How to use Balloons to Brighten Up Your Big Day

Who doesn't love a balloons? Cheep and cheerful, a big bunch can add a huge amount of colour and texture to your wedding. The secret is in the size and/or the quantity.

You either need a few massive balloons, or hundreds of small ones, and they have to be filled with helium. Anything else starts to look like a slightly sad children's party.

We used giant white ones at our wedding, and I'd recommend looking on Amazon and eBay to find the best deal. To save money, buy helium from party shops like Party Pieces or Argos, and fill them up on the morning of your wedding. Pimp your balloons with fancy strings....for inspiration check out The Giant Balloon Company or buy them from Out of My Bubble.

                                                  Mr & Mrs Balloons by Out of My Bubble

                                             Blush Pink Wall Decoration by Belle Epoque Co

Giant Balloons by Out of My Bubble

1. Letter Balloons by Out of My Bubble, 2. Heart Balloons by Belle Epoque Co

Will You Marry Me Balloon by Belle Epoque Co

Love Before the Big Day? Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more wedding ballon ideas, check out our Pinterest board.  

How to Save Money on Your Wedding at Ikea

When we picked our wedding venue in France, one of the first things I researched, was the nearest Ikea! Luckily there was one only an hour away, as I knew that I didn't want to have to ship out all the amazing wedding accessories I'd spotted for our big day. Candles, canapé serviettes, French-style napkins and lanterns - we picked them all up super-cheap, and none of our wedding guests knew the difference. At one stage we even considered buying glasses, as they worked out as cheaper to buy from Ikea than rent, but in the end our caterer provided them for free. Take a look at my latest Ikea wedding finds - from blanket favours in case your guests feel chilly, to pretty lace-style plant pots, water bottles, wine carafes, orchid table decorations, and even giant artificial potted plants to decorate your marquee. It's a veritable treasure trove!

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 
Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Vintage Carnival Wedding Decorations

Deep down, I'm a just a stationery geek at heart. Fonts are my current obsession, which goes some way to explain why I've fallen hook-line-and-sinker for these incredible vintage carnival-style marquee lights from Lamplight Design Co in the UK. They'd look amazing in any wedding venue - just place them near the dance floor for the best photo prop ever! Here's a few of the designs they've got in stock, but you can always contact them for a bespoke design.

{I want this!} LOVE Marquee Light Sign, £450

{I want this!} Marquee Curved Arrow Light, £60

{I want this!} Vintage Boardwalk Heart Marquee Light, £90

Love Before the Big Day? Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out our Pinterest boards. Don't miss a single post - sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin! 

My Favourite Wedding Photo Prop {this week!}

Today I will be mostly adoring these moustache straws, and wondering whether I can organise a moustache themed party in their honour. What do you reckon? They'd also make the most amazing talking point at your wedding, and create hilarious wedding photographs. We had stick on moustaches at our wedding, and everyone loved them! Wedding photo-prop moustaches available from Little Retreats!

Love Before the Big Day? Never want to miss a post? Sign up for our free newsletter, for exclusive content and special offers! Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog. 

Vintage Wedding Decorations - Cloche & Bell Jars

My latest wedding decoration obsession are these vintage-style bell jars. They're perfect for a botanical or garden themed wedding, or a vintage-themed wedding, and I love their versatility. You can literally fill them with anything! I love how the bell jars in the picture below are filled with herbs, but I've seen them covering designer shoes {imagine naming your wedding tables Jimmy Choo, or Christian Louboutin!}, wedding cakes, vintage books and even sylvan scenes of moss and toadstools. For more ideas, check out my Pinterest board - it's stuffed with excellent wedding inspiration and ideas. For more pictures from this fabulous event styled by Sterling Engagements - check out the wedding blog Grey Likes Weddings.

Love Before the Big Day? Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out our Pinterest boards. Don't miss a single post - sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin! 

An Easy Wedding Decoration DIY

You don't have to be a graffiti artist to fall in love with spray paint. Any crafter worth her salt knows it's the easiest tool for fast, effective results. You can easily turn the mundane into something incredible. My friends recently celebrated their wedding at an incredible venue in East London. They needed to personalise the reception space, but didn't have much of a budget. For under a £100 they bought dozens of white paper lanterns, and saved jam-jars. A simple spray of neon spray paint, and a bag of Ikea tea-lights, and they had a brilliant, original wedding decorations {like these}. My colour of choice is gold - particularly for autumn and winter weddings. Just take a look at these fantastic DIY ideas - find more on my Pinterest page.

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Love Before the Big Day? Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out our Pinterest boards. Don't miss a single post - sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin! 

