One more great supplier to add my Wedding Genie Dream Team. A few weeks ago I did a photo shoot with Liz and she did the most amazing makeup for us on the day, as you can see from the images below. Not only she is just the most loveliest person to spend your morning with. She is calm and creative which is just what you need on the wedding day. It is my mission to make sure that my brides have the very best team I can offer them.

I asked Lizzie to tell us a bit about herself.

I am a professionally qualified freelance Hair and Make-up Artist, specializing in Bridal and Fashion Hair and Make-up. I have had a passion for Hair & Make-up since I was very young, I would spend hours looking through magazines copying make-up and hair looks.  While I was completing my CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy in 2004 I worked for MAC Cosmetics and working for them confirmed for me that a Make-up Artist was the perfect career for me!

In 2005 I trained in Fashion / Editorial Hair and Make-up at the School of Make-up in Manchester.

Since then I have had the pleasure of doing numerous Weddings.  It is so rewarding to know that you have help to make a bride’s day so special.  I cover Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool, Shropshire, Staffordshire and North Wales.  People are always amazed by all the products and brands I have in my kit, which include Laura Mercier, MAC, Nars, Shu Uemura, Illamasqua, Chantecaille and By Terry.

I also work part time as an in store Make-up Artist for Space NK.  This keeps me up to date with all the latest products and trends from top Make-up, Skincare and Hair brands.

Here are Lizzie’s Top 10 Tips for Bridal Makeup

Getting your make-up right for your wedding day is just as important as finding the right dress, so here are my top ten tips for the perfect bridal make-up

• Use a foundation primer as this will seal in your moisturiser and prevent any excess shine.  It also provides a smooth surface to apply your foundation to and helps to keep the make-up in place throughout the day.  There are numerous primers on the market to choose from and I think that one of the best is the Laura Mercier Primer.  I also love Dr Brants pore refiner as it also evens out open pores.

• Have your eyebrows shaped 3 -5 days before the wedding.  This will give you enough time for any redness to calm down.  Also, if you have not had your eye brows professionally shaped before have a trial run a couple of months before the wedding and if you like them book in with the same therapist.

• If your make-up has been well done by either yourself of a make-up artist you shouldn’t need to do much to the make-up through the day.  I would recommend that you get a compact translucent powder and lip colour for either a bridesmaid or your mum to look after.  This is so your make-up looks perfect on the pictures.  Laura Mercier do a great compact powder in translucent that suits any skin colour.

Photography by Ashford Daly

• I think that false lashes are a must for brides.  Some people think that they are just going to really stand out and look fake, but there is such a variety on the market now.  If you want a very glamorous look go for a dramatic full strip or if you want a very natural look have a few individual lashes on the outer corner.  They make such a difference, open the eye and look great on pictures.  I really like the Shu Uemura, MAC and Eylure lashes.  I have not long discovered a great brand too called Red Cherry and they are a really good price as well.

• Use a foundation that matches your skin colour, there is nothing worse that a foundation line that stops at the jaw.   If you want to look more golden add a little bronzer or have a spray tan done.  Again like with the eyebrows have a trial run and if you like it book in with the same therapist for your big day.

• Waterproof mascara is a essential for this emotional day.  I struggle to find a good waterproof mascara so when I am doing a weddings I use a waterproof one as the last coat to seal it.  If you are using eyeliner use a waterproof one too.

• Invest in good skincare leading up to the wedding.  The better condition your skin is, the better your make-up will look.  There are so many fabulous brands and products out there.  I would recommend going into a department store or stand-alone store like Space NK for a skin consultation before you buy anything, so you get the right products for you.  Don’t change your skincare regime too close to the wedding though as you need to be sure that the products work for you.

Photography by Ashford Daly

• Look through magazines for make-up looks you like, then if you are buying products you will get the right ones as you can take the pictures in with you when getting the make-up.  If a make-up artist is doing your make-up keep the pictures together for the trial.

• Good make-up brushes are so important as your make-up will stay on longer, be easier to apply and the make-up will look more polished.  I like MAC, Laura Mercier and Nars brushes.  All fantastic quality.

• And finally make sure you have set aside enough time for your make-up on the day of the wedding.  This is not the day for you to rush your make-up or for a make-up artist to rush!  I would say add and extra 15 minutes on to the time you think it will take for your make-up on this very special day.

I hope this has been some help to all you brides to be out there.  Have the most fabulous day!

