In my search for whimsical wedding wonderment, I have tried to look for new, up and coming ways to diverge from the norm with regards to all things considered traditionally necessary – one of these things being flowers... On my quest, I came across an old friend of mine, who aside running her own unique custom vintage clothing range, Bricolage boutique, has just started to sell felt and button flowers on her Etsy store...
The thing I love most about Tamsin and her unique designs are that they are a far cry from the pastel coloured candy-floss that most would consider to be a “wedding” business. At 5ft3 with tattoos and body modifications, this pint size punk princess is in tune with all things out there, and out there is exactly what Hen loves.
Photo credit: Christina Day
Her felt flower hair accessories currently available in her store would make fab headpieces for brides and bridesmaids alike simply worn solo, however would also look amazing teamed with lashings of French netting, with a real vintage come home-made, come bit-of-this-bit-of-that vibe... Blooming lovely.
(c) Bricolage Boutique
(c) Bricolage Boutique
But boy, the fun doesn’t stop there! The possibilities with these fuzzy felt flowers are endless and using little imagination, can be used for far more than just personal adornment... think out of the box and use them to replace all fresh flowers, eliminating unnecessary arrangement costs, and more predominantly the waste involved, throwing them out a week later.
The fact that these babies will “live” forever provides you with an amazing keepsake that will serve always as a reminder of your special day. A trait that although completely unintentional, Tamsin herself finds great appeal in...
"I've never gone out with the intention of creating wedding-y things as it's not something I'm particularly interested in myself but I really like how 'alternative' weddings are becoming so popular and it's great to see some very creative brides who really know what they want. Every bride wants something special and unique and even something they can keep and maybe find another use for which is why I really like the idea of these little bouquets. Each one is individual and can even be made to specific requirements."
Photo credit: Christina Day
The smaller flower hair clips would make great buttonholes for the men or shoe clips for the bridesmaids... Tamsin has recently even gone one step further and is now offering one-of-a kind bouquets! (Pictured above and below) Available in a whole host of custom colours at your request, please contact Tamsin at bricolageboutique@gmail.com or via herEtsy store for details on the options available and for further information on costs.
Photo credit: Christina Day
Like what you see? Well stay tuned! Hen has been hushed whispers of even greater things to come...
"I'm still trying to find my little niche in exactly what I want to do and what is most successful. Right now, I am inspired by retro colours which is the main feature of my Etsy store. I plan to soon branch out into wedding dresses also"
...Do I sense a full on Bricolage Boutique wedding post coming soon or what!
Now, I'm very aware that my posts thus far have been aimed mainly at my female followers, detailing things like dresses, dramas and decor, however this post is especially about the boys...
This short (but oh so sweet!) post follows my previous arguments on bridalwear and how the bride, being centre of attention, is always ensured to look and feel the absolute best she can on her wedding day... but what about the blokes?
I've asked around a small panel of people; some Roosters, some Hens, some eligible, some not so eligible on their opinions on groomswear for the big day...
The responses were interesting and completely varied with some offering a definite view on how they would like to / their partners to dress, and others prefering a care-free attitude with the general feeling of "whatever". Overall, the responses ended up filtering into four main "categories":
The TRADITIONALISTS:
Tops & tails / Classy and classic. These guys will most likely hire their get-up with cost not a concern- happily doling out the dosh to look dapper. These guys and their gals will most likely have the whole package of a "modern traditional" wedding: Stately home. Check. Champagne and Strawberries. Check. Top Hat and Tails. Checkmate.
The CLASSY CONTEMPORARIES:
Not quite as lavish as the above lads, these guys love getting togged up but in a red-carpet suave kinda way. Leaving the tails on the donkeys, these guys prefer a crisp white shirt / black tie combo. Well cut and Crisp. Simple and Slick.
The EASY BREEZERS:
Laid back dudes that wear whatever they are put in / otherwise if left to their own devices would wear whatever suited their mood on the day... (Caution! Jeans and tees!) These guys will generally leave big decisions up to the brides and will wear whatever they are put in to keep their missus' happy on the day.
The OLD-SCHOOL SUITOR:
"Quirky formal"- Snappy dressers but in a more unconventional way- breaking from the norm & mixing old with new. These guys select style over splurging, prefering the suave stylings of yesteryear to the sharp synthetic suiting of today.
The OUT-OF-THE-BOX-ERS:
Think "Don't Tell the Bride"- Groom wants a Shrek-meets-World Cup theme wedding and once decided, that's it. These crazy cats love their ladish affairs and will happily don a fake beard and bell-toed-shoes for a laugh on HIS big day.
...So, which one are you? Which gets your thumbs up? And ladies, how do YOU think your guys should dress...?
Think Scottish wedding, think stereotypical lashings of red and green tartan, men in kilts and highland dancing in the evening... A request has come to me lately however, for a classy alternative to the over-exuberant, slightly done typical highland fling... So here are my more muted musings!
Keep calm and carry on...
