Just Bespoke advises Asian Brides on how to cut wedding costs

We like to think that we’re experts in our field and feel really honoured when journalists approach us to comment on features that they are writing for wedding magazines and blogs.

Late last year we were contacted by Asian Bride magazine to write a feature for them on cutting the cost of your wedding, and we jumped at the chance.

We plan all types of wedding here at Just Bespoke – from traditional civil ceremonies, to humanist celebrations, civil partnerships, Jewish weddings, Turkish weddings and Indian weddings – to name just a few, and we like to think that we know a fair amount about what is involved in helping couples from different cultures bring their wedding day together.

Our advice for Asian couples can be seen in the Spring issue of Asian Bride magazine on pages 69 and 70, available to buy in shops now.

Here’s a snapshot below…

Have a great Tuesday!

Weekly wedding inspiration from around the web

It’s Wednesday everyone so that can only mean one thing: Mid-Week Musings.

Over the last seven days we’ve been dazzled by details, taken in by trends and wowed by weddings in general. We’ve seen the pretty, the bold, the inventive and of course, a lot of Valentine’s Day inspiration – the web has been packed with wedding day inspiration which can be taken or tailored to suit your theme.

So here’s our take on the top three finds on the web this week…

1. Blue Maids | Gorgeous contrasting bridesmaid dresses
I love it when maids mix and match their dress colours and styles, and these blues work so well together, offering a refreshing, fun and colourful palette…

Source | Style Me Pretty

2. Pretty Pastels | Pretty and delicate florals
When I came across this wedding, I loved how the florals were the perfect tone to match the bridesmaid dresses – they look so delicate and so fresh!

Source | Brandon Kidd Photography

3. Paper Prettiness | Matching decor and tables
Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love paper…(sounds strange perhaps, but I do) so I love how this wedding combines beautiful laser-cut table decorations (menus, place cards etc) with giant paper wall murals – just beautiful…

Source | The Cinderella Project

So what do you think…? Have you taken inspiration from our finds this week or do you have some treasures of your own…we’d love to hear from you!

Be My Valentine – Any Day of the Week

Today is Valentine’s Day…loved by some, hated by others…

Here at Just Bespoke we love to hear your love stories, see love in all its forms, and celebrate our loved ones…but we don’t believe you should wait until February 14th each year to demonstrate or voice your love…Valentine’s Day can be, and should be, any day you choose…

So to those of you who haven’t experienced grand romantic gestures today, who are waiting impatiently for the postman to come to see if you’ve got a card, or for a knock at the door from the local florist who never comes…do not despair. Maybe, just maybe, your Valentine is waiting for a different day – when they can surprise you wholeheartedly, whisk you off your feet, and show you what you mean to them…

Personally, this works for me…spontaneity is a-ok…

So whilst cupid is shooting his arrow around the world today, I will mostly be wishing my best friend a very happy birthday, giving my husband a card, and then rounding off the day with some good old fashioned fish and chips…

What are you up to today? Whatever it is, I hope you have a lovely day…

Happy Valentine’s Day
xxx

Be My Valentine

Weekly wedding inspiration from around the web

Every week we come across new ideas, inspiration and interesting finds as we trawl the web. Whether we’re looking at weddings, interiors, fashion or food – every blog, website and magazine has post after post showing different variations of pretty that we seem to love.

With that in mind, here at Just Bespoke we’ve decided to dedicate a blog post every Wednesday to our favourite ideas from around the blogosphere…we’ll bring you florals, fashion, stationery, styling, cakes and creativity…if we love it, we’ll share it.

So…without further ado, our top three mid-week musings can be found below…

1. European-inspired | Beautiful florals in brown paper
Beautiful and rustic idea which is quirky and stylish – and provides a beautiful bunch of flowers for guests to take home as favours…

Source | Ruffled

2. Ceremony fun | Ring in the Newlyweds
This is a really fun idea and provides a great alternative to bubbles, flags and confetti – your guests will love it…

Source | Style Unveiled

3. Beauty & the nail | Glitter nails

These nails allow a bride and her maids to inject some subtle glitter and glam into their wedding day look…

Source | Steffel

Happy Wedding Wednesday one and all…x

In a hoopla over Chuppahs

Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to plan and attend a number of Jewish weddings and I’ve loved each and every one. I love being invited into another culture, learning about their traditions and witnessing the magic of their wedding day.

