cake dash

We all rely on good old M&S for knickers, dinner party food and comfy shoes and now there's one more thing you can rely on them for - wedding cake. If you are planning your wedding in a hurry and don't want to splash out too much but still want a classic pretty looking cake these gorgeous and good value versions from Marks and Spencers are a great option. They are made to order as tiered or mini-cakes and can be available in 21 days with a variety of sponge options. Just order online and pick up in your local store. Get the bespoke feel with a floral arrangment that matches your bouquet. Easy as pie. Sorry I mean cake.

sellout

Times are hard right now, so if you are thinking twice about forking out for a brand new dress, then there are a few sites other than ebay that are a good place to start. Sell My Dress has a huge range of designers such as Alan Hannah, Provonias, Vera Wang, Suzanne Neville and Ian Stuart along with bridesmaids outfits, accessories and shoes. It's a great site to navigate, including pictures and if you don't really know what you're looking for the search function is really useful. Another great site for this type of thing is Preloved, a huge list of wedding dresses from many designers for you to browse and I predict you could pick up a definite bargain here.

Congratulations!

A huge congratulations to my sister Holly who got engaged to her boyfriend Chris last week. It was a very romantic and thoughtful proposal up the Edinburgh castle with Champagne, so well done Chris! I'm very happy for you both and even happier that i'll be helping with the planning, I've already started...! (ps the photo is of her as a bridesmaid otherwise that would have been the speediest wedding ever!)

where the wild roses grow

Do you have a vision of a being a natural/eco bride? Although it's not for everyone, a Wildflower bouquet can offer a simple, rustic and unique style for your wedding. They add that relaxed 'hand-picked' element, so for a low-key natural wedding they would be perfect. The great thing about these bouquets are they are allowed to look a little wild, so it's a perfect way for a bride on a budget to create her own bouquet from flowers that she has grown herself. Now that's budget AND environmentally friendly.

baggage

Every bride needs a small handbag for the day to carry a bit of lippie, powder and perfume (even if it is fobbed off to the chief bridesmaid to carry) Shefaly have a great selection of very pretty bridal handbags, and a great prices too. Whether you are after one with flower details, sparkle, or the vintage look have a peek at their website. My favourite is the lace clutch - so now.

buried treasure

These are plantable seed favours - which are little cards with seeds embedded within. The idea is that your guest takes them home and plants the card (or the butterfly!) and grows some colourful wildflowers as a reminder of your wedding. They look sweet and are very appropriate for those with an eco theme. Think about your guests though as like me - they may only have a window box for a garden. Another cute find are the daisy seed tins, which serve a similar purpose but look that extra little bit prettier. All from Caesar's Party Supplies.