...using tartan, but don’t be scared of shifting to a different clans stripes if Christmas style red and green is not your thing! Tartan fabrics and ribbons are readily available online and in most fabric stores, in whole host of colours to suit your ideals... for my post today, I’m thinking cooling blues and serene purples offset with sparkly silver...
I love this idea from Amber Events, of signing a dark bottle!- a far cry from your stereotypical guestbook, you get a drink AND a quirky keepsake out of it! The obvious tipple of choice for this theme would be a traditional Scotch whiskey, but I also love these personalisable black champagne bottles (drink inclusive!) from Revel stoke wines- Slightly pricey, but so much fun! :)
Image credits: Amber events & Revel Stoke wines
*Food*
Hagis!? Joke.
As this theme is more of a traditional one, it would suit a traditional sit-down coursed meal, but really food is down to personal preference! Just keep it yummy, people!
*Tables*
White lace tablecloths... a simple and effective way of incorporating a bit of both Scottish and English heritage, in a classy and clean way! Vintage tablecloths can be found on eBay- the mix and match-ness of which can create a real relaxed home-y feel, or cheaper (cotton) versions of real lace can also be bought by the metre online... can’t stretch to a whole table? Runners are enough to create impact and flair without being too overpowering / granny-fying- you could also edge with a thin strip of tartan either side, or lay over a coloured table cloth to tie in.
A continuation of the lace table cloth idea, I am currently LOVING doily envelopes!- they are a beautiful and cost effective way of containing your invites, and the cut-outs are great at providing just that little peep of your theme colours before the opening and overall big reveal... Lined in lavender paper and sealed with a crystal / pearl, these super cute vintage-style invites would be the best looking mail to ever come through your letter box!
This type of wedding would really suit a barn, with a real warm feel to it, so beams ahoy! If you do have beams, use them- they are great for wrapping fairy lights around! You could also hang flowers or strings of photos from them for a more personal / homely touch...
*Sitting down*
I HATE chair covers, so the day I have so little inspiration that I recommend them, is the day I will stop writing! Again with the homey feel, nice wooden chairs would suit this theme- with either a natural or whitewashed look to them- hire seat pads in your colour (in this case lavender, or a real dark purple would love laaaahhhhvly) to make them a bit more comfortable, or use mix and match cushions in mixed tartan / floral / block fabrics... fix flowers or hang your favours over the top of one of the spindles, or use them to tie your place names to, using brown tartan backed tags... Pocketful of dreams shows some great examples!
Image credit: www.pocketfulofdreams.co.uk
*Cleaning up*
Silver edged rectangle folded fabric napkins with a single sea holly tucked inside or rolled napkins tied up with small sprigs of heather tied with a thin tartan ribbon...
*Flowers*
Purple heather (or lavender if not in season), mixed with blue thistles and white gypsophilia... to break it up a bit / add a bit of “English”-ness, mix in white / vintage dusky pink / lilac roses...
*To pretty-fy*
Glam up and add a bit of sparkle, use costume jewellery bracelets to tidy up and add interest to flower stems and vases... alternatively, you can buy cheap tartan napkin rings to wrap around and customise with stick on silver gems- a simple continuation of the theme...
Image credit: bbc.co.uk
*For guys*
To follow the theme in a more obvious and traditional, (but no way kilt!) fashion, a tartan tie would be key, however a more relaxed approach could involve a plain coloured tie to follow the scheme, with a simple buttonhole of thistle or heather surrounded by a flurry of snow-like gypsohilia...
*For girls*
Stick with the theme and go for something lacy – traditionalists can even keep with the colour scheme and wear their “something blue” on the outside... Coloured or tartan shoes are unique and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes!
*Favours*
When I think Scotland, I immediately think of the beautiful scenery... so I’m really digging pebbles for this theme! Impactful and eco friendly, take a day trip to the beach to pick perfect pebbles, or head down to your local DIY store or garden centre for a bag of natural or polished pretties. Write on them to make them double up as place settings and keepsakes. Online, you can even find shaped pebbles, making your stony specials even more sweet- like these small hearts from Velvet Brown!
So! Just a couple of ideas for you... if you'd like to hear more / would like further inspiration or you have a theme of your own that you'd like to explore, please do contact me!- unfortunately word count restricts me on here, but I have PLENTY more ideas where these came from and am absolutely bursting to share!
In my mind, there has always been an unwritten rule- a un-voiced mutual respect of sorts when it comes to wedding pictures – not the official images, but the guest snaps, in that as a guest, you should not post images from the wedding day online, until the Bride & Groom are back from honeymoon / have had chance to see them for themselves first.
The reasoning behind this being that firstly, it's the couple’s day, making it theirs to choose to share with others also. This is the case right from the beginning from when they first decided to invite you to celebrate with them and should in my opinion totally be extended to include post-wedding stress also!
I say stress, because the last thing the happy couple want to be worrying about while on their honeymoon and away from their computers, is coming back to albums and albums of less than flattering pictures of themselves perhaps from later on in the daily proceedings, plastered all over the web.
