Wedding Trends of 2013 - Bushy Bride & Bridesmaid Bouquets

Now that the weather's turned, and we're firmly into autumn and wintery weddings, I wanted to tell you about a new eco-friendly trend sweeping the wedding world. It started with brides using seasonal flowers, rather than those flown in from abroad, and now it's taken a natural next step. Rather than use bright blooms, fashion-forward brides are choosing bushy bouquets of pure foliage. It's an elegant, green-goddess look, and it works perfectly with dramatic and detail-heavy wedding gowns, such as those by Jenny Packham, Temperley London and Samuelle Couture. Olive branches, bay bouquets and eucalyptus are popular, but I love the oak leaf look picture below. Lots more busy bouquet inspiration on my Pinterest page.

{Credit} Picture by Jose Villa, dress by Saja Wedding - more from this shoot

{Credit} Picture by Jose Villa, dress by Samuelle Couture - more from this shoot

{Credit} Picture by Punam Bean Photography - More from this wedding on Style Me Pretty

{Credit} Source unknown, please leave a comment if you know

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Equality, Engagement Rings & Grooms Gifts

Grooms always get slightly forgotten on wedding days. All the focus is on the bride, what she's wearing, and her veil, bouquet and bridesmaids. All the groom has to do is turn up in a decent suit with the wedding rings. Looking back, it all starts with the proposal. Girls get a sparkling engagement ring, and the boys....well they don't get anything really, do they! I reckon it's time for that to change - as a statement of equality. On the morning of your wedding, send your future husband a surprise present. If you don't think he'll wear an engagement ring, then why not cufflinks, or a luxury watch? You could have it engraved with your wedding date and your initials, and just like your engagement ring, he'll have it for life. {Now I've just got to hope my husband doesn't read this, and ask why he didn't get one on our our wedding day!}

{Credit} My husband on our wedding day by Caught the Light

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A Pretty, Rustic, HandmadeTipi-on-a-Farm Wedding - Reception Details

There's nothing I like more than a marquee wedding, except from when the marquee's a tipi!! They've been a huge trend this summer, and I reckon it's one to watch for 2014 as well. What I love about Glen and Teri's tipi wedding is their pretty rustic details. Burlap and lace decorations work perfectly together, and are super-easy to DIY. Teri and her family created many of my favourite details, including the lace-wrapped jam-jars and white painted baked bean vases, plus the hand-stencilled scrap-wood table names. When it came to cakes, Glen and Teri couldn't choose between a cheese cake and a normal wedding cake, so they had both - again DIY'd by relatives. Even the favours were handmade by Glen's mum! Enjoy the gorgeous pictures by James Grist Photography, and be sure to read Teri's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire - there's tonnes more top tips for future brides between the lines!

Our special day was Saturday 3rd August. We hosted our ceremony at Ratsbury Barn in Tenterden, Kent, and our reception was held in tipis on a friend's farm. 

We always knew we wanted our wedding reception to be held on our friend's farm and the tipis fitted perfectly with the setting - we absolutely loved them. Our love of the outdoors was the theme for our wedding and so we chose to have very rustic, natural decor.

A Pretty Rustic Handmade Tipi-on-a-Farm Wedding

One way to keep your wedding costs down, is to organise a backyard wedding. Of course, not all of us have a garden big enough for a massive marquee, but Glen and Teri got lucky, and borrowed a friend's farm! They then hired a fabulous tipi for their reception, and booked nearby Ratsbury Barn in Kent for their wedding ceremony. I love their rustic wedding theme - Glen and Teri both love the outdoors, so they chose natural decor details of burlap and wood. Other stealworthy ideas include Teri's strapless Enzoani gown and the outfits she chose for her flower-girls and pageboys. The overall effect is effortless and boho-chic, and perfectly pictured by James Grist Photography. More shots from their incredible reception, coming later today!

Our special day was Saturday 3rd August. We hosted our ceremony at Ratsbury Barn in Tenterden, Kent, and our reception was held in tipis on a friend's farm.

Our love of the outdoors was the theme for our wedding and so we chose to have very rustic, natural decor.

Best British Bridal Designers - Temperley London

All this week, I'm celebrating London Fashion Week by showcasing the best of British Bridal Designers. Yesterday we were all about the glamour of Jenny Packham's wedding gowns, but today I'm thrilled to bring you Temperley London's latest bridal collection. Themed around Shakespeare's famously romantic play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the new Titania collection is stunning! I've fallen for the intricate lace-work - it looks like perfect cobwebs {the non-creepy kind!}, and Alice Temperley's gowns are soooo flattering. I had the best time at a dress-fitting in their Notting Hill atelier. My favourite is the gown below {on the right}, although I'd probably wear a slip underneath....

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Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

A big thank you and huge ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ to everyone who has already voted for me in the Wedding Blog Awards! I'm getting seriously excited about attending the Award Ceremony at The Ritz {oo-eee!}, and it would MAKE MY YEAR if I could win just one of my two nominations. Apparently I'll get an Oscar-like trophy and everything. Goodness knows what I'm going to wear - I'm not quite back to my pre-baby-shape yet, and none of my dresses fit. Voting for me will take you just a minute, and the good karma vibes will float you through to Friday. P.S. This is what I look like when I'm very happy - yup, you could catch goldfish with that mouth!!

{Credit} Chloe from Caught the Light - more from My Wedding

Love Before the Big Day? Please vote for me in the Wedding Blog Awards! And why not sign up to our free newsletter, for exclusive content and special offers! Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Best British Bridal Designers - Jenny Packham

All this week, I'm celebrating London Fashion Week by showcasing the best of British Bridal Designers, starting with the fabulous Jenny Packham. Jenny's renowned for her glamorous gowns, much favoured by sophisticated metropolitan brides. I've long loved her intricate beading and sequin designs, and her new Spring 2014 collection is full of exquisite wedding gowns you'll want to add to your wish-list. Feast your eyes on her brilliantly eccentric campaign, and dream! View the full 2014 Bridal Collection.

Love Before the Big Day? Please vote for me in the Wedding Blog Awards! And why not sign up to our free newsletter, for exclusive content and special offers! Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

A Late Summer Wedding with Cornflower Blue Bridesmaids - The Reception

Cath Kidson and Joules have to be among my favourite UK designers, and I'm thrilled to see prints from their collections in this gorgeous barn wedding. Lorraine chose a mixture of Joules and Alexon dresses for her bridesmaids, and I love the bold mix of print and plain. With DIY table flowers, and a wedding cake handmade by a family friend, there's tonnes of wedding inspiration for a budget bride wanting to create her own details. I love the outside barn venue - its bunting and hydrangea filled jam-jars, plus the 'Borrow a Blanket' basket for chilly guests {buy blankets for a £3 each at Ikea}. Other stealworthy ideas include the blackboard table-plan and menu, the Cath Kidson round table runners and the matching tops to the honey wedding favours. Last but definitely not least, take a look at those pavlova puddings....yummy!! Thank you to Victoria Phipps Photography for capturing every perfect detail - Victoria's one of my favourite wedding photographers!