Wedding Blog UK ~ Wedding Ideas ~ Before The Big Day

Getting Married During a Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 08:09:00 +0000

It's not an easy time to be engaged. With everything turned topsy-turvy by this pandemic, how can a bride plan the big day of her dreams? Right now couples have to face the tricky choice of a tiny wedding guest list, or postponing for the foreseeable future. In Britain the law is clear, as stated on the government's website.

"No more than 30 people should attend a marriage or civil partnership, where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in a COVID-19 secure venue. This is the maximum number for all attendees at the event, including the couple and guests. It also includes any third-party suppliers, such as photographers or security, but does not include staff employed by the venue or any third party catering staff.

From 15 August 2020 receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships can take place, but only in a COVID-19 secure venue. Such events should not take place in people’s private homes (or adjoining outdoor spaces like gardens), given that these will not have the same COVID-19 Secure measures in place."

Thirty guests barely covers your closest family, and once you add in a photographer and a waitress to pour the champagne, you're down to 26 people. No wonder lots of couples are choosing to elope, and postpone the party until the pandemic has passed.

What are you choosing to do? Tell me what you think, and chat with other brides on my Instagram page @beforethebigday. It's SUCH a hard decision. I feel so sorry for anyone getting married in 2020 or 2021. For those of you planning to go ahead, here's a few essentials for your wedding day... Many feature my favourite slogan for 2020 - 'Spread love not germs!'

{Clockwise from top left} 1. Sanitation Station Sign, 2. Spread Love Not Germs Personalised Mask, 3. Printable Hand Sanitiser Labels, 4. Wedding Sanitiser Stickers

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Five Favourite UK Boutique Wedding Stationers

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 06:41:00 +0000

Is there anything more exciting than receiving a beautiful handwritten letter? Or even better, a weighty brown paper parcel? I'm pretty certain that's why online delivery has grown in popularity. Yes, it's convenient, but who doesn't love getting presents in the post, even when you've sent them to yourself.

Your wedding invitation should create that same level of anticipatory excitement, a promise of what's to come. My favourite style is traditional, and admittedly expensive. The elegant card envelope should be filled with not just the invitation, but also a programme detailing timings, places to stay and route recommendations. Add in a stamped postcard for RSVP's, and perhaps a second invitation for a Rehearsal Dinner or Recovery BBQ. Tie them all up with candy-coloured baker's twine, and you've built up a sense of occasion, something that can never be achieved with an email invitation.

British stationers are among the best in the world, with historic printing styles and innovative card stock. Here are a few of the design houses you should consider for inspiration. You can either order your invitation set off the peg, or if you're a true stationery aficionado, you might want to work with your stationer on a bespoke design.

Gray Starling

White Olive Designs

Phylecia Sutherland

No. 2 by LoveStruck Wedding Stationery

{Top & Bottom Pictures:} Herbal Infusion Collection by A Little Pigment

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Making Memories at Your Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 05:48:00 +0000

A wedding might be a year in the making, but passes in the blink of an eye. Ask any bride and groom after the event, and they'll agree that your big day disappears in a flurry of hugs, champagne bubbles and confetti, plus a few happy tears. That's why it's so important to book a brilliant wedding photographer to record all those hilarious moments you miss, because you're catching up with Aunty Mildred.

Good photographers often get booked up a year in advance, particularly over popular weekend dates like Bank Holidays, so as soon as you start your planning, you need to start thinking about what style of wedding pictures you want. We actually chose our wedding photographer before we'd even decided on our venue, although we knew we wanted to get married in the South of France, so we found someone who was happy to travel.

Alexi Lubomirski/AP Images

Traditionally your wedding photographer would just take lots of formal shots of family and friends, like those they release after a Royal Wedding. There's even a list somewhere on the internet which you can tick off, so you don't miss anyone out. Nowadays most couples prefer reportage style, where your photographer drifts quietly around your wedding, taking un-posed pictures of your guests. These are often much more natural, and your finished wedding album is more likely to reflect the tone and atmosphere of your big day. I'd recommend choosing a photographer who can do a bit of both, because you definitely want to make sure you have a few group shots of your family aka 'the framers'.

But how can you maximise on collecting as many memories as possible from your wedding day? One way to encourage your friends to take lots of relaxed group shots is to hire a photo booth, like the one in the picture above. These come in all shapes of sizes, and most provide paper and digital copies of the photographs. Add in a box of silly accessories and signs, and you'll end up with a brilliant collection of your friends having the time of their lives. Just make sure you check the quality of the booth, as the right lighting and camera setting can make all the difference.

{Top & bottom pictures} Blush and Pose Photography

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Top Twelve Hen Party Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 05:55:00 +0000

Is it possible to have a classy hen party? If that's what you want! Sometimes there's nothing better than properly letting your hair down, and dissolving into a cackling mess with your girlfriends, but if that's not up your street, then here are a few ideas for hosting the perfect hen..... with not a willy straw or 'Bride to Be' sash in sight.

