Savoir Weddings

We have moved!

2011-11-15T20:55:00.000Z

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!

Flash mob proposal

2011-11-04T17:54:00.000Z

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!

Ooh La La

2011-10-27T12:12:00.000+01:00

elisabeth perotin

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.

Burlap

2011-10-23T21:23:00.001+01:00

Two Pair Photography via Style Me Pretty

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.

via Wedding Chicks

via The Nicols

Micah and Megan Photography via Style Me Pretty

Thistle

2011-10-17T19:29:00.000+01:00

image by Caroline Tran via Inspired by This

Simple & effective.

All weddings aren't beautiful

2011-10-13T11:47:00.002+01:00

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.

Va & Joy's country house vintage prettiness

2011-10-12T16:50:00.000+01:00

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.

Alix and Zach gothic glam wedding

2011-10-03T11:22:00.002+01:00

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).

Lisa Devlin Photography

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!

Antoinette meets Austen inspired shoot

2011-09-21T09:00:00.009+01:00

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...

all images copyright Sarah Gawler Photography

This couldn't have happened without the following people, there's a bit of gushing coming up sorry!

Sarah Gawler's photography kind of blows my mind. It's pretty rare to have an idea in your head for a shoot and have the results exceed your expectations. She was so good with the models; took so many photos it was impossible to pick my favourites; and completely understood what I was aiming for. Basically, she's a legend.

I'd seen Elbie's work on the blogs but never met her before. Over a endless bottle of cider in Brixton we chatted about the shoot idea and I knew she was going to be brilliant. And as with Sarah her work was even better than I could of hoped for! She was fast and efficient and worked a hair piece like nobody's business. Already planned to book her for my, (as yet), non existent wedding.

I've worked with Alison from Pollen Nation before and as far as I'm concerned they ain't no finer florist. She came up with the idea of the flowers in the parasol and brought so many beautiful blooms with her. Plus she's pregnant and yet did not moan once during a loooong day. Which is pretty impressive, no?

Also there on the day was Sally Lacock who supplied the vintage inspired dresses and veil for the shoot. They were the most ethereal creations made with french lace and hand sewn flowers. Plus the veil, oh the veil. If I could have got away with slipping that in my bag I totally would have done.

Emma La Haye had worked with Sarah on a wedding before and came along armed with some props to help with the styling. She had great vision and was a genius at thinking on her feet when something wasn't working.

And finally the models Evie and Beth were the best surprise. I struggled to find the right models and both girls came on board last minute. To say they were professional and patient with our various ideas is an understatement. Quite frankly they were a delight!

Not forgetting the three lovely ladies who sent their work in for the shoot - Helen from Cutture, Charlotte from Restoration Cake and Kirstie from Flo and Percy. The mask and glass cut out insects were courtesy of Cutture; the Antoinette inspired cake from Restoration cake and the hair pieces and bracelet from Flo and Percy. So thanks very much ladies for your contributions.

I fear this post may be aiming for the longest post ever so I shall wrap it up here. All that's left is a great big thank you to everyone involved (all ladies incidentally), and I hope you enjoyed the photos :)

Design concept, props and styling - Savoir Weddings
Photography - Sarah Gawler Photography
Hair & make up - Elbie van Eeden
Flowers - Pollen Nation
Dresses and veil - Sally Lacock
Props & styling - Emma La Haye
Models - Evie & Beth
Hair accessories & cuff - Flo & Percy
Cake - Restoration Cake
Cake silhouette - Alison Russell
Cut outs and mask - Cutture

Rain rain go away

2011-09-15T10:23:00.000+01:00

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.

Why don't we see more...

2011-09-12T10:56:00.001+01:00

..... 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.

Jen Huang via 100 Layer Cake

Happy Monday folks!

Speccy love

2011-09-06T11:54:00.000+01:00

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.

Olive Juice Studios via Style Me Pretty

Lauren F. Liddell Photography via Style Me Pretty

Jonas Peterson

Todd Pellowe Weddings

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

To veil or not to veil?

2011-09-02T14:02:00.000+01:00

I always used to think veils were kind of old fashioned and not in a good way. Now I've just about come full circle.

Last week's shoot featured the most exquisite French lace veil and there's something so ethereal and wondrous about a veil done right.

Which these beauties from Twigs & Honey definitely are. Shot by Elisabeth Messina which of course makes them even more beautiful, who could fail to be moved by these lighter than light creations.

double layer teardrop veil

French inspired bridal lace cap with veil

Rhinestone adorned mini tulle veil

Which one's your favourite? Think it's the last one does it for me, something about those rhinestones.

A teaser...

2011-08-30T10:16:00.000+01:00

Sarah Gawler

... from last week's shoot. Working with the dream team was amazing. The models were brilliant and even the weather held out for us.

Can't wait to show you more.

Tomorrow...

2011-08-23T19:46:00.000+01:00

...working on a photo shoot with some of the UK's finest wedding suppliers.
Excited.

Aisle Design

2011-08-17T10:27:00.000+01:00

from Ruffled

Simplicity really is key sometimes.

Happy Feet

2011-08-15T10:33:00.000+01:00

Apologies for lack of blogging last week folks. Let's just say it was a truly crazy week all round (more on this soon) so bring back normality soon please ;)

Looking forward to Alix and Zach's wedding this coming Saturday followed by a rather exciting shoot featuring some of the finest UK wedding suppliers the week after.

In the meantime I'm been thinking about shoes this morning. Let's be honest. Most bridal shoes are somewhat disappointing. They look old fashioned (not in a good way) and kind of tacky and just wrong somehow. Not to mention how expensive they can be.

Whilst browsing Asos (for work purposes of course), I came across these bad boys. The high street is definitely worth checking out for your bridal attire if these dresses and the shoes below are anything to go by.

Tornado lace shoe boot £45

Carvela Guess Diamante Peep Toe Heeled Shoe £120

Report Signature Calyer Caged Platform Caged shoe £260

Think the shoe boot is my favourite, (plus it's the cheapest).

Fifty Nifty Paper Antler

2011-08-08T11:27:00.000+01:00

Paper Antler

These beautiful images are from boutique photographers Paper Antler, a US husband and wife photography duo. And you have to read about their Fifty Nifty project. Photographing 50 weddings in 50 states within 50 weeks donating $1000 per wedding to an anti-human trafficking organisation She Dances for a total of $50,000.

How incredible is that? You can read more about this here.

Pick of the best high street wedding dresses

2011-08-05T18:23:00.002+01:00

from top left:

Biba Chloe one shoulder beaded maxi bridal gown £695 House of Fraser,

Agnola Dress £225 Monsoon, Phase Eight Elizabeth wedding dress £375 Debenhams,

Biba Alexa bell sleeve bridal gown £695 House of Fraser,

Pegasus lace dress £150 Monsoon, Ted Baker beaded scallop dress £179 Asos

There's a lot to be said for splashing out on the most expensive wedding dress you can afford but for some brides Vera Wang just ain't an option.

Thankfully the high street has some affordable and rather gorgeous wedding dresses on offer, as this little selection proves.

Which one's your favourite? It's not actually a wedding dress, but I think the scallop edge Ted Baker dress is my favourite. Perfect for a chic city summer wedding accompanied with some killer heels and a delectable cocktail in hand, no?

Sometimes being a wedding planner is like being a child...

2011-08-02T17:51:00.000+01:00

...in that you get to do so many fun crafty projects. I've been seeing these D.I.Y paper fans or paper flowers or whatever they're called, for a while now and figured they look pretty easy and I'd give it a whirl.

Pleased to say they most definitely are easy to make. And since we're all getting slightly sick of bunting, they're a good cheap replacement.

All you need is good quality paper in whatever colours you like, some monofilament (transparent, plastic wire type stuff), and whatever you want to stick them to the wall with (I actually just used white tak) but you can hang them too.

Not going to bother with the whole how-to because you're all pretty clever and it's not exactly hard...

Once you've artfully folded two pieces of A4 you staple it together, tie some monofilament through the middle to keep it together, make a hole with a hole punch and voila...

Good for filling blank/dull spaces this is one D.I.Y project that really is super easy and depending on your chosen colours can fit any 'theme'.*

What do you think lovelies? Would you use these paper fans for your wedding decor, or do they remind you too much of school (sure I made these when I was about seven).

* I use the word 'theme' ironically of course. I don't know about you but 'wedding theme' is definitely one of those phrases that gives me the heebie jeebies.

Time to get into the groove

2011-08-01T08:10:00.010+01:00

Good morning and welcome to another week folks! Today's what does a wedding planner actually do is all about creating the right working environment, (as inspired by Madonna and her ability to get into that groove).

Everyone is different but I think most people benefit from working set hours in a proper location i.e a desk, not your bed, the sofa, floor etc.

Creating a decent work space for yourself gives you more pride in your work, makes you feel more focused and helps spark creativity.

Before I purchased my snazzy orange Ikea desk I worked at the dining room table. Which wasn't great as it's in the same room as the TV. And somehow Neighbours and Home and Away were always on. Working in the lounge meant I would just pop the TV on for company - Jeremy Kyle, Loose Women, yep, all that trashy TV became the background noise to my work.

But now I have a clean, (most of the time), work space, which is just for work and whilst I work better with some sound, the company of the radio is far preferable to people shouting on Jeremy Kyle. Because if it's a case of sorting out my insurance, or watching a man who fathered his sister's best friend's child's baby, which one's most likely to win out?

What about you? Where's your favourite place to work?

Lovely... why yes you are

2011-07-30T10:43:00.002+01:00

I'm a big perfume fan. Nothing better than spritzing your favourite scent to lift your mood. And who doesn't want to smell fabulous on their big day?

