A watercolour wedding

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?

Full of turkey Monday Medley

So my Monday Medley is pretty late today, but what can I say, I've been eating, drinking and watching television, as I hope you have been.

I am now, however, back in the game (and full to the brim). Henceforth from my position on the sofa I bring you my collection of web delights...


the bride

I can't even begin to say how excited I was to see these particular wedding pics. Suffice to say the bride is a friend whose wedding I couldn't make so I'm delighted to see how gorgeous it all turned out!

This photo is awesome.

Strong, glamorous and fierce. This photo says 'bring it on' to me!

Head over to Anna's blog, Love my Dress and Emma Case Photography to see more.




the chalkboard

Love love love these key chalkboards. They remind me of The Secret Garden, all magical and mysterious. Would work wonderfully with a garden wedding reception. And you can buy them on Etsy. Awesome.




the centrepiece

I like the idea of random objects/ unusual centrepieces (I worked on a wedding with origami animal centrepieces once). And these are pretty awesome.

Found via A Beautiful Mess you can buy these on Etsy too!








the bouquet

Have you ever seen such a beautiful bouquet? This wedding seen over at Style Me Pretty is so adorable. The bride did all the DIY elements herself. Gorgeous and making me long for spring.





the cake topper

It's still pretty hard to find cake toppers that aren't a tad boring or dare I say, tacky. But, I've got to say I adore this one.

Found over at Peonies & Pearls and you can buy on Ebay!





That's it! Hope you're all enjoying this strange time between Christmas and New Year!

How to ensure your wedding reception rocks

The key ingredients to a successful wedding reception

First things first. It's a party. Whether it's fancy and formal or laid back and casual, it's a party. Ok, a party with a big budget and a lot of pressure to be great, but a party nevertheless.

Once you realise this you can break down the key components and ensure your wedding reception kicks ass.

I have thrown many many parties in my time, from Halloween parties to 20s parties to informal gatherings to big-fat-last-all-night-hootennanies. Some of them have been great and others not so much but if there's one good thing that's come of them all is that I know you have to plan a good party. And that definitely applies to your wedding reception too.

I don't mean plan in a Monica from Friends way, I just mean you can't rely on the assumption that as all your favourite people are there, the party will just work. No, in my experience, it needs some careful consideration. But the sort of planning that ls flexible and leaves room for spontaneity and fun.

So, the key ingredients to a successful wedding reception are three fold:

1) Enough, and decent food and drink
2) A comfortable, well lit and well styled space
3) A well thought out sound track

I have said before and definitely will again, wedding guests should be treated like toddlers - they need regular feeding, watering and entertaining. And if you get that right, you'll have a killer wedding party.

So..

Food & Drink

- Feed people small amounts often rather than make them wait for one big wedding breakfast. Definitely don't leave it until 6pm to feed guests if you're ceremony was at 1pm. They will get bored, irritable and some inevitably too drunk by this point.

-Similarly if you're serving a light buffet or tea party early afternoon, don't provide too much food or else no one will be hungry for the main meal that you've spent the most money on.

- Keep guests watered often. If you have to stagger bar opening times because of budget serve mini cocktails or something similar to prevent guests from getting parched and give them something to talk about.


A well styled space

Okay, so firstly you have to work with your wedding venue, not against it. Really look at the space your guests will be eating, dancing, and drinking in. This is the room to concentrate on. From grand halls, to barns to marquees there aren't many spaces that with the right styling, can't be made into the ultimate party space. So look at your wedding reception room. What does it feel like? If it wasn't your wedding how would it make you feel? How can you work with the space to enhance the atmosphere you want your wedding to have? Think about lighting, comfort, warmth, journey to the toilet and out for a cigarette. Try to imagine the 'journey' your wedding guest will go on.


Your wedding soundtrack

Obviously music is very important to me and this is the one area I would obsess on were I getting married. From when the guests arrive, to during dinner, to the after dinner dancing, to the full on party when the oldies have gone home, I would plan nearly every single song.

We've all had those nights out with friends in a bar when the music just isn't quite right. Maybe it's too loud, too cheesy, not cheesy enough, whatever it is, it just kills the vibe. And even though you're out with your best friends, the night just isn't working. Well the same thing happens at a wedding reception. So you have the think carefully - the music you have at your reception should definitely be what you as a couple love - but you also can't turn off your guests. Unless granny loves a bit of dubstep, chances are you should save that until later. But I'd advise really exploring your music options as there's plenty of songs and genres that all generations love.


That's it! What do you think? Any other key aspects to successful party planning?

Blog lovelies for your eyes only

Apologies for the lateness of this week's Monday Medley but my blog took a backseat this weekend what with early birthday celebrations and research for clients to get done.

But I'm back in the game now, so without further ado here's my round up of web lovelies to start the week with.

the couple

Found over at one of my favourite blogs to peruse Green Wedding Shoes

The lace gloves are adorable as is the love tattoo. Click on the photo to see more, the bridesmaids dresses are delightfully mismatched.




the reception

Is there anything more romantic than dining al fresco under the stars (or fairy light stars)? This is a little tricky for UK weddings as the weather is notoriously unpredictable. But if it is at all possible then I think this is a pretty beautiful wedding reception.




the centrepiece

I've always been a fan of mismatched centrepieces, and these copper ones are a nice alternative to the 'shabby chic' look.




the table

The ever changing shape of families and the gradual appreciation for bucking tradition for tradition's sake has led to an increasing number of 'sweetheart tables' at weddings. As in a table just for two. The bride and groom obviously. I have to say I like this for several reasons - it's a little bit different - it avoids complicated top table situations - it allows the bride and groom to talk and actually spend time together on their wedding day (or at least for the meal)!





the drink

Cocktails are a must at weddings as far as I'm concerned. They can be elegant or fun but however you do them they're often a talking point and can look pretty fabulous in photos.

