Cute Homespun Bespoke Bridesmaid Presents

Traditionally the groom gives all the bridesmaids a present on your wedding day, to thank them for helping out. We'd run out of money to be able to give our ladies anything truly valuable, so I wish I'd discovered these pretty homespun necklaces before our wedding day. Each one is hand-embroidered, reflecting the make-do-and-mend mood in weddings this season. You could wrap one around each of their bouquets, and pick a colour that suits their style. Only £25 from Etsy shop The Merriweather Council, who also make darling samplers and signs.

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Winner - The Greedy Book Wedding Prize

The wait is finally over...we can finally announce the winner of The Greedy Book's sensational £750 prize! {Drumroll please} Congratulations to Lucy Burgess, an email is winging its way to you now! Even if you didn't win, make sure you check out  The Greedy Book - it's website where you can make and share 'gift lists' {greedy books} of any items you desire from any online store. The idea is that you don’t have to restrict yourself to any one retailer for your wedding list; instead you can have a truly original and quirky 'wedding greedy book' that reflects your unique style as a couple. For top tips on how to use The Greedy Book for your wedding list click here!

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Real Humanist Rustic Chic Wedding: Kia & Sam - Part 2

Boho brides are going to love all the wedding ideas they'll get from this stunning teepee wedding reception! Kia and Sam's celebrated their big day in Sam's parents' garden, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and tonnes of wedding details. I'm completely in love with their two giant teepee marquees, and the family-style dining tables. With a hog roast and a picnic feel, this lovely informal wedding kept their guests entertained all the way through to breakfast the next morning! Other stealworthy wedding ideas include the colourful handmade and hand-embroidered bunting, the DIY'd log cupcake stand, the fabulous VW van. Kia and Sam's whole family chipped in to help DIY this beautiful wedding. Don't miss Kia's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire - she has tonnes of helpful hints for DIY brides-in-the-making. Huge thanks to Sharron Gibson from The Image Garden for her stunning pictures - don't miss Part 1!

We celebrated out wedding in June at my husband's parents' farm where he grew up, on the Beds/Bucks border. We had a Humanist ceremony besides an old tree in the meadow and two huge Scandinavian tipis.

We wanted an English country wedding with a Swedish influence {as I’m half Swedish}. It was important for our wedding to feel romantic, easy and fun, with no real formalities, a touch bohemian, rustic and 'us'.

We mostly enjoyed planning out wedding. We loved coming up with ideas – we have to be creative in our jobs every day for other people so it made a nice change to do that for ourselves. It did get to a point where we were so focused on our guests having the perfect day that we’d forgotten about us, but that was just a blip. We got back to the real reason we were getting married and wouldn’t change a thing about the build up or the day itself. All in all it was a lot of fun because we did so much ourselves.

We had tonnes of DIY wedding projects! We created that entire venue from the ground up – apart from the tipis themselves. We bought or made most things with the help of family and friends. 

We didn't have any particular theme for our wedding. In fact we wanted anything but a theme and absolutely no matchy-matchy colours. We just wanted the decoration to reflect our passions and interests with something different everywhere you looked.

We used a lovely local florist in Frosts at Woburn, who was really creative and so passionate about floral design. I wanted something unstructured and wild looking so chose a mix of brightly coloured flowers including snapdragons, sweet peas, sunflowers, dill and corn.

Sam made all the signs and the candelabras for the tree. Our parents made the flower arch and birdseed hearts. My husband’s brother made the cake stand.

We made a cake stand out of tree trunk slices and terracotta plant pots and covered the tiers in individual cupcakes, carrot cakes and plants. We wanted to echo the tree backdrop from the ceremony and the rural setting.

For wedding favours, we had chocolate moustaches and lips on sticks made by a local chocolatier. The inspiration came from my husband’s moustache!

My maid of honour and her mum made the bunting out of specially chosen fabrics and embroidered them with special words. Sam and I folded 500 origami peace cranes to hang on the trees {with the help of the best man and my brother}.  I wrote 'our story' which was printed onto elephant poo (!) paper and turned into paper hearts, which were hung on the backs of chairs.

Our photographer was Sharron Gibson of The Image Garden. We chose her because her photography style was exactly what we wanted – creative, observant and natural. She really 'got' the detail we had put into the wedding, and loved the surroundings we had chosen which meant a lot to us. We wanted someone who could just wander round capturing the feel of the day which she did wonderfully.

My advice for upcoming brides is don't forget why you’re doing it. As important the small details may seem to you, all your friends and family really care about is seeing you get married and having a bloody good party afterwards {a friend told me this and it helped loads!}. Speak to friends – they'll keep you sane and keep your feet on the ground. Let go and enjoy every single second – people will look after themselves. We were amongst the last to leave at 5am – we didn't want it to end. It was the best day and night of our lives.