It's not a new fragrance but one of my favourite fresh, summer scents is SJP's Lovely.
It's one of those scents that's not overpowering but not too sickly sweet. And a good spritz lingers too.

Sarah Jessica Parker Beauty

And the fact you can purchase 30ml for a mere £12.99 makes it a wedding day staple I reckon.

What about you lovelies, what's your favourite perfume?

Analyse this

2011-07-29T17:45:00.000+01:00

No not this dodgy film, your website. Analyse your stats peeps.

You may well have heard about Google Analytics. Chances are if you run your own business or update the website at your place of work, you'll at least be familiar with the term.

You may also (like me, I have to admit), be more familiar with the fact you should be familiar with the term than with the concept itself.

Confused yet?

Yep, me too.

It's important in life to admit defeat. Thankfully people are good at different things. And the lovely Janina over at Handpicked Hotels is definitely knowledgeable about this murky, grey area otherwise known as 'who looks at my website, and how can I use this information to my advantage'.

For part one, the intro on Google Analytics see Harlequin & Romance (and then pop back here for part 2).

Take it away Janina:

Google Analytics:
The simple guide PART 2
By Janina Downey, guest blogger, e-commerce specialist and lover of helping others.

Now the simple explanation is out of the way and what a great response from
you all that own a www. Now for the exciting stuff and analysing what lovely
online visitors help make your business succeed and how to build upon this!

Who are these people and how to get more…

In part one we established ‘what is Google Analytics’ and just how simple it is
to use this FREE tool to look at your website.

Looking at your website more in depth will help you to understand which
marketing efforts have paid off and which ones; not so well. Running your own
business or department is time consuming enough so being pro-active and
using the strategies that worked can help manage your marketing time more
efficiently.

Using the interesting features such as the site overlay which visually shows
you where web users click on your pages and also how many times is
interesting to placement and content.

Google Analytics gives you the big picture about your website which in turn
helps you interpret your site and add to your advertising needs. Following the
trends and patterns will help you engage more customers and focus on what
works allowing you to in turn increase awareness and sticky content to your
site.

You can also use Google Analytics to determine which of your ads are
performing (when used in conjunction with Google AdWords, Google’s Pay-
Per-Click advertising). Google Analytics also provides shorthand information
for the non-techy user and much more in-depth info for those who are a little
more of an expert on web analytics (after all my articles you will be!).

Any questions setting up or understanding your data please just contact me,
but now I hope you are all using and understanding your website data to its
maximum potential!

Props to Janina for trying to explain to us laymen how this shizzle works. And keep your eyes peeled for more hints both here and over at H&R.

You can do it put your back into it...go on, make your own cake stand

2011-07-28T08:11:00.000+01:00

I found this over at Betty Bee and thought it might be worth posting and linking to because good quality, affordable cake stands can be a challenge to source sometimes.

Although I haven't tried this myself yet it looks reasonably straightforward and if you can find plates cheaply at a car boot sale or charity/vintage shop you should be able to do for under £10.

Head over to Betty Bee for the full how-to guide and if you do make one let me know how it goes. As in, is it as easy as it looks?!

Black wedding dresses

2011-07-27T00:11:00.002+01:00

I salute anybody brave enough to rock a black wedding dress. In fact I wish more brides wore black at their wedding, it's so dramatic and glam.

Crystal Clear Imagery via Style Me Pretty

Technically this is an engagement shoot, but it's pretty enough to be a wedding dress so I'm including it.

Sarah Yates Photography

Vera Wang shot by Jose Villa via Once Wed

When I looked into it though, it seems it's pretty tricky to find black wedding dresses that aren't gothic. Surely there's a market for them? I know Vera Wang does a splendid black wedding dress but unless you're got that kind of budget there doesn't seem to be a lot out there. Certainly not in the UK.

So designers are you listening? We need some classy, elegant, fun, sexy, whatever, black wedding dresses. As much variety as with the white dresses please.

Thoughts? Am I alone in this? Is this why there don't appear to be many decent black wedding dresses out there?

Do I exist more online than in real life??

2011-07-25T11:11:00.000+01:00

This picture has no relevance to this post, just using it because I'd like to be

at the seaside today because the weather is glorious.

I have to admit, before I became a wedding planner I pretty much avoided being online. Okay so I had a Facebook page but that was about it. I certainly couldn't imagine ever that they'd be a time where I'd be 'connecting' with people through so many different mediums. At the moment my online presence includes about 7 different mediums. All of which are business related (except for my personal Facebook page and instagr.am although I imagine this will become about self promotion too).

So now a large part of my day starts with the checking in of all this social media forms. Which is good because it is nice to connect with people when you're technically a freelancer and work alone.

But it does make me wonder whether it's all going to implode in on itself or whether we're just going to get more and more things to sign up to. Which I generally want to because they're quite exciting, (at least at first).

If this is what we have in 2011 I wonder what will be on offer by 2015 say, not just in terms of tools for promoting our small businesses but just generally.

Currently I exist on the following sites:

Website
Blog
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook
instagr.am
Google +

Phew, exhausting. Is there anything else I've forgotten? What's your favourite online resource/tool? I think if I had to pick, it would be Pinterest, just because it's full of pretty images. It's also a useful resource for brides seeking inspiration. Kind of like the best of all the blogs.

Ridiculously easy floral photo-booth backdrop

2011-07-23T09:18:00.000+01:00

I really dislike blogs that post D.I.Y ideas and claim they're so easy. Then when you try, and find it not so easy, you feel like a big fat failure.

This floral backdrop/wall decor really is so easy, I promise.

I saw this idea somewhere ages ago and thought it would work just as well jazzing up some dull wall space in your wedding venue or better still, as a photo booth backdrop.

This cost me around £8 to do and took about 10 minutes. Ideally you need flowers that won't wilt, especially if you're going to keep them up the duration of the wedding.

But as they're so easy to set up (literally a bit of tape, I used waterproof cloth tape), you could assign one of your 'maids, (or wedding planner) the role of holding and taping when you're ready to get your photo booth going.

I used a white wall but they'd work just as well against a variety of backgrounds (I'd like to try against brickwork one day).

And you don't need to worry about 'styling' them properly. Just bung them up in whatever haphazard way you like.

What do you think? Simple but effective, no?

For another photo booth backdrop idea see Fanning around.

Wedding cinema

2011-07-21T16:19:00.000+01:00

from oh, hello friend

One of my brides is having a wedding at home and she mentioned the idea of showing movies late into the evening. Then I found this image and realised we have to try to make it happen.

The later part of weddings can be exhausting for guests, (and the happy couple), all that merriment takes it out of you. And what better way to unwind than by reclining and watching your favourite films under the stars.

I won't mention how vital a balmy summer evening would be for this to work. Let's just pretend London weather is as sunny and reliable as say, L.A for the purpose of this post yes?

Gothic glam engagement shoot

2011-07-20T09:44:00.003+01:00

One of the best things about being a wedding planner & stylist is the diversity of the couples and therefore weddings I get to work on. At one time for instance this summer, I was working on a traditional Nigerian wedding, a Jewish summer garden wedding and this delightfully dark gothic do. No way I can complain my clients are all the same.

I've been working with Alix recently on her wedding styling, and I've got to say her wedding is going to be epic. There really is no other word. And it's all going to be captured by Lisa Devlin no less.

I thought Alix & Zach's engagement shoot would be a perfect introduction to their upcoming gothic glam Victorian carnival inspired wedding.

Devlin Photos

Seriously can't wait for this wedding. I do love the pretty femininity of lots of the weddings I work with but for sheer dark glamour, this one definitely rules.

Thanks to Lisa for the images (and Lisa Brown who was the second shooter), you can see more of this shoot over at Lisa's blog.

Fanning around

2011-07-18T09:27:00.001+01:00

Happy Monday! Here's a big bright explosion for your peepers this morning.

I'm a big fan of photo booths (see what I did there, clever no?), so when I stumbled across this I just had to share.

There's a lot of hoopla over photo booth props (we've come along way from the humble moustache these days), with pretty much anything you can hold, sit on, eat, look at being used for a bit of photo booth action.

This photo booth is the perfect antidote to trying to come up with original props. Just make the backdrop amazing and you don't need anything else.

Joielala Photographie

These images are from the wedding of the ridiculously lovely, talented and oh so cool, LA based photographers Love Me Sailor (aka Dominique and Ron).

The fans were assembled into this display by Jeffrey of Mr.Caballero Creative who is an event and floral designer based in L.A. I like what he's done here and will be keeping my beady eye on more of his work. There is a definitely a strong connection between florals and wedding styling and quite fancy developing a sideline in floral design myself one of these days.

Anyway if you haven't already, you've got to head on over to 100 Layer Cake or the photographer Joielala Photographie's blog for their full wedding in all it's epic glory.

Thanks to Dominique for letting me show this. And I hope you folks find it as inspiring as I do.

Stargazing

2011-07-14T18:09:00.000+01:00

Bring a little stardust to your wedding styling. What about a moon and star cut out as your photo booth? Click here for how to make yourself.

You don't want to go overboard with the star & moon styling, just a sprinkling here and there but then it can look pretty ace...

from top left:

Creature Comforts , Martha Stewart Weddings, Giant Dwarf on Etsy,

Wooden starts on Etsy, Lunar Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Path Less Travelled on Etsy

If a fairy got married...

2011-07-13T10:16:00.002+01:00

... She would surely wear one of these ridiculously ethereal perfections...

Elie Saab Autumn/Winter 2011 from In Style via This is Glamorous

I could cry these are so beautiful. Or stamp my feet because I'll never get to wear one.

The man behind these creations is designer Elie Saab. If you happen to read my blog Mr Saab, and want to loan me a dress if I ever get married, I'll be a happy girl indeed.

To haggle or not to haggle?