The pictures you see are all from the collaborative photo shoot that we did at a most a fabulous venue that will up on the blog on Friday. It’s amazing and so are the pictures. Ashford Daly Photography did a brilliant job. The hair is by Sarah Roberts as well as all the accessories.

Until next time, happy planning.

Today I want to talk about the timings for your wedding day. It’s very important to make sure your day flows well. There is nothing worse as a guest or indeed as the bride and groom to have big gaps during the day where nothing seems to be happening.

You need to think about the time you marry, too early really will leave you very rushed for getting ready and your guests wil have to be up at the crack of dawn! Remember they may have to travel to get to you and not be able to stay the night before. Get this right and the whole day will feel relaxed and comfortable.

Below are my top tips for a beautiful seamless day that transitions from the ceremony right through to the evening.

Time to Marry?

You may feel you want to make use of the whole day and yes I totally agree with you. BUT getting married too early means that your day will start super early and depending on the amount of bridesmaids you have to get ready this may turn out very stressful indeed. Bear in mind too that if you are a morning person your bridesmaids may not be. An ideal time to get married is around 1pm or 2pm.

If you are having a church service then this time is ideal for getting from one venue to another and allowing your guests to drive there too as well as some photographs outside the church. If it’s a civil service you are having then 2pm onwards is good. This will still mean you have to start quite early (depending on number of bridesmaids and how many are having hair and makeup) but you will get time to enjoy the morning and be calm and most of all had time to be pampered and to feel beautiful.

Guests will have time to travel and the day will unfold for them quite naturally. A church service can take up to an hour depending on your religion. Civil services are often shorter 30 minutes, but if you personalise them with readings they may take up to 45 minutes.

If your budget is tight the the later in the day is better because you don’t have to feed and entertain for as long. Some of my brides want the same amount of guests at the day reception as well as the night. In this case 3pm or 4pm is a lovely time to marry. The day flows into the night time and all the guests stay with you and once the food is served you can really do what you like.

It makes no difference if you go over after speeches, no one else is coming and the entertainment you hire will go with the flow. You may also only need to feed people once and then have a little snack later in the evening without the need for a full blown buffet.

How long should my drinks reception be?

I would recommend no more than 90 minutes. This gives you time for photographs, it gives your guests time to mingle, chat and catch up. I would recommend you have something to entertain them or something to do during this time. Perhaps you can have a pianist playing or a solo singer, or a mix and mingle artist.There are certainly many things you can do at this time depending on the style and theme and venue of course. (That is for another blog later in the week!) Perhaps a guest book with a instant polaroid for your guests to use during this time. Things like this break the ice and encourage guests to feel involved in the day.

If your drinks reception is too long people will be starving and they will drink more. There is nothing worse than many guests getting shall we say “worse for wear” before the wedding breakfast. You can serve canapés during this time or light bites to satisfy their hunger pangs until the wedding breakfast. Also the food you have paid so much for at the venue will start to ruin if you run over too long.

BORED AND HUNGRY GUESTS ARE NEVER HAPPY ONES

Order of Service

I always recommend to my couples that they hand out an order of service. This way everyone knows when they are going to eat. It allows people to pace themselves and realise they wont have to wait hours for food. It also gives you the chance to include a bit about yourselves, perhaps explain who the wedding party is and if you are marrying in an unusual or historic venue you can give some background on that.

It does not have to be elaborate, often I get flat cards printed up that match the stationery. These are given out by the ushers and best man as the guests enter the ceremony. It’s a nice keepsake and if you give one to the ladies along with confetti, it makes for a great confetti shot if you want one.

Wedding Breakfast Timings

Allow two hours for this. Depending on the speeches this can sometimes be longer. You don’t want to rush through dinner and you want to give the time everyone needs to say the lovely things about you! If the room for your evening celebration is in the same one as the wedding breakfast make sure you allow enough time before you invite the evening guests for the staff at the venue to turn the room around. Allow an hour for this. Especially if a band is setting up or a DJ. You can ask them when you book them how long they need but generally an hour is good. This time can be used for your guests to retire the bar area or lounge and relax whilst their dinner goes down. They may want to check in too if the venue is where everyone is staying.

