Tag Archives: ideas

Themes for your winter Wedding

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First off, when planning a winter wedding, let’s think about winter colours – if you want to avoid the traditional greens and reds associated with the season, then there are lots of modern winter options for you to consider. Purple calla lilies are a sophisticated choice, and you won’t need many of them to create an impact. Talk to your florist about what will work for you.

If you’re having a late afternoon wedding then it’s going to get dark early, so why not dress your bridesmaids in deep jewel tones that will look great in the evening? Plums and aubergines are a beautiful option in cosy, low lighting. For bridesmaids gifts you could gift them a contrasting pashmina to snuggle into. Remember that shoes don’t have to match– in fact it’s better and more on trend if they offer a pop of colour. If you feel like being minimal, then just having white and silver for your colour scheme makes a perfect winter theme. You could dress your maids in winter white and accessorise with silver and diamante earrings, bracelets or belts.

We think a beautifully wedding decor is an absolute must at both your ceremony and your venue. Use the wedding colours you’ve chosen for your decorations. Whites, silvers, golds and berry shades are classic and chic, while bright jewel shades of turquoise, emerald, ruby and amethyst will also look wonderful.

In the winter season it’s the best time of year to splash out on great food and drink, so serve your guests a winter feast! You could offer your guests mulled wine and hot spiced apple juice as they arrive at your reception, with mini sausages to nibble on.  

Most people love a roast – and it doesn’t have to be turkey. If you’re having a buffet you could serve up the main course carvery style, so as well as the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, you could offer a large ham and a vegetarian option. For dessert, the options are endless.

Have a chill-out room to keep the kids entertained and play winter-themed DVDs – we’re thinking Polar Express, The Snowman, and The Grinch. This will leave you and your grown-up guests free to enjoy your amazing wedding day   

 

Create the ambiance of a Royal Wedding

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If you loved the Royal Wedding and you would love to have all of the music and create the same ambiance (without the Queen of course) then why not replicate some of the music and musicians at your Wedding.  There are plenty of wedding entertainment musicians that would cater for you.

Wedding Singers.

Kicking off proceedings at the Royal Wedding was Elin Manahan Thomas, who sang Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine accompanied by a full orchestra. If an array of musicians is in your budget then go ahead, though we expect that most couples would be very happy booking a soprano and having her sing to a backing track.

Gospel Choir

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a choir and it’s fair to say that the whole world was impressed by the aptly named Kingdom Choir as they performed Ben E King’s Stand By Me at the Royal Wedding. You could book your very own Gospel Choir at your Wedding to sing a song that means so much to you both..

Cellist

Sheku Kanneh-Mason wowed the guests at the Royal Wedding as he performed three pieces by Faure, Schubert and Maria Theresia von Paradis respectively. His impact on proceedings has been so great that in the days hence, his classical album is currently at number one on the US iTunes pop charts. Talented cellists would be a great addition to your Wedding, making it as Royal as it can be.

So if this has got you all excited about planning a Royal(esque) Wedding, we hope it goes smoothly (but maybe forget the long speeches from the Pastor!!!)

 

Wedding Inspiration

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When planning a wedding, many people don’t start with the venue or even the entertainment, but tend to begin with making the guest list. Who gets a plus one? Should you invite your second cousin? Or that friend of a friend who invited you to his stag do that one time? All a difficult moral quandary but one thing that is certain is that you’ll both want your families in attendance.

Mothers, fathers and grandparents as well. When it comes to picking roles for them, siblings tend to be put to use as bridesmaids and ushers but grandparents… Well grandparents all too often get left out of having to perform any official duties.

That’s partly why we love this story so much! Bride Maggie Wakefield and her fiancé Josh wanted to find a special way to thank the part that their grandmothers had played in their lives. Rather than have a small group of young girls hold the honour of being their flower girls, they instead chose 75-year-old grandmother Joyce and 74-year-old grandmother Drue to sprinkle rose petals down the aisle at their wedding ceremony in Gap, Pennsylvania.

