Showing posts with label Favours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Favours. Show all posts

Wednesday 9 September 2020

Getting Married During a Pandemic


It's not an easy time to be engaged. With everything turned topsy-turvy by this pandemic, how can a bride plan the big day of her dreams? Right now couples have to face the tricky choice of a tiny wedding guest list, or postponing for the foreseeable future. In Britain the law is clear, as stated on the government's website.

"No more than 30 people should attend a marriage or civil partnership, where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in a COVID-19 secure venue. This is the maximum number for all attendees at the event, including the couple and guests. It also includes any third-party suppliers, such as photographers or security, but does not include staff employed by the venue or any third party catering staff.

From 15 August 2020 receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships can take place, but only in a COVID-19 secure venue. Such events should not take place in people’s private homes (or adjoining outdoor spaces like gardens), given that these will not have the same COVID-19 Secure measures in place."


Thirty guests barely covers your closest family, and once you add in a photographer and a waitress to pour the champagne, you're down to 26 people. No wonder lots of couples are choosing to elope, and postpone the party until the pandemic has passed. 

What are you choosing to do? Tell me what you think, and chat with other brides on my Instagram page @beforethebigday. It's SUCH a hard decision. I feel so sorry for anyone getting married in 2020 or 2021. For those of you planning to go ahead, here's a few essentials for your wedding day... Many feature my favourite slogan for 2020 - 'Spread love not germs!'

{Clockwise from top left} 1. Sanitation Station Sign, 2. Spread Love Not Germs Personalised Mask, 3. Printable Hand Sanitiser Labels, 4. Wedding Sanitiser Stickers

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Wednesday 10 June 2020

Wedding Favours your Guests will actually want



Whether it's a hand-sewn lavender bag, or a homegrown potted succulent, the reality is that most wedding favours get left behind. Once your guests have danced and drunk themselves silly, they'll never remember to pick them up at the end of the night. 

{Top Picture} Personalised Shot Pots {This Picture} Label Pack for Drinks Shots

So save yourself the time and money, and make your wedding favours part of the day. Sweet treats or shots are a great pick-me-up at the end of a long meal, and will give your friends and family the energy they need to make shapes till midnight. We love these cute personalised pots by Hearth and Heritage, with their pretty foil printed tags and ribbons for you to fill with pink gin or limoncello.

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Wednesday 20 May 2020

Six Clever Confetti Containers for Your Wedding

Stunning Confetti Picture by brilliant wedding photographer, Tora Baker

Wedding photographers know there's one picture that every bride and groom want from their big day; the confetti shot. Traditionally rice was scattered at the feet of the happy couple, as a symbol of rain, prosperity, fertility and good fortune.

Nowadays rose petals or colourful rice paper are more common, partly because they're prettier. Getting that perfect photograph is harder than it looks, because the newlyweds usually leave the church or venue before their guests.

Normally your wedding photographer will ask you to loop round, and once your guests are outside and primed with handfuls of confetti, you can emerge again triumphant! It's actually rather lovely waiting to come out once again, as you get a few minutes to yourselves to enjoy that 'just married' feeling. 

Petal Toss Wedding Bags by Creative Party Design

We chose rose petals for our confetti, but as long as the material is biodegradable, most wedding venues won't stop you from throwing handfuls of colourful paper in the air.

I love the suppliers Proper Confetti for their selection of metallic, paper and petal confetti, plus their easy to understand measuring advice. Stripey Finds is a fantastic budget option, with one litre bags of lavender, cornflower and rose petals for only £10.99.

Confetti Petal Bags by The Wedding of My Dreams

Confetti Cones by Party Touches UK

White and Gold Wedding Cones by Tara's Wonderland

Wedding Confetti Bags by Confetti Cone Company

Biodegradable Confetti Packets & Order of Service by Adam Apple Confetti

Monday 29 May 2017

Ushers & Groomsmen Gift Ideas

Are you planning to hand out presents on your wedding day? Traditionally the groom gives the bridesmaids a little something, and possibly even the ushers get a look-in. As a couple, we completely failed on this front at our wedding. We'd run out of money and time, and apart from our wedding favours, no one received any presents, and I still feel slightly guilty about it! If I had my time again, I'd love to create bespoke cosmetic sets for my bridesmaids, and for the ushers....well, how about DIY-ing cocktail sets like these, according to their favourite tipple?

