One Week to Go: The Final Checklist!

I thought I would share with you a fantastic post I spotted over at Bridal Musings; a very handy checklist of everything you will need to do the last week before your big day. It goes without saying for most brides that this week will be a time when you will be full of excitable nerves, primping and preening in preparation for the most special day of your life, and making sure everything is finalised. This very useful guide allows you to tick off all of the last minute bits (some of which you may not even have thought about yet!) and will ensure that you get hitched without a hitch!

Suppliers

In the final run up to the wedding, you will need to:

– Contact all your suppliers for final confirmations.

– Remind each supplier of their agreed start and finish time, check they’ve got the correct address(es), ask for their dietary requirements if you need to feed them, settle any outstanding balances and ask any questions that you’ve been saving up.

– Send them a schedule of the day with travel information to the venue(s), including all parking information. You’ll also want to check with your venue about access to the building and include any relevant info, e.g. availability of a lift may impact loading time for bands.

– Give suppliers a main point of contact outside of the bridal party (e.g. a very good friend or a wedding planner/coordinator) who has all the supplier information and the running order of the day. Suppliers can then go to them with any questions and not bother you on your wedding day.

– If you are arranging transport between venues, check whether the photographer/videographer would like to be included. A central London location can be difficult to park at, for example, so they may prefer to travel with bridal party or on guest transport.

Wedding Decor

If you’re having a seated dinner, put together a bag or box for each table containing everything that will be laid on it. This could include:

– The table number/name

– Place cards

– Menus

– Favours

– Decorations – wineglass charms, table confetti etc

– Disposable cameras/party games/entertainment

Put your place cards in order of how they will be set around the table and include a copy of the table plan so that each setting can be double-checked. Sorting place cards on the day of a wedding can be very time consuming, so make sure you’ve got this sorted and dropped off at your venue in advance.

– Create set-up notes for each area detailing what flowers, décor, props and so on are going where. Do mini mock-ups at home and take photos as guides to give to your main contact. Think about all the different areas including your wedding cake, guestbook, gift table and sweetie buffet, as well as the obvious places in your wedding ceremony and reception.

– Make a plan for what will happen at the end of the night because you’re not going to be in the mood to tidy everything up! Keep in mind that some venues may want you to clear up at the end of the day and not all of them have the requisite insurance to store your wedding presents. Can you assign a trusty friend or relative to collect all the gifts/cards and keepsakes (place cards/menu etc)? Ask for them to be taken to your room or put in your cab to be transported back to your hotel.

– Whilst we’re thinking about it, make sure you know what will happen to any décor items you’ve brought as well as all the flowers that are left over. Can you pick them up the next day? Who will get all the arrangements? (You’ll not want 12 centrepieces if you’re off on honeymoon, but they can make excellent thank you gifts, especially Mums.) Can you assign them to particular guests? If so, put a note at their place setting to let them know!

Bridal Party

– Make sure you wear your shoes in. Check that they’re not too slippy on the soles (you don’t want to skid down the aisle or slip over during your first dance); an old theatre trick is to sponge cola on to the bottoms which makes them a little tacky and less likely to slip, particularly the groom’s shoes. If you’ve got leather soles you may want to lightly buff or score them to give a bit of grip.

– Pack your overnight bag (including an outfit for the morning after, unless you want to go to breakfast in your wedding dress!) and honeymoon suitcase in the week leading up to the wedding. Do not leave it until the night before! Work out a strategy to get your overnight bag from your preparation area to the place you’ll be staying on your first night, if necessary.

– Confirm the on-the-day timeline with your hair and makeup artists and be sure to share this timeline with your bridesmaids and relevant family members. It’s a good idea to decide exactly which order they’ll be going in (not just bridesmaid no. 1, no. 2) especially important if you have lots of bridesmaids as you don’t want any squabbles on the day! Also share it with your photographer and videographer if you’re having getting ready shots/footage.

– If you’re doing your own make-up make sure you’ve had lots of practise before with the actual make-up you’ll be using on the day. Create a checklist of all the products you’ve used and pack them methodically to make sure you don’t miss anything.

