Storyboard & Fairytale Wedding Invitations

I've absolutely fallen in love with storyboard and fairytale invitations! It is a fantastic opportunity to give your guests an insight into how you met, how you romanced each other and how you came to be planning your big day.

By supplying the stationer with some details about your story and relationship they will create a unique, fun and quirky story line to entertain your guests and make your invitations look amazing.

I have found three companies that do such an amazing job that I myself have contacted them for quotes and I can't wait to hear back from them. I thought I'd be generous and share my fantastic findings with you.

Please meet Gorgeous Invites. These guys are based right here in the UK which is handy as most of these creative type companies are based on Etsy in the U S of A.

Next up is the very talented Be Mine Designs, also based in the UK.

And last but definitely not least is Anthologie Press who you can find on Etsy. Jen is located in the US but she happily ships to the UK. Her work is so brilliant that dealing with shipping costs would be worth it.

I hope you've enjoyed my findings and I would love to hear about any of yours..

Much love

T x

A List Of My Favourite Wedding Songs

Hello hello,

I haven't quite figured out in which categories I would put these songs (walking down the aisle, first dance, wedding video etc) but here is a list of songs that touched my heart when i listened to them.. and almost made me shed a tear. Boy do weddings bring out the emotion in me. Enjoy!

Please send me your favourites, I'd love to hear them!!

Much love

T xx

Far Longer Than Forever - Jeffrey Osborne & Regina Belle

Not only is this a beautiful song, it is from the Disney movie The Swan Princess so can add a special fairy tale touch to your wedding day.




You & I - Michael Buble

I just love Michael Buble, his voice and music is just so romantic and sensual.


Thousand Years – Christina Perri

This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes and make my heart skip a beat. Just gorgeous. Twilight made it famous.. but my sister claimed it as her walk down the aisle song years ago. Haha. Bit upset that means it's off the cards for me but then again I don't want to be a sobbing mess when walking down the aisle. ;-)


Marry Me - Train

Such a sweet catchy song.



Rest Of My Life - Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars Marry You is a great, fun song but I feel could be a bit over done.. here is one of his songs that is a bit off the radar.



I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

I will never get tired of this song.. I simply love it and always will!

Mori Lee, Madeline Gardner & Their Amazing Wedding Dresses

So I'm yet to try on my first wedding dress and the thought of doing so makes me nervous for some reason.. excited, but nervous. I guess I just have to get that first one on so I'm not a wedding dress virgin anymore and than it will be smooth sailing from there. Just because I'm being a chicken about trying them on it doesn't mean I'm not having fun scrolling through websites and magazines (very excitedly) picking out which are my favourites. There are a handful of designers which have caught my eye with their stunning styles, details and features, Madeline Gardner being one of them. I must must MUST share my top picks with you. The majority of these dresses are Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner and with Madeline Gardner being a New York designer and Mori Lee having a head office in the UK, thankfully it will be a lot easier for me to seek out this gorgeous range.

So many to look at, admire and one day try on.. choices choices, decisions decisions. I have sought out the two closest bridal stores to me that stock Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner, so at least I have a good starting point. I can't wait to get the girls together for bubbles before heading off on the search for 'The One' or 'The Other One'.. sorry Andy ;-)

Wish me luck!!

T x

The 2013 Wedding Industry Awards - London and South East Winners

Hello lovelies,

I thought I would share this fountain of knowledge with you, the people at Wedding Industry Awards announced the winning suppliers and services of 2013 earlier this year.. you can see the national winners here. For all you fellow Londoners I have listed our regional winners conveniently below.

Enjoy!

T xx

London And South East Winners

The winners are displayed alphabetically by category.