The thing that disappoints me the most (and unfortunately this happens a lot!) is when photos are uploaded straight from a mobile DURING the event. The wedding ceremony in particular is supposed to be the most special, intimate part of the day and yet I know of a few people that have taken pictures and uploaded straight to Facebook from here! Harrumph.
From dealing with wedding clients through our photography business and also having obviously experienced the wedding process myself, this issue seems to be a common worry- particularly amongst the more self conscious of brides- to the point where I’ve witnessed it being formally requested by the bridal party on the day, that guests do not post anything until the Bride and Groom see them first.
This may seem a little extreme to some, but I feel is completely reasonable! No-one likes to log on to Facebook to pictures of them all over the place after a standard night out, so why following the day that is supposed to be most special for them, would the Bride and Groom!?
Of course, as usual this is just one hens opinion on a matter I feel quite strongly about- Many brides do not have an issue with it and there is no problem with this at all- much like with everything else to do with the day, it is down to your personal take on things, just next time you are a guest, consider checking with the bride and groom first on how they feel before getting all tag-happy.
... A joining of lives, the making of a partnership... and yet nowadays planning a wedding is more like planning a performance- less about the couple, and more about showing off.
It feels like in the UK you can only go one of two ways with your wedding day: a) avoid all hassle - elope and marry abroad or b) make a huge show – the whole shebang and get hugely in debt.
Whatever happened to the happy medium?
Following the success of my own ‘compact’ wedding, I am even more of a fan now of the small intimate wedding – a time when you get to celebrate your marriage with the people who mean most to you and are involved in your lives as a couple – not those you have met once / are a distant relative of – after all, how have they really affected your life as a couple and do they actually care that you are getting married?!
For our wedding, we decided to split the proceedings over two days, as this suited our views on marriage, and also protected our pockets! (Having the legal register signing separate to the reception saved us over £300 in legal fees alone!)
As a couple, we have always been of the opinion that a wedding is about the people, not the paperwork, and our two day event was a real reflection of this- we had the legal signing at the registry office on Saturday, with just the two required witnesses present, and a small party to celebrate the marriage, with family and friends the next day- This date is the one we consider to be our WEDDING day.
Our Sunday celebrations were planned to the same format as a standard wedding so no-one felt as if they had missed out on the previous day’s events (as we appreciate that people view the register signing differently to us!): we got ready separately, my dad walked me in, and we had a short blessing ceremony- performed by my hubber’s mum (who rather handily is a minister!) It was short, super sweet and personal.
“You’ve all been handpicked, as being their nearest & dearest; those who matter most to them. You’re not just here to fill seats, but to share this moment with them today, & promise your support for them in the future”
Part of our blessing ceremony involved our 26 family and friends present responding to the question “Will you do all in your power to support & encourage Natalie & Andrew in their marriage?” with “We will”. While this may seem a little cheese-worthy to some, for us as a couple, it was heart-warming knowing that our nearest and dearest were there, knew we belonged as a couple, and supported our marriage.
Our guests were in no way coerced into coming to our wedding- in fact, quite the opposite! To some, wedding attendance is a chore- an expected day of awkward conversation with strangers and never speaking to the bride and groom, but our guests were never there just for bums on seats, and being such involved and important figures in our lives, they loved it. Loved being invited, loved being there and being with us. And we love them for it too.
One of the biggest forms of self-made interactive entertainment trending in the wedding world right now is the photo booth. It is quirky, affordable, and most of all FUN!
While people spend the majority of the day shying away and hiding behind every available obstacle to get away from the dreaded wedding photographer, once an evening photo booth is set up and the drinks start flowing, you just can’t drag them away! It is a really great way of capturing informal and uninhibited group pictures, without the standard format of standing in line with cheesy grins, and a fun way to catch unique couple shots without the need for the outreached “Myspace” arm in the bottom corner as standard.
There are official photo booths out there to hire for your event- they come manned and provide instant prints, but the homemade version always ticks the extra boxes with me- It is easily made personal to you and your theme, costs FAR less, and you can fit more people in!
This mini guide is all about how to get the most out of your booth:
1.Background:
Big is better. Bold is brilliant. Keep the background to your theme colours as best you can, but try and also make it a standout feature- bright colours and ballsy patterns really stand out and make the images look just that little bit more interesting! - Best thing is you can use pretty much anything you want for the background and it doesn't have to cost you the earth - we bought some cheap fabric off the roll, or you could even think a little more outside the box and use anything from shower curtains (like our Boy Meets Girl couple, Lucy and Rich!) or bed linen, to ribbons or rugs!
2.Props:
Here, just about anything goes! Raid your fancy dress wardrobe, charity shops and your kids' toy boxes and pull out anything that can be posed with! Oversized glasses, picture frames and hats/wigs work a treat! Can't find exactly what you're after?- Get crafty... utilise lolly pop sticks and barbecue skewers by attaching moustaches and quirky glasses cutouts... buy cheap mdf shape cutouts on eBay* and back them with chalkboard paint / Fablon for quirky chalkboards for guests to interact with and write drunken messages to you on... anything for a giggle! (*The link below is the seller we worked with- if shape is not available as standard, email through your request!)
