Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category
Creative Wedding Photographer – Featured Supplier
Friday, February 19th, 2010
I was so excited to meet Steve Gerrard last week at his studio in The Custard Factory, Birmingham. His style of photography is really refreshing and edgy. You can see from this picture straight away what I mean. Steve is also a thoroughly nice man and very easy to be with, I can’t wait to work with him.
We chatted about how he became a photographer and I asked him how his style and technique is different from that of many of his contemporaries, and what advice he could give newly engaged couples looking for a photographer. I think its much better if you read what he has to say for himself in his own words.
Hi Folks, this is Steve Gerrard. I’m a wedding photographer based in the Midands but I travel all over the UK and beyond to shoot weddings and I love my job. We’re not your typical wedding photographers. We hate cheesy, forced pictures. We love couples who want to have fun and are after something different with their wedding photography. We’re on a mission to make wedding photography cool again!
Our style is a mixture of styles. We’ll capture those candid shots of your mates laughing, your parents getting emotional and, of course, the first kiss. We also want to show off that dress and the cool suit and create the best pictures of yourselves you’ve ever seen!
Everyone has different tastes and wedding photographers vary massively in stye and approach and also what you get for your money, so we recommend taking time to browse lot of sites until you find something that excites you and suits your own style. Meeting the photographer is a huge benefit too. After all, this person will be with you on your wedding day. You want to get on with them and enjoy having them around.
You should also check how long your photographer will be there on the day. We think its important to cover the day in full so don’t limit our time at all. We’re often still there at midnight!
You may even find your venue won’t allow any photography during the service. This happens all too often and is a real shame in our opinion. Don’t find this out on the day. Check beforehand.
We want our couples to have the best of everything which is why we only use Queensberry wedding albums as well as using the finest printers and craftsmen for all our products. It means we’re not the cheapest photographers in town but our clients tend to see their photography as something extremely important and appreciate our attention to detail and quality. After all, once the main event is over, the flowers are dead and the cake is eaten, your photographs are all that remains. Imagine showing your album to your children in ten years time….
There are plenty of great photographers out there. There are also some terrible ones! Find the photographer which suits you best.
As a Wedding Planner I have to say that photographs are one of the most important things for me when brides ask for advice on what to spend their budget on. Once the day is over your photographs last a life time and you can relive your memories over and over again as you turn each wonderful page of your album. I would really recommend the best photographer that you can afford to capture your day. I hope you love these pictures as much as me. It makes me want to go and get married all over again.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Photographer, Supplier, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Photographers, Suppliers, Tips & Advice | Comments Off
Wedding Genie Loves Hearts!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Today I just have to take the opportunity to talk “Hearts”, well it is Valentines weekend. I just love them, my own wedding featured them everywhere. Here are a few for you to love yourself. They are all reasonable to buy and would look great at country weddings, and Vintage themes too. Since Vintage is part of the 2010 wedding trends how can you resist?
This gorgeous zinc heart shaped basket would look stunning filled with simple flowers dotted around your venue.
How about these cute hearts! Brighten up an area in your venue or tie them in trees or drape on bushes that lead the way to your reception.There are so many variations on the theme buy them from Giddy Kipper.
How about Hearts you can leave messages on around your venue?
And how about ones you can eat!!! I love this idea for a wedding reception
Finally, I “heart” this one for the bride and groom, maybe tie to the backs of their chairs at the reception.
Well thats my indulgence for Valentines, now I am off to go and share the day with my gorgeous husband. Have a fabulous Sunday. Don’t forget our Valentines Day offer. A Genie for An Evening for everyone when booked before the end of March. Call or Contact us to check our availability.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Lovely things!, Photographer, Planning
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Tips & Advice | Comments Off
Wedding Trends for 2010
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
This year will see brides indulging in DIY decor for their venue. Everyone wants their wedding to be unique and to reflect their style and personality. Not only can it be a lot less expensive than hiring someone esle to do it, but you can certainly put your stamp all over your big day. We are certainly fans of that at The Wedding Genie.