Entertainment and Evening Buffet

Depending on your entertainment think about when you are going to serve the evening buffet. You dont want to have it served whilst your band is in full swing. Often it is good for the band or DJ to open the night with your first dance or cutting the cake. Then followed by the bands first set/or DJ. Most bands either do 2 x one hour sessions, or 2 x 45 minutes or sometimes three. You need to think about what you do when they are resting. You can run an Ipod during this time or most bands will play background music. Be sure there is not too much lag in between the buffet and the band starting again. The atmosphere can be lost easily and it’s hard to get going again. Work out the timings so the band finishes the evening, that way your guests will rock right till the end.

I know planning the timings can be tricky when you have no idea where to start but this should give you a good idea. Just dont leave guests hanging round too long, feed them, entertain them and keep them watered! Weddings have changed immensely over the years and now there is generally not the long break when everyone used to go back to their rooms to rest or get changed. Get the flow of your day right and your guests will really notice! If you need any help then book a couple of hours with me and I can advise.

Image source – The Paper Nest

Until next time, happy planning.

I am in heaven! Why? Wouldn’t you be if you had just ordered a wedding cake from the most fabulously talented cake makers at Choccywoccydoodah!

The next few blogs are all about my travels over the last few weeks with my clients. Today I am bursting to tell you about my experience so far with the Kings and Queens of all things chocolate.

When my new client asked me to help her look for a chocolate cake, she had seen an amazing design on the Choccywoccydoodah website, I was beyond excited. Of course as a wedding planner I definitely know of this team but have never had the chance to work with them before. I can’t tell you about the style of cake we looked at because it’s a surprise for our wedding in September, but I can tell you all about what goes into making such a cake and why it is so fabulous. I know whatever is in the imagination of my client this company can make them a cake to die for.

First of all when you look at the website it boasts pictures of cakes and chocolate you can only dream about but when you read that the recipes are secret and that every single thing on their cakes is Belgian chocolate and edible the swooning starts! For a chocoholic like me it is so inviting. Superb chocolatiers make your creation. You know that your cake will be hand made by experts who really care about what the create. The cake itself is made by the same cake maker so the quality can be replicated over and over.

My journey started when I wrote an email to the website for information and pricing on one of their cakes. Straight away Christian Taylor (their super duper head honcho) came back to me with all the details I needed. My email was going to be dealt with by Stephen Watson who takes the order and brief. That night I happened to be flicking the TV channels and what do I come across but a whole programme on the Choccywoccydoodah team.

For a wedding planner this is brilliant, I got to understand and see how the team work and why their chocolate cake is just about the best you can buy. I saw how careful they pack them, how much time is dedicated to make them and most of all it was really cool to see the personalities that make your cake and the thought and effort that goes into each and every one.

Stephen and I had a chat on the phone and I cannot tell you how helpful he was. My clients wanted a certain style of cake but the colours needed to echo their theme. Not a problem at all! After seeing the TV show I felt like I knew everyone and so far no one had fallen short of super efficient and enthusiastic. Now all we have to do is wait for our samples! Yes when you buy a cake you get various flavours of cake sent to you to decide what you want your creation made of. We can choose from, Scilian lemon, Syrupy ginger, tropical coconut, cappuccino and their infamous chocolate cake. There are also three types of fillings too. Sizes of cake vary on the portions you need, we are having a Midi three tier for 120 pieces.

The shops are in London and Brighton, Stephen invited me to the Brighton store when I was down that way to check out the fabulous goodies on offer. I may well take him up on his offer! Chocolate bars, and all kinds of mouthwatering  delights can be purchased from their Brighton and London stores. If you want to give your guests favours then this is certainly a great idea. I always recommend edible favours anyway, there is much more chance of them being used.

The sophisticated look!

All I have to do is now wait for the wedding which is only a few months away. If you are worried about how the cake is going to get to us in one piece, the delivery service is second to none and designed to ensure we receive the cake in perfect condition.

I hope these give you an taster of what you can achieve. These pictures you see are all the standard ones from their website but you can let your imagination run riot! If chocolate is your passion and cake your guilty pleasure then this is the company for you.

Can’t wait to show you the pictures after the wedding and tell you how the cake tasted. If you have any fabulous cake experiences why not let me know about them.

Until next time, happy planning.

This blog is a vehicle for The Wedding Genie to shout about what is important to me! Today I wanted to highlight the issue of Equal Marriage! Or should I say the lack of it.