2011-07-11T10:07:00.000+01:00

Pound purse from Alphabet Bags

I thought I'd start the week with a contentious issue - the subject of haggling.

There are certain areas of life where haggling is okay/expected and others where it's not.

You go to a car boot sale and they say £10, you say £5 and so on.

But you go to the hairdressers and they say £40, you don't say £25. In fact, can you imagine doing that? The receptionist would look at you like you're crazy and tell you the price is £40.

So how does this all apply in the wedding industry? Brides are constantly told to get their money's worth and try to negotiate. Which is fine but can lead to this kind of scenario:

Bride: 'How much is your XYZ service?

Wedding planner/photographer/insert any wedding professional: For that service the cost will be ABC.

Bride: I'd like to pay DEF, can you do that?

W.P: Well possibly, but it won't be the above service, it will be JKL.

Bride: But I'd like the XYZ service.

W.P: Well then I'm afraid you'll have to pay for it.

If you're not totally confused by my XYZs and so on, let me try to explain.

I am not saying that trying to get a good deal and negotiating are 'not allowed' in weddings or that it shouldn't be done, but there are ways to go about it that are fair to both parties.

If somebody enquires about a service of mine, I give them the quote based on a variety of factors. This quote is what I feel is fair to both the bride and myself. No one gets into wedding planning to get rich quick! We do it out of love, but do have to try run a business at the same time.

So if the bride tells me that's higher than she expected, I ask her what she wanted to pay. And then where possible I try to create a bespoke package that she can afford but that is financially worth me doing too. So I'll offer less hours, or less meetings, or some way to reduce the price but still be fair. Basically I'm prepared to negotiate. Up to a point.

And the same applies when approaching wedding photographers for instance. If a photographer says on their website their fee is £1800 for 7 hours, and you say you'll give them £1500, the photographer will most likely say no. And be a bit affronted. If you only have £1500, then by all means ask if they are willing to do it for 5 hours for instance.

Negotiating on price in essence is a good thing, (I do it a lot for my clients obviously), but it's the way you do it that counts, especially when it comes to individuals running their own businesses - planners, photographers, stationers etc. These people have set their prices for a reason - it's what they think is fair to both themselves and their clients - and it's important to respect that.

My advice to those dealing with hagglers - be polite and flexible where possible - but don't forget to respect yourself and your business at the same time, otherwise you'll take a job on but be resentful, and that's not worth it for anyone.

Listen to me, pool party, peeping tom...

2011-07-09T09:52:00.009+01:00

You can't really get better names for nail polish than these Topshop delights. And delights they are for they don't chip and I've been wearing their Nails in Listen To Me for nearly a week now.

£5 Topshop

Hands down best nail varnish I've bought in a long while. And at £5 a pot rather good value for money too. Perfect for a bride to be looking to jazz up their digits for the big day.

For my other best beauty/make up recommendation see here.

Taking the inside outside - DIY cushion covers

2011-07-07T13:14:00.000+01:00

If you're having an outdoor wedding or want to create relaxed little pockets for people to chill out in you need some seating.

And hiring/buying furniture can cost a bomb. Which if your budget is already stretched isn't ideal.

One way to avoid this is to make your own large floor cushions. Or the cushion covers at least. I used this idea in the 70s shoot I did recently.

You can buy cheap cushion fillers easily and then you just get to choose your fabric. I bought this star fabric super cheap in Brixton (works out at £2 per cushion incidentally). But you could be a little fancier with some more luxurious fabric, whatever suits your wedding and budget.

You don't even have to be crafty, I didn't have a lot of time (and no sewing machine) so these won't impress the beady eyed stitching queen.

Imagine lots of them piled up under a tree, and your guests reclining on rugs or blankets, with lots of lanterns and candles as dusk falls and you've got yourself some cheap and easy outdoor wedding seating.

Wedding photography is like wine

2011-07-04T16:34:00.000+01:00

from Swanson Vineyards

A large part of being a wedding planner is helping a couple have the wedding they want. So even if a couple want something I personally wouldn't have, as long as they can afford it and it 'works', it's not my place to tell them whether they can or can't have it.

Except when it comes to wedding photography. As I'm sure my couples will attest, this is one area of wedding planning I am forceful about! Quite frankly, scrimping on wedding photography just ain't allowed.

Wedding photography is like wine. In that bad wedding photography is like a cheap, chardonnay. It seems like an okay idea at the time. You kid yourself it will be fine when you see it on the shelf and hand over your £3.99 but inevitably when you open it it's horrible and you chastise yourself for your bad decision.

Lots of people have friends who fancy themselves as amateur photographers and offer to take wedding pics as a present. Or are even inviting a professional photographer as a guest who say they'll take some photos for mates rates. And it's definitely tempting when you consider the cost of a good wedding photographer.

But, there are many reasons why I wouldn't recommend this, from having seen it ruin friendships,(seriously), to hearing of one too many people saying they wished they'd hired a pro, and a pro they weren't friends with. Or at least a pro who is there as a pro, and not a guest.

There's a whole other blog post here about friends and wedding help, which I'll do another day. This is just to say, your wedding pictures you will look at forever. So pay the maximum you can afford. For someone whose work you love. Following on from my appalling wine analogy... the chances are, if you go for the £3.99 chardonnay of wedding photography, you will know it. And probably regret it.

Black & white mood board

2011-06-30T14:45:00.001+01:00

Inspired by one of my brides (whose upcoming wedding is epic let me tell you), this board is all about the black and white lovin' with a slightly dark undertone...

from top left:
Helt Enkelt, notonthehighstreet.com, Lacklusterco on Etsy

Crystal Clear Imagery via Style Me Pretty

BHLDN

What does a wedding planner actually do? Part 7

2011-06-28T15:50:00.000+01:00

Goes out and meets suppliers...

After my recent break up of sorts with Twitter I decided to start making contact with people and actually meet up with them instead of just have Twitter conversations with them. And since they're all wedding folk of some kind I thought I might as well do a little blog post on them afterwards.

My first official 'not-just-tweeting-but-meeting' was with Rachel from I Do Films.

photo by Shell de Mar

We met at the blustery outdoor cafe of the Ritzy cinema in Brixton where we gossiped, (but of course) and shared wedding related tales. Rachel creates super 8 films for weddings and events and explains really well on her website exactly what a super 8 wedding film is for those of you who are unsure, which I have to admit, until relatively recently, I was. Appalling I know.

I love how sociable working as a wedding planner can be. Yes okay you work alone primarily but I've met some lovely people that have definitely become friends since setting up my business. And it's especially useful when you're busy and need a break. You can justify meeting a supplier for coffee as 'work'!

Anyway, here's a snippet of Rachel's latest project using a technique called lens whacking. Shot on DSLR this technique helps give digital images a more retro feel.

Lens whacking test clips experiment at latest wedding from Rachel Knights of I Do Films on Vimeo.

Cool eh? Check out Rachel's site for more.

And be sure to come back soon for my next installment of not just tweeting but meeting!

The only hand cream worth having

2011-06-25T10:44:00.002+01:00

This hand cream from L'Occintane is the dog's you-know-whats and is a must for anyone who suffers from dry, sore hands.

It is rich without being greasy and smells AMAZING.

And it's perfect for brides as it comes in a little handbag sized 30ml tube so you can whip it out in time to have super smooth hands for the ring/holding bouquet/general hand close up shot.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

Original 1950s wedding dresses

2011-06-22T10:17:00.000+01:00

Be warned, when you check out this Etsy shop, you are going to want to buy everything in it. Timeless Vixen is based in Beverly Hills (but ships internationally), and 'offers the best in femme fetale fashion from the 1870s to 1970s'. I'll say.

I discovered these affordable, unique vintage wedding dresses through Katie Antoniou on Twitter, (of London Plinth). Thank you Twitter. Despite my grumblings about you of late, you do sometimes deliver a gem.

I know when I get married, I'm going to want to wear a unique dress. And vintage is a pretty good way to do that.

The 1950s style is grabbing me lately, maybe because it promises to give hips to those not naturally blessed with them so these dresses stood out in particular.

There's some pretty gorgeous 1930s dresses available too for those after something a little more slinky.

1950s vintage lace dress

1950s vintage bow dress

1950s vintage lace and yellow taffeta wedding dress

Timeless Vixen

And with prices starting at $325 they don't even have the hefty price tag you get with some vintage items.

What do you think? It's a good style this 1950s prom dress, flattering for lots of body shapes don't you think?

We Plan, You Play... wedding playlists you need to hear!

2011-06-20T21:21:00.000+01:00

A certain Ms London Bride and I have been working on creating wedding playlists for you wedding planning folk recently, and if you haven't seen our blog We Plan, You Play I'd like to draw your attention to it!

Every month we feature 25 songs to help you curate your wedding soundtrack. Although I've got to be honest, it's also an excuse for us to listen to 90s tracks (relive our youth/show our age) and dance around my living room.

From The Everly Brothers to MGMT and Darlene Love to Blackstreet there's enough musical variety to appeal to everyone from granny to your too cool for school cousin.

We set We Plan,You Play because we felt there's an awful lot of advice and inspiration for the style and design side of wedding planning but not so much for the other aspects of planning like the music. But it is as if not more important in some ways for creating atmosphere and ensuring everyone has a jolly good time.

What about you? What were the musical highlights of your big day? And if you're getting married soon or at some point in time what tunes will you be playing to get everybody shaking their thang a la dance floor??

Chalk hearts and paper love

2011-06-16T13:17:00.001+01:00

Afternoon my dears, taking a little break for preparing for Saturday's wedding (please no rain) to bring you photos of a mini shoot I did recently.

Gaelle, aka oh la la weddings and I first worked together on a make up shoot and since then we can't stop planning collaborative projects.

This shoot features the lovely Rachel and Damien, a super sweet couple who recently got married in Australia.

