Not on the High Street

{Sponsored Posting} Isn't getting married just the best? You get a diamond ring, a wedding dress, gorgeous shoes, a fabulous party with all your favourite people, a luxurious honeymoon, and then, if you're really lucky, your guests give you presents. It's almost too good to be true! One wedding tradition that seems to be lasting the test of time is the list. Originally designed to make sure you don't get three toasters and two irons, it's morphed into something so much more sophisticated. Take Not on the High Street. They launched their wedding list service last year, and promise unusual and unique gifts, along with all the basics. Take a look at their website, and if you do decide to place your list with them, please quote code 000156, and if I'm lucky, they'll send me a present too!

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS. This is a Sponsored Post for Before the Big Day Wedding Blog.

Real Wedding: Crystal & Ben

Oooo bubblegum pop! I'm not sure why, but that's the phrase that came to mind as I looked through these fabulous Our Labour of Love pictures. Ben and Crystal got married in Malibu, surrounded by mountains, palm trees and mindblowing colour. Just look at the colour of that sky {sigh!}. Details to copy include Crystal's fabulous sparkly shoes, cute balloon-and-bloom bouquet, and her bridesmaids' bright pink parasols. But I musn't leave out the groom! Ben's three-piece suit is super-dapper, and I love his cool pocket-watch on a pink ribbon. Just a stunning wedding, so inspirational - I'm off to dream of summer holidays.

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Cherry Blossom

Blossom is a gorgeous motif for a wedding day. It symbolises the flowering of something new, the start of a hopeful future, and more to the point, it's really pretty!  Along those lines, I've recently fallen hard for Shaun Leane's new collection, inspired by one of Japan’s oldest tales. According to legend, cherry blossoms are believed to bloom from seeds sprinkled by a goddess from the clouds of Fuji Mountain - how romantic! Shaun's collection includes a combination of beautiful silver branches, soft enamel flowers and precious stones, and you can find it in stores throughout the UK. Click here for more information and his website.

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Real Wedding: Wendy & Greg

Celebrating your big day on a game reserve in South Africa has got to be up there with one of the best ways to get married. With a venue this glam, you won't need to worry about decorations or fancy-shmancy flowers, the natural setting speaks for itself. Lucky couple, Wendy and Greg, were determined to have sunshine for their wedding, and the weather gods answered their prayers, as the day dawned balmy with barely a cloud in the sky. Wendy picked pillar box red as her theme colour, and under the bright African light, her bridesmaids positively zinged in their gorgeous full-length dresses. I'm also loving Wendy and Greg's idea to combine white and red sand as part of their wedding ceremony - how romantic! These gorgeous photos are thanks to the team of Surrey-based photoraphers at Segerius Bruce, who flew all the way out to South Africa to work at this wedding. Lucky things!

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Bridesmaid Heaven

Huge excitement! I've found the perfect dreamy dresses for your bridesmaids, at prices that will make you smile! Designed by LA-based designer, Rachel Pally, these gorgeous jersey gowns fuse simplicity and glamour, and would suit almost every shape. Much-loved by Hollywood starlets, they're available from multiple boutiques in the States, and online here, and the best news is they come in at under £200 each, amazing! Check out Rachel's website for more information.

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Real Wedding: Esther & Daniel

Destination weddings rock. The sun shines, the sea glitters, and you can guarantee that everyone who makes the trip is a true friend. Plus, everyone goes a little bit wild on holiday, and there's nothing better than a wild white wedding. Esther and Daniel decided to celebrate their big day in Cabo, in Mexico. I've been to Cabo - it's a crazy place where tequilla, stunning beaches and azure seas, all come together in one tiny tourist town. You can't fail to have fun there, and from the looks of Christine Chang's colour-popping photos, Esther and Daniel had an amazing wedding. I love how the wedding party dresses in greys and whites, and my favourite details has to be Esther's amazing statement Chanel necklace.

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

BBD Theme: Olive Oil

Olives are the ultimate symbol of Provence - everywhere we went on our venue-hunting trip, we passed fields of ancient, gnarled trees. Inspired by their beauty, I'm considering minature olive oil bottles as favours, encouraging the chef for my wedding reception to use local grown olives in the cooking, and even using olive green as the signature colour for my wedding. How would you use it? Don't miss the special offers from the vendors, listed below.

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. La Vieja Tun Tun, 2. Kimonos, 3. Chic Allure, 4. Twisted Crystals, (from top middle left} 1. Jenni Bick, 2. Pamela Grace Design, 3. Nomsa {from bottom middle left} 1. Milkpod Studio, 2. Sarah Shannon Designs, 3. Buttered Toast, 4. Maihar Design 5. The Peach Tree, {from bottom left}1. Milkpod Studio, 2. Vaivanat, 3. Timeless Vixen Vintage

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. By V Jewelry, 2. The Jewelry Bar, 3. K Bonikowsky, 4. Tutti Amici, 5. My Blue Tulip Design {from middle top left} 1. Divine Lioness, 2. Golden Silhouette, 3. Bi Design {from middle bottom left} 1. Golden Silhouette, 2. It's The Little Things Ut, 3. Starz Selection, 4. Karen Yee {from bottom left} 1. Lauren Alexab 2. Voleur de Bijoux

We ♥ Offers - just mention Before the Big Day to get your discount.
Kimonos are offering 20% off all items, including sale items
Voleur de Bijoux are offering 20% off all items
If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

That Friday Feeling ♥ 4

It's the perfect pick-me-up at the end of a long week. That Friday Feeling is back again with a lovely list of weblinks to keep you feeling inspired all weekend.

♥ The magpie in me loves this gilded vintage letter blocks from Cabin 7 via Oh So Beautiful Paper. What would you spell out
♥ This is easily the best bridal shoe feature I have ever seen thanks to OMG I'm Getting Married
♥ What a fantastic bridesmaid dress, and all for only £90, found by Beyond Beyond
♥ A simply gorgeous vintage-inspired wedding via Love My Dress
♥ Exquisite hand-stamped Parisian fabrics from Teacup Design, via Dog n Bird
♥ I loved the film Up, it made me cry! So romantic, and such a good idea to have an Up-inspired engagement shoot, first featured by 100 Layer Cake
♥ Want your wedding to go with a bang? Learn how to do your own firework display thanks to the guys over at I Am Staggered
♥ A wedding inspired by wool? Simply stunning pics on Rock My Wedding

Did you miss these fantastic Before the Big Day Features?
♥ The cutest cake toppers you've ever seen
♥ Amazing offers from my favourite people
♥ And the bride wore pink!

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.