Mrs-Terrence

Vintage Candy Buffet table

2014-02-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

A few weeks ago, I shared the rustic charm dessert table that I was lucky enough to collaborate on. I am still chuffed with how it turned out and just wanted to talk a bit more about vintage candy buffet tables. For the last few years they have been super popular at weddings, and will probably be for the foreseeable. But I really think that with a few vintage pieces of china and props, we put a new spin on the a new staple on the wedding scene.

The overall look was achieved by combining pale green cake stands, pieces of vintage china and silverware, and all tied together with the 'pantone reference of the year' - radiant orchid. Not only did we use the colour reference within the candy on the table, but the Tarnia also managed to source the actual flower - radiant orchid.

Here are a few close ups of some of the vintage silverware and china that we used in the shoot.

Thanks to Jay for photos, and Melissa for sweets and lovely candy table props.

Feel free to get in touch for a bespoke quote on vintage candy buffets - info@mrs-terrence.co.uk

When baking goes bad!

2014-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I have been meaning to bake whoopie pies for ages -my special tin has been in its wrapper for about 6 months. So, yesterday I choose to make the chocolate whoopie pies from the Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days book.

The internet is full of cupcakes and sweet treats baked to perfection so I thought I would share my not so perfect bakes!

I know where my faults lie...trying to make or do anything with an overtired and at times hungry baby! The recipes says to leave the mixture for 30 mins to chill. I left mine for an hour and a half while I ssshhed, swayed and shook a rattle. So the mixture was too hard to work with when putting in the tins.

Lesson learnt. They do taste delicious and I looking forward to perfecting the recipe soon, but next time I'll wait until the bubba is in bed X

Rustic charm dessert table

2014-01-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Last week I collaborated with 3 fantastic people to create a rustic dessert table for anyone who is planning a rustic/vintage wedding or gathering. These lovely people were Melissa from thesweethostess.co.uk, Tarnia from flowers4weddings.com and Jay from jayandersonphotography.co.uk

We've been lucky to be featured on Mrspandp.com blog. I'm showing off and wanted to share our dessert table with you all. Take a look and let me know what you think X

http://www.mrspandp.com/moodboardscreative-ideas/rustic-charm-wedding-dessert-table-inspiration-shoot-tips-on-how-to-create-your-own-dessert-table/

North London vintage market

2014-01-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Just wanted to share an event date with you all. Mrs T and co. will be running the tea room at the North London vintage market on the 1st and 2nd February 2014. I've attached the flyer for more details.

Come and say hi if you're going X

Elderflower tea

2014-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

For me, everytime I looked on some kind of weding blog or social media site last year, everyone seemed to be drinking or eating something elderflower based. And alcoholic most of the time too. I offer a refreshing elderflower tea when hosting tea rooms at vintage fairs/markets and they are also available for anyone booking afternoon tea packages via mrs-terrence.co.uk. I haven't seen these tea bags available elsewhere and makes a refreshing alternative to the traditional builders brew.

Anyone tasted elderflower tea at a Mrs T do?

Happy New Year

2014-01-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all!

Hope you all enjoyed the festive season. I, like every one else seems to be reflecting on the past year and wishing for good times in the year ahead. I've got a good feeling about 2014 - maybe I should get my tea leaves read!

Back to reflection - I have been thinking about 2013 and where Mrs T has travelled to and the events that we have hired our vintage china and props out to. My favourite by far was the British/Hindu wedding that we saw pictures of back in November. It occured to me that I never got round to sharing images from the wedding, so thought it was better late than never. Check out the link to the full blog post below - amazing how they incorporated such different traditions within one day. It just goes to show that afternoon tea isn't just a past time that is suited to garden parties, street parties and vintage events.

Take a look at these pictures of our vintage silver teapots X

Thanks to Sundar Wedding planners - Sundarweddings.com and David Morgan Photography
http://www.modernasianwedding.co.uk/sundar-weddings-the-grove-hotel/

Mirror, mirror on the table...