I love this idea of making paper pom poms of various sizes to add a touch of uniqueness to your wedding reception. In fact one of our lovely brides is going to use beautiful paper garlands to make her wedding venue come to life.
Check out the pictures below to see how gorgeous this can look. For instructions on how to make the pom poms click here.
How pretty is this?
This is so fresh and striking. Very suitable for barn venues as well as marquee weddings.
Until tomorrow, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Tips & Advice, Wedding Trends
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Tips & Advice, Wedding Trends | No Comments »
Cupcakes for your Wedding!
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Cupcakes are great for weddings I really love them. If you read our blog regularly you’ll know that The Wedding Genie are always looking for beautiful practical ways of saving money, as well as ideas to reflect your style and personality. What better way to do this than using these darling cupcakes. At the end of your wedding day they can be packed up into clear plastic boxes to give out to your guests as favours. Another practical way of saving money is using them as dessert.
It does beg the question of how you keep to the wedding tradition of cutting the cake. You can always ask your supplier to bake a small round cake to adorn the top of your cup cake tower. I have to say thats exactly what we did at our wedding. For the non traditionalists amongst you why not get photographed feeding each other a little piece of cup cake!! Our brides at The Wedding Genie are individual, stylish and fun so this idea may really appeal.
I happen to have met a most fabulous cup cake designer called Sarah Barnes, who runs Blue Door Bakery. You may have seen her mentioned on our blog in the past. Today we asked her how she started her business and to give her tips and advice when choosing cup cakes. To make your mouth water even more we feature some of her cakes for inspiration.
Sarah, how did you start your business and why Cup Cakes?
I’ve always baked wedding cakes and special occasion cakes for friends, I was being asked to make more and more and decided to take the leap into professional baking about a year ago. Blue Door Bakery was formed and the rest, as they say, is history.
Delicious love heart design
If you are Choosing Cup Cakes what should you ask your supplier?
Cupcakes need to be fresh to enjoy them so we make them no more than 36 hours before delivery. They are hand made in small batches, because you can really taste the difference! Check the ingredients used, for instance we use local Shipton Mill organic flour, free range eggs, real butter and the best vanilla and chocolate.
Fabulous for a tea party or summer marquee wedding
What flavours do you make and what is your personal favourite?
I make many flavours and always try to cater for any special requests! Some of my favourite include Peanut Butter Cupcakes, Mint Choc Chip Cupcakes, Red Velvet Cupcakes and Rocky Road Cupcakes, yum!
Rocky road!
How do you decide on your designs?
All of our cupcakes are designed in consultation with the bride and groom, to tie them into their tastes, colours and themes. We aim to make cupcakes as individual as your wedding.
Butterfly Heaven
What should a Bride and Groom do if they want you to bake their cupcakes?
We have a minimum order of 24 cupcakes so we can concentrate on wedding orders. Sometimes couples have seen exactly what they want and they get in touch, tell us what they want and book in. Other couples visit for a consultation, tasting and general chat to help get some ideas and discuss cake options, either before or after booking to secure a date with us. We are happy with whichever they prefer, we do love to talk about cake! Our prices start at £1.90 per cupcake.
What if Brides want to make their own Cupcakes?
We have recently started running two cupcake decorating classes. This first is a 1.5 hour session, Cupcake Decorating Workshop, it covers making and using various icing types, piping buttercream icing, making decorations and you leave with your own box of 12 cupcakes. The classes are perfect for hen parties and cost £25.00 per person. The other class is Creating Your Own Wedding Cupcakes, this workshop is 2.5 hours long and is £35.00 per person.
Well I for one may take one of those classes, if you want any more information email sara@bluedoorbakery.co.uk.
Well I hope we have given you a taste!! excuse the pun, for cupcakes. I for one may take one of those classes., if you want more information email sara@bluedoorbakery.co.uk
Watch out for more supplier blogs over the next few weeks.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Lovely things!, Personal Touches, Supplier, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Suppliers, Tips & Advice, Wedding Cakes | 3 Comments »
Wedding Genie News – Save The Date!
