This week I will be fixing my old, or buying a new, laptop and be back blogging as soon as possible, I promise! Today, with it being Halloween, I thought you may like to see the costume I wore to a Halloween party I organised at the weekend :)
Time for me to carve a pumpkin, get a big bowl of candy and decorate the porch with cobwebs and plastic body parts. Happy Halloween!
Debs
The gift list is often one of much debate in wedding world. Is it bad to ask for gifts? But if you don’t ask do you risk getting lots of items you don’t want when people feel obliged to give anyway? Can you ask for money and, if so, how can you possibly phrase that politely? Is there perhaps an alternative that you haven’t even thought of?
Personally, I think the thought of asking for gifts would make me feel a bit cheeky. Although it has pretty much become a given that guests at weddings buy gifts I do still believe it would be nicer if this wasn’t the case. That brides and grooms were genuinely touched and surprised to get a gift lovingly hand-picked for them rather than wait for guests to buy all the items on a list they’ve compiled.
On the other hand, the majority of guests do want to buy gifts and perhaps you’re making it easier on them by giving them a list to pick from!
The choice to include a gift list with the invites, or instead to leave a message with the parents for those that insist on buying a gift, is a personal one but either way I thought I’d try and come up with 10 ideas for the list, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious…
One of the most common routes to go down is setting up a gift list with a shop such as John Lewis or Debenhams. This is great for the few couples that haven’t lived together for that long (or at all!) prior to their marriage and still need the essential homewares these types of shops offer. As you have a gift list to fill, however, you could well end up putting those unnecesary, use-once-and-then-put-in-a-dark-cupboard-never-to-see-the-light-of-day-again type objects on just for the sake of filling it up. I’d have to have a good think about whether I really needed all those homewares before going down this route! If you decide you want such items but would rather pick from different stores then services such as Presentwise and The Gift List Company allow you to do this.
If your house has everything it needs and you’d rather treat yourself to a luxury holiday then asking guests to contribute to the honeymoon would mean your first trip as a newly married couple could be an amazing one! Companies such as Turquoise allow guests to either contribute cash to your honeymoon or select from experiences pre-determined by the couple, such as a massage or quad-biking!
Perhaps the hardest to ask for! Most tend to go with a cheeky poem such as this:
Because at first we lived in sin
We’ve got the sheets and a rubbish bin
A gift from you would be swell
But we’d prefer a donation to our Wishing Well!
If this still makes you feel uncomfortable I’d leave this one to the parents to deal with! If there is no mention of a gift list most guests will ask them and they could just casually suggest the money option.
Companies such as Scotland Art and Artery Gallery offer gift lists that allow guests to contribute to a piece of artwork of your choice. I rather like this idea as it is just one item so no chance of it cluttering up the house! Pick a statement painting and it can have pride of place in your home as a reminder of your special day and all the loved ones you shared it with.
Another great idea and one I wrote about in this post on Oxfam Unwrapped. If you really don’t want for anything but want your guests to feel satisfied that they gave you a gift then this is the way to do it. Lots of charities, such as Cancer Research and the NSPCC offer options to set up an online page where guests can contribute. Alternatively, pick any charity of your choice and put a note with your invites stating that contributions are welcome for you to pass on to your chosen charity. The chance to help others long after your special day is definitely a great idea for your wedding gifts.
If you want to create the perfect home for your newly married life but need some help, then companies such as Beyond Weddings are perfect. Set up by Chelsea Bidwill there are 3 services all involving a visit from Chelsea to give her an idea of your home and what design elements will enhance it. Lists can feature decorative items to buy or interior work such as reupholstering chairs, fitting a carpet or renovating the bathroom. You could ask for money and put it towards something like this but this way you get an interior specialist’s help and I think many guests like to know what they’ve bought you. Alternatively if you’re happy designing your house yourself and would just like help with the DIY costs, vouchers for a hardware store such as B&Q would come in handy.
