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Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 00:02
Hello, folks, and a very warm welcome to the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. My name is Liam Ball. I’m your magical wedding host, also known as the Gentleman Magician. And this podcast, as always, exists to shine a light on some of the best people I have met in the wedding industry. The suppliers are going to help you to transform ideas into beautifully executed wedding days. As always, if you’re enjoying this, please do like, follow, subscribe, and share it with people who are planning weddings Even for the general information, there is so much stuff in these episodes that will genuinely help people to make better decisions when planning their wedding day. Now today’s guest works in the world of wedding decor and styling, the finishing touches that bring personality and atmosphere to a fantastic Celebration from signage and table details through to beautifully considered elements that tie everything together. These are the kind of touches that you and your guests are going to remember a long, long time after the day is over. She’s known for thoughtful design, creativity, and a very keen eye for detail. So it’s a pleasure to welcome from dusk till dawn details Charlotte Dewis. Hey Charlotte, how’s it going?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 01:22
Hey, I’m good. Thanks for you.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:24
Absolutely marvellous. Yes, very good indeed. How’s life treating you at the moment?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 01:30
Good, good. Nice and busy, prepping for all the weddings to start up. But yeah, nice and busy.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:36
That’s it, you know, and this has come up a couple of times, I think. So many people out there who are getting married, you know, they’re they’re planning their day, and of course for the most part, people are doing it once and and they’re so focussed on their day that that’s that. What what most people don’t know is that that weddings come in seasons, right? And we have out of season weddings, but there’s a point in the year where it just goes crazy and it’s all hands on deck. And yeah, we are we’re definitely coming to that, aren’t we?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 02:02
Yeah, it’s gearing up for it now. Like you say, there’s different parts within the year of how you’re busy kind of like at the beginning, it’s a lot of meetings, prepping for those weddings, final meetings, and then it kind of gears up when you’re carrying all those The main bulk of the weddings out in the year, so yeah, we’re coming up to that part now, which is exciting.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 02:19
But very exciting.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 02:20
So, busy meetings at the beginning of the year as well, which it’s nice to switch up what you’re doing.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 02:24
So, it’s always good. So bar. Let’s talk about you for a minute, dusk till dawn details. At what point did this idea come to life and how did you bring it to where it is doing doing what you do at weddings?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 02:36
So distill dawn details was actually a bit of a COVID baby. So the way I started, I started with the looks picnics. So I don’t know if you’ve seen them before. They’re kind of like really intimate picnic setups, low level picnic tables, and I really wanted to take it to the next level. There was kind of that gap in the market at that moment. People were missed out on massive celebrations ’cause they couldn’t hire out certain events, places. So I brought it to their home for them. Yeah. And I really wanted to elevate it so they still had that special moment, even if it didn’t look exactly as they planned in that Venue, I don’t want to take any of that creativity and that special feeling away from it. Um it started with really small events like that I found that I was getting these repeat customers come back to me saying, We want something bigger. Like, as things started to open up. So, through repeat custom from my picnics, I ended up doing larger events, and that led into weddings. I. did my first wedding for a friend and I posted it on social, saying we did something a little bit different today. I woke up to an inbox full the next day and it kind of grew overnight that I was in the wedding industry. um which was really nice ’cause it it meant that I grew from somewhere where I’d really honed in that skill of getting all the details correct for smaller scale events. And then I just kind of expanded that and carried on what I was doing. But just to a larger scale for weddings.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:59
That’s brilliant. So I’m I mean and and of course, you know, there’s going to be people who might be listening to this in twenty years going, what’s what’s COVID? Which is which go check the history books. But of course, you know, even even although now it still seems like a long distant memory. you know, it still has implications. But of course, in this instance, you know, a accidental wedding professional turns weddings into absolute Fabulous events. That’s a great headline, I think, isn’t it? Yeah.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 04:26