What are you planning to do on your hen night? Leave a comment in the box below. I'm a huge fan of some sort of activity, whether it's crafting a flower crown or paint-balling, a fun-filled afternoon can really gel your various groups of gal-pals together. Then finish the day with a slap-up meal and lots of fizz.

1. Blush Hen Rose Gold Ring Photo Booth Frame, 2. Miss to Mrs Bunting

1. Hen Party Nail File Favour, 2. Hen Party Photo Booth Props (x10)

Personalised Eco Face Mask Party Kit Gift

1. Personalised Hen Party Cocktail Wine Charm, 2. Personalised Hen Party Confetti

1. Pink Diy Flower Crown Headband Making Craft Kit, 2. Personalised Bridesmaid Butterfly Short Dressing Gown

1. Personalised Hen Do Wooden Memory Book, 2. Personalised Hen Party Metallic Champagne Flute

Top picture: Hen Party Drinks Stirrers

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Wedding Favours your Guests will actually want

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 07:05:00 +0000

Whether it's a hand-sewn lavender bag, or a homegrown potted succulent, the reality is that most wedding favours get left behind. Once your guests have danced and drunk themselves silly, they'll never remember to pick them up at the end of the night.

{Top Picture} Personalised Shot Pots {This Picture} Label Pack for Drinks Shots

So save yourself the time and money, and make your wedding favours part of the day. Sweet treats or shots are a great pick-me-up at the end of a long meal, and will give your friends and family the energy they need to make shapes till midnight. We love these cute personalised pots by Hearth and Heritage, with their pretty foil printed tags and ribbons for you to fill with pink gin or limoncello.

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The Must-Have Accessory for Your Beach Wedding or Honeymoon

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Only an optimist would plan a beachside wedding in Britain, and the weather is one reason why so many of us get married abroad. Some statistics suggest up to one in four couples arrange their big day in another country, and they're attracted by the prospect of perfect sunshine, a stunning location and usually a shorter guest list.

Personalised Flip Flops by Flipside Flip Flops

If you do plump for a beach wedding, promise me you'll buy these flip-flops. For around £20, they come in a variety of designs, and they make for the best bridesmaids' and ushers' presents. If you're feeling flush you could buy them for all your guests as wedding favours, plus they're the perfect honeymoon accessory.

Looking for other items to add to your suitcase? We love this high-waisted bikini, this Just Married Leather clutch pouch, and this monogrammed beach bag personalised with your new initials.

Top picture by Anthony Tran

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An Achingly Cool London Wedding on a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 06:16:00 +0000

This incredible London wedding needs to come with something of a disclaimer, as it's my best friend's big day. Tamarisk has never been a cookie-cutter kind of girl, so it's no surprise her wedding to Ryan was uniquely awesome. From her glittery gold Badgley Mishka gown, to her practical attitude towards budget and theme, Tamarisk created a wedding which focused on feasting, family and celebrating love. If you're planning your big day abroad, or returning home as an expat, you'll find her attitude super-inspiring. It turns out there's no need to obsess on the details, or the stationery or the favours, when you've got an atmospheric venue, and great DJ, lots of champagne and a truly brilliant photographer in Joanna Brown.

We got married in London at The Roost on 29th Sept 2018 . We live in Canada now, but we met in London and we miss it a lot. It felt like the right place for us to get married was where we met and fell in love. We aren't formal people, and besides, the exchange rate was not in our favour! We were looking for a venue that already had a ton of personality that we wouldn't need to do a lot too. We were both clear eyed about our appetite and aptitude for a "big project" that would span time zones ie: not at all! When we found The Roost, we knew it was perfect…all we needed to do was add a few touches, we didn’t need to go overboard.

My husband got a beautiful, completely custom suit from his suit makers Suit Supply. Our wedding date is embroidered on the inside pocket and my nickname for him is under the collar – it says Meatball.

I went to a big fancy wedding dress shop once and found the whole thing completely awful. It was all I could do not to break down sobbing in the changing room. The grubby, dirty dresses that are all too small…so depressing. I hated it. After trying to figure out why I hated it so much, I realised I had bought into the idea that you HAVE to wear a white dress and I remembered I don’t HAVE to do anything. That’s when I started looking for something really me.

I landed on a Badgley Mishka gold sequin dress that I got for $800 off the retail price by finding it on eBay. I splurged on a pair Christian Louboutin rainbow striped heels though!

I didn't enjoy planning my wedding at all. I am not a planner. Then on the actual day when you're trying to enjoy it and take it all in, people still keep asking you admin questions. This style of wedding is what worked for us – we decided what the big pieces were that really mattered to us and spent our money there. We decided not to care about almost everything else. We wanted the right venue, the right photographer and delicious food and drink. Planning a wedding from overseas, when we knew we’d be flying out for out mini-moon the very next day helped us to say no to anything that would add a complication or a big expense.

