boxing day

 

 

Trying to figure out your table arrangements can be a hard decision (god knows I wouldn't know what to choose). Tall, low, big, small, colourful, neutral, modern, traditional, the list continues and continues.  This idea may help if you want something kinda stylish and rustic.  To re-create this lovely Hyacinth Arrangement from Marks and Spencer you can use hydrangeas or roses and pick up these fabulous and thrifty  BJURÖN wooden boxes available in different sizes from Ikea. If you're not so keen on the wooden look, you could always paint them with a white wash.  Oooh think this is one to try at home.

my mood in january - best of british

So, having had some time to actually blog over the Christmas holidays I've attempted my first mood board. Whilst I was away from London chillaxing in Oxford, I seem to have been hankering for all things City and British. How strange. So inspired by the to die for 'Visit London' Hello! Lucky stationery it seemed a good idea to put my creative thoughts to good use...

I guess you could say it's work in progress as it's my first try. I hope to do one a month so watch this space and let me know what you think - but please be gentle ;)  
 

salute your guests with this cute queen's guard place card {Hello! Lucky}

fly the flag in true brit style union jack bunting {Pedlars}

treat the guests to bakewell tart style cupcakes {flickr}

hit them with a hot red anemone bouquet {Blossoms & Blooms}

city style photography get the landmarks in! {Segerius Bruce Photography}

big ben favours just add a parcel tag with guests names on {Click Souvenirs}

ladies in red - add some colour and class with your bridesmaids dresses {Debenhams}

get cheeky and add this polka dot bow to your bridal attire {Folksy}

it's gotta be a prom style dress for a london wedding {Candy Anthony}

throw some attitude onto some sofas with these cushions {Armstrong Ward} 

london's calling to your guests with these invitations {Hello! Lucky}

a handy particulars sheet detailing travel arrangements for out of towners {Hello! Lucky} 

it's England guys make the most of the rain with this umbrella {NYC Webstore} 

let your maid of honour stand out from the crowd in the bluest blues {Debenhams}

from registry to reception the only way to travel is in a routemaster {BBC}

londons calling

 

 

Living in London I tend to fall in and out of love with the city. I will however, always love the heritage that it's become synonymous with. The red Routemaster buses, Phone Boxes, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Queen's Guards so I'm very excited at this find. What better way to celebrate getting married in London amongst all this British-ness than with Hello! Lucky's Visit London stationery collection.  Available in  a number of colours, but I love the coal and lucky red version and you can choose digital print or the lushness that is letterpress. The collection spans Save The Dates, RSVPs, Invites, and my absolute favourites are the bus detail Particulars (great idea) and the guard Place cards - how adorable? I've not been in London this Christmas, but it's most definitely calling now.

looking rosy

I'd always thought I was a bit over roses for weddings, but actually I reckon I might be coming round to the idea.  The fact that as a bridesmaid I had a hot pink rose bouquet may have started to persuade me otherwise. Done in the right way, they can look totally English, romantic and utterly pretty.  If you are looking for a rose specialist florist, then you can't beat David Austin Roses. I especially like bouquets when different shades are used - these delightful mixed rose pinky pastel bouquets make me want to dress up in a flowery floaty dress and run around a field on a summers day. I hope it's not just me?

{Images sourced from: Academy Florist, A Dozen Roses, Simplicity Photography}

tuned in

Don't you just love it when you find something new that's A-Mazing. Well, I've just discovered a highly useful and awesome blog - I Do It Yourself.  It's stuffed to the brim full of cutesy touches for those wanting a DIY wedding with step by step guides on how to create the looks. Amongst the many ideas I'm seriously fond of the CD favour.  A wedding I was at recently had such a good playlist that I hunted down the tunes afterwards to recreate that fabulous moment after the first dance when everyone took to the floor.  If you are big music fans, then burning CD's with your top 10 songs of the night is a great gift for your guests and using this template they'll be good looking as well as good listening.

to top it all

Now I have to admit, there aint a lot of choice over here for cake toppers and it may not be high on your list of 'must-haves' but if you do want to make the cake stand out from the err cake stand, then check out these delightful cake flag banners from Etsy.  Choose from slogans such as 'Lucky in Love 'and 'Let Them Eat Cake' and they can even be printed onto wood for a more rustic feel.

grey matter

Grey may remind you of school uniforms and yukky weather, but it doesn't have to be miserable. Grey or shall we call it Pewter can look awesome as a theme for a wedding - usually teamed with a pop of colour like yellow, fuschia or baby blues.  This one shoulder maxi-dress from ASOS is not only a total steal for your bridesmaids, but it's chic, flattering and totally rocks the grecian look. 

emily and jo

 

 

 

These beautiful invites are all courtesy of talented stationers Emily and Jo.  After browsing their site, I couldn't possibly choose a favourite as they have so many gorgeous designs. Being a bit of a boudoir babe, I am loving the chandelier detail in the Vintage collection for a glamourous wedding, however the Sans Frill range is great for those after something modern, fuss free but fab! The Secret Garden range lends itself perfectly for a totally British summer wedding, so really Emily and Jo you've spoilt us for choice, thanks Ladies!