Yeah. And it was like you say, it was so nice to grow with my customers and my clients and everyone I worked with. And they just wanted to see more from me. And it was just a natural progression, really. I’d worked with All of those details just amplifying it to make it ready for a wedding day. And it all felt like it happened very naturally, which was, I was really lucky.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 04:43
That’s great. And I mean I guess of course one of the things that we don’t really get in the wedding industry is is repeat custom. You know usually it’s a it’s it’s a one-time thing, but It’s wonderful that you’ve started with something that people have come back to you again and again and again, and suddenly one day somebody’s gone, Hey, could you do my wedding?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 05:01
Yeah. He wanted more from me.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 05:03
Yeah. I mean, I guess that the first time somebody asked you that question, and by the fact that you’re here doing this, there must have been an element of you kind of going. Yes, absolutely. Of course, I can put the phone down and going, what have I done?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 05:17
Yeah. I think the first wedding, I was kind of like, well, this is what I do. Like, I create events, I create special moments. It didn’t feel like. too much of a jump really, because I was so invested in it all. It was the next day when I woke up to an inbox full of requests. I was like, whoa, okay, we’re doing this Like, we’re going for it.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 05:36
That’s fantastic. Such a great story. So, have you always been creatively inclined, or is this something that you’ve kind of unlocked and discovered as you’ve gone along on this journey?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 05:46
I’ve definitely always been creative. So I actually was a trained dancer before. I worked in performing arts. So I’ve always had that creative kind of spike in me. Yeah. And even when we did like parties for ourselves and family, I would always take it to the extreme. I’m really nostalgic. I love creating like a memory for someone that you can look back years to come. So it just really fit in. I get I got to be creative still with what I was doing and I got to create those memories. So yeah, it’s always definitely been a part of what I like to do.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 06:16
That’s that’s great. And of course, I mean, there is there is no bigger joy than finding a passion and then being able to turn that passion into a main source of income to to live off it and to thrive on it and of course to share it with other people, right? And weddings, I mean, what a fantastic opportunity to do that.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 06:33
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 06:34
So I think when it comes down to things like wedding decor, and I was having this conversation with somebody, I think, a couple of weeks ago, a lot of people think about how we’re going to decorate a venue. as in some instances as one of the last things that they’re going to consider, right? But of course, in truth when somebody’s thinking about we’ve got this vision for our wedding, that probably entails some of those details, even if they’re not maybe perhaps aware of it.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 07:04
Yeah, I think actually by when you start looking at your styling, it actually unlocks a lot of answers to questions you were struggling with. So I find that when people talk to me about their colour palette or what their main focus is It kind of shifts and helps for the rest of the day and how that’s going to look. So, for example, it can be even small things like if you want a photo booth For example, yeah, they might have a few different styles. It’s like, well, where do you start? If you haven’t got your styling in place, it kind of makes those smaller decisions Harder. So, kind of see the vision of a day as a whole. Because it’s not just how it looks, it’s how it feels as well. Once you’ve sorted your style and you kind of get that feel for how it’s going to be, it actually brings clarity to a lot of other things. So kind of looking at your venue sign a little earlier can actually be really helpful. I think sometimes, like you say, people think, we’ll leave it a little bit later, but actually, it could be really helpful. And you have so many ideas running around in your head. Just to tick something off and quieten that down a little bit, can just bring so much clarity and calmness to it.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:04
Yeah, I think you’re right. It’s I think a lot of people will look at a wedding and think, oh my goodness, I’ve got to plan a wedding. It’s a massive undertaking. And I’ve got no idea how to start. And in actual fact, what we all know is that for every element of the day, there’s somebody who’s a professional who knows what they’re doing, who will come in and take care of it for you. And if you break that down into smaller and smaller little increments of jobs. actually, it becomes a more not saying it’s easy by any stretch or stress-free, but it becomes a much more straightforward undertaking. So let’s kind of hone in on venue styling. Give us some examples of the variants of different kinds of services that you as a venue stylist would offer.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 08:52