This rose martini is the ultimate romantic drink. Click on the image to find out how to make...




the ring

This Imogen Belfield ring needs no introduction.

Just check this bad boy out.



That's it my dears. I hope your weekend was great and your Monday has been productive and fun!

Sparkly things...

...in honour of the fact it's nearly ish my birthday, it's Friday tomorrow, I'm feeling Christmassy AND it is Anna's (of the ring fame) wedding this weekend. Yippee!

If I was having a winter wedding I'd want it to look (and be) totally, shamefully decadent. Glitter and sparkles would rejoice...


















Oooh makes me want to run out and buy a head to toe sparkly outfit. How do you feel about in-your-face sparkles?

And have a super shiny weekend my lovelies!

Quail Bridal Bridesmaid dresses

I'm not really a fan of the 'traditional' bridesmaid look. You know, all matchy matchy and designed not to upstage the bride.

If I were getting married I'd want my girls to look something like this:

Mismatched, cute and for want of a better word, (because I'm not really a fan of it) sassy.









They're all from Quail Bridal and designed to be worn over and over again. Which is especially brilliant if you're asking your bridesmaids to buy their dresses themselves.

Whilst they have stores in New York and Long Beach they can ship internationally. Hurrah.

Check out the website as it's a pretty feast for the eyes - they have bridal dresses and an online store with some to die for dresses.

Jade, turquoise, mint, greeny blue - whatever this colour is - I like it a lot

I don't know what it is about this colour that gets me. It's subtle but makes an impact. It's feminine but not too girly. I am totally smitten.



swoon.....



No wonder she's laughing, her shoes are AMAZING.





This colour goes super well with a ruffly pastel pink cake...











Has this colour always been around? I feel like I've only been aware of it in the past year or so if that doesn't sound insane? Surely it existed before 2009. And what is it's proper name? A colour this splendid should have a proper name.

Marquee Weddings

As you may know from reading this blog or because you know me in 'real life', I am not married. I do have a rather lovely boyfriend, but I have not yet personally done what I professionally arrange! That sounds kind of weird but you get what I mean.

However as you can imagine I do think about weddings rather a lot. When I'm working with a client I obviously create what they want but they are definitely times when I think about what I'd want if I got married.

Part of me thinks I'd elope to Vegas or somewhere and then come back and announce my 'marriedness', but another part of me thinks I wouldn't be able to resist a big fat shindig.

I thought it might be helpful to do a series of posts on how I would go about things if I was getting married. Of course you might not have the same taste as me but you may well find some useful tips or things you haven't considered yourself.

Although I should note, my main objective in doing this post is to totally indulge myself so please forgive me.

So here goes.

If I were getting married I would want...

A marquee wedding

Hard to imagine on a cold and miserable day like today, but for a summer wedding I think there's nothing better.

When I'm not flitting between various different ideas there is one type of wedding that I always imagined having. I envisaged a big white marquee (but with all the sides open so it's really just a canopy) in my mum's garden, in the house I grew up in. I have to say I didn't do much dreaming of being a princess and walking down the aisle when I was little, but I did grow up always assuming I'd get married in my garden. It's pretty perfect for a wedding really, the main garden would hold the marquee and the bottom garden (which used to be an orchard) and can be got to through a winding old path is obscured by huge trees and would be perfect for camping and partying later on.

But alas my mum is selling the house so this is unlikely to happen. I think I'd still like the same kind of wedding but obviously at a different location.

I like marquees because they're so versatile and flexible. Whilst there are hundreds of awesome venues that suit each couples' needs, I know I'd want to combine bits of all of them. Okay so with a marquee you don't get stunning architecture or historical rooms but you do get flexibility. You can have vintage tents, classic white, Arabian themed, not to mention the fact they're like blank canvases. No worries about dodgy colour schemes and old carpet with a marquee.

Not only that but in theory you can put them anywhere. You can party as long as you like (no kicking out at 11pm) and you can put the whole wedding together yourself. No caterer or photographer you wouldn't choose but have to as the venue recommends.

I should note here, there are many venues that are very accommodating, flexible and beautiful (this is just one girl's desires).

But the main reason I'd want a marquee wedding is because it's unique. No other couple will have had the same wedding with the same style in the same place. I know I'd want my wedding to be totally 'us' and creating a wedding from scratch is how I'd feel that.

Weddings are all about personal preference. What makes one person feel special isn't necessarily so for another. I've been to, and worked with couples having amazing weddings in various different venues. But for me it's creating something site specific and of the moment. Picture a farmer's field - normally filled with cows - but for one day the site of a celebration of love, food, music, dancing - before returning 24 hours later to it's natural state.

That, to me, is pure romance.

*I just want to reiterate to anyone feeling offended, I am not saying marquee weddings are the superior choice, in fact they're a whole lot of work (which I'll tackle in another post), but it's what I would personally want to do. For now anyway, I'll prob change my mind again soon.*