You & Me Ampersand Wedding Necklace

Typography is one of those things that gets me very excited - along with stationery of any sort. I think there's a graphic designer desperate to get out of me....just one without any particular talent! It also means that I'm a magpie for anything ampersand shaped....so when I spotted this you & me necklace on Tom Design, an Etsy boutique, I knew I had to share it with you. Wouldn't it be a gorgeous piece to wear on your wedding day? Available in silver, and bracelets, they starts at £15. You can also buy single letters, if you want a few for bridesmaids presents!

{I want this!} Ampersand & Initial necklace, £15 from Tom Design

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Blissful Glamorous Beach Wedding at the Four Seasons - Part 2

With a stunning beachside ceremony, and an incredible reception at The Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia, this was never going to be an ordinary wedding. Kimberlee and Chris chose Malaysia, as it's half-way between their two families {Australia and the UK}, plus it's breathtakingly beautiful. I'm completely obsessed with the amazing venue, and stylish touches added by the bride and groom. Stealworthy ideas include Kimberlee's simple but chic rose bouquet, her bridesmaids' neutral gowns, the boys' fabulous Next suits {steal!}, and the cute lego wedding cake toppers. Kimberlee and Chris also created a 'Get to Know The Guest List' booklet, to encourage their friends and family to get talking - such a good idea! Enjoy all of Kimberlee's fab advice - as an events planner, she's something of an expert on these things - and of course, Ruby Yeo Photography and Christine Lim's incredible wedding pictures.

We celebrated our wedding on 15th March 2013 at The Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia. With me being from Australia and with Chris being from London, we had always discussed a wedding abroad. We decided on Malaysia as it was the perfect half-way point for both families, and because it is breathtakingly beautiful. 

I plan events every day for my job with Chillisauce, but even so, I really enjoyed planning my wedding. It's totally different when it's your own day, and it brought Chris and myself closer together. It was a huge task researching a destination wedding but totally worth it. I wouldn't change a thing. 

Blissful Glamorous Beach Wedding at the Four Seasons

After yesterday's crazy storm, who wouldn't want to escape to a desert island! While I can't whisk you away, I can help you dream of a destination wedding thanks to Chris and Kimberlee's beautiful beach wedding. They chose the incredible The Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia for their wedding venue, which meant they could rely on the hotel to provide many of their wedding details, including their flowers and wedding cake, and of course, the hilarious golf-cart wedding transport! Kimberlee added plenty of her own wedding details as well - despite having to plan her wedding from so far away. I love her idea of providing keys to unlock a box at each guest's table place - it's an original idea I haven't seen at any other weddings. Also the pretty parasols were a fantastic idea, and Kimberlee's fishtail Vera Wang wedding gown is definitely a stealworthy idea!! Enjoy these incredible wedding photographs by Ruby Yeo Photography and Christine Lim {second shooter}, more to come from their reception later. P.S. You can watch their wedding video too!

We celebrated our wedding on 15th March 2013 at The Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia. With me being from Australia and with Chris being from London, we had always discussed a wedding abroad. We decided on Malaysia as it was the perfect half-way point for both families, and because it is breathtakingly beautiful. 

The hotel already had such amazing scenery, that we decided to keep everything else simple from a wedding theme point of view. Chris and I have similar tastes so agreeing on things was easy.

Loving Wedding Invitation Wax Seals

There's something uniquely romantic about sealing an envelope with a wax seal. It adds a level of solemnity to a wedding invitation, plus a good dollop of luxury. It's also a great way to add a personal DIY touch to your wedding stationery. You can choose the wax to match with your wedding theme colour, and either use your initial as the stamp, or your signature wedding motif {mine was a vintage key}. Buy your wax seal supplies from Paper Source {US stationery shop} or Confetti, and if you can't afford wax seals, or can't be bothered with dripping wax, then try embossing your wedding stationery with one of these.

