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Archive for the ‘Style’ Category

Wedding Style and Theme

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

I often hear brides say they don’t know where to start when trying to find a theme or style for their wedding. For my own wedding I had no idea if I even wanted a “style” or “theme”, I just wanted the wedding to be beautiful and everyone to enjoy themselves. When you are trying to decide on the perfect colour or style of your wedding here are some top tips to help you get started.

Wedding Moodboard

As you flick through the millions of wedding magazines you are likely to buy when you become engaged, cut out all the pictures that appeal to you. Pictures of dresses, flowers, types of weddings that are photographed, shoes anything that you really like. You can also use swatches of material you see in shops and paint colour brochures to see what types of colours look good to you. Stick the images on to a large piece of card. You will probably start to see a style and colour theme emerge.

Be inspired by what is typically you!

Do you love bright colours? are you inspired by a certain flower? or do you have a hobby that you want to reflect into your special day. Weddings should be about injecting your personality into the day. Don’t get hung up about thinking you have to have the perfect style or be “on trend” or that everything has to match, it certainly does not. Be yourself and your ideas will naturally flow into your theme.

Be inspired by your Venue and its Decor

Your wedding venue will most likely add to the decision about what style and theme you want for your wedding day. Look around the venue and see what is already there. If the decor is beautiful then you wont have to spend a fortune on lighting or buy extravagant centre pieces. Often less is more. Look what you have to work with. Hiring coloured table linen will pick up the blandest room and is a cost effective way of injecting colour and warmth into your wedding reception style. If that is too costly then why not just hire different coloured napkins that fit into your colour scheme.

Style of Wedding Dress

Your dress will also determine the style of your reception decor. If you have fallen in love with a vintage style wedding dress then you can match the reception accessories to compliment your choice. Vintage is very fashionable at the moment and brings a lovely sophisticated relaxed approach, but its really up to you. Your dress will generally mirror the mood in your venue and should compliment each other.

Colours and the time of year

Colours are very emotive and make people feel differently when surrounded by them. Pick the colours you really like, the ones that make you feel happy, or calm, it really does not matter as long you choose colours that you like and compliment each other and don’t clash. Use a single colour for the main theme and add a complimentary colour . You can of course stick to one colour but its always good to use varying shades to give a little depth and texture. The time of year may dictate the colour scheme, christmas and winter time often calls for warm colours such as reds, greens and purples. Summer weddings look great using pastel shades or vibrant oranges or pinks. Creams and greens are very sophisticated and always look stunning. Generally the rule is not to use more than three colours and one of them as your main accent.

Accessories such as flowers, invites and stationery and cake

Your invites may very well dictate your colour and style of your wedding. I fell in love with a lovely heart themed invitation. The hearts could be dyed whatever colour I liked and hey presto hearts became my theme.. Your invites are one of the first things that your guests see and generally introduce them to the colours and style of your day. You don’t have to go overboard to style them, a coloured ribbon or a coloured motive maybe all that is required.  Your cake and flowers can then follow a similar theme. If you want a plain white cake you can decorate it with matching ribbons or beautiful flowers.

The most important thing about styling your wedding day is that it reflects what you want and not what you think you should have or are pushed into. Don’t worry too much about it, easy for me to say i know, as you plan your wedding your style will definitely emerge. If you have any top tips you would like to share with our readers please send them to me. Alternatively I can help you style your day with our Genie for An Evening session. Its designed to help you understand exactly what you want. Call or email to have a chat.

Until next time, happy planning.

Tags: Inspiration, Planning, Tips & Advice
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Wedding Planning for Men – Five Reasons Why You Should Listen To The Groom’s Weird Wedding Ideas

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

I love this blog this week from I am Staggered because it does say that no matter what your style or personality put yourself into your wedding.