So we mainly focus on the table decor, the chair decor, your backdrops, your signage, but that can look it sounds like it can just be quite a small amount of things that we offer. When actually we can cater to any venue really, any style. It just depends on what you’re looking for. But when we speak to couples, it soon becomes clear kind of what they’re going for. So once we see the venue, we can see the side of it and how we can complement it. It can be things like play settings and charger plates, which people might not think about. It’s all those little details that we can bring in that can really elevate something, even if you want it simplistic styling. There’s things that we can do to layer it up. So nothing feels overwhelming, but actually, it creates the whole vision that you kind of put those little bits together.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 09:35
Get you. Now, something you said there, and this is always a fun question. I mean, I’m from the north. The pottery, so I know what it is, but but for people who are out there who’ve maybe heard the term and have kind of gone, okay, but then don’t know, yeah, what’s a charger plate?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 09:52
This is a question I get asked all the time. You definitely get it from grooms as well. They’re like, what are you talking about? So a charger plate is basically. a plate that’s put down on the table. It’s for decor, um, and your serving plates will be put on top of it. But what it kind of does is it sets the place setting for your guests As soon as they arrive. So, obviously, once they sit down at the table, food isn’t there straight away. It kind of is a way to make them feel considered and welcomed to the table. And it just adds an extra layer of that styling for you because Sometimes you’ll find that people focus on centrepieces, which is right in the centre of the table. But how can we make the rest of the table kind of bleed and blend out? To look just as considered as the rest of it, so charger plates and styled napkins is a really good way to do that.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 10:36
Yeah, and of course, again, you know, when it comes down to things like napkins, I mean, I was a trained steward when I was in the army. So there’s a million and one different kinds of napkin folds that you can do as well, aren’t there? And everything beyond. What’s your favorite napkin fold?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 10:52
I don’t do you know what? I love a knotted napkin at the minute, a cotton knotted napkin, plain and simple. Well, I really enjoy that, but then I do love like a st don’t get me started on this, Leo. This is like I’ll be here all day talking about napkins.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:06
There’s people who are thinking, What are they talking about? Why is this important?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 11:10
No, this is the stuff that gets me going. This is the exciting stuff. Let’s say you think, Oh yeah, I’ll have a napkin, but actually there’s different ways for it to be folded. Different ways for it seamed and like you can add ribbons to napkins to match your colour seam if you don’t want it to be that’s one thing I actually like um to encourage my clients to do. I get people come to me and they’re like, I want a color scheme, but I don’t want it to be in your face, which I get a lot. And I understand that you don’t kind of want it vibrant taking over the room and the venue. Yeah. Nice to do that that are subtle. Just adding a coloured ribbon to your napkins, to your candlestick, something like that is a really nice way to introduce it in without it kind of being in everyone’s face. All the things you can do.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:49
And I think as well, and this is really what I think about in my head, as this is the nitty-gritty of the job, right? It’s things like that and knowledge like that. that makes it worthwhile, number one, hiring a professional. Number two, speaking to people so you’ve got ideas. And of course, number three, listening to podcasts like this that really that really kind of get get that information out. So when you’re kind of thinking about all these different options that you can have, at one point do you think it becomes too much?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 12:27
Yeah, there’s a fine line between doing too much and kind of not doing enough. There’s not a right or wrong option. It’s very dependent on the couple, the venue. the style of day they want and how they want it to feel. If they I do have some weddings where more is more. That’s when we kind of like a fun, vibrant colour scheme like i’ve got coming up that we’re doing pink orange we’re doing disco balls we’re going we’re going to the full extent of it yeah that like let’s layer let’s add more that could be really fun But if they want a more simplistic one, it’s kind of let’s not throw everything at it, let’s layer it in a way. I think the way for me to achieve it by not being too much is layering different elements. You have your large centerpieces in the middle. But actually, it might be that they want a softer approach and layer. So smaller bud vases and different candles and things like that. It really is personal to even like the style of table. So you’ve got like a lot banquet style table where layering works really well. The round table, you might want a larger display. So there’s a lot of different things. It’s not an answer that you can just give playing across them all. All of the styling is bespoke that I do, and I build it around the cookbook, the menu, the numbers, the feel of the day. So each one is a personal experience, but I’m there to make sure that that doesn’t happen. Yet we are doing enough without doing too much.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 13:46
