DIY Wedding Fortune Tellers

One of the best things about meeting all the brides-to-be at The In-Wedding Show, was finding out what themes you are considering for your own wedding. Shabby-chic and vintage weddings are here to stay, as are butterfly motifs and vintage key themes. Wedding DIY projects were hugely popular - not least pom-pom making, and I'm predicting DIY weddings are a definitely a trend that's here to stay. One of the items on my stand that caught the eye of most brides, were my DIY fortune tellers. We included these at our own wedding, and my lovely husband designed and made each by hand - all 100 of them! The fortune tellers included fun facts about us as a couple, and inside, the menu for our evening meal. It was fantastic to see people working out how to use them as they sat down to dinner - they acted as a brilliant icebreaker. Make your own, by following the simple instructions below, or buy them via an Etsy seller like A Bespoke Touch or Kat's Crafts.

How To DIY Your Wedding Fortune Teller
★ First things first! Early on in your wedding planning, choose a signature font, and use it for all your DIY projects. It'll make everything look pulled together, and professional. At my wedding, we used a font called English which I downloaded for free from the internet. There's tonnes of free fonts available online, but be warned, once you start looking, it's impossible to choose which one!
★ Click for a fortune teller tutorial. When you click on the link, it'll automatically download the template onto your computer {the file is called 'cootiecatcher'}.
★ If this doesn't work, go to this link, click on 'Resources' and scroll down until you see Cootie Catcher {quite far down}. If you click on the link, it will automatically download the template.
★ Once you've downloaded the template and tutorial, all you need to do is open it in PowerPoint, and start adding your own details. Huge thanks to Gail Lovely for making this available.
★ You might have to practice a few times with the positioning of the words. Remember you can add pictures or symbols too! We added the name of our venue, the date of our wedding, and I Do!

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Amazing Hen Night Ideas

While the old-fashioned hen-night, complete with feather boas and Learner plates will always have a place in my heart, nowadays brides are leaning towards more sophisticated affairs. Whether it's a weekend at a spa, wine-tasting, or Chelsea Flower Show tickets, you'll want to build the anticipation. One way to make it feel like a real party, is to centre your hen-night around a colour scheme. Check out this gorgeous glitter, pink champagne theme created by Rebecca and Laura of Floridian Weddings and pictured by Kat Braman Photography. Isn't it gorgeous! Tonnes of the details are easily DIY-able, and it would make for a real sense of occasion. The shoot first appeared on brilliant US wedding blog 100 Layer Cake, so do take a look at more pictures here.

{Vendors} Photography: Kat Braman Photography / Stylist: Rebecca & Laura of Floridian Weddings / Floral Design: Floridian Weddings / Invitation Designer: Make Merry Events / Linens/Chairs: Atlas Party Rental  / Cakes: The Sugar Monkey / Canvas: Make Merry Events / Backdrop: Floridian Weddings / Cocktails: Cupcake Vineyards 

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Before the Big Day Wedding Theme: Polka Dots

Playful, cheeful and downright cute, polka dots are a micro trend this summer season of weddings. They've become hugely popular because they're so easy to use. Big or small, multi-coloured or monochrome, they're super-flexible. You can either design your entire wedding around a theme of spots, or you can use them as a last minute addition by going dotty with your accent colour. Check out these products for inspiration.

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Lourux, 2. Orange & Blossom, 3. The Girl in Yellow, 4. Designed By Me {from middle left} 1. Trendy Cards, 2. Me & Matilda, 3. The Cupcake Wrapper Co {from bottom left} 1. Cupecakeology, 2. Twirly Tots Bowtique, 3. Just Peachy Paperie, 4. Prost to the Host

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And She Wore Wedding Flowers in Her Hair

Add a touch of garden gorgeousness to your wedding hair with these stunning floral hairpieces care of Sibo Designs. Sheila Bobeldijk started her boutique business after her planning her own wedding. She found it hard to find the perfect wedding hair piece in her home country of Holland, so she started making her own, and aren't they stunning! The white anemone with the black centre is my favourite, which is yours?

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Real Monochrome Marquee Wedding: Suzanne & Simon

We have a stunning Sussex wedding for you this rainy Tuesday. Suzanne and Simon celebrated their big day in monochrome style, with bridesmaids dressed in dramatic black and the ushers in traditional British morning suits and top-hats! The lucky couple had sunshine for their garden reception {so rare in the UK}, and after a church service, welcomed their guests into an elegant windowed marquee. Super ideas to steal include the tall table flower arrangements, the simple bloom-and-butterfly combination at each seat, and Suzanne's sparkly shoes. I also love the vintage touch of an old-fashioned brooch fastening the ribbon on the cake - so cute! Huge thanks to the amazing Ken Buist for his gorgeous pictures.

 ♥ Want to see some monochrome wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about marquee wedding ideas? ♥

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Real Orchid-Themed Urban Wedding: Mari & Brendan

OMG! I'm totally obsessed with the pictures of this g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s wedding! Firstly the couple are crazily photogenic, secondly the urban venue was clearly exquisite, and thirdly, the photographs are simply exquisite (big shout out to the team at Our Labour of Love). Scroll on down, because they get better and better. Mari and Brendan were married at the magical place called Marvimon, surrounded by succulents, orchids and their best friends. My favourite details-to-steal have to be Brendan's sharp suit, not to mention Mari's dress and her cute headband, definitely a fashion must-have this season. Tonnes of fabulous ideas for how to make your wedding portrait pictures more interesting as well. Great stuff!

 ♥ Want to see some Real Wedding inspiration? ♥ Or how about urban wedding ideas? ♥

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Winner! 10 Pink Lady Jackets For Your Hen-Night

Congratulations to ☆Abi T☆ who's the lucky winner of 10 Pink Lady Jackets from All Fancy Dress. She's organising the hen do for her best friend, who's a huge Grease fan. They're the best prize ever for your hen night or hen weekend - after all, who doesn't love Grease!

We've got lots more competitions coming soon on Before the Big Day. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook so you don't miss a single one.

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Before the Big Day at The In Wedding Show

We've had such an amazing day over here at Before the Big Day Towers! It was the day of The In Wedding Show, and our first time as an in-house wedding blogger. We had such a fabulous time meeting all the brides and grooms and their family, and our free wedding inspiration sessions were a huge hit. If you're here to find out all the nitty-gritty from the wedding show sessions, stay tuned, because I'll be writing them up soon, right here in the blog.....including the all-important pom-pom tutorials. I've never seen such passion for pom-poms!! Huge thanks to Pom Pom Factory for their help in providing so many of my decorations, and for Anges de Sucre for the fabulous macaroon tower. All other decorations designed right here by Before the Big Day.

 ♥ Want to see some Real Wedding inspiration? ♥ Or how about wedding theme ideas? ♥

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