One of the main accusations that gets thrown at grooms’ wedding planning ideas is that, well, they’re often a bit weird. He wants to wear an Elvis jumpsuit, or have thrash metal as the arrival music, you know the sort of thing. I was reminded of this the other day when admiring this picture, which I think is awesome beyond recognition. Look at him. He’s having fun and putting some of his (admittedly odd) personality into the day. In honour of this katana-wielding hero, I thought I’d try and mount a defence of why you should listen to some of the groom’s weirder planning tips.

1) He Wants To Say His Vows in Klingon

Klingon is an incredibly efficient language, did you know that it only has one word for the colours green, blue and yellow? Think of how much time that would save when planning the colour scheme of a wedding. APPROVED.

2) He Wants You To Dress As Princess-Leia-Hutt-Prisoner-Era

Yes, it’s a bit weird that he wants you to dress in a metal bikini and stick Danish pastries on your head, but it’s only because he thinks you would look super hot and as long as he’s not dressed as Skywalker (that’s her brother, remember?), where’s the harm? If you absolutely have to refuse, why not promise it to him for the honeymoon? PART-APPROVED.

3) He Wants To Arrive In the TARDIS

Firstly, impress him by revealing that you know that TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space; then say yes, on the condition that you can have the reception in it afterwards, that thing could comfortably seat 250. APPROVED.

4) He Wants To Write His Wedding Vows in HTML

Haven’t you heard the news?  Geek wedding vows are all the rage and if your bloke is a bit of a nerd then what’s wrong with him expressing himself as only he can – it means it’s from the heart. APPROVED.

5) He Wants A Team of Ewoks To Re-enact the Forest Moon of Endor Party Scene

Ok, that is odd. You’re either going to have to find really compliant children or go to a specialist casting agency and either way that’s going to cost you. DENIED.

Staggered is the UK’s leading men’s wedding website offering help and advice to grooms, best men and fathers of the bride. Whether it’s mens wedding suits, stag-do-ideas or perhaps some help with engagement rings and proposals, men involved in weddings need to look at www.iamstaggered.com

Until next Thursday,

Tags: Mens wedding blog, Personal Touches
Posted in Men & Wedding Planning, Style | Comments Off

Spring Wedding Inspiration

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

The weather has been so awful lately, ironically since we altered the clocks, that when I came across this fabulous wedding the colours just made me smile. I must admit on my blog I normally stick to very practical advice and don’t often feature inspiration boards but this one made me feel so happy and warm I had to share it with you.

It also features some of the lovely ideas my brides are considering using in their weddings this year. The paper lanterns, gorgeous cup cakes and simple but very effective table centres. In spring there are some many gorgeous flowers you can use and because they are in season it makes them a very cost effective option.

Try using:

• Freeshia –  the smell of these will make your reception smell heavenly and your guests will enjoy the beautiful spring scent.
• Lily of The Valley – these delicate little flowers look beautiful arranged in electic vases and different shaped jam jars.
• Daffodils – Who doesn’t love the gorgeous happy colour of yellow. Its also very easy to order these on line ready arranged for your tables try  Marks & Spencer or buy them ready in pots from your local garden centre. You can then give them to your guests or wedding party to take home. Doubling as thank you gifts is a great way of making sure these lovely flowers won’t get wasted.
• Tulips – Again fabulous vibrant colours that are beautiful and cost effective and come in many colours for most themes.
• Lilacs and Orchids, Ranunculus, Hellebores and Hyacinths.

I feel quite inspired now so think I will nip off and wander round my local garden store to pick up some springtime of my own to brighten up the house this week. If you want to read more about spring flowers check out Wedding Flowers Ideas for great ideas pictures and inspiration.

Have a great week and I hope you enjoyed the easter break.

Until next time, happy planning.

Tags: Planning, Spring flowers, Tips & Advice
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Wedding Day Details – Involving your Guests

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I just love it when I hear friends and family at weddings say how special the day was and how they felt involved. I know I wanted everyone at my wedding to go home and smile whenever they thought of our day. It was important to me to know that my friends and family really felt part of the wedding. Its true that the people you invite to your wedding really do make the day special for you and your new husband. Who wants guests sitting around bored and wondering what is going to happen next? Spending a little time and effort in involving your guests in your special day will pay off dividends. Everyone will go home talking about the best wedding they have been to and your wedding pictures will be full of happy smiling people.