When it came to my bridesmaids' dresses, I let them decide. One of my sisters got a dress she already owned copied in the fabric of their choosing in Dubai.

I found our photographer on Instagram when I was researching venues. One of Joanna Brown's shots turned up under a tag, and that was that, she was the photographer I had to have. I am not a fan of the romantic, dreamy style of typical wedding photography. Joanna has this amazing knack of catching the quotidian moments that are filled with love and joy but are grounded and real. She "interviewed" us to see if she felt like we were a fit and I have never wanted to impress someone so such! I wish I could just put her on a retainer to come and shoot all my big life events!

For favours, we went with Caramel chocolate bars because I have always loved the red and gold wrapping them come in  . We got Disco Shed to DJ the party and they were outstanding, great tunes! I walked down the "aisle" to the Theme Song from Top Gun. We didn't have a recessional. Our first dance was Number 1 by Goldfrapp.   

Did you have a theme in mind? Is "cheap" a theme?! For our wedding flowers, we got a recommendation for a whole-seller from our caterer and ordered a load of baby's breath super-last minute to decorate the tables.

I bought a plain chocolate tiered cake from a supermarket as a last minute decision because our amazing and bossy caterer told me I should. I asked her to throw a couple of punnets of raspberries on top to tumble down the layers and dust it with icing sugar, I didn't eat a crumb of it though!  

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Why You NEED Donuts at Your Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Okay so maybe 'need' is a strong word, and perhaps we mean sweet-treats rather than just donuts, but the truth is that after a few hours, your guests are going to need a pick-me-up. Weddings last for HOURS, and while it'll pass in a flash for you and your husband, there might be a few moments that drag for your guests.

Rainbow Donut Wall by Belle Epoque Co

One way to avoid that, is to keep surprising them. Add an extra twist, whether it's food or entertainment. A massive dessert buffet is a fab grazing option, and a sugar rush is a great way to fill the dance floor. Fireworks literally add oomph to your big day, and sparklers are a fun budget option.

Hire a magician to spice up your champagne reception, or create a series of 'rooms' for your guests to move through, as the day progresses. One wedding we attended had a secret curtain that dropped after the speeches, revealing an amazing night-club space complete with disco balls and revolving dance floor.

Ombre Donut Display Wall by Inspired by Alma

But if that all sounds a bit too expensive....go for a donut wall. Everyone likes donuts.

{Donut picture by Brooke Lark}

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The Do's and Don'ts of Buying Bridesmaids' Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Sun, 31 May 2020 12:45:00 +0000

There's a first and a last time for everything, and your wedding will be the only occasion you get to choose what your best friends wear. It's a crazy position of power. Even if they hate it, they have to smile sweetly, and walk down the aisle in front of everyone. So choose carefully, or you could end up with a frenemy for life..... To save you from social suicide, here are Before the Big Day's Do's and Don'ts of Buying Bridesmaids' Dresses.

1. Don't take your girlfriends shopping to help you choose. It'll end in disaster. Even worse, don't take one friend with you, or all the others will take it out on her, because you're beyond reproach as 'the bride'.

2. Don't spend too much money. They will never wear this dress again. I know, you hope they will, but they won't.

3. Choose a colour and stick to it. The photographs just look a million times better if you dress everyone the same. Make this hue your 'theme colour' for the whole wedding, and make sure it's one that suits your colouring. Ash blondes should choose pastel tones, honey blondes look good around autumnal shades, and brunettes can carry strong jewel pigments.

4. Unless all you're a model, and all your girlfriends are professionally good-looking, size 8 and promise not to get pregnant before your big day, choose a company that makes gowns to suit every body-shape.

We love BHLDN, Monsoon, Ghost and ASOS has an amazing selection of bridesmaids' dresses at every price point, plus fabulous sales. Look out for Needle & Thread at the top of the market, and TFNC for more reasonable gowns.

Maids to Measure have a brilliant selection and you can either visit their London boutique, or buy online {use the code sharingiscool for 20% off, for a limited time only}.

5. Try not to worry to much about making your girls feel great in their gowns. Ultimately this is your chance to shine, and they'll have their day.

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This Wedding Dress Will Make You Consider Going Grey

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 27 May 2020 09:19:00 +0000

For the last decade modern brides have been throwing tradition to the wind, and choosing different coloured dresses. White always symbolised virginity, innocence and purity, but now that women are making their own choices and getting married later, those messages seem pretty out of date.

Wedding dress styles evolve in much the same way as mainstream fashion, and the big designers create several collections each year. In the midst of all the creams and whites, they usually add in a wild card gown, and it's always fun to see what they come up with each season. This autumn, Pronovias are stocking a selection of metallic gowns and US brand BHLDN have even created a black wedding dress.

