Wedding Blog UK ~ Wedding Ideas ~ Before The Big Day

Before the Big Day Personal Trainer

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:11:00 +0000

Hi, I'm Alice, your new Before the Big Day Personal Trainer & Nutritionist - welcome to my blog postings! If you've got any questions you'd like to ask me, please leave comments in the box below, and I'll get back to you asap. This posting is for all those brides and grooms looking to get fit for their wedding this year. Can you believe, we're already near the end of February? If your big day is this summer, the time to start is now, not tomorrow, but today! Remember, your wedding pictures will last forever, so it's time to start getting into shape for the day of your life. There are 3 words to think of, the 3 D's....

♥ Desire....to look the best you ever have on your big day
♥ Dedication....to dedicate enough time per week for exercise to achieve your desired body
♥ Determination....to be determined to dedicate enough time per week for exercise to achieve your desired body

With these D's you'll be well on the way to the body you want for your wedding day. So let's start with a treat, and a touch of shopping! Do you have good workout clothes? I reckon that if you feel attractive while you train, exercise won't feel like so much of a chore, so you'll feel good while you work out, and even better when you've finished. I really recommend Asquith London - they make great general fitness, yoga and pilates clothes, that look great for everyday as well.

♥ P.S. There is one more D....Diet, but we will come to that later.....

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding fitness & diet ideas. Don't miss Alice's Bootique blog either! Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Vintage Tea-Party Summer Wedding: Beki & Pete

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:37:00 +0000

If only English weddings were always like this one. Beautiful sunshine, a field of poppies, and a fairytale bride. In this freezing weather it's hard to remember June, but if you're planning a summer wedding, you'll love how these pictures to jog your memory. Britain can be sunny! The lovely Beki and Pete celebrated their big day in rustic Wilton Manor, a venue with fabulous memories for them, as they'd played there together as children! After their civil ceremony, they toasted their future with a fabulous vintage tea party, with tonnes of stealworthy ideas and more cake than you can shake a stick at! I'm loving the soft pink colour palette, reflected in the bridesmaids' dresses, bouquets, buttonholes and bunting. Tea-parties are a fantastic way to feed your guests without breaking the budget - you can even encourage your bridesmaids to help out with making the sandwiches and baking the cakes! Loving these pictures by Gitte from Kama Catch Me Photography, and really loving Pete's uniform.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more countryside wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Welcome Before the Big Day's Wedding Personal Trainer

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Exciting news! Now that Before the Big Day is over 2 years old {my baby, so big!}, it's time for this boutique wedding blog to get growing! I'm all about roping in as much wedding expertise as possible, because I want you to be able to plan an exquisite wedding, with tonnes of beautiful details to make it stand out from the crowd. But I also want you to feel your very best! So.....{drum roll}....I'd like to welcome Alice Cowen to my wedding blog team. Alice is a personal trainer to the stars {actual proper famous people you see in Hello!}, and she's also a nutrition expert. She specialises in weight loss, body sculpting and toning, and she's agreed to be Before the Big Day's Personal Trainer - woohoo! I reckon nearly every bride and groom wants to drop a few pounds before their big day, and Alice is going to help us on our way to body-beautiful. She'll be posting diet tips, fat-free recipes, fabulous toning exercises, and inspirational features that will make getting wedding-fit easier. Check out her blog, and her amazing Bootique Bootcamp in Majorca {look out for pics of me looking sweaty}, and click back on the blog tomorrow for her first wedding blog feature.

{Photo Credit} Butler-Madden Weddings

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Real Scottish Romantic Wedding: Kirsty & James

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:42:00 +0000

If you loved the snowy gorgeousness of yesterday's wedding shoot, but you weren't sure about hot pink colour palette, you're sure to love this more traditional, Scottish wedding. With warm red as a key colour, and a bride with a clear sense of style, it's absolutely stunning, with tonnes of wedding inspiration. Wedding details I'm loving are the bridesmaids' rich red sashes, Kirsty's exuberant, feminine, tulle wedding dress and her vintage-style veil, and the Scottish piper who led the bridal procession. Kirsty and James picked Eilean Donan Castle as their wedding venue, and I think it's among the most romantic I've ever seen. Huge thanks to the team at Contemporary Wedding Photography for their fantastic, atmospheric wedding pictures of the day.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more Scottish wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Snowy Wedding Inspiration with Hot Pink Accents

