Real Wedding: Angela & Alex

The bride's bouquet usually sets the mood for the florals for the whole wedding, and for her gorgeous winter wedding, Angela went for the bold blue and red of irises and roses. You'd expect her bridesmaids to be carrying posies in the same colour, but instead of continuing the theme, she decided to flout tradition, choosing contrasting colours of yellow and orange. Somehow it worked, which just goes to show you can mix and match bold shades, as long as they're the same tone. It's also a brilliant way to brighten up a dull February day. Other stealworthy details include Angela's husband Alex {we love a man in uniform!}, and Angela's pretty half-up half-down hairstyle. Photo credits and thanks to Jessamyn Harris for her lovely pics.

Real Wedding: Tyler & Mitchell

A gorgeous winter wedding for you to indulge in today, to coincide with the return of freezing weather across the UK. Where did Spring go? Tyler and Mitchell celebrated their big day at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and emerged after saying their vows into a flurry of green confetti. I'm pretty partial to green-themed weddings myself, so I'm super-keen on Tyler's bridesmaids' dresses and her gorgeous white peony and green orchid bouquet. Also, Mitchell's button-hole looks fab against his dark suit. Don't miss the pics of the double cakes - the happy couple decided to go for two, one picked by the bride, and the other by the groom. It's a tradition that's gaining ground in the States, and I wouldn't be surprised if it appeared over here as a trend for the summer. Huge thanks to Simply Bloom for their gorgeous pictures.

We ♥ Giveaways

Fake moustaches always add a little something to your wedding day, whether as wedding favours, or just as hilarious props to liven up your pictures. Add a little top-lip fabulousness to your celebrations thanks to this amazing giveaway from Something's Hiding Here. They're offering two moustaches to one happy reader for free! All you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this posting. I'll pick the winner on Tuesday 6th April at 10pm.

Mapping It Out

When was the last time you did some colouring? Not for a while? Well it might be time for you to take a trip down to WH Smith, because there's nothing nicer than a hand-drawn wedding map. It's more than just a way to let your guests know how to get to your big day, it can act as a favor, keepsake, and a save-the-date. Whatsmore, you can add places of interest and recommended restaurants for guests who are planning to stay the whole weekend. Not the artistic type? Hire one of these lovely Etsy designers to do it for you.

Product Credits - {top collage from left} Trial by Cupcakes, One Lonely Apricot {bottom collage from left} Wonderland Papers, Calligraphics

Top Toppers

Until you get engaged and start planning your wedding, I can pretty much guarantee, you won't have given a second thought to cake toppers.Well with your big day fast approaching, this is the moment to pick a pair. Be warned! Most cake accessories are horribly cutesy. The secret to a stylish topper is to select one that represents you both as a couple, without revealing that you call each other squirrel-nutkins in the privacy of your home. Why not try these home-made Etsy lovelies on for size.....

Product Credits {from top left} - Flower Bower Couple: Lollipop Workshop, Paper Sculpture Couple: Concerta, Love Topper: Blue Butterfly Design, {from bottom left} Love Birds: Goody Devi, Kissing Fish: Blue Butterfly Design, Gay Paper Sculpture Couple: Concerta, Wooden Couple: Together Forever

A Prestige Venue

A wedding in St Paul's Cathedral is always going to stand out from the crowd, and Sarah and Paul were lucky enough to say their vows in the OBE Chapel, before hosting their reception in the Andaz Liverpool Street. It just goes to show how sometimes it's worth going the extra mile, or spending a little bit more money, to get a truly spectacular venue. Sarah decided on hot pink as her signature colour, but used it sparingly, letting the location speak for itself. Brides planning a winter-wedding should take note of her gorgeous dress and stole, which completely steal the show, without compromising on warmth! Many thanks, as ever, to Marianne Taylor for her gorgeous photographs.

Wed-Web Mentions

Here at Before the Big Day, we’re glowing in the limelight of several wed-web mentions, starting with the amazing Brides Magazine. Shopping Editor Astrid Joss, has been kind enough to blog about us, recommending BBD as a fabulous resource for Wedspiration. Check it out here.

One of our favouite photographer teams from the USA are the gorgeous girls at Simply Bloom. We love featuring their stunning pictures, and they've given us a lovely mention on their own blog right here.


Meanwhile, we're building up a happy relationship with the team over at Beautcamp Pilates. I've long been a fan of their classes, and with my own wedding fast approaching, I'm relying on them to get my figure picture-perfect. Look out for the Beautcamp Bridal package, hopefully coming soon. In the meantime, check out my mention here.

Real Wedding: Tamara & Adam

A gorgeous sophisticated urban affair for you today. Tamara and Adam celebrated their boutique wedding in Manhattan, with an exclusive group of only 35 guests. In this post-credit crunch world, more and more couples are choosing mini-weddings, where only the nearest and dearest make the guest-list. It guarantees a more personal big day, and there's nothing stopping you having big drinks party for your friends on another night. But first things first, check out these pics for stealworthy ideas! I'm in love with Tamara's Manolo Blahnik shoes, and her cute birdcage veil, the lace overlay of her dress.....in fact her whole outfit is stunning. Check out the signature cocktails that the couple chose for their big day, such a clever idea, and you can colour-code them according to your theme. Another fab idea to copy is their park-life ceremony, which super-saves on floral arrangements, and even music, if there's birdsong! Huge thanks to Karen Wise for her gorgeous pictures.

Tamara & Adam's fabulous vendors:
Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Flowers: Blade Floral Design
Day of Planner: The Boutique Group
Cake: Silk Cakes