Here at Before the Big Day, we've fallen for this gorgeous Anna Campbell creation, called the Indigo Midnight Empress. Anna is an Australian designer, but you can buy her gowns in Blackburn Bridal in London. Autumn and winter brides will feel the chill, so we suggest pairing it with this cosy grey fur coat, which would look gorgeous in your outdoor portraits.

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How to use Balloons to Brighten Up Your Big Day

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Sat, 23 May 2020 10:49:00 +0000

Who doesn't love a balloons? Cheep and cheerful, a big bunch can add a huge amount of colour and texture to your wedding. The secret is in the size and/or the quantity.

You either need a few massive balloons, or hundreds of small ones, and they have to be filled with helium. Anything else starts to look like a slightly sad children's party.

We used giant white ones at our wedding, and I'd recommend looking on Amazon and eBay to find the best deal. To save money, buy helium from party shops like Party Pieces or Argos, and fill them up on the morning of your wedding. Pimp your balloons with fancy strings....for inspiration check out The Giant Balloon Company or buy them from Out of My Bubble.

Mr & Mrs Balloons by Out of My Bubble

Blush Pink Wall Decoration by Belle Epoque Co

Giant Balloons by Out of My Bubble

1. Letter Balloons by Out of My Bubble, 2. Heart Balloons by Belle Epoque Co

Will You Marry Me Balloon by Belle Epoque Co

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Why You Should Never Consider a Zoom Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Thu, 21 May 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Nine years ago we nearly had to cancel our wedding because of a volcano. Grímsvötn in Iceland started to spout out ash, grounding all flights out of Britain. We were getting married in Provence, and a few days before our big day we realised none of our guests could get to France.

As we frantically researched train timetables, and scanned our wedding insurance, we realised we might have to cut our losses and cancel. I was devastated. We'd been planning our wedding for 18 months, and stretched ourselves financially. We could never afford to hire the same venue again.

Luckily with 12 hours to spare, the ash cloud dispersed and planes started to fly again. Our wedding was saved, and as you can see from these photographs by Caught the Light, went ahead in style. Sadly for couples planning to celebrate their weddings this year, there's no easy fix for the coronavirus.

Thousands have already had to cancel their big day. Others didn't have time, so went ahead with a Zoom ceremony, encouraging friends and family to join via video link. For some, this was the only option, but if you have the choice, postponing is definitely the better decision.

In the midst of all the planning and logistics, and the excitement of choosing a wedding gown, favours and flowers, it's easy to forget the best bit; the greatest joy of your wedding is your guests.

The sense of occasion in the venue as your friends and family wait for you to arrive, the cheers as you walk down the aisle as man and wife, the raucous laughter at the Best Man's speech and your Dad grooving on the dance floor with your two year-old nephew.

We were dazzled by the wave of love and support we felt from our guests, how genuinely thrilled they were to celebrate our marriage.

It might feel devastating to delay your wedding day until this pandemic is over, but it's definitely the right decision. Waiting another year might seem a nightmare now, but try to pause and gain some perspective.

Those extra months will give you time to save more, you'll be able to create more DIY projects, the wedding dress sales post-pandemic will be amazing, and you'll actually be able to go on honeymoon.

And nothing compares to that moment when you walk down the aisle, and everyone you love is there to share in your joy.

Venue: Chateau Grimaldi

Dress: Delphine Manivet

Photographer: Caught the Light

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A Pendant for the Traveller in You

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 20 May 2020 16:19:00 +0000

If you’re day-dreaming about dipping croissants in coffee in Paris, or drinking Aperol Spritz in the Piazza in Capri, I’ve found your new necklace. It’s the perfect accessory for the wanderlust traveller planning their first post-pandemic trip.

Designed by Alex Monroe, this Hot Air Balloon pendant celebrates the joy of adventure and the anticipation of unbridled movement. It comes in 18 carat gold or silver, and it's the exact antithesis of lockdown.

Where do you want to go as soon as we can travel again? Personally I can’t wait to go back to the colourful waterways of Venice, or the vineyards of the western Cape; I can almost taste the crisp white wine and salty olives.

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Six Clever Confetti Containers for Your Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 20 May 2020 02:47:00 +0000

Stunning Confetti Picture by brilliant wedding photographer, Tora Baker

Wedding photographers know there's one picture that every bride and groom want from their big day; the confetti shot. Traditionally rice was scattered at the feet of the happy couple, as a symbol of rain, prosperity, fertility and good fortune.

Nowadays rose petals or colourful rice paper are more common, partly because they're prettier. Getting that perfect photograph is harder than it looks, because the newlyweds usually leave the church or venue before their guests.

Normally your wedding photographer will ask you to loop round, and once your guests are outside and primed with handfuls of confetti, you can emerge again triumphant! It's actually rather lovely waiting to come out once again, as you get a few minutes to yourselves to enjoy that 'just married' feeling.

Petal Toss Wedding Bags by Creative Party Design

We chose rose petals for our confetti, but as long as the material is biodegradable, most wedding venues won't stop you from throwing handfuls of colourful paper in the air.

