Tuesday 15 November 2011

We have moved!

Much as I've loved inhabiting this little pocket of cyberspace for the past couple of years they do say a change is as good as a holiday, and it is definitely time for a change. So my blog will now be joining the rest of my site, that's wearing some brand new clothes.

So please head on over to www.savoirweddings.com/blog to see more.


Thank you!

Friday 4 November 2011

Flash mob proposal

Oh how I love a proposal of a Friday evening.

The video quality's not great but this will warm your cockles nevertheless.

For the full story check this out...




Awww!

Thursday 27 October 2011

Ooh La La


How much do I love this? Quite a lot actually. I have a small obsession with all things heart related and it's just so playful and cute I can't stop looking at it. And who says you need to spend a fortune on wedding styling eh? Cut out some paper or card hearts, stick them to the wall and voila!

Check out the whole wedding over at forget me knot weddings. I do so love weddings like these.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Burlap


I'm currently working on a wedding styling project for a rustic chic barn wedding next summer. And whilst burlap makes me think of autumn for some reason, it' seems to be a really versatile fabric that works with a variety of looks. 

Crisp white linen with a burlap runner and you can't really go wrong. Unless you overdo it, in which case it could be a little too beige maybe.

But with images like these it's perfect rustic goodness. 





Thursday 13 October 2011

All weddings aren't beautiful

How can a wedding planner say that? Well read on, and you'll see what I mean.

Bit late to the party here but the anonymous blog post from a photographer regarding the types of weddings that get on wedding blogs, has really got me thinking. There were many interesting points raised that if I give my opinion on them all, we'll be here all day!

First up, I'll be honest, I've worked on weddings when the couple book me after having already chosen the photographer and when I check them out online my heart sinks a little because I know I won't be able to use them on my blog or website. Sorry if that sounds harsh but it's the truth. I love weddings, but I also love living and if it's a choice of showcasing every wedding I do so that I do my bit to reflect 'real life weddings' or are selective and therefore get more bookings, I know what I'm sticking with.

But let's be clear here, it's the photography I'm rejecting, not the people getting married. Which is why, whilst anonymous raised some interesting questions I think ultimately it says more about the photographer in question than the weddings themselves.

A good photographer captures spirit, emotion, passion, love and all the other wonderful emotions present at EVERY wedding, even the ones without any bunting, mason jars or DIY elements. Note that I say, a good photographer. of course their job is easier when there are lots of details but a wedding could be photographed on top of a hill with no guests but the witnesses and some sheep. And if the photographer has skill and a good eye, that would get on a wedding blog. So it's not really the details as such it's the eye of the photographer (made me think of eye of the tiger writing that).

Of course there are those function room type weddings that all photographers have to do to pay their bills and no, chances are, even with the best eye in the world that won't get on a wedding blog, or in a magazine. But come on anonymous, such is life!

Here's a cold, hard truth - not all weddings are beautiful. And not all people have taste. The problem with taste is that we all think we have it, but it's a fact of life that not all people do. Some weddings are aesthetically unpleasing. Boring looking, unimaginative and like millions of others. Some couples don't really care about being creative or unique with their weddings. They just want the local hotel, friends, family good food and dancing. A wedding in essence means the same to everyone, but the way people choose to go about it varies as much as our other personal preferences in life vary. And that's their prerogative.

And I as a planner take these jobs, just like wedding photographers do. But I don't promote my business with them always. And quite frankly, that's my prerogative. Just as it is with blogs. Most of the high profile blogs have advertising. They run, or at least want to run, as a business. And a business is not about showcasing every and any wedding. A business is about selecting what sits with your brand and using that to promote yourself. Yes blogs, planners, photographers love weddings but ultimately we're here to make a living.

I disagree that all brides that appear on blogs are gorgeous. There are many who physically would not count as beautiful, but at their wedding, in their dress, marrying the person they love, they are beautiful. And that's what you see.

Wedding blogs act as inspiration. And inspiration is often aspirational. It's not a wedding blog's responsibility to provide an accurate account of real weddings. They're like magazines like that. And how much 'reality' appears in magazines. That's not their role. And you know what? If Annabel, Kat and so on starting showing every wedding that lands in their inbox, their readership would drop off. As it would with all successful blogs. BECAUSE PEOPLE GO TO BE INSPIRED. Sorry for shouting, but no one goes for a slice of real life.