glass class

 

 

Sometimes it's all in the details.  Why not make the top table stand out with some colourful glassware from Heals.  These Folly bold and beautiful glasses and flutes will look fabulous against white, and make the perfect statement for toasting the bride and groom. 

stamp collecting

Coming up to Christmas it feels like it's all about the craft right now.  Making cards, christmas decorations and even a few little gifts so it seems I have been swept along by the recession friendly craft making trend. One of my most favourite craft item has to be stamps. And no, I'm not talking about the penny farthing (though obviously, they are pretty cool in their own right) I'm talking about craft stamps. Whether it's names, monogramms, butterflies or birds there seems to be a stamp for every wedding need. Cox and Cox have a great selection, their Fabulous Box of stamps has lots of cute words and phrases for a myriad purposes.  Using thier alaphabet set in a rough ad-hoc kitsch way, stamp guests names for place settings. Go all out and stamp a monogram of your initals on invitation envelopes, or use fun and cute words like 'merci' for tags attached to favours of your choice.  Normally, the only stamp I would be associated with was with my foot, but not if I had these!

paper cut

I made my first ever set of tissue pom poms (see my earlier post pom-tastic) for a wedding the other week and they came out pretty good considering.  However, if you want something a little neater and just as funky, then check out these paper bells and balls from RE-found.  They come in 3 sizes and in different colours so they would look fab hung indoors at a reception or even from trees outdoors for a summer wedding. No church bells? Who needs those when you have paper ones instead ;)

something borrowed

Not that I want to admit to being a demanding bridesmaid, but if you do happen to have one that has great taste that doesn't match your budget you just may be able to keep them happy.  Introduce them to Girl Meets Dress, a website that enables you to borrow designer dresses. You can reserve the dress for the big day (and try it on too beforehand) and then it's yours for between 2-7 days and with designers like Chloe and Yves Saint Laurent to choose from they are bound to feel a million dollars on the day but for a fraction of the price.  At least that'll be your something borrowed covered for the day...

No1

I cannot be the only girl to fall for this utterly chic stationery from Rebekah Daley. I say channel Chanel by sending a touch of glamour in the post with the Coco invites, and then add a touch of feminie decadance by adding these glam table numbers to a monochrome themed reception. C'est tres chic n'est pas? 

rainbow bright

 

 

 

Back in September I organised a hen-do with a rainbow theme.  It was so much fun, each girl had to take on a shade of the rainbow (with bride to be in white of course!), and throughout the weekend we had to wear dresses, tights, shoes all in 'our' colour as well as completing various humiliating colour related tasks. It was endless fun, so being slightly partial to a bit of rainbow, how much joy do these new RM by Roland Mouret dresses bring! Featured exclusively on Net-A-Porter these mini masterpieces would be a very nice (and generous!) idea for your bridesmaids. Sexy, stylish and so now. The future is bright.

{All images courtesty of Net-A-Porter}

head to toe

I am literally head to toe in love with these lip smackingly divine Alexander McQueen heart peep-toe pink soled shoes.  I had to be torn away from them recently on a trip to Selfridges. I reckon they could be hidden beneath your dress for the day, and if you are thinking about changing into a shorter sexier dress for the evening reception, then these deserve that attention.  Not keen on the pink? Net-A-Porter have a yellow soled one.  I heart.

wax lyrical

Along with all the preparation for your wedding, your beauty regime is yet another thing to look after before the big day.  Inevitably if you are off on honeymoon, one would suggest having a bikini wax for hassle free holidaying. However we all know how uncomfortable/painful/embarrassing the whole situation is, but I think Strip could change all that.  With branches in Notting Hill and Chelsea, Strip is London's number one waxing bar, and the reason? Well, their wax is one.  They use Lycon wax which comes in a variety of scents from chocolate hazelnut (Nutella for your bits? really?!) berry and even one which leaves you erm, shimmering with gold. The second reason? Quote unquote, it's "virtually pain free" and with the flocked walls of the boudoir, TV whilst your waxed and a range of luxury lingerie on sale, it sounds like my kind of torture.  Why not book husband to be in for their Manifico - a special man wax to make them feel and smell all masculine.

MiaMia

 

 

 

You will no doubt know by now, that award winning design house Alan Hannah is synonymous with producing luxury bridal wear over the last 20 years.  Now Alan and his designer wife Marguerite have gone one step further to create a new collection, MiaMia, for the fashion conscious bride wanting a designer dress but on a tighter budget.  Alan Hannah says, "This retail price is not currently catered for by any top end designer and we see this portion of the market growing in the future".  Described by Marguerite who designs each of the dresses, they are "designed to enhance the female shape rather than to overwhelm or drown it in heavy drapery".   Stockists will include Morgan Davies in Islington and Teokath in Wimbledon.  So; flattering designs check. Designer label, check. Affordable, check.  Mamma Mia, how can I resist you...

 {from top; Carmelia, Chloe, Juliet, Lucy, Amelia}