BBD Theme: Gothic Fantasy

Feeling inspired to add a touch of gothic fantasy to your big day? Well check out these items below.

Product Credits (from top left) - Black silk cocktail hat : It's the Little Things Ut, Hair Clip: Lo Boheme, Silverty Icicle Crown: SE Studio, Wedge Birdcage Veil: Brendas Bridal Veils, Coffin Ring: Idle Hands Designs, Garter: Piper Ewan

Product Credits (from top left) - Feather Bustier Gown: Love Karlak, Red & Black Dress & Shrug: MT Coffinz Underground, Choker: Dark Elegance Designs, Necklace: Bella Morte 87, Feathered Belt: Icing 101, Black Wedding Dress: Stephanie Madesh, Gloves: Miss Brache, Corset Dress & Skull Jacket: MT Coffinz Underground

Product Credits (from top lef) - Black Diamond Ring: Bloom Studios, Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe, Rose Bouquet: Showcase Bridal, Invitation: My Blue Tulip Design, Red-backed Invitation Set: Kindly Spoken, Napkin Set: Mary Wibis, Rose Hair-clip: Countessa

A Rural Idyll

It's gorgeous getting married in the English countryside - stunning views, peace and privacy, plus cheaper suppliers than in the cities. This beautiful wedding took place on a farm, meaning all their food was seasonal and locally grown, a great idea if you're looking for an eco-friendly big day. The happy couple, Amanda and Jim, also drew on their rural surroundings for inspiration, their cake was decorated with a unique basket-weave motif and they gave each of their guests a pot of raspberry jam on departure. I also love the simplicity of the bride's slim-fit dress and the luxurious purple worn by her bridesmaid. Huge thanks, as always, to Karen Wise for her lovely photographs. And remember, if you love getting inspiration from Real Brides and Grooms, then click here for much more Before the Big Day weddings!

Where to Sit?

Unless you're a party organiser, you've probably never considered the various weird and wonderful ways in which to tell people where to sit at dinner. But now it's your wedding day, and you want to make it stand out from the crowd, and make it unique to you as a couple.  So here are a few fabulous ideas for place markers - some with the added benefit of special offers for Before the Big Day readers!  And whatsmore, many of them have the double-function of acting as wedding favours - which for the uninitiated - are little gifts for your guests to thank them for coming.

ParDay are offering free shipping on all orders.

Orange 1 are offering 10% off orders of $15 or more until 01/01/10

Art Kitten are offering free shipping with code BIG DAY

Paper Acorn are offering free shipping on orders over $40 with code BIG DAY

Good Guest are offering 20% off with code BIG DAY

Paper Acorn are offering free shipping on orders over $40 with code BIG DAY

Real Wedding: Dayna & Mike

Maybe it's my girly side, but I just love baby pink, so this wedding immediately caught by eye as I was flicking through the fabulous e-zine Utterly Engaged.  Dayna and Mike met at high school, and after many twists and turns, celebrated their big day this September in a flurry of petals and prettiness.  They didn't have a big budget, so all the gorgeous details you see are DIY, which goes to show you can get fantastic, lux-looking results, with a dollop of imagination and a bit of legwork.

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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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Guest Posting

It's hard to admit, but sometimes (okay often!) another fabulous blogger has a better idea than me, and today's posting is from the Truly Noted blog, which is run by lovely US graphic designer Colleen Kuerth. Check out her inspirational posting by clicking here. Of course, if you want to use her idea on your own invitations, check out Royal Mail's Smiler service, where you can design your own stamps.

BBD Theme: Flamenco Passion

Feeling inspired to add a touch of flamenco passion to your big day?  Well check out these items below.

Photo Credits - Roses and Lace Cake: Nikole Ramsay; Product Credits - Cake Toppers: Zime, Table Numbers: Tucci Paper Company, Cupcake Wrappers: Orange1,  Reversable Table Cloth: Tables Gone Wild , Lace Cards: The Paper Peony, Cupcake Stand: The Cupcake Tower

Product Credits - Clutch Bag: Chapulin, Fan Necklace: Eninaj, Filigree Invitations: Inky Livie, Black Lace Necklace: Live In Style, Fabric Flowers Hair Pin: Fleurette Jo, Hand-Painted Fan: Paloma Sia Designs, Beaded Hair Comb: Sonseeahray, Black Lace Hair Fastener: Stitch n Tyme, Rose Hair Clip: Shop Bonnin, Blossom Note Cards: Turtle Papers,  Flamenco Dancer: Red Clay Sculptress

Real Wedding: Meredith & Scott

It always rains in the UK - that's why so many of us get married abroad - 50,000 a year at the last counting.  But when the heavens opened on Meredith and Scott's big day, it didn't spoil their wedding, they just made a feature of the umbrellas, and smiled through the drips.  There's something particularly special about this garden celebration - you can almost feel the authenticity and affection shining through the pics - and that's thanks to photographer Jessamyn Harris - who's just brilliant at her job!

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