My Wedding - DIY Drink Stirrers

It feels like the whole nation has wedding fever at the moment, which is good because it's hiding the fact that I've become obsessed! Weddings are all I can think about - whether it's the Royal Wedding or my two weddings, one of which is a week tomorrow {eek!} and the next, which is on 28th May. The good news is that bar a couple of minor meltdowns on The Boy for not doing enough, we do seem to be coming along quite well. Next week is going to be the big wedding DIY day, when I'll be creating all the wedding favours and little details with my two maids of honour {good tactical choice to have two - more help!}.

One big wedding project is the DIY drink stirrers, which are much loved at American weddings. I've decided to create my own, with the help of a fab DIY tutorial care of Peach and Pearl. After much agonising on colour and style, I've decided on grey grosgrain ribbon to match my wedding invitations, and also because my lovely friend Sarah gave me some of her left-over ribbon from her wedding day. It really is the easiest project ever, and well worth the {small amount of effort}. Check out my first attempt!

P.S. I bought my wooden sticks from eBay and the best ribbon length is 5 inches. I'd recommend using grosgrain ribbon rather than shiny ribbon, because it fastens better.

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Introducing Azulsahara Stationery & Wedding Favours

Favours are a tricky subject for many brides. Some say that it's not a UK wedding tradition to give these mini-presents, but personally I'm all for them - not least because they're a fantastic opportunity to show your creative side. Whether you choose an edible option {chocolates are always appreciated}, or something more valuable, make sure you put yourself in the shoes of the guest - the last thing you want is discarded favours left on the table. Wedding stationery company Azulsahara help their brides with a fantastic selection of wedding favours, to match their invitations. This creates a fab 'together' look, where everything is the same pattern. Whatsmore, all their wedding favours are personalised with the names of the bride and groom, and the date of the wedding with no additional cost. Check out their gorgeous selection below, and on their website.

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Real Traditional English Church Wedding: Jo and Charles

Brides planning a summer wedding, take note! This gorgeous church wedding in the countryside is packed full of shabby chic inspiration and wedding flower ideas. Plus, the gorgeous bride, Jo, has written all her hints and tips in the Brides Questionnaire {under the pictures}, including her signature way of dealing with pushy sales people in wedding dress shops! I'm getting some serious inspiration from the decor in their stunning wedding marquee; the colourful bunting, the enamel jugs, spotty maypoles and the cute photo clothes line. Jo chose a pretty Phillipa Lepley dress with spotted lace overlay, and a vintage feel. I'm loving her stunning hair-style and veil, and her choice of brilliant blue for her bridesmaids dresses. Don't miss the cheeky 'I Do' on the soles of groom, Charles' shoes! Gorgeous pictures published with thanks to the lovely Hester Marriott.

The Before the Big Day Bridal Q&A - Jo was kind enough to fill in our questionnaire, aimed at helping other brides with their planning process. Feast your eyes on her answers for helpful hints and tips from someone on the other side of her big day!

Where and when did you get married?
In a village called Burbage, just south of Marlborough in Wiltshire on Saturday 24 April. The ceremony took place in All Saints church and we then led our guests down the lane to the reception in Charles' parents' garden. We had drinks on the lawn followed by supper and dancing in a marquee, supplied by Covered Occasions. It was, as I said in my speech, 'the best tent my family have ever been associated with'!

Did you have a theme, colour or motif in mind?
The general decor was 'shabby chic meets village fete'. We had enamel jugs for flowers, hand-made bunting made by a family friend and home-made cake and the venue itself was my in-laws' garden. We used local suppliers wherever possible. Sue Brady in Marlborough did an amazing job with the food. We had roast lamb, seasonal vegetables, potatoes and salad followed by a medley of desserts. It was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had at a wedding - the mass catering {170 guests} in no way affected the quality or taste of the meal. Averys of Bristol supplied wine and champagne and delivered as close to the event as we wanted. And the local brewery, Ramsbury Brewery even made us a special brew as they no longer make Charles' favourite! Our barman was also incredible. He seemed to appear with a glass of water or champagne whenever I felt thirsty.

