Saturday 10 July 2010

Top Tip Week ♥1

We love weddings, but we don't like how much they cost. I've figured out that if I was a billionaire, every second of planning my wedding would be pleasureable, because the only thing that really worries me is the cost. Right now, I'm worrying about the expense of catering, but next week it'll be the stationery, and the week after that, I'll be anxious about whether I should be spending over a grand on my dress. One thousand pounds? That's a lot of money to be spending on something I'll only wear once. So, inspired by my own desire to keep the cost of our wedding manageable, I've come up with a few tips which should help you save your pennies. I'll be posting one a day, so keep coming back for more, or sign up for free updates here!

Top Tip 1 - Your Reception
Save money and surprise your guests by serving a traditional British tea rather than the standard 3-course meal. Vintage is a huge trend in weddings this season, so hire antique crockery and cake stands from Pretty Vintage or Eclectic Bliss for that classic olde-English feel. Ask your grandmother to knit tea cosies for a personalised effect, and hand-hem floral material for sweet mismatching napkins. Cabbages & Roses or Cath Kidson are renowned for their old-fashioned fabrics, and if you're not handy with a needle, learn how to sew via Ooh. Instead of one grand (and pricey) wedding cake, ask your bridesmaids to get baking, and offer prizes for the best-tasting and best-looking!

Photo Credits - {clockwise from top left} 1. Olivia Brabbs Photography, 2 & 3. Eclectic Bliss, 4. Marianne Taylor, 5. Olivia Brabbs Photography

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Thursday 8 July 2010

We ♥ Offers

One of the best things about running Before the Big Day is the discounts! The suppliers love BBD, we love them, you love them, it's one big cuddle-fest!

Get 5% off the amazingly effective nkd diet with the code bigday (exact spelling), and get a honeymoon-svelte body. Click here for more info on this bargainous deal! They say you can drop 2-3lb a week on the nkd diet. Sounds good to me.



Get 10% off gorgeous nature-inspired jewellery from Alex Monroe with the code Big Day. Fans include Sienna Miller, Emilia Fox, Thandie Newton and Lisa Snowdon to name just a few.



Get 10% off stunning jewellery and hair accessories from Your Something Borrowed with the code Big Day. See something you like? Borrow it for a fraction of the purchase cost!



Get 10% off amazing vintage furniture and home accessories from The Vintage Wedding List. Simply call and quote the code Big Day. This is the best place for original items for your wedding list.



Want to become a Sponsor of Before the Big Day?. Click here for more information.

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Paper Gardener

Bright, cheerful and uniquely playful, these pretty paper flowers would be a fantastic addition to your big day. Add them to cup-cakes, canapés or cocktails to make your guests smile. I'm imagining them as place-markers, stuck in tiny terracotta pots. Their London creator and 'gardener' is Milla Love. Don't miss her cool banners and party decorations.

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Monday 5 July 2010

BBD Theme: Nautical But Nice

Iconic themes are classy, there's no two ways about it, and the nautical theme is the classic oldie but goodie. There's just so many iconic motifs associated with the sea-side, that if you use it as the theme for your big day, you just know all the details will hang together just right. Just pick a few designs, be it anchors, shells, sailors' knots, starfish, crabs or stripes, and work it from there. Only choose a couple though, or else your wedding could end up decorated like a fish and chip shop in Blackpool!


Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Beach Grass Cottage, 2. Lollipop Workshop, 3. Buddy & Bean, 4. Iris Jewelry Design {from middle left} 1. Nauti and Co, 2. Rapunzels Gold, 3. Timeless Paper {from bottom left} 1. Nigh Sky Products, 2. Sewn Natural, 3. Sanskripts, 4. Buddy & Bean

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Saturday 3 July 2010

Real Wedding - Dayo & Tope

The best weddings are often the big family affairs. When uncles and aunts and cousins and second cousins once removed all come together for a huge party, fuelled by love, dancing and good food. Dayo and Tope celebrated their big day in this welcoming style, with 250 guests. Wow - now that's a wedding! I'm loving the lilacs, purples and golds in their colour palette, and Dayo's graceful princess dress. Also, it's super-cool that they made a nod to their heritage by changing into traditional Yoruba outfits towards the end of their reception. Other stealworthy ideas include the stunning cake, with its delicate sugar flowers, and Dayo's sweet tiara and veil combo. Huge thanks to FO Photography for their gorgeous pictures.


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Friday 2 July 2010

BBD Theme: Ladybirds

There's something romantic about ladybirds. I'm not sure what it is, but I think they're a sweet, fun and feminine motif to use on your big day, particularly if you're having a garden reception. Tradition suggests that your wish is granted if a ladybird lands on you, and seven-spotted ladybirds are the best, because the spots are said to symbolise seven joys. For a dramatic look, choose red and black as your wedding colour palette, and throw in a couple of the gorgeous products below.


Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Silver Lining, 2. Imeon Design, 3. Naomi Lingerie {from middle left} 1. Raqie Woo, 2. Stella McCartney, 3. Zoe Sadler {from bottom left}1. Zoe Sadler, 2. Law Bags, 3. Dingbat Press

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or click here for more theme ideas.

Thursday 1 July 2010

Real Wedding: Carrie & Josh

This wedding is an inspiration-fest! There's details upon details, and every one's a winner. Carrie and Josh's picked winter as their wedding season, and brightened a gusty day with gorgeous pastels. Delicate and elegant describes their style, and I'm loving the lilac bridesmaids' dresses, simply posies and laser-cut cupcake wrappers. Carrie chose deeper purple for other accents, including stationery ribbons and candle holders, and in a stroke of genius, picked baby blue for her wedding cake! Such a gorgeous, chic affair - many thanks to the ladies at Simply Bloom Photography for their beautiful pictures.


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What Did You Say?

Signs are this summer's super trend in the world of weddings. You heard it hear first! They're cropping up in every big day, and brides and grooms are getting ever more creative about what they want to say to their guests. No longer is it enough to simply direct friends and family to the Wedding, the Reception, or the Loos - now they're encouraging visitors to Celebrate, Smile, Eat, Drink and Be Married. I'm particularly loving the little boy with his Yay! flag, and I'm wondering what else you'd add to your big day? I like the idea of adding a 'Love is Sweet' sign to our Desert Table, and one saying 'Kick off Your Heels' next to the dancefloor, but do you have any other ideas?


Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Family Attic, 2. True Connection, 3. Family Attic, 4. Joyful Joyful {from middle top left} 1. Our Hobby to Your Home, 2. The Back Porch Shoppe {from middle bottom left} 1. Craft Mart Texas, 2. Sweetie Pie Suite {from bottom left} 1. Family Attic, 2. Palomas Nest, 3. Craft Mart Texas, 4. Joyful Joyful

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