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If you follow me on Twitter or receive our newsletters you probably know the news, but I’m soon to embrace a whole new project by way of a little junior arriving into our world.
With this in mind, the office is temporarily closed to allow me some maternity leave from 2 December 2011. We plan to re-open our doors again in the summer of 2012. Wish me luck, I am a tiny bit terrified!
Today, I’m excited to show you some images from one of our summer weddings. Have you got your shades ready? Warning, it’s bright with a capital B! We think it’s a great example of how two colours might not often be seen together but how fantastically they can work for the adventurous.
We are thrilled that this wedding is featured in the current issue of Perfect Wedding magazine.
This is the wedding of an infectiously fun American/Persian couple based in Kuwait who decided to marry in the UK.
Not in London though; the bride had her heart set from a very early age on a classic (but with a twist) English country wedding and so to work we went.
It had to be Oxfordshire and had to be a beautiful ivy-clad mansion house and well we just had to have a marquee.
Of course it wouldn’t have been an English wedding without rain which did mean that the outdoor ceremony (largely Persian in style, tradition and décor) moved inside to the stunning Baronial Hall.
But it didn’t matter a jot as guests were able to enjoy some time outside enjoying drinks before heading into the most eye-poppingly colourful marquee design.
Orange and lime green is not a colour palette that we immediately threw together but it worked beautifully from the pom pom lanterns to the matchbox favours and the bright sunny gerbera floral designs, to the carefully styled placement card table, not mentioning the tongue-in-cheek reference to Aladdin’s magic carpet in the design of the wedding cake.
Kay and Nima, we salute your boldness and we miss you!
Key Credits:
Flowers: Euphoric Flowers
Wedding cake: Zoe Clark Cakes
Photography: Pippa Mackenzie Photography
Marquee: Wings
Stationery: Dottie Creations
Venue: Weston Manor
Although I hand-write little, email everything, tweet much and read blogs in ever-increasing numbers, there is nothing quite like the smell of a glossy magazine and being featured in its pristine pages. We’ve been lucky to have featured lots in various publications this year and here are just a few of the recent ones.
Wedding Venues & Services magazine - Oct/Nov/Dec 2011 issue – Real Wedding of Kelly and Jason
We have worked closely with the team this year on a number of Wedding SOS and Hot Topic features. Below are two of our recent contributions:
For inspiration for your own wedding you might like to take a peek at our press pages and gallery which are full of images of recent weddings we have organised.
Happy planning!
We’re always keeping our eyes and ears out for new and inventive products that would suit our clients. There is no shortage of creativity in this wonderful wedding industry. I’ve recently come across two lovely products that I’ll be sure to use again and you might like to consider for your own wedding celebration:
Cutemaps - I came across these at a recent wedding of some of my clients – one of the bridesmaids had decided to use this lovely company to arrange some bespoke maps that were given out to guests as they left the church. Although we had transport arranged, it was a hop, skip and a jump to the reception venue and the maps were ideal for those guests who preferred to walk. Postcard size, the maps show all the relevant landmarks in getting from A to B in a really cute but clear way. I’m sold!
And more of the written word, at last weekend’s Luxury Wedding Show London I came across a great supplier of every conceivable type of wooden lettering and numerals. I know we’ve all seen lots of wooden blocks in many a store over recent years but when you’re looking at events for large numbers of people and with a certain style and colour theme, sometimes those stores don’t produce what you need in the way that you want it. I’m confident that Posh Graffiti by Emily Readett-Bayley could be just the ticket for bespoke orders!
Happy planning!
Dear Blog, I know I’ve been very naughty and abandoned you for quite a few months now but well, there are just three words – wedding season madness! OK, grovel over.
There is lots going on which I hope to share with you this autumn. First up I just had to post about the exciting pre-wedding photo shoot for our wedding coming up this weekend.
Captured by the super-creative and endlessly fun Pippa and Ian at Pippa Mackenzie, they seem to have got right into the swing of things with a really joyous and quirky photo shoot to the theme of the film ‘Roman Holiday’. Inspired by their engagement in Rome plus Bella’s love of Renaissance art and Italian style in general, the wedding this weekend will contain more than a dash of Italy. More on that soon but for now enjoy some images from their special day in Brighton:
We look forward to featuring the wedding itself on the blog soon!
They say that no man/woman is an island and never is this truer than when planning a wedding. As a planner myself, I’m very privileged to be a position to get to know the in’s and outs of every wedding I work on and I’m always blown away by the generosity of family, friends and guests towards helping to make the day absolutely perfect for the special couple.
