white wedding

{top & bottom images via RocknRollBride: A Bryan Blog & Jackie Wonders Photography middle image Rock My Wedding}

These days sticking to a colour theme is pretty darn hard when planning a wedding. Especially when it comes to finding that perfect shade of 'fuchsia' or 'chatreuse' for your bridesmaids to wear to match the stationery.  

That may then go someway to explaining the recent surge in bridesmaids in white.  For a long time it was considered a no-go area, because of course ~ no-one should upstage the bride.  These days however this isn't so much the case, and in fact girls in white dresses {maybe without the pink satin sashes} can be a bit of a saving grace.  

Let's see... It suits nearly everyone, it's pretty easy to buy all year round from high street and designer labels, it's definitely 'wedding-y' and yes that old saying ~ is more likely to be worn again.  Of course you don't have to go white white, I'm talking neutrals, which leaves you to add colour in more simple and striking ways such as flowers and decoration. 

 

  

I have scoured the shops and handpicked a number of little white dresses for all your bridemaid needs! Pale and neutral shades are everywhere for spring/summer '10 so you are spoilt for choice.  Structural dresses suit modern weddings and detailed dresses are feminine and more traditional. Opt for shades of nude for versatility and go city chic with on trend lace and crochet styles. The only rule I think should be abided is to keep the LWD short though I have seen exceptions to this rule that work well too!

{little & lacy} D&G Lace Shift Dress at Net-A-Porter, Diane Von Furstenburg Crochet Dress at Net-A-Porter, Missy Dress at Reiss

{pale & pretty} Paul & Joe Sister at My Wardrobe, Birdsong Dress at Coast, Raw Edge Ruffle Dress at Asos

{detail & structure) Rare Frill at Asos, Bouquet Dress at Coast, Tibi Assymetric Dress at Net-A-Porter, Lilium Bubble Dress at Coast, Allure Short Dress at Coast

thanking you {crumbelina}

Did you see my earlier post on the delectable delights from Crumbelina? Well the very lovely and now my most-favourite-person-in-the world Danielle sent me the cutest little surprise last week in honour of Valentines day and our shared love of ampersands {see I told you I'm not the only ampa-geek round here}. Here are some yummy pics, just to make you all green with envy. And yes. It did taste as good as it looks :)

hanging around

  

   

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OK so spring isn't quite in the air just yet {rain rain go away} but seeing these bright and cheery colourful outdoor decorations and hearing the birds tweeting away in the mornings just reminds me that we aren't that far away now! I love outdoorsy weddings in the summer and think it's a great idea to dress the outside of the venue more than the inside as that's where people will be if the weather is reasonable. Here are a few of my favourites: These cute little chinese lanterns from Cox and Cox can be placed anywhere and everywhere to add an oriental feel and a splash of vibrant colour. String this paper fiesta bunting from Cox and Cox everywhere to create a lovely country wedding atmosphere.  For a little bit of latino, hang these traditional mexican papel picados from RE and finally these summery flower paper garlands will add a burst of brightness to a plain space.  I hope I have brightened your dreary day?

bridal belle {romancing the stone}

Here's the first of my bridal belles. A little inspiration board purely for bride style. I love the elements of diamantes and lace in this board, with a slight romantic vintage edge, it's prim but not too proper.

 

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have your hair tousled and swept up and away with an un-done feel finished with a small flower {image via Wedding Chicks}

this knee length lace Trish dress from Priscilla of Boston would flatter all figures available at Angelica Bridal

love these delicate but oh so perfect Vivienne Westwood swarovski bow pearl earrings {Net-A-Porter}

gypsophila can get a bad rep, but keep it simple and pretty with a ribbon and it creates a nice n natural look {image via Style Me Pretty}

love the glove, these come with their own amazing ring for added sophistication {Net-A-Porter}

this lovely Stella ankle strap shoe with sparkle detail will show off the dress but add a delicate touch {Emmy Shoes}

engaged {katherine & paul}

 

  

I couldn't help but fall for this frosty engagement session of Katherine and Paul. With bright eyes, fresh faces and a beautiful clear blue sky above them they look so cosy and warm together as they are wrapped up in their winter woolies {how Katherine stays looking so stylish in such cold weather I don't know!}.