Why shouldn’t gay  couples be recognised legally as married? I find this very hard to understand in this day and age. The government have gone as far to legalise the same sex “Civil partnership” but at the end of the day in the laws eyes it is not a “marriage”. The consultation has started into equal civil marriage in England and Wales. It intends to change the law so that same sex Civil Marriages on non religious premises will become legal. I feel very strongly that this should be the case. Claire from English Wedding blog has written a fabulously interesting and factual article about this subject. She explains why even if they do change the law by 2015 that “true equality” will not be met. My writing skills are not what hers are so please pop over and read the article for yourselves. Claire urges us all to support the move and help as much as we can.

I am working on a same sex marriage at the moment and the couple should have the same rights as anyone else getting married in society. Their commitment should be recognised as “marriage” in the laws eyes, they are much more than partners. They are making the same commitment as heterosexual couples in all the same ways, financially, emotionally, and publicly declaring their love for each other.

Please go and read Claire’s article and check out the links below on how you can support this very important move.

• Sign the petition for Equal Love at http://equallove.org.uk/petition/
• Tell your friends (and fol­low­ers) about Equal Love and ask for their sup­port on face­book and twit­ter http://equallove.org.uk/petition/tell-your-friends/
• Like the Equal Love face­book group https://www.facebook.com/pages/Equal-Love/163531170333628
• Com­plete the quick online con­sul­ta­tion form on the Home Office web­site http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/consultations/equal-civil-marriage/
• Watch for #equal­civil­mar­riage tweets to fol­low lat­est cam­paign news

I would welcome any comments you may have on this issue.

Until next time, happy planning.

Yesterday I took the day off for my birthday and decided to do a little retail therapy as we girls are prone to do. I tried to steer clear of all things wedding but as I wandered through Coast and Monsoon I was drawn to the bridal departments. I have to say that I don’t normally think about wedding dresses from the high street.

There is no reason for it, it’s just that most of my brides have already decided what they want and often my search or role has been tracking down certain designer styles.

Over the last two weeks I have had enquiries from brides who have left their wedding planning to the last minute and are now struggling to find a bridal shop who can deliver in their time frame for the wedding. Or as some of my clients have extremely demanding jobs they just have not had the time to go shopping!  I started to look at the high street as a solution to their problem and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised.

Not only can they be delivered within a week or just over but most of the department stores have a shop or seamstress they can recommend if you need alterations. Some of the dresses are “web exclusive” which is tricky when it comes to trying on but these sites did offer a free returns service. I have picked out a few that caught my eye for you to check out.

This a brilliant solution if you are very short on time or thought it might not take the sometimes 6 month delivery time scales of some designer dresses but it is absolutely brilliant for your budget. Also a fantastic solution if your marriage is the second time around and this time you wanted to have a wedding dress that was a little more suitable for a registry or civil wedding ceremony.

This first dress is from Debenhams, inspired by Kate Middleton I just love the simplicity of it. The price is extremely good at £150. Great also if you want to cover your arms. Lace is still very on trend too so a good choice.

I love this from Phase Eight, Elspeth I have to say I never knew they did wedding dresses and they are really lovely. This one is £395. It looks like it hangs beautifully and the detailing on the bodice is just gorgeous.

This is Phase Eight and called Maria. This heavily embellished dress will certainly provide the wow factor for your big day. Delicate lace adorned with shimmering beads and sequins means jewellery is best kept minimal. The cost is £495.

Phase Eight Paloma. The intricate tapework detailing and beading of this dress is striking yet understated in soft cream. A dramatic silhouette is created by the exquisitely embroidered train, giving added impact for your special day. The cost is £450.

Phase Eight, Stephanie. A floor length gown with a sweeping train finished off with a satin ribbon belt. Wear with a simple bolero to cover shoulders and pearl jewellery for a classic look. Cost is £250.

This is Coast, Avalana. How about this little number for the flamboyant bride.This has a bandeau neckline and silk crepe boned bodice feature beautiful couture style fold details that will flatter. The modern multi-layered skirt knee length at the front falling to a full length at the back echoes true Hollywood red carpet glamour, perfect for the big day. Cost £450.

Coast, Miasara. Creafted from opulent duchess satin, the dress has structured stitched layer detail on the bodice and wide straps which combine for a luxurious look. The dress is tailored in at the waist and the fishtail skirt shape flatters your curves. The dress features a spilt at the back of the skirt for effortless wearing and is fully lined for ultimate comfort.Cost is £395.

House of Fraser, Ariella. This lace shift dress is ideal for the tea party style wedding. It is a steal at £140.