That wasn’t the only way that Maggie and Josh celebrated their grandparents either; with the bride’s having died before the ceremony, it was grandfather Ronald that got to do the honours, walking his granddaughter down the aisle. A wonderful story and hopefully it gives you a little bit of wedding inspiration.

 

Valentine’s Day Weddings

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February is the month of romance and passion. In February, many like to blow their salary on expensive tasting menus in top restaurants and embark on lavish weekends away in remote country spa hotels. For those who prefer to be more resourceful with their Valentine’s budget, it’s often a challenge to prove your love in another way.

To help those looking to escape, we have come up with five ways to save money but still impress your other half this February.

Be original

A great way of proving to your partner that you love them is to think outside of the box. Why not choose a Wedding Venue they wouldn’t think of going and surprise them. Even the most expensive cities in the UK have accommodation which is affordable but still offer a good spot to rest your head.

Be spontaneous

One of the best ways to be romantic is to be spontaneous, (if proposing) tell your partner that you are taking them away; you can even tell them where you’re taking them if you’d prefer. The trick is to save all the little trips and adventures for them to find out the weekend goes on. This makes the trip more exciting and unpredictable.

Be tasteful

While being on a budget often rules out pricey experiences, one thing money can’t buy is taste. When choosing activities for your honeymoon getaway pursue cultural experiences such as museums, art galleries, and landmark sites as oppose to gimmick activities that you can do at home like bowling, ice skating and laser quest. It is also worth taking advantage of upmarket restaurants and bars which offer cheaper menus between certain times of the day.

Be true

Finally, when you have finally tied the knot, like taste, no amount of money can buy true love. Ensure you spend plenty of time talking to one another, planning your next adventure and relaxing. Everything else will be an added bonus.

 

Keep the kids entertained

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Often, couples have a few words of wisdom to share and other times it’s couples who would love to have little ones share their day but aren’t sure how to best do it.

Any which way, you’re reading this because you want to keep kids entertained at your wedding, whatever role they are going to play, so we won’t make you wait any longer. Here are some best and budget-friendly buys for success,

Remember having fun days at school? The ones where you all brought in board games, made all kinds of crafts and generally had a whale of a time? Channel that for your wedding day too by providing table games on the tables reserved for children.

Blowing bubbles are a great option for this – they’re inexpensive, easy to use and will have children trying to blow the best, most or biggest bubbles they can. This will keep them entertained and busy playing together so the parents can enjoy a little break during the wedding breakfast.

If you’ve got older children attending, the appeal of bubbles may have burst, so you’ll likely want an extra idea to keep these guests happy too. Why not include table trivia boxes on your tables? You could put those history lessons to the test with this monarchy trivia set, or try this travel game for wannabe jet-setters… Even the grownups will be dusting off their competitive shoes and getting involved for this one!

Have you considered having a photobooth? Whether you hire one in or make your own, they’re guaranteed to keep kids entertained. You can make yours a playground for every guest by adding lots of props – be prepared for some hilarious wedding photographs!

Take this one step further and enlist the children to be the director for the day. Whether you give them a clapboard prop for the photobooth or a checklist of photographs to snap on disposable cameras during the day, the role will make them feel special and keep them busy.

How many children do you know who don’t have a sweet tooth? Children will love to pick and mix, so be sure to have plenty of serving scoops and colour co-ordinated paper bags at the ready (refills of sweets might be necessary, too!). Once they’ve had their fill, they’ll be full of energy to dance as late as their parents want to!

And if you don’t want an all-out sweets stand, why not choose little jars of sweets for your wedding favours instead? These could be reserved for the kids with adult guests receiving miniature liqueurs, for example, or simply be sweets for everyone. Remember that you can choose old-fashioned sweets like bonbons or even a refreshing mint imperial…

So there you have it:  budget-friendly buys to keep kids entertained at your wedding, ensuring everyone has as brilliant a day as you will. The bonus? They’ll keep your adult guests happy too and have them feeling like a child again for a super fun celebration!