{Photo Credit} 1. Bourbon drink set by Victor Sizemore Photography, 2. Cocktail Drink Set, picture by Autumn Wilson Photography, view entire wedding on Style Me Pretty


{Photo Credit} 1. Hip Flasks by Captured Photography by Jenny, view entire wedding on Style Me Pretty



{Photo Credit} 1. Old-fashioned Shaving Set by Aravaggio Photography, view entire wedding on Style Me Pretty

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Wednesday 8 February 2017

Cheap & Cheerful Wedding Favours with a Touch of Whimsy

This one wedding blog post could save you fortune - I've found the perfect website for wedding favours - and some of them work out as 50p each! Take a look at the amazing Wedding in a Teacup Etsy shop and start getting excited. My favourites are the cute personalised paper favour bags containing wild-flower or forget-me-not seeds. They'll add a pretty touch to your wedding table, and send everyone home with lasting memory of your big day. Love them? Well you'll like their hangover kit favour bags even more!



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Tuesday 7 February 2017

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!



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Thursday 19 November 2015

Cute Christmassy Winter Wedding Favours

Is anyone else already getting excited about Christmas? Twinkling fairy-lights, warming mulled-wine, snug scarves and rustling presents under the tree? It's no wonder winter weddings are amongst the most magical. Several of my friends have chosen to host their big day in December, and all their weddings felt like we'd stepped straight into Narnia. Add a little bit of fairy-tale to your wedding reception with these adorable gingerbread house coffee biscuits. Delicious favour, and sweet treat in one, they're the perfect after-dinner treat. Cookie Art London make stacks of amazing biscuits - check out their 'Will You Be My Bridesmaid' set, and edible Christmas tree decorations.


Gingerbread House Biscuits, £12 for 16 by Cookie Art London

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Thursday 2 April 2015

Wedding Trends of 2015 - Pretty Meringue Kisses

First spotted on the streets of Shoreditch, the Meringue Girls have made meringues trendy again. They're the new macaroons - pretty, perfect mouthfuls that melt on the tongue. They call them 'kisses', and they're mallow in the middle with a delicious crisp exterior. I'd be tempted to go the whole hog and theme my entire wedding around their pastel shades, with meringue favours and a giant meringue cake {made by Fondant Fox and decorated with meringue kisses}. You could even learn how to make meringues on your hen do, thanks to their popular Master Classes!


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Monday 1 December 2014

Whimsical Hand-Embroidered Wedding Heirlooms

These are so whimsical and old fashioned, that they're the very essence of romance. Instead of carving your names into a tree, Jessica from Minature Rhino {I know, interesting name!} will do it for you, in her own inimitable style. Each item is carefully embroidered by hand, and they're heirlooms of the future. They'd look great on a sweetheart table, or you could simply send one to your future husband on the morning of your wedding. Alternatively, you could ask Jessica to create a custom design for your bridesmaids. Don't miss her website, for a feast of inspirational ideas.


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Saturday 22 March 2014

Whimsical Wishbone Bracelet for Your Bridesmaids

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect present for a girlfriend. One of my best friends is just amazing at gifts {for my birthday she gave me a stunning star necklace from Liberty}, and I'm always playing catch-up! So when I spotted these whimsical wishbone bracelets, I knew I had to share. Not only are they a great little birthday present, they'd work perfectly as bridesmaids gifts. Weddings are all about wishing for a fabulous future, and with your bridesmaids wearing these little charms, nothing could go wrong on your big day! I'd even tie one to my bouquet!