That’s right. So out of all the weddings that you’ve done so far, what have been The things that people have come to and gone, so we’re thinking about this. And you’ve kind of gone, wow, that’s amazing. And it’s been like, what have been your favorites to do?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 14:03
This is a hard question. I love all the ones I’ve done. I, well, do you know what? What I’m really excited for, this isn’t one I’ve done yet, but what I’m really excited for is: I’ve got what coming up next year at Vineyard, is actually where Wedcon was hosted last year. So I got one there. And that’s been a really exciting wedding to plan because we’re working with scenery in the wedding breakfast as well. So a lot of the time it’s the ceremony that’s got the backdrop and it could be an outdoor ceremony. But with this one, it’s been really exciting to blend outdoor and indoor feel. So we’ve really worked on a neutral color palette so that the venue can speak for itself with the views. And we’re really experimenting with candlelight for this one. Yeah. I mean, I love candlelight at all weddings. I think it makes it feel so romantic, hosey. intimate. But for this one, we’ve really worked with a neutral color palette and lots of candles so that we’re still giving it that impact without overwhelming. So I think it’s really exciting when you get to work with venues like that that really do speak for themselves. We can still elevate it without overwhelming it.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:03
Yeah. And I think that’s the key line, isn’t it, really? That there is You can go to a wedding venue where it’s already fabulous, it’s already great, it’s already brilliant, and then you get to bring in these personalized, bespoke elements. I mean, what kind of a difference would you say that even the small bespoke touches can make to a day over just a general setting?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 15:27
Yeah, it takes it from a gorgeous wedding venue that when you walk in, you are still wild. That’s it’s an amazing feeling to have for a couple to walk in and can see the vision coming to life straight away. But just those small touches change it from just a menu to a wedding. It’s kind of that moment. It kind of sets the scene. It’s about the feel. So with decor, I always say it’s not just about how the room looks, it’s a feel you’re trying to get for your guests and yourself. So let’s say just adding those candles in, it kind of brings the warmth to the room. It makes it feels cozy. Like it’s just that feeling that it evokes. And you’d be surprised how bringing out certain colour schemes within the styling can lift the room as well. So you might have faint details in the room, kind of on the art on the walls, the carpets, the curtains, something like that. And by using that and bringing it to life in the styling, it lifts the root more. Yes. I think it’s surprising when you do see a venue that’s gorgeous straight away, you see the after with the styling, you’re like Wow, I didn’t think it needed that, but wow, it really does make a difference.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 16:27
It really can, can’t it? And of course, it helps to make it more personal, doesn’t it? On the day, you know, it’s those little tiny touches. I mean, I’m I’m always a you know, I’m always a believer that, you know, grand gestures are fabulous, but but really, when you start looking at the details, that’s really when you start to discover how much care somebody’s taken over over the con the concept and the visualization and the planning of of what is ultimately a fantastic day.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 16:55
Yeah, definitely. I was speaking to a couple the other day. We were having the conversation where it was like, your guests might not notice the exact charger plate and they might not notice The exact napkin, but trust me, they will feel it as a whole when it all comes together. It’s kind of like as you’re going through it, you’re like, Do we need that? And do we want that? But When it all comes together and you lay it like that, that’s the feeling they’ll remember, and the whole visual of it all coming together.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 17:18
Yeah, that’s right. So, so let’s take us right from the start. So, there’s people out there right now who are thinking, gosh, I hadn’t considered it, but actually. Getting a venue stylist, much like Charlotte, is exactly the kind of thing that we need. We’re going to pick up the phone. We’re going to check out Charlotte on the website. We’re going to give her a call. We’re going to. we’re going to book in a consultation. What’s the process that people are going to go through from the moment they land on your website until their wedding day? How does that work in your world?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 17:46