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Real Humanist Rustic Chic Wedding: Kia & Sam

Take two giant teepees, a vintage campervan and countryside-loving couple and you get Kia and Sam's beautiful humanist rustic wedding. It's chock-a-block with wedding details and wedding ideas, and if you're a planning a rustic, boho wedding, you're going to want to copy every one. Just take a look at the DIY blackboard signs, the paper origami decorations {500 peace cranes!} and how every reception chair is decorated with a pretty flower and ribbons. I love the handmade flower arbour altar, and vintage milk-churn vases, and Kia's stunning bright bouquet. In keeping with the boho feel to her wedding, Kia wore flowers in her hair, and sourced her wedding dress from Spain and her accessories from various boutique jewellery makers. Don't miss her answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire - she has tonnes of helpful hints for upcoming brides. Huge thanks to Sharron Gibson from The Image Garden for her stunning pictures - more coming soon in Part 2!

We celebrated out wedding in June at my husband's parents' farm where he grew up, on the Beds/Bucks border. We had a Humanist ceremony besides an old tree in the meadow and two huge Scandinavian tipis.

We wanted an English country wedding with a Swedish influence {as I’m half Swedish}. It was important for our wedding to feel romantic, easy and fun, with no real formalities, a touch bohemian, rustic and 'us'.

My wedding dress was made by Yolan Cris, an amazing bohemian Spanish designer. My blue shoes were from Dune and my accessories were all handmade from a mix of designers from Etsy, Asos marketplace and my mum’s collection from the 60s. I just arrived at that look – it felt like me. All I knew was I didn’t want anything too traditional.

My maid of honour had a fantastic red dress made from salvaged vintage fabrics by a designer in Brighton.

Sam's suit was bespoke-made by a tailor in London called Rocacha, as he couldn't find the vintage cut he wanted anywhere! His cufflinks were from Etsy, and his tie was from Sweden.

We used a lovely local florist in Frosts at Woburn, who was really creative and so passionate about floral design. I wanted something unstructured and wild looking so chose a mix of brightly coloured flowers including snapdragons, sweet peas, sunflowers, dill and corn.

Sam and I folded 500 origami peace cranes to hang on the tree {with the help of the best man and my brother}. I wrote 'our story' which was printed onto elephant poo {!} paper and turned into paper hearts, which were hung on the backs of chairs.

Our photographer was Sharron Gibson of The Image Garden. We chose her because her photography style was exactly what we wanted – creative, observant and natural. She really 'got' the detail we had put into the wedding, and loved the surroundings we had chosen which meant a lot to us. We wanted someone who could just wander round capturing the feel of the day which she did wonderfully.

♥ Want more colourful wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about boho wedding ideas? ♥

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How To Make Your Wedding Stationery Stand Out

What will you add to your wedding stationery to make it stand out from the crowd? In the past brides added bows and bands to their wedding invitations, now designers and DIY-ers are getting more creative. Just take a look at these fun ideas, from artistic calligraphy, chic address labels, wax seals, bunting Save the Dates, rubber stamps, pretty envelope liners, tea-bags{!}, hand-drawn maps, and beautiful Thank You cards. More fabulous wedding stationery ideas on my Pinterest page.

{Credit} Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Credit} Rachael Ward via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Credit} Ruby & Willow via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Credit} The Hungry Workshop via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Credit} Yeri Yun Designs via Yvonne Wong

{Credit} Atheneum Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Credit} Kymera Studio, pictured by Jackie Wonders via 100 Layer Cake

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Wedding Reception Inspiration: Ice-Cream

With all the hot weather we've been having, my mind has turned to summer weddings, and how to make them stand out from the crowd. Vintage sweet buffets have been a hugely in vogue for the last couple of years, so why not try a twist on the trend, and organise a vintage ice-cream buffet. Encourage your guests to pick their favourite flavour, add a topping or two, and top it off with a cute personalised wooden spoon - super-easy to DIY thanks to this letter set from The TomKat Studio Shop. I'm loving this shoot by Eat Drink Chic, complete with free downloadable candy-pink striped stationery.

Buy your ice-cream supplies from The TomKat Studio Shop or from PaperMash in the UK.

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My DIY Wedding Ceremony Template

So here it is - our wedding ceremony template. Please do feel free to use it as you wish, and I'd be interested in any improvements you make, or opinions you have on how to make it better. We hope it would work just as well for a same-sex marriage. You'll see that I've deleted some of the details of the vows, so that you can fill them in with your own personal promises.

THE WEDDING OF BRIDE AND GROOM

At VENUE in CITY/COUNTY/COUNTRY

DATE at TIME

{Insert details of music to be played while the guests are being seated here}

BRIDE ENTERS {Insert details of Bride's processional music here}

THE WELCOME

OFFICIANT: Please be seated.