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
We are delighted to introduce you to a new wedding and events magazine for the East Midlands called Save The Date. Inside you will find plenty of advice and tips for planning your special event. It the perfect reference tool and in a handy size, perfect for your handbag! The Wedding Genie are thrilled to be working with the lovely Lydia and Abbi who own, run and produce the magazine.
Not only are we helping out with articles on planning but we are pleased as punch to be coordinating Lydia’s own wedding in May. It promises to be a fantastic day. I had a chat with Lydia and Abbi to give you a bit of background about them and what their magazine is all about.
What made you start Save the Date?
Well, Abbi and I were both working for a local events company (me doing the creative writing for proposals and Abbi undertaking the logistics of the events) and having been at the company for over five years, we both felt ready for a refreshing change. I had just got engaged and was discussing with Abbi the fact that there were no local magazines or material which provided inspiration and ideas for weddings and events and we both felt there was a niche in the market for a classic, stylish wedding and events magazine.
Tell us a bit about the style of your new Magazine
Classic contemporary with an innovative twist. We are not a lifestyle magazine and aim to ensure that our readers know straight away that they are picking up a stylish bridal publication. We like to think that we focus on weddings and events in the East Midlands with a pinch of glamour and a large dose of style.
Well I can tell you they do just that. We also have more to tell you about, read on about a special feature that will be covered by the magazine in each edition.
Real Wedding – Planning Journey
Abbi and Lydia will be telling the story of a a real life bride and groom, Kelly and PJ, throughout their planning journey. I am delighted to say The Wedding Genie have the pleasure of coordinating their special day too!! Its going to be in May at Wroxall Abbey and it promises to be very inspiring. We are so excited to tell you that we can follow them in the magazine and on our blog! The first installment starts Friday, the magazine is out this week too so look out for it. Kelly works for Heart FM as their breakfast producer and she has a weekly blog you can read. Alternatively you can subscribe to the magazine so you wont miss out and check out Save The Date blog too.
Wedding Planning Articles
In this edition of Save The Date, there is also one of our articles on New year New Plan! Its designed to help you kick start your wedding planning if you are recently engaged or your wedding is this year. We will be posting this on next week.
Meeting Lydia and Abbi
If you want to meet Lydia and Abbi they will be hosting a Bridal Fair at Shottle Hall in Derbyshire on Sunday February 7th. I will also be there talking to brides about how to plan and the basics of wedding planning. Please come along and meet us we will be delighted to see you and answer any questions you have on anything Wedding.
Until tomorrow, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, News, Planning, Real Weddings
Posted in Inspiration, Real Weddings, Style, Tips & Advice, Wedding Planning | No Comments »
Personal Touches – Practical & Easy
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
I am always on the look out for ways to capture the essence of your personality on your wedding day. What better way than to display your favourite photographs of you and your family, for your guests to browse. Not only does it create a lovely personal atmosphere but its a real talking point.
Another idea which works especially well if you are having a marquee wedding is to hang a ribbon like a washing line and then peg the pictures to the ribbon. You can create an area where guests can have some quiet time, chat and enjoy a drink admiring your family history. You can even just use pictures of you and your fiance. Places you have been together, where you met, maybe of your engagement.
I love this idea too
Rock My Wedding, Parisian Chic.
This idea is simple,really thoughtful, affordable and does not take much time to do beforehand. Its something your guests will remember and its another personal touch that will make your wedding day special and memorable. It just goes to show that to make your wedding stand out there are lots of things you can do that don’t cost a fortune, but just need a little thought and planning.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Personal Touches, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
Wedding Poems and Quotes – Words to Inspire
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Our gorgeous words this month are simple, yet illustrate that you don’t have to have the biggest wedding in the world to show each other how much you want to be together or love each other.
I dedicate this poem to my best friends, Sarah & Lee. Last friday they got married quietly with their closest friends and family.