We wanted to show how something as simple as coloured bits of paper cut up as confetti can be a fun prop for a love or engagement shoot.

You could even re-use the confetti on your wedding day if you felt like it.

How cute are they?!

And it's always interesting as a wedding planner to see how a photographer works. Gaelle is mighty talented and creative and I'm looking forward to working with her lots more!

You can see another shoot I recently styled here.

Pretty in blue

2011-06-15T09:33:00.000+01:00

Kind of smitten with these bridesmaids and their sassy little dresses and rainbow shoes. A nice twist on matchy matchy bridesmaid thang and I cannot get enough of that blue.

Joanna Brown Photography

Nothing beats brights for getting my attention (as my Pinterest board will attest).

Be sure to check out the entire wedding in all it's quirky English garden glory over at photographer Joanna's blog.

Jonas Peterson... a legend among men...

2011-06-13T11:43:00.001+01:00

Happy Monday lovelies! Have I got some eye candy for you today. If you haven't already heard of him, (and if you haven't, why not), Jonas Peterson is a Swedish photographer currently calling Australia home.

There's something really fresh and unpretentious about his work. The photos just are, if that in itself doesn't sound phenomenally pretentious.

I think I want to live in his world a little bit...

What you think my dears? Pretty impressive eh? Don't forget to check out his site for more. And you can see other suppliers I recommend both in the UK and internationally here.

70s inspired shoot

2011-06-09T16:33:00.001+01:00

Not so long ago on a blustery Sunday afternoon myself and Jemma from Pearl Pictures, (and her sweet assistant Grace) got together to do a mini love shoot featuring me and my boy.

You don't have to be engaged to have yourself a little love shoot (as I myself am not)! And lots of good photographers now offer themselves and their camera for an afternoon of happy snapping, so it's a perfect idea if you maybe didn't get the wedding pics you wanted. Or perhaps you're already married and fancy some up to date photos taken by a pro.

And you can style them any way you want which is why I've focused on the props in this shoot. I've been having a seventies moment of late so brought along some of my most suitable props for the occasion.

The weather was TERRIBLE. It was so windy I felt like I was about to take off which didn't make it easy to look happy and relaxed. A good lesson though, that you can't control the weather ;)

Think in general I prefer the behind-the-scenes-styling to the in-front-of-lens-posing. Props, as they say, to Jemma for handling such challenging weather and models!

Pearl Pictures

I do styling for engagement shoots for my couples too and am looking forward in particular to one of my 2012 couples. I think they're going to have some interesting ideas!

What about you? If you were going to do a love/engagement shoot how would you want to style it?

Loft wedding

2011-06-08T15:39:00.000+01:00

Kellie Kano & Elissa Keno via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Exposed brick work, ribbon tree and creamy pastel shades? I am in wedding heaven.

Attempting to avoid social media burnout

2011-06-06T09:54:00.000+01:00

This pic has no relevance to this post, except that photography is one of my new hobbies.

Which I have time for now I'm not on Twitter so much.

I'm starting the week with a personal post. About my relationship with Twitter. There has been quite a bit written lately about social media and Twitter in particular and how as a self employed wedding industry pro it can affect you.

I love Annabel and Lucy's posts on the subject and they both got me thinking and made me realise something I hadn't really noticed before.

I 'check' Twitter far too often. Often when I have nothing to say. It's like a compulsion.

And not only that but it makes me feel something I haven't felt since being a geeky teenager, totally left out. There's something about it that sometimes makes you feel as if everybody is going to one big party you haven't received an invitation too. And the desire to 'check' is even more strong on low days. When you've had a bad day, feel threatened by the competition or just generally feel uninspired by yourself.

You know you've got a problem when you're experiencing something - a nice meal for instance, or you find a good shop and your first thought is, 'ooh, must tweet this'.

So last week I made a decision to only tweet during office hours. From 9 - 5.30 I can tweet my little heart out but the evenings are for my REAL LIFE! No blogging either. Or Facebook. Or any type of social media. I know this sounds dramatic but I want my life back! And I removed the apps from my phone too. How much mindless 'checking' do I do without even noticing it?! I decided to use the time to 'take up hobbies'. Like photography and learning the guitar. How very twee of me, eh?

One of the reasons I became a wedding planner is because I like people. I like engaging with other human beings face to face. There are loads of local people on Twitter that I follow and am interested in. So I made a decision to contact them directly and arrange to meet up for coffee/wine which I've started to do. It's not as easy as tweeting and you can't do it as often but it's much more fun.

Twitter is vital for promoting yourself in the wedding industry. And I ain't no fool. I'm not going to delete my account or do anything drastic. But I am getting some perspective on it all. There's a big wide world out there to explore after all.

I've got to say once again thank you to Annabel and Lucy and all the other posts I've read on this recently. In a small way, you've helped me change my life for the better. And that, I suppose, is proof of the positive power of social media. So it's not all bad ;)

P.S I should point out how amazingly this new plan has been working out. I'm even sleeping better! So newbie wedding planners, watch yourselves, you don't want to get social media burnout like this planner nearly did.

70s inspired photoshoot preview

2011-06-03T09:23:00.000+01:00

Jemma Watts Photography (Pearl Pictures)

Way back in chilly March, I got in touch with my photographer friend Jemma from Pearl Pictures to ask if she wanted to shoot a photo shoot I had an idea for. We've known each other for quite a while and never yet worked together so I thought it would be be a good opportunity to join forces and have some fun.

Which it was. But windy. Oh so windy. And as any planner or photographer knows, wind can be worse than rain for taking photos. But we got there in the end and even though it felt a bit like an endurance test we're pretty happy with the results!

Super easy D.I.Y postcard garland

2011-06-02T09:15:00.004+01:00

D.I.Y wedding styling doesn't have to be exclusively for the mini Martha Stewarts. You don't have to be particularly crafty to create some simple but effective wedding styling ideas.

This vintage style postcard garland is a good example of how you can jazz up any dead space in your wedding venue without a lot of money of effort.

All you need is a selection of postcards and...

Then you very simply hang up string where you want the garland to go and use the clothes peg to attach the postcards. Easy as pie.

I like these vintage imitation postcards but you could use any cards you like, or even photos. And you don't have to use plain clothes pegs, you could paint them or stamp them or buy some more exciting ones from somewhere like Etsy.

This garland wedding decoration idea would work well in a urban venue. Like a warehouse or space with lots of exposed brick work.

What do you think? A wedding DIY project for even the most craft shy bride.

Maemae Paperie

2011-06-01T13:09:00.001+01:00

MaeMae Paperie

This kind of wedding stationery gives me goose bumps. The gold foil, the thick, thick chipboard, the heart with the antlers coming out of it. Oh my.

Your wedding reported by The Wedding Reporter

2011-05-30T09:32:00.009+01:00

Look how lovely and smiley she is!

I've been a wedding planner for nearly two years now. And I've seen a lot of supposedly 'fresh, unique' ideas in that time. But a certain someone we shall call Emma actually has a fresh and unique idea.

Essentially the wedding reporter does exactly what it/she says on the tin. I shall let her explain in her much more eloquent English...

How does it work then? Is the 'wedding report' like a story or more like a, well, report?

I try to think of them as romanticised reports - they have all the elements of the day chronicled through the eyes of a fiction writer. If there's a metaphor to be drawn or a pathetic fallacy to be found then I will most certainly be incorporating these into the report! It's essentially the story of the wedding day, so whilst I only write about what happened (I don't make stuff up!) I try to transcribe it in as literary way as possible so that your report would sit comfortably on your bookshelf somewhere between Austen and Keats.*

*Emma wanted to point out this doesn't mean she's comparing herself to Austen or Keats incidentally.

Do you fade into the background like photographers do and watch what's going on or do you engage and act more like a wedding guest?!

Although I'll always take a notebook with me to weddings this is primarily to jot down details (names, titles of readings, key events etc) as I try to actually experience as much as possible whilst I'm there and leave the writing until afterwards. Ideally I like to engage with other guests as I find this to be a mine of information. Whilst I endeavour to get to know the couple as much as possible before their day so that I'm not a stranger turning up to their wedding, I generally find that other wedding guests are invaluable in helping fill in the blanks. Additionally, by being immersed with them I think I can experience the ambience of the day better than if I stay objective and detached from the day. However, there are clearly times throughout the day when it is more beneficial for me to step back and observe the overall event in order to create a fuller picture for the purposes of the report.

And how does your pricing structure work? Is there a set fee or can you work with any budget?

My prices very much depend on the variables of the wedding details. I say that prices generally start from £200 but I'm very happy to negotiate with couples to try and get as much bang for their buck as possible. Initially, I wanted to offer the service as a favour, but realistically I needed to cover my costs. £200 is not a figure plucked out of the air, it comes from a break down of costs for an 'average' full day wedding, considering up to 10 hours attendance at the wedding and the subsequent 7-10 hours that a final report will entail, travel costs and so on. However, there is always wiggle room and I wouldn't want any bride to miss out because of budgetary restrictions so I do encourage anyone who's interested in a wedding report to contact me for a chat.

Thank you Emma for answering my questions! The Wedding Reporter is definitely a supplier I recommend and will be using when I become an engaged lady one day.

Everything in weddings is so visual it's nice to have something a bit more... wordy. So what do you think? Original idea no?

You can read more on her website and you really should follow Emma's tweets for she certainly is a witty wee lass.

The perfect foundation? I think so.

2011-05-28T11:53:00.002+01:00

I've been after the perfect foundation for years and think I've finally stumbled upon THE ONE! Sorry for shouting but in some small way this feels like a lifelong quest accomplished.

The texture is lovely and smooth and it feels light and moisturising. It doesn't feel like you're wearing foundation which is the main problem I've had with most of the ones I've used in the past. And it has SPF 15 which is a nice bonus.