2013-10-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was trawling through a few pictures on the old t'internet this week and came across a table centre piece. The setting was of a lovely modern style wedding with a mirror underneath the floral display in the centre of the table. I've seen this done A LOT at weddings and yeah sure, if you have candles or t-lights, this can really reflect the light well.

But it got me thinking that I've never seen this done at a vintage style wedding before. I have had a mirror that I found on my travels months ago that I've been meaning to revive so I thought it was time that I pulled my finger out.

Normally it breaks my heart to see vintage furniture renovated or changed from its original format, but the mirror in question had a pretty rough looking cream frame that looked like it was pulled from a smokers home. After a quick clean and coat of white chalk paint, I'm pleased to say that I'm happy with the results. Do you agree?

Next time I style a vintage wedding, I'm certainly going to experiment with mirrors as centre pieces!

Autumn Vintage Tea

2013-10-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

Is it Autumn yet? I kind of feel like it should be even if technically it's not...everyone seems to be migrating to boots rather than flip flops, so in my eyes, we're on the verge of a season change.

So, summer fruits, summer picnics and eton mess are officially out I'm now trying out a few new recipes for Autumn vintage tea parties.

First up is the Maple and Pecan Layer Cake. It is delicious, even if I do say so myself. The recipe is from the Hummingbird Recipe book. Details are below.

Ingredients:

For the sponge:

120g unsalted butter, softened

400g white sugar

360g all purpose flour

1 ½ tbsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

360ml whole milk

40ml maple syrup

3 large eggs

100g pecans, chopped

For the frosting:

240g unsalted butter

750g icing sugar

60ml whole milk

1tbsp maple syrup

Pecan halves to decorate

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 170° and cover the baking pans (3 x 20 cm tins) with baking sheet.

Mix together the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt with an electric mixer at low speed until the mixture reaches a crumb-like consistency.

In a bowl mix together the milk, maple syrup and eggs by hand. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with an electric mixer until well combined. Stir in the chopped pecans by hand.

Divide the cake batter equally between the 3 baking tins and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cakes become light brown. Leave them in the pan for a few minutes, then turn out and allow to cool completely.

For the frosting, whisk with an electric mixer the butter and icing sugar until fluffy and sandy in texture, then add milk and maple syrup, mix well and then beat at high speed until it becomes soft and fluffy.

When the sponges are completely cold, place the first layer on a plate, top with 3-4 tablespoons of the frosting, and smooth it down using a palette knife and adding a little more if needed.

Put the second layer on top and cover with frosting in the same layer. Then put the third layer, frost the sides and top of the cake and decorate with pecan halves.

Contact Mrs Terrence for a bespoke quote for Autumn afternoon vintage teas! X

The real deal

2013-09-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I've recently been thinking about all of my vintage china and props that I have acquired over the years. There are lots of companies that offer a similar service and after having a quick peek around, I've noticed that we all have a slightly different interpretation of 'vintage'. I know that 'vintage' covers a lot of decades, but I personally don't think that hanging heart t-light holders from Notonthehighstreet.com are vintage. Are they vintage inspired...at a push. Are they pretty, yes. And is any bride or party planner entitled to use them, of course! All I'm saying is that I'm very proud of my totally authentic and genuine vintage china and props and from now on, I'm staying true to my roots. Who's with me?! Mrs T x http://www.mrs-terrence.co.uk/

Mighty fine mocktail

2013-07-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

Seriously, this heat is killing me. So I decided to have a look at a few mocktail options in case you wanted to keep your guests from kieling over at your wedding reception, bbq, afternoon tea or gathering.

All the cool kids are using jam jars these days as drinking out of a glass it seems is too 2012. So I decided to have a go at making an apple and elderflower mojito. It's divinely refreshing, especially in this weather.

Here's how to make it...

Mix 35ml apple juice, 25ml elderflower cordial, 2 tsp brown sugar, juice of 1/2 lime, some mint and a heap of crushed ice. Shake, pour into a glass and top up with soda. Garnish with mint/apple/both.

My preference would be to serve in a vintage champagne saucer, but there again, I would say that!