Yeah, so exciting. We’ll talk about the process. It’s such an exciting experience when you start finishing the vision. So, someone will drop me a message, they’ll inquire on my website, they’ll even drop me a message, something like that. They’ll be in my world now. So I kind of get in touch with them. And the first thing I like to do is get someone on a discovery call with me. Straight away, I know that it can be really hard to articulate for clients and customers and brides how They want it to feel, and they that sometimes they’re it feels so jumbled in their head to get that into words is really hard in an email. I never want them to have to struggle because that can feel like a barrier. The first step is already too hard for them. It feels too stressful. So, straight away, let’s Take all that stress away. Make it easy. That’s one reason. I also like to jump on a call because it’s really important for them to meet me and for me to meet them. It’s a massive thing that we’re about to embark on together, a really exciting journey. You need to feel comfortable with all of your suppliers, that you can put your trust in them, that they get your vision.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 18:42
Yeah.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 18:42
So we jump straight on a call, meet each other, have a little chat, find out about their history, just a little bit more about them. And what styling they’re drawn to. So we’ll have a ball going over that, even if it’s just basic at that point. To them, sometimes it feels like they haven’t got many ideas, but Once we start speaking, I can tell you actually do have a lot of ideas. You just didn’t know how to get them out. Yeah. So we kind of put them all together. We’ll have a call with them. I’ll go away and then I’ll put together their bespoke styling proposal and I’ll bring it all together. Because obviously, on the call, we go through so many different ideas. They can probably put the phone down like, okay, that’s exciting. But What did we even speak about? So I then go back and put it all together in a really clear step-by-step way for them. That’s where they start to see their vision come to life. So then we’ll do another follow-up call after that. We talk through it all, make sure all the final details are in place, it all feels good, and then they can go ahead and book with me. Sometimes it takes a little bit more refining. There’s other details we want to go in. If they’re quite insure at the beginning, we can go through as many calls as it takes to get and any meetings at the venue to make sure it feels good for them. From there, we’re kind of locked in the main basics. That’s another thing I say as well to couples. They don’t have to have everything locked in from day dot things can change and evolve over time as well. Because there might be other suppliers that come in, they’re like, actually, I want to lean into this a little bit more. We should do that and adapt it. But My stance is that I always like couples to feel as prepared as they can be earlier on so that they can enjoy the ride. Because there’s nothing worse fucking around last minute for details. So yeah, we’ll go over our calls. We’re all locked in. Their date is secured. They can tick that off their list if they’ve got a new style list. And from there, we just kind of check in with each other throughout the whole process. We do updates with the menu. We’ll speak with about numbers. We’ll speak about file details that they might want to tweak, anything they want to add on. And I just stay in touch with them really throughout the whole process on there whenever they need me as much as they need me. But I give them the space as well ’cause they know they’ve got their menu stylist ticked off to go and sort everything else out as well. But I’m always here to check in with them. And then from there, we do our final meeting around eight weeks before. Yeah. I’ll have to do it eight weeks before because it means that then For that two-month lead up, they know it’s locked in. Every detail is ported, there’s no stress at that point. I want them to be plane sailing from there. Um, and then we’ll execute on the day for you. You know, that we’ll be there to style. Set up, we’ll style, we’ve done the design and plan for you, everything is handled, and then we also obviously do the collection, which is something that people don’t think about as well.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 21:23
Yeah, I mean, that’s I mean, just hearing that and the thought process has gone into that as a customer journey. And again, I think that’s something that so many people don’t realize is that we as suppliers and business owners, we spend so much time thinking about the process that you as a customer are going to go through to make it to make it painless, to make it easy, to make sure that you’ve got time, that we can understand you, that you get to know us. that that we make sure we’re the right fit for each other, all of those things. But of course, one of the great things about this is that I’m picking up very clearly that people can come to you who’ve already got a very clear and defined and precise idea of what they want. Or conversely, people can come and say, listen, I’ve got a picture and I don’t know how to describe it. help me. And on both cases, we can we can kind of pick that up and take people to that sort of finalization point and still make each of those things fabulous.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 22:20
Yeah, like you say, I’ll get couples come to me in really different stages of a journey. And it’s nice to have both. It’s nice to have a couple that comes along and they know exactly what they like. It’s just like, I know what I want. I just don’t know how to make it a reality. That’s what I’m here for. I’m here to create that image that you’ve got so clearly in your head. We can still go over and tweak things to make it seamless, but they’re. there with their ideas. But in the same breath, I think sometimes couples think they need everything decided before they approach a stylist. But that is what we’re here for as well. We’re not us here once you know. Oh, but it’s really exciting to work with those brides and grooms as well that have no idea. But what I will say is, most of them that come to me thinking they have no ideas, which we’ve had our first call, it turns out they actually did.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 23:02
