Wednesday 11 January 2012

Magical Laser-Cut Wedding Invitations

When I started planning my wedding, I really wanted to create a feeling of excitement for our guests. I didn't want it to be just another summer wedding, where everything feels a bit samey. The first challenge was to pick the perfect wedding stationery, as I wanted it to start building a sense of anticipation. After months of indecision, I finally accepted we didn't have the budget for truly fabulous stationery, so I ended up designing it myself. However, if we'd had the budget, I definitely would have chosen a boutique wedding stationery like Boris & Doris. Their laser-cut wedding invitations are truly magical, and you can personalise them with your own names or initials, to make them truly unique to you. Even their website is cute, as it's decorated with bunting and butterflies. Stop press! They've just started making Save the Dates and laser-cut place markers as well.


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Tuesday 10 January 2012

Introducing Robert Leons Wedding Photography

Gloucestershire brides listen up! If you're searching for a talented photographer {and who isn't?}, then take a look at the fabulous Robert Leons Photography. He's created his own style of wedding photography; a unique blend of contemporary reportage teamed with dramatically lit, arty images, which will wow your friends. Natural or posed, he'll take incredible shots of you and your husband, and capture the essence of your big day, and the stunning details of your wedding venue. Available across the picturesque countryside of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, he's booking up fast for 2012, so get your request in soon! For more of Robert's work, check out his website and wedding photography blog.

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Monday 9 January 2012

Real South African Vineyard Wedding: Pieter & Marlize

Autumn weddings are always up there with my favourites. There's something about the golden light, and the changing leaves, that makes them effortlessly romantic. Pieter and Marlize chose to celebrate their big day on the beautiful Dornier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch in South Africa, known for its incredible wines and exquisite scenary. I've fallen for Marlize's elegant simple style, her bridesmaids' parasols and simple grey gowns, plus the cute succulent favours {super easy to DIY}. Don't miss the exotic protea flowers, they're the national flower in South Africa, but you can buy them in Britain too. They make for a dramatic look, and you only need a few, so they can work out cheaper than you think. Congratulations to Gareth and Kate from welovepictures (too) for their truly stunning photographs.


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Sunday 8 January 2012

Win! Tickets to the National Wedding Show

It's treat time for readers of Before the Big Day! The lovely people over at the National Wedding Show have given your favourite wedding blogger five pairs of tickets to give away for both the London and Birmingham National Wedding Shows. Wedding fairs are a great way to bond with your mum or bridesmaids, so be sure to take them along for a day of fab wedding inspiration! This year, don't miss the brand new vintage area, with tonnes of gorgeous design and décor ideas. All you need to do is leave a comment below, or send me one via Twitter {tag it @beforethebigday} and I'll enter you into the competition. Make sure you leave your email address and say whether you want tickets to London or Birmingham or either. The London show runs from 24-26th February, and the Birmingham one is 16-18th March.  I'll draw the winner on 1st February.


{Product Credits} Cakes by Cotton & Crumbs, Dress: The Vintage Wedding Dress Company at White Mischief on the National Wedding Show catwalk.

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Thursday 5 January 2012

New Year Wedding Dress Sales

The New Year wedding dress sales are the best opportunity for summer brides to pick up their wedding gown at a discount! Prepare yourself for a day of sale shopping by wearing neutral underwear and minimal make-up. There's nothing dress designers hate more than foundation smudged on their gowns. Take a friend to help you gather gowns, and arrive early for the best deals. It's like a military operation! For inspiration, watch this hilarious clip from Friends, when Monica goes discount dress-hunting with Rachel and Phoebe, and make sure you follow me on Twitter, as I'll tweet details of all the wedding dress sales as they're announced.

♥ The incredible wedding branch of the much-adored Anthropologie brand, BHLDN, has a sale on now. It's based in the US, so you'll need to get your dress sent to a friend in America, but with discounts of 45% off incredible gowns, it's worth the hassle. Get your skates on, because the sale ends 10th January.

Net-a-Porter's Wedding Boutique has fantastic discounts on their wedding dresses and accessories right now! Head right on over to their website for 50% off Halston Heritage, Alexander McQueen {Kate Middleton's dress designer of choice}, Temperley London, Alberta Ferretti and much more!!

{Product Credit} Sassi Holford's Indulgence collection

Autumn Kelly chose Sassi Holford for her wedding to Peter Philips, son of Princess Anne, and now you can afford her gorgeous gowns too! From 7th to 21st January 2012 she's offering huge reductions on selected sample wedding dresses from her classic English bridal collections. With a boutique in London and another in Taunton, it's a great option for brides in the south of England. In both stores no appointment is necessary and it is 'first come, first served', so get there early! {Check out her website for store addresses}.

