There's nothing I like more than a wedding with a surprise! Claire and James invited their guests to take part in a great British Bake Off, which means their big day was a cake extravaganza. Don't miss the picture of all the entries at the end of this blog post. I still don't know who won!!! You'll find plenty of other stealworthy ideas in these gorgeous images. I'm super-keen on the idea of edible favours - Claire and James handmade cake-pops. It reduces cost, and means they're less likely to get left behind on the table. The flowers by China Rose were stunning - I love the large avalanche roses, and how well the buttonholes tied in with the ushers' buttonholes. Don't miss all the DIY details - from the pretty lace-wrapped jam-jars, to the blackboard seating plan. Lovely pictures by the very talented Christy Blanch.
Friday, 30 June 2017
Beautiful Barn Wedding with Fairy Lights, Cake Pops & Chalk Boards
This morning is a good one! I can't wait to share this stunning spring wedding with you. It's a beautiful barn big day, hosted by Claire and James at Ashley Wood Farm near Salisbury. It's such a pretty wedding venue - I love all climbing roses and the powder blue of the woodwork. They themed their day around the natural beauty of the venue, keeping the details relaxed, rustic and sparkly {thanks to lots of fairy lights}. I love the dusty pink and light grey colour palette, and Claire's flattering True Bride gown and cosy fluffy shrug. Also rather impressed by the BHS bridesmaid gowns - definitely a shop worth checking out. Gorgeous photographs here published with thanks to Christy Blanch - don't miss the reception pictures in my second blog post later today.
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Barn Wedding
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Christy Blanch Photography
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Pastel
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Pink
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Pretty
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Rustic
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Spring
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Fierce Tropical Wedding Shoot
Hot off the press, this incredible high fashion wedding shoot brought together a fab group of wedding suppliers in Chelmsford. Inspired by Writtle College's tropical greenhouse, Grace of Photography by Grace Hill, Kelly of Miss Fleur Floral Design, and dress designer Lucy Can't Dance chose a rainforest theme. The look is totally original and seriously fierce - a great choice for bold brides looking for a distinctive style. I love Lucy's dip-dye Ziggy Stardust gown, and the intricate bodice on her Heart of Glass wedding dress. Purple lipstick and orange eyeshadow complete the boho rock chick look. And take a look at those blooms - even the shyest of brides could kick-start her look with a bright bouquet of luscious tropical orchids and palm leaves. Enjoy the pictures - they're packed with wedding inspiration - and don't miss the details of all the suppliers at the end.
Monday, 26 June 2017
Top Three Bridal Trends for the New Season
One of the best things about being a wedding blogger is being the first to see all the latest trends. Stationery and decorations are my favourite wedding details, but I know for a lot of you it's all about the dress. One of the most popular US gown designers is BHLDN. They're owned by the same company as whimsical lifestyle store Anthropologie, and they never disappoint. UK brides can easily buy their wedding dresses and accessories online, and it's always worth looking out for their sales, which are awesome. BHLDN have spotted three big trends for Autumn/Winter brides, and all of them are fab....take a look....
Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Real DIY Heart-Themed Wedding: Margaux and Max
Details, details! This wedding is ALL about the details! Margaux and Max hired the amazing Ashley Meaders to help design their big day, and her work has completely blown my mind. Just check out the vintage plates, kooky welcome table, to dessert table, cake topper, hand-stitched hearts....I could go on and on! A gorgeous fabric installation was created over the entryway to make a big impact as people walked in. It was made of braided fabric, hand-sewn garland, fabric strips, and lights. Guests wrote messages to the Max and Margaux on strips of fabric and then hung them up on baker's twine with miniature clothespeg. Ashely even made Margaux a swing out of fabrics, and created hundreds of fabric hearts to decorate the back-garden. Just goes to show how even the simplist of venues can be made special. Gorogeous pictures as ever from the team at Our Labour of Love.
Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Real Rustic Cherry-Inspired Wedding: Cathleen & Eric
Thsi is one of those to-die-for weddings, where you want to copy every detail, but worry that even if you did, your wedding wouldn't look half as good. I love everything about it - the setting, the antique furniture, the rustic but chic napkins, the strawbale seats and the heavenly, heavenly cherries. So many stealworthy ideas, from writing the names of your guests on the paper table cloth, using fruit as decoration and favour, and the whole concept of bringing the indoors outdoors. I'm totally blissed out. Cathleen and Eric's wedding team included designer Rebecca, of Duet Weddings and the hugely talented photographer, Jose Villa.
Labels:
Countryside
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Fruit
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Jose Villa
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Real Weddings
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Red
Monday, 19 June 2017
Vintage-Style Wedding Stationery Seals
When it comes to wedding details nothing is too small. Take the back of your wedding stationery envelopes for example. Aren't they just crying out for a vintage-style wax seal? Fab shop, Back to Zero has tonnes of different motifs to choose from, including Fleur de Lys, monograms, anchors, crowns, and even a squirrel for the nature-loving. Then all you have to do is pick a wax that matches your wedding colour palette, and a second seal for your Thank You letters. It's the easiest wedding DIY idea in the world!
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Saturday, 17 June 2017
My Top Three Winter Wedding Invitations
As I write this, it's 28 degrees outside and a beautiful summer day. But if you're planning a winter wedding, you've only got 6 months to go, and your thoughts must be turning to invitations. I'm a huge stationery geek, and I spent easily 70% of my wedding planning, scanning the internet for wedding invitation suites. I fell in love with graphic designers from Australia to LA, and eventually settled on designing my own. Remember your wedding invitation will get your guests excited about your big day - it really sets the tone - so choose wisely. Here are three of my current favourites for winter weddings - all from brilliant British designers.
{I want this!} Starry Night by Blush & Gold
{I want this!} Chalk Board & Stag Wedding Invitation Bundle by norma & dorothy
{I want this!} Highland Wedding Suite by Julia Eastwood
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{I want this!} Starry Night by Blush & Gold
{I want this!} Chalk Board & Stag Wedding Invitation Bundle by norma & dorothy
{I want this!} Highland Wedding Suite by Julia Eastwood
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Discussion: Should a Bride smoke on her Wedding Day?
As a non-smoker, it was never an issue for me, but what do you think about brides smoking on their wedding day? There's something about the elegance of the occasion, and the pageantry of the beautiful white dress and veil, that makes cigarettes uncomfortable bedfellows to a blushing bride. What do you think? I'd love to hear your views!
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Monday, 12 June 2017
Real Rural DIY Wedding: Catherine & Matt - Wedding Reception
After the beautiful getting ready pictures, and perfect portrait shots, are you ready for la pièce de résistance? Yup, it's time for the stunning reception details. Catherine and Matt chose their local village hall for their wedding reception, and added unique rustic vintage touches with the help of stylists Add a Little Sparkle. I love the mix of fresh and dried flower arrangements, the bark vases and mini-log place marker stands {made by Catherine's dad}, and the cute animal familiars on each table. Catherine also DIY'd all the favour crackers out of handmade paper, snappers from eBay and flowers grown in her own garden. Even the bird wedding toppers were hand-sewn and embroidered by the bride - you can buy similar from her Etsy shop. Huge thanks to Lily Sawyer Photography for her beautiful pictures - she really captured every wedding detail!
Labels:
Church
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Countryside
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DIY Wedding
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Lily Sawyer Photography
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Real Weddings
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Rural
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Summer
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Village Hall
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Vintage
Real Rural DIY Wedding: Catherine & Matt - Portrait Pictures
Dreamy wedding portrait sessions don't get much better than this! Take golden light, a beautiful bride, and a perfect poppy field, and I'm wedding heaven. Matt and Catherine celebrated their wedding near Canterbury, in the Kent countryside, and photographer, Lily Sawyer, took full advantage of the beautiful landscape. En-route to their wedding reception, she stopped with the bride and groom by a field, where they had to climb over barbed wire to get in! Matt came well-prepared with a thick curtain ready to lay on the wires, so Catherine could climb over without ruining her stunning wedding dress. It was worth the effort - just take a look at these gorgeous, golden pictures.
