Posts from May, 2010

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Hats & headpieces

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

For as long as I can remember I’ve believed that going to a wedding as a guest meant buying a new hat. I think this probably came from Cilla Black mentioning it on pretty much every Blind Date show (I loved that show and wish they’d bring it back!)

Nowadays it doesn’t seem necessary to add a hat to your outfit, guests can take it or leave it (unless it’s requested on the invite). But if you fancy looking fancy then a special occasion such as a wedding is the perfect time to don a hat.

And of course I wouldn’t be talking about hats unless I’d found some lovely ones for you to look at!

Based in London, milliner Jane Taylor creates beautiful hats, headpieces, and fascinators embellished with pretty findings sourced throughout Britain. You can choose from one of the gorgeous pieces on offer or arrange for a consultation and have a hat custom-made just for you.

There are what I would deem more classic-looking hats:

Classic hats

Then there are these fab feathery creations:

Feathers

Those adorned with ribbons & roses:

Ribbons and roses

Or super-contemporary sculptural shapes:

Sculptural shapes

And if you’re going for the wow-factor. One of these would do it!

Hats with wow

Plenty of choice for the wedding guest.

Bridal bonce

But what if you’re the bride? Well Jane has that covered too with a range of stunning headpieces, headbands and decorative combs. Just take a look at this beautiful bunch:

Bridal hairpieces

All awesome images courtesy of Jane Taylor Millinery

I’m a lot in love with the crystal disc. So stunning!

I’m amazed at the amount of great creations that Jane has come up with. So if you’ve got a wedding coming up, bride or guest, head on over to her website and enjoy looking at all the other hats & headpieces waiting for you there.

Debs

Vendor Details:
Jane Taylor Millinery website
Email Jane
Phone: 07949 050708

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Posted in Accessorise | No Comments »

Wish upon a lantern

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

There are many things to remember when planning your wedding. But a big one for me is not to forget your guests! And I don’t mean that you must remember the favours. Most guests would probably not even notice if they didn’t have a little gift beside their plate as they sat down to eat. But what they will remember is if they were bored!

So entertaining your guests is a must. Wedding receptions can be long events and sometimes (along with the meal, drinking and dancing) something for the guests to participate in is a nice touch.

Sky lighting

Sky lanterns are one of those mini events that can add that touch of unique (not to mention pretty) to your wedding. The lanterns that Skycandle (based in North Yorkshire) sell are like miniature hot air balloons at just over a metre tall that, when lit, float up into the air and burn for about 12 minutes reaching about a mile high. When they burn out the sky lantern will fall to the ground and as the material is biodegradable they won’t damage the environment.

If you read my I like lights post then you may know I’m a big fan of lights and therefore sky lanterns would be a pretty perfect addition to my wedding. I, and I’m sure many of your guests, would be quite content to watch these beautiful balloons of light hover up into the sky.

Skycandles

Wishes & worries

You could even get everyone involved by having people write on the lanterns before releasing them. In Northern Thailand sky lanterns (or Khoom Loy to the natives) are used year around in festivals and for special occasions as the lanterns are believed to be symbolic of your problems and worries floating away. So get your guests to write their worries on the lanterns before letting them go.

Alternatively, they could write down their hopes for the newly married couple.

The newlyweds could similarly write down their hopes for the marriage or send messages to lost loved ones, unable to share their special day, as some believe these lanterns symbolise messages being sent to heaven.

Skycandles

The lanterns can be used day or night but personally I think they make much more of an impact at night. And any venue where you can go outdoors to release them is suitable. Lanterns would complement a beach event particularly well. Add some fires on the beach for guests to sit round whilst watching the lanterns float away and you have one memorable moment! Whatever venue you choose it perhaps is best to check you are allowed to incorporate this idea into your day before buying.

Lights & lighters

These floating lights look breathtaking in huge amounts and wedding packs are available including enough lighters to go around:

  • 20 sky candles & 10 lighters = £45
  • 40 sky candles & 20 lighters = £79.60
  • 60 sky candles & 30 lighters = £99
  • 100 sky candles & 50 lighters = £146

You can save yourself some money if you’re not too concerned about having a lighter per 2 guests though. For example without the lighters a pack of 100 sky candles is £127. Obviously a downside is them taking longer to get lit if there are less lighters to go around so bear this in mind if you go for large numbers and want a shot such as those featured in this post!

Skycandles

Also don’t worry if you can’t afford a lantern for everyone. If you like the idea but you can’t fit these into your budget then just buy enough for the wedding party or even just the bride and groom. It will still be a welcome feature for your wedding.

Skycandle provides all the info you need to light up your event with these lovely lanterns, including those important safety precautions.