The Winner - Best Wedding Accessory (Tiaras etc), London And South East

Jo BarnesEastleigh,
Hampshire,
447958166723
www.jobarnesvintage.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Bridal Retailer, London And South East

Froufrou Bridal BoutiqueTunbridge Wells,
Kent,
01892 541381
www.froufroubride.co.uk

Maids to Measure
London,
Greater London,
02073869537
www.maidstomeasure.com 

The Winner - Best Wedding Cake Designer, London And South East

Rosalind Miller CakesLondon,
Greater London,
07957571797
www.rosalindmillercakes.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Caterer (independent), London And South East

Jacaranda CateringMidhurst,
West Sussex,
01730810900
www.jacarandacatering.com

Kalm KitchenPuttenham,
Surrey,
01483 813360
www.kalmkitchen.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Co-ordinator (venue), London And South East

Jennie Hopcroft The Pinewood HotelSlough,
Buckinghamshire,
01753 896400
www.pinewoodhotel.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding DJ, London And South East

Mighty Fine EntertainmentHarrow,
Greater London,
020 8427 2252
www.mfent.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Dress Designer, London And South East

Joanne Fleming DesignBrighton,
East Sussex,
07403047616
www.joanneflemingdesign.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Entertainment (non-musical), London And South East

Coco Photo BoothsLewes,
East Sussex,
0800 040 7692
www.cocophotobooths.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Florist, London And South East

Ruby & GracePangbourne,
Berkshire,
0118 9767652
www.rubyandgrace.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Hair Stylist, London And South East

Pam Wrigley Wedding HairLondon,
Greater London,
0208 742 1994
www.weddingmakeupandhair.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Live Entertainment, London And South East

The JazzberriesLondon,
Greater London,
02072724466
www.jazzberries.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Make-Up Artist, London And South East

Kristina Gasperas Make Up ArtistLondon,
Greater London,
07812 351 575
www.kristinagasperas.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Marquee Provider, London And South East

The Arabian Tent CompanyLewes,
East Sussex,
0800 88 15 229
www.arabiantents.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Menswear Supplier, London And South East

SIMON JAMES MENSWEARWoking,
Surrey,
01483 808525
www.simonjamesmenswear.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Photographer, London And South East

Sean Gannon - Energy PhotographicWindlesham,
Surrey,
07903798755
www.energyphotographic.co.uk

Cotton Candy PhotographyPortsmouth,
Hampshire,
07595 166 159
www.cottoncandyweddings.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Planner (independent), London And South East

Cranberry Blue Weddings & EventsSevenoaks,
Kent,
01732 463633
www.cranberryblueweddings.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Special Touch, London And South East

Jennifer Sue WeddingsTunbridge Wells,
Kent,
07748843413
www.jennifersueweddings.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Stationery, London And South East

Amelia Lane PaperLondon,
Greater London,
hello@amelialanepaper.co.uk
www.amelialanepaper.co.uk

The Winner - Best Wedding Transport Supplier, London And South East

OxonCartsOxford,
Oxfordshire,
07747024600
www.oxoncarts.com/weddings

The Winner - Best Wedding Venue, London And South East

Caswell HouseWitney,
Oxfordshire,
01993 701064
www.caswellhouse.co.uk

The Gallivant HotelCamber,
East Sussex,
01797225057
www.thegallivanthotel.com

The Winner - Best Wedding Videographer, London And South East

Mark Brown FilmsLondon,
Greater London,
www.markwbrown.com

From The Hip Wedding FilmsGodalming,
Surrey,
07905377882
www.fromthehip.tv

The London UK Wedding Show Saturday 16th Feb

Hello hello,

So my lovely Bridemaid and I attended the UK Wedding Show this past Saturday and I thought I'd share some photos from our day out..



These were some beautiful table decorations that I loved.



I fell in love with the bling around the plates and the napkin ring to match.



Champagne tasting?? Why not!! This was actually a stall for a supplier who personalises champagne bottles.. and their champagne was delish!!



This is the idea I have for writing the table plan onto, I would love to source a giant mirror and display it on the garden for guests to see where they are seated. This is a slightly smaller version than what I have in mind but I was super excited to be able to show my BM.



Complimentary goody bags.. always a pleasure.



Here are some of the goodies inside of our goody bags.

And yes, I did take advantage of the complimentary entry for the Bride.. so at £5 entry each we had a fabulous time browsing and gaining inspiration.

The National Wedding Show is on this weekend, you can find more information here. I have managed to convince not only my BM to come along again but also another gorgeous friend of mine.. tickets are confirmed, now to just plan another Bride 2 Be outfit!

I hope you're all having as much fun as me!