Labels:
Church
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Countryside
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DIY Wedding
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Lily Sawyer Photography
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Real Weddings
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Rural
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Summer
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Village Hall
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Vintage
Real Rural DIY Wedding: Catherine and Matt
With more DIY wedding details than you can shake a stick at, this is easily one of my favourite weddings of all time, not least because the bride is a regular reader of Before the Big Day! Lovely Catherine is a textile designer, and you can see her creative talent in every element of her and Matt's beautiful rural wedding. They chose Canterbury in Kent as the location for their big day, and celebrated their wedding ceremony in a village church, surrounded by poppy fields and rolling hills, followed by their wedding reception in the village hall. Catherine designed and handmade many of her wedding details, including the stunning floral bridesmaids' dresses, her hand-printed wedding stationery, and she even altered her second-hand wedding dress - an amazing Enzoani Diana gown she found on eBay! You'll love all the rural vintage touches, enjoy these gorgeous pictures by Lily Sawyer Photography - I'll be posting the poppy field portrait pictures and reception shots later today!
Labels:
Church
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Countryside
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DIY Wedding
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Lily Sawyer Photography
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Real Weddings
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Rural
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Summer
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Village Hall
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Vintage
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Possibly the Best Wedding Prank ever?
Be kind to your ushers, because you never know when they're going to strike.... Picture c/o Simply Bloom Photography, from the lovely wedding of Skyler and Kristian. The groom had no idea they'd decorated the soles of his shoes. Don't miss more pictures from this lovely sparkly themed wedding with a mismatched cake.
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Wednesday, 7 June 2017
British Seaside Wedding Ideas
If you love the traditional British world of bunting, bathing huts and camper vans, you're going to instantly fall for the wedding shop I've just discovered on Etsy. Something New Stationery is the brainchild of Jenni Bryan, and I'm enchanted by her cute take on the British seaside. Just take a look at her lovely designs below! Her shop also stocks a huge range of colourful baking twine, at a reasonable price of £5 per spool. What's not to love?
Holiday Beach Huts Wedding Seating Plan, £45
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Holiday Beach Huts Wedding Seating Plan, £45
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
Monday, 5 June 2017
Real English Seaside Teepee Wedding: Pip & Nik
Some of my favourite emails I recieve as a wedding blogger, are those from happily married brides, asking me to feature their weddings on Before the Big Day. Organising your wedding can take months, and I remember how thrilled I was by my own wedding pictures by Caught the Light, I couldn't wait to share them with everone! So when the lovely Pip got in touch with me a couple of months ago with her stunning wedding photographs by Victoria Phipps, I wanted to share them with you immediately. I'm loving Pip's elegant 'Claire' dress by Jenny Packham, the Nik's stunning paper buttonhole rose by Petal Products and their gorgeous teepee-style marquee. Other stealworthy deatils include the floral vintage china, the beautiful vintage car, and the lovely beachside portrait pictures. It's such a good idea to get away for a few minutes, for your wedding pictures together. I know I found it hard to leave my guests, but they make such fabulous memories. For more fantastic details about this beautiful wedding, as written by Pip, don't miss the feature on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings. Huge thanks to Victoria Phipps Photography for these lovely pictures.
Friday, 2 June 2017
How To Keep Children Happy At Weddings
What are you planning to do about children at your wedding? It's a hugely sticky subject, particularly if not many of your friends have children, and you're getting pressure from your relatives to let them bring theirs along. Personally I'm not keen on toddlers at weddings, although I completely understand the need for breastfeeding babies to attend, as long as they aren't allowed to wail through the ceremony. On the other hand, I know that some people see weddings as a family affair, and love the idea of the little nippers running around, and adding to the energy of a big day. Whichever side you fall, you're going to want to keep the little ones occupied during the meal, so their parents can enjoy the reception and speeches. Children's activity packs are the way forward, and I'm super-impressed by the fun selection offered by Yoyo Me. You can choose from personalised boxes, activity bags and doodle-pads, depending on your budget.
They're all wedding themed, and educational as well us fun!
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Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.
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