I love the suppliers Proper Confetti for their selection of metallic, paper and petal confetti, plus their easy to understand measuring advice. Stripey Finds is a fantastic budget option, with one litre bags of lavender, cornflower and rose petals for only £10.99.

Confetti Petal Bags by The Wedding of My Dreams

Confetti Cones by Party Touches UK

White and Gold Wedding Cones by Tara's Wonderland

Wedding Confetti Bags by Confetti Cone Company

Biodegradable Confetti Packets & Order of Service by Adam Apple Confetti

How to Theme Your Wedding around Your Song

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Tue, 19 May 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Record Welcome Sign by No Ordinary Emporium

Do you have a song in mind for your first dance? As a couple we didn't really have an 'our song', so we ended up choosing a recent chart hit; You've Got the Love which had just been re-released by Florence and the Machine.

If a love of music did bring you together, then theming your wedding around certain melodies could be a great way to bring all your ideas together. Try labelling your table plans with song titles, or decorating your venue with bunting made out of sheet music.

Create a bespoke playlist for each wedding guest, or for a retro vibe, make a mixtape for wedding favours. Here's a few more clever ideas to help you get creative. I love the mini-tambourines!

Record Player Save the Date by Two for Joy Paper

Mini Tambourine Wedding Favours by The Celebrations House

Concert Ticket Wedding Invitation by Georgia Yates Design

Personalised CD Cover Wedding Favours by Sixpence Paperie

Cassette Song Request Cards by Hunts England Store

Colourful Engagement Rings You'll Want to Wear Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Mon, 18 May 2020 12:44:00 +0000

Suzanne Kalan Firework Collection

Coloured stones continue to rock the jewellery market, as couples look for original choices for their engagement ring. A simple diamond solitaire might be a classic, but it doesn't say much about your personality.

Cost-wise, emeralds and rubies now cost nearly as much as diamonds, but if you're happy to consider a semi-precious stone, you can get more bang for your buck, without compromising on look.

We love the trend for rainbow rings, particularly as they've become an expression of hope and certainty for a brighter future during the pandemic. Take a look at these beauties from our favourite boutiques.

Rainbow Stardust Ring by Cat Bird NYC, £620

Rainbow Classic Eternity Band by Suzanne Kalan

Multi Colour Sapphire Ring from The Cut London

Ombré Eternity Band by Cat Bird NYC, £1170

Pastel Fireworks Thin Mix Eternity Band by Suzanne Kalan, £1400

An Autumn Wedding with a Vintage Art Deco Theme

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 06:40:00 +0000

Brides planning an autumn wedding are going to feel super-inspired by this glorious big day set in London town. Tom and Cecily embraced the fading light by creating a cosy romantic feel to their wedding reception, which they hosted in a traditional English pub surrounded by twinkling lights and flickering candles. Their choice of an Art Deco theme is inspired - the gold and black is elegant and easy to DIY. I love how they created their tablescapes themselves, with a little bit of help from their talented family. There's nothing you can't do with a can of spray paint! Huge thanks to wedding photographer Lily Sawyer for capturing every perfect detail.

We had a unique situation where we had weddings in both the US and the UK! Our UK celebration in October took place in East London at St Paul's Shadwell. We followed up with a reception at the nearby Dickens Inn.

We really liked the history behind the Dickens Inn and the rustic yet modern interior. The location on the docks and next to Tower Bridge made for iconic photos.

Our Art Deco theme and gold & black palette came from our love of the elegance of the colours. We also loved how easy it was to pull together our wedding style while planning the reception from abroad.   

One of the biggest projected we undertook was the centrepieces for the tables. My sister-in-LOVE went around charity shops picking up any candlesticks she could find and then spray-painted them all gold! We had many compliments on how elegant they looked.

The talent in the family didn’t stop there, as the striped table-runners were lovingly made by my grandmother-in-LOVE.

We designed our invitations ourselves, using Vistaprint. They made it easy to create the style and finish we wanted. The rest of the stationery; the table numbers, place cards and favour labels, we designed ourselves. We named the tables after US States we have visited together.  

When we think of English teas we can't go beyond strawberry jam – and my mother-in-LOVE makes the very best - so you can see it made sense to combine the two for our wedding favours! We packaged miniature jam pots inside cream boxes with a gold art deco pattern.   

We used our neighbor and friend for the floral arrangements and the brief we gave her was 'white or cream and traditionally British'. We trusted her style having seen her brilliant work over many years – and she did not disappoint. She created a breathtaking bouquet and boutonnieres that matched perfectly.

We wanted a simple but elegant cake with an art deco flair. The cake was made by my husband’s Aunt Sally in Bristol, with the sugar flowers intricately and meticulously made by hand. We combined our favourite cakes, a traditional fruit cake and a classic Victoria sponge. Not content with just the one cake, we also had a second at an afternoon tea immediately following the wedding service.

