little white dress

I am massively lusting after the Amsale Little White Dress collection. Already well-known as the creator of the modern wedding dress, these tantalising little numbers are sadly not yet in the UK but are available in the US and other worldwide locations. I'm currently trying to persuade a bride to be who's due to marry in Central Park that the Flora dress is perfect for her NY city wedding, and then for the post-ceremony London party. Totally worth atrip to New York to get it, AND you get to wear it twice. Done.

making an entrance

Talk about Feel Good Friday. This just bought a very happy tear to my eye.

a.dorable

I just had to post this. It's creative in my books, a marriage proposal via a chinese whisper chain through 59 people which also happened to be a new world record. Hopefully she didn't feel obliged to say yes because of the room of strangers. Either way it seemed pretty genuine to me (via A Cup OF JO)

my cup o tea

Add a touch of vintage glamour to tables at the reception with these tealicious teacup candles from Kuati. As gorgeous as they are, If you didn't want to spend the money, as I mentioned in an earlier post The Make Lounge offers you the chance to make your own Vintage Teacup Candle as featured in the last picture. I'm having a go at being creative next month with this - will keep you posted on how it goes! UPDATE - my tea cup session was so much fun! The teacher was lovely and the whole session was so chilled and friendly. I cannot wait to get started on presents for people.

suited n booted

Having an unconventional boyfriend who actually cares more about what he wears than I do (well, nearly) can be tricky when it comes to dressing up, and in particular getting suited and booted. If you have a fashion conscious groom who dreads wearing a a very ordinary black morning suit then gently nudge him in the direction of trendy tailoring from Marc Wallace. As well as offering an excellent bespoke service, the Black Label collection is seriously good looking. What bride wouldn't enjoy seeing the groom strutting down the aisle in these candy colour stripes. Tasty.

in the frame

Don't want boring photos of all your guests arriving at the church? Wait until the drinks reception when everyone's had a glass (or two in Uncle Pete's case) of fizz and release the frame unto them. I think it deffo has to be an elaborate vintage style looking one, and if you wanted to you could spray paint the frame white, black or your themed colour. Ask your photographer (like Martin Oliver) if he's happy to do something like this for you.

ahhhhh

That's all I really have to say to the adorable photography of this cute couple by US photographers Simply Bloom. Scrabble seems to have had a comeback, so I'm loving this totally irresistible way to propose (and, no boyfriend, that's not a subtle hint). More gorgeousness and inspiration in general on Style Me Pretty. Seriously - if you are a photographer with a vintage or retro style in the UK please please please with a big juicy cherry on the top, get in touch, you must exist over here too!

smile

Check out these Smilers from the Royal Mail which are personalised stamps that you can use when sending out wedding invitations or thank you notes. My example above is the current loves of my life - my kittens (sorry boyfriend) but of course a better use would be a lovely picture of you as a happy couple. A little bit kitsch, but I like.

bouquet beauty

In the latest edition of Martha Stewarts Weddings magazine, something caught my eye big time, and this was the butterfly bouquet that a very clever bride made herself. Of course we do love flowers but if you are having a small and quirky wedding then there are alternatives to the traditional floral bouquets out there and the best bit is that you could always make it yourself. Over on Etsy, I found many delightful and inspirational bouquets that will last a lifetime and look uber unusual. From the top is the Tweed Bouquet which I think would look rather cool for a town hall ceremony, the colourful Origami Bouquet which would work great for the spring time with other candy colours, the Duck Tape Bouquet (so Blue Peter) of classic white roses works great with a monochrome theme and the modern twist on classic champagne and ivory colours is the Button Bouquet.

one for all and all for one

Well I never... This Walking on Air dress from Revolve Clothing and an exclusive from Anzevino and Florence on The List is the first of it's kind. One size fits all. Yes really, this dress can be adjusted to fit US sizes 0-8 (up to a UK size 10) and with it's slip-on design and wraparound sash it's created to give you the perfect fit. It's a stunning dress, and not one for a wallflower let's be honest though there is the ability to adjust the volume of the dress. So if you just have no time or inclination to shop around and try on dresses and a budget of $1000 then this is for you. Having said that I think it's now sold out. Shame.

slide away

I've come across Sliding Vinyl and think that if you are struggling to find a DJ that isn't like something straight out of Phoenix Nights then speak to these guys. They are a bespoke service with tonnes of wedding experience offering a music collection from 1950's to the present day and as they tailor the night to suit you, you can choose as much of the playlist as you want, so if you really wanted more Girls Aloud and less Dexy's Midnight Runners your wish can be granted (that's me sorted then!). Likewise if you are one of those people who is struggling to come up with more than a few songs then this can be left in their expert hands to spin some tunes that suit the audience on the night, as let's face it, crowds can vary. As if that doesn't sound good enough (get it?), you can have added extras such as a live Saxophone player (from Hed Kandi, no less) which is sure enough to get even the most shy on the dance floor and if you're crowd don't get up to thorw some shapes under the glitter ball also available for hire, then to be honest, I don't know what will.

