Showing posts with label Reception. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reception. Show all posts

Wednesday 17 June 2020

Making Memories at Your Wedding



A wedding might be a year in the making, but passes in the blink of an eye. Ask any bride and groom after the event, and they'll agree that your big day disappears in a flurry of hugs, champagne bubbles and confetti, plus a few happy tears. That's why it's so important to book a brilliant wedding photographer to record all those hilarious moments you miss, because you're catching up with Aunty Mildred. 

Good photographers often get booked up a year in advance, particularly over popular weekend dates like Bank Holidays, so as soon as you start your planning, you need to start thinking about what style of wedding pictures you want. We actually chose our wedding photographer before we'd even decided on our venue, although we knew we wanted to get married in the South of France, so we found someone who was happy to travel.

Alexi Lubomirski/AP Images

Traditionally your wedding photographer would just take lots of formal shots of family and friends, like those they release after a Royal Wedding. There's even a list somewhere on the internet which you can tick off, so you don't miss anyone out. Nowadays most couples prefer reportage style, where your photographer drifts quietly around your wedding, taking un-posed pictures of your guests. These are often much more natural, and your finished wedding album is more likely to reflect the tone and atmosphere of your big day. I'd recommend choosing a photographer who can do a bit of both, because you definitely want to make sure you have a few group shots of your family aka 'the framers'.


But how can you maximise on collecting as many memories as possible from your wedding day? One way to encourage your friends to take lots of relaxed group shots is to hire a photo booth, like the one in the picture above. These come in all shapes of sizes, and most provide paper and digital copies of the photographs. Add in a box of silly accessories and signs, and you'll end up with a brilliant collection of your friends having the time of their lives. Just make sure you check the quality of the booth, as the right lighting and camera setting can make all the difference. 


{Top & bottom pictures} 
Blush and Pose Photography

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Monday 27 April 2015

Colourful Accessories & Ideas for a Picnic Wedding

There's nothing I like more than spotting something that gets my creative mind grinding! Today it was all about wooden spoons......yes really! Take a look at these fantastic, colourful little spoons from Sucre Shop. Doesn't it make you want to throw a wedding and serve ice-cream in little paper pots? Or strawberries and cream? I can imagine them at a picnic wedding, where everyone sits on blankets and feasts from a central basket, before playing lawn games and roasting marshmallows on open fires. All of that from a simple spoon!! More picnic wedding ideas on the blog & on my Pinterest page.


{I want this!} Variety Pack 20 Wooden Spoons from Sucre Shop, approx £7

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Tuesday 17 February 2015

A Pancake Wedding Theme?

Happy Shrove Tuesday everyone! Now you wouldn't have thought pancakes and weddings were natural bed partners, but you'd be wrong. It only takes a quick search on Pinterest, to discover a veritable plethora of fantastic ideas. From this divine pancake wedding cake, to cute mini-pancake canapé bites, and of course, salmon blini - there's tonnes of inspiration. My favourite idea is the self-service choose-your-toppings stand. Perfect for the couple who love to brunch. It's almost enough to make it worth getting married on a Tuesday.....



{Photo Credit} Ruffled wedding blog

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Monday 16 February 2015

Delicious Decorations for Your Wedding Cocktails

This is a blog post for the bride who {just like me} wants to leave no detail untouched. Who believes everything can be prettified that little bit more. And who likes sugary cocktails. I've recently rediscovered passion fruit caipirinhas, after a year of enforced absence due to pregnancy and breastfeeding, and they're making my world a better place. What would make them even better are these incredible flavoured cocktail sugar rims. Handmade by a husband and wife team in Chicago, they come in every colour and flavour you can imagine, and they make me happy! Buy some for your wedding day, and make your guests happy too! P.S. They also do heart popcorn seasoning....I'm thinking wedding favours?

{I want this!} Cocktail Glass Rimming Sugar, £2.83 by Dell Cove Spice Company {enough to do 15-18 glasses}

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Monday 21 July 2014

Vintage-Style Wedding Drinks Dispenser

One of my favourite details at our wedding in Provence, was our signature cocktail. We actually had two - a Georgia Peach Bellini {because I love bellinis} and a Moscow Mule, because they're refreshing and my husband's favourite cocktail. We served the peach bellinis during the day reception, and saved the mules {accessorised with striped straws and mint} for the dancing in the evening. We had waiting staff, but I love the idea of making your signature cocktail self-service with these fab vintage-style wedding drinks dispensers from Papermash. Just add some of their geometric paper cups in your wedding colour palette, and some pretty striped straws or DIY flag drinks' stirrers, and you'll have the prettiest cocktails in the world! Do check out Papermash's Sale - it's on now, and its a good 'un!


