Archive for the ‘Lovely things!’ Category

Perfect Bridesmaid Dresses

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Choosing bridesmaid dresses can be really tricky and sometimes quite stressful. How do you find a design that looks great on everyone? What do you do if you want the same colour but everyone looks good in different neck lines and styles which don’t stock the colour you want? How many shops must you trek round to try and find the right dress? How sad to spend all that money on a dress that is worn once and then gets hung in the back of the wardrobe.

Well I think I have found the perfect answer. Arian Goldman of Two Birds has designed the perfect solution. It’s one dress that can be wrapped around the body, using the shoulder ties, to flatter all body types. It comes in two sizes 4-18 and 18-22. A bridesmaid dress that is incredibly versatile, affordable, available in eighteen different colours and can be worn in fifteen different ways with various lengths.They will even colour match for you for a little extra on the price. Another added advantage is that there are no alterations! How hard is it get your bridesmaids in one place for fittings.

The Two Birds name came about because the dress is perfect for formal and evening wear. There are three different styles to choose from.

The material is of a very high quality and does not cling to the body. I certainly wish I had found these when I was getting married. Yesterday I met a lovely bride who was having five bridesmaids. The logistics are getting them all together on the same day is hard enough, but trekking around many shops to try and find the right styles for everyone can be very time consuming. You really have to do your research thoroughly to ensure you find what you want in one day. I speak from experience of being a bridesmaid early this year. It was quite a task and in the end we had to have dresses made for each of us.

You can also buy wraps to match in case its a little chilly on the day.

I understand it may be tricky wrapping these dresses correctly, but there are plenty of videos on line which show you exactly how to do them. Its a perfect opportunity to get a night in with your bridesmaids for a practice session. Happy bridesmaids makes for a happy wedding day. No one wants to wear a dress they feel uncomfortable in. The growing trend nowadays is for the bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, this way you can be sure of a dress that can be worn many times after the wedding and one that can be adapted depending on the occasion. Check this out, to learn all you need to know.

If anyone has bought and worn these dresses please let me know the experience you had with them. The prices are from £200 – £300 and there is a store in London in Notting Hill which you can visit by appointment. If you like this advice why not book a place on our Bridal Workshops? You will learn all my insider tips and advice so that you can create and plan your perfect wedding. Call me for a chat if you want to know more.

Until next time, happy planning.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in Bridesmaids, Inspiration, Lovely things! | 2 Comments »

Inspirational Brides To Be – Wedding Blog

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

There are many wedding blogs out there that are inspirational, but some of the best are written by brides to be themselves! When you start to think about planning your wedding it’s a huge task and who knows where to start? It’s not like all your friends are getting married at the same time, so sometime’s there is no one to talk to or bounce ideas off or ask for advice. What better way than to make a diary of your wedding journey and share it with like minded brides. Suddenly you are not alone and its a chance to share your creativity and unique ideas to help other brides in your position.

I found Purple and Pearls quite a while ago, it’s written by the very creative and talented Laura Francis and I was hooked. Not only is it a pretty site to surf around but its funny, inspiring and written from the heart. It gives a fabulous insight into wedding planning and shows how you can make your mark on your dream day without breaking the bank.

There are lovely ideas and images to help inspire you, I love looking around myself, I particularly like all the posts relating to the Candy Tables. I am often intrigued why brides to be start a blog and what they get from it, I asked Laura a few searching questions and she did not disappoint.

What Made You Start Purple and Pearls Blog?

Purple and Pearls started out as a way for me to document my time as a bride to be.  I’ve always kept diaries and essentially that is what Purple and Pearls is.  It’s my online diary, I want to be able to look back in years to come and remember every detail about planning our wedding that I know I could easily forget.

What do you think you give to other brides who are planning their weddings?

I’m a DIY bride.  Anything I make myself, like my chalkboard heart place cards, invitations, candy table signs and wine charm favours, I write about and explain exactly how I did it.  I’ve had quite a few comments from other brides-to-be about how easy the projects I take on look and have been inspired to have a go themselves.

I’m also very honest, it’s not always rosy in the run up to the wedding and things do get stressful.  I share my concerns, worries and mistakes (such as the spelling error on my invitations I noticed just days before they were due to go out!)

I don’t get paid for writing Purple and Pearls either, I have no sponsors which means any recommendations I make for suppliers are based purely on my own opinions and experiences.

Laura’s gorgeous chalk board place cards

Wine Charms to match Laura’s theme

How has it helped you?

I enjoy writing Purple and Pearls so much.  It keeps my thoughts in order; I write a monthly countdown post with jobs that I need to do in the up coming weeks, which helps me keep track of what I’m suppose to be doing.  It’s also put me in touch with other brides who write their own blogs and lots of different wedding industry professionals.  I feel like I’m part of a little community and if I need advice, suggestions, support or even just a chat there is always someone around either to comment on the blog or on Twitter to talk to.

