Wedding WOW Factor!

When I got married the journey that I made to the church with my father is a very strong, emotional memory that I hold from my wedding day... and one that I will keep forever.  Many brides often leave transport until the last minute in their planning, but perhaps this blog post will change your minds.

Weddings by Driven offer an unbeatable Wedding transport service to really make you look and feel very special on your big day.  They have an amazing fleet of luxury cars to choose from, both vintage and modern.

Choosing the right car for your big day is important. It will depend on your personal priorities but here are some points to consider...
1. Your dress... will you be able to sit back comfortably and reflect en route? And just how graceful your exit will be?
2. The length of your journey... vintage cars are just wonderful, but if you have a long way to go perhaps a modern vehicle would be more comfortable and practical?
3. The season... air conditioning for a hot summer wedding is a must to avoid make up disasters... or perhaps a soft top as a weather permitting option.
4. The timing... make sure you allow enough time to avoid any stress, as well as a time allowance for some photographs.

For more information see Weddings by Driven.

Painted Wedding Cakes

An emerging Wedding trend at the moment is painted Wedding cakes...

“Hand Painted cakes are becoming increasingly popular as it is an effective method of creating a bespoke design. It is possible to copy motifs from wedding stationary, lace from the bride’s dress or architectural elements of the reception venue and apply to the cake in fine detail and vivid colours.” 

The Little Venice Cake Company

 

Versailles Birds Cake by The Little Venice Cake Company 

I think you either love them or hate them... but either way there are undeniably some seriously amazing creations out there.  Here are just a few to tickle your taste buds...

English Rose Cake by Peggy Porschen

Sugar Sugar Creations

Sweet Cakes By Karen

Maggie Austin Cakes

What are your thoughts? Do you love them or hate them?

Whimsical Bridesmaid Hairstyles with ghd

I thought I would post a few behind the scenes photos and inspiration pictures for our latest video on the blog today. Hannah and I popped into ghd's studio in Soho for a consultation with ghd stylist Lisa Booth, and she kindly filmed a tutorial video for you all showing how to recreate the gorgeous, whimsical style she designed for my bridesmaids.

I had seen a few different styles I liked and wanted to channel for the bridesmaids look, and Lisa was wonderful and very clever in taking these on board and creating something really unique and fun, yet still comfortable to wear and channelling that super girly, whimsical look I wanted to go for...

My Inspiration...

The style is also really simple to create, and doesn't require many pins, so it's a comfortable one to wear all day. I think it would also be a really pretty choice for a bride, especially for a garden or beach wedding.

The Studio...

Playing around with different styles...

The Shoot...

I really hope you all enjoyed the video! ghd have been kind enough to give us a set of all the products used in this video, and a set of their new eclipse stylers to one lucky viewer. If you head over to our YouTube channel, all of the details are in the video. Good Luck!

*The winner of our last ghd giveaway for the bridal hair tutorial is HattieRose. The winner has been contacted privately*

Fleur's Wedding Hair Inspiration & ghd Giveaway!

When it came to wedding hair, it was a bit of a no-brainer when deciding whether to go for an up-do, or to leave it down. I always wear my hair down and am a firm believer that you should still look like yourself on your wedding day (although hopefully your most beautiful self!). My hair is like my comfort blanket, and anything too formal or rigid just makes me feel awkward and restricted.

When it came to searching for inspiration, the ghd website, along with pintrest were my first ports of call. Here are a few of my favourite inspiration pictures that I showed my lovely stylist Lisa Booth before we had our first trial for my wedding hair...

 

I wanted to go for a relaxed, pretty loose wave.

If you want to see the look that Lisa came up with on my first trial, along with a tutorial showing how to create the look, check out the video HERE

Finally, if you would like to be in with a chance of winning one of ghd's brand new eclipse stylers, along with every single product featured in the video above, all you have to do is:

1. Be a follower of this blog.
2. Write a comment on this post telling us which is your favourite bridal hair look from the inspiration pictures above.
3. Don't forget to include your email address OR Twitter username in your comment so that we can get in touch if you win.

Terms & Conditions: The giveaway is open for two weeks (closing on Saturday 25th May). It is open internationally. There will be one winner, chosen at random, and announced via Twitter after the closing date. The prize includes: ghd eclipse styler, ghd paddle brush, ghd tail comb, ghd detangling comb, ghd root lift spray, ghd total volume foam, ghd curl hold spray, ghd final shine spray, ghd smooth and ghd finish serum.

Wedding Monogram Design Inspiration

Looking for a monogram design for your wedding? Something unique and personal to you both, without breaking the budget? I have found a solution. Bellus Designs offer affordable, personalised wedding logos and completely custom monograms "for the chic bride on a budget"!

The great thing is that you have the option to print their designs yourself onto invitations, favours, thank you cards etc or they will take away the pressure and do it all for you!

Bellus Designs offer a wide range of other Wedding stationary accessories. Their personalised acrylic name plates would look amazing at the reception and also make a great keepsake from the day for each of your bridal party.  Priced at £10 each they would be a great addition to the top table.

