Real Crochet & Lace Themed Wedding: Meagan & Tim - Part 2

Time for Part 2 of this exquisite lace themed wedding day. With talented wedding suppliers like Joy Thigpen and Jose Villa on hand, Meagan and Tim's wedding was always going to be an incredibly beautiful affair. I'm head-over-heels in love with all the wedding ceremony and reception details. Take a look at the organic leaf-decorated cake, the luxurious flower displays set in antique stoneware vases. I'm loving how the lace tablecloths reflect the intricacy of Meagan's Claire Pettibone wedding gown, and the ushers look fabulous in their dove grey jumpers and bow-ties. Enjoy the Jose Villa pictures, ladies, you're going to want to save every single one in your wedding inspiration folders.

Wedding Vendors
Photography: Jose Villa
Creative direction, styling + floral: Joy Thigpen
Location: Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC
Wedding dress + veil: Claire Pettibone
Hair + Make-up: Elle German
Wholesale Flowers: FiftyFlowers
Event Coordinator: Lindsay Schwak
Paper Goods + Calligraphy: Meagan Tidwell
Letterpress: Meg McLelland
Crocheted stones: Monica Johnson
Shawls: Trendy Knitting and Star Knitting

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Vintage Recycled Bridesmaid Dresses

Love, love, love these incredible upcycled bridesmaid dresses from Armour sans Anguish. Each gown is handmade entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials, which just adds to their vintage personality. I'm loving the pink colour palette, but you can choose your shade according to your wedding theme. One warning, if you like them, order sooner rather than later, there's a 5 month waiting list!

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Real DIY Boho Wedding: Sal & Ben

This incredible boho vintage wedding is for all those brides out there who are worrying that they don't want to do the what's expected of them on their wedding day. The gorgeous Sal and Ben threw wedding tradition to the wind, and styled their big day to reflect their personality. That meant no white wedding dress, no morning suits, no vintage car and no tiered cake. Instead they chose a rocking red theme, happy yellow daisies, a teepee reception, a three-wheel motorbike for wedding transport and a chocolate wedding cake. What's brilliant about these amazing pictures from Lumiere Photography, is that they clearly had a truly fabulous wedding. Look at their faces - there's no tension, just pure illuminating joy. Now that's what you want to look like on your wedding day. I'm loving the family-style dining, Sal's DIY-wedding dress {made by her mother!}, and the historic Walmer Castle wedding venue. DIY brides should take a look at Sal's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire {below the pictures}. It's seriously inspirational stuff.

The Before the Big Day Brides' Q&A - Sal was kind enough to fill in our bridal questionnaire, aimed at helping other brides with their planning process. Feast your eyes on her answers for helpful hints and tips from someone on the other side of her big day!

Where and when did you get married?
Walmer Castle in Kent on August 15th

What was your thinking behind choosing the venue and the decoration of the reception?
We wanted a beautiful location, with a fabulous atmosphere and Walmer Castle had it all. We also wanted something affordable and close to our family, so it worked out perfectly. Unfortunately I think they've now stopped doing weddings. We hosted the reception outside, in tepees, and lots of our guests stayed over in the campsite.

Did you have a theme, colour or motif in mind?
Our wedding colour theme was natural browns and bright red.

Who made your wedding outfit, and how did you come to that decision?
My mum made my wedding dress for me, and I bought my wedding shoes from Jasper Conran.

What about your husband’s outfit? Where was it from?
His suit was second-hand from a vintage shop in Fulham in London

What type of cake did you go for, and how did you come to that decision?
We had cupcakes made by a friend, and we left it to her to choose the type of cake and the flavour!

Did you have any favours? What were they? Was there any particular reason why you picked them?
For favours, we hand-made chutney and jams. We really wanted to give our guests something useful and tasty!

Who was your florist, what flowers did you choose, and how did you come to that decision?
We actually arranged the flowers ourselves, after buying them from a local wholesaler – we saved tonnes of money! We chose gerberas {giant daisies} for the main flower.

Who was your photographer and how did you choose them?
Alix from Lumiere Photography because she's a friend, and she takes fantastic, high-quality pictures.

Did you have any DIY projects?
Everything! The dress, reception decorations, favours, entertainment {our friend is a DJ} and place settings - only the catering was outsourced.

What advice do you have for brides planning their big day?
Make it personal!

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Whimsical Hand-Drawn Wedding Invitations

As soon as I posted a picture of this gorgeous hand-drawn wedding stationery on my Facebook page, I had a huge response from brides, so I wanted to share it with all of you who haven't quite found us on Facebook yet. They have to be some of my favourite wedding invitations of all time! They even have a kite invitation...I reckon kites are going to be a huge wedding trend this time next year. Completely bespoke, and handmade by Etsy seller Ello There, I'm in love. For more kite-themed loveliness, check out my Pinterest boards.

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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

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Before the Big Day Wedding Theme: Love Birds?

There can't be that many twitchers in the world, but for the amount of winged heavenliness on the market, you'd think half the population were ornothologists. Even if you're not that keen on birds per se {pigeons - urgh!}, you'll be all of a twitter over these fantastic wedding ideas from online stores like Etsy and Cox & Cox. Grab your binoculars and your wellies, and get stuck in.

Product Credits {top row, left to right} 1.Cox & Cox, 2 & 5: Little Bird Paper, {bottom row, left to right} 3. Seasonal Delights, 4. The Gilded Bee

Photo Credits - Wellies: Nikole Ramsay  Product Credit - Bird Stencil: Confetti

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Midsommer Night's Dream

Huge praise has to go to Utterly Engaged for yet another excellent feature.  If you haven't checked out their online magazine before, click here, and enjoy!  I'm adoring this Midsommer Night's Dream-inspired piece - which should provide you with plenty of ideas to steal.  It's an inspirational gift that just keeps on giving.

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Real Wedding: Stacey & Chris

There's something that really warms the cockles about a simple wedding at home. While it's great to hire a grand or stunning venue, and it's fun to travel abroad to say 'I do', ultimately nothing is more 'you' than celebrating your big day in your own garden. Thanks to their innate sense of style, Stacey and Chris came up with endless gorgeous and immensly steal-worthy details that added up to nothing less than DIY creative genius!  Check out the floral table-cloth, homemade signs and flowers, wish-tree tags and peg cake-toppers - it's wedding-heaven!  Huge thanks to the team at Simply Bloom Photography for their fantastic pictures.

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