 

Wedding and festival season

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Here’s our quick guide, to create a Glastonbury festival themed celebration for your own big day. It’s ideal for laid-back couples who favour fun and characterful touches over outdated traditions.

Plan a Glastonbury festival themed wedding and it won’t just look great, it’ll be the most fun wedding your guests have ever attended! So book your tipi and let’s get planning…

One of the beauties of throwing a Glastonbury festival themed wedding in a tipi or yurt is that you get lots of ceiling height for hanging decorations. Cluster colourful pom poms together for a fun, festival vibe. Then, add atmosphere as night falls with endless strings of festoon lights, both inside the tent and outdoors too…

Illuminated oversized letters are a trend that took the wedding world by storm and never really let up. They’re also big news at festivals, so we think purchasing some giant letters for your own Glastonbury festival themed wedding is a must! For a twist on the theme, you could always try letter balloons, or go pint-sized with a letter block guest book.

One of the most important elements of any Glastonbury festival themed wedding reception is the wedding entertainment. Make sure guests are clued up on all the food and festivities to come with an illuminated chalkboard. This line-up of fish and chips followed by fireworks and dancing has us tempted…

 

Exclusive wedding venue

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How can you make an exclusive-use wedding venue truly feel like ‘yours’ for the day?

Hiring an exclusive-use wedding venue, such as a private barn, mansion or country house, comes with a plethora of benefits; you’re guaranteed privacy throughout your day, and you’re free to style it to your own taste and theme.

But how can you put your own stamp on a venue that’s ‘yours’ for a whole day?

Welcome signs

Personalised welcome signs to greet your guests will offer an introduction to your theme and what your friends and family can expect to see throughout the day. Simple words, such as “We’re so glad you’re here”, or a full order-of-the-day-style pallet can add a fun twist and be completely unique to your day. You may even be able to place your signs along the country roads leading up to your venue to point guests in the right direction.

Drinks on arrival

If you’re getting married in a church and travelling back to your chosen venue for your reception, it’s always nice to offer a refreshment to your wedding party upon arrival. Similarly, a drink (or two) post-ceremony if you’re getting married at the venue, not forgetting a welcome drink for evening guest. A ‘Pimp Your Prosecco’ stand could be a unique addition to traditional fizz, or consider offering a unique cocktail to get the celebrations started.

Floral features

Does your wedding venue offer a particularly beautiful staircase (inside or out), entrance or photography hot-spot that you can decorate with impressive flowers? Or, how about using a stand-out floral arch or impressive hanging floral display?

Cool canapés

Whether an in-house catering team provides you with all of the food you’ll need for your day, or you’re hiring in external caterers at your exclusive-use wedding venue, choose a selection of canapés to impress your guests and get their pallets excited for the feast to come!

Theme throughout

Most couples opt for a block colour or colour-combination scheme when it comes to a wedding theme, but if you’re looking to wow your guests, perhaps introduce a theme to your wedding that means something to you both; travel, films, musicals, bands, pets, books, landmarks, fairytales and sport teams are just a few ideas to get your mind racing.

Outdoor fun

If you’re chosen venue offers beautiful countryside surroundings, it would be wrong not to take advantage of them, providing the weather is on your side. Think outdoor garden games, fun wedding photography, musical entertainment, such as a string quartet, Irish band, harpist singers, or even something interactive, like a photo booth.

Exquisite food

Your guests will look forward to and remember the food at your wedding, so getting it spot on is important. Couples who want to make their banquet extra special can opt to customise a dish, or upgrade their menu to something even more spectacular for their friends and family to enjoy.

Communication

Planning any party or event requires time and communication to ensure perfection. The more you communicate with your venue and suppliers, the more seamless your day should run. Take time to think about your wedding plans in advance, before rushing into decisions that could cause upset later down the line.