However, the thing I love the most is the Jewish wedding ceremony itself and in particular, the chuppahs. I just love a chuppah…

For those unfamiliar with Jewish wedding ceremonies, a chuppah is the canopy under which a Jewish bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony. In its most basic form it consists of a sheet or cloth stretched or supported over four poles.

For me, there is just something about a chuppah as it really sets the tone for the wedding day – from the style and design of the canopy, to the celebrations which take place underneath. And of course, not forgetting what it symbolises – the home that the couple will build together. It has so much meaning and looks beautiful to boot.

So for those of you planning a Jewish wedding, or even couples who are looking for a feature canopy for an outdoor wedding, today I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite chuppah designs.

Rustic – using wood, birch and twigs

Florals – an abundance of petals and heavy florals and foliage

Glam – using swarovski crystals and lighting

Chic – modern and stylish

Bold fabrics – unusual textures and prints

Simple – understated yet effective

Natural – taking inspiration from the natural surroundings

There are so many different styles of chuppah, meaning you can choose a personal design which reflects you both as a couple…i’m torn between something really ornate such as the heavy florals, and the more chic designs – and i love the idea of the round canopy on a platform…really stunning.

What about you – which is your favourite? And if you’re planning a Jewish wedding, what style of chuppah will you be going for? Leave us a comment in the box below…

Credits
Rustic: Bollea, Grace Ormonde, SMP
Florals: LA Premier, Tony Page, Inside Weddings
Glam: SMP, Tony Page
Chic: SMP, Nicety, Bridal Snob
Bold: Hip Hostess, Middle of the Map Weddings, Uschia and Kay
Simple: SMP, Happy Chuppah
Natural: The Perfect Details, Evantine Design

Saying ‘I do’ in the open air
At the beginning of the year we laid out our predictions for what 2012 would hold for weddings here in the UK. One of our inklings was that outdoor wedding ceremonies would be big news as brides and grooms look to create even more personalised ceremonies, taking into account their natural surroundings.

Looking through wedding magazines and blogs from America, Australia and South Africa, there is so much inspiration to help you plan your outdoor ceremony, and so we’ve pulled together some pointers to help you on your way.

Hire a celebrant
Here in England, if you want to marry outside of a church, you are legally required to get married in an approved venue – this must be a fixed structure and under cover. Unlike the lucky folks across the pond, we are not currently allowed to marry in the open air, in a tent, marquee or any other form of temporary structure – most vehicles are also forbidden. However, if you have your heart set on a wedding in a meadow, a bedouin tent or in your back garden, then it is still possible. The only requirements are that you have a legal ceremony first at a registry office or an approved venue (usually a few days before), and then hire a celebrant to perform a humanist ceremony for you on your wedding day. This gives you total freedom on location, but also allows you to really tailor the ceremony to your own tastes.

Create a focal point
Creating a strong focal point at the end of your aisle, will make for a really beautiful backdrop when you say “I Do”. When looking for the perfect location to hold your outdoor wedding ceremony, consider any existing features that you can use. For example, are there any steps nearby which you can use as a platform during the ceremony to enable all of your guests to see you clearly? Is there a large tree which you can decorate and stand in front of? Or perhaps there is a really magical spot – a lake or a clearing in the middle of a forest which will act as a stunning and dramatic surround.

Feature Aisles
Create something to talk about and set the tone of your wedding day by investing in your aisle. Not only will this add to the style and design of your wedding day, it could also be a welcomed relief for the wedding party and guests – grass and sand are not the easiest surfaces to walk on in heels! Consider your options, from petal-covered aisles through to striking runners, the options are only limited by your imagination.

Fun Props
The great thing about outdoor wedding ceremonies is that you are rarely limited by space and so you have the option to introduce fun props. Some of the best weddings that I have seen, take into consideration the natural surroundings and link in props accordingly. This could be wellington boots for all guests to wear in case of muddy walkways, sombrero hats to shade from the sun for beach-side Mexican nuptials, or even human trees which interact with guests as they take their seats.