{I want this!} Wishbone bracelets, £12.45 by Sea and Cake

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Tuesday 11 March 2014

Fresh, Fun, DIY Wedding Favours

Is there anything cuter than a mini plant in a little pot? Wedding favour and table decoration in one, they're my favourite wedding detail for spring, and the best thing is, they're super easy to DIY. All you need is a good supply of sweet little terracotta pots {try these}, or old tin cans, for an industrial look, or tea-cups for a vintage style wedding. Then add soil, and a seasonal plant. For spring, a narcissus or hyacinth bulb will add a lovely scent to your wedding reception, for summer you could try herbs like basil and mint, autumn suits impossible-to-kill cacti and succulents, and winter, a little Christmas tree or air plant. More ideas on my Plant Pot Wedding Favours Pinterest page.



{Photo Credit} 1. Dominique Bader - more from this wedding on Love My Dress | 2. Unknown

Friday 27 December 2013

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.


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Friday 20 December 2013

Cheap & Cheerful Wedding Favours

Sweetie bars and biscuit bars have become a hugely popular at weddings. Guests are usually encouraged to fill a bag with their goodies and take them home as wedding favours. It's a brilliant idea, because it doesn't cost much {you can even bake your own biscuits}, and people always appreciate favours they can eat! Add a splash of colour with these fun striped paper bags. They're a great way to package sweeties, and en masse, they look really effective. Just add twine. Pick up paper bags from eBay super-cheap.

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Wednesday 6 November 2013

A Fantastic Wedding Favour Idea

In my view, wedding favours and wedding insurance are two of the best things we inherited from the USA. I know that traditionally, British couples didn't offer wedding favours, but they're such an easy way to make your wedding stand out from the crowd, that I always encourage my engaged friends to come up with something clever. Get creative, and your wedding will stay in your guests' memories, while others will fade into the background. We gave pashminas to all the girls who attended our wedding, and as we were eating outside, they were very welcome, and people still remember the gesture. I love the idea of filling these favour bags from Clementine Weddings. Add a couple of Paracetamol, a plaster or two, some mints, and a Berocca, and you guests will thank you the morning after the big day. Clementine Weddings has an amazing selection of muslin favour bags, so do take a look at their Etsy shop for more wedding inspiration.

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Thursday 12 September 2013

Easy Wedding Branding with Monogram Stamps

You can safely assume that most of the guests at your wedding won't notice all the perfect wedding details, you've so carefully curated. The male guests won't even be able to describe the colours of the flowers, let alone the lace you stayed up all night glueing onto jam-jars for the perfect boho vases. But one thing that the guys did notice at my wedding was our vintage key branding. I think it was because it was everywhere! It was all part of my Secret Garden wedding theme, and it tied all the our wedding details together. For a similar effect, brand your wedding with a monogram. Nothing says together more than a design including your initials, and if you order a personalised stamp, you can easily DIY all your details....I'm thinking favours, place-cards, wedding invitations, envelopes, menus, the lot! I love this heart stamp, £10 by Stamp Couture, check out my Pinterest board for tonnes more ideas.


{I want this} Heart Monogram Stamp, £10 by Stamp Couture

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Monday 26 August 2013

DIY Wedding Chalkboard Fabulousness

Regular readers of Before the Big Day might have spotted my love of chalkboards at weddings. Whether you DIY with blackboard paint, or buy school-style boards for your menus {like I did}, I think they're a great way to communicate with your guests. So when I spotted these amazing chalkboard vinyl stickers by Charlie Chalk Designs, you can imagine my excitement. Super-cheap, and super-effective, they're a hugely creative way to decorate your jam-jar glasses or vases, and would make for great table numbers. My favourites? The Vespa labels. I had a silver Vespa when I met my husband, and we buzzed around town all summer. Happy memories!

{I want these!} 12 Vespa Motorcycle Chalkboard Labels, £4.58



{I want these!} 12 Curly Mustache Wedding Chalkboard Labels, £3.92


{I want these!} 25 Sets Love Bird Mason Jar Chalkboard Labels, £13.08

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Thursday 22 August 2013

Five Ways To Get Your Wedding Guests Dancing

We went to a wedding a few years ago, where no one danced. I don't know why - they had a fantastic band and the alcohol was flowing freely, but the party never really got started. I really felt for the bride and groom, because you want your wedding to be a fantastic, memorable evening, {you've spent all that money}, and for me, a party isn't a party without a good dance. So here are five ways to persuade your guest to kick off their wedding shoes and get down and boogie.