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:28:00 +0000

Two of my favourite people celebrated their wedding in the show, and although it caused more than a few travel headaches {no hairdresser - argh!} , it made for one of the most romantic weddings ever. So when I stumbled across this gorgeous snowy wedding shoot by fabulous photographer, Amy Carroll, I knew I had to share it with my lovely wedding blog friends. Just check out how dramatic the hot pink looks against the snow, and the glamour and luxury of the furs. I'm also loving the gold details on the buttonhole, and the fabulous spotty bow-tie. Let's start a wedding mini-trend for bow-ties on grooms - they're such a fun detail, and they'd make your boy stand out from the crowd. Throw in a cute dog and a baby coat, and I'm in wedding-heaven!

Kudos & credits to Daisy of Pixel & Hank, Jamie from Shutter Speed Productions, real-life couple Jen & Matt, hair & make-up by Stacy Jensen, tux by September’s Bride. Watch Jamie's video from the shoot.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more snowy wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Weddings for All - Gay Wedding Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

Here on Before the Big Day we're huge supporters of gay marriage, and we hope that couples of every combination enjoy our wedding blog. Marriage is about celebrating love, and everyone should have the chance to plan the wedding of their dreams. But it wasn't until one of my gay guy friends started planning their wedding, that I realised just how girly we are here at Before the Big Day. Let's be honest, there's quite a lot of pink and vintage shabby-chic on this wedding blog. What if you're two guys getting married, and you want more masculine wedding ideas - where should you go for inspiration? Here are just a couple of wedding blogs that I found online, that are packed full of gay wedding inspiration. I've also thrown in a lovely picture of the wedding photographer Jose Villa on his wedding day, because I couldn't resist!

{Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina}

Two Men on a Cake {UK wedding blog}

So You're EnGAYged {tonnes of Real Wedding inspiration}

A Bicycle Built for Two {wedding inspiration for lesbian couples and everyone else}

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for Real Wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

The Wedding Food Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

In the last year there's been something of a wedding food revolution. Sit-down wedding dinners and buffets are being replaced by a much more dynamic style of dining, in the shape of mobile food trucks. Much more glamorous than your local hotdog trailer, these vintage-style caravans come in all shapes and sizes. Pick a cupcake or ice-cream van as a fun wedding detail, or select several to cater for your entire wedding. Your guests will have the fun of choosing what they'd prefer to eat, there'll be less waste, and it'll slim your wedding budget. Plus you get a big dollop of vintage heavenliness at your wedding.

Enjoy Cupcakes have just added Coral to their collection of cute caravans. Unfortunately she lives in the US. {Picture Credit: Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty}

Vintage Scoops is the brainchild of Mrs Scoops, who owns Bettty, very cool retro ice cream van
{Photo Credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography}

The Splitscreen Ice-Cream Co. serves mouth-watering, organic award-winning ice cream from a seriously cool and iconic vintage Volkswagen van.

The Flying Ducks offer a retro dining experience from a vintage caravan. It really is a thing of wonder!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more vintage wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Wonderful Weekend Wedding {WWW} Blog Links

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:13:00 +0000

How was your week? Mine's been a bit of a write-off, after I caught mega evil flu last weekend, I've spent most of the week in bed, feeling sorry for myself. There definitely seem to be some serious bugs going round, but as an added benefit, I lost my appetite, so I've finally dropped those last, stubborn, Christmas pounds. I feel like I'm ready for spring now! The one good thing about this week, was that I had plenty of time to ramble around my favourite wedding blogs, and to discover a few brand new finds. That means that this week's Wonderful Weekend Wedding Blog Links is something of a bonanza. So don't bother with going outside in the cold, just jump right in, for some serious wedding inspiration!

{Photo Credit} Jose Villa

♥ Imagine eloping to Paris in a blush-pink Vera Wang wedding dress {via wedding blog Snippet & Ink}

♥ A stunning pastel-themed Byron Bay wedding fresh from Australia {via wedding blog Style Me Pretty}

♥ Adorable wedding stationery and a short wedding dress, it doesn't get better than this wedding {via wedding blog 100 Layer Cake}

♥ Loving the pastel-coloured cake

♥ Who wouldn't want a baby giraffe at their wedding? {via wedding blog Snippet & Ink}

♥ It doesn't get much more adorable than a vintage pink caravan serving cake {via wedding blog Style Me Pretty}

♥ Imagine eloping to Paris in a blush-pink Vera Wang wedding dress {via wedding blog Snippet & Ink}

♥ Did you celebrate Valentine's Day? If not, celebrate love with a fabulous DIY bridal shower themed around V Day {via wedding blog 100 Layer Cake}

♥ And the bride wore....a cardigan?