We had a great time planning and bringing things together, although there were challenges planning from abroad. We had amazing support from my husband's family and real credit should go to them for putting the event together. So much was already done before we touched down in London and we were able to enjoy the week building up to the wedding.

I would advise anybody in the planning process to truly enjoy these moments and not get stressed out over the tiny details - rest assured that no one will notice but you. This is all part of the wedding journey and it'll be over before you know it. Just relax and have fun, building these memories with family and friends. Don't put too much pressure on making everything perfect to avoid any mishaps on your big day. There will inevitably be something that doesn't go according to plan but these make for great stories later!

Our photographer was the wonderful and illustrious Lily Sawyer! She had photographed a friend’s wedding and we were so impressed we the photos that we asked her to do our engagement shoot. After these came back even better than we expected, and Lily was a joy to work with {and became an instant friend!}, it was an obvious decision to have her capture our wedding celebration.

Lily worked tirelessly to ensure every special moment was documented and remembered, she even went above and beyond staying with us until midnight to finish the shoot in front of Tower Bridge as she knew it was my favourite landmark!

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An Art-Deco London Wedding with Black & Gold DIY Details

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:29:00 +0000

London's been my home for nearly twenty years now {apart from a brief sojourn in Dubai}, so I've got something of a soft spot for a wedding hosted here. Tom and Cecily celebrated their marriage with two ceremonies - one in the US, and the second at St Paul's Shadwell followed by a cream tea and dinner at the Dickens Inn. As an American, you can understand Cecily's love for historic London, and it's something we should all embrace. Her photography Lily Sawyer took advantage of all the capital's stunning landmarks for their wedding pictures - don't miss them in Part 2 of this wedding, which I'll publish later this afternoon. Enjoy these shots - there's plenty of lovely details, including Tom's traditional three-piece suit, Cecily's fragrant white-on-white bouquet, her 1920's-stylepretty pearl accessories and elegant chignon.

I got the rare opportunity to have not just one but two wedding gowns. The two different styles fit with the décor and feel of each wedding. For the UK celebration I chose a simple but elegant a-line dress which I found in a US store in Atlanta. I loved this dress because it was classic and had a subtle floral print which tied into the style of the wedding.

We used our neighbour and friend for the floral arrangements and the brief we gave her was 'white or cream and traditionally British'. We trusted her style having seen her brilliant work over many years – and she did not disappoint. She created a breathtaking bouquet and boutonnieres that matched perfectly.

My husband’s three-piece suit was tailor made by A Suit That Fits in London. The herringbone design reflected the traditional English gent, and he paired it with a silver lining and accessories that made it pop.

We really liked the history behind the Dickens Inn and the rustic yet modern interior. The location on the docks and next to Tower Bridge made for iconic photos. Our art deco themed style originated from our love of the colour scheme of black, white and gold.

Lily tirelessly worked to ensure every special moment was documented and remembered, she even went above and beyond staying with us until midnight to finish the shoot in front of Tower Bridge as she knew it was my favourite landmark!

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Love Lockets for your Wedding Day

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 07:41:00 +0000

Is there anything more whimsically romantic than a locket? First fashionable in Elizabethan times, they were worn by men and women. Now they're making a comeback - as a wedding day gift from the groom to his bride, or as presents for bridesmaids. Some brides are even tie lockets to their bouquets in memory of a lost loved one, to keep them close as they walk down the aisle. Who's picture would you put in your locket? My favourites include a miniature monogrammed locket from CatBird {in gold, pictured below}, and this vintage-style oval from Fraser Hart. P.S. My favourite bouquet bloom of all time has to be lily-of-the-valley, but it's only available in May!

{I want this!} Gold miniature monogrammed locket from CatBird

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Stunning Customisable Wedding Invitations by Papier

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 15:28:00 +0000

The tropical wedding shoot I featured last week has got me dreaming about summer destination weddings, beachside ceremonies and tiki-style receptions. So imagine my excitement when I discovered stationery supremo Papier's latest range. They've roped in Matthew Williamson - who's famed for his gorgeous prints, so it's no surprise his designs feature bold colours, luscious blooms, palm fronds and his eponymous peacocks. Click through to see the full range. L-O-V-E!

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A Pastel-Themed Spring Barn Wedding with a Baking Theme (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:02:00 +0000

There's nothing I like more than a wedding with a surprise! Claire and James invited their guests to take part in a great British Bake Off, which means their big day was a cake extravaganza. Don't miss the picture of all the entries at the end of this blog post. I still don't know who won!!! You'll find plenty of other stealworthy ideas in these gorgeous images. I'm super-keen on the idea of edible favours - Claire and James handmade cake-pops. It reduces cost, and means they're less likely to get left behind on the table. The flowers by China Rose were stunning - I love the large avalanche roses, and how well the buttonholes tied in with the ushers' buttonholes. Don't miss all the DIY details - from the pretty lace-wrapped jam-jars, to the blackboard seating plan. Lovely pictures by the very talented Christy Blanch.