T xx

A Wedding Timeline

Hello beauties,

In amongst all of the wedding shows, dress fittings, wedding magazines and pinterest marathons it's easy to forget that in order to successfully organise a stress less or less stress wedding of your dreams we must stick to a schedule and complete tasks in good time so you (or your wedding planner) is not running around like a chicken with it's head cut off when the day grows quickly closer.

Your wedding might be 18 months away or 6 months away but in wedding years this translates to days since times flies by so quickly without us even noticing. Scary!! Not to worry, if you follow a trusty timeline that your wedding planner will supply you with (and make sure you're on top of) then all will fall into place.

Below is an example of a basic wedding timeline, a more detailed one would include dates and details specific to a particular bride. The wedding day has only a few tasks mentioned as this special day requires it's very own timeline.

Organising your wedding day should be fun and exciting, so enjoy every little bit of it.. and if things do start to get a little stressful then remember to take some time our for yourself. Run yourself a nice hot bath, organise a spa day with your bridesmaids, go on a shopping spree.. just forget the wedding planning for a short while and you can come back to it with fresh excitement and a clear mind. Otherwise, just hand it ALL over to your wedding planner. ;-)

If you would like some assistance creating a timeline for your wedding day please get in touch.. I'd only be too happy to help, complimentary of course. 

Much love

T x

Wedding Timeline

8 - 12 Months Before Wedding……………………...…………………......

	Decide on a wedding date and time
	Decide on local church and contact to discuss possible dates
	Arrange to speak with the vicar/priest
	Divide and categorise expenses
	Decide on the type of wedding (Formal/Semi-formal/Informal)
	Devise initial guest list
	Find location for reception
	Send ‘Save the Date’ cards
	Select and inform a bridal party (bridesmaids, maid of honor/groomsmen, best man)
	Find a photographer
	Find a videographer
	Arrange wedding insurance
	Give notice of marriage to the local register office
	Contact register office in district where marriage is taking place. This is to ensure registrars are available.

6 -8 Months Before Wedding……………………...…...………………......

	Discuss and select colour theme
	Shop for bridal gown and matching attire (shoes, veil, jewellry, garter etc)
	Find a caterer (food and drinks)
	Find a band
	Find other entertainment (fireworks, magician, giant gameboards etc)
	Find a florist
	Arrange ceremony and reception music
	Compile names and addresses for the guest list
	Reserve accommodation for out of town guests

4 - 6 Months Before Wedding……………………...…...………………......

	Select menu with caterer
	Select drinks packages
	Order invitations and other stationary
	Shop for bridal party dresses/suits
	Plan and book the honeymoon
	Book wedding night accommodation
	Arrange and book transportation
	Plan wedding decorations and favours
	Confirm floral arrangements
	Order wedding cake
	Finalise arrangements for ceremony and reception
	Ensure all deposits are paid and contracts are signed
	Devise gift lift or wishing well
	Select readings/poems
	Book a hair and makeup artist

3 Months Before Wedding……………………...…...………………...........

	Buy wedding rings
	Select gifts for bridal party, parents and helpers
	Buy guest book

 2 Months Before Wedding……………………...…...…………………......

	Send wedding invitations
	Have hair and makeup trials (cut, colour, style etc)
	Begin making arrangements for rehearsal dinner

1 Months Before Wedding……………………...…...…………………......

	Confirm and finalise all aspects of the wedding
		Church and priest
		Reception venue
		Caterer (Food and drinks)
		Attire (Dresses/Suits/Accessories)
		Florist
		Cake
		Decorations
		Transport
		Accommodation (Bride and groom and other guests)
		Honeymoon
		Other suppliers
	Send suppliers and venues event schedule
	Have final dress fittings
	Pick up wedding rings
	Select relatives or friends for certain jobs (guest book, music etc)
	Devise seating chart
	Bride and groom to work on their vows (if writing their own)
	Discuss photos and/or arrange trial shoot with photographer
	Discuss requirements with videographer
	Discuss requirements with the band

 2 Weeks Before Wedding……………………...…...…………………......

	Post wedding announcement to be prepared
	Contact guests who have not responded
	Finalise seating arrangements and placecards

1 Week Before Wedding……………………...…...……………...……......

	Pick up wedding gown, bridal party and grooms wear and accessories
	Reconfirm all suppliers and venues
	Send event schedule to bridal party and helpers
	Give final guest count to reception venue and caterer
	Wedding rehearsal
	Brief bridal party and other helpers
	Ensure all balances are paid
	Give rings to best man/ring boy
	Manicure and pedicure

 The Wedding Day…………………….……...…...……………...……......