BHS have a range of wedding dresses too. Florentina Taffeta £495 and Rose Lace long sleeve £595

Not to forget Monsoon either. This 1930′s style is called Marloe and costs £240

This is Littlewoods, Multi layer dress.This is so beautiful, I love the way it hangs and it has a delicate pearl embellishment around the waistline and neckband.. It costs £269.

These are just a few of my favourites, but there are many more. House of Fraser does a great selection of designers too. If you are time strapped and want to go and see many dresses all in one place try here. You can book a personal shopper and they are extremely helpful. I have had dealings with them this week and they could not be more professional. Be sure to check before you visit that the store you go to just stock the designs you like. There are some that are only stocked in London in the flag ship stores.

Please bear in mind too that the wedding dress you have in your head may not be the one you end up choosing. I have only known one bride that ended up with the dress she originally went for. In my next blog I am going to give advice on how to choose your wedding dress.

Until next time, happy planning.

I am definitely on a roll with finding new and exciting suppliers to add to my Wedding Genie Dream Team. Shuut Films is a new and exciting wedding film making duo.

Shine and Ruth who own and run the business are two very professional, lovely and super experienced film makers. Wedding videographers have to be very good for me to work with them so I was delighted to find that Shuut has a new concept to offer couples that consists of varied film packages that are that bit different.

More than that they fit in with our philosophy of making sure services are tailored to suit the couple’s personality and style.

As you know if you read my blog, I like to add a more personal touch so I asked Ruth and Shine to explain themselves and their concept.

Shuut Films has a great new concept. What inspired you to look at such different packages that you have to offer?

When we take on any project – whether it’s a music video, corporate promo or wedding film – we start with the same premise: it should reflect the clients’ personalities, and it should be creative. We have spoken to so many brides who were disappointed with their wedding films because they were unimaginative and did not show the couple for who they really were. These negative experiences inspired us to come up with a range of unique concepts that allow couples to be as fun, romantic, stylish and creative with their wedding film as they want, rather than having their wedding shoehorned into a restrictive bronze, silver or gold package.  It’s also really important that our concepts transcend cultures and are flexible enough to accommodate a wedding that lasts for one hour or one week! So for example we can offer documentary, music video or silent black & white styled wedding films. We are also very excited to hear couples’ own ideas and work with them to ensure they get a film that is completely unique to them!

It would be great to know a little about you lovely ladies. I know Shine you had a number one hit! I Am very intrigued!

Shine : Yes, that’s right, number 1 in Asia for the music video for ‘Stereo Nation’ remake of the classic Neil  Sedaka track ‘Oh Carol’ shot in Bollywood in the summer of 97’! It’s on You Tube, take a look. I have been working in arts and media for over 20 years both as a creative and as the subject of others creativity. I have the experience of working strategically as well as a creative director, producer choreographer and consultant. I have sat on a range of national arts committees and on the editorial team of ‘Tan’ Britain’s first Asian lifestyle magazine.  When I’m not smoozing with the stars I am a solo mum of two juggling the usual work life balance stuff.

Ruth: I have been working in all things media since graduating from the London Institute’s School of Media in 1999. I have produced television programmes for the BBC and ITV, directed music videos, shot TV commercials, made numerous corporate films for clients such as Sony and Toshiba, and even worked on a couple of Hollywood movies – James Bond and Star Wars. I am also a feature writer and have had several articles published in Cosmo Bride magazine.  When I am not working I am having fun with my six year old twin boys, or watching Glee!

What makes you so different from other videographers out there at the moment?

Well for one thing we don’t think of ourselves as videographers; we’re film-makers who approach every project we do with the same level of passion, creativity and professionalism. We take a personal approach to film-making  and happen to think that a wedding film should be much more than a series of nice shots cut to a nice piece of music. It should reveal the subtle nuances of a couple and their day, and leave family and friends thinking, “That’s sooo them!” We are also different because between us we have an amazing range skills and experiences, and no one else has us in their company!

What advice would you give to a couple when they are thinking of booking a videographer?

The starting point is to pick someone whose work you have seen and liked, but there’s a lot more to it than that. The most important piece of advice is to make sure you like them and feel you can trust them. It doesn’t matter how good their previous work is if you don’t feel a connection with them. Make sure they are listening to you, and understand what’s important to you. If they don’t know that, you’ll be disappointed with your film, no matter how lovely the shots are. Your wedding may pass you by in a blur, and your film is the one thing that will bring it all back to you. You need to be confident that your film-maker will capture the tone you set, and not their own version of events.

