Saturday 31 March 2012

Daytime to Nightime Outdoor Weddings



With the unusual warm March we have just experienced in the UK followed by a visit to a lovely outdoor reception venue it was easy to be inspired into doing a blog about outdoor decor.


This pretty venue has been decorated in beautiful wild flowers and things have been kept simple using just a few paper lanterns and flower displays


For this simple garden wedding. strings of lights have been run from tree to tree, a few parasols have been put around the garden to create some shaded areas, and tables again have been kept simple with candelabras for centrepieces


Instead of marquees here simple gazebo's have been used to keep guests shaded


I love these following ideas for dressing your outdoor venue



Again these lights would be easy and low cost option to  recreate


If you have good chairs, why not show them off with simple bows without the chair covers


or ribbons to co-ordinate with your theme



Lighting is also important for an outside wedding. Several lights are used, strings of fairy lights, lanterns or even making handcrafted lamps and hanging them at desired place can actually enhance the atmosphere to the outdoor. Lights herald mood in addition to serenity to the occasion. Don’t combine too many lights though, everything needs to compliment each other. Just remember simplicity is key.
When you look at pictures of beautiful outdoor weddings, one thing that many have in common is decorations suspended from the trees. It can also be a perfect opportunityand bring your wedding colours into nature.





I really love these DIY glow in the dark lanterns, click on link below to see how simple they are to recreate.




I love this pretty trellis decorated with fairy lights and garlands of flowers and organza also could be simply recreated.



Chinese lanterns are perfect for the evening, what a wonderful way to light the night sky. Just make sure that you check with the venue that they are permitted, as safety has to be a priority.

However you decide to decorate your venue for your outdoor ceremony or reception, I am sure it will look both enchanting and magical

Thursday 29 March 2012

Real Bride

As promised here is my first feature on our real bride Holly.

 As well as being a Wedding Planner, I am also very proud to be Holly's Mum, so I guess my blogs will be coming from three different perspectives, My daughters, Mine as mum and objectivly as a wedding planner. So i think this will be an interesting journey to follow over the coming year.

Holly and Fiance Jeff announced their engagement just after valentines day after a romantic proposal on the beach. As her mum I was really pleased to hear their news as Jeff is a lovely guy who I know really loves Holly and I know he makes her happy. So the wedding date is set for April 2013.



Living in Bristol I knew that one of their favourite places for a day out was at the Zoo, so it did not really come as a suprise when they told us that their chosen venue for their wedding is Bristol Zoo.
Now getting married at a Zoo may be a little unusual but think of not only the photo opportunities but the fact that all your guests get the freedom during the day to take a walk around the Zoo itself.



At the beginning of the month I took a trip down to Bristol to look around.

Clifton pavillion


Weddings take place in the Clifton pavillion which has its own entrance, there are two rooms, one on the upper floor and one on the lower floor.

Holly's wedding will be on the lower floor which has a pretty little terrace at the back with a courtyard ideal for photographs.


 I must admit it was a fairly glum day so these photographs do not do the venue justice.



The room itself is large and really well lit, they have the most amazing floor as you can see, again it can be hard to imagine things transformed for the day, but once all the wedding decor has been added it will look amazing.


So with the wedding a year away Holly has already started to get some ideas of what she would like. The only thing that complicates things a little is that both Holly & Jeff both work in the Royal Fleet Auxillary, which means they are usually away at sea for 4 months at a time, so when leave comes in the summertime we will be able to swing into action. As a mother I am most looking forward to seeing my daughter choose the dress of her dreams, a moment that I know I will cherish for a lifetime. Holly has a good idea of the kind of dress she would like and has narrowed it down to three options. One thing that alot of people will tell you is how you can often go into a shop with your perfect dress in mind, then by the time you come out you have ended up with a completly different dress! its that feeling of "this is the one" and you just know when you have it on and see yourself for the first time looking back at you in the mirror. Either way its going to be an enjoyable day.


I look forward to divulging more after our dress shop, but there will be no photos until the after the big day itself, dont want to spoil any surprises.

I know a few people already who have said, " oh so you will be organising the wedding then",  a fairly common assumption I guess as weddings is my work, its nice in the way i can offer advice on where to look for things and how to get the best discounts, but it is Hollys day, just as with any bride I work with, I am there to provide support and advice. Wedding planners do not take over the whole arrangements for a wedding unless that is how they have been employed, most of the time we work in partnership with a bride to assist bringing things together, and saving some time, money and stress. Knowing others in the wedding industry helps too. So the assumption that Wedding planners are for people with big budgets or celebrities is just a modern missconception, we are used by people who have time restrictions, or just need that extra support getting things done for the day.
So on this occasion first and formost I will be mother of the bride.

I hope you will enjoy following Holly's experiences in the run up to her big day












Monday 26 March 2012

Tiffiny Blue - Colour Inspiration






Tiffiny Blue Colour Theme


This Colour and Theme exudes a simple, but classic elegance. By teaming the colour with whites & silver it will give a fresh feel to any venue or reception. As you can see from the photograph above the effect of blue lighting alongside the other reception decor combined it can create a stunning effect. 