	Hair and makeup
	Begin dressing 2 hours before the ceremony
	Ensure photographers capture the process

Bridesmaids - Like having your very own life sized Barbie Doll

I'm very pleased to announce that I have secured an appointment with TwoBirds UK for both myself and my UK based Bridesmaid to try on their gorgeous dresses. I'm a little sad that the other 3 cannot be with us but I haven't even popped the question to them yet so they are none the wiser.. I plan to hand my gifts to one of them (my baby sis) and my Mum when I visit in April.

I love the versatility of these special wrap dresses.. one dress that you can wear 15 ways?? Yes please. It's also available in 4 different lengths and 20 different colours, all in all it sounds like a winner and one that your bridesmaids can wear again and again post wedding.

I know I am the bride but I am definitely going to take advantage of our appointment and try these gorgeous dresses on for myself so I will not only know how my bridesmaids will feel in them but so I can also explain these dresses from my own personal experience  to my future clients.

 



[caption id="attachment_180" align="aligncenter" width="420"] TwoBirds Bridesmaid Dresses[/caption]



I will leave you with TwoBirds for now but along the way I have come across some other gorgeous designers and amazing websites which will be a huge help in your BM dress search. Watch this space..

What do you think of TwoBirds Bridesmaid dresses? Have you or your Bridesmaids tried them on?

Until next time..

T xx

The Bride & The Bouquet

I need to share this amazing, beautiful, stunning bouquet. It has gorgeous classic colours with added bling.. it has my name written all over it and I can't wait to start hunting for brooches to add to my bouquet for the big day.



Please share your beautiful bouquets pictures and ideas with me..

T xx

Bridesmaids - Now it's the brides turn to pop the question!

Breaking the big news to friends and family is so exciting and great fun but there are some more important questions to be asked and big news to be broken! Choosing your bridesmaids and popping the question to them can be more then just a phone call or chat over coffee, why not make it a fun, exciting moment for all of you?

I knew I wanted my two beautiful younger sisters to be my bridesmaids and I have two gorgeous girlfriends I couldn't imagine our special day without . One of my girlfriends lives here in London with me and the other is in Australia. I have shared and experienced different times and parts of my life with each of them and they are both equally very close to my heart.   I am asking my fiance's niece to be the flower girl, my Aunty's son to be the page boy and my darling Mother to give me away.

Instead of asking the girls over coffee, drinks or skype I have bought some vest tops with the label Bridesmaid and one for my Mum which says Brides Mother. I played with the idea of buying iron ons and attempted a DIY but when I found these bad boys on Ebay I immediately went for the purchase button.

I also found some lovely cards compliments of Zazzle.co.uk to accompany the gifts which I could personalise with my own words. The inside of the cards read:

The day, the dress
The bride, the groom
The joy, the tears
Will all come so soon

Professing true love
To my husband-to-be
With family and friends
All watching me

I hope the sun will
Be shining down
Keep your fingers crossed
That I'll fit in my gown
But there's one more thing
That there needs to be
And that's to have you
Standing with me!

Will you be my Bridesmaid?

And I even put a photo on the back all for the price of £1.45 per card.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid Card

 For my Mum I chose a 'Will you be my Bridesmaid' card and personalised it to read 'Will you.. give me away to the man of my dreams?'. I also said.. 'You have always been a very special part of my life and I can't imagine my wedding day without you there beside me. With all my love..'

 'Will you give me away' Card - £1.55 for Notecard or £2.15 for Greeting Card

I'm yet to send my proposals to the girls and my Mum, unfortunately I won't get to see 4 of their reactions seeing as they are in different countries but I can't wait to see the look on my bridesmaid to be in London's face.

It's all very exciting.. enjoy getting creative with your Bridesmaid proposals!

T x