Do you think your wedding will be different because of it and have you learned loads about the wedding industry?

Writing Purple and Pearls has made me more aware of other blogs written by suppliers, other brides and industry professionals.  I have 100’s of different blogs in my Google Reader and they have definitely opened my eyes.  Starting out I didn’t know that I could break away from the more traditional side of the wedding industry, I didn’t know that I didn’t have to have sugared almonds as favours and I’ve learnt that it’s ok to make our wedding day reflect our personalities.  I’ve been inspired to create details myself, which means certain aspects of our wedding will be unique to us and hopefully our guests will appreciate that too.

I wouldn’t say that I’ve learnt loads about the wedding industry, but I have met (online and in real life) some fabulous wedding professionals who have all helped me out in some way.

Laura is using the shots from their engagement shoot for their guest book.

If you have what are the good things and what are the bad?

Getting to know the wedding industry has made me realize how much choice there is, there are so many different ways you can personalize your wedding day to suit you.

I’ve also learnt to shop around; unfortunately a few suppliers find it acceptable to up their prices just because it’s a wedding.  Throughout my planning I’ve learnt to compare prices and do a lot more research before committing to a service.  For example I saved over £200 on our wedding flowers because I didn’t settle for the first quote I received.

Having said that all of the suppliers involved in our wedding day are wonderful – it was one of our requirements during the planning process for us to get on with our suppliers.  There is nothing better than your florist or cake maker to be just as excited about your wedding as you are!

Its good to hear that. Suppliers should be interested in your wedding just as much as you are. It’s one of the traits that we like to know a supplier has before they go onto our Wedding Genie recommended list. Quality and good service are a given if you use any of The Wedding Genie suppliers. Many of our brides are just like Laura. They want us to help their day go exactly as they planned. Leaving them to enjoy every minute knowing someone they trust is looking out for all their little details.

Well I for one can’t wait to see the gorgeous wedding that Laura paints such a beautiful picture of on her blog. I will post it on my blog if Laura doesn’t mind, we can’t possibly not follow up this lovely story.

In the meantime if you want to know how to start to plan and find inspiration, why not book one of our new Bridal Workshops. They are fun, informative and I promise you will go home armed with all the hints tips and advice you could possibly need. You can enter our competition too for a pair of tickets to one of our classes in October or November.

Until next time, happy planning.



  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Wedding Planning | No Comments »

Wedding Flowers Inspiration Part 2

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Artificial bouquets are becoming very popular. The last two weddings that Wedding Genie worked on, both had the most beautifully made ones I have seen. They do not wilt, you can save them and they look fantastic as you can see from this picture.

This beauty was made by Red Floral Architecture. It looked stunning and they were provided for all the bridesmaids and the bride. Fresh flowers still made up the table and venue decor as well as button holes but these bouquets will serve as fabulous memento’s of the day.


How about this one too?

Photo by Simplicity Photography

Flowers like Lily of The Valley are so gorgeous but very costly to import out of season so why not have artificial ones made then use room fragrance to substitute the smell. A tip from the top from January Flower Magazine.

Another top supplier for unusual bouquets of this type is Button Moon based in Birmingham.

If you want to investigate further why not try buying a lovely book called Forever Flowers by Margaret Ashbourne.  Gone are the days of awful plastic imitations, it would seem your imagination is the limit. You can even personalise them with vintage brooches, even more meaningful if you have one from a relative or special friend who could not been with you on your special day.

Until next, time happy planning





You may also be interested in Part 1 of this Flower Blog

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in Flowers, Inspiration, Lovely things!, Tips & Advice | Comments Off

Hand Made Wedding Stationery

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

As part our quest to give great advice and tell you the fantastic suppliers we work with, today its all about stationery. I met Bernie and Claire, who are a sister team, from Lilylou & You a couple of years ago when I was getting married. They made me some gorgeous stationery which was all bespoke and they managed to cope with my incessant changes and quirky requests.

Since then I have recommended them to many people. Their stationery is excellent quality and you can get anything you like made to your design. Their prices are brilliant and the customer service is second to none.

Wedding Genie make a great fuss about only working with suppliers who offer the same standard of service that we do and Lilylou and You certainly fit this bill. Now in addition to sharing them with you I asked Bernie for advice on when to send your invites and what to think of when ordering them. Enjoy!

Your invitations are the first impression your guests have of your big day

The greater the impact the greater the response and general excitement among your guests in the lead up to your big day! You invitation sets the scene for the day whether it be subtle and serene or wild and wacky!

Give Your Guests Plenty of Time to make the necessary arrangements

Your guests do really make your day so give them time to make sure they can attend – post your invitations out at least three months prior to the wedding and allow your guests six weeks to reply – at Lilylou & You we make this easy by introducing RSVP postcards as standard with all day invitations.