Why not use inspiration from the 50's era.  Tea length dresses for the bridesmaids, favours inspired by the popular Tiffiny blue boxes & co-ordinate the groom and groomsmen with matching Tiffiny Blue Ties or cravats.

Friday 23 March 2012

Favourite First Dance Songs

Choosing the music for your first dance is always a bit daunting for some, but yet obvious choices for others. Most of us go for songs that are meaningful to us or represent pivitol points in our relationships. Either way it is a special and symbolic moment during the wedding reception. One word of advice i would give to anyone choosing any music for their wedding, whether it be for the first dance or background music at the ceremony is to listen to the music all the way through and pay attention to the lyrics. I recall when choosing music for my reception that some of my choices once i had listened carefully  actually had either double meanings, the odd swear word, or innapropriate words hidden in them. Not wanting to upset Aunty Flo i thought it best to go for  some simple and maybe obvious choices.
So after talking to some local DJs, & doing a little research of my own here are some of the most popular First Dance Songs.

It had to be you - Harry Connick Jnr
Shes the one - Robbie Williams
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Three Times A Lady - The Commodores
Your Beautiful - James Blunt
Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars
My Heart will always go on - Whitney Houston
Power of Love - Jennifer Rush
Angels - Robbie Williams
Greatest Day - Take That
Close to you - The Carpenters
Dont want to miss a thing - Aerosmith
Eternal Flame - The Bangles
When you say nothing at all - Ronan Keating
Your still the one - Shania Twain
A moment like this - Leona Lewis
Hero- Enrique Iglesias
Everything I do I do for you - Bryan Adams
Amazed - Lonestar
Time of my life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
From this moment on - Shania Twain
Rule the world - Take That
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Make you feel my love - Adele

If your running short of some ideas for your wedding dance, then why not do something a little different? check out the video below


Whatever song you choose, I am sure it will be a special moment that will stay in your memory forever.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Something Simple

I love this really simple idea, perfect for those outdoor ceremonies and receptions, they could be colour co-ordinated to match any theme.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Sunday 18 March 2012

More Easter Inspiration

If you are looking at getting married over Easter, here are a few ideas that you make like to incorporate in your wedding

 Soft pastels can be mixed and matched for a spring or summer wedding
 I really love this idea for wedding favours, you could add anything to them to give them your own
personal touch.
I love this take on rice krispie cakes


 Wellies always a good idea for those April Showers

Who doesnt like chocolate mini eggs?

Local Wedding Venue Focus

The Lord Nelson Pub - Thirsk
If you are struggling to find a reception venue and you are looking for something more relaxed and informal then look no further.

Situated on St James Green in Thirsk, The Lord Nelson Pub dates back to the 17th Century.

The Lord Nelson Pub in Thirsk has a lovely function room at the back that would be perfect for a wedding reception. There is room for a DJ or live entertainment and foodwise menus can be tailored to your specific requirements.

The food is excellent and you certainly get value for money, I can certainly vouch for this myself as being on the doorstep I have visted the  Lord Nelson from time to time, taking my family for sunday lunch and i have celberated two birthdays there. Staff are very helpful and you always get a friendly welcome.
So why not check out their website
http://www.thelordnelsonthirsk.co.uk/

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Teacup Wineglasses..................


Ok just when i think i have seen most things someone comes along and shows me something new and different!
I have never really thought about teacups being turned into wine glasses, but there seems to be something rather facinating about them. I really love things that are different and provide a real wow factor or talking point at a wedding or party, i think you will agree that these would do that.

When i was approached by Abby Forknall and she showed me them i just had to share them.

Abby offers a bespoke service where you pick the colours & patterns to suite your theme.


                                                                               
  before .................



after..............

No matter how big or small your Wedding Abby will be happy to help, she recently did a wedding reception for 150 people!

The other good news is if you dont want to buy you can always hire them, Abby can even sort out a mixed wedding set for you to hire.

Prices are £15-£25 each or to hire £4 each



I think you will agree they would be perfect for a wedding with a Vintage Shabby Chic Style

So if you would like to know more contact Abby on  teacupwineglasses@hotmail.co.uk


Sunday 4 March 2012

Step into Spring


With us about to step into spring, I thought we could take a look at inspiration for our Spring brides.
More and more brides are choosing to get married in the springtime instead of the summer, which as a whole can have added benefits. Brides who marry in March, April and May often save more money as the competition for venue's and Suppliers is not as high. Typically in the UK most brides do choose to go for summer weddings because of the weather and our unpredictable summers.

Yellow is probably the first colour people think about when you speak about a Spring wedding. Yellow is traditionally a colour of happiness and new beginnings.


I think alot of brides would not think of going anywhere near a yellow colour as a theme for their big day, but there are more shades of yellow than you may have imagined. You do not have to go for bright and bold yellow, you can of course go for a softer option or a more mustard yellow.
If Yellow is not your colour then soft pastels always go down well.



Springtime lends itself to lots of wonderful flowers, daffodils and tulips are an obvious choice, yellows and whites a perfect combination.








Ideas for Table Centrepieces or general decoration, why not add a little easter flavour too?


I love the simplicity of these



When it comes to favours here are a few ideas


Above - personalised egg cups by a talented and good friend of mine Sue at Inspired by script