Blackburn Bridal Couture in Blackheath have a massive sale at their London store from 6th to 13th January. Plus, for each dress sold, 10% of the price paid will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.{Call 020 8297 1188 to make your appointment}.



{Product Credit} David Fieldon 2010 Spring Collection

David Fielden is a hugely popular wedding dress designer, and he's hosting a fabulous one-day sample sale on 7th January at his London boutique. With reductions of up to 75% and prices starting from £250, you'll want to be there early! {No appointment needed, 241 Fulham Road, from 10am-6pm}

Phillipa Lepley, one of London's best-loved wedding designers is hosting a sample sale {happy shriek!}. It kicks off on 20th January for a week, with wedding dresses from £900, plus shrugs, veils and accessories from £150. {No appointment needed, 48 Fulham Road, SW3 6HH (020 7590 9771) from 10am.

♥ Knightsbridge designer wedding dress designer Ana Cristache starts her sample sale on 21st January with wedding gowns starting at the wonderfully reasonable figure of £500. Book your appointment now! {11 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NQ - 020 7584 8322}.


{Photo Credit} My Wedding by Caught the Light

♥ This is a biggy! Browns Bride, who stock my Delphine Manivet wedding dress 'The Anatole', start their sale on 22 January at 11am. You'll want to be there early to get the first bite of the 70% off cherry! With discounts on wedding dresses and shoes by Oscar de la Renta, Alberta Ferretti, Vera Wang and more. {12 Hinde Street, W1U 3BE - 020 7514 0056}.

♥ If, like Kate Middleton, you're a fan of the fascinator, or your mother-in-law is looking for a hat, then get in her good books and tell her about the Gina Foster sample sale on 26-28 January. With up to 70% off hats and fascinators, she's going to be telling all her friends! From 10am on Thursday and Friday, and 11am on Saturday at 5 Kensington Church Walk, W8 4NB {020 7937 7611}.

♥ Have you checked out the Before the Big Day Wedding Themes for more wedding inspiration?

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Vintage Wedding Hats, Headpieces & Corsages

Planning a vintage wedding? Or maybe a wedding with a forties theme? I've fallen in love with these super-stylish hats and hairpieces from Strumpet Bride. Handmade by Kitty and Wanda, you can either choose one of their beautiful read-to-wear pieces, or work with Strumpet on a bespoke design to match your wedding dress. Mothers-of-the-bride are going to love them, and why not give all your bridesmaids corsages to match? Gorgeous!


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Wednesday 4 January 2012

Spring Wedding Decoration Idea

Peparing for your spring wedding? Jump into the new season with gorgeous pastel pom-poms, as shown in these incredible pictures from the Pom Pom Factory. Poms are a pretty easy DIY project, but the Pom Pom Factory go far beyond simple poms - they'll craft creative installations for your wedding, from balloon-style displays to dresses for your bridesmaids {yes really!}. Alternatively buy ready-made poms from their shop.

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Sunday 1 January 2012

Real Desert Monochrome Wedding: Angela & David

This wedding makes me want to get married in the desert! Not the first location that comes to mind when you dream of your big day, but just wait till you see these pictures. Angela and David got married this winter in New Mexico, against a stunning pastel background of mountains and forest. Shot by the amazing Stephanie Williams, I'm totally obsessed with all the gorgeous details, not least the marshmallow camp fire. Don't miss Angela's gardenia and feather bouquet, her elegant fake-fur stole and silver-glitter decorations. And check out the baby's breath in their table bouquets, it's this season's flower of choice - cheap, cheerful and utterly romantic.

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Fabulous New Year Weekend Wedding Blog Links

Happy New Year to each and every one of you! Here's to wishing you all the best with your wedding plans, and if you're getting married this year, a fabulous wedding day! Statistics show that most couples get engaged between Christmas and New Year, so if you're a brand new bride-to-be, then welcome to Before the Big Day wedding blog. Two of my great friends got engaged this Christmas, and they've already subscribed to Before the Big Day - huge congratulations to James & Katie! If you're a newby, you can subscribe for free here, and get all the wedding blog goodness direct to your inbox each morning. For every minute updates, you might even want to follow me on Twitter! In the meantime, don't miss our real wedding inspiration.


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Friday 30 December 2011

Super-chic Bridesmaid Jewellery

How cool are these necklaces? The words are perfect presents for bridesmaids at an urban, funky wedding, while the key and initial could be good if your big day is going to be more traditional. Made out of stirling silver wire, every one is handmade and individual, and totally awesome! Check out Piano Bench Designs to find out more.

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