Good afternoon, and welcome to VENUE on this lovely day. We are / I am OFFICIANT'S NAME, and we’re / I'm an old friend of the X family. We’ve known X since X, and we’re delighted to preside over X and X’s wedding ceremony.

The wedding rings are making their way around the congregation. When they come to you, please silently say a prayer, or wish X and X all the best in their married life. This is a tradition known as warming the rings. You’ll need to pass them on fairly quickly, because we’ll soon be coming to the vows, when we’ll need them back!

X and X understand that marriage is a solemn vow bonding two people together for life. They’re thrilled to be making this vow in front of you all today.

They’ve chosen several readings that are important to them, for this ceremony. The first will be ready by READER ONE.

THE FIRST READING

READER ONE: This was the passage X read to X when he asked her to marry him.

From Chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
"He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete."

THE VOWS

OFFICIANT: X and X see marriage as the next step in their lives together, and it’s important to them that you’re all here today to witness this moment. X and X have written their own vows to each other. X, if you’d like to start.

GROOM’S VOW

I promise to love you with all of my being for as long as we live.

I promise to be your best and most loyal friend, to cherish you, to care for you [ ]

I promise to be romantic, [ ]

I promise to be a good companion wherever we are. And [ ].

I promise to be good company. There will be []

I promise to be a loving and caring mother should that day come. I'll

Lastly, I promise that we'll always be a team. What's mine is yours, financially, physically and mentally. We'll be [ ].

You are the person I've chosen to spend my life with and before all our family and friends today I want to say somewhat simply...I love you and I can't wait to be your husband.

BRIDE'S VOW

I promise to love you with all of my being for as long as we live.

I promise to be your best and most loyal friend, to cherish you, to care for you [ ]

I promise to be romantic, [ ]

I promise to be a good companion wherever we are. And [ ].

I promise to be good company. There will be []

I promise to be a loving and caring mother should that day come. I'll

Lastly, I promise that we'll always be a team. What's mine is yours, financially, physically and mentally. We'll be [ ].

You are the person I've chosen to spend my life with and before all our family and friends today I want to say somewhat simply...I love you and I can't wait to be your wife.

OFFICIANT TURNS TO THE BEST MAN: Please could I have the rings

OFFICIANT: GROOM, will you take BRIDE, to be your lawfully wedded wife. Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only to BRIDE as long as you both shall live?

GROOM: I WILL

OFFICIANT: BRIDE, will you take GROOM to be your lawfully wedded husband. Will you love him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only to GROOM as long as you both shall live?

BRIDE: I WILL

READINGS

OFFICIANT: Before X and X exchange rings, we have two poems chosen by X and X, and read by READER 2 and READER 3.

The Orange, by Wendy Cope
Read by READER 2

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange —
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled and shared it with Robert and Dave —
They got quarters and I had a half.

And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.

The One by Christina Rossetti
Read by READER 3

When the one whose hand you're holding
Is the one one who holds your heart
When the one whose eyes you gaze into
Gives your hopes and dreams their start,
When the one you think of first and last
Is the one who holds you tight,
And the things you plan together
Make the whole world seem just right,
When the one whom you believe in
puts their faith and trust in you,
You've found the one and only love
You'll share your whole life through.

EXCHANGING OF RINGS

OFFICIANT: May I have the rings please. These rings, now warmed by those you love the most, are a symbol of your marriage. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration and joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and love you have for each other.

TO GROOM: Take this ring, and placing it on BRIDE’s finger, say:
With this ring, I thee wed, pledging my loyalty, love and life.

TO BRIDE: Take this ring, and placing it on GROOMS’s finger, say:
With this ring, I thee wed, pledging my loyalty, love and life.

THE UNION

OFFICIANT: As X and X have consented to their marriage and have witnessed the fact before this gathering of friends and family, having made promises to each other, marked by the giving and receiving of rings, I NOW DECLARE YOU HUSBAND AND WIFE. You may now kiss the bride!

SIGNING OF THE WEDDING CERTIFICATE

OFFICIANT: X and X will now sign their wedding certificate, along with their two witnesses, while the string quartet will play Hornpipe from Handel’s Water Music.

{Music: Hornpipe from Handel’s Water Music}

THE FINAL EXHORTATION

OFFICIANT: Please all stand. X and X have chosen each other; they have declared their love for each other and their purpose to live together united as one. May they carry great peace and satisfaction into their marriage. And may they find today a new beginning together, with many years ahead of fruitfulness and joy.

I present, the new Mr and Mrs X!

{Picture Credits} All photographs by Chloe from Caught the Light

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