♥ DIY your own watercolour wedding invitations {a huge wedding trend this season}

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for Real Wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Unusual Wedding Cake Toppers

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:25:00 +0000

On my wedding day, the cake topper is the one detail I completely forgot, and instead of something lovely, the wedding caterer added a hilarious plastic bride and groom. Don't do the same! Pick up a cute wedding cake topper from Potter & Butler. From teeny-weeny baubles, to mini-pom-poms, they make even the simplest of wedding cakes look gorgeous. {Secret hint! Buy your white wedding cake tiers from M&S, for a super-cheap, super-chic, cake on a budget. They even do cake-tasting packs for £6}

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding cake ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Pastel Summer Wedding: Denise & Bobby

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:58:00 +0000

I'm hugely impressed by all the stealworthy ideas from this fabulous Florida wedding. Denise and Bobby got married in the sunshine, surrounded by palm trees - what a way to tie the knot! I'm loving the neutral colour Denise chose for her bridesmaids' dresses, totally flattering, and the wedding colour palette chimes exactly with her pink pearl necklace and the pastel bouquets. Don't miss the scrolling on cake and the stationery - teamed together they create an element of vintage whimsy - perfect wedding details to catch the eye. Big love to the team at Simply Bloom for their simply gorgeous pictures!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more pink-themed wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Vintage Romantic Wedding Dresses by Claire Pettibone

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the hardest decisions in the run-up to your wedding {unless you're like my friend Erin, who's first dress was The One!}. It took me months, and by the time I'd finally picked my divine Delphine Manivet gown, much of the fun had gone out of the experience. I'd just let myself get too worried about price and style, and then it all got a bit late! So, with the aim of making wedding dress shopping a happier experience for Before the Big Day wedding blog readers, every week I'm going to feature my favourite wedding dress designers. All the best wedding inspiration, at the tips of your laptop tapping fingers! First up, UK wedding dress designer Claire Pettibone.

{Credits: Photography by Elizabeth Messina; Gowns & Styling by Claire Pettibone; Make up by Stephanie Lawrence; Model – Ciara Christensen; Venue at Sunstone Winery}

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Stunning Wedding Dress Separates

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

Anthropologie-inspired wedding boutique BHLDN has struck on a fabulous wedding trend for 2012. Wedding dress separates. You buy a top and two bottoms, or a bottom and two tops, and you can mix and match them as your wedding day progresses. It means you can swap your swingy skirt after the reception for a pair of sexy shorts for dancing. Or add a silky camisole instead of a corset for guilt-free cake-guzzling. It's a genius idea, as it keeps your guests guessing, and guarantees a longer life for your wedding day outfits. What do you think? Would you wear separates on your wedding day? P.S. Net-a-Porter's Wedding Boutique also has a fabulous selection of wedding dress separates.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding dress ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Honeymoon Underwear

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

Personally I go through underwear fazes. I'll not buy any for ages, and then I'll suddenly despair of my greying knickers and unstructured bras, and go on a shopping frenzy. On your wedding day your knickers will be more about function than fun, but for your honeymoon, you'll want to treat your husband! One of my recent secret discoveries is Ann Summers. Have you checked out their new ranges recently {AnnSummers.com for lingerie}? There's something for every taste, including a gorgeous selection of white, every-day lingerie sets, alongside the {gulp!} adult toys. And the price will suit even the most wedding-busted budget!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more honeymoon underwear ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Wedding Flower Crowns

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

If you're looking for an original way to bring flowers into your wedding, then look no further than this 2012 micro-trend for spring/summer brides. The flower crown is making a comeback from the seventies, and it's the perfect accessory for a boho-bride. I'm loving the simple twist of green laurel leaves, but the bolder bride should dive right in with a fully bloomed crown. They're super-easy to DIY, {check out a tutorial here}, and you could make them for all your bridesmaids as well! For more flower crown inspiration, check out my Pinterest page.