Can you tell me about the various concepts you offer in terms of a wedding video?

Our concepts include:

• ‘Wedimentary’ – a documentary style film including interviews with the happy couple
• ‘Vintage Silent’ - a classic black and white film, or a retro super8 style cinefilm, both set to music
• ‘Red Carpet’ – a professional presenter will introduce your film, interview your guests and present scripted soundbites about you.

We also have some unique pre and post wedding film concepts to enhance your wedding film-making experience such as:

• ‘Love Story’ - a short pre-wedding film about your relationship which could be played at your wedding and even sent out on DVD as your official invitation
• ‘Last Night of Freedom’ – film a music-style video with your stags or hens as your activity

Brilliant advice and information! Your wedding team should totally “get you” I am a firm believer in helping my couples choose people who compliment them and ensure their day is perfect. If you want to know any more information about Shuut Films pop over to their website and watch one of their demo videos. It’s safe to say whatever type of wedding video you had in mind Ruth and Shine can produce it!

Until next time, happy planning.

Question:

Our winter wedding is inspired by the 1920′s and 30′s and takes place in November. We’ve booked a barn venue and wondered if you had any advice on how we could decorate it to reflect our theme.

My advice would be to keep the decor simple, elegant and stylish. Your barn setting will provide a lovely bland canvas to work with, so how about collecting vintage items like teacups and saucers to decorate the tables, and fill with flowers, pearls and feathers? Birdcages would also fit this theme beautifully. Fill these with antique roes and anemones, which are great winter blooms. Alternatively, tall candelabra would be just as fitting. Stand them on circular mirror to reflect the light and drape strand of pearls around them.

Create a romantic party atmosphere using tea lights on the tables and fairy lights wrapped around the beams. Be inventive with your use of props for a more authentic feel – use a vintage leather suitcase for guests to place their cards in and antique photo frames to hold table numbers. Finally, why not turn up the glamour and hire a mobile bar so you can serve your guess cocktails as they arrive?

Until next time, happy planning.

One way of injecting your personality is to personalise your table plan. You most definitely need one or chaos does rule but how fabulous to be able to do something that is a bit different from the standard A3 sized cardboard.

How and where do you start?

Think about your theme because your table plan must really follow the style and ethos of the day. It doesn’t have to be expensive or intricate. If you are a keen gardener for instance how about doing something like this idea below. Its simple to do with lavender and painted plant pots. It would smell lovely too and fit so well with a summer wedding. At the end of the night your guests can each take a pot home with them. I do love being able to give guests something to take home with them that is thoughtful.

Source – 100 Layer Cake Blog

An idea that is quite popular at the moment is to use birdcages. They look so pretty and effective. You get to keep the birdcage too! They look great filled with flowers in  a conservatory or in the garden when the weather is warm.

Source – Dottie Creations and above

How about using a large mirror and writing the tables on it. A really unique idea and if you are having a wedding in a venue like one of my clients where there are many ornate mirrors it would look fantastic and so go with the interior too.

Source – Anna Clarke Photography

Or try a chalk board!

Source – Wedding Chicks

This is one from one of The Wedding Genie weddings. The lovely Anna and Mark got married in a fantastic barn and Anna made this table plan which matched her theme perfectly. In fact there were two, one either side of the entrance. Just decorated with a simple gerbera they looked not only stylish but chic and were very cost effective.

Source – Julie Kim Photography

If vintage is your style then how about this?

Source – Lee Robins via Rock My Wedding

I really like this idea by Vicky Trainor, embroidered table plan squares. I have seen them pinned up like bunting or as they are seen below.

If you are brilliant at DIY then how about this one?

Source – Not on The Hight Street Real Weddings

I hope this has given you a little inspiration. I know there are hundreds of ideas and sometimes you just need a little help to get those creative juices flowing. Please let me know if you have any great ideas for table plans or an image of your wedding table plan.

Sources for photos, as they appear. Dottie Creations, 100 Layer Cake, Wedding Chicks, Julie Kim photography

Anna Clarke Photography, Lee Robbins via Rock My Wedding, Vicky Trainor. Not on the High Street Real Weddings.

Until next time, happy planning.

How surreal is it when a close up magician visits your home and performs for you on your kitchen table!

Well yes I do get to invite some fantastic people to come and chat and show me their skills. Joe is just amazing.