With the above point in mind handmade stationery takes time

Allow 8 – 10 weeks from point of order to receipt of your invitations – other items can be ordered at a later stage closer to the wedding date.

Colour Matching

Our invitations are all handmade from either our own or your original designs, we are able to match any colours you would like throughout your design. Sending us a swatch of fabric or anything we can get a glimpse of colour from is a great start and helps us to create your perfect unique stationery.

I love this one, we got this for my best friends Mama Mia style wedding in Cyprus

And lastly we urge you to contact us at any time

We are always here to help with any questions you may have no matter how niggly you might feel they are. After all it is your day and it must be perfect.

If you want me to blog on anything you need information about then please let me know. My blog is for all brides who want the inside track on planning and I want it to be enjoyable, informative and above all answering the things you need to know.

Lastly I have had a flurry of enquiries in the last few days, it seems like some of you are just going ahead with a lovely wedding on the spur of the moment. If you want help to coordinate your day I have a few dates left and I would love to help.

Until next time, happy planning.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Stationery, Suppliers, Tips & Advice | No Comments »

Wedding Style and Theme – Hair heaven

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

I promised to finish off our vintage blog with more gorgeous finds. Flo and Percy are a long established company within the vintage arena. Their jewellery is absolutely gorgeous and I love the story behind the company which started in 2005. The company was called after Flo and Percy who were married for 80 years and held the record for the longest marriage in the world. Each piece of jewellery is made with the sentiment that it will bring you the same luck, health and happiness.


Their designer Kirstie Taylor makes the most beautiful pieces, from ear rings to bracelets to hair accessories. There are outlets all over the UK now so its easy to get your hands on one of these gorgeous pieces.


Check out these sparkly pieces of heaven. Vintage themes show no signs of wavering so go shopping!


Photo credit to Rock My Wedding

A couple of weeks ago when we started this vintage theme I asked our lovely readers to send me links to anything they particularly liked. Check out these lovely wish tree labels from Etsy. Thank you to the lovely lady that sent me this.

Well I think Vintage is here to stay, I have to say I really love it. If you need some help and inspiration with any of your wedding planning I would love to help. Phone or email me I would be delighted to hear from you.

Until next time, happy planning.


  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Style and Theme | No Comments »

Wedding Style and Theme – Gorgeous Stationery

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Earlier this week I promised to find you more gorgeous vintage finds. I have just come across this lovely website by Lucy Ledger Designs. I fell in love with it, the  wedding stationery is so beautiful it made me feel happy just surfing around. The prices are great too.

I was so impressed that I mailed Lucy to find out about how she started and what inspired her. Here is what she said.

I am Lucy Ledger, an illustrator with a BA Hons degree and I design vintage inspired scrapbook style stationery. I started by producing greeting cards when I was inspired by a very old scrap book my Nan gave to me. It was filled with hundreds of vintage cards from the turn of the 20th century. This book was such an inspiration because not only did these cards have such a warmth about them- the way they were presented in this scrapbook made it look more like a memory book- a perfect style for greeting cards! That is now the signature style I use throughout Lucy Ledger Designs.

I introduced wedding stationery after I had planned my own wedding last year; like so many other brides I wanted a relaxed and informal feel to my stationery- something that would make guests feel that they were going attend a warm, personal occasion that was filled with love, fun and lots of laughter and when I couldn’t find anything that was quite right I decided to design it myself!

I truly believe that picking wedding stationery is one of the most important and exciting parts of planning a wedding as it sets the tone and atmosphere of what is to come. It is the first thing guests will see and it will give an indication of what kind of wedding is being planned. All my ranges can have personal photographs added in, text personalised all in a quirky ‘scrapbooking’ style reflecting the ‘gathering’ and ‘collection’ of memories that compliment a special occasion such as a wedding.

I know I am all about the weddings but I have to admit at being the most forgetful person in the world for birthdays. I am going to buy a whole load of these cards for my family and get them personalised. That way I just have to remember to post them. Well am off to find some more vintage finds for next week.

If you have a favourite site that you would like to share with us please send it over.

Until next time, happy planning.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Stationery, Style and Theme, Suppliers | No Comments »

Wedding Style and Theme – Vintage Heaven

Friday, June 4th, 2010

As part of our blogs on Style and Theme I promised you more of the most beautiful and cost effective vintage finds. Yesterday I came across this lovely shop called Vintagetwee on Etsy. Its absolutely fabulous. At The Wedding Genie we are all about personalising your wedding without breaking the bank but doing it with panache. Check out these lovelies.

These sweet little romantic favour boxes are so elegant and stylish. The special pillow-shaped boxes have been hand crafted using excerpts from a 1940s love letter from a young girl named Anna to her soldier sweetheart during World War Two.