Outdoor Lighting
Anyone who knows me – friends, ex-clients, colleagues – will tell you how much I love lighting at weddings. I really think it can totally make the style of the day – it sets the ambiance, adds some sparkle and can make a simple room look stunning at the flick of a switch. So, think about ways you can incorporate lights into your outdoor ceremony – from lanterns hanging from shepherds crooks, tea lights hanging from the trees, fairy lights around the chairs – and my personal favourite, chandeliers…

Surrounding Backdrop
Whether you choose to get married in your garden, a forest, the beach or a secret hideaway, your surroundings will give you so many ideas for decoration. Looking at what is in front of you, above you and around you, and taking the time to think up ideas, will allow your creative juices to flow, in turn leading to a very personal wedding. Use trees, fences, logs, beach huts and more to create unique design touches that reflect the wedding day you’ve dreamed about.

Unique Features
And finally, try not to limit yourself to the norm – think outside of the box. One thing I am noticing more and more is the idea of bringing the inside out – and I am a big fan. I think it can create really unique features for your wedding. A few examples include using lounge furniture outside – think upholstered armchairs and mirrored tables, and using traditional fireplaces as an outdoor backdrop which I love as it creates a really cosy feel.

So, there you have it…a few ideas to help you plan your outdoor wedding ceremony – what do you think? Are you toying with the idea of an outdoor affair? We’d love to hear your plans so drop us a comment in the box below!

Credits
Hire a celebrant: Whitney Patient via Pinterest
Create a focal point: Moroccan backdrop – Reverie Magazine, Petalled steps – Beloved Photo Boutique via SMP
Feature Aisles: Peacock runner – Green Wedding Shoes, Petal-filled aisle – Johnny Miller via Martha Stewart Weddings
Fun props: Large balloons – Bustle Events, Parasols – JAC Photography via SMP
Outdoor lighting: Chandelier – The Loveliest Day via Belle The Magazine, Sparkly tree – The Yellow Cape Cod
Surrounding backdrop: Photography tree – Stephen Jerkins via SMP, Hanging flower pots – Boho Weddings
Unique features: Lounge furniture with fireplace – Sylvie Gil Photography via SMP, Lounge furniture with rug – Ashley Maxwell Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

Decorating and Styling your Wedding Venue

One of my favourite parts of the job is coming up with style and design ideas for my client’s wedding days. I love the challenge of taking a space and totally transforming it to reflect their vision, taking inspiration from fashion, music and interiors to name a few.

I recently had my top ten tips on decorating a wedding venue published online at Wedding Ideas – to see the full article click here – however if you missed it, here is a round-up below.

1. Research
It’s tempting to jump in with both feet and buy every little thing that you see straight away, but try not to. Do your research and really consider the look and feel that you are hoping to achieve. Look at wedding and lifestyle magazines, blogs and pinterest to get inspiration and then create a scrapbook or mood board of your finds. Don’t limit yourself to objects but also consider colours and textures. You’ll gradually start to unravel your tastes and your wedding day style.

Winter wedding inspiration

2. Budget
Set yourself a styling budget and then stick to it. It is very easy to get carried away and want to buy and have everything that you see. However often these items will only be used on your wedding day and then you’ll find you have no use for them afterwards. Consider hiring items such as vases, hurricane lanterns and tableware to cut down on costs and also look at websites such as preloved, which acts as a marketplace to buy and sell wedding items which you no longer require.

3. Colours
Work out your colour scheme and then look to incorporate these into your styling. This will help to create a seamless look and finish – from table linens through to flowers – bringing the design to life. You could even consider introducing an accent colour to lift your colour scheme and to complement the look and feel.

Example colour palette

4. Features
Depending on the type of venue you have chosen, consider ways in which you can make use of any existing features to create a design focal point. Perhaps there is a large fireplace or floor to ceiling windows which can be accentuated, or maybe you decide to make use of the poles in your marquee or the tall ceiling heights.