Lovely vintage barn in Surrey

2013-07-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

I had the absolute pleasure of attending a wedding reception at Newdigate barn a few weeks ago.

Not only is it set in picturesque surroundings with a lake and as much greenery as the eye can see, the venue lends itself really well to a vintage theme.

The barn is quite small, but the venue can also errect marquees adjacent to the building to accomodate more guests if need be. There are rustic barns within the grounds perfect for some posing in front of too if you are after a vintage look in your photos!

I couldn't help but sit at the wedding breakfast and dream of how my vintage bunting and props would look though!

My new obsession

2013-06-26T12:09:00.002-07:00

Hello!

So I've recently developed a new obsession...buying vintage teapots for my collection. Now I know that floral centrepieces in tea pots are easy to create, so I thought I'd have see what other quirky ideas can be achieved.

A Teapot wind chime is a super cheap way to add decoration and sound to a wedding or garden party.

Creating a Floral banister display could be a fab way to brighten up a walk way, and great talking point for your guests.

Ever thought of a Teapot bouquets for a flower girl or bridesmaid?!

Some of my new beauties have been updated on my site, but keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks for more images in the gallery.

http://www.mrs-terrence.co.uk/gallery.php

Day 9 - Fun & Games!

2012-10-24T13:22:00.002-07:00

Looking to keep your guests entertained? Look no further than these vintage style games...

1) Keep the older folks happy with these dominoes
2) Swap cards are great to keep the little ones entertained!
3) These toy skittles are a favourite for me!
4) Or set up an egg and spoon race with this cute little set.
5) These garden draughts are perfect for summer weddings.

Just remember, it's not the winning that counts. Oh wait a minute, yes it is!

Love Mrs Terrence X

Day 8 - Tree of Love

2012-10-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to blog about the 'Tree of Love' wedding theme for today's inspiration.

I stumbed upon the tree decorations where the bride and groom asked their friends to bring along heart decorations to attach to a tree. I loved the hippy vibe and so the search continued.

There are loads of ways that you can include the tree theme into your big day, through the invites to the place settings which are perfect favours too.

I also love the guest book tree of love. This could be a great DIY project - ask your guests to write a short note or a few words of wisdom for you. Or the last fingerprint guest book could also be a great conversation starter and an interactive attraction for your guests.

With love

Mrs Terrence X

Day 7 - Centrepieces

2012-10-22T13:39:00.001-07:00

Yes I know that I've broken my promise to blog every day for 10 days, but I hope you won't hold it against me...on day 7 of my blogging journey, I bring you 5 ways with centrepieces.

Now I think that centrepieces are quite an important focal point of the table. Don't forget that guests are going to be staring at these for a while over dinner, but on the other hand, should you spend ridiculous amounts of money on them? Well if you're pretty minted then I'd say why the hell not, but here are a few potential DIY ideas...

1) I love the idea of using vintage books as a centre piece. If you wanted to go that extra centimental step, you could raid your grandparents library for their favourite books to really add that personal touch.

2) If you're looking for a dramatic centrepiece then look no further than these tiered candles. Having one of these on each table will add such atmosphere to your reception.

3) I have been to a few weddings in my time, but I have never seem a goldfish centrepiece. Very original and can act as favours too - just as long as your guests remember to take them home with them at the end of the night!

4) Mason jars are so versatile and are as cheap as chips. Use these jars to display previous family weddings or messages from the bride and groom!

5) I'm sure that heaps of people have used this idea in the past, but retro sweets in glass bowls/ornaments are really easy to put together yourself and great for guests to tuck into while they're waiting for their dinner.

Happy planning

Love Mrs Terrence XX

Day 6 - Save the date

2012-10-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

Thinking of a few ideas for save the dates....do any of these catch your eye?

1) Cocoagraph.com can personalise your save the dates on chocolate. Just make sure that your guests make a note of the date before they eat the chocolate bar.
2) Or send your friends and family a tea towel with weddingteatowels.co.uk
3) Your guests can huff and puff their way to your details with this save the date balloon
4) How about arranging your engagement next to scrabble letters and photograph from above and printing on card?
5) But anything with real 'tying knots' for save the dates makes me smile.