We got married on the 20th of May 2017 at Ashley Wood Farm in Wiltshire, the barn was the perfect. Ralf and Bee who own the venue, looked after us so well. They were always on hand to help out, and on the morning of the wedding they were moving chairs and helping with the last bits of set up. Most of all, they just gave us the freedom to decide on all aspects of our day, and didn't restrict our choices.

My bridesmaids’ outfits came from BHS. The gowns I chose had to fit 4 different bridesmaids of varying heights and shapes. I wanted them to feel comfortable, and BHS did the business.

Our wedding florist was China Rose in Pewsey, Wiltshire. We chose a mix of avalanche roses, stocks, lisanthus, eucalyptus and astilbe – all spring flowers that fitted in with the look for the barn. They blooms went together in a really natural way, and they highlighted the colours from other aspects of the day, like the suits and bridesmaids' dresses.

Christy Blanch was our wedding photographer – and she was possibly the best decision we made! Christy was amazing – neither of us particularly like having our picture taken, and on the day we hardly even noticed the photos being taken. Christy was really organised and incredibly easy to work with – we kept the group shots to a minimum so people didn't have to stand around for ages, which worked really well. We couldn't be happier with the end result, our wedding pictures are amazing.

Our theme was as in-keeping with the venue as possible – relaxed, rustic {but not too rustic}, and filled with fairy lights. We didn't want to go to formal and wanted it to feel as relaxed as possible. The colour was a mix between a dusty pink and a light blue/grey for the bridesmaids – we had a 'bake off' so there was a lot of cake.

Our wedding stationery was a big DIY project. James designed our Save the Date cards, which featured a hand drawn caricatured bride and groom. We had them printed by Photobox, along with our wedding invitations - which were a charcoal colour with fairy lights around the edge to keep the theme going. For our place cards, we found a head shot photo of everyone coming and stuck them to some card – another DIY project, which we thought was a little different to the standard written place cards.  

We made 200 milk chocolate & white chocolate cake pops for our wedding favours. We decided on edible favours because we didn't want to spend lots of money on something that most people would have forgotten about by the next day. Also, we were asking everyone to bring a cake and have a bake off competition, so thought the cake pops tied in nicely .

We had loads of DIY projects. We wrapped lace and twine around 180 glass jam jars, for tea-light and flower holders. We made 200 cake pops for our favours. We made {well, my brother really} our own centre pieces out of thin slices of tree trunk. We also handmade our place card holders, and more!

We decide to have a live band instead of a disco, as we thought it would be worth it despite the extra cost. We hired The Love Kicks who were amazing! The dance floor was full all night and they really professional and easy to work with. Our first dance was to 'Greenday – Time of Your Life', which was initially definitely James’ choice, but soon became a favourite of both of us, and the lyrics are perfect  .

We had a three-tiered cake, that from the front, looked just like a standard white iced wedding cake, but there was a section cut out at the back that was made into a mountain scene, with gates and a stream, etc {we both like our walking}. It was amazing and just what we wanted – it was made by Paul Mannering – it looked amazing and tasted incredible.   

We really enjoyed planning our wedding – it was a wonderful experience from start to finish – except deciding on the table plan - that was horrible! We made sure that we took our time and didn't rush into decisions about things, and I'd advise other couples to do the same.

Other advice? Make sure you do it the way you want to do it and don't sweat the small stuff. You'll know you've found THE venue straight away, so keep looking till you find the right one. Finally - everyone says your big day flies by, and it really does, so get a good photographer so you can spend hours and hours looking back at the photographs.

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Beautiful Barn Wedding with Fairy Lights, Cake Pops & Chalk Boards

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 09:31:00 +0000

This morning is a good one! I can't wait to share this stunning spring wedding with you. It's a beautiful barn big day, hosted by Claire and James at Ashley Wood Farm near Salisbury. It's such a pretty wedding venue - I love all climbing roses and the powder blue of the woodwork. They themed their day around the natural beauty of the venue, keeping the details relaxed, rustic and sparkly {thanks to lots of fairy lights}. I love the dusty pink and light grey colour palette, and Claire's flattering True Bride gown and cosy fluffy shrug. Also rather impressed by the BHS bridesmaid gowns - definitely a shop worth checking out. Gorgeous photographs here published with thanks to Christy Blanch - don't miss the reception pictures in my second blog post later today.

We got married on the 20th of May 2017 at Ashley Wood Farm in Wiltshire, the barn was perfect. We wanted a venue that would allow us the freedom to make our own choices - we didn't want to be tied to specific caterers, or feel like we were just part of a 'wedding conveyor belt' like lots of the other venues in our area.