{Product Credit} Amarides via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Product Credit} Black­bird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Product Credit} Boutwell Studio via Inspired by This

{Product Credit} Unknown via Elizabeth Annes Designs via Inspired by This

{Product Credit} Betsy Dunlap via Oh So Beautiful Paper

{Product Credit} Follow Studio

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The French Wedding Show & Before the Big Day

Only two weeks to go to my big day! Nope, I'm not getting married again, but this is nearly as exciting! I'm going to be the guest blogger as The French Wedding Show on 9th November. This fab wedding fair is taking place in Notting Hill in London, at the 20th Century Theatre, and it's sure to be FABULOUS. If you've considered getting married in France for more than a second, then you should definitely come down and get some advice from me, and Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings {wedding planner extraordinaire}. And then, once you've finished chatting with us, you can check out some of the best wedding suppliers France has to offer. Buy your tickets here, before they all sell out!

Just a few of the fabulous vendors.....
♥ The Cake - Stunning wedding cakes in the South West of France
♥ Toni Lazzaro -A brilliant make up artist in Paris
♥ Ariane Douguet -A fantastic soprano singer
♥ Discotecnik - DJ, DJ live and bands in the South East
♥ Jazz Around Midnight - Jazz band in Paris and all over France
♥ Studio 80 - Videographers in Paris and all over France
♥ Virginie'e - A fantastic make up artist in the South West of France

There will also be floral designers, a live painter, wedding photographers, marquee suppliers, wedding dress designers and a Venues Bar where couples can flick through Et Voila recommended venues! 

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A Secret Garden Wedding with a Woodland & Travel Theme - The Reception

This is one of those amazing weddings where the bride thought of every single detail, and DIY'd a fair few {like most} of them. A regular reader of Before the Big Day, Kelly came up with several fabulous themes, and combined them all with panache! Travel plus secret woodland and a colourful palette equals wedding heaven. And the ideas to steal - there's too many. Just take a look at the amazing handmade hot air balloon table names, the stunning paper cut-style seating plan, and the pinecone place markers. Kelly was up till late the night before her wedding, decorating her tepee venues with six friends - so if you're considering to DIY your decor, remember to arrange a helping hand {or 10}. I love how she placed a sprig of rosemary at each seat, and the hand-stamped balloons on the stationery are the cutest. Instead of a cake, Kelly and Pete chose a massive array of sweetie treats....my type of wedding! Enjoy Kelly's hints and tips in her answers to the Before the Big Day Brides' Questionnaire - there's tonnes of advice for budding brides. Huge thanks to Richard Galloway for his stunning wedding photographs.

We got married in the beautiful Secret Garden at Wasing Park in Berkshire. It was a bright and sunny May Day. I liked the idea of a secret garden full of surprise and intrigue, and Wasing Park was the perfect venue. We kept areas hidden so as to surprise our guests with each stage of the wedding.

Our photographer was Richard Galloway. He is an old friend and a professional wedding photographer. We felt we couldn't have made a better decision, as he knew us, and knew that we were planning something fun and curious. 

A Secret Garden Wedding with a Woodland & Travel Theme

Regular readers of this wedding blog will knew there's nothing I like more than a Real Bride Submission. The lovely Kelly read Before the Big Day while planning her wedding, and I'm thrilled to feature all her incredible wedding ideas. Like me, she hosted her wedding in a secret garden, and chose a mixture of themes for her decorations and props, and a colourful palette. There's so many exciting stealworthy ideas in the reception pictures {hot air balloons, pinecone place markers and Tizer bottles!!}, but first feast your eyes on Kelly and Pete's stunning wedding ceremony. I love the hay-bales and natural wedding arch, Kelly's colourful bridesmaids and the festival-style silk banners - plus giant balloons {yippee!}. Kelly has the most incredible wedding dress story - be sure to read her answers to the Before the Big Day Brides' Questionnaire, and enjoy Richard Galloway's stunning wedding photographs.

We got married in the beautiful Secret Garden at Wasing Park in Berkshire. It was a bright and sunny May Day. I liked the idea of a secret garden full of surprise and intrigue, and Wasing Park was the perfect venue. We kept areas hidden so as to surprise our guests with each stage of the wedding.

