Monday 30 July 2012

New Bride Guide: Keep calm, it's only a wedding

Firstly, congratulations on your engagement!

 Secondly you might want to get a pen and paper to jot some of this down...

Keep Calm It's Only A Wedding

Memorise the above phrase in your head, or write it down to look at from time to time, so thatwhen you lose your head, which will inevitably happen at least once in your wedding planning, you will remember what this day is actually all about...

Picture source.
You and the love of your life.


It is not about impressing anyone, it has nothing to do with how much you have spent, it is about you and your husband-to-be (or wife-to-be) embarking on an amazing journey together, sharing it with your nearest and dearest and putting your personality on everything, not anyone else's.  


Remember that, because it is easy to become a homing beacon for opinions from everyone you know, even my butcher thinks he knows how my wedding should be, scarily accurate actually, but anyway the important thing is - is that it is what both you and your partner want.

I hate to say this and be the bringer of doom and gloom, but I do believe Wedding's are there to really see if you are ready to become a wife. The AMOUNT of organising that goes into planning one is insane. I do not envy wedding planners. I am very new to the wedding scene, with it being my first one ;) but, in the past three months I have had to learn a completely alien thing to me. 

I mean, I used to imagine my wedding day when I was a little girl, sure, I won't lie. Well I say imagined my wedding day, I mean sort of, all I thought about actually was my wedding dress, which I know is really selfish but I couldn't imagine what kind of man I would marry, so I just didn't imagine that part! I never imagined a venue in my head, just the amazing ivory wedding dress I'd wear and what shoes... I'm going off on one again aren't I? This is a symptom of a crazed B2B...which I think instead of Bride-to-Be, actually stands for Bitch-to-Be. Truthfully. If you don't believe me, watch an episode of Bridezilla's. 

Hand on your heart, can you honestly say if you had found your dream dress in a shop, in a sale, at half price, with another bride staring at it too, you wouldn't get the claws out and fight for that dress? maybe not literally, but you would reach a little quicker wouldn't you? or you would have to say something wouldn't you? We're only human ladies. We want what we want and we like what we like, that's how we roll from time to time. My fiance doesn't get this change in me and has lately looked a bit scared when I have been on one like this about certain suppliers and bargains, but hey ho, I'm getting results! 

 It's gonna happen, be prepared, because when it does, it sure as hell scares the people around you...and yourself!

But trust me, you will need a bit of fight in you to endure the next few months/years you have of your engagement.

You will be tried and tested, you will be let down, you will be happy, you will be sad, you will have to defend at least one of your ideas, be it by mothers, mother-in-laws, maids, even suppliers can drive you to a raging Bridezilla when you're 'in one', but just remember what it is all about, you and your partner celebrating becoming your own little family unit (well it is for me anyway). 

And just stop from time to time and think - 


"Keep calm, 

(recommended deep breath here)

it's only a wedding".


Instead of telling you childbirth is like having a really big poo, like my nan did to my mum (which my mum is still bitter about by the way), I told you the truth, there are the really really testing parts to planning a wedding, I'm not going to lie, but then the really really amazing parts that soon follow after make it all worth it. The moral of both situations; really painful and hard to bear at first, but so very worth it in the end :)

I don't know how I managed to compare my wedding day with childbirth... moving on!

And after all of that, this is going to sound really contradictory, but enjoy your engagement! 

No seriously, properly take the time to spend quality 'together' time with each other, it is why you are at this stage in the first place and planning a wedding, and I think, like me, you are actually rather enjoying it. Otherwise would you really be here in the first place? ;)


If you are wondering what a Bridezilla is by the way, imagine Godzilla, you know, the big dinosaur thing that got so mad it ate whole towns? yep, that's a bridezilla, only difference is, they are in a Bride's body, but they are just as scary.


Sunday 29 July 2012

Unique Ideas

Want to do something fun for your wedding what about some of these ideas?