Unforgettable entertainment

Whether you’ve chosen a romantic string quartet to play as you walk down the aisle, a magician for your drinks reception, or a brilliant DJ or band in the evening, your guests will be excited to find out what surprises you have planned in the lead-up to your day. If you choose suppliers that have worked at your venue of choice before, your planning process may be a little bit easier.

Wow factor

If you were throwing a party at home, you may want to end the night with a memorable moment. Therefore, if your exclusive use wedding venue allows it, why not opt for a fireworks display or, head off on your honeymoon in a fancy sports car the following morning?

 

Childhood wedding dreams

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Are you the sort of bride who’s been dreaming of her big day since she was a little girl? Or are you somebody who never thought you’d be get married and are surprised to find yourself picking stationery and choosing between vintage birdcages?

Either way, you’re in good company. Here are some wedding ideas from real brides and how they changed or didn’t change their plans;

Sometimes, little girls don’t always have the most realistic expectations, “The unlimited budget I had in my mind has obviously changed so, due to that, pretty much everything is different!”

The same can’t said for one Bride to Be. “Everything is exactly how I always dreamed it would be – a grand princess fairytale wedding”. Her dad promised her that it would be perfect years ago and he didn’t disappoint.

One real bride’s childhood dream transformed into something more modest. “I always thought I’d be the new Cinderella. With the big castle, big dress and thousands of guests,”now it’s changed to wanting a small laid-back wedding that’s just lots of fun.”

Changing wedding plans

Other brides have changed their minds about lots of things… from colour schemes to who they were going to marry!

One Bride to be always wanted a baby pink and blue wedding, but now she’s having a Cadbury purple wedding with butterflies. And marrying a woman!!

However, one bride has kept to her plan. “I’ve always wanted burgundy, green and cream for my wedding and I’ve always wanted to get married near Christmas.” She got married on 30th November and had the day shes always wanted.

Some of you were surprised that you were even getting married!

“Throughout my childhood, teens and early adulthood, I never planned on getting married,” says one Bride. “It wasn’t until my partner proposed that I actually wanted to get married.”

“I was dead set on not getting married because I saw it as a waste of money,” says another Bride to be. “That wasn’t until I met my husband and I realised what it all really means and that it’s not about the money.”

It goes to show that you never know what’s going to happen in your future. Keep dreams as flexible as possible and don’t be too rigid in your expectations, because you never know what could happen.

Talk to your other half about the type of wedding you want because he may not be comfortable with the big extravagant event you’ve always imagined and it may suit the pair of you far more to have a simpler, smaller do.

At the end of the day you both want to enjoy yourselves and a lot of marriage is about compromise. So find some common ground about what you both want and take it from there.

 

DIY weddings

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Menu Cards

Handwritten Menu cards are a perfect place setting piece of design and for weddings on a budget whether created by yourself or someone else, can be a cost effective way to stylise your order of day in a way that ticks the boxes of your theme and decor too!

Welcome/Introduction Boards

Whether on chalkboards, mirrors or wooden boards, welcome words at the entrance to your reception are great ways to give your guests directions, enforce style or simply share the love of the happy couple. Finish off with soft and silvery foliage with stems of flowers in your bouquet to carry through your colour and look.

Reception/Table Decor

Source vintage and unique decor pieces to frame romantic messages to personalise your reception venue and decor. Your Wedding is a beautiful day, adorn it with beautiful things!

Planning your own handmade wedding is deciding where and how you can add personalised touches. It’s so enjoyable to create your own pieces and its great for everyone to try it themselves.

Modern Signwriting creates a beautiful, simple effect, and once you have mastered the basics you can apply it in many ways and across many other occasions!

TOP TIPS Mastering faux calligraphy is essential to achieve beautiful Modern Signwriting.

Practice individual letters over and over before tackling words to get a feel for how the letters flow.

Lightly sketch your design onto your item first with a soft art pencil – This will be easy to remove afterwards and less likely to scratch your item.