3.Lighting:
You'll want to take these pictures using a decent camera on a tripod - most people will know at least one person who owns a digital SLR and these are perfect. The best lighting to go with this camera set-up is a flash- when we have shot photo booths in the past, we have used a couple of flash-types- the first is an off-camera flash (a flash linked to the camera, but isn't attached to it), and the other is a ring flash- this is attached to the camera and provides light in a similar way to a standard camera flash, while being softer, more even and more flattering! (YESSSS!) If you are asking your photographer to provide / man the photo booth, they should have all this equipment as standard.
4.The set up:
Photo booths are brilliant as evening indoor entertainment- using up a corner of the room that would otherwise be empty and making the absolute most of the space you have paid for, however day-time photo booths are also becoming more and more popular - string up a washing line between some branches and peg your backdrop up, or even just use the fencing / brickwork you may have bordering your space... below are a few ideas people have worked with before to inspire you, or please contact me for more ideas!
Weddings are by anyone’s terms, expensive.
Even those who have small weddings can sometimes feel the pinch as the little bits and pieces add up.
Your wedding dress however, need not be so terrifyingly costly!
More and more brides are either buying their dress from the high street or pushing their chips forward and buying online. Well, what’s so brave about that?- Not a lot when you are buying from a reputable name or official online outlet with free returns... but how about eBay? ... How about from China?
When planning my wedding I chose to take this leap of faith and ended up buying two dresses from China- they were both custom made to my measurements and both created to ‘look like’ the images used in the listings.
I ended up buying from these eBay stores following a manic day of trudging round dress shops in my town... where I was greeted by nothing but rude women, who were interested in your money and not alot else. I know I cannot speak for all bridalwear shops, but honestly, my experience was shocking.
After a few hours of being pushed into dresses I didn’t like- but were more expensive, being clawed by fake nails while getting laced up, and being looked at down noses when I said I couldn’t afford it... I gave up my in-person search and my online quest began.
I ended up on eBay, my favourite haunt, where I typed into the search engine exactly what I wanted... (I always knew I wanted a tea-length 50's A-line style lacy number!), chose “new” as a filter and was left with a few dearer / not quite right dresses in the UK or several options around the £100 mark from China.
The image used to advertise my dress on eBay
I began by investigating... I picked out my favourites and scoped the sellers- what was their feedback like? How many other people had bought that item? How long had they been running for? This filtered the options leaving just a handful- I emailed my favourite two, asking for further details on fabrics etc. and to see just how easy it would be to talk to them...
They both replied really fast, and with good English. They were both extremely helpful in explaining the exact ordering process and describing the fabrics used and different additions available.
So... with the help of my mum, we got measuring and I ordered two dresses... one at £55 and one at £90. They arrived as per the shipping descriptions a few weeks later, and I paraded around the house in them... The one I wore on my wedding day arrived second of the two and as soon as I put it on I knew it was ‘the one’!
A bit of a cinderella, it didn't look much, but with tight purse strings and a bit of vision...
In terms of fit, they were perfect, and though they differed quite drastically from the images, for the money I couldn’t really argue! They were completely worth the gamble. One dress had a slight flaw and I was refunded immediately by the seller for the cost of repair- no questions asked.
I took the dress I had decided on to a good friend who made some minor (though drastic!) alterations to it- she added extra fabric to the bottom to make the skirt fuller, and added a purple ribbon to the waist to match my theme (something I wanted to wait to do, so I could match the colours exactly) and added buttons to the back. Overall, with fabric and alterations (with mates rates, admittedly), the dress came to £260 in comparison to similar dresses in the UK that can come in at around 10 times that!
The results... well, see for yourself, below!
The end result, finished deal, super fantabulous, end of a journey dress!!!
Sarah did the best job ever and completely exceeded all my expectations- I knew I'd love my dress, but I didn't know I'd LOVE my dress! And the best part about it is that absolutely no-one has the same thing!
I do still stick by my thoughts on wedding dresses however, in that I don’t think you should spend a fortune on something you will only wear the once! I did always think too that I would wear my dress then sell it on... but now it is mine and it was such an intimate work in progress, that it means so much more! All in all, from a personal view, and from my purses view- this was the best investment I could have made and was completely worth the gamble.
Besides, most things nowadays are made in China... this way you just cut out the middle man, the designer label adding and the price boost, just by buying straight from source! Your purchase may not initially look or feel exactly as advertised, but with a little work, and very little money, the foundations can easily be built on to create your perfect on-of-a-kind dress, if you are prepared to work on it.
For those willing to take the plunge: the seller below is who I worked with on my wedding- day dress and now would completely trust with another creation!:
And also, not forgetting the beautiful Sarah, who's wedding room is not one to be missed! Keep your eyes peeled for a special feature on "Room 26" coming soon!