Over the last few months I have seen and thought of some great ideas to help you create a wedding day that everyone will remember. Over the next few days my blog will be jam packed with them.

• First of all give enough notice to the people you really want to come to your wedding. Especially if its in the height of the holiday season. Send out Save The Date Cards. They will also set the tone of your wedding day so think about how they look and what they portray. One of my lovely clients sent out a fabulous picture of her and her fiance and little boy wearing false noses and fake moustaches. Straight away it said to me wow what a fun day this is going to be. It really showed their personality and I bet everyone they sent them to smiled when they opened them.

• When you send out the Invitations to your wedding why not ask your guests to send back a favourite song they would like to be played at the wedding. If you are using an Ipod for your disco you can personalise the music so everyone gets to dance to something they like. If you are having a live band then you can give the list to them to work into their session.

• Another idea I like is when you send out invites ask your guests to write down why they think you two are perfect together. At the wedding whilst everyone is seated you can pop these in a little box on each table and your guests can read them out and try and guess who wrote each comment. Its a great way of introducing guests to each other too.You can even ask your best man to read a few out and give out a bottle of wine or champagne for the guest that guesses the correct person.

• Its always good to have an order of service booklet to hand out. This should include the running order of the day. This will help with lots of things, one is, being sure that your guests know when they are going to eat. Long periods of time sipping drinks, especially when its hot, with no food, does not make for the best reception if everyone is more than a little tipsy. Also it’s nice to write a thank you to everyone. Identify your wedding party too so that guests who have never met before at least know the names of your Best Man, Mum, Dad and Bridesmaids etc. If your wedding is in one of those lovely old stately homes or quirky venue, its a really nice idea to explain its origin and give a bit of history. Orders of service don’t have to be expensive. Confetti do great templates you can download and personalise yourselves. It does take a bit of time and effort but your guests will love it. Its also a great memento of your day for everyone to take home and keep.

• Ask your closest friends or member of your family to do a poem or reading at your ceremony. Civil services are the perfect medium to personalise your ceremony. As long as the readings are not religious its fine. If you trust the person you have asked to read you can always let them choose so its a lovely surprise for you and your new husband.

• If there are children at the wedding who are that bit older why not ask them give out your order of service booklets along with confetti perhaps to each couple. That way they will feel responsible for something and have something to keep them occupied. They will feel really important and part of the wedding.

I will have plenty more tips and advice over the next couple of days so pop back for a little inspiration. In the meantime, I know that our Brides who we work with, and definitely many more have the most fabulous ideas, why not send them to me and I will publish them and credit them to you. Lets have some fun and help spread the inspiration!! Email me or call me I love hearing from you.

Until Tomorrow, happy planning.

Tags: Inspiration, Lovely things!, Personal Touches, Planning, Tips & Advice
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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 & Media, Planning, Real Weddings
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Stylish and Useful – Silk Velvet Bags

Friday, November 20th, 2009

I could not resist sharing this gorgeous find with you. These range of velvet bags are so stylish, reasonably priced and useful. They would make great presents for your bridesmaids or yourself. Because they are available in different sizes, they can be used for either jewellery or cosmetics or both.

The bags also come in deep red, and damson colours. The prices range from £15.00 to £22.00. If you decide to buy jewellery for your bridesmaids its a lovely way to present it to them. Of course they can always use them for the evening too. For winter weddings the deep warm colours and velvet texture works a treat.

Check out the website www.sibona.com

Until next time, happy planning.