{Photo Credit} BHLDN

{Photo Credit} My Hands Made It

{Photo Credit} Austin Gros Wedding Photography

{Photo Credit} Caught the Light

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more flower wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Loving Maids to Measure Bridesmaid Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:37:00 +0000

Let's be honest, bridesmaids can be tricky. Why is it that they nearly always end up looking dreadful? Is it because most brides have an evil side, and can't help but make them wear ghastly dresses? Or is it because there just aren't enough decent bridesmaids dresses out there? I completely flunked the whole exercise and asked my bridesmaids to wear dresses of their choice in soft grey. Huge mistake - they all ended up in different shades {who knew that was even possible??}, that clashed {ditto!!}. So my recommendation is to bite the bullet and dress your ladies in the same material and colour, but different styles. Luckily a friend of a friend has started a fabulous boutique that will rescue you from trailing round the shops with a flock of bridesmaids biting at your heels. Maids to Measure offers a bespoke dressmaking service, online or by appointment, and their gowns are gorgeous, and only £195 with all fittings and alterations. And their website is super-cool. I just wish I'd found them this time last year!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more bridesmaids ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Bollywood-Themed Wedding: Reena & John

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:37:00 +0000

Original wedding ideas and quirky details are what you need for a truly memorable wedding. But what if you're stumped for inspiration? Wedding blogs can provide tonnes of wedding ideas, but if you're looking for a wedding theme that's unique, then you need to have a really good think about what's important to you as a couple. What hobbies do you do together? Where did you meet? What's your favourite food? Have a think and you're sure to come to the perfect wedding theme. The gorgeous couple in this wedding, Reena and Jon created a fabulous wedding surprise for their guests, all thanks to Reena's cultural heritage. After a traditional church wedding, plus a helicopter ride to the reception venue {cue some seriously dramatic pictures}, they changed into Indian costumes, and arranged for a performance by Bollywood dancers! Such a fantastic idea, and I'm loving all of Reena's other wedding details, including the vibrant purple theme, and stunning floral displays. The beautiful cake was DIY'd by one of her bridesmaids! Reena's kindly filled in the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire, so do take a look at her answers for hints and tips on how she put together her wedding. She thought of every detail! Huge thanks to Kelly Green from Lola Rose Photography for her gorgeous pictures.

The Before the Big Day Bridal Q&A - Reena was kind enough to fill in our bridal questionnaire, aimed at helping other brides with their planning process. Feast your eyes on her answers for helpful hints and tips from someone on the other side of her big day!

Where and when did you get married?
We got married at St. Lawrence Church in West Wycombe on 29th May 2011, and hosted our reception at the Crowne Plaza in Marlow

What was your thinking behind choosing the venue and the decoration of the reception?
The Church had sentimental value to us as Jon’s parents were married there over 35 years ago which made the wedding service feel extra special. We had just over 200 guests at our wedding, so we needed a reception venue that was large enough to cater for everyone. We really liked the contemporary feel of the Crowne Plaza, with its beautiful grounds and picturesque lake.

Did you have a theme, colour or motif in mind?
The theme of the wedding was LOVE with a symbol of interlinked hearts. Our tables were named ‘LOVE’ but spelt in all different languages.We also had heart shaped confetti on the tables and even our cake topper was heart shaped! The interlinked hearts also appeared on all our wedding stationery. I wanted to use a bright and vibrant colour theme for our day as I feel weddings are such a happy occasion and bright colours reflect this perfectly. I used bright purple organza chair sashes and lisianthus in our HUGE table centre pieces contrasting with the classic white table linen and white roses which really worked well.

Who made your wedding outfit (dress, veil, shoes and accessories), and how did you come to that decision?
I was very lucky and had two amazing wedding dresses as I felt that it was still important to reflect my Indian heritage on our day. My white wedding dress was an ivory Maggie Midgley dress which had a sweet heart neck line and a swarovski crystal bodice and a long cathedral train. I wore this with a long veil that had a subtle diamond edging. I wore elegant ivory earrings and matching bracelet and my bridal shoes were from Dune.

My Indian wedding dress was flown in from India was a contemporary couture outfit that I designed myself with help from the Mona Vora design team. The stunning outfit was made from pure silk and had amazing detailed embroidery on the red skirt and ivory bodice top. I wore gold accessories which complimented the look. It was so much fun designing this wedding outfit and knowing that there isn't another one like it anywhere!