It's not too pricey either, about £13 for 40ml.

Have you any beauty product recommendations? I'm still searching for the perfect mascara.

Pastel inspiration board

2011-05-26T09:03:00.005+01:00

If you're feeling uninspired by your wedding styling or just want to shake things up a bit why not curate an inspiration board to get your creative juices flowing.

Looking solely at wedding blogs and magazines can leave you feeling a little deflated sometimes, (and me too), so that's when I usually soak up all the pretties on Pinterest.

If you want a private inspiration board (Pinterest please hurry and offer this soon), you can create one on photoshop, or sites like beeclip.

from top left:

Swedish Has Beens, Doe Deere Blogazine, Color Collective, Everything Fabulous,

Valspring via Flickr, Ben McGee via Ruffled, Belle via Flick

What are your favourite tools for creating inspiration boards at the moment?

If only Australia was closer to the UK...

2011-05-21T10:29:00.002+01:00

...Then I would definitely be recommending these to my brides to be. Juliette Hogan's bridesmaid dresses are simple, elegant and in the kind of shades that make me a little weak at the knees.

all images Juliette Hogan

Girl Meets Dress

2011-05-19T07:31:00.003+01:00

Christopher Kane hire £189 RRP £575

Aftershock Palais Maxi dress hire £99 RRP £399

Schumacher graphic print tunic hire £109, RRP £252

Designer dresses without the hefty price tag? Don't mind if I do.

Girl Meets Dress has loads of dresses from the likes of Marc Jacobs to Halston ready and waiting for girls like us to hire for that special occasion.

Now I don't know about you, but I'm not in the habit of buying designer labels (much as my heart sometimes sighs for them) so I love the idea of this site.

From a wedding boutique (with brides, bridesmaid and wedding guest options) to work function outfits, Girl Meets Dress has a lot of dresses for your perusal. It seems pretty straightforward and you can do it all online.

What do you think? Would you hire a dress for an event or do you always want to own what you buy?

And you can see me on their blog here!

This isn't a sponsored post incidentally, I just wanted to share.

Watercolour pop portrait

2011-05-17T12:23:00.002+01:00

Personalised portraits. What a cool gift idea, or wedding invitation maybe?

from Pop Pop Portraits via the rather fab Village

Music, blogs, and magazines and other news...

2011-05-16T11:43:00.000+01:00

savoir weddings news

Phew what a week last week was. Looking forward to this one being less manic! Aside from dramas with Blogger (which I'm sure a lot of you experienced), my friend and business buddy Charley and I launched We Plan, You Play which was launched through Rock n roll Bride. A wedding music blog designed to help couples compile their wedding playlists.

Nothing beats live music and all but for the hours you have an iPod running you have to think about each and every song that plays at your wedding. Especially as there's nothing worse than the wrong music for destroying the mood. And coming from a music events background I am particularly keen on encouraging clients to think about their wedding music and We Plan, You Play aims to do just that! So go check it out and let me know what you think!

Last week was also pretty cool because Nina and Patrick's wedding was featured in Wedding Magazine and I designed a mood board for Annabel over at Love my Dress - a rustic charm board, the first of three May inspired boards.

the wedding fair

Not a fan of wedding fairs in general, this is one I can get behind the idea of...

See the website here for more details. I figured this was something interesting when I read this on their site:

Wedding coming up? Fed up of sprawling soulless commercial wedding fairs? Compact and bijoux, get personal at Craft Central! All you need to add a handmade touch to the big day. From bride to evening guest, there’s something for everyone...

Sounds good no?

Have a good week my dears!

Savoir couple in Wedding Magzine

2011-05-14T10:36:00.001+01:00

Super pleased to see the one of my couples, the lovely Nina & Patrick and their wedding in Wedding Magazine out now.

Yay!

What does a wedding planner actually do? Part 6

2011-05-12T10:26:00.000+01:00

via French by Design (awesome blog, check it out)

When I set up my wedding planning & styling company a lot of people - friends, family, randoms responded with, 'Oh, okay, so.. what exactly do you do'? Which being slighly paranoid, I heard as, 'Oh, okay so you charge people for things they could do themselves'?

Now fast forward a couple of years and I'm less sensitive about this issue. It's true, and I've said it before, wedding planning isn't rocket science. It falls into two main categories - organisation & research (the planning), + creativity and an eye for detail (the styling). Which require skill and ability sure, but we're not exactly doing brain surgery over here.

In many ways I see being a wedding planner as similar to being a mum (not that I am one so it's kind of conjecture but anyway). You work damn hard and are excellent at multi tasking, staying calm in a crisis and so on and yet in the eyes of many, it's not a real job.

I'm not saying this to whine about how misunderstood we wedding planners are, but just to draw your attention to the quote above, (found via Amma from Beyond Beyond on Pinterest incidentally, cheers for that).

Common sense is not that common.

Damn straight.

So yes, wedding planning isn't rocket science and yes most people can manage it. But that doesn't mean they're good at it. Or it won't stress them out.

And if you're wondering whether hiring a planner is worth it, and whether you can do it yourself, well yes you can probably. But the key skill, if you'd call it that, that wedding planners possess, is common sense. Which is among other things, what wedding planning is really. And as Voltaire wisely put it, that ain't that common.

Etsy wedding dress

2011-05-10T12:07:00.000+01:00

I've waxed lyrical about my love for Etsy many times on this blog. I just think it's such a good resource for anybody looking for unique and individual pieces. Sure, you often have to search to find the diamonds in the rough but it definitely rewards the patient browser.

Also a good option if you're looking for an original wedding dress. Look at these beauties I found recently...

from Lightwitch $395.00

from Ouma $480.00

This dress I've seen around before (and maybe even blogged) but seriously, look at it. It is insanely awesome. And only $840. Bargain eh.

also Ouma $840.00

What do you think? Would you buy your wedding dress from Etsy?

Hair envy

2011-05-08T10:27:00.000+01:00

It's all about plaits (braids for you US folks) and buns for me at the moment. Elegant but relaxed. Perfect bridal hair.

from ...love Maegan

from HappyNess original source unknown

from Loveology original source unknown

from Once Wed

from Elle Magazine

from A Cup of Jo

Style crush on... isabel lucas

2011-05-06T10:11:00.002+01:00

Being an avid Home and Away fan (yes, tragic I know) I have been aware of the ridiculously beautiful Isabel Lucas for a good few years.

She pulls off the hippy boho look with a kind of innocence that makes me think of Bambi/Disney characters. With my current love of all things 70s, I wouldn't mind channelling it myself...

via Elle

via instyle

via elle

via Glamour

via grazia

via grazia

Who's your current style crush?

A close shave

2011-05-05T15:14:00.000+01:00

A perfect present for a a super smooth groom.

See more of my Etsy discoveries here.

What does a wedding planner actually do? Part 5

2011-05-03T12:07:00.000+01:00

Help create the running order of the day...

Lavender champagne from Martha Stewart Weddings

A key part of a successful and enjoyable wedding is the atmosphere. Which mainly boils down to how the guests and bride & groom obviously, are feeling. Atmsophere is made up of sights, smells, sounds and and it's peoples' interpretations of these, that collectively creates the atmosphere.

So it stands to reason a good way to keep the atmosphere good at your wedding, is to keep the guests happy.

And a good way to keep guests happy is to think about timings. This seems to be one of the areas a lot of couples worry about, if my couples are anything to go by.

From how long the ceremony should last to what time to serve the wedding breakfast, the wedding day running order makes a big difference to the overall feel of the day. We've all been to weddings where you're hanging around after the ceremony whilst the bride and groom have their photos taken. You've got a glass of champagne but you haven't eaten for hours and it's nearly 3.30pm and there's no sign that you'll be fed anytime soon.

These kind of moments aren't great for guests and are definitely something you want to try to avoid. You want charmed, relaxed, happy and satiated guests and the best way to guarantee this is to get the running order right.

Every wedding is different and what's right for one couple and one wedding doesn't necessarily apply to another. But there are some general good rules/guides to follow and understanding timings is one of the main skills of being a wedding planner. We know roughly how long things take, and when you're most likely going to want to move things along. This comes partly from experience, but it's also a skill that every good wedding planner should have.

Interview with make up artist Liv

2011-04-30T10:51:00.002+01:00

from Oh La La Weddings

So I got a touch excited about the royal wedding yesterday and forgot to schedule this blog post properly. Oops. What can I say, despite my initial lack of interest, when it came to the day I was glued to my screen.

So a day late here's the interview with Liv, and her skills with the brushes, curlers, and other make-up paraphernalia.

In her own words:

No bride needs to hide herself under a big layer of cakey make-up.
Every woman wants to look like herself on her wedding day, just like the best version of herself.
The key word with bridal make-up therefore is bespoke!
I am passionate about enhancing the individual bride's unique features and giving her an all day lasting, glowing look based on her skin type, style and personal preference.

Getting your wedding make up done professionally is more than just a pampering, relaxing and enjoyable experience. You can also learn more about your skin and pick up new tricks to do your own make up.

I've saved my brides a lot of bad experience and surprises advising on the right products and techniques, (the classic: veil caught in the lip gloss, reflecting make up that flashes up in photos and makes you look white as a wall, or how to deal with a stress pimple that just grew the night before the wedding).

I also offer to stay all day long, since some brides just feel more safe to have me around all day or they want a make up change for the evening. Others are happy to just book the application which will last all day long.

There are a lot of things to consider:
skin type, climate and weather conditions at the day/destination of the wedding, skin complexion, face features, personal style and much more.

Good stuff. On to some quick questions:

You're based in London, but do you travel for weddings?

Yes I do. I'm happy to travel anywhere from within the UK to destination weddings on the other side of the world.