Who made your wedding outfit, and how did you come to that decision?
My dress was by Phillipa Lepley and I got it from her shop on the Fulham Road. I had been shopping for a dress all day with my best friend Mary and I had encountered some very pushy sales assistants along the way, but that absolutely wasn't the case at Phillippa Lepley. The shop has a very peaceful atmosphere and you feel a little like you are having tea with a friend when you’re there. My dress was unlike any I had seen before, a strapless duchess satin base with a dotted cotton tule overlay with straps. Mary and I had a code word for when we saw 'the one' (to help combat those pushy sales assistants!). I put the dress on and we both uttered the code word immediately. It was the only dress I had tried on in which I looked like a bride but also felt like myself.

I wore my grandmother’s earrings and borrowed my older sister’s veil. My middle sister go married just three months before me so we shared a veil and a pair of shoes – I definitely covered the necessary 'borrowed' items. I chose simple accessories in order to emphasise the earrings which I absolutely adore. My grandmother died a few years ago and I wanted to me to wear something that belonged to her on my wedding day. Charles also bought me a single pearl necklace to wear on the day which I love.

I had kitten heel shoes, nicely worn in by my middle sister three months before hand and cleaned up my mother (randomly with white bread which turns out to be a good way to get stains out of white satin!). Our first dance was an important part of the day so little heels were important so that I could dance easily.

I wanted a natural look so used Bobbi Brown make-up which was beautifully applied by one of my bridesmaids, Alex. I had eyelash extensions fitted that week by Gene at Martyn Maxey, a little indulgence but the results made it worth every penny. My hair, and that of the bridesmaids, was by Daryl and his team at Essensuals on Marlborough High Street. I have always loved the pre-Raphaelite painters so I think I sub-consciously, at least, I modelled my look on the women in these paintings.

What about your husband’s outfit? Where was it from?

My husband had his morning coat made by Whistle and Flute Tailoring and the ushers wore their own morning coats. There was no colour scheme - they just came as they were. Charles looked very dashing, a little like the hero in a Jane Austen novel as he waited in the church. I thought he was really nervous when I saw him but he has assured me he wasn't so much nervous as surprised I had arrived on time!

What type of cake did you go for, and how did you come to that decision?

My mother-in-law Mary made a delicious tiered fruit cake which she decorated with flowers from her garden. She also made cup cakes which surrounded the bottom layer of cake. Our wedding was a mixture of the traditional and the laid back which was reflected in our choice of cakes. Mary Ford's cakes are exceptional, which was really the inspiration for our choice.

Who was your florist, what flowers did you choose, and how did you come to that decision?

Our florist was Joanne at Floral Fayre in Pewsey. She was amazing and did exactly what we wanted. We had two bay trees at the entrance to the marquee and tulips in cream enamel jugs on the tables in the marquee, a different coloured bunch on each table. We had simple white rose button holes for the groom, our fathers, best men and ushers. The bridesmaids each held a single peony and my bouquet was a mixture of white flowers, including roses, lisianthus and jasmine and lime green foliage.

Who was your photographer and how did you choose them?
Hester Marriott was our photographer. We chose her as we liked her personal but unobtrusive approach. She visited the church and reception venue before the day, asked us to complete a questionnaire of exactly what we wanted and even learnt the whole family’s names! Her preparation beforehand meant that the photos on the day were very smooth and the formal shots were quick and totally painless. In fact the formal shots were really fun and there was much laughter on both sides of the family.

Did you have any favours? What were they? Was there any particular reason why you picked them?
Instead of favours we set up an old fashioned sweet shop next to the bar which guests could help themselves too all night. The cola bottles went down particularly well.