I have never had a bride apologise for her wedding being 'boring' and I market myself as doing 'unique or cool' weddings so if anyone would expect it I would. I do recommend brides limit the amount of blog browsing they do, because yes it can make you feel inferior at times. But brides aren't children or easily influenced teens. They're adults. And not riddled with self doubt by and large as you, anonymous seem to believe.

Which is why, after much thought, I do think that although you have raised an interesting and worth discussing topic, it is ultimately this (and I know you say otherwise) - your weddings don't get published as much as you'd like on the larger blogs.

Perhaps you need to look at your own skill and how you might learn to be a ' better' photographer. Or perhaps you need to realise that wedding blogs are not a slice or real life, just like Vogue isn't. It's an industry, full of businesses that thrive on the pretty, the original, the inspirational and are massively trend led. Just like the fashion and music industries for instance.

And sorry, but all weddings don't need to be loved. That's sweet but a little naive, no? This might be a fluffy, pretty world we inhabit but in essence it's no different from any industry. We're not dealing with vulnerable or at risk individuals.

If you make a perfectly good living photographing weddings, who cares if you don't get them on blogs. I've only had about two weddings featured and I don't give a s**t! Be the best photographer you can be for yourself and your clients, make that your focus. I admire you for starting a dialogue on this, but unfortunately I think it's a case of right back at ya. Unfortunately, if anyone needs to 'get real' as you say, it's you.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Va & Joy's country house vintage prettiness


It's not often that a London planner gets to go to Wales to style a wedding so I jumped at the chance to be involved in Joy & Va's wedding. Over glasses of wine way earlier in the year we worked together to create the feminine vintage look Joy wanted to achieve.



I had lots of fun acting as florist for the day, filling these and all the bottles and vases in the main dining room (which also happened to be my props).


The biggest issue of the day was working out whether to keep the ceremony outside or bring it into the entrance hall of the house. I knew Joy really wanted it outside but the Welsh weather was being true to form and spitting ominously! We literally debated for most of the morning but thankfully luck was on our side and it held off. Hurrah.











O&C Photography captured Joy & Va's day absolutely beautifully. For the full set of images check out their blog here. Unfortunately I'd done the style set up and left before they arrived but I can certainly attest that Charis is one of the warmest, sweetest people I've 'met' in through Twitter and in weddings. So if you're getting married in Pembrokeshire, Wales or anywhere in the UK really you should definitely consider booking O&C Photography.

Monday 3 October 2011

Alix and Zach gothic glam wedding

Alix hired me to help her pull some styling elements together in the last couple of months and also to set up the decoration on the day. As soon as I heard her plans I knew this was a wedding I wanted to work on, and when I heard Lisa Devlin was shooting it I was even happier! I love Lisa's style (see here for another wedding we worked on together).





















Alix was the kind of client wedding planners dream of. Not just because she was so creative but because she was also so organised and just so nice!

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Antoinette meets Austen inspired shoot

When I started working as a wedding planner and stylist I had no idea that within a couple of years I'd get to work with some crazy creative people and work on projects like this shoot.

The idea was to create something evocative and atmospheric rather than detail heavy, and pretty much as soon as I decided on the concept -   two brides, Antoinette, Austen and gorgeous English country gardens - I already knew who I wanted to work with.

And let's just say they did not disappoint! See the end of the post for supplier details, but in the meantime...








Thursday 15 September 2011

Rain rain go away

A taster from a wedding we styled back in June and shot by the very talented and super nice O&C Photography My lasting memory from this wedding will be the 'will we, won't we' game we played with the rain and the outdoor blessing under the loveliest tree.

Monday 12 September 2011

Why don't we see more...

..... beautiful same sex engagement shoots and weddings? They must be out there and I for one would like to see more of them gracing the pages of blogs.

This shoot is so charming and sweet. And the couple Naomi and Rachel eloped right after this, which is rather romantic.

Head to 100 Layer Cake for the full shoot and details.


Happy Monday folks!

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Speccy love

I wear glasses, well contact lenses most of the time. Without them I am bliiiind. And I like rocking the spec look from time to time.

I don't think I'd be bold enough to wear them on my wedding day though. They make me feel too self conscious.

Which is why I think these girls are super awesome for rocking their specs with serious style.




Todd Pellowe Weddings

What about you? Did you/would you wear your glasses on your big day?

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