Yet there are so many traditions and expectations that come with being involved in a wedding, especially for the chosen ones….the Bridal Party! Surrounded by your nearest and dearest, your wedding day should go without a hitch; however ensuring that each member of the party knows in advance what their key duties are is a must. The following hints & tips will help you, and your Dream Team, create a stress-free and simply gorgeous wedding day.
![picresized_1298374336_rachel and mark best man D65-0073[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1298374336_rachel-and-mark-best-man-D65-007321.jpg "picresized_1298374336_rachel and mark best man D65-0073[2]")
Just like Harry Potter & Ron Weasley, Fred & Barney and The Lone Ranger & Tonto, your Groom’s ‘sidekick’ plays a very important role on your wedding day, as the Best Man, his main responsibilities are:
Pre-wedding
*To help the groom choose the ushers and ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities, attend fittings of suits and are available to attend the rehearsal (if required).
*Together with the groom, decide on the outfits for both themselves, and the ushers (if the outfits are hired the cost is traditionally the responsibility of the groom).
*Prepare the Best Man’s speech. The Staggered website will be able to help them with this…and the Stag Night!
*Arrange the stag night or stag weekend if the groom is having one. It is probably wise to arrange this to happen at least a few days before the wedding to give everyone a chance to recover!
*Attend the wedding rehearsals and check car-parking facilities at the wedding venue and reception venue. If there are elderly or disabled guests pay particular attention to access for them.
The Ceremony
*Ensure that they have the ring(s) and the money for the church fees and any other fees that may arise on the wedding day. If the bride and groom are having a civil wedding the fees will have probably been paid beforehand in advance.
*Upon arriving at the ceremony venue, take control of the buttonholes if necessary and ensure the orders of service sheets have been brought to the venue for handing out to the guests as they arrive.
*At the required moment, when prompted, hand over the ring(s).
*Join the recession down the aisle. Follow in line after the bride and groom, the bride’s father and groom’s mother and the groom’s father and the bride’s mother.
At the reception
*Help the photographer to arrange any formal snaps if necessary.
*Announce the speeches and cake cutting if there is no master of ceremonies.
*Give a speech at the wedding reception.
Bridesmaids
![picresized_1298374203_sue lin bridesmaids 0095[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1298374203_sue-lin-bridesmaids-009523.jpg "picresized_1298374203_sue lin bridesmaids 0095[2]")
A girls’ best friend, the bridesmaid has the fabulous duty of wearing a beautiful dress and supporting you on your walk down the aisle; sounds wonderful! Apart from this rather lovely task, there are others that should be addressed by your Bridesmaids:
*Plan and organise the hen night – tiaras and L plates aren’t obligatory!
*Attend all dress fittings and support the Bride in choosing the dresses, shoes and accessories for the Bridesmaids.
*Attend the wedding rehearsal and make sure they know where they need to be and what they need to be doing at all times.
*Walk down the aisle as part of the procession then standing alongside the other attendants before being seated during the wedding ceremony itself.
*Follow the Bride & Groom out of the ceremony venue as part of the exit procession, either two-abreast or being escorted by an Usher.
![picresized_1298374276_nicklin bridesmaides 0070[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1298374276_nicklin-bridesmaides-007022.jpg "picresized_1298374276_nicklin bridesmaides 0070[2]")
Ushers
Alongside the Best Man, a dedicated team of Ushers are worth their weight in gold. Ensuring that all of the guests are seated, with Order of Service in hand, is just one of the important duties they fulfil:
*Arrive at the wedding ceremony venue before any guests or other members of the bridal party to help to co-ordinate things from the front.
*Stand at either the entrance to the venue (essential for at least one Usher) or mid-way up the aisle prior to the start of the ceremony.
*Hand out the important stuff (orders of Service, directions to the reception venue etc) and inform guests of any essential things they need to know. This could include the fact that the throwing of confetti is not allowed, photography during the service is forbidden, mobile phones should be turned to silent etc.
*Take charge of seating the guests at the ceremony; the guests can either be pointed in the right direction or shown to their seats. The most crucial thing to remember is, when looking from back to front, to seat the Groom’s friends and family on the right and the Bride’s on the left.
*Familiarise yourself with who the VIP guests are (grandparents, brothers, sisters, close relatives and friends of the Bride and Groom may all be part of this clique) and it is critical that they get star treatment and the best seats in the house.
*Be clued up with all things practical – where guests can park, directions, exits and entrance, where the toilets are etc. – this last one may be of particular interest to the Groom before the ceremony begins!
![picresized_1298374238_lynch wedding ushers 0314[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1298374238_lynch-wedding-ushers-03142.jpg "picresized_1298374238_lynch wedding ushers 0314[2]")
Happy Planning!
