Real Beautiful Barn Wedding Video: Samantha & Jamie

Vintage barn weddings are by far the favourite venues for British brides. With so many stunning historic rustic buildings across the UK, there's bound to be one in your area, and they provide a brilliant blank canvas for your wedding ideas. Samantha and Jamie created a stunning elegant pink and cream themed day for their wedding at Blake Hall in Essex. This fantastic White Dress Films wedding video trailer highlights all the best wedding details from their big day. I love the vintage bus, the Space Hoppers {near the end} and the decorations of white bunting, fluffy tissue pompoms, and rose pomanders. Samantha looks beautiful in her elegant Charlotte Balbier wedding gown and crystal studded veil, and I love her huge peony and rose bouquet - a flower trend I predicted would be huge for 2012 weddings back in August 2011.

♥ Want more barn wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about pink-themed weddings? ♥

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter. 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Red-Themed Countryside Wedding: Fiona & Will

If you're planning your wedding, and feeling slightly swamped by all the ideas you've got from wedding blogs like this one, focus on one thing first, namely your venue. Once you've chosen where you want to get married, and where you want to host your wedding reception, you can start to get a sense of the atmosphere of your wedding. For example, if you pick a castle, it'll probably feel more formal and elegant, while a teepee on your parents' farm would be boho and casual. Colour themes can also grow from your venue choice, like it did for this wedding at the gorgeous Compton Acres in Dorset. Just check out the gorgeous red flowers in the final picture, and you can see at least one reason why Fiona and Will chose red as their theme colour. I'm loving all the dresses in this wedding, including Fiona's divine lacy wedding gown, the bridesmaids' elegant red dresses, and even the little flower girls net skirts. Other details-to-steal include Fiona's 'I Do' stickers on the back of her wedding shoes {I had these too!}, and the ushers' matching suits and ties. Huge thanks to Tom Redman for his gorgeous wedding pictures {and extreme patience!}.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more red-themed wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Vintage Tea-Party Summer Wedding: Beki & Pete

If only English weddings were always like this one. Beautiful sunshine, a field of poppies, and a fairytale bride. In this freezing weather it's hard to remember June, but if you're planning a summer wedding, you'll love how these pictures to jog your memory. Britain can be sunny! The lovely Beki and Pete celebrated their big day in rustic Wilton Manor, a venue with fabulous memories for them, as they'd played there together as children! After their civil ceremony, they toasted their future with a fabulous vintage tea party, with tonnes of stealworthy ideas and more cake than you can shake a stick at! I'm loving the soft pink colour palette, reflected in the bridesmaids' dresses, bouquets, buttonholes and bunting. Tea-parties are a fantastic way to feed your guests without breaking the budget - you can even encourage your bridesmaids to help out with making the sandwiches and baking the cakes! Loving these pictures by Gitte from Kama Catch Me Photography, and really loving Pete's uniform.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more countryside wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Elegant Winter White Wedding: Karianne & Philip

Just imagine if you only had a two months to plan your wedding. If it was me, it would be serious panic stations, but luckily, the lovely Karianne and Philip harnessed the expert wedding planning skills of Aimee Dunne, who whipped them up the perfect wedding in only eight weeks. Their winter wedding in the New Forest included tonnes of lovely wedding details, including lots of luxurious white flowers {by Corbins Florist}, flickering candles and marshmallows. Inspired by a Bruce Oldfield wedding dress, Karianne found a seamstress to make her something similar, and paired it with a mid-length veil and an incredible bouquet. Aimee organised for the church to be filled with candles, and a gorgeous ivory aisle runner by Dream Occasions, which created an intimate warmth to the ceremony. I'm loving the Philip's dapper white scarf, the individual roses at each guest's seat, the pashmina favours, and the marshmallows for toasting over blazing outdoor fire-pits {my favourite winter wedding idea ever!}. Gorgeous photographs published with thanks to Andy Catterall.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more winter wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Before the Big Day Wedding Theme: Being British

While British weather might not be at the top of the list of things you love about the UK, that's no reason not to draw on British traditions to theme your wedding. Start by toasting each other's health with Pimms, and hire Morris Dancers to entertain your guests.  Try an old-fashioned high tea for your wedding breakfast (mmm, cream scones), or serve mini-cones of fish and chips as a starter.  Individual shepherd's pies make for a fabulous main course, or challenge your caterer to russle up roast beef with Yorshire puddings! Use Union Jack iconography to decorate your venue, or try some of the suggestions below.

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Cottage Girl Tea 2. MrPS, 3. Paper Fish, {from middle left} 1. British Cream Tea, (from bottom left} 1. Sweet Lollipop Shop, 2. Minimum Mouse, 3. Crumbs & Doilies, 4. British Cream Tea

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. MWL Cards, 2. Pink Top Hat, 3. Vintage Holiday Shop, {from bottom left} 1. Milk Toasty, 2. Sammo, 3. Miss Crowland

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding theme ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

BBD Theme: L♥ve London

If you work in London, you might not think it's the most romantic place to celebrate your big day.  But if you start seeing the city through tourist's eyes, you'll start to change your mind.  Just think of all those gorgeous old buildings that you could use as a grand venue, and the stunning vistas over the river - perfect for dramatic shots of the two of you post-ceremony. 

Imagine mocking up tube tickets as Save The Dates, rocking up in a Routemaster bus, and using the A-Z to identify tables.  There's almost too much London iconography out there.....  Here's a little collage to whet your appetite.  And if you'd like more ideas for venues, then check out Your London Wedding magazine.

Photo Credits - London Eye & Wedding Day Bus by Nikole Ramsay
Product Credits - Tower Bridge Cushion, London Cushion, Box of London Biscuits & London Taxi-Toy: Not on the High Street, London Car Set: Cox & Cox

Cup of Tea?

I love a good cup of tea, and there's nothing nicer than a lovely victoria sponge served with Earl Grey. With fashion moving towards all things traditional and vintage this year, it's not surprising that brides and grooms choosing to serve their guests a wedding tea rather than dinner. It's often cheaper than a three course meal, and it's a great excuse for to treat your friends and family to a huge variety of cakes. You could even ask your bridesmaids to each make a cake, or have a baking-day as part of your hen celebrations. Decorate your reception with traditional bunting and doilies, and hire vintage china from a company like Eclectic Bliss. They have all the bits and bobs needed to enjoy afternoon tea the old fashioned way, from cups and saucers, to sugar tongs and cake stands. Owner Lydia picks each piece for its charm and elegance, and can help with styling your wedding, so it looks just right. Check out some of her favourites below!

 If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.