A Sweet Buffet Table

Sweet Buffet Stand / Display for hire from Weddings By Claire
Sweet Buffet Stand / Display inspiration from Alice in Wedding Land
Sweet Buffet Stand / Display inspiration from sweetgreetingsshildon.co.uk
Pretty vintage themed sweet buffet from westbride.co.uk
The true pick and mix experience from sweetformysweet.co.uk

A cotton candy and popcorn machine from sweetformysweet.co.uk

Ice Cream Stands


Ice cream cart from eventsfactor.co.uk




Ice cream cart from eventsfactor.co.uk



Ice cream cart from eventsfactor.co.uk

Some ice cream flavours from eventsfactor.co.uk include;



ICE CREAM FLAVOURS (Listed In most popular order) :
Vanilla
Chocolate
Mint Choc Chip
Strawberry
Raspberry Ripple
Strawberry Ripple
Rum and Raisin
Chocolate Ripple
Black Cherry
Coffee
Pistachio
Banana
Dairy Choc Chip
Coconut
Butterscotch
Caramel
Bubble Gum
Maple and Walnut
Tutti Frutti

SORBETS
Lemon
Orange
Mango
Kiwi
Pink Grapefruit
Raspberry

Face Painting



Face painting from Vanillka



Photobooth's


Mobile photo booth from  http://www.snaparazziphotobooths.co.uk/ 






Bouncy Castles and Bucking Bull Rides



Blue bouncy castle, well, castle. From  http://london-bride.com/weddingbouncycastle/

Bouncy castle hire from http://www.hillsidebouncycastlehire.co.uk

Inflatable Chapel anyone? problems having your church at the wrong venue? this could be the answer...!
Source:  http://www.babble.com/cs/strollerderby/bouncy-castle-or-wedding-chapel/
Billy the rodeo bull from rodeoleisure.co.uk






Chocolate Fountain


A milk chocolate fountain from Fantastic Chocolate Fountains
A white chocolate fountain from Fantastic Chocolate Fountains
A pink chocolate fountain from Fantastic Chocolate Fountains

Sweet Trees
A tropical palm tree sweet tree from antastic Chocolate Fountains

 
Sweet trees from kandykart.co.uk


Cola bottle Sweet tree from kandykart.co.uk

Fruit Sweet tree from kandykart.co.uk

Licorice allsorts Sweet tree from kandykart.co.uk


or some of these ideas:


Unique Toastmasters
Themed Wedding Ideas
Singing Waiters
Magicians
Caricatures
Live bands / Live music
Raffle / Tombola
Unique First Dance's


My Inspiration / mood boards



(Click on the picture to enlarge)



They are just too cute aren't they? the little groom really reminds me of my fiance!


















Saturday 28 July 2012

Quirky and Unusual Wedding Shoes

Who says your wedding shoes have to be traditional, simple ivory or white wedding shoes?

I've been looking at different shoe styles for a while and have come across some very interesting ones, some of these I would like to share with you, as they really are truly unique and quirky.

As seen here.

I love how this shoe looks like a rose.



These are very princess slipper-like.


As seen here.
The soft fabric over this shoe adds a touch of romance and elegance, the lace- effect appliques make these shoes timeless and classy while the flower gives it a touch of rebellious girlyness.

As seen here.

If only I could get away with wearing these, but I know I would not be able to walk properly and my fiance is only a few inches taller than me, so I want to wear flats, plus flats are comfy. I can imagine being on your feet all day at your wedding can be tiring and painful!

As seen here.


These would be lovely for a spring or summer wedding, they would be also lovely for an outdoor venue!

As seen here.

These intricately decorated ballet-like pumps are adorned with pearl, bead, lace and diamonte detail, and are rather special. I am sure you will agree. Someone has spent a lot of time working on these shoes. 

As seen here.
I love these.

As seen here.
I have no words...this shoe is crazy!

As seen here.
Gorgeous vintage.