accessorise accessorise accessorise

You've found the dress, got the shoes and picked a hairstyle for the big day, but hold on, isn't there something missing? I realised the importance of accessories when going for a friends dress fitting. She looked stunning, but it just wasn't quite complete - so thank goodness for wedding jewellery and accessories specialist Yarwood-White. A collection of intricate items such as tiaras, necklaces and earrings, it really is the best place to start looking for the finishing touches to your outfit. Though it was hard, I've picked a few of my favourites: the Pearl and Crystal Rondell Headband is the perfect adornment to a Grecian style dress. The delicate bow detail Divinity Chandelier Earrings would add a girly essence to a vintage look lace dress, and if you wanted an alternative to the tiara then consider these Blossom Pins which are perfect clustered together in one position or scattered around your up-do style to create a more subtle elegance. You can also take advantage of their BrideStyle advisory service which offers a one on one session to solve your accessory dilemmas (if only we had that every day!) and with their bespoke service you are guaranteed to get the look you are after.

monsoon season

Monsoon isn't always the first stop that comes to mind for gorgeous style, but as these few fabulous finds prove, there's more to monsoon than meets the eye. Make the most of this Zahara Maxi Dress on your honeymoon, all it's missing is the golden tan and electric blue accessories to match. This Marquise dress is so stylish, un-frilly slate grey and mint green colours would look super trendy on your bridesmaids at an urban wedding. The Hetty Lace dress works with a soft monochrome theme, and with the lace detail bodice, it's a subtle compliment to the bride if she's in lace. And finally, let your bridesmaids be the ladies in red at a winter wedding with the girly but chic Naomi Applique dress. Changed your mind about Monsoon now? I have.

shoe heaven

I know I know I know they are so expensive but the thing is, I'm not a shoe girl (ashamedly) but boy oh boy did I fall in love with the Gino shoe from Louboutin. I'm trying to persuade my bride-to-be friend that these aren't just any shoes. Wedding shoes, Honeymoon shoes, Party shoes, any special occasion shoes... The list goes on. These are a seriously good investment, and how cute would that little pink toe look peeking from out of your wedding dress? Or if like me, you think they would be wasted hidden - rock these little beauties with a short dress and make the most of them. Only thing is, be prepared to have more gushing comments about your shoes than about you.

vintage pop

Loving the cute look of these vintage pop bottles from new website The Balcony Gardner. Fill with a single Peony, Stock or even Daffodils (as seen in pic) and arrange them on tables along with other vintage glass jugs/vases for an eclectic shabby-chic look.

glow with it

A few funky little accessories that I've come across over at, would you believe it, M&S. The light balls are a total bargain and as they are battery operated, sit neatly on the tables without wires providing a gentle glow and subtle colour changes. For an evening reception, I can see them grouped together on tables, if the environment is fairly modern and white to give a splash of colour and a sort of trendy bar feel. Or, line them up a pathway or on tables outside to create a warm and inviting atmosphere outside. The other item is the gel fire bowl, and when lit it adds a total wow factor to any table, indoors or outdoors, summer or winter it's a centrepiece to gather around for sure.

sock it to em

I saw this over on Wedding Chicks and am so loving the idea of the groom sneaking some funky stripy socks under his morning suit. Hitch 'em up for the photos, match them to the bridesmaids dresses, or just wear them on their own at the end of the night! Either way, it's a good look. Photos are by Jesse Leake.

tea-licious

Having recently been to both The Charlotte Street Hotel and The Wolsey for afternoon tea, I've become quite obsessed with a Tea Party theme for a wedding. There is something so quirky and British about tea parties, and the fact you get to drink tea AND champagne as well as all your favourite foods whilst being in an relaxed and pretty setting makes for such a fabulous day. Simply Catering have a mouth watering afternoon tea spread. Scones oh yes, sandwiches with the crusts off, of course! The setting wouldn't be right without a bit of bunting, so take a look at Not on The Highstreet for a good selection, and to add that vintage touch, serve champagne out of coupe glasses (my favourite) available for hire from Crazy Blend Cocktails. The tables can be adorned with floral or dotty vintage oil-cloth tablecloths by Norfolk Textiles, with mix n match crockery, jugs filled with stocks and roses, cake stands and vases all from specialist provider Vintage Party. Of course, you can't forget the cakes, so fill the vintage stands to the brim with dozens of cupcakes from The Hummingbird Bakery. To dance to a swinging band like The Jazz Berries who even Elton John has raved about, the bride needs to be in a prom dress, by none other than Candy Anthony. Tea-liscious.