Credits: Photographs
Deciding on ‘who sits where’ is often one of the more tricky tasks when planning your wedding; you have to take into consideration all manner of things from family tiffs, to who to sit Uncle Pete next to. There are many different options and designs you can consider when deciding how to announce to your guests where they are sitting for the all important wedding breakfast, below are a few of the classics alongside our favourite current trends for 2011, enjoy!
It’s a Classic The traditional table plan, usually placed at the entrance of the Dining Room or Marquee, will detail the guest’s table location and number. These can be home-made (a trip to HobbyCraft will have you stocked and ready to get creative in no time), from a kit (Confetti have a fantastic range) via the internet (TablePlans offer a great selection and range of themes) or designed and produced by a Wedding Stationers….the possibilities are endless!
![picresized_1297691937_sue lin seating plan low res[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1297691937_sue-lin-seating-plan-low-res21.jpg "picresized_1297691937_sue lin seating plan low res[2]")
All your birds in a row Using a bird cage as the centre of your table plan has been popular for the past few years, particularly at English Country Garden themed weddings where they tie in very nicely with the marquee, bunting and blowsy blooms. For the talented DIY-ers out there, a quick search on eBay should source you a beautiful birdcage that you then simply dress with flowers (real or artificial) and attach a card for each table detailing the names of the guests – et voila, hand-crafted and cost-effective.
![picresized_1297690438_8[1][1].jpg Bird Wedding image](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1297690438_811.jpg-Bird-Wedding-image.jpg "picresized_1297690438_8[1][1].jpg Bird Wedding image")
Hanging Tree A small amount of creativity for a big result! Hanging Trees simply require a beautiful container (for example a large glass square vase for a contemporary wedding or a large metal water jug for a country garden wedding) and the prettiest branches you can find – these can either be from your garden or purchased from a local garden centre. You then attach cards to the branches detailing the guests and which table they are seated at. The branches can also be ‘dressed’ to match the theme of your big day – miniature bunting, pearls, ribbons, etc…
Rustic Charm to give your wedding a rustic ‘outdoor’ feel; you could consider a variation on the more traditional Escort Card. Small squares of chalk board can be personalised with each guests name and placed on a picnic table outside of your Dining Room or Marquee. Team them with gingham napkins, brushed metal votive holders and native flowers for a relaxed, rural Californian type feel!
![picresized_1297690480_Chalkboard escort cards braggingbags etsy[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1297690480_Chalkboard-escort-cards-braggingbags-etsy21.jpg "picresized_1297690480_Chalkboard escort cards braggingbags etsy[2]")
A few top tips for table planning:
* With divorced / remarried parents, the top table seating arrangement can cause headaches. Consider not have a traditional top table and instead each set of parents / step parents can host their own tables – filled with their close friends, they will feel comfortable and in their element.
* To save disagreements whilst deciding who to sit where – colour-code your guests (family, close friend, work colleague) on sticky notes which you can move around the paper ‘tables’ until you are happy that each table has the right mix of people.
* However tempting it is, try not to sit two single friends next to each other – they will see through your match making motives in an instant!
Happy Planning!
Credits: Photos
When organizing your wedding you have to put on lots of different hats – planner, designer, peace keeper, accountant, wine taster (a personal favourite!) and many more. If you are recently engaged, mid-planning or about to make that all important walk up the aisle, keeping control of your wedding budget, let’s face it, is not the most fun part of planning your big day; but it is super important.
Being a savvy spender in one area can usually mean that you can splurge another; however have you considered renting key wedding items? It really could allow you to have your cake and eat it!
Let’s start with a girl’s best friends…Bridesmaids…as they come in many beautiful shapes and sizes, the trend for bridesmaids choosing their own dresses, tied into your theme by either colour or style, is set to continue in 2011. This is where Girl Meets Dress comes into play; having recently added a stunning Wedding Boutique to their collection, you and your bridesmaids can benefit from a wide range of dresses from 3.1 Phillip Lim to Alberta Ferretti from £49.00 for 2 days – not an unflattering puff sleeved number in sight!
![picresized_1297782621_Green-Fun-Button-Prom-Dress[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1297782621_Green-Fun-Button-Prom-Dress21.jpg "picresized_1297782621_Green-Fun-Button-Prom-Dress[2]")
Now let’s consider your other best friends…Diamonds… Sophie and the team at Rent Your Rocks have nearly 150 pieces of jewellery for you to choose from, with rental prices starting at a very purse pleasing £50.00 per week. Choosing to rent your wedding jewellery could enable you to drape yourself in diamonds, pearls or sapphires that would usually break the budget – how divine!
Have you been weighing up the possibility of purchasing Louboutins for your big day? This is often a dilemma; will the colour and style be wearable after the big day? Consider contacting the ladies at Cinderella Me for the fairy princess treatment, without the price tag! A gorgeous pair of Louboutin Prive Riga or Jimmy Choo Brent heels could be yours for as little as £49.00 for a week, perfect for you to strut down the aisle in style.