Happy planning

Love Mrs Terrence X

Day 5 - Something blue

2012-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today I'm looking at your 'something blue'. It's one of those small traditions that are sometimes forgotten or thought about at the last minute.

You can have SO much fun with this and really make it a feature of your day. Would love to hear from anyone who have used these ideas...

1) Simply adding a blue ribbon to the ankle is a fabulous focal point for photos and perfectly hidden if blue isn't your favourite colour but you're a sucker for tradition.
2) A blue clutch could also be a great accessory for your big day.
3) Personally I love the blue headpiece. This shade of blue is subtle enough not to take away from your dress.
4) Bridesmaids wrote personal notes on the sole of these shoes for their bride.
5) Or, add an elegant touch to your look with these sapphire earrings

If anyone of you lovely bride would like to submit images of the 'something blue' theme, send them through and I'll upload.

Love Mrs Terrence X

Day 4 – Vintage hankies

2012-10-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today I’m looking at vintage hankies. They can be quite inexpensive depending on where you shop and hopefully won't break the bank, but I guess that depends on the amount that you want/need.

Hope you like my ideas below!

1) It’s the first time that I’ve seen vintage hankies made into bunting. These create double sided bunting and saves a lot of time cutting out triangles.

2) I love this idea of a ring cushion. I know that it’s quite an American tradition, but it makes for a great photo.

3) You could wrap your flower bouquets with pretty hankies and can always be recycled afterwards.

4) Provide a basket of vintage hankies for your guests and place at the entrance of the ceremony.

5) Decorate the back of each chair with hankies – it adds a touch of colour and it so simple to create. And if the speeches get too much, your guests can always pinch them to blow their nose.

Hope you like what you see.

Love Mrs Terrence X

10 day challenge - Button it.

2012-10-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

In day 3 of my 10 day chalenge, I give to you '5 ways with button holes'.

A random selection and not a flower in sight. I love button holes - they're such a great way to add personality and to tie in with your theme. So, from the top...

1) This Skull Button Hole is so fun. A bit on the gothic side, but such an individual statement.

2) These felt flags are great if you're a bit crafty and adding a DIY touch to your big day.

3) Or why not ask people to wear badges instead of button holes. You can personalise them with people's roles or nicknames and are a great conversation starter.

4) For the musicians amongst you, guitar picks can be created into button holes with some thin wire and a bit of patience.

5) This photo brooch is utterly charming and a great way to remember relatives or friends that can't share the day with you. View here to see these in more details.

Hope these have given you a few ideas. Stay tuned for tomorrow's update.

Love Mrs Terrence X

10 day challenge - Doilies

2012-10-07T03:09:00.000-07:00

It's day 2 and I'm still going strong...today I'm bringing you '5 ways with doilies'. Now I know what many of you might be thinking, but take a look at the pictures below and you might be pleasantly surprised. They are so versatile, can be found in a variey of shapes, sizes and colours and are super cheap. Traditionally they have been found underneath your nana's tea cup, but I hope that I've inspired you with a few new ideas for them.

1) These wonderful chair decorations that I found from http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com could be the perfect way to add a few touches to a vintage or rustic wedding.

2) Colourful pom poms can add an injection of colour into your reception area. And these are really easy to make yourself. Visit Inthetreehouse.com for your step by step DIY guide

3) I wish I had of found these doilie cones when I was getting married. They are simple but beautiful and could be used to pop your favours in too.

4) Make sure that you allow yourself a bit more time to send out your invitations if you're making these doilie envelopes from scratch. Personally, I don't think that they would survive if you posted them so make sure you get some strong glue. Check out how to make these yourself.

5) Use doilies to hand make these favours. Want to make them? Find out how

Thanks to the following sites for images: http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com http://www.inthetreehouse.co.uk http://sweetsimplejoys.com http://creativecollectiveblog.com craftyliciouskaren.blogspot.co.uk

The 10 day challenge - those pesky kids!