Pam Brown
A wedding does not depend on flowers or bells or candles, choirs or lace.
It does not need a great congregation or a vast marquee.
Only two people taking the courage to leave one life and find another,
trusting each other for true patience and love,
to face any hardship that the years my bring.
If you have any poems or readings that mean a lot to you, please share them with me, and I will post them on our blog. You can add them as a comment or email me.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Poems, Readings
Posted in Inspiration, Readings/Poems | 1 Comment »
Wedding Planning under control for Christmas & The New Year – and New Suppliers
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
If like me you love to be ultra organised for the new year, then now is a great time to take stock and tick off a few of your wedding tasks ready for 2010. We have been busy helping our couples this week by giving them “To Do Lists” to check that they have everything under control. Sometimes couples get so overwhelmed with information they get lost in the maze of what to do next. Its great to have someone oversee your plans and give you a helping hand in the form of bite sized chunks of wedding planning. Our lists say who has to do what and by what date. Doing this keeps you focused on your priorities and what needs to be done so that you can enjoy a stressfree christmas. Our brides can wake up in the New Year knowing they are on track and really looking forward to their wedding planning. Our Genie Hours take care of this, purchase a couple of hours to get you organised.
I am a great believer in splitting wedding planning up into bite sized chunks! That way you don’t get weighed down with the sheer amount of things to do. If your wedding is in the spring and you want a quick helping hand to check you are on track then give us a call and book a Genie for An Evening. Its guaranteed to help you work out whats left to do so you can have fun over Christmas. Its a great way of using a wedding planner just when you want one and need it the most.
Here at The Wedding Genie we love to hunt out fabulous suppliers with the same attention to detail and customer service that we provide. This week I found two lovely ladies who I am really looking forward to working with in the future. Look out for our blog over the next couple of weeks and you will see them featured.
Until then here is a great find I made whilst researching for an elegant black and white themed wedding. Its a company called Crystal Tree who hire out the most exquisite centre pieces. The tress are made up of sparkling crystals hanging from the branches of a tree. They have candles within them to light in the evening. Use them as centre pieces or as message trees for your guests to hang their good luck message cards on.
In the evening they would create the most beautiful ambiance. They could also light up a dark corner in your venue.
If you want to check our availability and book a couple of hours of our time just call or email us and we will be delighted to help you.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Planning, Supplier, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Style, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
Fab Ideas for Xmas Weddings – Drink & Be Merry
Friday, November 13th, 2009
Today is our last blog on tips for Xmas weddings and what better subject to end on than warming festive drinks! Its a great idea to serve your guests nibbles and drinks whilst you are busy having your photographs taken.
If the weather is particularly cold and your guests have had to come from the church or travel to your reception what better way to welcome them by giving them a warming scrumptious drink. My favourite is mulled wine. When the winter nights draw in and it starts to get cold there is something really indulgent about drinking mulled wine in front of a roaring fire with Christmas tree lights sparkling.
Your caterer or venue provider can serve this drink, ask them to decorate it with cinnamon sticks, mandarin oranges and fresh apple. If you are providing the catering you can buy ready made mulled wine from Tesco or M&S or in fact any good department store. You can hire mulled wine kettles for around £19.50 for three days. Serve your mulled wine with warm mince pies.
Here is a recipe from which serves 24
2 x 75cl bottle of full bodies red wine, Bulgarian or cabernet sauvignon is ideal
1 Orange stuck with cloves and 2 oranges sliced
2 lemons sliced
6 level tablespoons granulated sugar or honey
2 inch cinnamon stick
2 level teaspoons fresh root ginger or ground ginger
2 tablespoons fruit liquer, such as contreau, Grand Marnier or Cherry brandy (optional)
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan with 2½ pints (1.5 litres) water then heat to simmering point, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Keep it barely at simmering point for at least 20 minutes – but do not boil or all the alcohol will evaporate.
This can be made in advance, then re-heated just before the party. Serve it warm in 24 sturdy wine glasses. This recipe is taken from Delia Smith’s Christmas.