Should you be planning a retro wedding, another area of your wedding that can benefit from rental is your crockery and decoration. Two favourites in my little black book are Idyllic Days and Simply Love Vintage, both boast a huge selection of teacups, plates, cake stands, vintage table cloths, hurricane lamps and much more! Kim and Carrie have both taken time and care traipsing around car boot sales, eBay and charity shops to build up their fabulous collections so that you don’t have to. This rental option is not only cost effective; it is very ‘green’ which will leave you with a warm glow too!
![picresized_1297781658_propsteapots a most curious[2]](http://www.thebespokeweddingco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/picresized_1297781658_propsteapots-a-most-curious2.jpg "picresized_1297781658_propsteapots a most curious[2]")
Happy Planning!
It’s a real pleasure to write about the success of recent event, The Wedding Sanctuary, and share with you some of the wonderful images from the day.
This event, spearheaded by my alter-ego as Director of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners was ambitious in its aims, to genuinely inspire and offer advice to brides in a wedding event with a difference. No hard sell, just pretty things, lovingly presented and teamed with practical information on how to really pull together your wedding day from those who do it everyday, we wedding planners. Some asked ‘how is that going to work – 20+ wedding planners all working on one event on one day?’. But it did work and it worked superbly.
To talk you through the event:
I spent much time in our registration area welcoming our visitors and talking them through what was on offer at The Wedding Sanctuary at Somerset House. (this isn’t me at the desk, but another planner colleague)
Check out our ‘plan’ of the event which I worked very hard on with designer Melanie of Cranberry Blue Weddings who offers a bespoke table plan service.
Guests strolled into our inspiration zone. Six tables including the photographed sweet treats station were individually and carefully designed to very unique styles and with much attention to detail by fellow wedding planners of UKAWP. Here are just a few images:
Next up was the fashion boudoir, beautifully styled with props from Vintage Style Hire
I was particularly proud of our ‘advice zones’ which I worked hard on designing and planning. Our visitors loved having the opportunity to sit down and actually engage properly with our hand-picked collection of wedding suppliers.
And finally our ‘talks zone’ not only looked but played the part, with three highly practical and useful talks on key areas of planning from members of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners
For more images and further write- ups on the event you might like to take a look here
A special thanks to Always Andri and Isabel Smith Weddings for working tirelessly with me on this event.
Credits:
Photography: Julia Boggio Photography
Flowers: Amanda Austin Flowers
Stationery: Cutture and With Love
Lighting and production: Wise Productions
Advice zone furniture: Velvet Living
Catering: Table Talk
Table top items: Well Dressed Tables and Just 4 Linen
Cake and candy station: Zoe Clark Cakes
From a small intimate wedding celebration for 10 of your nearest and dearest, to a 3 day bonanza for 250 gorgeous guests, a key element in planning your wedding day is to ensure that the guests are well fed, well watered and have a enjoyable and memorable time; in short, Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
There are many different ways to make your guests feel like they are a true part of your day and not just spectators:
Get in the game If you are planning a summer wedding and hope to make the most of the outdoor space at your venue, there are many different game options for you to choose from; chess, croquet, giant Jenga, or for a French feel, how about open lawn boules – c’est fantastique!
Break the ice For when the guests are seated for the Wedding Breakfast, break the ice by using the back of each place card to jot down a funny fact about the person sitting to their left, it is guaranteed to be a conversation-starter and is a relaxed and amusing way to get the table talking.
Up you get Getting guests up off of their chairs and onto the dance floor is a sure fire way to make them feel part of the celebration. If you feel your guests will need coaxing onto the dance floor, consider a group activity such as a barn dance with the Pass the Buck Band who comes complete with a ‘caller’ to walk you through each dance before the music starts and call out the moves once the band starts. Once your guests are up and enjoying themselves, you will struggle to get them off of the dance floor at the end of the night!
All smiles Throughout your wedding day you will have 100s of professional photographs taken, however a fun way to capture the essence of the evening celebrations is installing a photo booth, complete with props (think feather boas, fake moustaches and oversized reading glasses) for your guests to head into and strike a pose. Say Fromage and The Photo Emporium both offer wedding packages and the photos are a great memento for your guests to keep, but can also be placed in your guest book with a witty message of marital advice for you and your new husband to laugh over in the months to come.
Happy Planning!
Credits:
Photos
We try hard to credit absolutely everything we show here. If you see something that hasn't been properly referenced and you know who it belongs to, or if you see something that's yours and you'd rather it didn't appear here please contact us.
2011 The Bespoke Wedding Company
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