We had a combination of decorations and themes - a travel theme, a secret woodland theme, and a night theme of fire. We also wanted plenty of colour to give the feel of a fiesta, but a country garden version.

The story of my wedding dress is amazing but true. My first love and now very dear and fabulous friend is now head of menswear design at fashion house Bottega Veneta based out of Milan. He knew as my mummy was no longer with us, that I would want some support with this very important task. I was so grateful for his expertise, time and guidance - he turned a situation that could have been quite sad and difficult, into a very special experience, and for this I will forever be in his debt.

The Best Products for a Natural Make-up Look on Your Wedding Day

It's been a while since we had a posting from our Hair & Beauty Expert, but Julia Bowden's been ridiculously busy working at weddings all summer {and before that, a film!}, so we're very excited she's finally had time to write us a feature! Don't miss her other blog posts for Before the Big Day, and enjoy her latest offering, after this picture.....

Last week I had lots of fun! As you know, Before the Big Day won the Editor's Pick prize at The Wedding Blogger Awards, and Georgia invited me along as her date. We were hoping Before the Big Day would win, so beforehand I did Georgia's hair and make-up to make sure she was at her glamorous best. The look I was going for was natural, but photo ready - perfect for your big day! So this week I'm turning the tables, and instead of writing about Real Life brides, this blog post is all about Georgia, and how I made her up for the night {sorry Georgia!}.

Georgia isn’t the biggest make-up wearer {I'm trying to change this of course!}, so I wanted to show her, and you, that if you're a little scared of make-up, there are plenty of products that won't feel heavy or look caked-on. If you use a little application know-how, all these goodies can be used on your wedding day, to make you look naturally fab in photos - just like Georgia on the night of the awards. In fact, she looked so fab, that Mark Francis from Made In Chelsea had to grab us for a picture!! Afterwards he said that he’s obsessed with weddings {just like us} …so Mark, if you're reading…we love you!!

If you're looking to do your own make-up on your wedding day, give these products a test run, and ask the girls on the make-up counters to give you a lesson in applying natural-looking make-up. Or you could always get in touch with me!

P.S. On the night I got an amazing beauty goody bag from The Ritz - reviews of my faves to come!

The Look - Blushing Blogger / Bride!

1. Mix wonderfully sheer, natural and corrective Clinique CC cream with a touch of By Terry Or De Rose Elixir Extreme {tinted primer enriched with pink gold}, to give that extra all-over glow, doubled with nourishing staying power

2. Use Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit under the eyes for some correction where it's needed most. This clever duo has a brightening setting powder included.

3. Lightly dab the apples of your cheeks a touch of Stila Cream Blush in Petunia for a dewy hue. I recommend the Mac Duo Fibre 187 brush.

4. On the T-zone only - brush on a very light touch of blot powder. My favourite is Make-up Store’s Blotting Powder.

5. Slick on Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner at the base of the lashes, and smudge with a cotton-bud for a soft definition, that will hint to a thicker lash line. Then pop a touch of any neutral shade over the lids. I like Chanel Stylo Eye Shadow in Pink Lagoon, for a bit of a warm glow to the lids. Then slick on some Eyeko Brow Gel to neaten those brows.

6. Time to put the all-important mascara on your lashes. I love Benefit's 'They're Real' Mascara. Just one lick will be enough, but you can build it up to look more dramatic – two mascaras in one!

7. I love individual false lashes, but for an even more natural look, try curling those beauties with Ted Baker’s Eyelash Curlers.

8. Last but not least, a nice peachy nude lip. I’m obsessed with Hour-Glass’ new Nude Lip Stylos range. I love Nude No.5 and their packaging is to die for!

Hair

9. We were pushed for time - so I sprayed some Percy & Reed Heat Protect Styling Mist on Georgia's hair, and popped in some Nicky Clarke Heated travel rollers. It takes practice, but once mastered this is the best way to add a bit of quick glam, and boost your locks.

10. Smooth over with some Percy & Reed No Oil Oil - which is light and non greasy, and finish up with a puff of classic L'Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray to hold in place.

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