How to DIY Your Wedding Altar & Aisle

The perfect wedding venue is really difficult to find, and it's partly down to the restrictions on civil ceremonies. Marriage is a serious business, but in my view the government is waaaay too prescriptive about where we're allowed to celebrate a wedding ceremony. I'm always getting emails from brides who don't want to get married in a church, but are depressed with the civil ceremony venues in their local area. My solution isn't for everyone, but it worked perfectly for us. We had two weddings; a quickie ceremony in our local Hackney Registry Office, followed by our big 'official' wedding in Aix-en-Provence in France. This gave us the freedom to create our own ceremony {click to read}, write our own vows, and most importantly choose any venue on the planet. If this type of wedding takes your fancy, then you're going to need some serious wedding inspiration for altar and aisle decorations, and that's where the Before the Big Day Pinterest board will step into the breach! Just take a look at these fabulous, colourful wedding ideas - many more here.

{Photo Credit} Kristilee Parish Photography, see more from this wedding on Wedding Chicks blog

A Kite Wedding Theme

Last year DIY pinwheels and pom-poms were very much the 'in-thing' for weddings. They're still huge this season, but I'm on the search for a new fresh idea for 2015! And I think I've spotted a wedding trend in the making.....kites! They're cute and colourful, and easy to DIY, and they'd add just the right lovely of fun and whimsy to your wedding day. They'd also make for fantastic photo props for your wedding photographs and engagement session. Plus I can just imagine your flower girl and page boys flying holding little kites as they walk down the aisle. For more kite wedding inspiration, take a look at my Pinterest board.

Sparkly Wedding Cocktail Accessories

Everything looks better with a bit of sparkle. So why not add these cheeky drink stirrers to your wedding cocktails? Even a simple G&T would look flare with these tinselled marvels, but I'd recommend choosing your own signature cocktail, and coming up with a fabulous name. Available in gold or silver, they'd look pretty fabulous at a Christmas party as well. DIY or buy them from Em for Marvelous {cool name for a shop!}.

{I want this!} Tinsel drink stirrers £47.14 for 100 by Em for Marvelous

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Pretty Paper Wedding Garlands

Flowers are the traditional go-to wedding decoration, but what can you do if your budget doesn't stretch to billions of blooms? I'm a huge fan of that unsung hero: paper. Create pompom peonies out of tissue paper for a tenth of the price, string the ceilings with paper chains, and add LED's to dozens of paper lanterns for romantic low lighting. Or take inspiration from the gorgeous paper garlands created by Maisy & Alice. I love these strings of stars, but there's a huge range of geometric fabulousness on their website, including stunning 3D heart garlands.

{I want this!} Star Garland, £8.24 for 9 feet {& upwards} by Maisy & Alice

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Big Wedding Bunting Love

Back when I first started Before the Big Day {four years ago - eek!}, it was really difficult to find bespoke wedding details. The USA was miles ahead of us in terms of creativity. But now, brides in the UK who want unique wedding decorations can find loads of individual boutique sellers. One of my favourite resources is Etsy. If you've never heard of it, you've missed out - take a look! This morning I found a brilliant shop called BaloolahBunting, which sells romantic lacy bunting. The pretty laser-cut flags create a stunning effect - perfect for wedding decorations. I can imagine them fluttering in a summer's breeze, or adding light in barn wedding venue. Baloolah have also branched out into other wedding accessories, including ring pillows and table decorations - all of it gorgeous!

{I want this!} Laser Cut Bunting, £42 by BaloolahBunting

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Original & Brilliant Pinata Wedding Decoration

The reason I started this blog - all those years ago {!} - was as a record of all the fantastic and original ideas I'd found. It took me a while to choose the theme of my wedding, and before Pinterest was invented, it was the only way I could save all my wedding inspiration. I'm still dazzled by all the fabulous, fun and creative wedding products on Etsy - regular readers will know it's my secret go-to source for ideas. My latest find? I am OBSESSED with the sheer coolness of these glittery love heart pinatas by Party Pony Pinata. And don't you wish you could get married on that beach......

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Homemade DIY Rustic Wedding Signs

One of my favourite DIY details at my wedding were the homemade wooden wedding signs. I'd spotted tonnes of them on Etsy, but with our tight budget, we were keen to DIY as much of our wedding as possible. Thank goodness for my helpful father- and brother-in-law! Between the two of them, they rustled up some fantastic signs, all made out of old wooden pallets, which cost next to nothing. The day before my wedding my in-laws scattered signs throughout the village, so nobody got lost. They also made for great wedding decorations around our wedding venue. Take a look the pictures from my wedding day {by Chloe at Caught the Light}, plus a few more for inspiration. If you want more ideas on what to write on your signs, check out my Pinterest page or Facebook page.