– A reminder for both the bride and groom: remove stickers from shoes and labels/hanging loops from clothing and accessories. Make sure you’ve got all pieces of jewellery (remind your bridesmaids to do the same too), and check that all the guys have a pair of cufflinks. Do it in advance and there’ll be one less thing to worry about on the wedding morning.

– Can anything be ironed in advance of you taking it to the venue? Many wedding dresses, for example, have long ribbon belt sashes, which often get creased while the dress is bagged up, so you could press it carefully beforehand. Hopefully you won’t need to iron the whole dress as your retailer will have steamed it before collection, but ask them for their advice on the best way to prep the dress. The boys can certainly iron their shirts and trousers in advance!

– Check in with your bridal party to make sure that they have all their clothes, shoes and accessories. The guys will need shirts, cufflinks, socks, ties (if you’re hiring suits confirm with hire company what is coming in the bag and check what’s inside the bag when you pick it up!) whilst the girls should be reminded to bring jewellery, bags and pashminas; it’s often the little extras that are overlooked.

– If you are handing out bridal party gifts before the wedding / during the reception, ensure they’re wrapped and ready to go. Ask your maid of honour or a family member to be in charge of them so they can whip them out when needed and you don’t even have to think about them. Also, if you and your love are exchanging gifts on the morning of the wedding, make sure you’ve given your gift to a member of the bridal party / family member who will be with him or her while they’re getting ready.

– You and your fiancé may also want to plan what to do with your honeymoon luggage if heading straight off from your wedding venue/hotel. You’ll also need to think about your wedding dress, gifts and décor paraphernalia after the wedding – will you have time to drop them off back at home or do you need to ask someone to take them for you?

– Book your transport for the end of the night if you’re not staying at your wedding venue, as well as for the next day if going straight to your honeymoon. If you’re driving to the airport, make sure your car is at the right location (strange but true!).

– Finally, on the night before your wedding do a last check to make sure you have everything you’ll need in the morning. Then take it easy, have a rest, indulge in a nice bath maybe, but most importantly make time for yourself.

Full credit for the fab info in this post goes to http://www.bridalmusings.com

Speak soon,

Becky ❤

Top ‘Wow!’ Wedding Ideas…

All weddings, no matter the cost, should try to reveal a couple’s individual taste and sense of style. Truly one of the most important things that can make your day unique is ensuring it reflects the things that you both love as a couple, and sharing your personalities with loved ones. Naturally, all brides and grooms also want their guests to have the best day possible too and to share with them the creation of their fondest memories; so when it comes to making an impression on the guests – as well as making it even more magical for the newlyweds – there are a certain few ideas that can add a serious ‘wow’ factor impact to your special day, whatever your style may be!

Whether you have a reasonable budget and are not sure where your pennies are best spent, or whether you are on a tight budget, but still want to create something that leaves a lasting impression on your guests; these ideas are sure to provide a bit of inspiration. Even if you only use a couple of these suggestions, they will certainly not disappoint!

1. Lighting

The right reception lighting can add serious ‘wow!’ to any wedding. Not only can it highlight your favourite details such as your centrepieces, cake table, or anything else you want to show off to guests, it can also help camouflage sore spots like worn out windows or even tatty curtains. If your budget allows, have a lighting designer assist with arranging lighting to enhance a drab walkway or create just the right ambience ahead of the evening’s celebrations (usually designers offer several different lighting colours for you to choose from). If you want to go it alone, then decorative hanging lanterns, crystal chandeliers and fairy lights are also great ways to transform a space from plain to ‘wow!’ Many companies hire out chandeliers and other lighting arrangements for the day, but if you fancy being thrifty, then you can always find lighting solutions on eBay or browse your local reclamation yard or antique centre for chandeliers or vintage lighting. It also pays to consider lighting communal areas outside of the main reception room at your chosen venue that often get overlooked, such as bathrooms (with candles or hurricane lamps), or lobby’s where guests often gather for a chat!