{Wedding Photographer Credit} Matt Edge Photography

1. Don't leave it to chance. Don't think, 'oh I'll just let people put on their iPods'. Either hire a DJ and discuss what you want before your big day, or sit down and create your own song list. If you're DIY-ing, I really recommend joining Spotify. For £9.99 a month you can stream and download as many songs as you want. I'm not even that into music, and I create Playlists all the time. They seem to have every song you can imagine, including your guilty secrets {Grease anyone?}.

2. Ask your guests to send back two song suggestions with their RSVP slip. A couple of our friends did just this, and everyone danced like crazy. In fact, we had such a good night, we asked them for their song list, and gave it to our DJ as a guide. And then everyone danced like crazy at our wedding. You can take a look at our wedding playlist, but remember, it is three years old!

3. Encourage your girlfriends to kick of their heels, by providing free flip-flop wedding favours. They're super-cheap if bought in bulk {approx £2 per pair}, and if the girls are dancing, you can be sure the boys will follow.

4. Far me it for me to tell you what to choose as your First Dance. After all, I don't know all the heartfelt meaning behind 'Your Song'. But if at all possible, don't pick a slow one! The First Dance sets the tone for the evening, and if you want to party, don't pick something sway-able, you want a beat!

5. Tell your ushers and bridesmaids that one of their key tasks is to join you on the dance-floor after your First Dance, and to stay there for at least three songs. There's a tipping point at a party, where the shyer guests feel there's enough people dancing, for them to join in. You want your wedding party to create that tipping point.

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Wednesday 21 August 2013

British Etsy Wedding Seller of the Week #1

Big news! We're starting a new series of features here on Before the Big Day. We're all about original wedding ideas, and we're all about supporting British boutique businesses and individual creativity, and where better to find that than Etsy? If you haven't stumbled upon this amazing website, be warned, once you start clicking, you may never stop. It's addictive - there are so many incredible wedding ideas and products, your brain may well implode from wedding inspiration. To keep things under control, I'm going to drip-feed you the best of British Etsy wedding suppliers, one a week, every Wednesday. First up is La Pomme et La Pipe. Contrary to its French name, it's run by Amanda who lives in Oxford, and it's a fabulous hodgepodge of rustic handmade wedding supplies, paper goods, textiles and unique french-inspired supplies. Here are just a few of my favourites, but be sure to check it out yourself.


{I want this!} 50 Gold Glitter Mini Pegs, £9.81


{I want this!} 50 Burlap Heart Wedding place setting/name tags, £65.41


{I want this!} 50 Rustic Wedding Seed Packet Envelopes, £65.41


{I want this!} Lace Sampler Set, £6.54

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Wednesday 14 August 2013

Wedding Table Settings & Buffet Bags

Striped Paper Bags must be among my favourite things in the whole world. I have a huge selection in my craft cupboard, and you'd be amazed how often they come in useful, from present wrapping to colourful storage. When it comes to weddings, they're the perfect cheap and chic solution to favours, children's activity packs, and now as buffet bags! Aren't they just the cutest way to store your cutlery? I love these designs from Cherished Blessings. Their whole shop is packed full of fabulous wedding inspiration - with ideas you can copy or buy. And now I'm going to need to purchase a whole bunch of chevron bags - they're clearly the new stripes! P.S. For more budget-friendly paper bag ideas, check out my Pinterest board {I told you I was obsessed!}.


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Monday 5 August 2013

Cute Wedding Favour Charms

In many ways my wedding being over is slightly tortuous. I keep on finding wedding decorations and details that I would have added, starting with a tequila donkey {don't knock it till you've clicked the link!}. These cute wedding favour charms are right up my street. I love the little keys, which would have worked perfecting with my secret garden wedding theme. The anchors would match a seaside theme, and the spectacles would be fun if the bride and groom wore glasses. There's plenty more designs - check out Time and Materials for more inspiration.


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