Tags: Bridesmaids, Lovely things!
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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
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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
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Fabulous Guest Books

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Today we take a look at guest books. They are such a traditional part of the wedding, full of the well wishes, memories and feelings that your guests experienced whilst they shared your special day. It may take a bit of organising to get everyone to write down their thoughts but well worth it. If you don’t have someone like me to help on the day, the Best Man would be an ideal candidate for this job. Try and make it fun for everyone too. One way is to use Instant Forever. Your guests can wander around taking photo’s then slide them into the album  and write their thoughts and wishes beside them. We used this at Mark & Zoe’s wedding and their guests loved it. I will let you into a secret, I used this at my own wedding too. Guests can be really imaginative when you give them a helping hand.

 

Here are few alternatives you can think about to inspire you.

Most photographers do a pre-wedding shot. This would be ideal to use.

Quite the in thing at the moment is hiring a wedding messages video type package. This allows your guests to interact with a touch screen, take shots of themselves and add their comments. The Bride and Groom receive a photo book and a DVD as a keepsake. Whilst you are having your photographs taken this will also entertain your guests.

I guarantee reading your guest book will be such an emotional experience you will really want to savour it .When you get chance after the wedding, put your feet up, charge a couple of glasses with chilled wine and prepare to relive your day through your guests eyes.

Maybe you have a great idea for a guest book too, let us know we are always thrilled to hear from our readers.

If you have a wedding question that you just can’t seem to get an answer to, or is worrying you, call or contact us,we are always happy to help. Our monthly newsletter will be filled with hints and tips,  subscribe now and we will send you our latest copy, just fill in your email details at the top of any page on our website.

Until next time, take care and happy planning.

Tags: Style, Tips & Advice
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Real Wedding: Mark & Zoe

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

The Personal Touch

Well its my first foray into the world of blogging. I am so brimming with ideas I had a real dilemma on where to start. At the Wedding Genie we really care about the personal details that make your wedding stand apart from the crowd. We absolutely love it when we hear the guests at the wedding comment on how the little touches have perfectly portrayed the lovely couple. It was really the case at this beautiful wedding we had the privilege to help plan and coordinate. The weather was perfect, the venue was stunning, the guests chatted on the lawn sipping pink champagne whilst listening to a string quartet.

Over the next few weeks I want to share with you Mark & Zoë’s ideas and the fantastic suppliers we had the honour of working with.

Our philosophy is to only recommend suppliers that believe in the absolute best customer service and attention to detail.  You won’t see anyone featured in our blogs who have not been personally vetted by us.

Here are a few of the great personal touches that made this wedding so Mark & Zoe.

Zoe loves all things pink and that became the theme for the wedding. The ladies were given heart shaped pink cookies tied with ribbon to match the theme. Marks love of Rugby inspired the idea to name the tables at the reception, they were called after Marks favourite teams, even the mens favours were cute rugby balls. Zoe went to a lot of trouble to ensure the children were catered for an entertained too. Over the last six months every little detail was planned to perfection. Their guests really noticed the effort that Zoe went to.

Photography by www.redrabbitphotography.com

The atmosphere was relaxed and most importantly, the happy couple enjoyed every single minute as we beavered away in the back ground. Zoe told me she was on cloud nine and never once came down. She was free to take it all in, to savour the moment with Mark and her family. At the end of the evening their guests strayed outside to enjoy the romantic atmosphere in the beautifully lit garden. Then as a surprise a fantastic firework display ended the fabulous day.

I  want to illustrate that if, as a couple, you take the time to visualise how you would like your day to look and feel, both to you and  your guests, it will help you decide how to prioritise the spending of your hard earned cash.  The little details did not cost a fortune, but because they were well thought out the whole day was perfection and reflected Mark and Zoë’s personality.

I hope this has given you a few ideas on how to make your wedding really personal. Sit down with your partner and think about what makes you tick. Its “your” special day and it should reflect you!!

If you would like help or inspiration why not try  our Genie for an Evening service. We understand the credit crunch is making life a little difficult for couples at the moment, so  to help out we are running a special discount for a limited period. Check out the home page for details. Contact us to book a date we still have some availability.

Until the next time,  take care and Happy Planning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Personal Touches, Real Weddings
Posted in Inspiration, Real Weddings, Style | 1 Comment »