2. Ceremony Decoration

Many brides (and grooms) often get so immersed in planning the décor for the reception that the location for the ceremony can often get overlooked. First impressions count – a pretty or personalised venue will give your ceremony the edge. Flowers, whilst stunning, are probably the most expensive form of décor, so if on a budget, use arrangements sparingly but where guests will notice. Flowers by the ceremony entrance or around the door add impact, as well as having them where you will be standing for your nuptials (note: these arrangements can also be re-used at your reception venue later). Floral arrangements do look beautiful at the end of pews or aisle seats, but there are many wonderful alternatives. Hanging black and white photos in frames of the happy couple along the aisle chairs using a shade of pretty ribbon from your colour scheme will look lovely and provide a talking point. Large candles never fail to make an impact – lining candles in glass lanterns along the sides of the aisle will create a beautifully illuminated walkway that draws the eye. If you are lucky enough to be planning an outdoor wedding, then ribbon streamers hanging from trees that move with the breeze or hanging glass ornaments that reflect sunlight will look striking. Petals scattered down the aisle will also romanticise your ceremony venue.

3. Food & Drink

It’s a long day for guests, especially if they’ve had to travel beforehand. Have some drinks and nibbles after the ceremony to keep people going until the wedding breakfast. A good idea is to use this point in the day to have a food vendor supply guests with some fun treats – ice cream, doughnuts, hot dogs – you name it, your guests will certainly eat it (and love you all the more for it!) If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the hire of a food vendor, then ask close friends who are a dab hand in the kitchen to help you make some treats to set up a nibbles table – cakes, pastries, milkshakes or hot chocolate will keep guests entertained whilst you are having your photos taken. For the evening, arrange for a buffet or hog roast for around 8-9pm for the additional guests and for the day guests that are still peckish! A great ‘wow’ idea is to serve a variety of miniature versions of your favourite meals together as a couple for the evening food, which will certainly satisfy hungry guests. This can be anything from miniature tacos and fajitas to little pots of macaroni cheese or toasted sandwiches! Comfort food is always best appreciated after a long day, when canapés and light bites probably won’t quite fill up empty tummies, and is better value for money overall. Remember to have jugs or bottles of water dotted around for parched guests who might not want to queue at the bar if they are in the middle of dancing the night away!

4. The little things matter

Something that makes a wedding day all the more memorable is the little touches that show your guests you care just as much about their enjoyment as your own, and will certainly have them talking about it for months – even years – afterwards! The best way to ensure all little things are covered is to draw on your own experiences as a wedding guest over the years and whether you felt like something was missing, or to try and visualise yourself as a guest at your own wedding and work out what you would enjoy. As previously mentioned, hungry guests can equal grumpy guests so certainly ensure there is enough food and drink to go around, and remember tea and coffee as an option for elderly guests! Another thoughtful gesture is to keep an eye on the weather forecast a few weeks up to the wedding day and ensure there are things on hand that can be used in the event of a heat wave – paper fans will provide a welcome relief if there is no air conditioning at your chosen venue, and a collection of umbrellas by the door will not only provide shade if it’s too hot, but also protection in the event of a downpour. A little entertainment between the ceremony and wedding breakfast is always appreciated by guests – this could be a magician or entertainer, or for a cheaper alternative perhaps you could ask one of your musically talented friends to play the guitar or piano whilst guests mingle?

5. Music

Music is certainly important in ensuring guests have a fab time during the evening, and an empty dance floor is never ideal. In keeping with showing off your ‘couple personality’, choose a first dance song that best represents you both – even if it is heavy metal! In terms of the rest of the evening’s music, it’s always best to ensure it is varied so that it can be enjoyed by all of the guests at your wedding. This isn’t always an easy task as there will no doubt be a varied age range – but a novel idea is to have a little space on your RSVP card where your guests can write their favourite upbeat song of all time. Collate the requests into a list and give them to your DJ ahead of time so that he/she can play some of these during the party. It also might be appreciated by guests if you have a couple of slower songs play every hour or so to ensure they can have a breather, grab some food or give their feet some rest! If you are having a band play at your wedding, it’s good if they can cover some more popular songs as well as their own so that the music can be enjoyed and recognised by everyone.