Monograms help to make your wedding seamless by visually tying all elements together — engagement announcements, save-the-dates, the website, invitations, programs, table numbers, wedding party t-shirts, favor tags, thank you cards, welcome signs, vinyl wall art. You name it!

It is also lovely to frame the original monogram to keep for yourselves.

Wedding Theme A-Z: C is for Candy Stripes

C IS FOR... Candy Stripes.

Classic, wonderfully pretty and utterly delicious... just everything that a Wedding should be! This theme is so now, and for all the right reasons. It gives you a reason to theme every element of your wedding as well as being flexible to a huge range of colours. The only problem with this theme is that there are so many amazing bits out there to buy in candy stripes that it would be hard to know when to stop.

Your guests can be utterly spoilt with such a fantastic excuse to fill your Wedding reception with delicious sweets and treats!

I love the fact that with this theme you can also introduce various different colours, still maintaining the unity of the overall theme. These bridesmaid dresses (as worn by The Saturday's for Una's Wedding!) would be absolutely perfect to incorporate the 'candy' element. With the option to choose just one colour for your bridesmaids or go wild and have one of each.

If the above is just a little too girly for your liking why not go a little wild with the theme. Choose a more 'shocking' palatte to create a really stunning 'wow' factor for your Wedding. I absolutely love these Nail varnish colours from Mavala's new 'Delicious' collection. These six delectable shades conveniently have 'candy names' such as Candy Floss and Lemon Cream. Perfect either as favours for all the female guests or they would look fantastic on each of your bridesmaids. Priced at £4.30 each.

These images are taken from a recent edition of 'Wedding Magazine'.  The stylist for this 'Real Wedding' was Truely Madly Dottie. I thoroughly recommend a peek at her website as she has such amazing style and flair.

Images sourced from: Pastels: Blue invitation / Delicately styled striped cake / Candy stripe garter / Selection of sweets / Paper straws / Pink sweet bags /  Candy stripe invite / Bow detail invitation / Sweet hamper / Coloured twine / Bridesmaid dresses Brights: Paper bags multi / Ribbon

Wedding Theme A-Z: A is for Afternoon Tea

I am starting a new blog series called 'Wedding Theme A-Z'. Giving ideas for new themes every Thursday. I am really excited to share my ideas with you, so I hope you enjoy them. x

A IS FOR Afternoon Tea so quintessentially British and delicious, is such a perfect theme for a beautiful summer wedding. Think antique china tea sets, soft powder coloured roses, vintage lace, garden games, bunting, cupcakes and cream tea. But why not trade in that tea and serve cocktails in the tea cups!

Vintage tea cups and saucers are available to hire from a number of companies however I think it is much more fun to scour local antique markets and find your own. There are some real treasures to be found out there and you will get to keep them at the end of your Wedding Day or give them to guests as their wedding favour. Vintage inspired food flags are perfect for afternoon tea party treats.  Or why not serve baskets full of gorgeous marshmellows, with outdoor fire pits in the evening and have a marshmellow toasting session. A great alternative to the 'sweetie table'. The vintage icecream tricycle looks absolutely fantastic and I am sure would be adored by your guests.

Vintage style confetti cones filled with real rose petals add a rustic charm to the day and these amazing natural wheatsheaf bouquets would look fantastic as table centrepieces or as decoratation for your bar accompanied by sprigs of English grown lavender. Vintage inspired Country bunting and Old school milk bottles would complete the look. Bride De Force are currently working on a 'how to make your own bunting video' so watch this space! If you are looking for an original invitaiton designer with a classic edge take a look at In the tree house.

If you are also looking for a beautiful quintessentially English style wedding dress, this stunning antique lace dress would be perfect. And add a timeless pearl and diamond bracelet and matching earings to complete the look.

A beautiful peacock themed Wedding!

Jessica chose a stunning peacock theme for her wedding. The elegant feathers and striking colours combined to form a symbolic representation of her past and future (as she had a pet peacock as a child and still loves nature!).  This personal and very beautiful Wedding was a collaboration by Jessica, her Mum and Sisters who made so much themselves - the bouquets, buttonholes, table decorations and hair clips.  It was amazing to hear how much thought was put into making the day so special.  A highlight of the day saw Jessica say 'I do' under the arbor her cousin got married under 18 years prior. The family heirloom was pulled out of her cousin's garden and adourned with lanterns and vines to create amazing vintage earthy feel that Jessica wished for.

 

 

  

  

 

Jessica's three top tips:

 1. Don't forget to bring a friend or relative to your fitting that you won't mind if they help you into your dress.  Most seamstresses won't perform this function and its impossible to put on a dress by yourself.

2. Have all your wedding supplies in as few boxes as possible so that you can easily take them to the wedding location and so you don't forget anything at your home.  If you have a wedding planner you can give them the boxes and it makes their job easier.  Also add in any extras that could make their job easier.  i.e. extra pieces they could put around your finished cake or guest tables (flowers, candles, mirrors).

3. Talk to your photographer about key shots you want before the wedding day and make sure they write them down. Also if possible go with your photographer to scout out possible locations for shooting the big day.  It's important to know where you're going before the time comes.