  

  

 

The shoot started off at the Pavillion Café in Victoria Park, East London and then they went for a wander around the fabulous Columbia Road {famous for its flower market}, stopping off for a warming hot chocolate along the way. What a lovely way to spend your morning, and I'd say yes to one of those danish pastries please. Oh and that sparkling diamond ;)

Thank you to the lovely and talented Chloe at Caught The Light photography for letting me feature your fabulous work and this gorgeous couple.

crumbs

I can't quite tell you just how excited I was when a friend {cheers alex!} selflessly introduced me to Crumbelina Bespoke Baking.  I literally was like WOW, who is the creator of such beauty!? Well I know you must be asking the same thing, so to let you in on this secret it's an incredibly talented lady by the name of Danielle.

Let's start with this achingly hip and original Cupcake Rose Dome.  To be honest, it would be enough if it were just a cake with its romantic roses, but there's more to it than meets the eye. It's a collection of individual Rose decorated cupcakes put together in a dome to form a floral centrepiece for your tables. I know - amazing huh?

 

Aren't these just the cutest? They look like they just want to be picked up and adored... and then scoffed.  I love the cute pearlised chocolate name topper and though it would be mighty cool to have one for each guest that might be a bit impossible {or woth a try asking} instead have a cupcake tower of these beauties with names of the bride and groom at the top.  And what's not to love about the Chanel-esque pattern fondant on the cupcakes or that totally romantic rose decorative icing? It just take cupcakes to an even cuter, chicer level!

 

Let your guests savour each bite in private and offer them a cupcake favour to take away with them. These bespoke cupcakes are adorned with a personalised ribbon and presented in individual boxes for your guests to enjoy. I'm thinking they might make the perfect midnight snack.

For more information and drooling, visit Crumbelina's website.

gem of a bouquet

More and more of you stylish girlies out there want to do something different on your big day.  One trend that is emerging is being brave with your bouquet.  We all love flowers, but if you know you are having fresh flower displays at your ceremony and throughout the reception, then why not be a little different for your bouquet?  This mood board is full of gems; there's many ways of braving the bouquet!

{click to enlarge me}

This 100 shades of white bouquet has been made by the very talented Gabrielle Louise bridal designs.  She has included crocheted lace, tulle, ribbon and lots of delicate vintage buttons, brooches and sparkle to give a very unique and forever lasting bridal bouquet.

This glamourous mixed bouquet of gems and fresh flowers was created by the. most. amazing. florist ~ Miss Pickering.  If you didn't quite want to part with fresh flowers, then this blend creates a really girly vintage looking bouquet with sparkle and charm. What more could a woman want? {Image kindly provided by Emily Quinton Photography}

This butterfly bouquet literally made my heart skip a beat when I saw it.  The very clever bride, Laura made it herself out of silk butterflies attached to thin wire so that they flutter realistically in the wind. *sigh*.  See it over on Martha Stewart and Pssst ~ you can be as creative as Laura with her tips on your own diy butterfly bouquet. 

If you are a regular reader of my blog then you'll know I'm a big fan of anemones.  I'm also a big fan of the colour pink {oh come on, I'm a girl after all} so how cute is this felt anemone bouquet? These flowers won't wilt in the sun, so perfect for a hot summers day {ok, or maybe a wedding abroad then!}

This zesty bouquet has been pimped! Forget the pearl pins, add your own touch with these diddy little pin badges.  This lovely bouquet shown on Wedding Chicks is a great example of how to make it unique for you. Search antiques markets and charity shops for little pins that you like whether it's a flag or boat or a dog, it can be all your favourite things all in one place.

This rustic handmade bouquet from Peonies and Polaroids was made for her own wonderful English garden wedding {oh people, do check out her super lovely blog here}.  A brooch bought for her dress but then as it didn't work ~ waste not want not! She says she wasn't a big fan of the sparkle on the day, but I sooo am. I think it looks gorgeous and a great way to add a teeny touch of sparkle.  Perhaps use a piece of costume jewellery that was maybe your grandmothers or someone close to you to add a special memory to your day.