6. Guest table entertainment

We’ve all been there – as a guest at previous weddings you’ve been placed at a table at the wedding breakfast with a few strangers (or perhaps someone you aren’t particularly fond of) and you’ve felt a little uncomfortable. Naturally, you cannot please every single guest at your wedding, but it is always thoughtful to have a few little entertainment ideas placed at tables that not only provide a talking point to break the ice, but keep guests laughing and can be a useful distraction! Quizzes, fun facts about the couple, little photo albums of friends and family members and ‘eye spy’ type games are always good for entertainment before the speeches commence.

7. Photography

We all know how important photography is for a wedding in capturing your special day, but there are some moments that the photographer may not always be able to capture, such as moments between guests. Many brides and grooms have provided disposable cameras for guest tables and inevitably ended up with a collection of blurry photos or realised later on that the flash wasn’t on… etc. In the days of social media, and with more people owning a phone with a great quality camera, it pays to ask people to upload their photos to photo sharing applications like Instagram, using a hashtag that you have both come up with (such as your married name) so that you are able to search for the photos afterwards. The other bonus is that the photos are available pretty much immediately to view, rather than waiting for them to be developed a couple of days later!

In your experience, what has been your ‘wow factor’ moment as a wedding guest? What have people raved about the most when attending your own wedding? Please do comment below!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Festival Love…

So it’s that time of year again… we’re nearing the end of Summer and what better way to make the most of the outdoors and the last of those balmy evenings than at a music festival! Yes, festival season is upon us; a time to crack out those wellies, tasselled shirts and floral hair garlands, soak up the last of the summer sun (and frequently, embrace the rain) and dance long into the evening listening to some of our favourite bands. Speaking of which, if you love live music and the outdoors then a festival-vibe would make a wonderful wedding theme… think garden marquees, relaxed floral arrangements and rustic décor, cider and pimms aplenty, music until the early hours, and if you want to embrace the theme whole-heartedly, tents for tipsy guests to rest their heads for the night.

With that in mind, here are a few ideas to inspire…

For drinks, jars make a quirky alternative to regular tumblers, with patterned paper straws added for a fun twist. Keep floral arrangements as relaxed and natural as possible – place in mix and match vases and pots for a bohemian look, as well as wellies to express the festival theme. I particularly like the very unique drinks bar above, made from a reclaimed wooden boat! This is the perfect theme for reclaimed or homemade objects – giving off a carefree ambiance is what embodies the ‘Wedfest’ look.

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Lover Of The Light…

Lighting for weddings and parties has to be one of my favourite things. What else could produce such an enchanting ambience, make a fabulous focal point and be inexpensive too. There are endless different ways lighting can be used – whether its twinkling fairy lights artfully strung from trees, candles dotted around in hurricane vases, flickering tea lights in jam jars, glowing lanterns hanging from beams – the sky really is the limit. Here are a few of my favourite ideas below:

So, as you can see – each effect created, however different, really is rather beautiful. I particularly love the coloured crepe paper used in mason jars to give off a colourful glow. I hope a few of these glittering ideas give you your own light bulb moment for your upcoming wedding or party!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

"Love is the light to darkness" – unknown.

Shining, Shimmering, Splendid… Disney

You may or may not have noticed on my ‘About’ page that I mention my love of Disney films. Love might actually be an understatement. I am slightly obsessed with Disney. I could watch the films over and over again without boredom, recite most of the lines, provide pointless facts and trivia on Disney… and I spend far too much of my time singing Disney songs in the shower (much to my next door neighbours’ annoyance!)

So, that being said, it was always inevitable that I would do a post motivated by my love of Disney. I decided to create a few collections inspired by my three favourite films (trust me, it was hard to whittle it down to just three, but I didn’t want to bombard you completely): Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. For me, these three capture the true essence of Disney: romance, adventure, music, friendship, and of course – love. So I hope these inspired photographs awaken your inner child and give you a few ideas for your own Wedding. If you have any suggestions – please do comment below!

For this ‘Aladdin’ inspired Wedding, a colour palette of jewel tones – purples, shades of aqua, red and gold – create an opulent and ethnic looking theme; whilst Moroccan style lanterns lit up at night create a beautiful ambience. Palm trees entwined by fairy lights would really enhance an ‘Arabian night’ (if your chosen venue does not have palm trees in the gardens, you could always buy or hire smaller potted palm trees to create a similar look.)

