Wonderful Wedding Blog Web Links

What are you up to this weekend? Starting your wedding planning? My husband and I are going to see American Hustle, as a rare date night since Ivo was born nine months ago. I'm going to stuff myself with popcorn, and be that annoying rustling person in the front row. Then on Sunday we'll head out to Columbia Road Flower Market, so I can fill the house with Dutch tulips and cut-price daffodils. Then all week I'll pretend spring is nearly here! Hope you have a fabulous break - here are a few of my favourite wedding blog links from this week.

{Photo Credit} Susan Stripling - see more from this Vintage Flower Market inspired wedding on Green Wedding Shoes

♥ Easy wedding DIY - chalkboard projects
♥ Oh my! This bride is elegance personified. And I love her ballet shoes.
♥ Is your pet going to come to your wedding? Here's a great DIY floral wreath to make sure they look the part!
♥ Seriously cool {if messy!} idea for an engagement shoot
♥ A perfect luxe monochrome wedding
♥ A stunning library themed wedding for a couple who both work in publishing!
♥ Love this Hansel & Gretel themed wedding shoot - look out for the tiny-weeny little mushroom!
♥ Remember my post on sequins being on trend for 2014 weddings? Well this couple are ahead of the curve!
♥ An Irish botanical themed wedding shoot
♥ A great wedding combination of industrial AND shabby chic - who'd have thought it!
♥ All my 2014 Wedding Trend posts so far.....

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Wedding Trends of 2014 - The Great Wedding Bake-Off

Last year, we all went crazy for the Great British Bake-Off....again! Watched by millions, the programme has turned the nation baking mad - even men are turning their hand to baking the perfect souffle. So if you add in the DIY craze that's still dominating the wedding world, you get a HUGE trend for 2014....Wedding Bake-Offs. Essentially, it's a mini-version of the Great British Bake-Off on one night. Instead of providing pudding, challenge your guests to bake the perfect cake or desert, create a desert table, and instead of cutting one cake, cut dozens! As bride and groom, you get to be the judges {of course!}, and you could even provide a special prize cup for the winner. For inspiration, enjoy the look of the delicious cakey treats below, or check out my Wedding Cake Pinterest page.

{Credits}  Dessert Table by Margaux Kropf, picture by Kali Leenstra. See the rest of this wedding on The Wedding Chicks

{Credits} Cakes by Azale, picture by Sonya Khegay. See the rest of this wedding on The Wedding Chicks

{Credits} Cakes by Cakes by Rumy, picture by Jen Huang. See the rest of this wedding on 100 Layer Cake


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Romantic Layered Wedding Gowns by Claire Pettibone

I've long been a fan of Claire Pettibone wedding dresses, and her collection for spring 2014 is as fabulous as you'd expect. She's famed for her romantic vintage-inspired gowns, and her latest collection - named Decoupage - suggests she was inspired by the traditional art of layering paper cutouts. The result is a line of divine dresses, featuring layers of chantilly, silk and vintage lace. It's the backs of the dresses that really take my breath away - just imagine the stunning view for your guests as you stand, saying your vows. Which is your favourite? Take a look for Claire Pettibone Trunk Shows in the UK - you never know, you might pick up a bargain! P.S. Her Still Life collection for Autumn 2014 brides is incredible!

A Relaxed Boho Country Wedding Inspired by a Painting - The Reception

With a brilliant boho teepee reception venue, an incredible lake-side location, and even a bell-tent village for guests wanting to camp overnight, this stunning big day ticks all my boxes. Lisa and Marcus decided on a relaxed, country wedding, and discovered the amazing Lyndon Top campsite as a wedding venue. Theirs was the first wedding ever held there, and it made for some challenging logistics. Everything, including electricity, had to be brought in - but didn't it make for an incredible wedding? I love all Lisa's wedding details, from the DIY'd reception flowers {including cornflowers - my favourite!}, the boho but elegant teepees, and the Lisa and Marcus' decision to forego cake and favours, and choose cheese instead! Nowadays it's all about having your wedding your way, and picking and choosing from the standard traditions. Enjoy Lisa's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire, and feast your eyes on Victoria Phipps Photography's amazing work!

We celebrated our wedding on 6th July 2013 at St Mary's Church in Ashwell. We hosted our wedding reception in a teepee at Lyndon Top, overlooking Rutland Water. Our teepees were from Papakata, who I would highly recommend. Their teepees look fantastic and their attention to detail is excellent.

We were hoping to create a relaxed, country wedding, with a hint of boho, and were delighted to find a field overlooking Rutland Water, so we had a fantastic view of the lake as well.

