Our January-February issue is out now

What do the 2020s have in store for bridal? Find out in our new January-February issue

Any new year is a time for anticipation, but this one even more so, as we usher in a fresh decade. If you started it in the best possible way – namely by celebrating your engagement – let us welcome you to the wedding-planning fold: we’ve got your back as you start organising your nuptial knees-up.

So, just what do the 2020s have in store? In our January-February issue, you can look forward to the rise of unique wedding rings; dried flowers in bouquets and sweet treats more innovative and tempting than ever – ice lolly-shaped cake pops, anyone?

You can bet your bottom dollar there’ll be no less focus on the dress. Expect gowns in decadent laces, as seen in our ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ fashion story – shot on location at the fittingly luxe Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh – while sparkle and strapless silhouettes re-emerge in our trend report from the Harrogate Bridal Show.

Newbie bride-to-be? We’ve got the scoop on exactly what happens on a bridal appointment to help you get a handle on the whole shopping-for-The-One shebang.

Mothers of the bride and the groom’s mum have outfits to think about too and our special advice and style section will set them on the right track. For our second photoshoot, we headed to Melville Castle in Midlothian with a clutch of the latest looks for mamas, from floor-sweeping stunners to super-chic shift dresses.

If your forebearer is still flummoxed, she might want to cast her eye over the guidance we gleaned from ladies who have filled the role before.

Talking of wise words, our aim is to provide you with a solid grounding in the essentials that give every big day its backbone: the venue, for starters. Our 126-page focus covers everything from the initial questions to ask, through to showcasing the best barn and byre settings the country has to offer.

\We also ask celebrants about selecting readings for the ceremony (and who to give the honour of orating them to) and how to manage the budget without overstretching your finances – a worthwhile read unless it’s raining money on your matrimonial plans.

While we’re on the subject, Scotland’s default weather condition didn’t put a dampener on our real weddings this issue. We hear from one couple who still exchanged vows al fresco despite it being pretty miserable, while another tells us of the monumental downpour that happened during their outdoor ceilidh. The best bit? Their guests just kept jigging as though nothing was happening.

Pick up a copy of Tie the Knot Scotland from selected Scottish retailers or make it your New Year’s resolution to treat yourself to a six-issue subscription for just £18.