2012-10-06T09:43:00.002-07:00

Hello all,

Have you noticed how shockingly bad I have been at posting on my blog? It's not from a lack of inspiration let me tell you, it's pure laziness. Anyway, I've set myself a new '10 day' challenge. Each day I am going to present '5 things to do with'...

DAY 1 - '5 Things to do with those pesky kids'

Deciding to invite children at your wedding can be a tricky decision. They can look lovely in pictures (the cute ones at least), but they can make so much noise and it can really impact on the fun for your guests. If you do decide to have children I would thoroughly recommend having a few tricks planned to keep them entertained.

1) My favourite idea is the 'doorway puppet theatre'. These can be puchased online, or are really simple to make. I found this one with instructions on how to make your own DIY version from Countryliving.com You could always match the colour of the material to your colour theme.

2) This 'Alphabet Doodle Pad' is a great way to keep kids enterained throughout the service. Each pad comes with 26 tear out sheets so perfect for the ushers to hand out at the same time they're giving out order of services.

3) I-Spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'D!' Marthastewart.com has created these downloadable templates for 'photo scavenger hunt'. A neat idea for children who are 7-12 years. Don't forget to provide a disposable camera for each child.

4) Keep the kids entertained throughout the speeches with these colouring in tablecloths. It might keep them quiet while the groom has his 5 minutes of glory.

5) The all time favourite party bag! Stock up on the childrens favourite treats and place them all in a party bag. They can even decorate the bags themselves.jellyandblancmange.co.uk have such a great range to choose from.

Hope these have given you a few tips, and at least you won't hear noise when you're looking at your wedding pics.

Love Mrs Terrence x

Please find the direct links to the images above.

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/doorway-puppet-theater-0609

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/226645/i-spy-conversation-starter-game?czone=inspiration%2FDIY%2Ftemplates-and-clip-art

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/yoyome/product/my-wedding-alphabet-doodle-pad

http://www.thepodcompany.co.uk/colour-in_tea_time_table_cloth.htm

http://www.jellyandblancmange.co.uk/acatalog/Paper_Party_Bags.html#a730

The original blonde bombshell

2012-07-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t let the 50^th anniversary of the hugely iconic Marilyn Monroe pass without a quick mention. This legend was the most stunning and photographed lady of her time and I had to take this opportunity to look at her wedding dresses.

Marilyn Monroe married to Joe DiMaggio in January 1954 at San Francisco City Hall. Marilyn opted for a demure pencil skirt and wool sweater with a fur collar, a far cry from her glamorous Hollywood image.

When Marilyn married her second husband, playwright Arthur Miller in October 1956, she wore a simple empire line satin dress with elbow length sleeves and a short veil. This dress could easily suit the modern bride today.

Happy reading – love Mrs Terrence x

Many thanks to

http://readingvintagevogues.blogspot.co.uk and http://www.coralsbridal.com for the images.

Lovely lavender

2012-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Well after making a batch of lavender shortbread biscuits yesterday, I got thinking about ‘lavender’ as a theme for a wedding. I’m not sure if I’m channelling the inner granny in me from an early age, but I have a strange love for lavender.

As I searched the web for some lovely ideas to share with all you budding brides, I found some absolute treasures. Lavender doesn’t have to stick with its reputation for being old fashioned – lavender can be used in so many contemporary ways. Check out those ‘bride’ stitched converse for a start, they look wicked!

The lavender bauble that I found puts such a twist on the stereotype. And I know what you might think when you see bauble...but don’t just confine these to Christmas. With a touch of imagination, these would look great as centre pieces or could be used as decorations throughout your venue etc. Baubles don’t just have to hang off Christmas trees!

The lovely ladies at Maidstomeasure.com have these beautiful ‘Bella’ dresses that would make the perfect addition to any lavender themed wedding. They look so flattering and are uber elegant.

