Looking Good

With my wedding in May, I'm looking to start the New Year with a brand new health plan, which makes me one of more than 70% of brides-to-be want to svelte-up ahead of saying their vows. If you find dieting on your own difficult, check out nkd diet. They're my secret weapon in the battle against the bulge! They take all the hassle out of dieting by providing all your meals for a month, for only £199. They count the calories and deliver to your door, and on average women lose 2-3 lbs a week. Check them out! ** nkd diet are offering 5% off all 28 day plans to Before the Big Day readers - just add the code bigday at the checkout **

Slinky Wedding Dresses

If you're looking for a slinky wedding dress rather than a pufffy Princess number, then you can't do better than Belle & Bunty. Recently discovered via fantastic The Ebury Collection, every gown is gorgeous. Pick your favourite design, and Alice (Belle) and Hannah (Bunty) will make it to order in whatever colour you choose. Incidentally, do check out The Ebury Collection, they're a brilliant resource of wedding services and suppliers. P.S. If you're one of my friends, no buying, because I'm going to get one!!

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Something Blue

Is it wrong to want more than one engagement ring? I dearly love my diamond solitaire, but when I spotted this gorgeous sapphire ring, I fell in love. Maybe it could be my something blue? Designed by Eidel in Toronto, the delicate setting is called "cat's claw", because the four claws are almost invisible. Simply stunning!



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Real Wedding: Jenny & Devin

This bright winter wedding has such a cosy feel, thanks to the barn-style venue. It's almost like a ski chalet with all the wooden beams and glowing lanterns. I'm loving the bunting, mossy initials, fairy lights and the multiple cakes, while the tablescapes of linen and lace napkins plus blue-tinted vases add a feminine edge to a masculine surrounding. Jenny's dress, shrug and mini-veil are gorgeous, and I love that she walked down the aisle by herself. Seriously gorgeous stationery - the mix of rustic and chic dark blue exactly matched Jenny and Devin's wedding style. Stunning pictures published with thanks to Punam Bean.

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Groom's Ties

Treat your groom with one of these dapper skinny ties. Handmade by vKnit in Hertfordshire, each tie is knitted and felted in soft lambswool. They come in several colours, and each contain 33,980 v-stitches. They're perfect tie for a winter wedding.

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DoodleLove Wedding Stationery

So my search for wedding stationery has come back to haunt me. I found a fantastic designer called Follow Studio in Australia, but I left too little time to receive proofs, so reluctantly I've had to restart my search. Time just catches up on you, not least because the invitations have to be sent out three months in advance. I've made one New Year's Resolution already - this time, my graphic designer must be UK-based. But where to find them? I've discovered that great places to look for eye-catching, unusual stationery are websites like Etsy and Wedzu. I've made one discovery already, Doodlelove, via Folksy. Check out their website for more designs.

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Wedding Present Idea

Add this gorgeous sampler to your wedding list, and you'll have a gorgeous momento of your big day, and a future heirloom for your children. Old-fashioned crafts like sampler-sewing and knitting are making a comeback right now, so you'll also be right on trend. Super-stitcher Debby will personalise your design, and hand-make it within ten days. Check out her store Sew Lovely for more ideas.

Real Wedding: Rachel & Phillip

Designing your wedding invitations is probably the easiest way to personalise your wedding. If you've got a printer and a plan, you can make stunning stationery without too much effort. And as long as you practice first on cheaper paper, it can work out as a penny-saver as well. Rachel is one bride who did just that, and every paper detail for her wedding is ah-mazing. Check out the baker's twine, monogram wax seal and calligraphy-addressed envelopes for starters. But there's much, much more. Rachel and Philip combined modern and rustic with some serious flair, so it's worth noting the bunting, jute tablecloths, screen-printed handkerchief favours and the mini hangover kits for the morning after. Stunning pics as ever from the lovely team at Simply Bloom Photography, and don't miss Rachel's own website for more stationery ideas.

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