That’s right. Yeah, I think it’s a wonderful moment, isn’t it? When you say to people, so what’s the plan? And they go, I don’t know. Okay, right. So have you got any? Well, we’d like to do this, and we’d like to do that, and we’d like to do this. And it’s like, all right. So, you have a plan, you just haven’t realized it yet. That’s great. Let’s realize that together and turn it into something that is formed and has got some substance to it. So How soon along a journey would you say that people really should start thinking about things like signage and styling elements? And the details that are going to transform their day from a wedding day into their wedding day.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 23:44
Yeah. So, I do get a lot of couples come to me, like you say, again, throughout the timeline. We do have some that are quite close that if we do have the availability, we will help, obviously. But one thing to consider is if you have a stylist in mind or any supplier, the earlier you can get in there with them, the better. So you know their data is secured. So that’s just from a practicality point of view of making sure you’ve got your suppliers that you love. For styling, I would say an ideal time to kind of look at it is around eighteen months, twelve months, like a year and a half year away. That gives you plenty of time to Take all the elements that you do like, and you’ve got time to change things if you want to, and kind of get that vision to come together. But there isn’t a set, like you say, with weddings, a lot of the time there’s not a set right or wrong. it’s whatever fit right up to you. If you know you’re doing a small intimate wedding, you might not need as long to plan it. If you are set on what you want and you’ve got that clear vision you’re kind of already a little step further. But if you are starting out and it feels really daunting, then as soon as you feel ready, it’s the right time to get in contact with your buyer, really.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 24:51
Got you. And would you say that, obviously, from the experience that now you’ve had, there are some common mistakes or misconceptions that people have when they’re thinking about styling or planning styling in decor details.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 25:06
One thing I do see when they’ve kind of I’ll do from a timeline and like a practicality point of view as well. So with a timeline point of view, I do I have found it where a couple of couples have come to me where they’ve done silen a little bit later and they’ve made all these decisions with other suppliers. And when we talk about their dream vision, they then realize actually we’ve already agreed to a lot of things that we don’t like. Yeah. For example, like bridesmaids’ dresses, they’re like, We’ve gone for a colour and we don’t even like that for the silent and we want it to match. Something like that. So it’s kind of like once you’ve got the base, it can help. So it might be something that if you think it is going to influence some of your other decisions. get that did a little bit earlier on. So you don’t come into those roadblocks where, oh, we’ve already agreed to stuff now that doesn’t actually match with the vision of our day and how we want it to feel. and they hadn’t had that clarity early on, they’d kind of panicked and gone through other things. Yeah. So that’s a piece of advice and that kind of bumping the rope. We always manage to iron it out, but it’s just a piece of advice. Know that the overall vision is going to affect other things. get it du kind of get it sorted. From a practicality point of view, we have some people come to us with silen that they want And they’re like, I love this huge display in the middle of the tables. And that’s where we can jump in and kind of say, actually, you’ve got to think of practicality of your centerpiece as well. So it’s not just how it looks nice. Those centerpieces look sinning. Your guest has got to sit there with that in front of them all day then. So it’s like have the guest experiences as well. So we can kind of help with those things. But we do that in a discovery call quite early on. So we can kind of Those things out.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 26:38
Yeah. I mean, something as well that it’s just kind of popped into my head as I’ve been listening to some of that is that probably one of the things that would help people to maybe avoid some of these areas early on, and I constantly talk to people about this, and I think this is really relevant, is is for them to actually sit down and put together some kind of vision board, which would also then start to include design elements and details. Is that something you’ve helped many people with?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 27:04
