Monday, 30 September 2013

Amazing Boutonniere Button-Holes for your Hubby

As I was writing up my recent {and fabulous} feature - 100 Ideas to Personalise Your Wedding, I realised that Before the Big Day neglects grooms. It's true, they're often not as interested in weddings as future brides, but I figure the more attention we pay them, the more likely they're going to get infected with our wedding enthusiasm! So when I discovered these incredible buttonholes or boutonniere {the French term now also used by Americans}, I had to feature them on the wedding blog! They're made by Tim Fritts & Erin Rosenow {aka Fritts Rosenow} in San Fransicso, and they're completely handmade and bespoke. So if you visit their shop, and you don't see a boutonniere that will work, then contact them, and they'll mock up something spectacular!


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Saturday, 28 September 2013

A Natural Homemade Sunshine Yellow Wedding - The Reception

With wedding details galore, I've fallen hook, line, and sinker for this beautiful farm wedding. There's nothing more stunning than the British countryside on a summer's day, and Abi and Simon got seriously lucky with their wedding weather. With a barn wedding venue and a rustic theme based around DIY details, I love the coherence of their blue and yellow colour scheme. More stealworthy ideas include the naked wedding cake, the raffia ties around the napkins, the mum-made bunting and the home-grown table flowers and wedding favours. Stunning pictures published with thanks to Jo Richards Photography - just take a look at that view!


Our wedding photographer was Jo Richards Photography. We originally had a friend doing our photography, but she pulled out with four months to go, and I did some research to find someone local. 


I had three interviews with wedding photographers in one morning, but Jo won hands down. She totally 'got' my family and our ideas, and also her photos were amazing. Our formal wedding photographs were a breeze, and I am loving looking through them all now.



Friday, 27 September 2013

A Natural Homemade Sunshine Yellow Wedding

There's nothing I like more than a lovely sunshiny yellow-themed wedding to brighten up my Friday - particularly when it's teamed with a Grand Designs-style barn venue, and royal blue bridesmaids. Abi and Simon chose the traditional route of getting married in Abi's home town...or in this case, village. A family friend offered them a barn for their wedding reception, and they completely transformed it from a fertiliser store into the perfect, pretty venue. Talk about inspirational stuff! Simon proposed to Abi with a yellow diamond, to represent her bright personality, so it was a natural theme colour for their wedding. Teamed with all their DIY wedding details, including miles of mum-made bunting and handmade wedding cakes, it's up there with one of my favourite DIY weddings. Huge thanks to Jo Richards Photography for her stunning pictures - more to come from their reception tomorrow!


We celebrated our wedding on 10th August 2013 in Aldbourne in Wiltshire.


I grew up in the area, so I wanted everything in the same village. We both wanted somewhere that we could make 'us' and our family friend said I could have any barn on his property for our reception, so we picked one as our wedding venue.



Thursday, 26 September 2013

Wedding Decoration Idea & Theme - Ribbons

I discovered ribbons too late in my own wedding planning to use them in my decorations. So now I'm going to have to come up with some excuse to have another wedding, so that I can put this gorgeous wedding decoration idea to use. Just check out the inspirational pictures below for all the ways in which you could use them, and don't miss my Pinterest page for loads more wedding ideas.


Photo Credits {clockwise from top left} - 1. Katherine OBrien via Rock n' Roll Bride, 2. via Sugar and Charm, 3. Cameron & Kelly via Style Me Pretty, 4. via Botanical Brouhaha, 5. Our Labour of Love via Green Wedding Shoes, 6. Brittany Hildebrandt via Uschi & Kay, 7. via Sugar and Charm, 8. Cameron & Kelly via Style Me Pretty

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Wednesday, 25 September 2013

A Modern Navy-Blue, Pink & Purple Themed Wedding - The Reception

There's tonnes of fantastic wedding inspiration in this gorgeous spring wedding. Ruth and Mark chose an on-trend jewel colour palette of navy blue, hot pink and purple for their wedding theme, and carried it through all their wedding details. The bridesmaids' dresses, the flowers, the cake - even the DIY'd table stationery, all match perfectly. It's the wedding planner effect without a wedding planner!! DIY brides will find Ruth's efforts hugely inspiring - she even made her own FIVE tier wedding cake - and it couldn't look more professional if it tried. With favours made my Ruth's brother-in-law, marquee-style letters made by her Dad, and a ring-pillow made my her mum, this really was a family project. Enjoy the gorgeous pictures by Matt and Sarah-Jane Ethan. I love the modern-style portrait shots!


