A Fun-Loving Wedding featuring a Tractor & Space Hoppers

You can't help but fall for this fun-loving couple. Tasha and Niall DIY'd their wedding from the ceremony up, and their personalities shine through every brilliant detail. I love their handmade marquee decorations - the bunting, ribbon chandeliers and burlap table runners, and their genius idea to ask all their friends to make cupcakes for their wedding cake. They hosted their reception in Tasha's parent's orchard, and filled it with lawn games, giant jenga, a child-out area, and even a calypso bar. Amazing! Enjoy these pictures by Michael from My Beautiful Bride - he's really captured the spirit of the occasion.

It was an easy choice to have the wedding reception in the garden of my family home where I grew up, as it's so beautiful there. 

A Fabulous Festival-Style Marquee Wedding

This incredible boho wedding features a folly, a tractor, and a trio of Space Hoppers. It's pretty special!  Tasha chose her family home for her marquee reception, but took a chance on the weather, and picked an outdoor folly on the edge for a corn field for her wedding ceremony to Niall. Luckily the sun shone, and all the guests loved their personalised vows. Other DIY details include all the wedding flowers, which were arranged by the mothers of the bride and groom, the design of Tasha's wedding dress, and most of the marquee decorations. They even managed to persuade a local farmer to lend them a tractor and trailer for wedding transport. Love it! Don't miss the reception pictures in my second post of today - brilliant wedding photographer Michael, from My Beautiful Bride has done us proud!

It was an easy choice to have the wedding reception in the garden of my family home where I grew up, as it's so beautiful there. However it was harder to decided where to host our ceremony.

My husband's three-piece suit was by Duchamp London. He teamed it with a purple tie and simple white handkerchief and shirt.

An Outdoor Wedding with Chandeliers & Tea-Cups

If you're thinking of a shabby chic wedding with a touch of glamour, you're going to fall head-over-heels for this exquisite summer wedding. Liz and Chris celebrated their big day at The Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse in the wine country near Santa Barbara, with a flurry of gorgeous details. I'm loving the outdoor chandeliers, the peach and silver florals, blackboard menu and the old-fashioned striped straws. Don't miss their gorgeous stationery - complete with elegant calligraphy, personalised stamps and a hand-drawn map. I've always thought truly exceptional wedding stationery is the secret to getting your guests excited about your big day, and this suite proves it! Huge thanks to Aaron Delesie for his stunning photographs. He's new to Before the Big Day, but we've got plenty more gorgeous weddings from his portfolio coming soon!

Introducing 77 Diamonds Engagement Rings

When my husband went down on one knee in the snow, he wasn't holding the elegant diamond solitaire I now wear every day, but a giant comedy ring with a rock-shaped stone! He was too nervous to buy my actual ring without me. But then choosing an engagement ring can be an overwhelming business. After a house and a car, it's going to be the third biggest purchase your boyfriend ever makes! Then add in the fact you're going to wear it for the rest of your life..... It's not surprising more and more men are proposing with a temporary fun ring {like my husband!}, and making the trip to the jewellers a joint project. Luckily award-winning jewellers, 77 Diamonds, are here to help.

They've introduced an easy-to-understand Diamond Buying Guide {click on the pic to zoom}, so you can get all the info at home, without the pressure of an over-enthusiastic sales-person. With seven C's to consider, this is definitely a page to accidentally-deliberately leave open on your computer!!

Their brilliant website will help you choose the ring of your dreams, whatever your budget. Now all you need is the Ring Size Chart, and you're good to go! Look out for the vintage-style rings - they're my favourites!!

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Les Trois Soeurs Designer Wedding Dress Sample Sale

Les Trois Soeurs has got to be one of London's best designer wedding dress boutiques, so you can imagine how excited I am to discover the dates of their sample sale. It's taking place at their Beaufort Court boutique in Canary Wharf, on the 5th September. With a selection of over 70 sample wedding gowns and bridal accessories with up to 70 per cent off, it's definitely not one to miss! They're promising a fantastic selection of dresses from top designers, including David Fielden, Amanda Wakeley, Temperley Bridal and many more. There's no appointment required but they recommend you get down early for the full selection.

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And the Bride wore..... Sequins

Wow wow wow! Now we're talking some serious glamour. Just take a look at this di-vine wedding dress created entirely out of sequins. I'm in love! The gowns are created by Gibson Bespoke, and each one is tailored specifically for you. They're the perfect wedding dress for brides wanting to stand out from the crowd. Choose from silver, rose gold, champagne and even rich purple, plus a selection of patterns. Each one is designed with a show-stopping 20" train, and a guarantee to make you feel like a vintage a screen sirens.