{I want this!} 1. Wedding Drinks Dispenser, £50 | 2. Paper Cups, £3.95 for 8, both from Papermash

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Monday 3 March 2014

Fun Wedding Lawn Games

It seems impossible to me that anyone got bored during our wedding reception. It all passed in a flash - we walked out of the chapel into a swirl of confetti, dashed around chatting to as many people as we could, had our portrait pictures taken, and then before I knew it, we were sitting down to dinner. Two hours gone in a matter of minutes! However it's quite possible that time might drag slightly for your guests, particularly if they don't all know each other that well. One way to break the ice, is to provide fun wedding lawn games, and to ask your ushers to get the guests involved. This works particularly well with families, as children of nearly all ages can get involved as well. The lawn games also make fantastic photo-props for your wedding photographs. If, like me, you're not completely comfortable in front of the camera, doing something fun and a little silly will make you relax, and appear more natural in your wedding pictures. Take a look at these fabulous photographs for inspiration. P.S. We bought boules from eBay for our French wedding, and the competition got pretty fierce amongst the ushers!


{Photo Credit} Kristyn Hogan via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Wedding Trends of 2014 - Chill-Out Areas

I don't know about you, but I've been known to get a little tired at weddings. If you think about it, they're something of an endurance test - take in their duration...at least 12 hours, and what you're wearing....sky-high heels and a glamorous {breathe-in!} dress, then throw in the fact you're fed copious amounts of champagne and food.....and it's not surprising some of us might want a little rest half way through the celebrations. I'm not suggesting you supply comfortable mattresses for your guest, but maybe a little chill-out area? I started spotting them at weddings a few months ago, and now they're everywhere. Definitely a trend for 2014 - all you need to decide is your style of chill-out zone. Will you go shabby chic with your mum's old Laura Ashley sofas? Or how about Gentleman's Club style - with lovely vintage leather Chesterfields? Or a zen beach vibe, with lots of squishy bean-bags? Either way, take pity on your friends' feet, and provide a little comfort. More ideas on my Pinterest board & Facebook page.



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 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 29 October 2012

Original Animal-Themed Wedding Accessories

Add a touch of humour to your wedding day with these incredible animal drink stirrers. It's super rare that I spot a truly original wedding idea, and I LOVE these. Handmade by Pocketful of Dreams, you can choose from farm animals, wild beasties or jungle creatures, and the colour finish which best suits your wedding decor. I'd cut them short and use them as place-markers, or use them as an alternative to table numbers. The perfect addition to a wedding on a farm or in a zoo.....can you get married in a zoo? For more drink stirrer ideas, check out my Pinterest page.

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Monday 20 August 2012

Wedding Reception Inspiration: Ice-Cream

With all the hot weather we've been having, my mind has turned to summer weddings, and how to make them stand out from the crowd. Vintage sweet buffets have been a hugely in vogue for the last couple of years, so why not try a twist on the trend, and organise a vintage ice-cream buffet. Encourage your guests to pick their favourite flavour, add a topping or two, and top it off with a cute personalised wooden spoon - super-easy to DIY thanks to this letter set from The TomKat Studio Shop. I'm loving this shoot by Eat Drink Chic, complete with free downloadable candy-pink striped stationery.




Buy your ice-cream supplies from The TomKat Studio Shop or from PaperMash in the UK.


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Sunday 19 August 2012

More DIY Ikea Wedding Inspiration

So many brides have commented and emailed about my last Ikea wedding inspiration post, that I thought it only fair I found even more fabulous details for you! Inspired by the wedding of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria {back in 2010}, Ikea partnered with stylist Lo Bjurulf and photographer Denise Grünstein to create a stunning wedding theme. This one is called "Paper & Fold" and it fits in perfectly with this season's wedding trend for DIY weddings, origami and natural tones. Fabulous wedding inspiration for brides looking for a modern, fresh look, without blowing the budget.