What advice do you have for brides planning their big day?
My advice to any bride would be to go with your instincts and not worry about what others think of your choices. On the actual day take a moment to take it all in and make sure you steal a few moments for yourselves. Lots of people had said to Charles and I that we wouldn't even see each other on the day. Charles made sure this didn’t happen and kept coming to find me throughout; this made the day very special for me as I felt we’d really shared it and have joint memories of our wedding day.

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Wedding Drinks Stirrers & Drinks Flags

With less than 10 days to go before my London wedding and a month till my French wedding, I'm in full wedding details mode. Bar one minor meltdown {wedding stress}, I'm feeling very excited about both weddings, lots of butterflies in my tummy! All the big decisions have been made {venue, caterer, wine, DJ}, and now I'm just down to the last decisions on flowers, stationery and the details. I'm planning DIY tissue pom-poms for my London wedding, and DIY drink stirrers for both. I've already bought gorgeous grey striped straws, and now I've just got to decorate them. I'm planning to use a mixture of wasabi tape and ribbon, and maybe a touch of tinsel. Here are my inspiration pictures, look for more on my Pinterest boards.

Photo Credits {clockwise from top left}- 1 & 2. Peach and Pearl, 3. BBond 0520, 4. Go Against the Grain 5. Found via Pinterest.

Real Apple-Green Summer Wedding: Sherrey & Carl

The bride in this summer wedding looks so happy, she's hot-stepped it into my top ten best brides ever. {Check out the rest of my favourite pictures on my Pinterest wedding inspiration board}. Sherrey celebrated her marriage to Carl at Oxford University, home to some of the grandest architecture in the world. With a colour palette of monochrome and sage, and a garden theme complete with fruit favours, there's plenty of wedding ideas to steal. My favourites? The hand-painted herb table-signs, the bridesmaids' individual fascinators {much-loved by Kate Middleton}, the garden seed favours, and the rustic raffia bows. Gorgeous pictures published with thanks to the lovely Renira & Jane Photography.

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British Royal Wedding Fever

So I've tried to resist, but there's no use, I've become obsessed with the Royal Wedding. It's the combination of romance and fairytale, plus a gorgeous dress and lots of details to froth about. The only thing that's disappointed me a bit so far were the invitations. Surely they could have chosen something a bit more exciting? But I guess tradition dictates a certain style. So just in case Kate reads this blog, all this week I'll be offering last minute inspiration..... Welcome to the Royal Wedding bandwagon! {Picture credit: Before the Big Day}

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Happy Easter from Before the Big Day Wedding Blog

Hello everyone! A big Happy Easter to you all - I hope you're enjoying this fabulous sunshine as much as we are, here at Before the Big Day towers. I'm most excited by the effect the sunshine has had on my basil seedlings, which have finally hatched. Still waiting for the poppies to emerge....Enjoy your chocolate eggs, and prepare for the extravaganza, which will be next week's Royal Wedding. I'll be keeping you up with all the details via Twitter, plus pics of my own Royal Wedding BBQ, complete with Union Jack accessories {woohoo!}. What are you doing on the extra Bank Holiday?

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Real Fairytale Welsh Wedding: Niki & Ceri

As we prepare ourselves for the extravaganza that is the Royal Wedding on Friday, I want to introduce you to another Princess of Wales, Ceri. This gorgeous bride wanted a fairy-tale castle wedding for her big day, and her dream came true. With a venue as gorgeous as Caerphilly Castle, a groom in top hat and tails and a bride in white gloves, a cathedral-length veils and red lipstick, this was a humdinger of a wedding. Don't miss all the gorgeous details, including a cake made of cheese {yum!}, the harpist {wow!}, the fabulous cake-toppers and the subtle nod to Niki's favourite football team. Gorgeous, dramatic pictures published with thanks to the team at Janda Photography.

The Before the Big Day Bridal Q&A - Ceri was kind enough to fill in our questionnaire, aimed at helping other brides with their planning process. Feast your eyes on her answers for helpful hints and tips from someone on the other side of her big day!