I have always been a fan of eBay. Whenever I need anything- from travel adapters to homewares, to a cheeky off-the-cuff jewellery purchase(!), it has always been my first port of call, so of course I felt no different when it came to buying for my wedding. When I couldn’t find a dress in stores, I bought my dress on eBay, when I wanted affordable, throwaway favours, eBay. For photo booth and candy bar props… go on, take a guess! Below are a few reasons why I swear by e-purchasing, and a few tips on how to do it and get it right. Enjoy!
Online markets like eBay are perfect for finding quality used items / cheap new ones - after all, it’s true that one mans rubbish is another mans treasure and this site alone is so vast, that you are bound to find what you are looking for, regardless of how specific you think you're being.
The bonus to eBay is that amongst the millions of Jo's and Janes, there are tons and tons of past brides logged on and waiting for people to bid on and get rid of their old wedding bits and bobs and a lot of the time, because so many people discount "used" items as tat, they go for cheap! By recycling, you are helping them and more importantly, helping yourself! ...And why shouldn't you?!
Use one of the worlds biggest online "shops" to find everything from dresses and shoes to favours and cakes. Some transport and marquee hire services even use eBay listings as a point of contact for enquiries, so you really could plan an entire wedding from the one site! (if any of you reading this, are doing / have done this, please email me!- I am also going to try and do this- a post on my attempts to follow soon!)
It is also getting more and more common for small businesses and large companies to both have eBay outlets running alongside their standalone / web stores. These options offer good opportunity to put on your best smiley and haggle. Smaller businesses tend to list items with large quantities of stock. By purchasing several (in the case of favours etc.) it is quite easy to request discount either for multiple purchase, or on postage. More often than not, the seller will offer discount. Don't ask, don't get.
As for the larger stores- there are now increasingly more and more "offificial" fashion sellers on eBay. The majority of which sell items with no faults at all- they are simply past season. This could be a great opportunity for picking up bridesmaids dresses and the like... For sellers guaranteed to be selling top quality goods, check the outlet section of the site, which is linked from the eBay homepage- these sellers have to provide items New with Tags as part of their contracts and also have decent returns policies to match their standard stores.
Alternatively, using a bit of savvy, you can generally pick out your decent sellers just by checking out their past feedback, selling history and eBay ratings. "Shops" and eBay rated sellers have to conform to strict eBay policies to earn these badges, so 99.9% of the time, you can trust that they are legit.
The added bonus with eBay is the ability to pay via Paypal. eBay in itself offers buyer protection for purchases to ensure you are never caught short, but the security Paypal offers for online purchases is an added perk, safeguarding your personal account details and protecting the transaction. When buying goods from abroad, it also converts the currency automatically- so no hassle!
One thing to remember when you are buying goods from abroad is that over a certain value, you will be required to pay import duty and VAT. The charges are relatively small however and should not deter you from buying from outside of the UK if you have managed to find yourself a bargain to beat all others!
Items are listed in one of two formats- Auction and Buy it Now. Buy it now is great for goods that aren’t likely to be fought over- ordinary items that may not be considered “unique” or desirable (like in-style clothing or currently trending “vintage” items), whereas Auction is great for finding these more sought after items starting at low prices- great if you are prepared to fight for it! Keep a level head though and try and set yourself a top price you would be willing to pay, otherwise it is very easy to get swept up in those final seconds of bidding, to end up paying well over the odds!
The best thing about the whole thing though is you can literally buy anything on eBay, and from anywhere in the world! You could buy your dress from China, your Favours from America, your shoes from Australia- and combine them all to produce an unforgettable wedding, completely different to everything available in the UK- the envy of all your friends. It’s your one-stop-unique-wedding shop!
Every bride wants to look and feel like a star on their wedding day- and when it is the one day where you are centre of attention, all eyes on you, who can blame you?!
I am a firm believer in look good, feel good to the point where even if I feel rough as hell, I’ll slick on some mascara in the hope of feeling just a little more human! Bringing me nicely onto the subject of make-up and whether this is something people feel is worth splurging on for the big day.
I personally don’t wear a lot of make-up on a day-to-day basis, and when I do put on a little extra for going out, due mainly to my lack of knowing how things work, my “face” never stays put. For this reason, I spent a lot of time before my wedding searching for a make-up artist to do the job for me!
My worry was always that I would feel uncomfortable. I have had my make-up done by a pro before, and came out caked-up and resembling an umpa lumpa with bee-stung lips. Not a pretty sight. I tried to make it clear to all the people I was contacting that I didn’t so much want help putting the make-up on, more advice as to how to apply it myself...
I searched online, checked into forums / scoured Facebook and in all, emailed about 50 make-up artists around where I live, where my venue was and salon based. Most people responded, fast to reply and happy to help- not a problem here. The main issue I had with it all were the prices!