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Wednesday 15 August 2012

DIY Ikea Wedding Decoration Inspiration

You know that feeling when you get something for free? Or when pick up the gorgeous dress you've been wanting for months for half price in the sale? That's the feeling I got when I spotted these pictures. Because every item in them, bar the flowers and food, is from Ikea. And you know what that means, don't you? Yup, you two can create the wedding look of your dreams for next to nothing. {Pics via fab decor journal A Lovely Being}


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Saturday 11 August 2012

Wedding Ice-Pop Sweet Treats

It's icey, it's colourful, it's the coolest accessory for your funky summer wedding. The ice-pop is making a come-back, and it's way more fashion-forward than those Ribena lollies your mum used to make. Style them according to your wedding colour palette, and thrown in a few stripes for fun. I'm loving the idea of serving them as desert, but how about a gazpacho-pop for a pre-dinner amuse bouche or canapé? Fun, carefree and the ultimate accessory, I'm predicting pops as a super-trend for 2013 summer weddings and bridal showers. These lollies are made thanks to the Zoku Quick Pop Maker, which is a special machine for freezing ice pops super-fast.


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Friday 27 July 2012

Gorgeous Vintage Wedding Silver

Vintage and romantic, this gorgeous silver-plated cutlery will make that first mouthful of wedding cake taste all the sweeter. Hand-engraved by another of my favourite wedding Etsy crafters, these mismatched pieces are given a new lease of life as charming future heirlooms. Team them with hammered spoon table signs or cake toppers, and start your married life as eco-friendly upcyclers. Buy them from the Beach House Living boutique and surprise your fiancé as you sit down to your first meal as husband and wife.

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Tuesday 18 October 2011

Vintage Wedding Ice-Cream Van

From pink campervans to blue ice-cream vans called Betty - I've got an obsession with unusual wedding catering this month! This baby-blue van is owned by the lovely Hayley, who loves kitsch and great ice cream, and combined her two passions to create Vintage Scoops. As well as locally sourced ice cream, Betty also comes supplied with a range of vintage ice lollies and traditional soft drinks. All served from a 50's style van festooned with bunting, by Hayley in her best floral frock. It's a great way to keep your guests sweet at your wedding.


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Wednesday 28 September 2011

Brilliant Vintage Camper Van Wedding Catering

Wedding catering can be incredibly complicated. For our wedding, when we received three quotes from the caterers in France, I was all at sea. Some charged by the head, others by the style of food, and one insisted on an unchangeable set menu! Thank goodness for our fab wedding planner Kerry Bracken and the brilliant Marrou {best caterers in Provence}, it all turned out perfectly. Solve all your catering confusion with this spot of vintage genius. Lulabelle’s is a fabulous street food van, serving vintage-style teas from a charming kitchen, inside a candy-pink VW camper van. Owner Cathy McConaghy will park up at your wedding and serve an incredible high tea to your guests, with no complications. Throw in the cute vintage china, old-fashioned sugar lumps, plus all your favourite teatime treats, and your guests will be over the moon.


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Friday 1 July 2011

Location, Location, Location

One huge expense for every wedding is the venue - not least because they usually hike the prices on food and booze. One way to avoid that expense is to hire a marquee for your garden.  Worried about a naff canvas atmosphere and freezing breezes?  Well check out these pictures and think again - with the right accessories and lighting, you can turn your tent into anything you want, from a cosy Kazbah to a boutique boîte, complete with a sparkling starry-sky ceiling.


Photos above thanks to DP Marquees. Check out their website for their fantastic range of stunning marquees and bespoke interiors.  Also, try White Canvas Tents for their exclusive, lined range.

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Wednesday 8 December 2010

Wedding Tea-Party

One way to keep costs down when planning your wedding reception, is to host a wedding tea-party instead. But how to make it super-stylish? Well you could start with these Prêt-à-porter tea-bags from Donkey Products. Throw in a traditional English tea-cosy, a vintage tea-set and a cake-stand full of cupcakes, and you'll be well on your way to a party.


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Saturday 6 November 2010

My Wedding - Cocktails

This is where I tell you all about planning my own wedding. After all, if I'm publishing all these Real Weddings, it's only fair I share my trials and tribulations. Read the rest of my wedding diary here.

Our wedding is in about six months now, and we've finally got round to picking a caterer. Now that may sound super-late, but apparently in France everything is booked much later, and they're happy to take bookings with only a couple of months to go. Anyway, I've discovered that I'm a desert and drinks kind of gal. Starters and main courses don't really float my boat, but once we get onto the puddings and cocktails, I feel inspired! We've decided to have a couple of signature cocktails, so we've got to pick a design and name. Here are a few that I've caught my eye.


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