(click image to enlarge)
1.wedding dress: Mori Lee by Madeleine Gardner, style 1815 2. Wedding invitation: http://www.invitationsbyajalon.com 3. Earrings: reminded designs via http://www.etsy.com

Western style bridal gowns with Eastern inspired details such as gold embroidery are the cherry on top of this ‘Aladdin’ theme – here are some other dresses that very much reminded me of Jasmine…

For the below ‘Beauty and the Beast’ inspired theme, I’ve used a colour palette of gold and midnight blue. A slight hint of red signifies the single red rose that is central to the love story in the film. The use of ornate gold candelabras and mirrors are not only a nod to the characters in the film, but represent the lavishness of the Beast’s castle and the magnificent ballroom that is so memorable for those who are a fan of the film.

1. Midnight blue bridesmaid dress: by Ellie Saab. 2. Teapot with cup and saucer necklace: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com 3. Gold Wedding cake: http://www.citysweets.com

Who says Brides have to wear white? I absolutely adore Anne Hathaway’s dress below – she reminds me very much of a real life Belle in these photos, and a dress like this stunning Valentino number would partner the theme perfectly…

Other Belle inspired golden gowns…

(click images to enlarge) 3. Georges Chakra gold and white couture wedding gown

And last but certainly not least is my ‘The Little Mermaid’ inspired set; which I think mostly speaks for itself! A colour palette of sea foam green, coral and hints of navy create a coastal vibe. Nautical touches and references to various sea creatures represent Ariel’s underwater world, however I’ve selected certain elements which cross-over between land and sea (such as the beautiful shimmering dress below which looks almost identical to the one in the film) signifying Ariel’s transformation from mermaid to human!

(click images to enlarge)
1. nude sequined gown by Ellie Saab

And finally, here are some other Ariel inspired gowns…

I hope these themes give you some fairy-tale inspiration!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Pom Pom Mad…

Pom Poms. This name for me mostly conjures up images of me gluing those little multi-coloured balls of wool onto coloured sugar paper at school during ‘play time’. Or, rather more oddly, playing ‘Pom Pom families’ with my sister (the tiny ones were the babies and the bigger ones were the ‘mums and dads’… Obviously!)

So forgetting childhood flashbacks… This time I am actually talking about decorative paper Pom Poms. Never before has something so simple to make and inexpensive to buy created such a lovely effect for parties and weddings. Over the years there have been various paper trends, from paper-chains to paper lanterns – but I particularly love paper Pom Poms. The way in which the paper is cut creates a spherical floral look, almost resembling a giant hydrangea. Admittedly I am a little late in getting on the bandwagon as these have been floating around (quite literally) for a fair few months now, but it wasn’t until I purchased some for a party recently that my love for them really blossomed (I must stop with the puns now!) They arrive flat, with simple instructions on how to turn them into blooms – they must have taken me about 5 minutes per pom pom to create.

The great thing about Pom Poms is that they can be hung from pretty much anywhere; beams, light fittings, door frames, or even placed directly on tables. I think they tend to look better placed in groups and generally in odd numbers. For my friend’s party that I am hosting, I’ve decided to hang them from my fireplace to make a real feature; three of them in different sizes (small, medium and large) and in three colours – pink, yellow and blue. Of course, it is completely up to the individual on what colour Pom Poms to use and where to hang them – my personal view is you can’t go wrong with them. So, if you fancy something a little different from your everyday party balloon… try Pom Poms!

For similar to the above try Amazon.com (I ordered mine from here) but they are also available on party stockist websites and eBay too. Have fun!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Taste the rainbow…

As my last blog focused on a more neutral palette, I thought I would take a look at something in rather stark contrast to this; a multi-coloured party theme. Now, I tend to sway towards more muted colours usually, but after looking at some of the arrays of beautiful hues used at certain weddings and parties, I couldn’t help but smile. There is certainly something about a multi-coloured theme that screams fun and laughter – and surely that’s what a party should be all about, right?