If your house is just the way you want it but the garden’s looking a bit shabby then get a garden makeover for your gift! The Wedding Garden Company offer lists that allow you to choose garden items yourself or alternatively they can visit you to discuss a few ideas or even a full garden redesign. And if you can’t decide between homewares, interior design or sprucing up your garden then a company such as Bottom Drawer is for you as they allow you to put anything on your list!
For wine drinkers why not have enough to fill a cellar waiting for you on return from your honeymoon? Those at The Wine Wedding List can help you compile ideas for wines from all over the world and at different price levels to suit different guests’ budgets. A nice touch is that every bottle bought is hand labelled with the guest’s name that bought it for you so you can drunkenly thank them after you’ve enjoyed it!
The last two are my favourite ideas as, to me, they are what gifts should be about: they allow the guest the freedom to choose themselves and a chance for them to be creative, a great combo! I absolutely love books. So much so that one day I dream of a library in my house like the one in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast with the ladder to access all the many books! This list is simple, ask the guest to buy you their favourite book, fiction or non-fiction. This way you’ll end up with a really unusual and interesting collection of books that will remind you of your guests and most likely offer up reading oppportunities you’d never have explored otherwise. You could take this one step further by including with your invites a sticker for them to include in the front of their book allowing them to add their name and a message for you.
The most creative option! Ask guests to contribute to your romance. Leaving it quite open means they can have fun deciding in what way they want to do that. Whether they choose tickets for the theatre, a voucher for a meal out, a set of gorgeous candles for the home or a book of love poems you’ll hopefully get a whole bunch of weird and wonderful gifts out of this one!
Awesome image courtesy of Jen Chan
If anybody can think of alternatives to the usual gift lists then please let me know. I’d love to hear your ideas!
Debs
This past post was my chance to play around with Illustrator, something I rarely find the time to do. I hope you like it :)
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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 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
Whilst my laptop is feeling poorly here’s another past post. I’m still loving the idea of a Japanese wedding over a year later…
I feel I have to warn you up front that the following amazing dresses can’t be found at shops in the UK. But that’s not stopping you from having one. You’ll just have to factor in a trip to Sydney to be fitted for it!
The reason I had to blog the following dresses? Because, rather than just the traditional white, these gowns come with a bold and beautiful splash of colour!
Culture Bridal Couture is a group of highly experienced couture seamstresses headed by owner Lisa Merton. Every couture gown they create is individually designed and custom-made for the bride. Due to this their website is full of gorgeous gowns in a range of styles (all well worth seeing) but it was those with a Japanese influence that stood out for me as something entirely different to what I’d seen before.
Lisa let me know that all the Japanese gowns are ‘made from real vintage kimonos and obis, so each piece I create is totally unique, as each vintage kimono and obi is also a one-off fabric…It’s a great way of using colour in wedding gowns, as the vintage kimonos, obis and rare textiles I buy from Japan are all so individual, and feature amazing and often unexpected colour palettes, quirky prints and diverse themes.’
The Japanese fabrics are then paired with beautiful silks to create the following stunning gowns:
Awesome images courtesy of (from top to bottom & left to right):
1-3.Glenroy Photography, 4.Michael Kennedy, 5.Modal Soul Photo, 6.Michael Kennedy, 7-11.Modal Soul Photo
I absolutely adore the dress directly above with the huge black bow. I’d love to see a Japanese-inspired wedding… A gown like these, parasols, paper lanterns, origami paper cranes made from Japanese papers hanging from the ceiling, sake and sushi and guests struggling with chopsticks… amazing!
And don’t think you have to be Asian to enjoy a Japanese wedding. As Lisa says ‘many of my brides that wear my Japanese designs are not actually Asian, but are just in love with all things Asian and in particular Japan. Sometimes a bride may be Australian and marrying her Asian groom, or vice versa, or one of the couple may have Asian heritage in their family.
Often both bride and groom are Australian but have some connection to Asia which they want to highlight in their wedding theme, or at least in the gown.’
