Is it me or is 2012 flying by? I’ve been looking forward to this year since 2009 when we got engaged. Now it’s here though, I kinda want it to slow down a little!

I’ve been such a bad blogger of late. I’ve had a few personal things going on and of course the planning of my own wedding that to be honest, I haven’t had the time or the inspiration to blog. I’m back though and will be posting wedding planning updates very soon. Can you believe there are only 9 weeks to go! Crazy!

I’ve also been working behind the scenes on a complete rebrand. The Bow Occasions name will be going and will be replaced with a name that is much more suited to both myself and the business. I’m not going to say what it is just yet but all will be revealed before long. I’m so very excited for the future.

And because no post is complete without a picture – I’ll leave you with a pic of our gorgeous ginger tom, Leo.

Love Louise xo

Credit: Chris Emeott Photography

Did you get engaged over the festive period? If so, CONGRATULATIONS!! You have so many exciting moments ahead of you that will all lead up to that one big moment, when you marry the man of your dreams.

My advice would be to sit back, relax and enjoy this next stage of your relationship. Truly cherish this moment of being newly engaged before the madness of planning a wedding begins. Enjoy waking up in the morning and staring at your engagement ring. Enjoy the various messages and telephone calls from friends and family that send their well wishes. Enjoy being engaged for as long as feels comfortable for the both of you.

Don’t feel pressured into setting a date, into choosing a venue or your bridal party. Take the time to think a little and talk to each other about what you both want from your wedding. Don’t feel you have to conform to tradition and most of all, do it your way

Congratulations again!

Love Louise xo

2011 was Bow Occasions first full year in business! Looking back over the year I am really proud of what I have acheived.

February saw Bow Occasions host a ‘tweet-up’ for my fellow Twitter friends. This event was a great success and it was so lovely to put faces to twitter names.

Bow Occasions Tweet Up

In March, I worked on a wedding inspiration photo shoot with Dasha from Exhibt Emotions.

Bright, Bold, Beautiful Photo Shoot

This photo shoot was then featured on Rock My Wedding….

Bright, Bold Beautiful Photo Shoot featured on Rock My Wedding

… and the details from the shoot were used in a 2 page feature in Cosmopolitan Bride.

Press: Bow Occasions in Cosmo Bride – August / September 2011

April saw my first wedding of the year, Michelle and Russell’s wedding weekend in the Cotswolds.

A Bow Occasions Wedding – Michelle and Russell – April 2011

In June, I headed to London for Saleema and David’s wedding. Saleema is the lovely lady behind the Modern Vintage Bride Blog.

A Bow Occasions Wedding – Saleema and David – June 2011

Saleema and David’s wedding was featured in the Real Wedding section of You and Your Wedding.

{Press} You and Your Wedding – Jan / Feb 2012

In July, I was in Milton Keynes for Martha and Stu’s gorgeous humanist ceremony and tipi wedding.

A Bow Occasions Wedding – Martha and Stu – July 2011

 Martha and Stu’s wedding was featured on the fabulous blog that is Style Me Pretty earlier this month.

{Featured} Martha & Stu’s Wedding on Style Me Pretty

And that my lovelies, was 2011. Here’s to a bigger and better 2012.

Happy New Year.

Louise xo

… a place of our own!

I’m going to be really honest and say that I am feeling rather scrooge like about Christmas this year. This was the Christmas we had planned to be in our first home together and unfortunately it hasn’t happened. I’m not completely down about it though as we are really lucky to have the option of living with my soon to be in-laws whilst we save for the wedding and our first home that we can call our own. And I’m doubly lucky that I actually get on with my in-laws

I am of course looking forward to pressies, both giving and receiving, Christmas dinner and plenty of cheese, pate and biscuits for days afterwards.

I must admit, every year it gets harder and harder to think of what I want for Christmas but this year it was quite easy. I think what with all the saving we are doing which means less purchases throughout the year, I have been building up a list of things I want for Christmas. So here’s what I asked Father Christmas for this year…

Bag
Grey Blazer
Converse All Star Light Ox in Grey
Parlux 3200 Hairdryer
Liz Earle Cleansing Kit
Reluctant Bride Book
Canon 1100D for Dummies
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens

What have you asked Father Christmas for this year?

Love Louise xo

4 sleeps until Christmas! Todays printable post is perfect for those of you who haven’t wrapped up your presents yet and are looking for some gorgeous gift tags to don your pressies! Just click on the links under the images to download your free Christmas printables.