{Picture Credit} First image by Catherine Farquharson, others from Gibson Bespoke

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A Pretty Vintage Wedding with a Brownie Wedding Cake

Take the prettiest of pink details, gorgeous Art Deco bridesmaids gowns, and a stunning English rose bride, and you've got wedding heaven. Lovely Nicola and James celebrated their wedding day at Dulwich College, and I've fallen for its stunning historic rooms, and lovely grand staircase. Nicola chose a pretty vintage feel for her big day, and spent months planning DIY ideas and creative projects on Pinterest. The end result is a gorgeous wedding day with tonnes of stealworthy wedding ideas. My favourite details? Nicola's elegant chignon and veil combo, her beautiful Sarah Seven gown with its lace back, and the white taxi transport! Beautiful pictures by Lily Sawyer Photography. Be sure to check out Lily's blog - I'm a huge fan of her work. Don't miss the wedding reception pictures - coming later today.

We celebrated our wedding at Dulwich College on the 23rd May, which was just around the corner from James and my first home. We'd always thought it to be a beautiful place, whenever we walked past on a sunny afternoon. 

Introducing Ada's Bridal Reasonable Wedding Dresses

Regular readers of this blog will know I'm passionate about finding reasonable wedding dresses. I'm always slightly outraged by how much designers charge for their gowns - they know we want to look extra special on our wedding day, and they capitalise on that by upping their prices. So that's why I'm thrilled to introduce Ada's Bridal Wedding Dresses. This fantastic online store is chock-a-block with cheap wedding dresses you'll love! With gowns of every style and shape, you're sure to find a bargain. I'm loving short flirty dresses this season, and I was thrilled to find one for only £80!! Brides looking for Princess-style ball gown wedding dresses will love their range - you can even buy extra petticoats for a fuller skirt. Take a look at their fabulous range of bridesmaid dresses and wedding accessories - I was really impressed with their stunning Grecian style gowns.

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Real Outdoor Vineyard Wedding with a Peony Bouquet

I think I've died and gone to wedding-heaven. This incredible big day has made me want to get married all over again. In a vineyard. On a beautiful summer's day. With a fishtail plait. I had to go back and look at my own wedding pictures to stop myself feeling jealous. {Yes I'm that odd}. I'm featuring zillions of Our Labour of Love's shots, because I can't quite find the words to describe the golden gloriousness of every wedding detail. Let's just say my favourites are the personalised fan programmes, the ombre ruffled cake, the perfect font on their place markers, Athena's huge pink bouquet, her father's kilt, and the ribbon and lace table runners. It's perfection in a Tiffany box! P.S. Athena's a lovely name for a girl, isn't it?

The Cutest Crocheted Cake Toppers

If you're a regular reader, you've probably got bored of me banging on about Etsy, but I can't tell you how amazing it is for wedding inspiration. All these new eastern European sellers have recently joined, and their creativity is amazing! Latest on my love-list are these crocheted cake toppers from CherryTime in Slovenia. Aren't they perfect for a shabby chic wedding? Mojca hand-makes them, so she's open to bespoke orders, and there's plenty more in her Etsy shop - these are just my favourites.

{I want this!} Hearts & Happy Ever After Wedding Cake Topper, £29

{I want this!} Clown Fish Wedding Cake Topper, £48

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A Perfect English Summer Wedding with a Teepee! - Part 2

This summer wedding season has been all about the teepee marquee, and I'm happy to wager the trend will last us all the way into 2013. I love their rustic simplicity, and the fact you don't have to buy in expensive draping and lighting. Add in family style dining tables, big vessels of wildflowers and hay bale seats snaffled from a local farmer, and your all set for your wedding reception. Cheryl and Richard celebrated their big day on the perfect English summer's day, with tonnes of beautiful wedding details. I love how they themed their tables with personal photographs, and DIY'd their place-markers with bird stamps. Their wedding cake is work of white chocolate art, hiding a rather delicious chocolate biscuit interior, and their flowers were DIY'd by one of their bridesmaids. Huge thanks to Cheryl for all her lovely recommendations on how to plan your wedding, and big love to wedding photographer Hester Marriott, for her amazing pictures from the day. Don't miss Part 1.

A Perfect English Summer Wedding with a Teepee!

When it comes to weddings and the weather, it's always risky in Britain. But one couple who rolled the lucky dice, came up trumps with a beautiful sunny day in Hampshire, and a gorgeous array of wedding details you'll be dying to steal. Gorgeous bride Cheryl chose her local family church for her wedding venue, followed by an amazing teepee wedding reception in a nearby field. The wedding has a countryside theme, with hay-bales, rustic jugs of flowers, and family-style dining, but with a big dollop of glamour on top, thanks to Cheryl's sparkly Jenny Packham wedding dress, Richard's morning suit and five gorgeous bridesmaids in cornflower-blue dresses. I love the simplicity of Cheryl's all white bouquet, her elegant up-do and her subtle bridal jewellery, and the colour pop of her bridesmaids and their bouquets. More gorgeous reception details coming in Part 2 - don't miss it! Huge thanks to the lovely Hester Marriott for her fabulous pictures.

My wedding dress was designed by Jenny Packham, and I bought it from a shop near Guildford called Miss Bush. My sister and one of my bridesmaids came with me to try on dresses and it was my bridesmaid who found my dress.