Do you offer hair styling as well?

Yes, I love to do bridal hair, from natural messy looks to classic defined up-dos. Straight or curly i will be able to look after your hair as well.

How does it work when a bride books you for their big day?

During the first trial and consultation we'll decide on the look and I will discuss products. Then we'll create the full look, exactly as you'd want it on the day. I am able to give professional skin care tips so you can prepare and treat your skin in advance of your wedding day.

On the actual day I will arrive at whatever time you need and help pamper you and will create your worry-free long lasting make up. And if you wish I will design a customised colour palette for you, so you can carry the professional make up with you as well (or get one of your 'maids to carry).

Can you do any kind of look?

Absolutely. I can whatever you want from a very natural look to a more vintage glam look.

Well that's that. Got me convinced. And after seeing how amazing my skin looked and went out and bought a decent foundation. So I can definitely vouch for Liv's work.

A big thanks to Liv for working on the shoots and explaining how she works. I've definitely learned nothing makes you feel so good as decent make up!

See www.blushless.com (make up website still a work in progress) and www.blushless.com/blog or emaile liv(at)livlundelius.com and call +44(0)7716354466 for more.

Introducing Liv from Blushless and her make up box of tricks

2011-04-28T09:04:00.003+01:00

Way back in time when I started out as a wedding planner I 'met' through the power of blogs Liv from Blushless. We were both starting out in an industry that wasn't exactly famous for it's quirky suppliers and bonded over a desire to work on more alternative and creative weddings.

Fast forward a year or so and we now live round the corner from each other, which has been especially handy for these little projects. Liv makes eco friendly and super cool wedding dresses but her real passion is make up. She recently won a place on the much sought after Jemma Kidd Make up School Academy and is launching her bridal make up website very soon. In the mean time you can check out her blog here.

We thought it would be the perfect time to work together on the first of many projects in the pipeline: a Savoir Weddings introduction to Liv, her box of make up tricks, and never ending patience with a fidgety 'model'.

These pics were snapped by the amazingly talented Gaelle from Oh La La weddings. Like all wedding planners & stylists, I like to keep my cards close to my chest. Reluctant to give away all my trade secrets and all! But I have to share. Gaelle has been a music photographer for years and has also recently branched out into weddings. Seriously, this girl is good.

Liv made my skin look a-MAZ-ing which considering I'd just had a cold is particularly impressive.

Always time for tea...

I had serious envy for this make up belt...

Trying not to giggle here...

Not feeling that natural in front of the camera, we got the giggles rather a lot...

Gaelle, and Liv. I took this pic. I enjoyed being a photographer for a moment I have to say.

All images from Oh La La Weddings

Aside from the fact it was a lot of fun working with these two creative ladies, I also learned a fair bit both about my skin & make up and got good insight into what I would want for bridal make up. I'd always believed I would do my own make up, not wanting to feel too 'made up' but after this session with Liv I think I've changed my mind.

Come back tomorrow for an interview with Liv and more details about other projects we're working together on.

Interviews, photo shoots and Royals

2011-04-25T09:05:00.003+01:00

Happy Bank Holiday lovely readers! I hope you had a splendid Easter weekend. Here's this week's Monday Medley...

the interview/photo shoot

from oh la la weddings

On Friday I met up with two rather talented ladies to work on an interview feature with a little make up shoot. I'll be blogging full details later this week but here's a little sneak peek. One of the things I love best about my job is all the interesting and creative people I've been able to meet and/or work with. Liv from Blushless and Gaelle from oh la la weddings and I have a couple of other projects up our collective sleeve and I can't wait to share them with you.

the royal wedding

I have to be honest, I don't really care about the royal wedding. It feels almost blasphemous to say so but I get far more excited about 'real' weddings. And being self employed I can't even get excited about the bank holiday as I'll be working. Grumbling aside, however there is one aspect I am intrigued about shall we say and that's the dress. I know whatever design house and design is chosen will pretty much dominate the bridal industry for a couple of years. Whether it's Bruce Oldfield, Alexander McQueen, Alice Temperley, the much lesser known Sophie Cranston or somebody else entirely, I will definitely be checking out the gown.

On a different note, an estimated 2 billion people will tune in at some point to watch the wedding. No pressure then. I would be absolutely terrified I would trip up or accidentally swear or do something else entirely inappropriate!

the web chat

And with the Royal wedding around the corner everyone is naturally talking about weddings. Which has also led to lots of talk about being a wedding planner (which I have blogged about here). And you can join me and a selection of other fab wedding planning pros on Wednesday 27th April as part of the Guardian's live web chat discussing how to become a wedding planner. It's between 1pm - 4pm on the 27th and you can sign up here so you don't miss out.

Some bridal beauty must haves...

2011-04-24T22:48:00.002+01:00

Lip balm

The subject of make up and beauty products is not one I feature often on my blog. I am however, working with an AMAZING make up artist soon to demonstrate some of the different looks you can have as a bride on your big day. And in preparation for this feature I've become much more interested in make up in make up and beauty products and thought I would share my new found excitement with you all!

So I'm going to be running a new blog series whereby I introduce some of my favourite products.

The first fairly unglamorous product I'm letting you know about here is Carmex lip balm.

Like mascara, a good lip balm is pretty much essential for every girl (and boys actually, as I once had an ex who was partial to strawberry flavoured lip balm).

A lot of people are all about the Vaseline but I've never been a fan of those unhygienic little pots. But since I discovered Carmex I literally can't stop using it. It makes my lips soft and has pretty much sorted out my dry chapped lips in a week of using.

I've also been on the hunt for the perfect mascara, moisturiser, and eyeliner amongst many other so do let me know if you've got any beauty wonders.

A slightly sickly Monday Medley

2011-04-18T09:12:00.002+01:00

What a week last week was! Working with new clients, photo shoot planning and attending the wedding Oscars aka Rock n Roll Bride's party. Unfortunately it has all taken it's toll and I am now laid up with a chest infection. Which is not all bad because it gives me time to put together a little selection of what's been catching my eye this week.

the photo shoot

from Ashton Jean-Pierre Photography

Charley from London Bride and I have been working on a new project. All I can say now is it involves weddings (but of course) and music. Fingers crossed it will be launching very soon but in the meantime here's a sneak peek of the shoot shot by the marvelous Ashton Jean-Pierre.

the engagement shoot

Which leads nicely onto this super cute and fun engagement sesh. Well worth a look through the other images.

from Polka Dot Bride

the bride

I have a bit of a thing about walls in photos and this image kind of takes my breath away.

from our labour of love via forget me knot weddings

the bunting how to guide

Daily Candy's guide to making bunting. As much a wedding staple as cake, this guide will have you crafting your little heart out.

note: this bunting is actually from John Lewis, but you could make it if you wanted to ;)

the favour

These wall garden favours are handmade which makes me love them all the more. What's more they don't look too tricky to make. Anyone fancy making some and sending me pics of the results?!

from Ruffled

Hope you had a lovely weekend and are all geared up for the week ahead. I cannot believe we're over halfway through April, where is this year going?!

For more Monday Medley's see here

What does a wedding planner actually do? Part 4

2011-04-12T15:29:00.000+01:00

The issue of hiring staff...

from doreese illustration and photography

I get a lot of emails from people looking for a job in wedding planning and asking about paid work at Savoir Weddings and thought it was about time I tackled the issue of staff.

From the amount of interest I get it seems everybody wants to be a wedding planner these days. Which I get because it is a rewarding and varied job. So I hope no one finds this patronising, because I'm certainly not saying I know everything, but here's my advice for those of you thinking of becoming a wedding planner.

I can't speak for all wedding planners and the big guns (who don't work on weddings less than £60k) are probably different but most of us don't make enough money to hire full time staff.

I am a full time wedding planner. It took me well over a year to get to this stage. I'm certainly not rich but I make enough to live on which is great. I should point out here incidentally, if you're thinking of becoming a planner or starting a wedding planning biz to get rich, think again. It's incredibly hard work, involves working anti social hours, is at times stressful, and when you work it out per hour it definitely doesn't fall into one of those 'easy money' jobs likes some people seem to think.

So even though I am a full time planner I don't generate enough income to support staff. There is Dan who is involved in the music side of things and I work with interns during particularly busy periods. But whilst I pay the interns' expenses I definitely don't make enough to pay someone else a salary.

And this is quite common according to my fellow wedding planners.

So for those of you who want to become a wedding planner you really need to think whether you're prepared to become a business owner too. Because 99% of people who are wedding planners run their own businesses. So if you really want to do it you have to not only be good at planning/styling weddings, but also self motivating, managing your own time, finances and everything else that goes with running a business.

I don't want to discourage anyone considering a career in wedding planning. I genuinely love my job and often see it more as a way of life than a job. But it's not enough to just love weddings. There's a very high chance you'll have to establish and run your own business to become a planner and that's not a decision to make lightly.

For more on being a wedding planner see here.

What are your thoughts? Fellow wedding planners, do you agree? What about you other freelancers, do you get lots of job applications too?

Things that have caught my eye of late...

2011-04-11T12:41:00.001+01:00

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are raring to go today.

I'm feeling pretty positive and inspired after visiting the venue of one of my couples yesterday. To say it is beautiful doesn't do it justice. I literally cannot wait for this wedding!

And last week I got to work with the AWESOME Ashton-Jean Pierre and London Bride on a brand new project. Watch this space for more info...

And in the meantime, here's some general inspiration from my web travels.

the quote

from Momo Prints
via papersnitch

Always worth remembering.

the bride

Liking the edgy and traditional combo.

from Nordica Photography
via Wedding Sparrow

the bow tie

Aptly named Distinguished Gentlemen - Let's read a leather bound book.

via I am a hunter

the jewellery

from Le Papier Studio
via Emmeline Bride

the photo shoot

I've had a bit of a thing for masks recently. I'm interested in how they add another dynamic to an image. Be sure to check out the rest of the shoot, there's plenty more beauties included.

from Paige Newton Photography
via The Loveliest Day

Hope your week is off to a good start lovelies!

