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!

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!

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!

Happy Planning!

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

Helen Maybanks Photography

Annie Armitage Photography

I find it’s very rarely that hubby and I feel 100% happy with our dining experience (years in the hospitality and events business do that to you!) but when we do, we are blown away and tell everyone which is why I wanted to write to you about this fantastic fish restaurant we stumbled upon earlier this year.

OK, it’s not wedding-related at all but it’s about service and attention to detail and that is wedding-related and I like to think I can spot it a mile off!  Of course Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant  is also an ideal spot for any kind of special celebration or proposal so there is a vague link.  

So what was so special?

The team – the owner team greet you from the initial booking to the final “coats-on and wave off” – Stacey is front of house and David heads up the kitchen and you see both of them in action – they are attentive to the last, friendly with time for chat, highly knowledgeable and just all round inspirational people.

The decor – simple, clean lines and plenty of natural light from the floor to ceiling glass windows and skylights.  More than a few clever hints of blue which of course works well with its waterside setting in the lovely Milford-on-Sea, and a very effective “wave” lighting effect on the central wall.

The details – Menus – hubby had a black menu card, I had white and with napkins we were reversed (a nice touch), water glasses were a lovely strong blue, bread and butter presented on slate platters, just before departure we were presented with a cute pair of mini milk bottles with straws filled with a deliciously alcoholic chocolate milkshake!

The food  – well I confess I actually don’t really love fish so for me it had to be special to get my attention – I loved the way that you could choose your fish of the day but with 4 different garnishes to suit – from a French twist with Provencale, some Indian spice from Bombay,  an Italian injection with Reggiano to a more simple classic Grill. Starters and desserts were equally inspirational and delicious.  Make your own mind up by having a peak at the menu here

Seafood and eat it of course!

The wines – I like a good wine but do get annoyed with the outrageous mark-up sometimes. I was delighted to see some sensibly priced options including a great New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (went down very well), some lovely rosé (didn’t get to try that!)  and great to see good Prosecco on the list as a more than acceptable alternative to champagne.

And the clever thing is that this restaurant also doubles up as a fishmongers so visitors can have their fish and cook it. Shame we don’t live closer or we would most definitely be regular visitors.  I do love to see a new business really going for it, setting standards and delivering genuinely excellent service at a fair price and long may it continue for Stacey, David and the team.

The restaurant is based in Milford-on-Sea on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire.

Just in time for wedding season, we’ve been going a bit Pop mad this summer. If you like chocolate and you like lollipops and most importantly you like cake, then you will probably like everything about Pop Bakery.

Here are photos of some of their lovely products, bespoke of course!  We wish you well Clare and the team.

Have a look here for info on the Smilers

Situated around 10 miles from Suffolk seaside stunner that is Southwold, the Farm is located in a very green spot; we took advantage of many local walks and hearty pub lunches naturally.

But the property itself is the real gem, literally. We stayed in The Stable, or the Mughal Jewel Box as it is affectionately known. The owners have converted this plus the other areas of the farm into a charming East Meets West blend.  The setting is beautifully designed, using the very best materials with lots of intriguing farm machinery for authenticity, we had a lovely bijou private garden, perfect for an alfresco breakfast even on a sunny but cold morning .

They have restored the old Stables keeping all the wonderful beams, door, floors and general character and each room is decorated in a different rich jewel colour with wonderful Eastern furniture, light fittings, original granite and cupboard doors shipped over from Jodhphur!  The attention to detail extended to the wonderful book collection, rich spiced chocolate  we were given plus the fragrant, Duck Island, Mandarin and Bergamot, bathroom goodies. Full of more lovely touches than I can mention, the previous occupants of the Stables had clearly been inspired with romance as they had gotten engaged!

For more information, go to the website. www.belle-grove.com

A solution to the ‘will anybody have the same outfit as me? dilemma which many a wedding guest worries about - well the female ones anyway!

What r u wearing  sorts that problem out.  You, as the bride or event organiser registers your event on their website for free. I suggest then letting guests know in the formal wedding invitation that they should register on-line once their outfit is chosen; they can even register the outfit anonymously so as not to give the glamorous game away. I suggest registering bridesmaids outfits too to help guests avoid certain colours or styles.  Inspired!

The bride probably doesn't need to register her dress!

 Thanks to Brown and Co Photography for the image.

Have you thought about having a wedding celebration ceremony conducted by a friend or relative instead of a relatively unknown celebrant? Civil Ceremonies Ltd offer a service where they will prepare a bespoke script for your wedding to be delivered on the day and issue you with a certificate. It’s a wonderful role for someone very special to you to conduct this unique and moving ceremony for you without having to write the whole ceremony from stratch.   

The wedding isn’t legal so would need to be preceded by the official paperwork but it’s a great option if you want to have a blessing in the open air, at home or wherever takes your fancy. The script is priced at £150 which we think is good value too.

The giving of rings at one of our recent civil partnership ceremonies