Low down lighting

Floor lantern

And they also sell stunning floor lanterns. Add a simple tealight (huge bags are so cheap, try IKEA or a pound shop) and dot them around your venue. Inside or out would work and then there you have it… lovely lighting to create that wedding-perfect romantic atmosphere.

Debs

Vendor Details:
Skycandle website
Contact Skycandle
Phone: 01423 884039

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Posted in Lighting love | 1 Comment »

Self-styled shoes

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

I’m not the type of girl that has a lot of shoes. It’s not that I don’t see loads of shoes I like. I do. I just can’t afford to buy hundreds of pairs so I tend to go for ones that can go with a range of outfits. I also struggle to buy them as I have odd sized feet with one being almost a whole size bigger than the other! This causes no end of problems. I usually have to buy to accommodate the bigger foot and try padding out the shoe for the smaller foot or I cramp my big foot into a small shoe and end up with bruised toes!

It’s generally pretty hard getting gorgeous shoes that will stay on my feet unless they have an ankle strap and there are a lot of gorgeous shoes that don’t have this feature. So for my wedding day I may well just treat myself to custom made shoes so I know I can comfortably walk down the aisle without leaving one shoe behind!

And, for when that wedding day comes, I’ve found an absolutely amazing custom-shoe-making company that would happily make shoes in different sizes to accommodate my stupid feet!

Shoes of Prey are based in Woolloomooloo, Australia (actually just around the corner from The Funk House where I had so much fun during my gap year!)

They make shoes just the way you want them.

Pick a shoe, any shoe

You start off picking the type of shoe:

Pick your shoe

Then you can decide on the toe of the shoe: do you want open-toe or not, a strappy sandal or stitching…

Pick your toe

You can then customise the back, add an ankle strap if you wish or have an open back…

Pick your back

If you fancy a bow or bloom on your design there’s an option for that too:

Pick your decoration

There are even several different heel choices and you can even pick the heel height!

Pick your heel

And then there’s a whole host of colours and fabrics to select and fill in your design. Choose from fish skin, snake skin, Italian silk, soft leather, shiny leather, patent leather, suede and even hair. And what I love about this is you don’t have to just pick one colour. If you’ve picked a bow or strap you can have it a different colour and fabric from the rest of the shoe.

Pick your colours & fabrics

You can even go as crazy as this:

Crazy shoe

But I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it! Less is more people!

Shoe stylist

Even if you’re just a fan of shoes but don’t plan on buying any it’s still quite fun to play with creating shoes on this site : )

And so when you’ve finished playing shoe designer all you have to do is wait 5-6 weeks to welcome a pair such as these lovelies into your life:

Loads of shoes

The cost of these shoes vary on the design: £115 for ballet flats, £150 for 1½ to 3½ inch heels, £180 for 4 to 4½ inch heels and £210 for ankle boots. True you could get cheaper shoes but they wouldn’t be your shoes. This way you can have exactly the shoe you were looking for, not just one that will do.

Fit for a bride

And the deal clincher for me? If you’re planning on buying shoes off the internet I’ll bet many people will say it’s a crazy idea as you need to try shoes on. But with Shoes of Prey you don’t need to worry about sizes. If the shoes are only slightly the wrong size they’ll pay for your shoes to be adjusted by a shoe repairer where you live. If the shoes are way too big or too small you can just send them right back to Shoes of Prey and they’ll remake them for you at no extra cost!

They offer a returns policy even if the shoes fit but you just don’t like them (which isn’t likely to happen!) As long as you haven’t worn them and return them within 30 days they’ll refund 100% of the price you paid and cover the costs it took for you to ship them back!

That should settle any worries about not trying them on first.

A great way to make sure you walk down that aisle in shoes that are completely unique, completely ‘you’ and that will completely stay on your feet.

Debs

Vendor Details:
Shoes of Prey website
Shoes of Prey blog
Contact Shoes of Prey

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Posted in Accessorise | 1 Comment »

A variety of veils

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Imagine a bride and it’s more than likely you’ll picture a veil. And when a little girl plays at weddings it’d be quite normal for her to drape a towel over her head. Because a veil is often the defining element that makes a bride truly look and feel like a bride. A girl’s wedding day, more often than not, is the only time she’ll wear a pretty veil (I’m not including the tacky one donned for the hen do!) and therefore many brides opt for this accessory for their big day, not wanting to pass up on the pretty.

There are several explanations of how the veil came to be…

Some say that the veil, like the white dress, was a symbol of innocence and purity.

Others believe that the origin came about through arranged marriages. Men would arrange with a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage and a veil would cover her face until they were married. At this point the veil was lifted and if the groom didn’t like what he saw, well, it was too late!