We chose Matt and Sarah-Jane Ethan as our wedding photographers. They stood out to us on our search. They totally “got” what we wanted from our photographs which was informal and relaxed. Also your wedding photographer is with you most of the day, so I think it is important to get on with them, and we really did!


 I came across a navy blue, pink and purple look, and I loved the contrast of the colours together. It looked very modern, and I was keen for our wedding to feel modern as well as classic.


A Modern Navy-Blue, Pink & Purple Themed Wedding

There's an ethereal element to these beautiful wedding pictures by Matt and Sarah-Jane Ethan. Every one feels like a magical moment, and I'm not sure whether my edit has done them justice. Suffice to say, Ruth and Mark's wedding was a stunning affair. Ruth chose a colour palette of navy-blue, pink and purple as her wedding theme, and picked out navy-blue for her bridesmaids, hot pink for the ushers' ties, and a mixture of all three for her wedding flowers. The carefully coordinated colours create a very put-together look, and I love the colour pop against her white wedding gown. My other loves include their incredible wedding venue of Wynyard Hall, the cute diamante initials on the back of Ruth's shoes, and Ruth's elegant Mori Lee wedding gown. Huge thanks to Sarah-Jane and Matt for their beautiful wedding photographs - don't miss the fantastic wedding reception shots later today.


We celebrated our wedding at Wynyard Hall in Cleveland on 26th May 2013.


 I came across a navy blue, pink and purple look, and I loved the contrast of the colours together. It looked very modern, and I was keen for our wedding to feel modern as well as classic.



Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Wedding Trends of 2013 - Two-Tone & Ombre Bridesmaids

There was an easier and simpler time, when bridesmaids all just wore the same dress - whatever their height, figure or colouring. But now it's waaaaay more complicated. Wedding shops sell multiple bridesmaids dresses in the same fabric, so your girls can choose their own gowns, and 2013 saw the start of a mega-trend of toning your maids' outfits. There's two versions of this new fashion; two-tone and ombre. Take a look at the pictures below, and see what you think. Personally I'd go with two-tone, because I don't have the colour skills for the ombre shading, although the ombre looks amazing when done right. On the other hand - two-tone is a great way to make your maid of honour stand out from the other bridesmaids. For more bridesmaid inspiration, take a look at my Bridesmaids Pinterest board and Ombre Wedding Theme board. They're packed with fantastic ideas.

Ombre Bridesmaids


{Credit} W. Scott Chester, view full wedding on 100 Layer Cake


{Credit} 1. Unknown | 2. L Hewitt Photography, view full wedding on Style Me Pretty wedding blog


{Credit} Unknown


{Credit} Jerry Yoon Photographers view full wedding on Green Wedding Shoes

Two Tone Bridesmaids

{Credit} Kayla Adams, view whole wedding on Style Me Pretty


{Credit} Buffy Dekmar, view full wedding on Snippet & Ink


{Credit} Apryl Ann Photography, view full wedding on Style Me Pretty Destination


{Credit} Angela Ward Brown

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Monday, 23 September 2013

Wedding Trends of 2013 - Bushy Bride & Bridesmaid Bouquets

Now that the weather's turned, and we're firmly into autumn and wintery weddings, I wanted to tell you about a new eco-friendly trend sweeping the wedding world. It started with brides using seasonal flowers, rather than those flown in from abroad, and now it's taken a natural next step. Rather than use bright blooms, fashion-forward brides are choosing bushy bouquets of pure foliage. It's an elegant, green-goddess look, and it works perfectly with dramatic and detail-heavy wedding gowns, such as those by Jenny Packham, Temperley London and Samuelle Couture. Olive branches, bay bouquets and eucalyptus are popular, but I love the oak leaf look picture below. Lots more busy bouquet inspiration on my Pinterest page.


