DIY Week #6 - Cox & Cox

Not into Do it Yourself at all? Wait till you've check out the gorgeous online boutique Cox and Cox. Their amazing products will tempt even the least crafty people into adding just a tiny dollop of DIY to their big day. Just look at these fabulous fresh ideas from their Spring collection, I want every one! 

DIY Week #5 - Green Fingers

You don't have to have green fingers to make fabulous floral arrangements and favours for your big day. Just check out these tutorials from Project Wedding and Erin Vale Designs. In both cases, all you need is a little bit of know how and a dollop of creativity, plus a ready supply of spray paint and moss. Check out the grow-your-own favour boxes, ideal for a DIY garden wedding, and why not add Love in the Mist seeds to the print-your-own sachets. The plants will flower every year, and remind your guests of your fabulous wedding each time they bloom.Gorgeous!

Product Credits {from the top} Daisy Pots & Grow-Your-Own Seedling Boxes: Project Wonderful, Print-Your-Own Seed Sachets: Erin Vale Design, Moss Pots: Project Wedding

DIY Week #4 - Sweet Memories

http://www.marthastewartweddings.comWant to keep your guests sweet? Then give them home-made jam as a favour, and every time they spread it on their toast at breakfast, they’ll think of your wedding. Personalising jam jars is pretty simple, just print out the gorgeous free templates below, reach for the trusty glue and get sticking. Making the jam is a little harder, but if you want to buy jam and soak off the labels, I won’t tell if you don’t! For those of you with more talent in the kitchen, click here for a Martha Stewart recipe, and here for one from Domestifluff.

Product Credits - {top collage} Domestifluff, {middle top collage} Eat Drink Chic, {middle bottom collage} Martha Stewart Weddings {bottom collage} Merriment Design

DIY Week #3 - Dramatic Detail

Wow! This DIY wedding is a detail fest, and goes to show just how creative you can get, with a healthy dollop of enthusiasm and effort. Ashley and Matt have a shared love of music, and used old-skool vinyl as the theme for their big day. Their plates, printed picnic rugs, table numbers and favours all referenced records, while their use of black, white and yellow created a truly dramatic effect. Ashley also had the most original accessory I've seen on a bride so far - a cast on her leg. Evidence that you can literally break bones while preparing for your big day, and still look totally stunning. Huge thanks to Our Labour of Love for their gorgeous pictures.

One for the Boys

Let's face it, weddings are pretty girly. Flowers, decor, dresses, candles, pom-poms....you get the picture. So thank goodness Brides magazine have stepped into the mix with a brand new blog for the boys. The Groom Blog, written by Andrew Shanahan, is a voice of sanity for grooms, best men and the all important father of the bride. Kicking off with advice on toasts and speeches, it's sure to become a major resource for the men in your life, while the Brides website will keep the ladies busy for hours. With stylish DIY hints, dreamy dresses, competitions and the chatroom, it's worth a daily visit. I've subscribed, have you?

DIY Week #2 - No Comparison

We have a lot of love for the US blog Inspired Bride. So it was a day of extreme excitement when we discovered that writer Maddy Hague had joined forces with Kristen Magee of Paper Crave {uber-cool stationer} to create an online magazine called Nonpareil. Their aim is to encourage their readers to approach weddings and other occasions with a focus on hip, stylish, do-it-yourself projects. They say their goal is to awaken your creative side and to help you plan a beautiful wedding in a more accessible way, and in my view, they're onto a winner.

Check out their free downloads and simple tutorials, and you'll be crafting gorgeous boutonnieres and favour boxes before you know it!

DIY Week #1 Print Your Own

The biggest trend this season is DIY. It's a movement that's been in the making for a couple of years now, and the credit crunch was the tipping point. Crafting is booming! But what if you're not that good with a glue gun? Worry not, there's loads of DIY projects out there for the beginner, and all this week we'll have features to get you going.

So let's kick off with invitations. If you're super-creative you'll design your own, but there's plenty of templates out there in the blogosphere for free, and even more available on Etsy to buy, personalise and print at home. But what printer should you use? Fab blog DIY Union has the answers. Graphic Designer Leslie recommends the Epson Stylus Photo R280 Photo Printerand has hundreds of print-hints on paper, ink and lasers.

Right, now you've got the know-how, it's time for the fun bit. Choosing your template. Check these out for size.....and the best thing? They're all FREE!

Product Credits - {top collage} Wedding Chicks {middle collage} Martha Stewart Weddings {except for the Cheese Invitation} Real Simple {bottom collage} Download and Print

Say it with Verse

You've said it with diamonds and the best Chanel, now give the gift of expression and say it with verse. Impressed? Unfortunately, it's not my own work, but that of the clever people at Poetry A La Carte, who compose bespoke poems for those of us who feel romantic, but don't know how to express it. All you need to do is fill in a questionnaire on their website about the subject of 'your' poem, pay them £150, and they'll put pen to paper on your behalf. Fantastic as a surprise present for your groom, or even as a wedding gift for a happy couple. **Hot off the Press** The lovely Mark at Poetry A La Carte is offering £25 off each poem to readers of Before the Big Day!