And then there are the stories that the veil shows a wife’s submission to her husband. I’m not a fan of these stories.

Now, however, past meanings are irrelevant. The veil has become a tradition that brides keep simply because a veil looks stunning!

And because veils are such a popular choice there are currently so many different types to choose from! So I’ve come up with some illustrations and included some info on each veil in the hope that you can get an idea of the perfect veil for your perfect day…

Blusher & Flyaway

Blusher

The Blusher is a short veil covering the face. Worn over the face for the entire walk down the aisle and most of the ceremony, this veil adds impact to the ‘You may now kiss the bride’ bit. At this point it can be flipped back to allow your new husband to give you a romantic kiss just like you’ve seen in endless TV shows and films. After that the veil can remain off your face for the rest of your celebrations. You can wear a Blusher alone or add it to a longer veil at the back.

Flyaway

This one is multi-layered and just kisses the shoulders. I think it looks great with tea-length dresses due to the fun and flirty nature of it. If your dress has detail at the back that you want to show off the Flyaway is a good pick. The short layers create a suitably informal look for more casual affairs.

Elbow & Fingertip

Elbow

As the name suggests this veil stops at your elbows. It’s certainly a more formal, elegant look than the flyaway veil but not overly traditional and therefore wouldn’t be out of place in an informal setting. Would be a great choice if you were looking for a longer veil but had a beautiful bow or likewise at the back of your dress that you didn’t want to cover.

Fingertip

This one sits at your fingertips when your arms are down by your side and is a very popular length with brides: not too short, not too long. We’re getting into the more traditional realm of veils with this one. If you’ve always dreamed of the white wedding with the romantic veil then this length or longer is likely to be the choice for you.

Waltz/Ballet & Chapel

Waltz/Ballet

Named so as this is a veil you can wear and still twirl round on the dance floor without fear of tripping! This length is the perfect option for those wanting a long veil without the fuss of having people to help carry it at times. This would only work with a floor-length dress and generally requires a more formal setting.

Chapel

The Chapel veil falls all the way to the floor and is around 2.5 metres long. This is one super sophisticated, full-blown wedding veil that would complement a floor-length dress with train. This isn’t really one for the informal gatherings.

Cathedral & Double-tier

Cathedral

The Cathedral veil is named so as it once was only worn in cathedrals. A cathedral setting for a wedding is an extravagant choice and the veil doesn’t disappoint. This one hits the floor and then keeps going, coming in at around 3 metres long. It’s definitely the most formal choice requiring an elegant gown and a fancy venue to go with it.

Double tier

If you fancy more fullness to your veil then why not go for two. And which two is up to you. Either have two at the back of differeing lengths to give the veil some volume. Or pick a veil and blusher. You can even have three veils. Or four…

Pouf & Fountain

Pouf

The Pouf veil is a contemporary choice. A lot of fabric is used for this one, all gathered together at the headpiece creating a lot of volume. Very differing levels of pouffiness can be achieved and the veil can be any length so this is all down to personal preference. I think this one could work well in both formal and informal settings depending on the length and if teamed with the right dress.

Fountain

The Fountain veil uses more material than most veils. It gathers at the crown of your head and flows down your back. But this veil also cascades around your face. Supposedly like a waterfall. This veil sits around the elbow mark and is particularly good for softening and romanticising your look.

Birdcage & Mantilla

Birdcage

The Birdcage is the perfect vintage piece. Whilst other veils are made from finer fabrics the birdcage is usually made from netting. It’s often attached to a headpiece, such as a flower or feathers, that suits the vintage look the bride wants to recreate. These veils work superbly with vintage gowns and, in particular, tea-length numbers.

Mantilla

Mantilla veils are beautiful. Spanish-inspired, oval shaped and often have a scalloped edge decorated in delicate lace. They are known as drop veils as they can be dropped on the head and secured with pins, no need for a headpiece. These are perfect if you’re going for pretty.

So many choices! Be sure to pick your dress first as this is the most important bit of your outfit and will also inform your choice of veil. And then there’s nothing stopping you trying out several to get the veiled look you’ve always envisaged.

Debs

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Posted in Advice & planning | No Comments »

Torontonian treasures

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

This post isn’t really wedding related but I thought it may be nice to have a bit of a break and let you know what I’ve been up to the past two weeks.

I decided to spend the month of May with my brother (who is now a semi-Canadian, aka permanent resident) and his girlfriend in Toronto.

