovestoriesevents www.facebook.com/lovestoriesevents or via Whatsapp: 07902 327856