Inky indigo

2011-04-09T10:09:00.001+01:00

from top left:
indigo dress image from bluepoolroad
cameo from Iris Schwarz on etsy
blue bottles from Savoir Weddings props
extract of indigo plant applied to paper
indigo and mint image from jed root
made up eyes from pinterest

I've always been interested in colour but since becoming a wedding planner and stylist I've looked at the concept of colour and colours in general in a whole new way.

I've always liked blues and greens best. As testified by my teal obsession. Recently it's the deep, evocative, inky indigo that's making me swoon.

You can see some of my other mood boards here.

What do you think of indigo?

Here comes the sun

2011-04-08T10:28:00.007+01:00

I haven't done a Mixtape Masters for far too long. I've been working on a secret music project which has been sapping my musical energy (more on this very soon)!

But the sun is shining today and it feels like summer is around the corner. So here's a little mix of reggae/dub/roots to help get you in the mood...

For more Mixtape Master madness, peep the playlists on these blogs:

Hi-Fi Weddings | Tylre. | Ten Thou Bride | Fashion Under 100 | Jo, Rooting | Craft My Life | another damn life | Fancy Notion | Dead Flowers | Casa De Kaloi | Bunnies’n’Beagles | My San Francisco Budget Wedding | Existing Between Reality and Dreams

Molly Bakes...pop cakes amongst other things

2011-04-05T10:51:00.005+01:00

Molly Bakes was set up by Molly (no surprise there really) in London in 2009. Since then she's seen her pop cakes stocked in Selfridges and she's created orders for the likes of Elle Macpherson. Not bad eh?

She also does lots of bespoke orders for brides which is why I thought she'd be perfect for an interview for Savoir hearts this supplier.

* You make all sorts of cupcakes, brownies, pop cakes and so on. What's the most fun to make?

We make all sorts in the Molly Bakes kitchen as I like variety. I enjoy making everything but when you've made hundreds of cake pops it's a welcome break to do something different the next day. The bespoke orders are most fun though.

* You were the first baker to introduce cake pops to the UK, no? What made you realise Brits would go crazy for cake bites on a stick?

I love trying new things, I first saw them on American baking sites and decided to make some to sell on my market stall on Brick Lane. I wasn't actually sure whether they'd sell or not but they did. I just make things that I like the look of and my customers have loved everything so far! People were instantly intrigued by cakes on sticks, they were soon outselling my cupcakes. They're cute, colourful and tasty - how could Brits not go crazy for them?!

* Do you do a lot of pop cakes for weddings? How does it work with brides wanting to provide cake pops on their big day? Do you offer a bespoke service?

Yes cake pops are very popular for weddings, most people have them as favours but some have ordered them in place of a cake. Yes every order is bespoke, some customers go for simple designs while others like to have cakes that look like themselves! My favourite so far was a Christmas tree shaped wedding cake made entirely of cake balls - it even had an angel on top and presents at the bottom.

* And finally, congrats on having a book out soon! When's it out, where can we buy it and what can we expect inside it?

Book is out on June 2nd. You'll be able to buy it from all good bookstores. There will be 50 recipes for making cake pops inc. 6 different flavours. You'll find a few old favourites in the book but a lot of it is stuff I haven't posted online or made for any of my customers yet. It's a mixture of pretty, cute, quirky and edgy. I can't wait for you all to see it!

Pretty, cute, quirky and edgy? Sounds like my kind of thing! Thanks to Molly for being a Savoir Hearts this Supplier. Find out more about Molly and her cakes here, here and soon here.

Should I invite my ex to my wedding?

2011-04-02T12:26:00.002+01:00

source Better Living Through Design

This is not necessarily one of the areas of life it's good to say yes to.

The decision as to whether or not to invite an ex to your wedding can be definitely be challenging. And as it's a question a bride asked me the other day I thought it worthy of a blog post.

So, should you invite your ex to your wedding? This is mainly written with brides in mind but it could apply to the boys too.

Obviously don't invite your ex if you're no longer in touch. That's just a bit weird.

But if you're friends, or at least in regular contact it's a little trickier.

It depends on a few factors I think. Here's a rough yes/no guide to try to help you decide.

No if...

The relationship ended badly or was difficult and you best friend/dad hate him and will sit glowering/wondering why you invited him.

You're having an intimate wedding and your ex will stick out like a sore thumb.

His new girlfriend/wife is wary of you or has any not great feelings towards you. You only want people who love you at your wedding.

There's any part of you, even a teeny tiny part that's invited him to show off how beautiful you are and how great your life is.

He's single or has any unresolved feelings towards you. That could just get messy.

Yes if...

You want to and your fiancé is fine with it.

You went to his wedding and enjoyed yourself. And you like his wife.

You genuinely are friends and you see inviting him just like inviting any one of your other friends.

What do you think? If you're married did you invite any exes?

Photobooth props from Little Retreats

2011-03-31T09:45:00.000+01:00

Who doesn't love a good photo booth at a wedding eh?

Little Retreats over at Etsy has got some pretty wonderful props and I urge you to check it out pronto. It's the work of Brooke Meyenberg who also has a sweet blog Jackaroo Love.

Here's a selection of some of my faves...

What do you think? I like the zebra mask best I think.

Images, copyright and all that jazz

2011-03-28T17:18:00.003+01:00

I know there's a lot written about how to link to images and so on when you're blogging but I thought I'd write a little post on image copyright and how it works when you're using them on your business website.

First up, I ain't no lawyer. Don't quote me on any of this! I have asked a lawyer and researched it but I can't guarantee I'm 100% accurate so please don't sue me. Ha.

So here's a biggie to start with:

All images belong to whoever took them.

That's a fact. But how and when you can use them often strays into what's moral and ethical as well as what's legal.

You don't have to officially 'copyright' a photo for it to be yours. You just have to take it.

The picture of the blossom tree on this page belongs to me. I took it. So if someone googles 'blossom tree' and through the beauty of SEO and the wonder of the internet, finds my photo can they use it? Well generally yes as long as they credit the source, i.e me.

But what if they are starting a gardening company say, and want to use my image to promote their business. The image is still mine. If they contact me and ask my permission I may say yes. Or might not. It's up to me. Regardless of where they find it.

One thing is certain, they should ask me. And if they can't find the source of the image? If for some reason they don't know I took this fab pic what then? Well they shouldn't use it. At all.

Using images on the internet is not a case of finders keepers. Photographers photos are their product. Using their images without permission is like stealing to them. They are naturally protective of their work and so whilst they can't monitor the whole internet, courtesy definitely goes a long way.

Aside from stock images, all images belong to whoever shot them and therefore if you want to use an photo for your website, you have to get permission. This applies to google images too.

When I started blogging I found the whole 'how do you link to images and credit properly' thing confusing. I probably got it wrong many times. The main point with blogs and websites is that you don't take credit for what isn't yours and if you're going to use an image belonging to someone else to promote your business check, then double check you have permission.

I think all wedding planners for instance, especially new ones, struggle when they don't have the images they want for their websites. It's pretty hard to showcase your ideas without good photos.

So team up with a photographer and organise a photo shoot demonstrating your style. That way you get amazing photos that you can use (although remember they always belong to the photographer). It's always far better to wait to launch your business with photos of your work than use images that you found on the internet. Aside from anything else it has more integrity and that's always a good thing.

What are your thoughts fellow bloggers/business owners?

P.S If any gardening business want to use this amazing image that I have taken I may just consider it ;)

I went to a wedding this weekend...

2011-03-27T16:05:00.000+01:00

source F**k Yeah! Love!
Not actually my dad and his wife by the way, just a lovely pic.

So some of you might know, especially if you follow me on Twitter that my dad got married this weekend. It was a simple small wedding with just 12 of us. We went to the local registry office and then to a hotel in the country where they'd booked a private room for lunch.

There were some funny moments: when the bride's father (who spoke only Danish) got confused which ring to give when and almost placed the ring on my dad's finger (hilarious all round); and when the registrar mispronounced the bride's name so many times even my dad started saying it wrong by the end just so as not to embarrass her.

And there were some touching moments, such as when my dad's new wife hugged my mum and said they were like sisters now.

It was just like any other wedding really, full of interesting family dynamics and consumption of far too much food and wine.

And at the end of the day it was two people standing up in front of those they care about declaring their love for one another.

So the point of this post I suppose is to say that whilst the details that make a wedding unique are of course essential, the main reason a couple get married is because they're in love. And in the end that's the only detail that really matters.

Pretty Swell fabric flower garlands

2011-03-24T10:44:00.002Z

I have discovered a little gem of an Etsy shop called Pretty Swell.

How lovely are these cake toppers? I really like the height of them.

As a lover of purple this fabric garland excites me rather a lot.

I like the effect of the flowers spread out rather than being all close together like with bunting. The sparse look makes it even prettier.

I don't think people will ever get bored of hanging things up at their weddings. It's just such a good way to decorate space both inside and out.

What do you think? Rather cute, no?

A Pinterest Monday Medley

2011-03-21T21:23:00.003Z

I've become rather obsessed with Pinterest of late. It's just perfect for compiling mood boards which is a large (and fun) part of my job.

And so this week's Monday Medley includes mainly images I discovered through the joys of my Pinterest wanderings.

the bouquet

I don't really have words for this bouquet. Just so soft and pretty.

via Sitting in a Tree

the cake

This mushroom cake is pretty and simple and unique.

