Chic & Sleek Wedding Dresses

Stop the press! Just take a look at these amazing 1920's-style glamorous wedding dresses by boutique fashionista Johanna Johnson. Inspired by the heady nights of the 20′s and 30′s where the evening shone with cresol beads and the heady scent of violets and jasmine. The Swarovski crystals, Parisian bead-work and deep-drop backs have stolen my heart, but there is a fly in the ointment.... Johanna's shop is in Sydney. The good news is you can buy a selection of her gowns from Luella's Boudoir in Wimbledon, and she has a beautiful selection of bridal accessories available online.

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Real Beachside Destination Wedding: Jiwon & Inki

Pure elegance are the two words I'd use to sum up this destination big day. Jiwon and Inki let the location do the talking and kept their wedding style simple and chic, with white as the dominant colour. I'm loving Jiwon's understated gown, which she glammed up with some serious diamonds, not least her huge engagement ring. Another favourite spot is the bridesmaids neutral dresses, which are so this season it hurts. The girls clearly share a love for shoes, because every pair is a work of art, and there was no compromising on heel-height, despite this being a beach wedding! The stationery fans, the all-white table-settings, the sculptural lily bouquets; we're talking a seriously classy affair all round. Huge thanks to Punam Bean for these gorgeous photographs.

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Vintage Paper Chains for a Vintage Wedding

Bookworms looking for wedding decorations to suit their style, should look no further than Bookity. This quirky UK crafter creates unique items from old books. It's upcycling at it's best, as damaged and unwanted novels are turned into gorgeous garlands, bunting and confetti. Ask for love poetry bunting for your big day, and be surrounded by Shakespeare's sonnets all day. Vintage romance at its best.

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Real Brides Wedding Mood Boards

With so many of my friends' weddings coming up, I'm being bombarded with fabulous wedding theme ideas and wedding details. It's like a wedding inspiration overload, and it's made me realise how much individual creativity there is out there in the bridal community. So, I've decided to start a new feature on Before the Big Day called *Real Brides Wedding Mood Boards*. The idea is that you send me in the Mood Board you're using to theme and plan your wedding, and I publish it here on the wedding blog, so that all the other brides {and grooms}, can comment, enthuse, and generally feel inspired by your wedding ideas. Now it might be that you haven't exactly created a Board as such, but you do have an amazing Pinterest page. Either way, send over the details to me, and I'll create one out of your pictures. Alternatively, you could publish it direct to the Before the Big Day Facebook page. When you send it over, use this address, and add in your first name, where you're getting married {this can be as vague as you like}, your wedding colour palette, and a name for your wedding theme. To get you started, here's the mood board I used for my own Secret Garden Provencal wedding!

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Real Floral Filled Wedding: Eric & Emily

At some weddings it's all about the dress. At others, the food or the venue. At this gorgeous private ranch wedding, it was all about the flowers. If you're struggling to find inspiration for your florals, look no further than the pictures of the amazing vintage-chic arrangements at Eric and Emily's big day. Copy their style by using old-fashioned containers for simple white blooms - check out car boot sales for old watering cans, watering troughs and urns. Loving the colour pop of the bright yellow in the bridesmaids' bouquets, and their neutral dresses. Everyone looks good in elegant silvery taupe. Other stealworthy ideas include the long banqueting-style tables and outdoor dining, something I'm hoping to do at my own wedding. Thanks to Sarah Yates Photography for her stunning pictures.

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Why Eco-Chic Brides Love Burlap

Just because it's slightly rough and ready, doesn't make burlap any less chic. In fact, it's its naive rusticity that makes it this season's fabric of choice for eco-chic weddings. Made from vegetable fibres, it's often used to make sacks to transport coffee beans, and it's these bags that are super-easy to recyle into gorgeous accessories and favours. Perfect for a couple keen to be green on their big day.

Product Credits {from top left} - 1. My Adobe Cottage, 2: Lilmissi, 3: The French Nest Co, 4: Ginie Lee, {from bottom left}, 1: Lilmissi, 2: My Adobe Cottage, 3: Funky Shique

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Real Quirky Music-Themed Wedding: John & Jane - Part 2

This wonderful quirky wedding is sure to inspire any brides wanting to organise their wedding in their own fabulous style, without worrying too much about tradition. Just take a look at gorgeous bride, Jane's stunning silver grey wedding gown! Unique, elegant, and definitely re-wearable. There are tonnes of wedding ideas worth stealing from Jane and John's fun outdoor wedding reception. I love the cosy fire-pit - a great idea for cold English weddings, where you could toast marshmallows and snug around in blankets. The open safari-style marquee makes for a warm atmosphere, and I love the simple but sweet, twiggy table flowers. Homemade ginger beer and produce complete the family atmosphere, and the vintage water ewer and jug are a lovely way to welcome your guests to wash their hands before they sit down to eat. It's a wedding set in rustic heaven! Huge thanks to We Love Pictures for their gorgeous work, don't miss Part 1 of their pictures here.

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Real Quirky Music-Themed Wedding: John & Jane

There's nothing I like better than stumbling across a fabulous quirky wedding day, shot by one of my favourite photography teams! It makes my Friday! Just take a look at these gorgeous music themed big day, by South African photographers We Love Pictures. The gorgeous John and Jane are both professional musicians, and entertained their guests with a brilliant duet they wrote specially for their big day. Wedding favours were copies of their full-length album recorded for the event, table numbers were cut out of musical scores, and there we not one but two wedding bands. Other details I love include Jane's beautiful grey wedding dress, the hay-bale seats, the asile decorated with natural cotton bolls, Jane arriving in a cart pulled by a donkey called Abram, the bridesmaids in their dresses with tails {!), and the boys in top hats decorated with ears! More fabulous reception details coming soon. Huge thanks to We Love Pictures for their gorgeous work.

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