Now this is pretty spectacular huh? OK so it may weigh a fair bit, but just how delightful would this look sat on your dressing table at home aprés wedding? This vintage brooch bouquet by fantasy floral designs is just a dream.  How much fun would it be collecting the brooches? I always spot some cute ones and never knew what I could do with them, now I totally do! {photography by Alice Hu, posted on This is Glamorous}

This last bursting bouquet is entirely made out of tissue paper.  This Dahlia delight was created by a very talented lady over in the states St Judes Creations who used varying shades of pink for the flowers, mixed with ivory roses and added a swarovski pearl in each flower centre so it dazzles in the light. Who'd have thought paper could be so princessy? I love it! Find similar from Pretty Paper Roses at NOTHS.

{boutique vs budget} sparkly heart clutch

 

What bride doesn't want to add a touch of sparkle to her outfit? Us girls are such magpies, and what better way to add a touch of glam than with a heart shaped sparkly clutch? Twinkle twinkle little star!

{boutique; Judith Leiber Heart n Soul Clutch Net-a-Porter budget; Drap Silver Clutch Asos}

hello sailor

 

  

 

I know, anyone would think I actually work for Hello! Lucky with the amount I bang on about them, but I can't help it, they just keep on doing damn nice stuff. This latest Vintage Tattoo collection makes me want to grab a bottle of rum and jump off the plank with excitement.  Definitely for the rocknrollbride type guys n gals, these invites and save the dates will go down a storm with guests. Ho ho ho, it's a sailors life for me.

my mood in february ~ rainbow brights

It's been a dreary old start to the year. All we've seen is white landscapes and grey skies. Now I'm not always a huge fan of colour (my entire wardrobe is monochrome) however for a theme you just can't beat it.  Inspired by my earlier post {rainbow brights} I love the idea of a wedding with a real 'pop' to it. I don't just mean a bit of colour co-ordinated ribbon here, and a few colourful flowers there, I mean every shade of every colour everywhere. It's not a theme for November let's be honest but how vibrant would this be for an August wedding? It just oozes party party party and a great excuse to serve colourful cocktails to the guests. I hope it brightens your day!

{click on image to enlarge}

turn up the heat with bright purple dresses for your maids ~ Debenhams

i love this modern rainbow chandelier, hang over the dancefloor or top table ~ Not On The Highstreet

make more of a statement with these hot pink flock initials ~ Heals

use bright vases as centre pieces purple vase ~ Heals

for fabulous fun it's got to be cupcakes with rainbow colour icing and sprinkles! ~ Flickr 

splash that colour at the top table with these champagne flutes ~ Heals

hang some colour from the ceiling with clusters of tissue poms ~ Not On The Highstreet

add some serious sparkle with these colourful gems ~ By Elise

short n cute ivory prom dress stands out amongst the brights ~ Priscilla of Boston @Angelica Bridal 

for sunny brights you can't beat orange and pink gerberas ~ theknot

serve bold and beautiful cocktails for your guests with blue margaritas ~ superficialgirls

let your guests know they are in for a treat with these hot pink lace invites ~ mooks

your guests will be green with envy in these Louboutins ~ Net A Porter

jazz up your H20 with these colourful water bottles ~ Maxwell & Williams

get your girls in a bright turquoise number they can wear again ~ Debenhams

add a touch of vibrant pink to your outfit with this fuschia hair flower ~ Carrie Yeo

pour smarties or M&Ms into bowls for delicious decoration ~ Flickr 

spritz yourself with this colourful Lola scent ~ Marc Jacobs

pop pics of you and your h2b in colourful frames on the guestbook table ~ Urban Outfitters

heart and sole

Oh yes! These shoes are proving to be 'the' latest style accessory for brides and you can see why!  These are Vivienne Westwood Anglomania for Melissa Heart.  With their blue hue and the large heart, the fact that they are rubber, means that they are likely to be comfortable enough to last the day and well into the night.  Match your bridesmaids in the pink or gold for added wow, all available from ASOS.