Christmas Printables by Vintage Princess

Christmas Printables from Ellinee via Celebrations at Home

Christmas Printables from Paper Crave

Christmas Printables from Domestifluff

Happy wrapping!

Love Louise xo

It’s Christmas in less than 7 days and my last Christmas as Miss Angus.  I’m so very excited for 2012 for many reasons; our wedding, my plans for Bow Occasions, the blog and hopefully purchasing our first home.

It’s another Christmas Inspiration Board today. This time its a traditional red, green and white Christmas. A bit different from last week’s pastel Christmas inspiration. I hope that this inspiration board will not only inspire you for weddings but for decorating your home too.

CREDITS
Christmas Tree – Martha Stewart
Couple – Jenny Haas via Green Wedding Shoes
Christmas Drinks – Tracey Lau
Candy Canes – Good Housekeeping
Cupcakes – Jenny Cookies via Kara’s Party Ideas
Red and Green Wreath – ItzFitz on Etsy
Christmas Tablescape – Hostess Blog

Check back on Wednesday for a round-up of Christmas printables.

Louise xo

Now I say these are a perfect gift idea but there’s nothing to say you can’t buy one for yourself just as I did recently

Plantabox supply personalised crates which are perfect wedding gifts. Each crate can be personalised with the name of the happy couple and their wedding date. The empty crate makes a lovely storage box and can be turned into a planter later.

Not just limited to wedding gifts, these crates are perfect for Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day or just because.

There are so many uses for these crates. For weddings they can be used as decor, to house cards and presents or even as a unique table plan idea. Other uses are to store Christmas gifts or even kids toys.

I love our crate and can’t wait to plant lots of colourful flowers in it ready for the wedding next April.

Love,
Louise xo

As the title states, there are only 135 wedding planning days to go until our very own big day! What with Christmas just round the corner, our wedding plans have taken a bit of a back seat so I thought I would use this post to update you all on our plans so far.

We have booked:

• A gorgeous barn to house our wedding in Canterbury, Kent

• Our super talented photographers – have you seen our pre-wedding shoot?
• Our daytime caterers. Tea and cake anyone?
• The evenings entertainment
• Fabulous floral talent

Other exciting things we have done:

• Bought my wedding dress
• Bought Dean’s suit
• Designed our wedding invitations and sent these to the printers this week
• Booked our honeymoon – We are off to Cuba!! 4 nights in Havana and then 11 nights by the sea… bliss!!
• Booked a lovely house near York for my hen weekend with my best girls… how gorgeous is this bedroom?!?!

• Bought my wedding ring. I most certainly didn’t want to take it off and can’t wait for the day I won’t have to.
• Met with the bar and decided on our wedding day drinks

The To-Do List

After Christmas, Dean and I will be setting aside 1 wedding planning night a week and this is sure to increase as we get ever closer. Here’s a sneak peek of our to do list at the moment! All the tasks are divided into category, i.e. Flowers, Food and Drink, Ceremony etc… and then each one is given a start date and a due date. This spreadsheet is so important in the wedding planning process. We have tabs for the budget, suppliers and payments, guest list, shopping list etc…

Are there any bride-to-be’s reading the blog? Do say hi and let me know how you’re getting on with the planning.

Love,
Louise xo

It has been an exciting few weeks at Bow Occasions. One of my July couples, Martha and Stuart, was featured on Style Me Pretty last week and one of my June couples, Saleema and David, is featured in the January / February 2012 issue of You and Your Wedding Magazine. View the full blog post from Saleema and David’s wedding.

View more Bow Occasions press.

Love,
Louise xo

Hello and Happy Monday! Can you believe there is now less than two weeks until Christmas… crazy! The boy and I spent yesterday writing Christmas Cards, wrapping presents and putting up the all important Christmas Tree. Couple all that with ELF on TV and I sure am feeling festive.

Over the next few weeks my posts will be mainly Christmas related. I’ll be bringing you Christmas inspiration, a round-up of downloadable Christmas printables and more… I thought I’d start with some colourful Christmas inspiration today… A Pastel Christmas!

CREDITS: Christmas Tree – Holiday with Matthew Mead  / Christmas Cookies – Hello Naomi / Christmas Fireplace – Danielle Thomson Photography
DIY Bauble Christmas Wreath – Everything Fab / Christmas Tablescape – Sitting in a Tree Event / Flowers and Cookies – Glorious Treats
Ornaments and Trees – Meadowbrook Farm / Pink Christmas Sign – Signs by Diane on Etsy

What colour are your Christmas decorations this year? We have gone traditional with red and white… do you like?

Louise xo