The moment you mention “bridal” make-up, the prices shoot up. As with most wedding related oddities, vendors and suppliers think it feasible to charge more, knowing that it is a big occasion and most couples will buckle to get exactly what they want. The prices I was quoted for “bridal” make-up varied from around £80 to £200 (The same cost as my VENUE!).
As an experiment, I have since emailed a few again, this time not mentioning anything about being a bride, and, while a lot fewer have replied (funny that!), the prices quoted are at least halved.
Unfortunately at the time, the money was not something I could justify, so I eventually decided not to go down that route, preferring to gather advice from Internet tutorials (Youtube is a wonderful thing!) and speaking to friends about the best products to use.
Make up by Tiffany is one of the most popular "amateur" make-up bloggers on Youtube
Still slightly bemused by it all, my next port of call were high street store make-up counters. I began in Debenhams, at the Clinique counter, where a woman twice my age tried to convince me I needed to buy every product on her table.... NO.*
Not understanding my want of the “natural” look, I moved on to Boots, where I ended up chatting to a girl around my age, who sympathised with my confusion and after listening to exactly what I wanted to achieve, led me around the store, showing me different options and explaining the use of everything, without ever once pressuring me to buy.
We picked up a few different bits and she did my make-up with them in-store, on the spot (Something I always swore I would never do!- cringe!) but it was all good, and she explained everything she was using and doing as she went. I ended up leaving the store with my make-up freshly applied and ran to see my friend to get her opinion!
After confirming that in no way did I look like a fruit, I returned to the store, to leave with a bag full of the products used- the total coming to little over £25 (A steal compared to what some people dared to charge!). I practised “the look” a few times at home before the big day, so I knew exactly what I was doing and how not to cake, and I soon felt well at home in my new face.
Looking back, I am super over the moon at my choice to do it myself. While it may not have stuck like glue, I know I made more of an effort that day, and I felt good! While I never did try it, I think that if I had had someone else do it for me, I would never have felt quite as comfortable – though I guess this is really down to what you are used to and how much of a transformation to are wanting / willing to take.
I know I am not the only bride that has been in this predicament. My husband and I attended a wedding where the bride had booked a make-up artist but never had a trial... when it came to her wedding day, she felt so uncomfortable in the make-up that she removed it all and attended her wedding bare-faced... Good on her, I say!
The best advice I can give is:
Do not go with something just because it is “expected”. If you aren’t used to wearing make-up and people aren’t used to seeing you in it, don’t wear it!- The stares and comments will only have the opposite to your desired effect, making you feel more self conscious!
Whether you decide to book a pro, or go it alone, practice always makes perfect. Book a trial to work out exactly what you want, or use forums and online tutorials to learn how to create different looks and work out how to do it yourself!- Trying lots of different things means you won’t end up with a look that you love, but don’t suit. Last thing you want to be worried about on your wedding day is foundation lines and wonky eyeliner!
Do your research. If you want to go pro look into several options, and when you have narrowed it down, look into them further again. Check out their portfolios / do they have any testimonials on their site? Try asking round friends for recommendations... some places offer discount for referrals so you can save some money, plus then you have a firsthand account of the standard of their work.
Most people decide to cake on the make-up because of the common myth that “make-up doesn’t show up in photographs”... not strictly true! Make-up does show in photographs, just in a more subtle way. If your photographer is using the correct lighting and equipment, they should have no issues with capturing your beautiful face!
If you are still worried about not looking glam in your snaps, do not fret! Many photographers nowadays offer digital editing of images, and so can easily remove any teary mascara smudges / (heaven forbid!) any spots with the click of a mouse, guaranteeing flawless results. Do check with your photographer about this first though as some offer this service as standard, while others charge extra for the pleasure.
Obviously, these words just come from one hens experience, (and I sure feel better for ranting!) but do try and bear this all in mind when considering make-up for your wedding, as otherwise you could end up forking out on something you don't really want or need!
Love,
*This post is not intended to favour any brand or store over the other and is merely a recollection of one persons experience, not at all a reflection of the overall standard of store or service.
Rule # 1: If something doesn't come in your colour : PAINT IT.
Rule # 2: If you could make it easily yourself : DO.
Rule # 3: If you have talented friends and family : USE THEM - They will be over the moon that you asked!
Following these 3 simple rules can save you bucket loads in terms of money, and the people who help you will gain too from your gratefulness. WIN WIN!
Use eBay / DIY stores / Charity shops / boots sales... even (and especially!) garden centres!- As well as outdoors bits and pieces, you can pick up some great indoorsy bits like chalk boards, tin jugs and even home wares!
For "Vintage" themes, dare to check out your local dumps / councils for any furniture / larger items you can salvage, like suitcases etc... If searching online for pieces, try to avoid the term "vintage" in your searches as, being the word / trend of the moment, people can justifyingly put their prices up for things. Be more descriptive- "used", "worn", "old" "aged" and "shabby" often do the trick for more weathered looking items like cases / props. "kitsch", "cute" and "indy" for higher spec items like clothing and china.