From Erica O'Brien via Once Wed

the boutonniere

A sweet way to have those who can't be with you on your big day close to your heart...

via Emmeline Bride

I'm always one for cheap but effective wedding decoration ideas hence the reason these wine bottle centrepieces caught my eye. These would be perfect in a a big open space like a warehouse or similar.

the centrepieces

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Have you discovered Pinterest yet?

A watercolour wedding

2011-03-19T10:19:00.001Z

via Vanessa Knox

I haven't done a If I were getting married for a while and whilst browsing on Pinterest I realised how much I'm liking this watercolour/ombré effect lately.

Think lots of colour used boldly but softly faded which sounds like an oxymoron but I think you know what I mean?

So, it got me thinking about how could you use this as inspiration for your wedding day.

the hair

Dark at the roots, blonder at the tips. Love it. A little bit grungy but still glam. Would work well with a relaxed beach wedding say.

via Bit and Bino

the cake

Who hasn't seen this divine creation in blogland. Too pretty to eat.

via Maggie Austin Cake

the flowers

via Design Sponge

Other ways you could incorporate the watercolour/ombré idea.

- fabric back drop for photos or the ceremony

- with napkins or table decoration

- with a garland or bunting

Obviously you wouldn't want to go overboard with this and it would be more a look to inject subtly but what you think?

For Japan with Love

2011-03-17T09:52:00.004Z

The incredible Lydia from Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged have set up something quite wonderful to support the thousands of people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

You can be involved with For Japan With Love in three ways.

Firstly by donating whatever you can. For Japan With Love links to Shelterbox a charity that quite literally provides shelter boxes including a disaster relief tent, water purification equipment, a stove, cooking equipment and other vital items.

The second way you bloggers can help is by having a blog day of silence tomorrow on Friday March 18th. You can see more information here but it essentially involves not doing a blog post at all tomorrow.

And thirdly you can tweet about it www.forjapanwithlove.com to spread the word and encourage others to be involved in any way they can.

So if you're a fellow blogger please get involved in this amazing project.

Josie x

Feather boutonnieres from Pomp and Plumage

2011-03-15T09:38:00.001Z

I discovered this Etsy shop Pomp and Plumage via Creature Comforts.

I have a bit of a thing for feathers at the moment, especially brown ones for some reason so my eyes lit up at these boutonnieres.

I've done a few posts on boutonnieres because it's a good way for grooms to get creative and these are elegant but quirky too!

What do you think? They're a good alternative to floral boutonnieres no?

A bit of a soppy post

2011-03-13T12:07:00.000Z

I'm feeling in a particularly sentimental mood today and felt like this was a perfect opportunity to was lyrical on my love for my couples.

I can genuinely say I adore each and every couple I'm working with at the moment. They are all so wonderfully unique and their ideas and hopes for their respective weddings completely reflects this.

I will have to quit whilst I'm ahead here before I becoming sickeningly schmaltzy. Suffice to say I never would have imagined a few years back that I would get to run my own business, work creatively with inspiring suppliers (you know who you are!) and meet such diverse and interesting people both in the flesh and in the blogging world.

I guess I want to say a big thank you in particular to my couples for making my job so enjoyable. Some of whom I know read this but won't comment ;)

You guys rock my world!

Adele - definitely making me feel her love

2011-03-11T11:55:00.003Z

This week's mixtape masters post is all about Adele. I can't believe this girl is only 22. Her voice is incredible.

Her performance at the Brits was immense. And so I'm dedicating the whole of this playlist to Adele because quite frankly she rocks my world.

What do you think lovelies? You in love with this girl and her voice as much as me?

For more Mixtape Master madness, peep the playlists on these blogs:

Hi-Fi Weddings | Tylre. | Ten Thou Bride | Fashion Under 100 | Jo, Rooting | Craft My Life | another damn life | Fancy Notion | Dead Flowers | Casa De Kaloi | Bunnies’n’Beagles | My San Francisco Budget Wedding | Existing Between Reality and Dreams

Have you ever seen anything so adorable?!

2011-03-09T09:00:00.001Z

Gratuitous cute post. Just because.

source - polar photographer Sue Flood

What does a wedding planner actually do? Part 3

2011-03-08T14:34:00.003Z

Can you afford a wedding planner?

Um, yeah.

One of the most annoying myths about wedding planners is that we're a luxury for high end weddings and couples with big fat budgets.

Most of my clients have modest but perfectly respectable budgets. As one bride said to me at the weekend: 'We could afford more, but this is what we're comfortable spending on our wedding.'

In my experience the quirkier and more creative the couple are the more likely they are to have a 'budget' wedding. And that's fine by me. Far more enjoyable to work with couples like this!

This doesn't mean I don't and haven't worked with couples with bigger budgets (and by bigger I mean £40k and upwards) it's just the majority of my clients are 'normal' people with 'normal' jobs from 'normal' backgrounds and this is what they can afford.

And I don't see why they shouldn't hire a wedding planner any less than someone with £100k to spend.

Okay so obviously I have to make a living. I know what I can afford to charge prospective clients and I know what wouldn't be possible for me to do. Sometimes I really love hearing about a couples' ideas but they can't afford to hire me as a full planner - so I help them out with a consultation for instance.

Just like there are designer boutiques where you can spend a month's rent on a handbag for instance, there is also Topshop.

In all aspects of life there are options for those with money to spend and those who have to be more careful. And it really really bugs me when people think wedding planners are only for the wealthy.

There are wedding planners who cater to a more luxury driven market and yes, if you've got £20k to spend don't both getting in touch with them. But for all the rest of you wondering if you can afford a wedding planner. You can. To some extent anyway. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

This is the third post in my mini series about life as a wedding planner.

Pretties to start the week with...

2011-03-07T08:44:00.001Z

the couple

Not much I don't adore about this couple and their gorgeous budget DIY wedding as seen on Ruffled.

How sweet is the bride's plaited hair and lovely lace wedding dress?

the ring

Stylish, unique and ethical engagement rings by New York based ken + dana design.

You have to check out their site, there are some real beauties on there. Found via live it out photography.

the shoe

Loving this killer wedding shoe seen over at Style Me Pretty. The wedding is full of super gorgeousness.

the star bunting

Always on the look out for new and fresh wedding decor ideas and rather liking this star bunting/ garland. Found over at stylist Mindy Gayer's blog

the prop

Ampersand from an engagement shoot found over at Emmaline Bride. I've been thinking about getting an ampersand tattooed on my ankle but have yet to find the perfect font.

See more Monday Medley's here and here's to a splendid Monday folks :)

Marianne Taylor Photography

2011-03-02T10:21:00.004Z

I haven't done a Savoir hearts this supplier for a while and who better to jump start this than the photography virtuoso that is Marianne Taylor.

I do a lot of research into photography in general and follow the best UK wedding photographers through twitter and their blogs and I have to say Marianne's work blows me away every time.

So I asked her a few questions so you can find out a little more about the woman behind the lens...

In 5 words how would you some up your photography style?

Creative, romantic, authentic, fun & nostalgic.

How do you deal with people who aren't natural in front of the camera, or indeed naturally photogenic?

I don't think I've ever photographed anyone who didn't say 'I absolutely hate having my picture taken' or something to that effect! I'm a great believer in the fact that there's something beautiful about everyone, and the most beautiful thing of all is authentic emotion. I am genuinely interested in people, and as a photographer specialising in couples, especially in how couples relate to each other. At a wedding I try not to get noticed too much and that's how I get to spy the real moments happening. During portrait sessions I try make sure that people know I don't expect them to 'perform' in any way, and that kind of gives them the license to just be themselves. I do sometimes use physical exercises to help people be more present in the moment and relax into it. For couple and engagement sessions especially, my wish is that everyone comes away feeling like they've had a nice experience, hopefully even one of those (too) rare connecting moments in life, and that the photos are just extra gravy.

If you weren't a photographer what would your dream job be?

A writer. Unfortunately I was never skilled enough in one language to finish any of the books I've started. But yes, would totally love to live in a little cabin by the sea, writing in solitude while listening to the waves.

If you had to pick one photographer who inspires you and/or you'd like to work with who would it be?

Hmm, that's a tricky one, inspiration comes in so many forms and I try to avoid any sort of idol worship. I would love to work with Jonas Peterson just because I'm intrigued to see how he approaches his pictures, and also to prove that Finns and Swedes can play nice together! :D One person whom I've been lucky enough to see in action, was Jesh de Rox. He taught me how to open my heart to strangers in order to make an experience meaningful.

They say 'A picture says a thousand words...' can you show us one photo of yours that you think demonstrates this?

Aw! How super cute.

Thank you Marianne!

If you haven't already you simply must go and see more of Marianne's work over at her website and blog and whilst you're at it you should follow her on twitter too.

Antique gold, yellow and white wedding

2011-02-28T17:11:00.002Z

from top left:
mirror from pink wallpaper
love sign from fuck yeah romantic, original source unknown
yellow bow napkin from Martha Stewart
hidden fox mug from Kir Devries via Creature Comforts
gold keys from rare device
white stags head from Z Gallerie
utopia necklace from Jacqueline Rabun
gold belero bride from Southern Weddings
yellow shoes and bouquet from Simply Bloom Photography via Weddings Unveiled

I'm working with a bride with this colour palette and I just can't get enough. With white, gold and yellow you can be chic, quirky, fun, modern, vintage inspired.... the possibilities are endless and that always makes for an enjoyable wedding styling process.

What do you think? Do you like it more or less than teal and purple? I just can't decide.

Teal and purple

2011-02-23T16:02:00.002Z

I am obsessed with this duo...

From top left:
purple dress from Dior via House of Design & Style
cake from Maggie Austin via Postcards and Pretties
lilac hair source unknown
purple hearts from Red Bubble
tablescape from style me pretty
canvas from maechevrette on etsy