city chic

 

  

A friend of mine is getting hitched in NY NY. She has been looking for 'the' dress for her outdoor spring garden wedding (how fab does that sound) and has really struggled. Generally collections in the UK are all a bit too 'weddingy' (how often do I hear that phrase?!) and she wants something a little more appropriate to walk around the streets in, and dine at a restaurant in after, "boho glam' I recall.  I've spotted this Rachel Gilbert Coco silk dress and just how cute is it??!! Totally chic, still glam but definitely not too over the top to strut the streets of NY in.  Sold?

petal power

 

 

I'm so loving paper decorations right now. Whether it's origami birds, paper flowers instead of real ones, tissue pom poms and now these falling flowers. If you have a bare space, suspending paper cut flowers onto fishing wire from the ceiling (or beams if you have a barn type venue) would totally transform it into a wonderland.  With some scissors, a flower pattern and a needle and thread, I reckon this could be quite diyable? I might have a go myself (though with two cats these would last all of 2 minutes hanging from my ceiling).

{images via Design You Trust & Changzhi Lee}

ssshh

What better way to treat yourself around Valentines! The fabulous Mirror Mirror bridal boutique in Angel Islington, London will be hosting a Charlotte Balbier event from 15th - 20th February.  Charlotte's designs are for girls looking for fairytale femininity with modern style; think bows, taffeta and lace with exclusive fabrics in shades of vintage golds, ivory and soft pinks...

{images courtesy of Charlotte Balbier}

Mirror Mirror will be unveiling the full and amazing collection of Charlotte's 2010 designs with a special 10% discount on gowns ordered throughout the event, plus a £50 accessory voucher.

For more information and to book, please call 0207 713 9022 (limited spaces available)

what the dickens

{image courtesy of Jez Dickson Photography}

Feeling a bit tired and overworked I thought i'd cheer myself up by looking at Jez Dickson's wonderful photography. I headed over to his blog only to spot a picture of me staring back from the screen! A lovely little surprise feature on my blog was posted by him and I wanted to say a BIG thanks!  I met Jez whilst at a friend's wedding that I helped organise, whilst I was busy being bridesmaid and he was busy busy getting some fabulous shots of the day. This paragraph is by no means the last you will be hearing about him.... I'll soon be posting THAT fabulous wedding in question so keep 'em peeled.

one size fits all

Oh the joys of beng a woman! We come in all shapes and sizes and it's hard enough to shop for ourselves (i've been 'jean' shopping for about 2 months now with NO joy) let alone anyone else.  I'm currently shopping as a bridesmaid for the 3rd time and each time you'd think it gets easier, but no. It really is quite impossible (sorry to have to tell you this if you are about to become one!).  I'm a curvy (cough cough) 5ft nothing girl, so when put next to a size 8 5'7 girl it's highly unlikely we're both gonna look good in the same dress and that's not even touching on the fact i'm a pale blonde and she's a bronzed brunette. So what are the choices?

Mis matching dresses? Yes, but you have to get the same colour - which in case you are wondering is 'cornflower' blue ~ like I said ~ impossible. Next and final option? Two Birds. These have been doing the rounds in the U.S for some time and are hugely popular and now I know why. One dress, 15 ways to wear it, 18 colours and no alterations. Get your gals and head over to wrap up the dress search at the only UK store which has just opened in Notting Hill.

{images via Two Birds} 

shoe day

To be honest I thought Red or Dead went away a long time ago, but clearly I was wrong! Whilst mooching Schuh I came across these exclusive little beauties.  The ivory Bon Bon shoe is just too cute for words, whilst the satin, hot fuschia Martha shoe knocks the socks off other pink shoes for bridesmaids (or you!) with the bold bow on the heel.  And what's super nice about both of these shoes...? Look carefully and there's a teeny little heart on 'em. Love that.

two halves

Awww, maybe a bit much to be walking down the street with this Love Tee but would make for some pretty damn cute engagement shots don't you think?

{via Design You Trust}