Do not be afraid to buy "cheap" - at the end of the day, their purpose is to only last the few hours of the wedding day! This also means that if you aim to sell your items on afterwards, you are more likely to get your money back.
Before you go spending tons on wrapping paper / tags for gifts etc. check out the DIY stores for wallpaper - most places offer unlimited free samples : you could save a few squids here!
For wooden wedding signs / crafts, check eBay. Websites like etsy and folksy are great for finished articles, but eBay houses hundreds of spare-time carpenters on the look out for the opportunity to do custom work for pocket money and good feedback - play nice and you can even negotiate the prices down.
Wedding dresses come in all shapes and sizes… found one that is second hand, but not quite your fit?- Find a local dressmaker / get down and nasty with your needles and thread- you’ll end up with a personalised adaptation like no other.
Use sale rails and bargain corners for cheap material and paints - there is ALWAYS a tin of white going cheap and tester pots cost next to nothing but go far - use them to turn almost anything to shabby whitewashed chic or colour theme heaven. Use fabric shop offcuts / old bed linen from charity shops to make bunting and table runners.
The saying goes "everybody knows someone called Dave"... Think about it... yep, you do! The same goes for everybody knowing somebody... whether you can think of them straight away or not, most people have "contacts" that would be able to help in some way to create your dream day for less - know a great cook that can bake a cake? Know someone crafty who can make favours / invites? Sure you do!
Get back to nature! Grow your own flowers for decoration / use branch trimmings from trees to decorate your marquee ceiling / build your own wishing tree... Pick fruit locally and make your own jam favours... Fruit also makes great table settings, adding colour and providing nibbles all in one! Genious!
And to think this is just a TASTER of the crafty mischeif you could be getting up to!- It really is the best way to end up with exactly the look you want to acheive and host a day that is absolutely unique to you. I'll cover more in further blogs, but hopefully this should whet your appetite and get you excited about doing things yourself! Go on! Get crafting!
Ahh, the guest list. Something that should be so easy, but that politics make so difficult.
Do you invite this person?- If you do, shouldn't you also invite this person and that person? Soon, if you're not careful you'll end up with the whole village and their dogs at your wedding!
The best idea is always aim to keep it small - invite only your immediate family and closest of friends - those who matter most to you as a couple. These people are important to you, and should be valued so.
Further to the sentimental value of the people you invite is (unfortunately!) always the cost. Caterers generally charge per head and venues cost more, the more people they can house. It stands to reason that the more heads you have = the bigger the cost. Stick to your budget.
Try not to be overpowered and stand your ground. Don't be influenced by people telling you who should and shouldn't be there- it is YOUR wedding, only you know this.
I have never been a fan of allowing guests for the parents either - I know a few brides who were made to allow for this, and the situation with one of them spiralled to the parents having invited half the people attending- leaving the bride feeling extremely uncomfortable! If you do feel you really need to allow for this, be firm and put a cap on it - only allow for people you have actually met and know, not just trophy guests invited to make numbers and show off.
Our wedding was small and intimate with only 25 guests invited to the day-time. We didn't invite all the people my family wanted us to, and BOY did this cause major controversy and hours of arguments, but when it came to the day, no-one said anything about it and there were no "consequences" to our decision. If anything, I think people better understood the atmosphere we were hoping the day to have, and in not inviting 3rd cousins twice removed and second aunts who I met once but now live on the moon, we well and truly acheived it.
I guess the point i'm trying to make is that as with anything in the planning stages, do what YOU want. Don't ever feel pressured into inviting people you don't want there, just because you "should". Stick to your guns and choose the people you want to share your day with wisely, because the next political challenge is the seating plan!
A honeymoon comes well deserved after a wedding, and regardless of its shape and form, or the amount of money spent on it, I truly think should be something every new bride and groom gets to experience!
Imagine it: for months you have been wolfing up information from the same websites, ringing the same people about the same problems, writing countless cheques and squirming at bank statements... the last thing you want to do is go back to that same armchair, phone and credit card!
And the best thing is that a honeymoon doesn’t necessarily mean splashing out on an overpriced cruise, round the world flight or even getting out of the country! Just leaving your wedding planning surroundings is a relief in itself.
Yet more and more couples are choosing to "hold back" on a 'moon'- the most common reason being that they simply cannot afford it... and yet the most popular wedding gift asked for nowadays is money. Make this top of your wedding list requests (Because even if you implicitly say you do NOT want gifts, people WILL insist) and you will be well on your way to a trip somewhere nice. Also, by factoring your break into your wedding costs, any gift money comes as a bonus and you can save feeling guilty for another day.
Everybody talks (and I’m one of them!) about the stresses of wedding planning... even if you are the most calm, positive, level-headed person in the world (like my hubby!), weddings do take their toll.
They are all consuming- become all you talk about, all you dream about... and when you go shopping, all you buy for to the point where you are so in tune to wedding frequency that just catching a glimpse of “your colours” ends up with you soon queuing at the tills, basket high...