Where and when did you get married?
7th of August 2010 at Caerphilly Castle, South Wales.

What was your thinking behind choosing the venue and the decoration of the reception?
We wanted a fairytale wedding with a touch of class. I have always wanted to get married in a castle and as I am from Wales it had to be a Welsh one. We both discovered Caerphilly Castle together and both fell in love with it the moment we walked into the Grand Hall.

Did you have a theme, colour or motif in mind?
Yes, black and white with a touch of red. A classic Hollywood look.

Who made your wedding outfit, and how did you come to that decision?
My dress and veil came from a shop called All about Eve in Newport. I tried on a few dresses but once I had tried on the Hollywood Dreams Dress {called Nadine} I couldn’t stop smiling and I knew as soon as I saw myself in the mirror that it was the one for me!

What about your husband’s outfit? Where was it from?
It was hired from a Moss Bros suit hire.

And how about your bridesmaids’ outfits?
The brides maids dresses were from Coast. And the flower girls dresses were from Ebay.

What type of cake did you go for, and how did you come to that decision?
We brought a 3 tiered cake from M&S and decorated it with black and white flowers and then had two porcelain figures on one of the tiers. A footballer looking at his watch - clearly late for the wedding, and a bride with black hair waiting for the groom to arrive. Niki loved the black and white theme on the cake as he supports Newcastle United.

Did you have any favours? What were they? Was there any particular reason why you picked them?
Yes, we gave chocolates in little black organza bags with a little scroll that contained a message thanking our guest for sharing our special day. The children had chocolate money in their organza bags and the babies had a bodysuit in a larger bag with a personal message that read 'I attended the wedding of the year' with the date of the wedding. Our son Owain’s read 'I attended my Mummy and Daddy’s wedding'. I loved making all of our favours - the personal touches make a wedding your own!

Who was your florist, what flowers did you choose, and how did you come to that decision?
Our florist was recommended by my mum who lives near Abergavenny. The florest were called Powells in Abergavenny. The flowers were stunning - very striking!

Who was your photographer and how did you choose them?
Janda Photography! We saw their website and fell in love with their work straight away! I knew I had to have them and I was right. They are worth every penny and I am so proud of my wedding album. I didn't want traditional portraits, we both wanted something more contemporary and artistic. Out of all of the choices that we made we are the most happy with our choice of our photographers. They're absolutely stunning people too!

Did you enjoy planning your wedding?
Yes, we both planned the wedding together. I was very lucky because Niki wanted to be part of the planning process. Usually the men often leave much of the planning up to the ladies but my lovely Niki couldn't get enough of planning our special day together. It was touching to know that he cared so much and it made me feel more confident knowing that I was marrying the right person! We had a great deal of fun planning our wedding together!

Did you have any DIY projects?
We made the table plan ourselves. We chose 3 long tables rather than lots of round ones. We wanted it to be in keeping with the castle e.g. how people would have eaten at banquets. Each table represented a different country from the UK - the top table being Wales {because I am Welsh}. We had a hog roast and in the evening we had a cheese cake that looked just like a wedding cake but it was made from Caerphilly cheese.

Who designed your stationery? What did it look like and how did you come to that decision?
My mother-in-law made all of the invitations and place settings. The invites had pearls on them and a stunning picture of Caerphilly Castle. They were classy, elegant and fitted in perfectly with the black, white and red colour scheme.

What advice do you have for brides planning their big day?
Always stick with what you want - it is your wedding day and you will never get to do it again (hopefully!). Make your wedding personal to you - it is the personal touches that make a wedding unique and interesting. Spend generously on a decent photographer as this is what you will have to remember your wedding by for the rest of your life. Ensure you see the work of the photographer before you pay a deposit - make sure you like to work first. Prepare a speech - all brides should say a speech even if just a short one! Let's break the tradition that the bride just sits there whilst all the men talk around her! Have your say - I did and I loved having the last word.

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