Yeah, yeah, we definitely help them put together mood boards. They can come to me with a mood board that can feel quite scattered. And then it’s our job to help them refine it to what actual elements that we want to pick out. So. I do get it sometimes where they come with like a Pinterest board is a big thing for starting, which can be really overwhelming. I just want to say. So if you’re in that overwhelm at the minute, please don’t panic because that’s That’s the one thing at the minute. Social media is the best thing because it can bring you all ideas within your fingertips, but also the worst thing because you’ve got all those ideas at your fingertips. It’s like a double-ended sword. So, they’re coming to me with a Pinterest board that feels really scattered. And they’re like, they’re all different. I don’t know which one I like the most. And I’m like, you say that, but this one has the same candle as this one. So you like candlesticks because they’re in every single one. Yeah. So let’s. Wow, and let’s make a new mood board that’s more refined with what you actually like from that. Because it’s not copy and paste. You don’t have to just see one online that you like and think, okay, I’ll have that. you could look at the different elements from them and put together your new vision. So that’s what I have kind of transformed that mood board to from a more varied one to a more refined one of what they actually want.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 28:12
Get you. And of course, I mean, you know, that the world that we live in now, because I guess of things like social media and outside influences and peer groups We are a world and a society that goes through a transition of different kind of trends. Are there any trends that have come and gone that you’ve loved and that that some some maybe that have come and gone and you think thank goodness for that and others that you think oh i wish that was still a thing and you know what what’s what’s exciting in your life
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 28:40
That yeah, trend is a really hard one with wedding styling because I think people can get easily drawn into it of that trend at the moment and they think, I want that. Will that be something you want e ’cause the thing is as well, you could plan your wedding eighteen minutes in advance and by the time it comes round, you could feel differently about it. That’s right. I always do say try and not listen to trends too closely and kind of pick out what you do like about them, but don’t feel like you have to go with that thing that’s in your face at the moment. A trend I do like is I like the ribbons, the colorful ribbons. So like the details on like candles and like big over-the-top ones on chairs. I do like that. And I think that does have some longevity in it as well. But for color palettes, like there was a moment where Sage Green was all the rage. I actually still really enjoy Sage Green for people that want a bit of a color scheme and don’t want it to overwhelm the room, it still works. So I think trends are good because you can still pick from them over the years as well. It doesn’t have to be comes and goes. You can just use it as your inspiration. But there is constantly new things popping up and But it’s nice to cancel out that noise as much as you can and just take a ration from it instead of feeling like you have to move with the trend.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 29:56
Got you. How many trends would you say have kind of popped up online and people go, I want to do that because it looks amazing. And then actually, in reality, it’s not maybe as good as it looked like it was going to be online?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 30:08
Yeah. Do you know what the thing is as well? A lot of people send over like AI photos to you. They’re like, we want this. And I’m like, that is AI. It’s not a real thing. It’s not physically possible to do that. But most of the time, when they do come to me with a trend, it’s not that we have to eradicate it. So I wouldn’t say it happens too often where they come with a trend and we’re like, no, that won’t work. It’s not doable. It’s just how can we make it possible for your venue, your numbers, everything like that. So it’s not there’s not too many where I’m like, I’m not even looking at that. It’s kind of we can pull from them.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 30:42
Got you. So if I was going to ask you right now to give us three or four simple but straightforward tips to people who are thinking, I need to start thinking about my my my my supplier not my supplier my my wedding my wedding styling and the details what simple tips should people be thinking about to to to get go
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 31:02
So I would start with, before anything, how you want your wedding to feel. Don’t even look at the decor. Start with how you want it to feel. So is that cozy and intimate? Is that simplistic? Is it rustic? Is it bright and colorful? Start with the feeling you want your guests to feel and yourselves when you’re in there. From there, things start to make sense. So that’s number one on my list. Then I would kind of look at color palettes that you are drawn to, that your ven that works with your venue as well. That’s a really important point to make. So you might come with me Come to me with a colour palette that you love, but actually, let’s look at the decor that’s in your venue. If the bar fits are a certain color and it’s not going to work, let’s see how we can maybe look at a more muted version of that. But so, yeah, colour palettes is a great one to look at next. Yeah. then it’s kind of important to look at your venue again in more detail of lighting and how it feels, working with your venue. So not just the color palette, looking at the venue as well at the elements. And then just start pulling together a board of inspiration that you see that you like. You don’t have to have thought process behind it straight away. Just what do you like? And it’s as simple as that. You don’t have to how is it going to look with the rest of the day too much? Because I’m here to do that for you. I’m here to guide you on that. But just pulling together bits that you are drawn to, not because of trends, not because Someone else did it. What are you drawn to? So, just to kind of start building that vision. And then the next step is to speak to your supplier as early as you can because it will all start to make sense.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 32:34