Feature fireplace

5. Flowers
It is amazing what flowers can do to lift a space. Impactful flowers aren’t limited to large floral centrepieces – consider floral archways, floral chandeliers or a large standout display in a prominent location to totally transform your space.

Upside down tulips

6. Blank Canvas
Blank canvases are a stylist’s dream as you can literally make them what you want – however they can also prove to be costly. To keep costs down, think about adding a couple of key elements to transform the space such as draping, modular furniture and lighting which will all add to the look and feel.

7. Lighting
Don’t underestimate the benefits of ambient lighting. Strategically placed up-lighters to frame a floral display or to highlight a feature can transform a venue in an instant. Consider having different lighting in different rooms to separate and distinguish the different spaces – perhaps opt for ceiling washes or coloured up-lighters to create different ambiences in the different spaces.

Mood lighting

8. Walls
You might think that vertical structures aren’t particularly interesting – but use them. Blank walls provide the perfect backdrop to prop up large mirrors or a photomontage, or they can be used to display large paper flowers or butterflies. These small details turn an otherwise plain backdrop into something more interesting and personal.

Floral feature wall

9. Ceilings
Don’t forget what’s above you. While it is tempting to focus on what is at eye level and below, it is amazing what you can do with ceilings and wooden beams when it comes to styling your wedding venue. From hanging vases or teacups, to upside down umbrellas, paper pompoms, bunting and lights…there is so much scope – just make sure that it is all securely fastened!

Hanging ceiling stars

10. Simplicity
Less is more and this is almost always the case when it comes to venue styling. Rather than trying to re-create everything that you see in magazines and blogs, select three key design elements and do these and do them well. A well executed idea is much better received than two or three ideas which have not been thought-through, so stick to your guns and focus on a few ideas which you absolutely love and which reflect the style and design you want your wedding to be remembered for.

Simple and stunning

Credits
Feature fireplace: Sarah K CHen via SMP
Upside down tulips: Our Labor of Love via SMP via Beyond Beyond
Mood lighting: Just Bespoke
Floral feature wall: Cutture
Hanging ceiling stars: Paul Johnson Photography via SMP
Simple and stunning: Jose Villa via SMP

Bridal dresses at The Golden Globes

Last night saw The 69th Golden Globes take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel  in LA, and stars of TV and Film came together on the red carpet to celebrate the best of the small and big screen in 2011.

I always think that the big award ceremonies provide a great opportunity to see the various styles, colours and trends for dresses in the coming months, and last night’s event didn’t disappoint.

What was immediately clear, is that many of the celebrities chose to wear bridal inspired fashion on the red carpet, with fishtails, shimmer and sparkle, lace netting and muted shades of pink, cream and white all proving popular with the Hollywood elite.

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy

Shailene Woodley in Marchesa

Julie Bowen in Reem Accra

Jessica Alba in Gucci

Jessica Biel in Elie Saab

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli

Amanda Peet in Marc Jacobs

Elle Macpherson in Zac Posen

Giuliana Rancic in Basil Soda

To see more of the fashions from The Golden Globes click here

So, let us know what you think.

Have any of these dresses caught your eye? Do you think we’ll continue to see more bridal inspired fashion on the red carpet at the upcoming awards ceremonies? Who do you think dressed the best at this year’s Golden Globes? Drop us a comment below – we’d love to hear from you…

Credits
All photography by Getty Images via E Online

Grab a designer wedding dress bargain

Ah, the dress…probably the biggest shopping decision you will ever have to make…and perhaps one of the most expensive.

The good news however is that January is also sample sale month when many of the big names in bridalwear look to sell-off their old collections at a fraction of the usual price.

There are some serious bargains to be had and this is a great opportunity to get your hands on some of the most coveted designers at a snip of the cost, meaning there is more money left over to get some ‘to-die-for’ shoes and accessories…

Here’s our run-down of the best wedding dress sample sales across London this month…

Phillipa Lepley
Sample Sale: 7th – 20th January
Bridal gowns from £900

If you are looking for an exquisite couture gown then this is a ‘must-visit’. Phillipa is renowned across the industry for her understated yet elegant dresses in luxurious fabrics and she is a firm favourite with modern brides.

