Sunday 28 August 2011

Lets Go Green

Eco Brides

A beautiful wedding dress need not mean expensive wedding dress.  Of course every bride wants to look stunning and find that perfect dress .

There are some really great options for the creative eco friendly bride, maybe you have a family heirloom that you could wear?  Hire a beautiful  wedding dress or buy a nearly new dress, let’s face it most dresses are only worn the once so there are great bargains to be had.  The other option is to find a good dressmaker who can either make your own perfect dress or look for something vintage.  
Hemp Dress created from a previously used dresses and silk ruffle

Look out for dresses made from organic cotton

Some brides have issues with “conflict free” jewellery, so it’s always best to check with the jeweller of the origin of gems, diamonds and gold to ensure they have been ethically sourced .  A factor that I am sure a lot of brides do not even think about.  Again why not consider purchasing from an antique jewellery store or see if there is a family heirloom that could be adjusted.
Another great option is to have your own piece designed and created.
A couple that I know used the gold from a family piece of jewellery and took part in a workshop to have new rings made, check out the link below:
If you are concerned about leather shoes, look for shoes that have been made under fair trade conditions. Maybe consider some that can be dyed at a later date which means they can be reused.
For veils or hairpieces again, why not check out websites and stores for vintage or if you are feeling creative have a go at making your own.
Flowers
Look for a florist who uses local seasonal flowers or consider silk flowers as an alternative, these will last as a reminder of your special day.
Stationary
When looking for stationary consider invitations using recycled card.


Getting to the venue
How about on two wheels

Venues & Catering
 Choices vary from woodland, barn, Tipi weddings.



For a Tipi Wedding in North Yorkshire check out
Outdoor ceremonies are very popular, couples in England are not allowed to legally marry unless the location it holds a special licence for civil ceremonies, but as an alternative you can hold your legal marriage ceremony at a local registry office and then have a celebrant such as One Life Ceremonies conduct a more personal ceremony at the location of your choice.
More and more venues and caterers are environmentally aware nowadays. Check out if the menus they offer are made up from locally sourced and organic foods and don’t forget the vegetarian options.
When looking for a wedding cake, don’t forget to ask if they use organic, fair trade ingredients and free range eggs.
When it comes to favours look for ones that are made from recycled or natural ingredients, check out my favourite ideas for inspiration














Friday 19 August 2011

We love Vintage Weddings






If you are a keen follower of wedding trends then it would be hard not to realise that "vintage" themed weddings are a big thing right now.
There are some beautiful vintage inspired wedding dresses around, with all their lace overlays, 
embelishments and fine details.
You only have to look back at the wedding of Model Kate Moss recently to see the attraction.



So along with the beautiful gowns, beautiful accessories, hair pieces and teacups on the table it would be hard not to see how a vintage wedding couldnt be a hit.

How vintage you decide to make your wedding is entirely up to you, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to planning, consider what era and elements fit your vision.

When choosing your shoes, especially if your wearing a shorter dress, its crucial that you look out for shoes with beads, pearls and crystals  and a slightly smaller heel. Dont forget though as always try to factor in comfort. Your wedding day is long and you will surprised how glad you will feel if you go for comfort as well as style.

I simply love these


Dont forget to carry your theme throughout with your hairpiece and accessories


And why not finish your outfit with a unique vintage crystal bouquet



when it comes to table centres and settings you cant go too far wrong with teacups, there as some beautiful ones available and if your on a tight budget, why not head down to the local charity shop, its amazing what little goldmines they can be.

They look fabulous on the table by themselves or you could add flowers such as dusty pink and cream roses and have them as centrepieces.
or how about this for something a little different, simple but chic too

Here are a few other ideas to inspire you




White Rose Wedding Recommends: Danby Castle

There is a beautiful Wedding Venue that has really taken the vintage ideas to heart and that is
 Danby Castle in North Yorkshire, they have a special vintage tea party wedding package








Saturday 13 August 2011

Sweet Sensations

Sweet, Chic & Unique!

More and more brides are choosing a Candy Buffet, or Sweet Table as their Wow factor for their wedding.





There are really good companies out there that will supply and set up a beautiful table at your wedding for you, but if cost is an issue then it is still possible for you to recreate your own just with a little thought and imagination.




My first word of advice is to check out some photographs off the internet to give you a little inspiration.

Think of your theme? colour scheme? all of which your sweet table can be tailored to.


Then think of your sweets? what sweets would you really like to have at your wedding? as lovely as chocolate is think about your location of wedding and if your having it at the height of the summer will the chocolate be able to be kept cool.
When choosing your sweets, keep it to between 5 and 10 varieties at most, dependant on how large the table is.

Containers? - Jars, martini glasses, interesting glassware, use your imagination, its best to keep most of your table pretty uniform in shape, with a few statement peices. A good idea is to keep and eye out at charity & antique shops.
Make sure that all your containers have large enough openings at the top for you to get your scoop in and out of.

The real beauty of creating your own table is that you can decorate your table as you wish with beautiful fabric that matches your theme, and all those lovely containers can be dressed up with a touch of matching ribbon. Add some floral decorations, or a wishing tree perhaps to draw people towards it.


If you dont fancy a whole table of sweets, what about your centrepieces?
These will become a real talking point at your wedding..





There are a huge variety of sweets availible and you could even personalise your Candy buffet/Sweet table by using your very own Personalised sweets.

From personal experience, i would also advise that you purchase good quality sweets, trying to take shortcuts does not work.

Dont forget your scoops, bags or boxes too!

With a small child within us all i think these ideas will be a guaranteed hit.

www.keepitsweet.co.uk
www.candy-buffets.co.uk
www.candywarehouse.com
www.candyparfaits.com