{Pictures above by Caught the Light}

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Wedding Trends of 2014 - Air Plants

Can I let you into a secret? If you want to be ahead of the wedding fashion curve, then take a look at the wedding blogs from across the Atlantic. All the way over in California, they're always one step ahead of the trends, and every year, about three or four of the mega-trends wing their way over to the UK. One of the big ones for this summer and autumn is air plants. These cute, often spidery plants, are a great way to add green to your big day, while being super-eco friendly. They require hardly any water to grow {unlike cut flowers that often need loads}, and air plants will still be alive after your big day, as a growing reminder. But the best thing? They look fantastic! Just take a look at these wreaths by Peacock Taco. Shop owner Robin has lots of favour ideas too - take a look at her shop! P.S. I found lots of air plants for sale on Amazon and eBay.

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Bunting & Bathing Huts Wedding Stationery

If you love the traditional British world of bunting, bathing huts and camper vans, you're going to love the wedding stationery shop I've just discovered on Etsy. Something New Stationery is the brainchild of Jenni Bryan, and she's clearly taken inspiration from 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

Blackboard {Chalkboard} Signs For Your Wedding

Way back when, before I even got engaged{!), I fell in love with the humble blackboard {or chalkboard} as the perfect wedding decoration detail. I liked their versatility, their DIY fabulousness, and the fact I could use them to communicate with my guests before I'd even walked down the aisle. They're also a ideal for brides on a budget, saving you money on individual menus and expensive printed table plans. Plus, you can reuse them in a flash - just wipe off one message, and write another! I bought my blackboards super-cheaply on eBay, and my lovely friends Tom and Susie carefully chalked on our cocktail menu, and guest book instructions. Check out the pictures below for more wedding inspiration!

Fabulous Pastel Pinwheel Wedding Decorations

It's official, the pompom is passed it! Much as it pains me to say au revoir to my favourite wedding decoration of all time, there's no doubt - 2014 is all about the pinwheel. Just take a look at this exquisite mint and peach combo from Etsy seller PomTree. With pinwheels of every size, they'd make for the perfect desert buffet display, or even the focal point for a civil ceremony altar. They're pretty easy to DIY as well. Take a look at my Pinterest board for more wedding altar ideas.

{I want these} Party Decor Pack, £31 by PomTree

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 

Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Cute, Bright DIY Wedding Decorations

DIY brides who are looking for an original way to decorate their wedding venue are in for a treat. How about pom-poms? Not your standard wedding tissue poms, but woollen pom-poms like those you normally find on the end of a bobble hat! You could make garlands out of them, or add one to each table setting as  wedding favour with bags of playful personality. You could make them in every size or colour imaginable - all you need is wool, cardboard, a pair of scissors, this tutorial, and a lot of time on your hands! If you're not all that interested in DIY wedding projects, then check out these gorgeous garlands from Milla Love. All the beauty with none of the work.

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 
Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Mexican Papel Picado Personalised Weddding Decorations

Yet more incredible paper wedding decorations to brighten up your wedding day space. Whether you hire a marquee or a village hall, these gorgeous personalised banners will create a festival atmosphere at your wedding. Created by Ay Mujer, they're called papel picado, and they're a traditional Mexican folk art made out of tissue paper of every shade. Why not continue the theme, and have a Mexican meal with a margaritas?

Love Before the Big Day? Why not sign up to our free RSS feed on BlogLovin?! 
Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Handprinted Vintage Tea-Party Wedding Bunting

As a huge fan of wedding bunting, I'm always on the look-out for a new style, so imagine how thrilled I was to stumble upon Ilene's stunning Etsy shop, Corydora's. Based in Bath, Ilene prints all of her bunting by hand using individual lino blocks, and I love the rustic effect. The flags remind me of sails on a ship, and would be the perfect addition to any vintage tea-party themed wedding. The bunting also comes printed with shells for a nautical big day, hearts, and tulips for a garden party, plus Ilene's happy to take custom orders!

**Update! The lovely Ilene spotted by post, and as a little pre-wedding gift is offering a special 10% off coupon for Before the Big Day readers. The coupon code is BBD10 and when it is entered at check out Etsy will deduct 10% from any purchase in my shop over $25.00**

♥ Want to see more wedding decoration ideas? ♥ Or how about tea-party weddings? ♥

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

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.