From the moment we met we hit it off. Not only is he a very talented magician but he is also from my home town Stoke On Trent. We are all very friendly easy to get along with and Joe is no exception. I can guarantee he will wow you and guests at your reception.

Normally I am pretty sceptical about magicians at weddings. They  have to be really good. I have no problem with them at all, I even had one at my own wedding but be sure to get someone who can do something that bit different. I easily sat for an hour and was completely entertained. Joe can set up on a table and gather your guests to him or he can wander round tables interacting and chatting to them. I think having someone like this to thrill your guests is better value than spending money on favours that just get left on the tables when everyone goes home.

I am really pleased that Joe is joining our Dream Team. I asked Joe to tell us a little about himself and why he just loves magic so much.

Over to you Joe!

My interest in magic started at a young age when I saw a magician on TV. I have always been interested in cards and particularly card cheating techniques and have been dedicated to perfecting all aspects of card conjuring and the psychology behind it for the last 9 years.

I am a professional close up magician and sleight of hand artist based in Staffordshire in the Midlands and am available for hire throughout the UK.  I have been interested in the gambling world since the age of fifteen however this quickly evolved into a dedication to perfecting the craft of artistic card handling and sleight of hand.  I now use these distinctive skills to entertain and astonish.

I have performed sleight of hand close up magic at weddings, corporate events, private parties, banquets, casino nights and many other special events throughout the UK. I am an exclusive entertainment option for Debenhams’ wedding services.

I have studied card magic for years and everything I do is self-taught. However, I have been lucky enough to meet some of the best magicians in the world and have gained knowledge and inspiration from these people, which I apply to my own performances.

Hiring me to perform is guaranteed to add something extra special to your wedding day and provide your guests with an unforgettable experience.

I understand how important your wedding day is so I work with my clients to ensure the entertainment I provide harmonises with their specific requirements. I consult with you to determine which avenue of magic is most suitable for your wedding whether it be walk-around, wandering magic or the more formal table magic option.

I am definitely the magician for your wedding.

If you don’t believe me take a look at Joe’s website and find out more about what he can do for you. I only know that I was mesmerised by him, and that is something I can tell you that is not easy to do.

Until next time, happy planning.

I rarely advertise hen or stag parties on my website but the lovely blogger Chloe from one of the most beautiful blogs around, Adore By Chloe has sent me such a lovely idea for a different kind of hen party I just had to share it with you.

If you are the kind of bride who loves a bit of DIY then this is perfect for you. I think it’s a splendid way to learn how to make your own wedding decor and have fun at the same time with your friends and bridesmaids. Adding your own personal touch never goes unnoticed at weddings.

Chloe is a fabulous stylist and has designed classes that appeal to everyone, from making cup cakes to creating your own wooden bunting. Check out more of the details below.

Want something a bit different for your hen party?

How about hosting a craft party? It’s the perfect daytime activity for hens that want a relaxed, fun and creative afternoon.

Run by Chloe from Adore, the UK’s leading crafty wedding blog, you’ll have a craft expert to teach you new skills, help you make something personal and give you lots of creative ideas and tips!

Choose to make one of the crafts below or Chloe can help your group design and make something totally bespoke, for example the bride’s wedding table numbers or some quirky string art signs!

©     Handmade stationery

©      Decorating rustic wedding or home decorations

©      Glamorous fascinators and shoe accessories

©      Fabric floristry

©   Decorating personalised candles

Recent chief bridesmaid Laura, from Nottingham… “It’s such an enjoyable way of doing something together as a group, we had a lovely afternoon chatting, eating cake, crafting and did lots of laughing!”

How it works…

1)   Email Chloe with your preferred date, time and craft project. Once this is finalised a non-refundable £100 deposit is required to secure the booking.

2)   Invite your group along!

3)   Chloe will get in touch a few weeks before to confirm numbers and all the final details.

4)   On the day of the party Chloe will set up all the materials and equipment you need to get making and bring lots of examples to help inspire you!

Prices start at £15 per person (depending on the craft) for a minimum of 6 people. The parties can last up to 3 hours and be held anywhere in the East Midlands– at your home or a venue of your choice!

You can contact Chloe here…

Website:  Email:  Twitter: Facebook:

Let me know how you go on it certainly looks great fun. If you read this and you want to share something unusual that you did for a hen party then please email me and I will share it.

Until next time, happy planning.