For children or adults that don’t drink how about serving up hot chocolate. Here is a Martha Stewart idea that is to die for. The mini donuts really finish it off.
Another great idea is to have a signature cocktail. You can choose your favourite drink or make up a cocktail just for your wedding day. Its fun and you can call it something that really reflects your personality. Take a look at Pink Frosting for great cocktail recipes such as Cranberry kick, Christmas pudding, this one I love Candy Cane Martini.
How about a blue cocktail for something blue?
This one is Russian standard vodka, De Kuyper Blue Curacao, equal measures of each topped up with lemonade and crushed ice.
Wow! am I dying for a glass of Mulled wine now. Well its the end of our Christmas tips for this week we really hope you have enjoyed them. We would love to hear your ideas and if you have a signature cocktail why not email it to us and we will post it on our blog.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Christmas, Personal Touches, Planning, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
Fab Ideas for Xmas Weddings – Deck the Halls
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Christmas has to be one of the most romantic times of the year to get married. It conjures up cosy warm evenings and roaring log fires with a candle lit atmosphere. Deep colour themes such as reds, greens and golds make the whole event warming, just a bit dramatic and exciting. Here are our tips and ideas for decorating your venue at this festive time.
Depending on your choice of venue you may already have the basics in place, such as Christmas trees and decorations so lets start with your centre pieces. Why not use bowls with fake snow in them filled with candles that match your colour theme. Buy christmas wreaths for the table centres. Add large church candles that will give your whole room a festive glow, then add extra pine cones sprayed silver or gold to match your colour theme.
Miniature Christmas trees made up in baubles, see below, look very classy and dramatic on the tables. Place them on round mirrors and dot votives with candles around them to light in the evening. Alternatively use mini Christmas trees as table decorations and add sparkly decorations to them.
How about using simple fur cones, cranberries and pine foliage in vases? You can buy really inexpensive vases from Ikea. Here are some examples below.
Poinsettia’s look lovely, you can use these for table centre pieces, alternate them on your tables in white and red. Decorate the pots with ribbons. They are readily available and inexpensive. At the end of the evening they can be given to your guests as presents to take home.
Here is fab video guiding you through every step of making beautiful centre pieces
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-christmas-centerpiece
If you still have not been able to get in the christmas groove on the decoration front, check out the examples below to give you more inspiration.
www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com
Not everyone wants to use red and green so if you choose an elegant white wedding theme, here are some ideas for you.
www.favorideas.com
Here are a few more ideas for inspiration
- Use Christmas crackers around the reception area in baskets for children to pull as well as adults.
- Use baskets of pine cones sprayed silver and gold. They make really inexpensive lovely decorations and smell gorgeous too.
- Why not give your guests sparklers to light as you enter the wedding breakfast, or to light later outside if you are having fireworks?
- If you are having cup cakes for your wedding, you could stick sparklers in the cakes and have them lit as they are served.
- Vases of twigs can be used as decorations, spray the twigs gold or silver. Wind fairy lights around them to make them look extra stylish.
- Small pots of cyclamen plants arranged in sets of three in baskets filled with moss and decorated with ivy make great centre pieces.
- Hurricane lamps with candles buried in sand decorated with ivy and berries.
- Use red or green table cloths to match your theme, or table runners on white cloths.
- Red and green ribbons look gorgeous tied to pillars and chairs.
- Your wedding presents can be displayed underneath the christmas tree if its safe in the venue.
- Drape mistletoe around the venue for couples to catch a quick kiss under.
I would love to hear what you have planned for your Christmas wedding, send me your ideas and I will feature them on our blog. Christmas is fast approaching and if your wedding is getting stressful why not give us a call and we can help you over the last hurdles or help coordinate your day so you can enjoy every minute of your planning. Its not too late!
Until tomorrow, our last xmas ideas blog this week! Don’t miss it, its all about xmas nibbles and drinks.
Tags: Christmas, Planning, Tips & Advice
Posted in Inspiration, Style, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
Subscribe in a reader