So for the month I am living in their ‘den’ on an airbed behind a divide (there’s no door) meant to keep their cute cats Charlie & Mia out. But due to the divide looking like a giant scratching post (apparently it was the only one left) I’ve had a few sleepless nights armed with a squirty water bottle to try and stop the cats from getting in and popping the airbed. (I am actually already on airbed number two as they succeeded in defeating the divide whilst I was out once!)

Photography

Whilst I’m here I thought I could learn some new skills. So I booked on a GTA Photography Course to try and learn how to use my Canon 450D/Digital Rebel XSi DSLR properly. I got it at Christmas and have been shooting on manual since I got it but I actually want to understand what I’m doing! So I have 4 weekly sessions of the beginners’ class and then am booked up for an intermediate level weekend workshop. Have had two lessons so far on composition and what all the buttons do and those confusing ‘stops’.

Here’s some photos I took for my composition homework:

GTA Photography Course homework

Baking

And here’s one I didn’t show that kinda employs the rule of thirds: a drunken attempt at baking a rainbow cake:

Baking

Fell to pieces when trying to cut a slice but it tasted awesome! The cream cheese icing they sell here in tubs is so bloomin’ good!

Drawing

I also spent an evening taking a life-drawing class. And if life-drawing conjures up images of uncomfortably drawing wrinkly old men in the nude (which it always has for me!) well we all couldn’t be more wrong. I went to a Dr. Sketchy’s life-drawing event where the subjects were hot, skimpily-dressed cowgirls posing provocatively in the back room of a bar to a great rock soundtrack.

Fact: drawing cowgirls whilst listening to Marilyn Manson and supping on wine is so much better than drawing wrinkly old men in a stuffy art room. I did discover I’m not so great at drawing people but the atmosphere and the chance to see what other people drew still made for a great night! There are some really talented people out there! Sadly you’re not allowed to take pictures but have a look at this to see the kind of thing you could end up drawing at Dr. Sketchy’s!

And if you fancy drawing at Dr. Sketchy’s yourself it aint just a Toronto thing. In the UK they have one in Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Leeds, Lincoln, London, Manchester & Nottingham!

Printing

I was really looking forward to the letterpress workshop I booked and I wasn’t disappointed! I found Tanya’s Snap & Tumble workshop via Google and was pleased to see she had an Adana 8 x 5. As this is the press I have I knew it’d be a great way to finally get mine printing! In the end I actually decided to print on the Craftsman as it’s slightly bigger but the principles are the same so I’m still confident my Adana will be up and running when I get home!

When I got to Tanya’s (which took 3 trains and a short walk: I was impressed I made it seeing as I’m not a native) she chatted to me about how she got into printing and showed me some of her gorgeous cards. And then she let me pick some type to print. I went for a sweet and simple ‘I like you’. I figured printing this at the top of the notepaper could let me write all the reasons why I liked someone underneath: cute right?

Tanya showed me how to lock up the metal type in the chase and how to put that chase into the bed. And then I got to print some blind impressions:

Snap & Tumble letterpress workshop

I love the way the shadow forms the words: beautiful!

After a few of those I decided to go ahead and mix up some ink. I went for a subtle blue by mixing black, blue, yellow and white. Turned out lovely. And so I printed some more…

Snap & Tumble letterpress workshop

And then I got more adventurous and went for the wood type. Being a Northern girl I went for a Northern phrase (not one I use but definitely one I’d bring out if I needed to express my Northern roots!)

Here’s what I printed:

Ey Up letterpress print

For my third mini project I attempted to print on some Moleskines I’d bought especially. They came out really well and the word choice suits the lined paper inside and the fact that I write lists for everything. Sometimes I even write lists to tell me in which order to consult my lists.

Moleskines

So in the three hour workshop I learnt how to use the letterpress (including lots of great tips), got to print 3 different things multiple times and even enjoyed a slice of cherry pie and a cup of tea…

Tanya & tea

Tanya on the press

…and all the while having a lovely chat with Tanya!

If you’re in the Toronto area and have a love of type or craft or pretty printed things you really should do this workshop! And here’s something wedding-related for this post: Tanya also offers Save-the-Date workshops which is a great idea for couples wanting to have an input into their wedding day and get beautiful letterpress printed stationery all at the same time!

If you don’t fancy printing yourself you should still check out Tanya’s work. Because it’s stunning. She also offers wedding stationery sets.

Other stuff

In other news I’ve:

  • watched Exit Through the Gift Shop: an awesome look at street art
  • played several games of Settlers of Catan (and even won once)
  • and even visited the gym in my bro’s condo a few times! (I hate exercise so am pretty pleased I’ve done some)

Hope the diversion from weddings wasn’t too boring! I’ll be back soon with more wedding stuff!

Debs

Vendor Details:
Snap & Tumble website
Snap & Tumble blog
Contact Tanya

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