And sometimes it’s simply because the ‘bride wants to wear colour!’
So perhaps you met in Japan or you had a great holiday there or you both enjoy Japanese films or you just think it would make a great looking wedding (it would) this is one theme that is certain to create a unique and memorable day!
Here are some of Culture Bridal Couture’s beautiful brides:
Awesome images courtesy of (from top to bottom & left to right):
1-2.Kate Macpherson, 3-4.Milk & Honey Photography, 5-11.Lindy Goodwin & Damien Lee.
Normally a Culture Bridal Couture gown takes 4-6 months to make but they are willing to literally drop everything for an international bride flying to Australia especially to have her gown made by them. If a bride can visit for a month then one fitting a week is enough to ensure her dress is finished for her departure. Alternatively two visits for a period of at least a week each can also be arranged.
This fast service would mean Lisa along with her entire team would be working solely on the gown, overtime being factored in if necessary, to ensure the dress will be getting on the plane with the bride!
Of course with these dresses being custom designed and made for you, plus having to factor in a trip to Australia, it won’t be the cheapest dress you could buy. But if you combine the fitting of your dress with a holiday or visiting friends and family you may have out there then it doesn’t seem as extravagant. And I’ve been to Australia and can certainly recommend it (Ramsay Street especially!)
Go down this route and you’ll be flying home having had an amazing holiday seeing some amazing sites with one stunning dress that a team of experts have put their time and effort into especially for you. That’s pretty special!
Debs
Vendor Details:
Culture Bridal Couture website
Culture Bridal Couture blog
Contact Culture Bridal Couture
Phone:
So yesterday I woke in the early hours of the morning, reached for my phone to see what time it was, and in the dark in my half-asleep state knocked over a full cup of water onto my unclosed laptop. Currently it’s drying out in a plastic bag with some rice whilst I’m hoping I won’t have to fork out for a new one. Either way blogging is a little on the difficult side so I hope you don’t mind me reposting a few past posts for the next few days! And yes I have learnt my lesson regarding computers and water :(
Will you marry me? I imagine after hearing those words (providing they came from someone I actually wanted to marry of course) I’ll cry, grin massively, hug tightly, and kiss heavily, question-asker and then my brain would be filled with ideas of wedding venues and wedding colours and what kind of dress should I wear!
When (or if, but I prefer when) it happens I’m going to try and not start planning the wedding that very night. It would be nice to just enjoy the moment. But, of course, at some point there will be a wedding to plan. At some point all the newly-engaged have a wedding to plan. Even if you enlist the help of a wedding planner it is likely you will want input into your important day and so today’s post is going to try and tackle that crucial issue… the wedding theme (for want of a better word).
Colour is one of the easier themes to pull off. Just pick your wedding colours and match your details to it! You don’t need to stick to just one colour there are many colours that go beautifully together. You can have any combinations you like such as lemon and grey (a particular favourite of mine), red and aqua, orange and purple, navy and yellow, black and hot pink (see Monday’s wedding for inspiration with this one)…
Awesome image courtesy of Victor Sizemore
If you’re stuck for colour inspiration head to your local hardware store and visit the paint chip section, pick loads of paint chips that you like, take them home and play match up. You could end up finding a beautiful colour combo that you’ve never even seen before.
To add a bit of interest to a colour theme you can also use different shades of a colour. When you’ve selected your colours you can use paint chips again to give to your bridesmaids. These cards feature a range of shades of a colour and by allowing the bridesmaid to choose her own dress in one of these shades you will achieve several things: added interest with a range of shades & styles of bridesmaid dresses, happy bridesmaids being in a dress they feel comfortable in and will most likely wear again, uber-modern wedding by not sticking to the one-maid-in-same-dress rule!