{Credit} Picture by Jose Villa, dress by Saja Wedding - more from this shoot


{Credit} Picture by Jose Villa, dress by Samuelle Couture - more from this shoot


{Credit} Picture by Punam Bean Photography - More from this wedding on Style Me Pretty



{Credit} Source unknown, please leave a comment if you know

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Sunday, 22 September 2013

Equality, Engagement Rings & Grooms Gifts

Grooms always get slightly forgotten on wedding days. All the focus is on the bride, what she's wearing, and her veil, bouquet and bridesmaids. All the groom has to do is turn up in a decent suit with the wedding rings. Looking back, it all starts with the proposal. Girls get a sparkling engagement ring, and the boys....well they don't get anything really, do they! I reckon it's time for that to change - as a statement of equality. On the morning of your wedding, send your future husband a surprise present. If you don't think he'll wear an engagement ring, then why not cufflinks, or a luxury watch? You could have it engraved with your wedding date and your initials, and just like your engagement ring, he'll have it for life. {Now I've just got to hope my husband doesn't read this, and ask why he didn't get one on our our wedding day!}


{Credit} My husband on our wedding day by Caught the Light

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Friday, 20 September 2013

A Pretty, Rustic, HandmadeTipi-on-a-Farm Wedding - Reception Details

There's nothing I like more than a marquee wedding, except from when the marquee's a tipi!! They've been a huge trend this summer, and I reckon it's one to watch for 2014 as well. What I love about Glen and Teri's tipi wedding is their pretty rustic details. Burlap and lace decorations work perfectly together, and are super-easy to DIY. Teri and her family created many of my favourite details, including the lace-wrapped jam-jars and white painted baked bean vases, plus the hand-stencilled scrap-wood table names. When it came to cakes, Glen and Teri couldn't choose between a cheese cake and a normal wedding cake, so they had both - again DIY'd by relatives. Even the favours were handmade by Glen's mum! Enjoy the gorgeous pictures by James Grist Photography, and be sure to read Teri's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire - there's tonnes more top tips for future brides between the lines!


Our special day was Saturday 3rd August. We hosted our ceremony at Ratsbury Barn in Tenterden, Kent, and our reception was held in tipis on a friend's farm. 


We always knew we wanted our wedding reception to be held on our friend's farm and the tipis fitted perfectly with the setting - we absolutely loved them. Our love of the outdoors was the theme for our wedding and so we chose to have very rustic, natural decor.


Thursday, 19 September 2013

A Pretty Rustic Handmade Tipi-on-a-Farm Wedding

One way to keep your wedding costs down, is to organise a backyard wedding. Of course, not all of us have a garden big enough for a massive marquee, but Glen and Teri got lucky, and borrowed a friend's farm! They then hired a fabulous tipi for their reception, and booked nearby Ratsbury Barn in Kent for their wedding ceremony. I love their rustic wedding theme - Glen and Teri both love the outdoors, so they chose natural decor details of burlap and wood. Other stealworthy ideas include Teri's strapless Enzoani gown and the outfits she chose for her flower-girls and pageboys. The overall effect is effortless and boho-chic, and perfectly pictured by James Grist Photography. More shots from their incredible reception, coming later today!


Our special day was Saturday 3rd August. We hosted our ceremony at Ratsbury Barn in Tenterden, Kent, and our reception was held in tipis on a friend's farm.


Our love of the outdoors was the theme for our wedding and so we chose to have very rustic, natural decor.



Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Best British Bridal Designers - Temperley London

All this week, I'm celebrating London Fashion Week by showcasing the best of British Bridal Designers. Yesterday we were all about the glamour of Jenny Packham's wedding gowns, but today I'm thrilled to bring you Temperley London's latest bridal collection. Themed around Shakespeare's famously romantic play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the new Titania collection is stunning! I've fallen for the intricate lace-work - it looks like perfect cobwebs {the non-creepy kind!}, and Alice Temperley's gowns are soooo flattering. I had the best time at a dress-fitting in their Notting Hill atelier. My favourite is the gown below {on the right}, although I'd probably wear a slip underneath....




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Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

A big thank you and huge ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ to everyone who has already voted for me in the Wedding Blog Awards! I'm getting seriously excited about attending the Award Ceremony at The Ritz {oo-eee!}, and it would MAKE MY YEAR if I could win just one of my two nominations. Apparently I'll get an Oscar-like trophy and everything. Goodness knows what I'm going to wear - I'm not quite back to my pre-baby-shape yet, and none of my dresses fit. Voting for me will take you just a minute, and the good karma vibes will float you through to Friday. P.S. This is what I look like when I'm very happy - yup, you could catch goldfish with that mouth!!