What about your husband’s outfit? Where was it from?
My husband also had two wedding outfits. His classic grey morning suite was hired from Moss Bros, with ivory waist coat and matching cravat. He also wore his great grandfather’s tie pin which has been passed down through the family. Jon also had a bespoke contemporary Indian wedding suit hand made from black and gold silk which he couldn't wait to put on.

And how about your bridesmaids’ outfits?
I had 4 bridesmaids who all wore (two-toned purple) Adrianna Papell dresses. I went for contemporary bridesmaid dresses and the girls all looked stunning. They all wore the same gold and purple sparkling hair grip, gold earrings, gold bracelets and gold shoes. My 3 flower girls wore ivory dresses with ivory ballet pumps.

And your ushers?
The 7 ushers all wore morning suites hired from Moss Bros with their waist coats and cravats all complimenting the purple colour theme. The 2 page boys aged 2 and 4 years old had mini versions of Jon’s morning suit and looked so cute.

What type of cake did you go for, and how did you come to that decision?
One of my bridesmaids made our wedding cake, which was absolutely superb. She made us a huge 5 tier fruit cake with white icing and purple and gold ribbon tied around each tier.

Did you have any favours? What were they? Was there any particular reason why you picked them?
For our favours we had lilac and white heart shaped chocolate dragees and placed 5 of them in bright purple organza favour bags. We hand tied each bag with a personalized ivory and gold ribbon which had our names and wedding date printed on it. This was a team operation as we had over 200 favours = 1000 dragees! We also got bubbles for the kids which kept them entertained.

Who was your florist, what flowers did you choose, and how did you come to that decision?
We used Eden Floral Design in Marlow – they were brilliant. My bridal bouquet was a large tear-drop shape of ivory calla lily, purple lisianthus, ivory roses and sweet peas with tasteful looped gold bear-grass with just a touch of light summer foliage.

Who was your photographer and how did you choose them?
We chose Lola Rose Photography as we had a personal recommendation and were delighted with the pictures Kelly took of our special day. We also chose Visa-a-video to film our Wedding and between both they have managed to capture such amazing memories!

Did you enjoy planning your Wedding?
Our wedding took 16 months to organise and it was so much fun. St Lawrence Church was absolutely beautiful and we hired a 1949 Rolls Royce Silver Wreath which took me and my father to the church. Our surprise journey, courtesy of my father, to our reception venue was truly spectacular as we arrived by helicopter and landed on the lawn in front of our stunned guests. We wanted to incorporate both cultures equally into our special day, whilst keeping our ‘Love’ theme throughout.

Lizz Lipscombe our amazing violinist performed various sets at our canapé and champagne reception. Our Wedding breakfast consisted of modern Asian fusion cuisine. We had Bollywood dancers for our evening entertainment along with Dhol Drummers and a confetti cannon for our first dance.

What advice do you have for brides planning their big day?
I would advise all brides to savour every single moment of their big day as it goes so quickly!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more Indian wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Shopbop's UK Wedding Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Huge excitement all round. Shopbop is now available to UK buyers! If you've not discovered this super-cool online boutique, you're in for a treat. It's a bit like ASOS, but with all your favourite US designers, plus a fabulous wedding boutique. I've lusted it over it for yonks, but never been able to flex my credit card muscles, but now they deliver for free to the UK for orders over $100. Finally I can buy my Splendid Tees and Eberjey knickers, without having to fly to New York - woohoo! Pick some up for your honeymoon, or Valentine's Day.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding underwear ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Outdoor Vineyard Wedding: Athena & Jonny

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:33:00 +0000

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?

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more pretty wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Beautiful Black Wedding Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:22:00 +0000

Would you wear a black wedding dress? For most of us, the white dress is {ahem} representative of a bride's traditional innocence, so there's no real necessity to wear one. My sister-in-law wore red, and looked fabulous. I chose to wear white, because I found it hard enough to decide on a white wedding dress, without throwing more variables, like colours, into the mix. I think for an urban wedding, a black wedding dress could look super-sophisticated. What do you think? Gorgeous pictures by Jen Huang.