Our theme was as in-keeping with the venue as possible – relaxed, rustic {but not too rustic}, and filled with fairy lights. The colour was a mix between a dusty pink and a light blue/grey for the bridesmaids – we had a 'bake off' so there was a lot of cake.

My husband originally chose a morning suit with tails and nearly a top hat! But eventually he changed his mind, and after a really uninspiring visit to Moss Bros, they chose a local supplier. Rob at The Regency Groom in Cheltenham was great and helped at every stage.

My bridesmaids’ outfits came from BHS. The gowns I chose had to fit 4 different bridesmaids of varying heights and shapes. I wanted them to feel comfortable, and BHS did the business.

We knew we wanted a relaxed ceremony and the outdoor ceremony seemed to be perfect. We didn’t have readings or songs, as there were none that particularly appealed.

My wedding dress was a True Bride gown, which I bought at The Bridal Lounge in Trowbridge. To make the fit perfect I had it altered by an amazing seamstress at Hen House Brides in Devizes, Wiltshire. If I could go back I would have taken more time dress shopping.

My shoes were from Pink Paradox and my hair accessory came from Debenhams. I looked at lots of magazines and shopped around a fair bit to come up with my wedding look. I wanted it to fit with the venue, and have a relaxed feel to it.

Christy was really organised and incredibly easy to work with – we kept the group shots to a minimum so people didn't have to stand around for ages, which worked really well. We couldn't be happier with the end result, our wedding pictures are amazing.

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Fierce Tropical Wedding Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:49:00 +0000

Hot off the press, this incredible high fashion wedding shoot brought together a fab group of wedding suppliers in Chelmsford. Inspired by Writtle College's tropical greenhouse, Grace of Photography by Grace Hill, Kelly of Miss Fleur Floral Design, and dress designer Lucy Can't Dance chose a rainforest theme. The look is totally original and seriously fierce - a great choice for bold brides looking for a distinctive style. I love Lucy's dip-dye Ziggy Stardust gown, and the intricate bodice on her Heart of Glass wedding dress. Purple lipstick and orange eyeshadow complete the boho rock chick look. And take a look at those blooms - even the shyest of brides could kick-start her look with a bright bouquet of luscious tropical orchids and palm leaves. Enjoy the pictures - they're packed with wedding inspiration - and don't miss the details of all the suppliers at the end.

{Shoot Credits}
Photography: Grace Hill of Photography by Grace Hill
Floristry: Kelly L'Esperance of Miss Fleur Floral Design
Dresses: Lucy Scragg of Lucy Can't Dance
Makeup: Ella Charles of Ella Charles Make Up
Hair: Benjamin Aldridge of Benjamin's Hairstyling and Makeup Artistry
Venue: Jo Hasnip of Writtle College
Furniture: Amy Norman of Anthology Vintage Hire

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Top Three Bridal Trends for the New Season

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:42:00 +0000

One of the best things about being a wedding blogger is being the first to see all the latest trends. Stationery and decorations are my favourite wedding details, but I know for a lot of you it's all about the dress. One of the most popular US gown designers is BHLDN. They're owned by the same company as whimsical lifestyle store Anthropologie, and they never disappoint. UK brides can easily buy their wedding dresses and accessories online, and it's always worth looking out for their sales, which are awesome. BHLDN have spotted three big trends for Autumn/Winter brides, and all of them are fab....take a look....

The Cape {Rhiannon, $550} - a brilliant modern tape on the veil - this is my favourite trend! They have another cape on their website - the Dorrit ($160} , and you can also find similar from Wildest Dreams, a bridal accessories shop based in the UK.

The Deep V {Jayme Gown, $1,600} - this style of dress would work perfectly for a destination or city bride. It's a bit risqué for a church wedding - the vicar might have a heart attack!

3D Blooms {Duchess Gown, $850} - I first spotted this pretty, feminine look on model Sam Cooke at her Lake Como wedding to footballer Chris Smalling. Whimsical and sweet, I'd probably choose just have blooms on the skirt of my wedding dress, and keep the bodice clean. For a simpler look, check out their Melrose Gown, $1,100.

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Real DIY Heart-Themed Wedding: Margaux and Max

noreply@blogger.com (Before the Big Day) — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 09:07:00 +0000

Details, details! This wedding is ALL about the details! Margaux and Max hired the amazing Ashley Meaders to help design their big day, and her work has completely blown my mind. Just check out the vintage plates, kooky welcome table, to dessert table, cake topper, hand-stitched hearts....I could go on and on! A gorgeous fabric installation was created over the entryway to make a big impact as people walked in. It was made of braided fabric, hand-sewn garland, fabric strips, and lights. Guests wrote messages to the Max and Margaux on strips of fabric and then hung them up on baker's twine with miniature clothespeg. Ashely even made Margaux a swing out of fabrics, and created hundreds of fabric hearts to decorate the back-garden. Just goes to show how even the simplist of venues can be made special. Gorogeous pictures as ever from the team at Our Labour of Love.

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