Now this cake is most definitely an eye-catcher! At first I thought the hundreds of coloured ‘blobs’ were skittles, but upon closer inspection, these are hand-iced. Impressive. This particular cake comes from a scrummy bakery in Texas, America (website below), but for those of you this side of the pond, try http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com for similar, or for something a little less labour intensive, speak to your chosen cake maker about using hundreds and thousands to cover your entire cake for a similar explosion of colour – as below.

http://www.riseandshinebakery.com

With a multi-coloured theme it’s best to have key focal points in rainbow hues whilst keeping the rest of the décor neutral to draw the eye; white tablecloths and white chair covers would offset a multi-coloured floral centrepiece wonderfully. And why not try placing pick and mix sweets in various colours and shapes in glass bowls on tables to make a statement. A multicoloured bouquet against a white bridal dress looks stunning. Lanterns or paper pom poms in various colours are a real talking point!

So, if you’re ever indecisive about colour schemes… why not have them all!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Natural inspiration…

I thought I would share with you a beautiful Wedding Reception setting, designed by the amazing Mindy Weiss, who is an incredibly successful Wedding and Party Planner based in Los Angeles. Mindy herself came from very humble beginnings – she simply loved organising parties for friends and created custom made invites for them. Encouraged by others who saw her creativity, she started up a party planning consultancy and is now one of the most sought after event planners in America.

What I particularly love about this setting is the use of several textures which really ‘lifts’ the neutral palette used. The light gauzy fabric draped on the back of the chairs (I particularly like the fabric flowers placed on the back of ladies’ chairs) and the pale tablecloths create a ‘blank canvas’ which really draws the eye towards the beautiful floral centrepieces on the tables and then up towards the draping of material and ornate lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

I love the idea of having beautiful greenery intertwined with fairy lights above the dance floor; it’s a real focal point and creates fluidity to the theme – the venue is very open to the outside, showing trees and foliage in the background. By bringing ‘the outside in’ to the inside of the venue, a natural outdoor-sy look is created.

If you would like to see more of Mindy’s work, her website is http://www.mindyweiss.com

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

Let’s start at the very beginning…

Firstly, I would like to welcome you to my page and to say thank you for visiting!

I have decided to start up a blog for two reasons. 1. For somewhere to channel the ideas and inspirations I so often see all around me and to keep them all in one place, and 2. To share with you my journey, (which at this stage is only at the very beginning) in hopefully fulfilling my dream of becoming a Wedding and Party Planner. As this is a hugely competitive industry I know the road will be a long and tricky one, but I have such a huge passion for all aspects of styling and planning, that even if I don’t ‘make it’ – this will still be a wonderful place for me to be creative, share ideas and discover more things that make me happy.

So, without sounding incredibly cliché…

…For as long as I can remember I’ve loved everything about Weddings! The romance, the drama, your loved ones all in one room, a place to show people what you are passionate about through the styling and theme, delicious food and drink, laughter with friends, dancing the night away, memorable photographs that will be shared for years to come – and so much more.

I’m known by most of my friends as a ‘hopeless romantic’, which I hope is mostly endearing, rather than annoying…! Like a lot of naïve young girls, I grew up watching Disney films and reading fairy-tale books believing that all relationships consisted of going to balls, dancing with a dreamy looking man, falling in love and living happily ever after. Of course, with time, we soon learn that this is not entirely true, however most women (and some men!) still like to imagine that elements of these romantic ideals will play a part in their lives at some point… and I for certain am one of these people. I do try and look at romance in more realistic terms now of course… A wedding to me is not so much ‘Happy Ever After’, but more a ‘Happy Beginning’ of what will be the fantastic start of a journey full of plenty of ‘ups’ and a few ‘downs’ and bumps in the road along the way. We all know that life isn’t perfect, but as the years go by, it’s heart-warming to know that a couple can always look back on their wedding day together with the fondest of memories and remember the day that celebrated their love for one another when things don’t feel so much like a fairy-tale.

I will be updating my blog as and when I can (which I hope will be quite often!) with photos, idea’s, quotes and anything else that takes my fancy!

Speak soon,
Becky ❤

"I love her and that's the beginning of everything." – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Love is like a…

“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.” – Bruce Lee