{Credit} Chloe from Caught the Light - more from My Wedding

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Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Best British Bridal Designers - Jenny Packham

All this week, I'm celebrating London Fashion Week by showcasing the best of British Bridal Designers, starting with the fabulous Jenny Packham. Jenny's renowned for her glamorous gowns, much favoured by sophisticated metropolitan brides. I've long loved her intricate beading and sequin designs, and her new Spring 2014 collection is full of exquisite wedding gowns you'll want to add to your wish-list. Feast your eyes on her brilliantly eccentric campaign, and dream! View the full 2014 Bridal Collection.





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A Late Summer Wedding with Cornflower Blue Bridesmaids - The Reception

Cath Kidson and Joules have to be among my favourite UK designers, and I'm thrilled to see prints from their collections in this gorgeous barn wedding. Lorraine chose a mixture of Joules and Alexon dresses for her bridesmaids, and I love the bold mix of print and plain. With DIY table flowers, and a wedding cake handmade by a family friend, there's tonnes of wedding inspiration for a budget bride wanting to create her own details. I love the outside barn venue - its bunting and hydrangea filled jam-jars, plus the 'Borrow a Blanket' basket for chilly guests {buy blankets for a £3 each at Ikea}. Other stealworthy ideas include the blackboard table-plan and menu, the Cath Kidson round table runners and the matching tops to the honey wedding favours. Last but definitely not least, take a look at those pavlova puddings....yummy!! Thank you to Victoria Phipps Photography for capturing every perfect detail - Victoria's one of my favourite wedding photographers!




A Late Summer Wedding with Cornflower Blue Bridesmaids

I've always loved cornflowers - the wild pop of bright blue against a golden field of corn, and their untamed, messy stalks. One day I'd love to see a bride carrying a bouquet of just cornflowers, but in the meantime I'll more than make do with Lorraine and Evan's gorgeous wedding flowers! Astonishingly their bouquets and buttonholes were bought wholesale from Nottingham Flower Market and arranged by a friend {Imogen}, and Evan's sister Lucy. I've never seen such professional DIY bouquets - and I love how they pick up on the bunchy trend I flagged up early this year, where blooms are placed next to each other, rather than carefully placed apart. The 'something blue' theme is carried through to the bridesmaids' gowns and the Evan's tie, and even to the ribbon binding the Orders of Service. I love the baby's breath church flowers {simple and easy to recreate}, Lorraine's stunning Enzoani wedding gown with its elegant train, and More from Lorraine and Evan's Townfield Barn wedding reception later today. Huge thanks to Victoria Phipps Photography for her gorgeous wedding pictures.





Monday, 16 September 2013

Celebrating London Fashion Week - British Bridal Designers

I can always tell when it's London Fashion Week because the streets of Shoreditch around my house are suddenly full of people looking very self-conscious. They might be doing something as boring as taking a call on their mobile or drinking a coffee from Starbucks, but they're doing it as if everyone is looking at them. And they're usually dressed in something slightly silly, but very fashion-forward, with an oddly shaped hem! But it's important to celebrate the bonkers fashion world, because it's thanks to London-based designers that the UK is so famous for its brilliant bridal collections. And that means we don't have to travel abroad to buy the best for our weddings. So all this week, to mark London Fashion Week, I'll be celebrating the best of British Bridal Designers. Keep your eyes peeled for some seriously impressive wedding dress inspiration.


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Introducing Fever Designs for Your Wedding Day

How many bridesmaids is too many? I had five, and I would have had more, but I was anxious about the extra costs of a bigger wedding party. Bridesmaids dresses, shoes, accessories and bouquets all add up, and the more girls you have following you down the aisle, the more expensive it's going to get. I've always recommended looking online for reasonably-priced bridesmaids' dresses, and that's why I'm delighted to introduce Fever Designs, as a great bridesmaid boutique. They have a fantastic range of gowns, in all the season's top colours, and none of them will break the bank. My favourites are the Cecelia and Ivy dresses, both of which come in at under £100. As a bridesmaid-in-waiting, I've got my eye on the Ivy gown in Merlot, as I reckon it'll fit in perfectly with my friend's December wedding colour palette. With a colour-pop bridesmaid dress, you can save money on flowers, and give your bridesmaids bushy bouquets of olive leaves, rosemary or eucalyptus. For more ideas, take a look at my Pinterest pages.





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