On Saturday 14th January it is first come, first-served, so get there early to avoid disappointment, however during the week appointments are required.

Sassi Holford
Sample Sale: 7th – 21st January
Bridal gowns with up to 75% off

Sassi’s dresses suit the stylish and classic bride with lots of lace detail and embellishments to create stand-out dresses. Having worked with Sassi at The Wedding Sanctuary last year, I can vouch for the gorgeous attention to detail on each and every dress, the luxurious fabrics and the first-class customer service that every bride receives.

The sample sale is being held in both the London and Taunton boutiques and appointments are required.

Browns Bride
Sample Sale: Sunday 22nd January, 11am – 5pm

If you are looking for a gorgeous designer dress and dream of walking down the aisle in Vera Wang, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, or one of the many other acclaimed bridal designers, then a visit to Browns Bride is an absolute must. With savings on many of the dresses it really is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands on a designer classic.

Being a big fan of Browns Bride, I can highly recommend the impeccable service you receive, the quality of the dresses and the vast choice. The sample sale works on a first come, first served basis, so get an early night and be sure to be the first in the queue!

So, what are you waiting for? If you are on the hunt for the dress of your dreams, then be sure to make these your first port of call…and let us know if you have success and manage to bag yourself a gorgeous designer bargain.

Happy shopping!

Credits
Image 1: Phillipa Lepley
Image 2: Sassi Holford
Image 3: Vera Wang and Marchesa via Browns Bride

A wedding with stripes

Earlier this week we posted our predictions for wedding trends in 2012, and to help bring them to life, we’ll be focusing on each and everyone here on the blog in the coming weeks to provide inspiration and advice on how you can incorporate some of trends into your own wedding day style.

So first up…Stripes

The best thing about incorporating a pattern – such as stripes – into your wedding day style is that you can be as bold or as subtle as you like. What you choose will ultimately come down to your own personal style, your personalities, the look and feel of your wedding day, and your colour scheme.

And don’t feel that you have to include stripes on everything – stripes can still heavily influence your wedding day style – even if you only incorporate the pattern in a few key elements.

Invitations
Invitations are a great way to set the style and tone of a wedding as this is likely to be the first interaction you have with your guests. To incorporate stripes there are various options: as the main graphic of the invite, inside the lining of the envelope, striped ribbon or even a striped font.

Outfits
This is where you can really have fun and the great news is that stripes work for men and women and boys and girls. A few simple ideas include striped bridesmaid dresses, plain flower girl dresses with bold stripy sashes, striped bow-ties for the groomsmen and page boys, striped pocket squares or socks, and even striped shoes.

Décor
The décor of your wedding day is really important as you want to incorporate touches will people will notice and remember, and which fit your style, whilst remaining within your budget. The best advice would be to invest in some striped ribbon or tape which can then be used to hang things from, to tie napkins with, or to decorate vases and glasses. However if you want to be bolder, you could invest in striped table cloths or napkins which would be extremely striking and really set the style.

Food and Drink
Speak to your caterers to see if they are able to suggest ways to add a striped element to the catering – whether that is in the way they present the food such as the layout or the plates and trays which they use to display it. You can also look to purchase some stripy paper straws or make striped flag stirrers for cocktails. And let’s not forget the cake – whether it is different coloured tiers, a striped icing design, ribbons or a striped sponge interior – with the cake you can be as bold as you like!

Hopefully this has given you a few ideas for ways in which you incorporate stripes into your wedding day, and perhaps some of you will look to embrace this trend in 2012. Do get in touch and let us know your thoughts – are you having a stripy wedding day?

And don’t forget, if you want any help styling your own big day, feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation to see how we can help…

Have a lovely weekend!

Credits(clockwise from top left)
Invitations: Southern Fete Creative
Striped straws: Style Me Pretty
Washi masking tape: Etsy
Gift box: This is Glamorous
Vase: Pinterest
Bouquet: Merriment Events via Pinterest
Bridesmaid Dresses: Brooklyn Bride
Tablescape: Style Me Pretty