Awesome images courtesy of Austin Gros
Vintage is big! There are numerous companies out there to help you with a vintage big day if that’s what you decide on. First up would be to decide what type of vintage wedding is for you; deciding on a particular era will make planning your day much easier. You could go for a 1920s wedding with a drop-waisted dress, vintage mismatched china (hired, borrowed, or found in flea markets) with a gramophone in the corner playing jazz classics. Or maybe a fifties wedding wearing a tea-length dress and coloured petticoat, turning up in a Cadillac and feasting on diner grub is the wedding for you?
Awesome image courtesy of Ben Blood
Where your wedding is taking place can influence your wedding decor. If you decide that your venue is beside the seaside then a beach-themed wedding would be perfect; sea shells and buckets filled with flowers for table centres, perhaps a stick of rock as a wedding favour. A wedding in a barn will work nicely with a rustic theme; you could serve up sweet and savoury pies rather than a fancy wedding cake, have burlap table runners and guests sitting on hay stacks! Likewise, a stately home venue would work well with a vintage or traditional theme: floral candelabras, crisp table linens and an intricately iced cake.
Awesome images courtesy of Mathieu Photography
The season you are marrying in can be a good place to start with your theme. Different seasons lend themselves to different colours; spring and summer weddings suit bright, fresh hues whilst autumn fits more rustic hues with oranges, reds and browns coming to mind. Winter weddings work really well with Christmas colours such as red or gold or going for something completely white with a bit of sparkle thrown in. The season can stretch to more than just the colours of your wedding though. Spring and summer weddings, for example, work well with an English tea party as the reception; you could serve up Pimms & scones! An autumn wedding would be gorgeous in a barn with cosy candle light and spiced hot cider. A winter wedding could have mulled wine, gingerbread favours and a Christmas tree in the corner!
Awesome image courtesy of Corbin Gurkin
A theme I’m a particular fan of is a personalised one. Think about you and your partner, what you like, perhaps even what brought you together as a couple. A love of music would be fantastically expressed with vinyl wedding stationery, album covers as table numbers and a mix CD for wedding favours. You could theme it around a particular country where you holidayed or you could base it around your first date: even serve up the meal you ate that night. Photographs can feature heavily in a personalised wedding; string up photos of your romance around the venue, have a big portrait of the two of you printed with a border big enough for guests to sign in, you can even use different photos as table numbers. A theme that is personalised will be exciting for your guests as they’ll get a real insight into your relationship on a day that is, quite rightly, all about you!
Awesome images courtesy of Sarah Yates
When you’ve picked a theme a little research will help massively. Perhaps research is a bad word reminding you of seeking out info for essays at school but his is fun research, for pretty things, so enjoy it! There are tons of wedding blogs out there that, most likely, will be featuring a wedding in the theme of your choice. Whilst you could just go ahead and design your entire wedding around one it’s nicer to simply take inspiration, change a few things and make it your own. You don’t just need to see existing weddings though. Why not put your theme into Google images (I know there are other search engines but I’m a Google girl!) and see what it comes up with, it could offer up something unusual that you’d never thought of that would work really well. If you’re going for an era-based wedding the internet will be home to countless articles on the era of your choice that you can use to incorporate ideas into your big day.
Awesome images courtesy of a Google image search for ‘red aqua wedding inspiration’
Of course, you don’t even have to have a theme at all! Themes are great to help you easily tie a look together but I’ve seen some great weddings that didn’t have any theme in particular; the bride and groom had just picked what they liked and it still works as it’s what the bride and groom liked which, at the end of the day, is the most important thing to accomplish with a wedding.
Similarly, there are no rules. If you want a 1920s wedding with a 1950s styled dress or an entirely yellow and blue wedding with a stand-out pink cake then do it!
As long as you and your partner are happy that’s all that matters. You could theme your wedding around dinosaurs or hamburgers if you like. True, the mother-in-law may frown upon dinosaurs or hamburgers but it does not matter. All that matters is that whatever you decide, theme or no theme, it is the wedding of your dreams.
Debs
P.S. Out of interest, after writing that last paragraph, I decided to Google ‘dinosaur wedding’ and found this! How awesome is that cake?!
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