Got you. Okay. From your history then, all those things considered, what would you say has been one of the most creative, detailed ideas that somebody’s had where you’ve thought I can definitely do this, and it’ll be brilliant. And then you’ve brought it to life.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 32:55
Oh, it’s a good one. To be honest, I don’t think there’s been many where I’ve I’m just like a yes man. I’m like, we can do it. So, but not really people have brought to me that I’m like Oh, how are we going to do that? I’m kind of like, yeah, cool, we’ll do that. We’ll make it work. So, yeah, there’s not too many that I’ve been like, oh, scared by. Most people have really stunning ideas when they get go, but there is one that I’m really I’d mentioned it earlier, one that I’m excited to do coming up this year is the bright colourful one. So we’ve got On do you know what? On paper, it probably sounds a bit crazy, but the V board we put together and the ideas is sucks in a really classy way. We’re doing pink, orange, we’re doing disco balls and cheetah print.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 33:36
Wow. Pink orange disco butt I’m on board and cheetah prints
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 33:46
Yeah, and it sounds like a what they really wanted a fun atmosphere. That’s where we started the vibe we had, and we were like, okay, let’s run with it. And she was like, I want to go out there, but I want to do it in a way that doesn’t look tacky. Yeah. it isn’t going to be too much. So we pulled all those elements and said, for example, with a cheater print, we don’t want that everywhere, but where can we add it? So it’s a fun little layer?
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:08
Yeah.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 34:08
It’s kind of like those things. And the disco bought, I do you know what? It might be unpopular, but I Love disco balls at a wedding.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:15
I think it’s so fun. Do you know what? I like I went to a wedding a few months ago now, and it was in a barn. And their their kind of party area had this big sort of vaulted, you know, barn ceiling, loads of beams and stuff. Um, and and the um On the day after the wedding breakfast, kind of in in little break in between, a supplier turned up with a van, opened the back of the van, and it was just full of disco balls. Yeah. They went in and they must have hung up in this room like 20 or 30 disco balls. And I was like, isn’t this going to be a bit of overkill? And she went, wait till the lights go out.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 34:49
Yeah, trust the process. Yeah, there’s a lot of wedding where it is like that. Trist the process completely like, I get it now.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:56
Yeah, the lights went out. They, you know, the DJ lights came on and the op lighters, and I was like, wow, this is amazing. So, yeah, yeah, definitely. Listen, Charlotte, it’s been absolutely fantastic chatting to you. And this has been a really, really valuable conversation on certainly this particular aspect of weddings. If there are people out there and they want to get in touch, they want to chat to you, they want to find out more and they want to book you, how can people do that? Where can we find you online and on socials?
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 35:22
You can find me on my website, which is www. dust tildaundetals. co. uk. You can find us on Instagram, again, Dust Tilda Details, and the same on Facebook.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 35:33
Fantastic. Charlotte, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for coming along. And yeah, let’s catch up again sometime too.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 35:40
Thank you so much. Let’s see.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 35:42
Bye-bye.
Charlotte Dewis – Dusk ’til Dawn Details – Lux Wedding Stylist • 35:42
Bye.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 35:44
And there you go, folks. What an absolutely fascinating chat and a deep dive into the world of the finer details of wedding styling. from a thoughtful, creative human being who works in the industry and really knows how to bring everything together beautifully. I wholeheartedly recommend you get in touch with Charlotte and you can find her online. It’s dusktildaundetails. co. uk and on Instagram and Facebook Dusktildandetails. Now, as always, if you’re listening, if you’ve enjoyed it, if you know somebody who’s planning a wedding, please share this with them. There is bound to be at least one piece of information here that is gonna ignite a spark in their brain and help to make their process of planning their wedding easier. As for yourselves, please do like and share and subscribe. And remember, until next time, folks, choose your suppliers wisely. And I’ll see you on the next episode of the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. Take care.