And it’s not ever apparent just how much you think about it until you stop.
We didn’t ever plan on having a honeymoon, but are so unbelievably happy we did! We slept, and ate, walked and TALKED... (Something we rarely sat back and enjoyed while planning!) I didn’t wear make-up or worry about eating so much ice-cream i'd get break-outs or not fit into my wedding dress... He didn’t suffer with migraines from my nagging him... It was bliss.
The ultimate chill-out a honeymoon has to offer is honestly the best wedding present you can receive.
So take this as Hens thought for the day: Book yourself a honeymoon- if you have the money, go somwehere you always dreamed about, if you don’t, grab a cheap UK break at a B&B in the middle of nowhere and just relish in the silence.
Inspired by the ginormous puddle that is the UK right now, I thought it apt to write about the dreaded possibility of rain on your wedding day...
No-one can predict the weather, and yet it is probably one of the biggest worries a bride and groom can have about their big day as it is the only real thing that is completely out of your control.
The best thing you can do is to try and find contingencies amongst your day plan - if you can't have photo's outside, can you find somewhere indoors? Maybe, if you have a free corner, could you set up a photo booth?
If you need to walk outside at all, why not invest in some wellies and an umbrella in your wedding colours?! - You'll be protected from soggy feet AND get some cool, quirky pictures!
Use the rain to your advantage! - Have some fun and be a little daring - why not CHOOSE to have some photo's outside?! There is still plenty of opportunity here for your photographer to capture some brilliant shots- particularly couples ones, provided you don't mind getting a little damp!
Try and factor in additional times during the day where being outside can be attempted - Generally in the UK, (particularly in the summer), it doesn't normally rain continuously, but if it does decide to shower while you're trying to get your outdoors on and you don't fancy getting down and drizzly, without a contingency this can scupper your plans. Allow pockets of time however, and your odds of an outdoor photo opportunity are much greater.
((Plus, from a photographers point of view, we can take great shots in just 10 minutes, if given the time to play with! - Just check out the above!))
Lastly, don't panic! The rain can't 'ruin' your wedding day. If it showers, it showers. If it pours, it pours! THAT is your day- Make it yours! Besides... some say it's lucky for it to rain on your wedding day!... What a brilliant, completely unplanned head start!
The hunt for a wedding venue is one of the first things you will take on as a newly engaged couple, and much like your choice of dress it can (and should be!) a very personal, ever-so-slightly stressful thing to do!
It is the first time you will realise just how much the wedding industry can afford to charge for things, and how much of a bank-balance changing experience weddings can turn out to be. Do your research however, and you can pay reasonably and sometimes under the odds:
Get clued up. Avoid venues with marriage licenses if you can – you pay a LOT more for the privilege! Perhaps look to split your wedding- have the legal ceremony at a church or registry office, then move the reception to another venue. It is not uncommon to do this, and could save you a packet!
Be flexible. Look for “off-peak” and mid-week availability. Venues struggle to fill these slots and so often the price is a lot lower. And while venues vary in what they consider “peak” and “off-peak” months, even those months in the balance can often be found at a lower rate.
“Off-peak” doesn’t necessarily mean bad weather either!
Some places consider the months of April and May to be “off-peak” yet in the UK, for the last 3 years, April has been our hottest month, and statistically May is one of the better months for low rainfall.
Have vision. Like houses, not all venues will start off looking the way you want them to – If you can try and see past the “decor” and more into the potential of the space, you’re on to a money-saving, self-personalised winner.
Be prepared to look outside your “catchment” area. Especially if you live in one of the pricier counties / tourist hotspots. Moving just across the county border can often make a world of difference to venue costs. Be aware though that if you are planning on MARRYING in a different county, by law you need to reside there for a week before being allowed to apply and sign the papers in that county.
How cheap is “cheap”? Be realistic. You can’t expect to find a “cheap” venue and have it comfortably house 300 guests. Overheads alone dictate this and when you consider food at price per head on top, your venue spend suddenly doesn’t look so realistically rosy...
From trawling the internet, it seems the most common answer that people spend roughly between 45 – 50% of their budget on the venue alone. This often doesn’t include food either. When you consider this figure, and then that food / drinks need to come on top... you’ll probably want to keep this cost as low as you can get!
Be clever and think outside the box. Your venue doesn’t need to be a building at all!- certainly not a “destination” one either (manor estates etc.) Nowadays you can plonk your party just about anywhere...
Our wedding venue was a steal. We had to travel slightly outside of our “catchment” and, as it doesn't have a wedding license, we married at a registry office but, (without food) we only paid £200!
We found a marquee in Summertown, Oxford able to comfortably hold up to 120 people, right on the river. The marquee is permanently up all year round and if used during the colder months, can be heated at no additional cost. It is an extension to the boathouse restaurant / main river punt station in Oxford, so there is a fair bit of traffic through here, but they were not disturbing in any way and if anything, made the experience more enjoyable! In a scenic location, and a complete blank canvass, it was just the perfect venue for us.