Visit krissys-creations.com for your how-to-guide on how to make these lavender macaroons which will add vibrancy and instant colour to your day. My sweet tooth has a big soft spot for macaroons at the moment.

Keeping on the sweet theme, I used a traditional shortbread recipe that I found online for the lavender shortbread and substituted the caster sugar for my home made lavender sugar that I made for our wedding favours (few months on and they’re still looking and tasting good!). And here’s a top tip for you when making your own; when you’ve cut out your shapes, don’t place them too close together as you’ll end up with one massive piece of shortbread. Oops.

Take a look at my guide on how to make lavender sugar which is idea for wedding favours - http://mrs-terrence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/do-me-favour.html

Here are a few other lovely ideas that you can do with lavender - sprinkle buds on the steps of the venue – as everyone walks over them, it will create a beautiful aroma. Or, you can easily make your own confetti by buying lavender buds and placing them in large baskets for people to grab a handful.

I hope these have given you a few ideas on how to incorporate this versatile flower into your day. Would love to hear from any lovely bride who would like to submit a wedding to the blog!

Love Mrs Terrence x

Many thanks to Maidstomeasure.com, notmassproduced.com, everything-lavender.com, blog.carriedavenport.com, krissys-creations.com and elizabethannedesigns.com for images.

Love, set, match

2012-07-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

As Wimbledon season is upon us, I thought that I’d take a look at a few tennis themed wedding ideas. Now, I know that a tennis themed wedding isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but at least it’s different and a few subtle references and a few drapes of yellow here and there will go a long way to making it easy to achieve.

Let’s start with the obvious...tennis balls! Now, there are heaps of really great things that you can do to personalise tennis balls for weddings...save the dates and place settings to name just a few! There are heaps of bespoke printing companies that will print these for you online. If you’re in need of 100-200, the cost will be about £1.35 or so, but you could always write the details yourself if you have the patience and nice handwriting.

Most brides couldn’t pull off a full blown yellow gown, but could add a dash of colour with these yellow Manolo Blahnik Rita Half d’Orsay shoes – loving that leopard print lining!

If you hate your bridesmaids, then put them in garish yellow and they probably won’t turn up to your wedding. If you love your bridesmaids, I would highly recommend these bridesmaids dresses from Maids to Measure. The yellow is a lot softer and more subtle and is more likely to suit the majority of skin tones.

But don’t just think about the use of the colour yellow and green - it might look a bit too OTT after a while. There’s a lot that you can do with vintage wooden tennis rackets to add to the decoration for your wedding. I found these cute tennis rackets that have been converted to mirrors that looks stunning and original, and you could always arrange your wedding jewellery over a racket and ask your photographer to take a few snaps.

Another place to add a delicate addition to the theme is with centre pieces – you don’t need to have giant tennis balls on every table to make a statement. Don’t forget, less is more.

Hope you like these suggestions and would love to hear from anyone who has had/planning a tennis themed wedding who would like to be features on my blog.

Love Mrs Terrence x

Thanks to Luxurate.com, Maidstomeasure.com, womenstennisworld.com, weheartit.com, athome.kimvallee.com, colonialsoldier.com and goodtoknow.co.uk for images.

It' only rock n roll, but I like it

2012-06-26T13:57:00.002-07:00

Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones. Now, I couldn't let this milestone go by without taking a look about these beautiful ladies and their rock n roll wedding dresses!

I love this picture of Ron Wood and Jo Howard from '85- she looks bloody gorgeous and I reckon we'll be seeing Daisy Lowe in something similar in a few years.

Bianca Jagger is an absolute legend for pulling off this much boob in her wedding suit in '71. And what better way to drink champagne than straight out of the bottle?!

Mick Jagger is looking less rock n roll and more Prince of Bel Air in his wedding to Jerry Hall in '90 in Fiji. Over 20 years on and this number is still looking like a classic wedding dress...minus the massive flower maybe.

Thanks to xfinity.comcast.net, trend911.com & thehautehoosier.blogspot.co.uk for images.

Hope this gives you a bit of rock n roll inspiration when finding your wedding dress!