A Relaxed Boho Country Wedding Inspired by a Painting

This beautiful boho wedding has me wanting to recreate my own wedding all over again! Lovely bride Lisa, was inspired by a the painting, 'Midsummer Eve' by Edward Robert Hughes, and painted her own design for her wedding invitations, Save the Dates, and table stationery. I've fallen in love with the relaxed country feel, the dreamy lakeside teepee wedding reception, and Lisa's divine messy bouquet, made up of spray roses, sweet-smelling honeysuckle, and mint. Every wedding detail fits perfectly, from Lisa's bespoke head-dress, her sweet page boys' and flower girls' outfits, and her divine David Fielden dress - which was actually the top and bottom of two dresses put together. Enjoy these wonderful pictures by Victoria Phipps Photography, and stay tuned for the amazing reception photographs. You wait till you see the Lyndon Top lakeside reception venue!

We celebrated our wedding on 6th July 2013 at St Mary's Church in Ashwell. We hosted our wedding reception in a tipi at Lyndon Top, overlooking Rutland Water.

We were hoping to create a relaxed, country wedding and were delighted to find a field overlooking Rutland Water, so we had a fantastic view of the lake as well.

Wedding Trends of 2014 - Sequins

Spotted on the 2014 Spring/Summer catwalks, sequins were everywhere, and they'll be a massive trend for 2014 weddings. But these weren't the pink sequins of a six-year old wanna-be-Princess, they were elegant, modern and striking. Marc Jacobs chose striking petrol blues, Givenchy vertical black stripes, and Tom Ford, a square snake-skin effect. To translate this into the wedding world, planners are picking individual details and giving them a subtle shimmer. You don't want your whole wedding themed around sequins, just a few special accents. Whether it's your dress, the table cloths, or just your confetti, stick to golds, blues and even dark greens. I love these ides below, but take a look at my Pinterest board for more ideas.

{Photo Credit} 1. The Cake That Ate Paris | 2. Sequin Love Sign, £250 by Pocket Full of Dreams UK

Wedding Details - The Best-Dressed Cutlery / Flatwear

I'm ready to admit that I'm getting pretty niche with this wedding detail, but if you can obsess with the nitty-gritty on a wedding blog, then where else?! So let's talk cutlery wrapping. Yes I know the norm is to put the knife and fork on either side of the plate, but why do what's normal when you can be original and creative? Cutlery wrapping is a great way to add pizzazz and colour to your wedding reception tables, particularly if you can't afford to splash out on tonnes of flowers. Wraps are super-easy to DIY, whether you're going for a rustic theme, {use hessian like our real bride did her}, light-hearted {love the chevron pattern}, or pretty. Here are a few of my favourites, check out my Pinterest board for more!

{Photo Credit} Picture by Katrina Louise, see the rest of this wedding on The Wedding Chicks

The French Wedding Show

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to partner up with The French Wedding Show. Organised by the lovely Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings, the show is designed to help couples planning their wedding in France, to meet fantastic French suppliers who speak English. Add in a heady dollop of wedding inspiration, lots of delicious cake, lovely people and buckets of French wedding venue ideas, and you've got The French Wedding Show in a nutshell. As I got married in Provence, I have real life experience of what it's like to plan a wedding in France, so Virginie invited to me along to offer advice and ideas. I had the MOST fantastic day, meeting tonnes of excited brides and grooms, and sharing my enthusiasm for destination weddings. One couple are even getting married in the same venue as me!! All the vendors were hand-picked, and top quality, and lovely people to boot. I can't wait till next year's show, but in the meantime, enjoy these stunning pictures of the day by Chloé from Caught the Light, who just happens to have been my wonderful wedding photographer! Click for more details of wedding fairs.

Brides who booked early received a very exciting goodie bag!

The French Wedding Magazine! Read your copy online here - it includes an article on How to Theme Your Wedding by me!

The stunning 20th Century Theatre venue in Notting Hill....which would also make a brilliant wedding venue.

Stunning dresses by The Mews, who stock a dreamy range of French designers, including my favourite, Delphine Manivet.

I love the vintage crate filled with baby's breath!

Beautiful wedding flowers by Jenny Moss, an English florist who lives in France (Tel: 0556 618 202)

Wedding stationery by Gemma Milly

Me & my fish-bowl of Haribo Heart Throbs wedding favours, DIY'd out of glassine bags bought from eBay.

I DIY'd the giant purple balloon decorations, using a lot of helium, and silver streamers, all bought from eBay. The hardest bit was tying the knot in the balloons!

Talking to brides and grooms!

Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings offering advice to brides and grooms.

Just a few of the fabulous vendors.....
♥ Jenny Moss - Stunning English wedding florist who lives in France (Tel: 0556 618 202)
♥ Gemma Milly - Beautiful wedding stationery
♥ The Mews - English stockist of French designer wedding dresses
♥ 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
♥ Carre Vert - French wedding florist

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