Pretty Wedding Accessories for Your Ears

You might be wondering why I didn't just title this blog post Wedding Earrings! Well that's because these pieces of jewellery aren't earrings exactly. They're beautiful cuffs, which hug the ear, for a pretty, gravity-defying effect. They're the latest trend in alternative jewellery-gone-mainstream, and they're the perfect accessory for a boho bride. This piece by Shirli Classic Jewelry is one of my favourites, inspired by nature, it's whimsically romantic, and prettily elegant. You'll love Shirli's work, she has a wonderful range of handmade jewellery, and she's currently offering 10% off for July.

{I want this!} Silver Leaves Ear Cuff, £65

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Wedding Trends 2015: Quirky Grooms

Loads of my friends are getting married this summer, and I've noticed a real sea-change in wedding styling. It's not all about the bride - grooms are getting in on the act. Bow-ties, floral shirts, tartan waistcoats, even powder-blue suits, the boys are putting as much thought into their wedding outfit as the girls. They're even surprising their brides with their look, turning the tradition of the 'first look' on its head. My favourite looks include linen for summer, colourful Converse sneakers teamed with a tailored suit, mismatched tie and shirt patterns, and waistcoats without jackets. Encourage your groom to raise the matrimonial stakes with accessories from fab UK suit companies like Dobell. For more fun unconventional groom ideas, take a look at my Pinterest board. Just hope your future husband doesn't go too far.....

Picture Sources: 1 / 2

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Incredible French Vintage Lace Wedding Dresses

Can I let you into a secret? I didn't enjoy choosing my wedding dress. I've never been one to go shopping in a group, so I took myself off dress hunting, and never really had the fun giggly girly experience. I wish I had now, because although I loved my Delphine Manivet wedding dress, I think it's one of the 'getting engaged / married' experiences you shouldn't miss. If you're still hunting for the 'One', then please do check out Laure de Sagazan. She's a French designer I discovered via the Cup of Jo blog, and I'm totally obsessed with her vintage style, simple lace dresses. They're exquisite and delicate without being fussy. I'm also loving the urban edge of her publicity shots by Laurent Nivalle, and the Twenties-style headbands worn by the model. Incroyable styling!

 

Your Honeymoon Must-Haves

The cake is cut, the confetti scattered, and the tin cans have clattered behind your getaway car. Your wedding is over, but there's no need to be sad, because your honeymoon is right around the corner! Whether you're planning a break in a Cornish beach hut, an exotic island escape or a luxury cruise - you're going to want to relax and recuperate after all the excitement. We escaped to a little house in the South of France, where we slept and sunbathed, ate French cheese, and drank rosé. It was bliss even when it rained! Here are a few of my honeymoon must-haves to ease you into your honeymoon, and if you're not getting married this summer, they'd work just as well for your holiday! Where are you off to this year?

{I want this!} Clockwise from Top Left 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

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Sassi Holford Wedding Dress Sample Sale

Oh yes! In exceedingly exciting news, one of my favourite designers, Sassi Holford is hosting a summer sale in her London and Taunton boutiques. With {wait for it}...... up to 70% off her beautiful handmade gowns, this is definitely one for your diary. Pencil in for 4th-11th July, and call to book an appointment - London 020 7584 1532 / Taunton 01823 256308.

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A Quirky DIY Wedding with a Groom in a Top Hat

DIY weddings are always pretty special, because of all the personal touches. This wonderful Alice in Wonderland themed wedding definitely falls into that category - it's chock-full of brilliant handmade details! Bride Sophie made her own wedding cake and marshmallow favours, her friend made the cute toppers, her sister and mother made all the wedding decorations, including incredible vintage china cake stands, and the groom and his ushers were in charge of all the music, and the brightly coloured 'Drink Me' favours. Even the flowers were provided by a friend of the family. Feast your eyes on these amazing pictures by Sarah Jane Ethan Photography, and be sure to check our the Ceremony and Getting Ready pictures too.

We celebrated our wedding at Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham. We both fell in love with the Medieval Hall and Georgian Tea Room. 

We chose to host an Alice in Wonderland wedding, and the variety of secret gardens fitted our theme perfectly. Crook Hall was the first and only venue we visited. 

An Alice in Wonderland Wedding with Dozens of DIY Ideas

Oooo, I do love a good theme! And there's nothing like a groom in a fancy red top hat and bow-tie! Rick and Sophie chose a brilliant Alice in Wonderland theme for their big day, and they really went to town with the DIY wedding details. I am so impressed with the creativity of Sophie's mother and sister - between them they created all the wedding decorations, from cake stands made from old cups and saucers, the hand-painted Alice-style signs, the giant playing card bunting, the embroidered hanging clocks, and even a personalised hand-stitched guest book based on the gates of the venue. You're going to want to Pin every picture! Huge thanks to Sarah Jane Ethan Photography for her beautiful pictures of the day - don't miss the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Reception.