{Product Credits} Dress: Angel Sanchez; Makeup: Kerry Crawford; Design: Bellafare; Venue: Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall; w/ QuatreCoeur, East Six, A Simple Cake, Angie Garcia, Once Upon A Bride, Lexie Davies {modelling}.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more urban wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Winners of Tickets to the National Wedding Shows!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:21:00 +0000

Congratulations to ten lucky Before the Big Day readers! They've won a pair of tickets each to the National Wedding Show London or Birmingham. This year's show is going to be a real humdinger, with a brand new vintage area, with tonnes of gorgeous design and décor ideas. The London show runs from 24-26th February, and the Birmingham one is 16-18th March. Keep an eye on your inbox, to see if you've won!

{Product Credits} Cakes by Cotton & Crumbs, Dress: The Vintage Wedding Dress Company at White Mischief on the National Wedding Show catwalk.

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Fabulous Crafting Hen-Night Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:17:00 +0000

When it comes to hen nights, the old-fashioned idea of one big night out on the town wearing L plates and a feather boa has come to an end. Now it's all about up-market hen weekends away in the countryside, with tonnes of fun activities, and an opportunity to really bond with your girlfriends. One of the big wedding trends for 2012 is crafting - whether it's DIYing your wedding details, printing your wedding invitations at home, or making your own wedding dress {only for the truly talented!}. When it comes to hen-nights, this translates to learning a new skill, and my favourite is baking! There's a serious ulterior motive to this, because the best thing about getting your girlfriends to learn how to bake, is that they can then each make you a wedding cake, saving money on the big day. Some brides even have a competition on their wedding day, with a prize for the bridesmaid who baked the best! So in preparation for your hen weekend, keep an eye out for your favourite cake recipes and cupcake recipes, and get your girls baking.

{Picture Credit} Incredible wedding cakes by Magpie's Cakes

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Let It Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:42:00 +0000

Are you enjoying the snow? Just spotted this gorgeous photograph on a fab blog hosted by Maida Vale Invitations, a modern stationery studio based in Seattle. Imagine saying your vows as the snow gently falls around you, super-romantic, if a little chilly!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more winter wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Before the Big Day Theme: Let it Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Inspired by the photo above? Well then why not add a bit of snowy loveliness to your big day, thanks to the gorgeous items below?

Product Credits (from top left corner) - Lace Cuff: Jess James Jake, Feather Hair Accessory: One Little Dove, Vintage Lace Dress: Timeless Vixen Vintage, White Blossoms Ring Cushion: AAlicia Wedding, Satin & Tulle Strapless A-Line Gown: Bridal Bliss Designs, (from middle left) White Takes Flight Feather Comb: Boring Sidney, 14k Nena Stacker Ring with Acquamarine: Michelle Lenae, Ping & Jing Wedding Hat: Boring Sidney, Frozen Crystals Tiara: Which Goose, (from bottom left) White Orchid Shrug: Toccata, White Felt & Gold Earrings: 3 Fun, Pearl Studs: Toccata, Lace Gloves: Malam

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more winter wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

We ♥ Vintage Wedding Dress Sample Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:39:00 +0000

Massively exciting news! The Vintage Wedding Dress Company is holding a trunk sale next weekend. They'll be showcasing over 200 vintage dresses on 10th, 11th and 12th February (viewing by appointment only) at their central London showroom. This gorgeous boutique is renowned for its heavenly gowns, both vintage and vintage-style, and this is your opportunity to get your hands on some amazing never-seen-before dresses at discounted prices. Also on offer will be a selection of gorgeous vintage accessories, jewellery, shoes and veils plus samples from their exclusive Decades Collection. Shopping is strictly by private appointment only, and the central London location remains secret until you've registered online at their website. Definitely a date for the diary!

Don't want to miss a single Sample Sale? Click here for free updates by email or RSS. Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Wonderful Wood Wedding Stationery

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia Tolley) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:35:00 +0000

When it comes to wedding planning and wedding invitations, I'm a huge fan of surprising your wedding guests by using fun and unusual materials. The best wedding ideas are all about originality because that's what will keep your wedding unique! A big trend for 2012 is have your wedding stationery printed on wood. It's all part of weddings getting greener and more eco-friendly, and as our mood turns towards natural products, it's surprising how many woody invitations you can find! Take a look at the pretty stationery products below - don't you know, paper is soooo passé!

{Product Credit} Perch Papiers

{Product Credit} Palomas Nest

{Product Credit} Baumbirdy

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