 

Wedding Barns

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It’s safe to say we wouldn’t blame any couple for wanting the rustic charm and nature inspired architecture that this style of venue offers in abundance! But as unique as every couple is, barn venues aren’t all the same either. Some offer additional outdoor spaces for entertaining or larger wedding parties, idyllic countryside backdrops and romantic reception rooms in need of minimal decoration.

Let historic tales and unique characteristics tell the story of each venues’ heritage and development within their surrounding organic landscape. Designed to evoke romance, fall in love with quirky outbuildings, festival yurts and miles and miles of coastal country views…

Boconnoc | 18th Century Stable Yard Barn

The 18th-century Stable Yard at Boconnoc is a wonderfully romantic setting with four fabulous barns, a courtyard and breathtaking views across the Boconnoc parkland. Say your vows in the rustic Coach House while the sun pours through the open oak doors. Your wedding breakfast can be an elegant affair in the beautiful Soane Room or a casual feast with trestle tables and hay bales in the courtyard. Dance the night away in the festoon lit courtyard. And when it is time for bed, there are three luxurious cottages just a few steps away.

The Tythe Barn | Original Lambing Farm

An award-winning wedding venue and stylish wedding setting, The Tythe Barn stages many events, but says that weddings are their ‘thing’. The 14th-century barn exudes style with its combination of original features and quality interior styling. As it was the old lambing barn on the family farm, the team have been passionate about the refurbishment of the barn and attention to detail has been vital. Now, The Tythe Barn provides the most amazing setting, fortunately joined by a professional team of chefs as their in-house caterers. They are also confident that, having hosted a few, they know how to put on a good wedding.

With the option to get married inside or out and two further adjoining barns, The Tythe Barn offers huge flexibility. Plus, there’s a wonderfully restored barn dedicated solely for the bride and her bridesmaids to get ready in and much more…

Blackwell Grange | Cotswolds Barn And Walled Garden

From its tranquil Cotswolds location, to the elegant, contemporary interior design and exceptional attention to detail, Blackwell Grange is a special place to say “I do”. The spaces are diverse and characterful. From the original Thatch Barn, where your ceremony will take place and across the Apple Tree Lawn to the contemporary Orchard Barn, the venue for your wedding breakfast and celebration. There are lots of stunning photo opportunities everywhere you turn. As your wedding day draws to a close, you can spend the night in the Hayloft Honeymoon Cottage, overlooking the Walled Herb Garden.

Gaynes Park | Woodland Country Estate

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Gaynes Park is a stylish and contemporary wedding venue in Essex, set in the grounds of a historic country estate which has been in the Chisenhale-Marsh family for generations. The picturesque venue is surrounded by British countryside, made up of farmland and woodland. Given its secluded and tranquil setting, it is hard to believe that this superb country wedding venue is at the end of the busy Central Line. It is only minutes from the M25 and M11 at Epping, an ideal location and easily accessible for all of your family and friends.

Notley Abbey | Impressive Rural Abbey and Garden Barn

Notley Abbey is a magnificent country house wedding venue with a truly magical past. Once the home of Laurence Olivier and Gone with the Wind actress Vivien Leigh, this impressive Abbey, on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, can be your dream home for 24 hours. A one-of-a-kind, tree-lined driveway leads you to a historic, fairytale wedding venue. Notley Abbey features romantic reception areas, an intimate ceremony hall, glorious grounds and gardens (with the opportunity to host an outdoor wedding). It also offers nine beautifully appointed guest suites and an utterly stunning rustic barn for up to 190 guests.

Eden Barn | Valley Stone Barn

Nestled below the stunning North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty is where you’ll encounter Eden Barn. An exclusive and intimate wedding venue that will immerse your guests in Cumbria’s enchanting Upper Eden Valley. The traditional Westmorland stone barn seats 126 guests for a sit-down meal and 200 for an evening reception. Eden Barn is a family run business who believe that weddings should be fun, relaxed and totally personal to you.