Each box has been wrapped in different parts of the writing and features a photo of the couple taken from the actual letter itself. The words across the boxes read: Cherish, Adore, Hope and Wish.They can be personalised too if you want to use them as jewellery boxes for presents for your bridesmaids.

How about these confetti cones? At our wedding last Sunday we had the most fun capturing the confetti shot when the couple came out of the church. These would look so beautiful for your guests and super chic. Our bride was a musician so these would have been just up her street.


Or more romantic perhaps?

When you are trying to ensure your guests are entertained at their tables how about getting them to chat to each other by adding these little gems onto the table? You can double them up as favours or just place them in the middle for everyone to help themselves to. They can even be used as place names if they are personalised. They contain different topics.

 

I am having a great time researching these blogs, next week its all about the stationery. Whats more I promise to only find you items you can buy in the UK. This shop is listed on Etsy but the seller is English. If you have any great vintage finds to share please contact me. If you want The Wedding Genie to help you style your wedding we would be delighted to help.

Until next time, happy planning.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Style and Theme, Suppliers, Tips & Advice | No Comments »

Wedding Tips and Advice – Style and Theme

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

I have been so inspired this week by my own gorgeous clients. Their weddings are to die for! The reason why is simple, they are thinking about the small details and making sure their personalities shine through in their wedding planning. Some of them are choosing vintage themes, which are very popular at the moment, so I thought I would take a look at why this genre is so inviting.

Vintage style allows you to add glamour and sophistication to your wedding day. You can use a mix of old and new. Perhaps thats why it works so well, we feel comfortable with some of our old favourites. Whether its your grandmothers lovely jewellery that inspires you and means so much, or the lace from your Mum’s dress that inspired your thoughts, overall its a comfortable feel. One that if done well can make the most of whats new and old whilst giving a nod to very sophisticated bygone times.

Over the next few blogs I am going to find some lovely vintage pieces you can use for the various elements of your wedding day. Browsing today I found a lovely site, My Wedding Party, which does the most gorgeous luggage labels to use as place names, or on your gifts to the wedding party. Check out their cards too. I wanted to buy some right there and then. Stationery creates a lovely impression and ties a theme together.


These are just gorgeous

You don’t have to spend a fortune if you just shop around and do a little careful research. Now I am off to find more fabulous things for next time. If you want help to style or theme your wedding, or just help getting started I would love to hear from you. Call or email me.

Until next time, happy planning.



  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Style and Theme, Tips & Advice | 2 Comments »

Unique Wedding Reception Ideas – Crystal Tree Boutique

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

If you are racking your brain for a unique and different way to wow the guests at your wedding reception, why not take a closer look at decorating your venue and tables with these lovely Crystal Trees. They are really unusual and when the lights go down create the most lovely romantic ambiance.

Perhaps your theme is Vintage Glam and you are looking for something that bit different, this may be your solution. As you know we only like to work with excellent suppliers who offer an exceptional service. I asked Amy to tell us a bit about their company.

Our family business offers the hire of these dazzling crystal trees, we only specialise in Crystal Trees and every care is taken to display them to their full advantage.  We have found that concentrating all of our efforts on one product  allows us to be the best in our business.

The trees are made up of beautiful sparkling  crystals hanging from the branches of the tree.They glisten in the sunlight and when the lights go down the candles are lit to make a fantastic elegant centerpiece which will create the ambiance to complement and enhance any special occasion.

We also supply message trees, for your guests to hang their good luck message cards on. Our stunning range of crystal tree champagne bars will make an arrival to any event breathtaking.

You have to see the Crystal trees to see how beautiful they are for yourselves, whether you are having an intamate party,  a corporate event, stylish, modern, romantic or fairytale Wedding, Anniversary or Birthday, Our trees will enhance any venue.

We live in Derbyshire although we can deliver anywhere however there will be a charge. Our closest Counties are Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

The Trees come in various sizes from 2ft tall to 6ft tall. Use them to brighten up a corner of your venue, or just for your top table to give it some sparkle. They are perfect for centre pieces and a great alternative to flowers. For more information on prices and sizes check out Amy’s website. If you want to see them in person Crystal Tree Boutique will be at the Derby Conference Centre on Sunday 18th April. If you are quick you can take advantage of the special offer of £15.00 discount on each tree ordered before May 14th.

Until next time, happy planning.

 


  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Suppliers, Tips & Advice | Comments Off

Wedding Day Details – Involving Your Guests

Friday, March 12th, 2010

This week we have been running our top tips and ideas to help make your wedding day personal and special. It been all about involving your guests. Here are a few more ideas to inspire you.

I hope you have enjoyed our series this week. Please send us your suggestions and we can post them. If you would like me to help with inspiration for your wedding day why not call or email me to see how we can help.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Inspiration, Lovely things!, Tips & Advice, Wedding Planning | No Comments »